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Tag Archives: Cart abandonment
In our previous post reviewing first-quarter results from the MarketLive Performance Index, we discussed the performance impact of mobile’s exponential growth and showed how it’s worth taking a deeper dive into the numbers before blaming mobile for lagging KPIs.
While in that post we specifically addressed engagement metrics, the mobile performance gap that’s most widely lamented is cart abandonment. While the 70.6% cart abandonment rate achieved via computer browsers isn’t ideal, it’s far lower than on smartphones, at 84.6%. As a result, the overall Index abandonment rate rose 1.4% year over year to 76.0% — an all-time high.
It’s easy to blame these disheartening results on the growing share of shopping visits attributed to mobile phones. But, as is the case with engagement, a closer look reveals that there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
The bad news: cart abandonment may never drop, regardless of how much optimization merchants undertake. The good news: if handled right, abandonment can become a mere detour on the path to purchase, not an irredeemable disaster.
While the shift to mobile is an underlying factor, the rise in cart abandonment rate reflects a larger trend in consumer behavior. As increasingly-savvy consumers do more research for online and offline purchases, and as they continue to shop across a growing array of digital and offline touchpoints, their journey to purchase has become more circuitous. At one time, high shipping costs far outranked all the other reasons why shoppers left items in the shopping cart. Now, while shipping costs remain the top hurdle to purchase, causing 58% of shoppers to abandon sales, that percentage is followed closely by the 57% of shoppers who use the cart to research total order costs, and the 55% who say they just wanted to save items for later. Indeed, a whopping three quarters of those who’ve abandoned carts say they actually intend to return to the same site to complete purchases.
Closing the gap between that intent and action is merchants’ new challenge, and one that’s formidable in its own right. In this light, optimizing sites to the utmost remains crucial, but as a way to facilitate — rather than prevent — come-and-go activity, and to ensure that once ready, consumers encounter no obstacles to closing the sale.
Among the measures to deploy:
Support researchers with “save” tools. Given the rising rates at which shoppers use the cart as a research tool, merchants should adopt an “if you can beat them, join them” mentality and ensure that potential customers can easily pick up where they left off, across devices. Easing the wish list creation and sharing process can potentially divert would-be abandoners into using an alternate tool for saving items of interest. But merchants should also consider implementing an explicit “save cart” feature within the shopping cart itself, tying it to a painless signup process — ideally featuring social login — that presents a swift way to access saved items later via mobile or computer. “Email cart” and “print cart” functions can provide further alternatives for shoppers to store and retrieve product information.
Merchants who optimize their wish lists and shopping carts for researchers should promote the amped-up features — especially a few months from now, when the holiday season begins to ramp up. In 2014, MarketLive merchant Nancy’s Notions promoted wish list creation in an email that asked, “You know what you want. But does everyone else?” The message additionally highlighted top wish list picks — both encouraging shoppers to use the tool and displaying items they might want to add right away.
In order to maximize their effectiveness, abandoned cart notification emails should be as personalized as possible. Messages that picture the exact item(s) left behind in the cart had a 25% higher transaction rate than those that merely employed a text link back to the brand site, according to Experian. If possible, merchants should include SKU specific images and product details, and personalize messaging further by letting shoppers know whether items are available at nearby outlets. Regardless of personalization capabilities, all merchants should use abandonment emails to message any free shipping offers or free site-to-store services, as well as customer service contact information and value-added content related to the product or the category.
Social media for retargeting. We’ve touched before on the effectiveness of retargeting campaigns that “follow” shoppers across the Internet after departing from a brand’s Web site. While there’s a tricky balance to achieve to avoid seeming creepy, these ads can be effective — and social media presents a low-pressure way to spur further engagement when shoppers are likely at leisure, catching up on the latest news from their feeds and receptive to reminders about shopping they have yet to finish. Although less than half of marketers currently use social retargeting, more than two-thirds say they plan to increase investments in the coming year, according to Marin Software.
MarketLive merchant Intermix invites past browsers to connect with the brand by displaying previously-browsed items and reinforcing brand messaging with text that promises followers will have access to “exclusive designer pieces.”
A relentless focus on lowering *checkout* abandonment. While reducing cart abandonment may not be possible, checkout abandonment is another matter altogether. After all, by entering checkout, shoppers are signaling a clear intent to purchase, and any deviation from the path merchants lay out for them should be studied closely. To ensure the order process is frictionless, merchants should give their analytics tools a workout by creating fallout reports by device to gain insight into which steps present hurdles on mobile devices as well as on computers. In their analysis they should include secondary checkout paths, such as those for registered users and those employing alternative payments.
As we’ve written previously, checkout is an area where mobile is, indeed, lagging. In the latest Performance Index, checkout abandonment on smartphones was a whopping 59%, compared with 36.6% on computer-based browsers — a significant gap. To improve, merchants should incorporate proven best practices into their mobile offerings, including guest checkout, alternative payments and ample customer service messaging, and do their utmost to streamline the number of steps and required text input fields. Using responsive design to deliver a uniform experience across touchpoints can help merchants significantly improve mobile checkout usability.
As our prior post on the MarketLive Performance Index revealed, merchants need to optimize their sites to the utmost to improve performance in 2014 — especially when it comes to converting engaged shoppers who’ve added items to the cart into committed buyers. A survey of sites reveals one area to prioritize when it comes to fine-tuning: the shopping cart itself.
The importance and function of the cart has changed since the early days of e-Commerce, when featuring complementary items as upsells was considered cutting-edge cart technology. Features such as estimated shipping costs are more or less considered standard. At the same time, as we chronicled in an earlier post, the very path to purchase has changed, so that only 22% of shoppers now proceed to the “cart page” of old after clicking the “add to cart” button; on some sites, it’s possible to skip the cart altogether and proceed straight to checkout from the drop-down global cart display or a pop-up window.
But with consumer research activities more intensive than ever, there’s no denying the importance of the cart page — which we define as being the page preceding the first step of checkout that’s accessible from the “cart” link in global navigation. The cart can both serve as a comprehensive order information resource, and offer enticements to spur shoppers onward into checkout and purchase. In short, it remains a vital decision point on the path to purchase, and one merchants should ignore at their peril.
Our survey of some 70 sites from among the top 100 merchants on Internet Retailer’s Top 500 list revealed how the biggest brands with the biggest resources at their disposal are positioning their shopping carts for maximum sales. Even among these cutting-edge brands, some information was being effectively conveyed — while some surprising areas were overlooked.
As a result, merchants are doing well when it comes to using the cart to convey shipping costs and free shipping opportunities. Close to three-quarters of the carts we viewed include an estimated shipping cost, while 60% display the free shipping threshold, free shipping promo codes, or even the amount shoppers should add to meet the threshold.
Fewer merchants, however, back up these two key pieces of information with a description of timeframes for each tier of delivery service; just 54% list the options or even link to them via a popup window. While that’s still over half, there are plenty of carts displaying shipping costs without letting shoppers know what, exactly, the charge buys them. More merchants, 56%, are enabling shoppers to enter promo codes and view the associated discounts in the cart — a welcome feature, but one that serves just a subset of shoppers. Shipping, by contrast, is a universal concern, and one merchants should address with details that should be relatively straightforward to display.
Similarly, whether sales tax will be assessed is a question affecting every potential order — yet just 43% of merchants display this information, with most sites stating tax will be calculated iin checkout (or, worse, failing to mention it at all). While implementing estimated tax by ZIP code within the cart requires more technological moxie than displaying a table of shipping timeframes, the information is a crucial component of the total order costs, and therefore should be a priority.
Convenience boosters vs. basic customer service vs. in-store shopping support. The good news is that merchants are responding to shifting consumer behaviors and implementing key features that smooth the path to purchase, especially across touchpoints. We’ve long recommended implementation of alternative payments, as they’re increasingly popular (and downright crucial when it comes to mobile). So it was a relief to see the sites we surveyed positively festooned with alternative payment buttons, with close to 60% of merchants highlighting the availability of Paypal or another service enabling shoppers to skip entry of credit card data and other checkout steps.
Similarly, it was gratifying to see that more than half of merchants enable transfer of items from the cart to the wish list or other repository of saved products. This functionality not only caters to researchers who would otherwise use the cart — and likely abandon it at some point in their travels — but it signals an attempt to cater to cross-touchpoint activity, such as researching online and then looking up products selected earlier via smartphone while in-store to complete purchases.
But when compared with the startlingly low percentage of merchants displaying the most basic customer service information, these innovations seem like putting the cart (as it were) before the horse. Fewer than half of merchants displayed an 800 number or chat link within the main cart content area (as opposed to in global navigation) — and less than 40% included links to product guarantees or information about returns, information consumers deem crucial to the purchase decision. As with delivery timeframe details, this information requires little technical prowess to incorporate, and should be a priority for every merchant to display at the cart level.
Similarly, while not every merchant can offer site-to-store shipping, it’s relatively easy to provide a “print cart” link so that shoppers can carry product information with them — and yet fewer than one in five merchants offer it.
The upshot? When it comes to optimizing the cart, there’s some low-hanging fruit even the largest merchants have yet to seize — and small- to mid-sized merchants should follow suit. In an upcoming post, we’ll survey how the cart experience appears on mobile devices. But meantime, tell us: what cart features do you deem essential, and which are merely nice-to-haves?
As the short holiday season hits the halfway mark, the news is encouraging for specialty and niche merchants. According to weekly data from the MarketLive Performance Index, Cyber Monday and the week that followed continued the Thanksgiving weekend trend of increased traffic and improved performance metrics, driving overall revenues 32% higher compared with the same week last year.
Furthermore, the data suggests that even amidst heavy discounting, merchants are making strong gains. For one, while traffic for December 2 – December 9 grew by 17%, revenue grew even more substantially, suggesting that individual buyers are purchasing more than last year. The conversion rate increased by 2.4%. Meantime, the average order size compared with last year held steady, suggesting merchants are successfully wooing shoppers without necessarily discounting steeply.
The only performance challenge merchants face is with the add-to-cart rate, which plummeted nearly a full percentage point, by more than 8%, compared with the prior week. With offers flying fast and furious, shoppers are comparison shopping and waiting for the right deal to entice them to finalize purchases. While overall the add-to-cart rate for the season is up by 11.3%, merchants should redouble their efforts to convert shoppers to buyers. Among the quick tactics to try:
Promote limited-time offers beyond the obvious spots. Merchants should include notices about free shipping offers or price discounts in the cart, whether via a global banner or a promotional fill slot. But even before shoppers reach that milestone on the path to purchase, merchants should flag promotions and direct shoppers to relevant information. Locations to consider include:
In secondary navigation. When used, a left-hand column usually exposes the depth of products on offer, whether via a detailed sub-category list or by using a guided-navigation-style list of attributes shoppers can access to resolve problems. But it’s also an opportunity to reiterate the latest promotion and its end date, so that shoppers can access details from wherever on the site they roam.
On product pages. With consumers increasingly accessing eCommerce sites via interior pages after being directed there from search engines, it’s crucial for merchants to feature deals right alongside product content.MarketLive merchant Armani Exchange highlights current discounts in red on the product page, calling out the free shipping thresholds and “deal of the week” merchandise.
Fine-tune triggered emails. As we’ve reported previously, nearly three-quarters of merchants don’t yet have a triggered email program in place to attempt to recapture sales after consumers leave the site. While it’s too late to institute such a program from scratch right now, merchants with existing abandoned-cart triggered emails should consider revamping them slightly. The messages should include:
Plenty of product content. Merchants should incorporate more than just the image of the product the shopper left in the cart, but should take the opportunity to provide a longer product story. A comprehensive description, paired with how-to videos demonstrating usage and even a buying guide matching the product category, can win over hesitant shoppers by helping them envision how the product might fit or feel.
Abundant customer service links. Merchants should put contact information front and center in cart-recovery messages, with links to product guarantees and delivery timelines that help shoppers what they need.
Social connectors. The ability to connect to communities of followers on social outposts may help shoppers find lifestyle content that convinces them to commit to a purchase from the brand.
Clothier French Connection puts it all together in its cart abandonment email. In addition to displaying a picture of the abandoned item and the means to link directly to checkout, the message includes a sizable section describing customer service and displaying contact information. A series of links at the bottom of the message directs shoppers to connect via social media.
What tactics are you using to drive continued engagement through the holiday season?
As the holiday season revs into high gear, it’s sobering to recall that more than two out of three potential eCommerce transactions will not be completed. Cart abandonment is higher than ever, with 70% of shoppers exiting sites after selecting items for potential purchase, according to third-quarter data from the MarketLive Performance Index.
The reasons for such a high abandonment rate are more complex than ever. Far from representing a leak at a single point in the linear “purchase funnel,” abandonment is a reflection of the challenges facing merchants as they attempt to present relevant offers and products to consumers across a growing array of touchpoints. During this holiday season alone, 80% of shoppers say they plan to shop on two devices at once, and 84% say they’ll start shopping one one device and finish the transaction on another, according a Google/Ipsos survey; nearly half of smartphone owners say they plan to use their devices to research prices and then purchase in a physical store. When it comes to abandonment, such a bevy of potential touchpoints looks less like a funnel than a sieve.
But the good news is that the very multiplicity of touchpoints that complicate merchants’ strategies can also be a boon to closing sales — giving brands more opportunities than ever to engage (or re-engage) shoppers and convince them to purchase. On Friday, MarketLive Founder and CEO Ken Burke will deliver a webinar hosted by the Association of Strategic Marketing on tactics to combat abandonment, with a focus on how best to marshal myriad touchpoints to convince shoppers to complete purchases. Among the topics Burke will discuss:
Email techniques for recapturing sales. Triggered email messages to cart abandoners can be effective, with click-through rates above 14% and purchase rates after click-through of more than 42%, according to real-time marketing firm Triggered Messaging. But while the percentage of merchants in the Internet Retailer Top 1,000 who send post-abandonment emails has grown, three in four merchants still fail to do so , according to marketing firm Listrak. Burke will examine not only why this practice is so important, but also the ideal messaging content and timing.
Social media as a bulwark against abandonment. Social media’s reputation as an experimental touchpoint with no tangible ROI is quickly becoming outmoded. Increasingly, merchants are harnessing the power of social networks to create highly engaging communities, where shoppers can gather around lifestyle topics and related products. By integrating social interaction throughout the shopping experience, merchants can keep consumers engaged and encourage purchase completion.
Much more is in store for the webinar, so register today and tune in Friday at 10 a.m. PST. Meantime, what tactics are working for you to stave off holiday abandonment?
The importance of free shipping promotions for the upcoming holiday season can’t be overstated, as new data from measurement firm comScore demonstrates. While merchants are well aware that free shipping is shoppers’ top-sought discount, it’s still impressive to see just how thoroughly the availability of free shipping — or lack thereof — affects purchase outcomes. To begin with, fully 51% of eCommerce transactions in the second quarter of this year involved free shipping — and the holiday season will likely see that percentage surge even higher.
Additionally, two of the top five reasons for abandoning carts are directly related to free shipping: 48% of comScore survey respondents who’ve abandoned carts said they did so because no free shipping was offered, while 45% said purchases stalled when their orders failed to qualify for the free shipping threshold.
Some larger mass merchants have responded to consumers’ demand for free shipping by lowering or even eliminating altogether the threshold for qualifying for the discount. For most merchants, though, the cost of offering free shipping across the board is too great of a burden to bear.
The good news is that consumers are willing to consider alternate routes to free shipping. And with six weeks still to go in the third quarter, merchants have time to promote these services in an attempt to pre-empt the mad rush for free shipping discounts once the peak holiday buying period begins. Consider these strategies:
Showcase the shipping benefits of loyalty club membership. Nearly half of all consumers have signed up for a retailer rewards or loyalty program, according to the comScore report, and 10% have committed to a paid membership that delivers an array of perks, with free shipping usually chief among them. Additionally, more than one in five consumers say they would consider paying for such a program — suggesting there’s an opportunity for merchants to devise and market meaningful incentives for their target audience.
As discussed in a previous post, blanket free shipping needn’t be the default for rewards club members. But the perception that free shipping is just as available without membership is a key reason consumers avoid loyalty programs, according to the comScore study: 42% of those who wouldn’t pay to join a rewards club say they can get free shipping anyway. So merchants should ensure that club members get the best possible shipping deal at all times — and that may well include holiday free shipping or free upgrades to expedited delivery. And they should explicitly and prominently highlight those shipping benefits in their loyalty club promotions, so shoppers know members get access to discounts found nowhere else.
Road Runner Sports promotes its VIP program with global banners on the eCommerce site and a dedicated page on Facebook, along with a YouTube video that promotes “free shipping every day” and “warp speed” expedited order fulfillment offered to members.
Highlight free site-to-store options. More than half of all consumers have used “ship-to-store” services when shopping online, and 38% report selecting that option because it’s free, comScore found. Merchants who have physical store outlets and offer site-to-store services should therefore highlight availability as the holiday season approaches, letting shoppers know they have an alternative to shipping fees.
Ace Hardware promotes its free store delivery service in a global banner, then reiterates the message on product pages. Shoppers checking availability can view whether an item is currently in-stock or, if not, how long delivery to the local store will take.
Reach out to cart abandoners. Since the lack of free shipping and the inability to reach a free shipping threshold are top reasons for cart abandonment, merchants should reconnect with these would-be customers and entice them back to the site with ways to save. Rather than automatically offering a free shipping discount for order completion, though — which might “train” users to abandon carts — merchants should consider alternative messaging, such as:
sending an abandoned cart reminder displaying the items left behind, along with complementary items that would bring the order total to above the free shipping threshold.
triggering a message to recent cart abandoners the next time a site-wide free shipping offer is, indeed, in effect.
promoting free site-to-store delivery services.
offering an alternate discount or a gift with purchase.
MarketLive merchant Totes/Isotoner follows up with cart abandoners via a series of emails, the last of which offers a 10% discount for order completion.
How are you gearing up for the onslaught of free-shipping-seekers this holiday season?
Last week’s webinar on optimized email presented a range of strategies, but one clear theme emerged: merchants must do more to move beyond the “bast and blatch” mentality and boost relevance of messaging — and doing so needn’t involve complex, resource-intensive processes.
The webinar detailed how email continues to be an ROI winner for merchants, garnering a whopping $40.56 per dollar spent, according to the Direct Marketing Association. But that number has dropped 22% since 2006, and is forecast to drop even more in the coming year — suggesting that merchants must do more if they want to reverse the trend.
The webinar revealed that there’s plenty of low-hanging fruit still to be plucked. As our preview post mentioned, fewer than one in five retailers even cull bounced email addresses from their lists — suggesting that for many merchants, even very basic improvements may reap stronger performance. Winning strategies needn’t require a technology overhaul or increased staff resources to execute sophisticated personalized messages. Just three of the simple ways the webinar suggested stepping up email finesse:
Let shoppers self-segment on signup. According to industry researcher Forrester, just 6% of merchants use the email signup page to allow shoppers to self-select topics or categories of interest — and yet this method is among the simplest for boosting relevance of messaging. Rather than needing to cull behavioral data from analytics, merchants can simply ask up front for some guidance. The key is to strike a balance, labeling clearly that it’s optional for shoppers to indicate their gender, geography, favorite product categories (such as cycling or camping for an outdoor outfitter) or interest in sale items; otherwise, would-be subscribers who don’t want to share such information might be put off.
Old Navy makes tailoring email content easy by presenting subscribers a streamlined set of options on the thank you page immediately after signup. Subscribers can select what categories of apparel interest them based on gender and age, and can opt to supply their birthdays to receive a special discount. They can also navigate away from the page without taking further action.
Furthermore, messaging about the loyalty club to non-members using a “show, don’t tell” approach — displaying the potential savings and benefits to the general list — is also a winning technique, garnering a 25% lift in revenue per email than non-loyalty content, Experian found. Footwear retailer Nine West spotlights the opportunity to earn double points on shoes from a particular manufacturer, and also includes a free shipping offer and a discount to entice purchase.
Institute an abandoned cart recovery plan ASAP. As discussed in an earlier post, emails sent to shoppers who abandon their carts before completing purchases are effective and can be automated — and yet the percentage of merchants using this triggered-email program is shockingly low. Fewer than 1 in 5 of the largest merchants in the Internet Retailer 500 use abandoned cart emails, and fewer than 1 in 10 of medium-sized merchants in the Internet Retailer Second 500 do so, according to Listrak. With cart abandonment rates still hovering above 50%, recovering even a small percentage of these sales could make a huge difference to the bottom line — so it’s crucial for more merchants to institute a triggered email program as soon as possible.
We all know that shipping costs are a huge contributor to cart abandonment.But many shoppers also abandon carts because they simply don’t intend to buy in the first place, according to recent data from online measurement firm ComScore.
As presented below in an infographic by local shopping services provider Milo, shipping costs take second place to research as the top reasons shoppers abandon carts, with 57% of consumers saying they place items in the cart even when they’re just just window shopping and 56% saying they use the cart to save items for later.
Concerns about shipping expenses round out the top five reasons shoppers abandon carts, so clearly merchants should still fine-tune their shipping policies, spotlight delivery timelines and offer free shipping discounts during the upcoming holiday season. But the data suggests merchants should also cater to the research-oriented shopper who may not buy on an initial visit — but could be convinced to finalize the sale soon online or in a store. To do so, consider a two-pronged approach: assist research behaviors while at the same time highlighting incentives to buy immediately. Try these tactics:
Streamline the wish list. The fact that shoppers are using the cart, rather than the wish list, to save items for later suggests that wish list features are too much of a hassle to use. Merchants almost always require shoppers to register for an account before setting up a wish list — but technically, there’s no reason to do so; items could be saved to a wish list the same way items remain in the cart for a set amount of time between visits. Apparel merchant Abercrombie & Fitch allows shoppers to save items to a wish list with comments, to email the list to a friend and to share it socially — all without forced account creation.
Spotlight research-oriented cart features. If toying with wish list functionality isn’t feasible, then consider making explicit to shoppers the fact that their items will be saved in the cart using a “save for later” link. Similarly, consider offering a printer-friendly version of the cart contents so that shoppers can take the list with them to physical store locations. Manufacturer Dell allows shoppers who have stepped through the process of customizing a computer’s components to save the information, explicitly stating that unsaved carts will expire in 30 minutes, as well as to print the cart or email it for future reference.
Highlight urgency. If an item in the shopper’s cart is sought-after and going fast, flag it to give them incentive to buy now. Similarly, if items need to be ordered soon for delivery in time for a key date or because they require special handling, spotlight the message in the cart so shoppers are aware of the contingencies and can act immediately.
Incorporate free shipping messaging. Free shipping is the top incentive merchants can offer to spur purchase completion, so let shoppers know what it would take for them to get it. Use a banner at the top of the cart content to message current shipping promotions or, if your technology allows it, display exactly how much more shoppers need to add to their carts to qualify for the discount. Backcountry.com displays a free shipping offer, how much more the shopper needs to add to the cart to qualify — and even spotlights recently viewed items to spur an extra cart addition.
What cart tactics have worked for you to spur purchasing — whether on the spot or on subsequent visits?
In the past couple of posts, we’ve looked at how techniques on the eCommerce site and retargeting advertisements can recover sales from visitors who’ve abandoned their shopping carts — a potentially lucrative audience that includes 88% of U.S. consumers, according to industry researcher Forrester.
With results like that, merchants should make deploying cart recovery emails a top priority for 2012. To implement effective an effective program, consider these tactics:
Collect email addresses early, but avoid forced account creation.
In order to send cart abandoners a targeted email enticing them back to the site, merchants need to have captured their email addresses in the first place. Increasingly, merchants are attempting to collect addresses via forced account creation — but with 14% of shoppers reporting that a lack of guest checkout drove them to abandon carts in the first place, according to Forrester, we don’t recommend resorting to such extremes. Instead, use subtler methods to capture this information:
Link abandoned carts to email subscribers. Use behavioral tracking technology to flag when a shopper who’s signed up for email updates, then goes on to abandon a shopping cart.
Ask for an email address in the very first step of checkout, and explain why. Collect an email address on the initial checkout screen, and clearly state it will be used to contact shoppers if there is a question about their order. Include links to privacy information to boost trust, as Walmart does on the first step of guest checkout.
Send a reminder immediately, then follow up. Fully 54% of cart abandoners who intend to buy will do so in the first 24 hours after leaving the site, SeeWhy found. Another 10% will act within 48 hours; within a week, 82% of those who intend to buy will have pulled the trigger. With the gains after the first 24 hours being incremental, it’s crucial to trigger follow-up emails promptly — sending the first within an hour or two of cart abandonment and the second within a day.
In the case study cited above, SmileyCookie.com sent its first email within 30 minutes of abandonment; the second 23 hours later; and the final message four days later. The first email garnered the highest open and click-through rates.
Message content: don’t default to a discount …
When sending shoppers abandonment email offers, the temptation is strong to offer a discount, such as free shipping, to help close the sale. But such immediate payoffs can “train” shoppers to abandon carts in anticipation of a discount. Instead, experiment with the following messaging:
Stress service and convenience. With 11% of cart abandoners reporting they found the checkout process confusing and 10% saying they didn’t have enough information to complete their purchases, offering customer service assistance is a smart strategy to win sales.
Phrasing such as “can we help you complete your order?” puts the emphasis on service.
Include email, phone and live chat options as available.
Spotlight available alternative payment methods such as Paypal, which can save time in checkout.
Give shoppers product alternatives. Many cart abandoners are “window shopping” by adding items to the cart, without necessarily being enamored enough of the chosen product to commit: Forrester found that 24% of abandoners added items to the cart just to be able to consider them later, and 41% weren’t ready to purchase. So give these ambivalent shoppers a sampling of alternative products that might better suit their needs, as Urban Outfitters does in the message below, showing not only the abandoned item but others “you may also like.”
… but do clearly reiterate standard promotions.
If you normally offer free shipping above a threshold, or free site-to-store delivery, do spotlight these policies in your abandonment messaging; cart abandoners may have missed such offers while shopping the eCommerce site, and a prominent reminder of potential savings can trigger them to return and commit to buy.
In the examples above, Sears highlights the availability of free site-to-store delivery, while Urban Outfitters reminds cart abandoners that shipping is free with a purchase of $150 or more. Neither merchant is creating a new discount to lure abandoners back — merely restating sitewide policies the recipients may have forgotten since leaving the site.
For more examples of abandonment emails, view Listrak’s Abandonment Look Book. What messaging and timing strategies have worked for your brand to recapture abandoned carts?
One of the most powerful such tools is retargeting, also called remarketing. Broadly, retargeting refers to techniques for reminding shoppers about products they’ve already viewed on your site. The term can be applied to email campaigns, but more commonly retargeting refers to Web site display advertisements that deliver messages attuned to sites shoppers have recently visited.
Adroll and Google — whose display ad offering spawned the term “remarketing” — are only two players in an increasngly crowded field of vendors offering behavioral retargeting services. Most of these services rely on a cookie that tracks shopper activity on the merchant’s site; merchants define which actions shoppers can take that put them in the target pool for later advertising on other sites. For example, shoppers who visit an outdoor outfitter’s winter sports category may later see retargeting ads featuring the merchant’s top-selling skis.
Retargeting tops the list of advertising techniques in terms of boosting awareness, according to a recent study conducted by online measurement firm comScore and marketing service provider ValueClick Media. The study tracked how much search activity was generated for a brand using a number of targeted display advertising techniques, and found that remarketing produced a lift of over 1000%.
Retargeting can be used for all kinds of campaigns — but it’s particularly apt for capturing cart abandoners. Not only do retargeting ads remind shoppers of products, but merchants have an opportunity to use the ad creative space for additional persuasive content.
This finding goes hand in hand with research on abandonment behavior, which has found that many shoppers use the cart for research and abandon because they simply aren’t ready to commit. For example, industry researcher Forrester found that 41% of cart abandoners weren’t ready to buy, 27% intended to research prices on other sites, and 24% merely added items to the cart for reference later.
The upshot? Merchants need to strike a balance with their retargeting campaigns to cart abandoners, strengthening the overall brand message without overly limiting the product selection on display. To craft an effective retargeting message, consider these techniques:
“Customers like you liked these items.” Consider showing cart abandoners the product they considered — along with other items shoppers who viewed the same product ended up buying. This technique broadens the range of products on display without resorting to a generic ad. Zappo’s employs this technique for its remarketing campaigns. In the ad below, the featured shoes are products other shoppers who viewed the abandoned cart item went on to buy. The three offerings are at different price points, giving the ad viewer further options according to their budget.
Spotlight service for shoppers who tripped up in checkout. The potential for specificity in retargeting means you can serve ads only to shoppers who initiated checkout but didn’t complete orders. For those would-be buyers, consider a branding campaign that puts an emphasis on customer service and price and product guarantees, and prominently features customer service contact information.
Discounts: proceed with caution. While retargeting ads can seem random enough to shoppers to make “gaming the system” unlikely, don’t automatically offer a discount just because someone added an item to the cart. Instead, use discounts wisely by focusing ad delivery to repeat visitors or cart abandoners whose potential order size is above a particular threshold. But while you should target the ad specifically, the offer itself can be broad, such as the 15% order discount offered by MarketLive merchant Design Toscano. Such offers motivates cart abandoners to return to the site, even if they decide they don’t want the specific items they originally left behind.
Are you using display ad retargeting to recapture abandoned cart orders? How effective has retargeting been for your business?
For all the progress online merchants have made in recent years winning new customers and growing revenue, one metric refuses to budge: cart abandonment.
According to industry researcher Forrester, in 2010 fully 88% of shoppers reported abandoning a shopping cart without completing the transaction — the same percentage as in 2005. And quarterly MarketLive Performance Index data for the past two years shows that progress on cart abandonment is mixed, with merchants seeing improvements of less than 5% year-over-year, depending on the quarter, and never dipping below 50%. In the first quarter, year-over-year abandonment has actually risen — suggesting that seasonal deal-hunting will make the next few months particularly challenging for merchants combating abandoned carts.
These shoppers are potentially low-hanging fruit: after all, they’ve already found their way to your site, and they’re interested enough in products to place them in the cart in the first place. In some cases, they’ve even started the checkout process before stalling out or leaving the site.
But with the continued focus on effective use of tight marketing budgets, 2012 may be the year when abandoned carts get serious attention. And the good news is that merchants have a number of tools they can use to win back cart abandoners — not just email.
For starts, there’s plenty merchants can do while shoppers are still on-site to help them return to the path to purchase. Consider the following tactics:
Use dynamic messaging to promote free shipping qualification thresholds. Shipping costs remain the number one barrier to order completion, Forrester found, with 44% of consumers saying they abandoned their carts because shipping costs were too high and another 27% saying shipping costs were revealed too late in the checkout process.
Not only should shipping costs be accessible in the cart — and even on the product page — but merchants should take a further step and message shipping promotions prominently as shoppers add items. Amazon.com calculates how much more shoppers need to add to qualify for free shipping and messages the amount in the cart.
Even if you can’t dynamically promote the amount needed to qualify for free shipping, position shipping messages so shoppers can’t miss them, regardless of how they deviate from the path to purchase. Just a few places to flag shipping promotions
On product pages
In the drop-down display of the global shopping cart, as Macy’s does with its banner featuring a promotional code
In global banners at the top of the center content area
In the shopping cart
At the beginning of checkout
Assuage privacy fears. Forrester found that 12% of shoppers abandoned carts because sites asked for too much information, while 14% balked at setting up an account with a password in order to be able to purchase. As discussed previously, we don’t recommend forced account creation in most cases; but merchants should go further to ensure shoppers don’t abandon purchases because of privacy concerns.
Examine analytics for checkout pages to determine where shoppers drop out. Identify the roadblocks and then alter those checkout steps to improve the flow.
Message privacy and security prominently throughout. Include certification badges from third-party providers and links to the site’s privacy policy, along with reassuring customer service information such as product guarantees.
Trigger proactive live chat to re-engage stalled shoppers. Fully 57% of consumers said they’re likely to abandon their purchases if they don’t find quick answers to product questions, and 44% said the ability to get live help while browsing a site is crucial, according to Forrester. Merchants can address these needs at crucial points on the path to purchase using proactive chat sessions, where a chat window opens and invites potential customers to ask questions. Dell triggers a proactive chat window if shoppers perusing laptop options become inactive on a page during the configuration process.
The trick is to exercise discretion. Forrester found that despite the desire for instant answers and live help, 71% of consumers also said they prefer to initiate live chat help on their own. Start conservatively by triggering proactive chat if shoppers
stall for a specified length of time on a product page or the shopping cart page
begin checkout but then either stall or backtrack to another part of the site
Consider dynamic personalization to serve targeted offers. Services that empower merchants to target shoppers using past purchase history in combination with site behavior can be powerful allies in the fight against abandonment. Some services can even tailor site offers based on shoppers’ current browsing session — enabling merchants to target top loyal customers who hesitate during checkout with a free shipping offer in real time, or to offer a price guarantee to first-time buyers who’ve stalled on a particular product page.
In coming posts, we’ll examine strategies for combating cart abandonment once shoppers have left the site — but meantime, what tactics are you using to win cart abandoners? | {
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p225-228
From a sustained and interdisciplinary investigation of the scholastic method, a cultural logic of medieval disputation emerges. In five discernable stages, disputation evolved from a pedagogical ideal in a monastic setting to become one of the defining features of medieval intellectual life, with formative and performative cultural manifestations at multiple levels of society.
First, Anselm and his circle pioneered a more dynamic and persuasive approach to articulating the tenets of faith, one that relied heavily on the dual power of reason and dialogue. More than any single other individual in the eleventh century, it was Anselm who successfully demonstrated to many of his students and contemporaries the dual power of reason and dialectic in expounding the tenets of Christianity, arguing for their rationality and demonstrating that a deeper understanding of faith could be taught through the ruminative practice of questions and answers. Authors such as Gilbert Crispin, Honorius Augustodunensis, Pseudo-Anselm, and Odo of Cambrai were among the early twelfth-century scholars who followed Anselm’s lead in placing great emphasis on the role of reason and in choosing the dialogue form as the literary genre most suited to their philosophical and theological purposes. While Anselm was not alone in teaching through dialogue, and much of his pedagogical approach must have been inherited rather than invented, he provided the charismatic impulse that launched a new wave of speculative inquiry in Normandy, France, and England.
Second, the rise of new schools in Italy and northern France and the passage of dialogical writing and learning to these circles allowed disputation to be absorbed into a new scholastic milieu. The transference of dialogical learning out of the monasteries and into the tutorials of private masters and cathedral schools allowed the new interest in dialectic to develop slowly into systematic disputation. Several important figures from the early twelfth century such as Rupert of Deutz, Bernard of Clairvaux, and William of St. Thierry frowned upon this new interest in dialectic and the disputatious methods of studying scripture. Nevertheless, those very critics who deplored the new practice of disputation were themselves attracted to the polemical dialogue, composing literary disputations to demonstrate the superiority of their positions. The combative, feudal vocabulary with which authors of different social milieus described the new trends in disputation is an illustrative reminder not only of how pervasive and influential disputation had become but also of its penetrating potential for polemic.
Third, the recovery of Aristotle’s New Logic in the middle decades of the twelfth century helped to catalyze this new and controversial use of disputation by providing models of dialectic argumentation. Adam of Balsham was one of the first authors to consider the value of Aristotle’s logic in relation to the art of discourse (ars disserendi), something that he believed, quite correctly, was in its earliest developmental stages. John of Salisbury presented in his Metalogiconthe clearest pictureof how Aristotelianlogic hadbecome both fashionable and misused within the study of the trivium. John’s mitigated endorsement of scholastic disputation lies in his explaining the value of Aristotelian logic on the one hand, while chiding the useless verbosity of contemporary masters who devalue its worth on the other. The dialectical exchange of the Dialogus Ratii et Everardi by Everard of Ypres discloses an awareness of Book VIII of Aristotle’s Topics, as does in more parodic fashion the anthropomorphic debates featured in the thirteenth-century Owl and the Nightingale. The anonymous author of this Middle English debate is clearly well versed in contemporary academic instruction, even if the precise nature of his scholastic background is frustratingly elusive. The Owl and the Nightingale represents the earliest of many vernacular dialogues that feature animals engaged in a fictional disputation (the Parliament of Fowls being a later example), soon joined by a range of other debate poems that make playful art out of the dialectical process of opposing positions. Collectively, these works may be described as scholastic learning’s ripple effects on the literary imagination.
Fourth, the integration of disputation as a fixture within the teaching program of the university and the Dominican Order established systematic and formal procedures in the art of debate. In a word, disputation became institutionalized. Although founded for different purposes, the university curriculum of Paris and the Dominican schools were coterminous institutions, each owing their formal institutional beginnings to the pontificate of Innocent III. Both institutions sent their graduates off into the world, taking their methods of scholastic argumentation with them. The quaestiones disputatae of the schools of theology, law, and medicine were soon joined by the disputatio de quolibet, a curricular-centered public disputation in which university masters demonstrated their knowledge and argumentative skills without restriction of subject. These curricular debates gave rise to an entire genre of quodlibetical literature that preserved in edited form the questions and arguments that arose from such debates. Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae, to take the most exemplary product of the thirteenth-century university, preserves the essential structure of the classroom debate, presenting arguments pro and contra before resolving the contradictions with a final determinationand respondingcategoricallyto theopposing objections.Aquinas’s involvement in the Dominican Order and his detailed comments on the value and dangers of Jewish-Christian disputations highlight the multiple and interweaving braids that form the third, fourth, and fifth elements of the medieval culture of disputation. While room must also be allowed for disputation among other mendicant orders, the Dominicans were especially engaged with disputation because of their special missionary purpose of convincing heretics and unbelievers of the errors of their beliefs.
Fifth, and most essential, disputation penetrated a public sphere when it became applied—indeed performed—before and among audiences not trained in the lecture halls of the medieval university or the teaching convents of the Dominican Order. Three such examples of the performance of disputation, I have argued, are the principles of counterpoint and polyphony evident in the school of Notre Dame, the motets that likewise grow out of Parisian scholastic circles, and the debate poems of the northern French trouve `res. An even more poignant example of the cultural application of disputation is the Christian encounter with Jews, the Christian dialogical ‘‘other’’ par excellence. Although the Adversus Iudaeos genre extends as far back as the early centuries of Christianity, it witnessed a remarkable proliferation during scholasticism’s most formative period. This included many dialogues purporting to be based on actual encounters between Christians and Jews and instruction manuals for future debates. Disputations between Christians and Jews achieved even greater public dimensions in the thirteenth century, as royal patronage and Dominican involvement in the incidents at Paris in 1240 and Barcelona in 1263 illustrate. Papal attempts to place restrictions on debates between unqualified priests and Jews and the leading role played by Dominican missionaries in organizing public debates indicate the complexity of the church’s encounter with Jews and Judaism, a paradox that, in some sense, mirrors the perpetual paradox of Europe’s Jewish communities: tolerated on the one hand, yet debased and increasingly resented on the other. The scholastic culture of disputation did not in any way resolve this paradox, but it did provide new rhetorical tools that disseminated the arguments of the discourse to a broader audience. The vernacular dialogues between Jews and Christians and the iconographic motif of Christians disputing with Jews reflect this broader evolution of scholastic disputation.
The medieval culture of disputation thus unfolds as an exercise in interdisciplinary reconstruction. It is the conclusion of this book that an idea and a literary form originally limited to small intellectual circles in the late eleventh century evolved though multiple stages to become a cultural practice within the larger public sphere in the thirteenth, perceptible within and beyond the university context. Taking place on the frontier between learned and popular culture, between public and private spheres, between tragedy and comedy, and between polemic and performance, the rise of disputation represents a cultural mutation in medieval society that can be fully understood only with a broad and cross-disciplinary approach to cultural history, one that adequately accounts for the evolution of ideas into practices, across both time and place. The acknowledged centrality of disputation in the late Middle Ages and well into the early modern period, where dialogues and disputations abound, suggests that there are more areas to be explored and more connections to be found. This book makes no claim to have given a complete study of medieval disputation. Rather, it is hoped that the categories of analysis offered and the range of evidence employed will stimulate future investigations into scholasticism’s deep impact on medieval and postmedieval culture. | {
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Mccain Stumbles
September 23, 2008
John McCain’s candidacy has lost its convention bounce. But it's worse than that. If you look at current polls, McCain looks like he is in serious trouble in states like Virginia and Colorado that he really needs to win in November.If Barack Obama wins Virginia and New Mexico, where he is pretty safely ahead, he need only reproduce John Kerry’s numbers in the other states to be victorious.
Let’s look at two states where Obama was behind, but is now inching ahead. In Virginia, Obama has picked up votes, it appears, primarily from women and college-educated voters. In the Survey USApoll, Obama went from leading among women by six percent before the Republican convention to leading by 16 percent in the poll taken from Sept. 19 through Sept. 21. In a poll taken right after the Republican convention, Obama and McCain were tied among college graduates.In the current poll, Obama is ahead by 54 to 43 percent. Many of these voters are concentrated in Northeast Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, where Obama's margin has grown from 16 to 21 percent.
In Colorado, he has picked up votes from Independents, Democrats, and upscale voters.In Aug. 15-21, before the conventions, Quinnipiac found McCain ahead by 46 to 44 percent among independents. In their current poll, conducted Sept. 14-21, Obama is now ahead by a whopping 51 to 40 percent.Obama’s support among Democrats has increased from 86 to 91 percent It also increased in the more cosmopolitan, upscale, better educated Denver/Boulder area from 56 to 64 percent. That suggests that the Independents he is attracting are the Democratic-leaning ones from this area rather than the libertarians from the less populated parts of the state.
Clearly, the financial crisis is a factor.But I’d point to two other telltale signs.The first is that McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin to be his vice-president is beginning to backfire. (Amidst all my errors, I’ll take credit for predicting this.)It seems to be a factor in the movement of women and college-educated voters--and of Democrats--back into the Obama column.Quinnipiac asked Colorado voters whom they would prefer as president, Palin or Democratic choice Joe Biden.Men chose Palin by 46 to 44 percent, while women chose Biden by 47 to 37 percent.Independents preferred Biden by 50 to 37 percent and Democrats--presumably including Hillary Clinton backers McCain wanted to attract--by 86 to 4 percent. 32 percent of Independents said the choice of Palin made them less likely to vote for McCain; only 13 percent said the choice of Biden made them less likely to vote for Obama.
The Survey USA and Washington Post-ABCpolls didn’t ask about Virginia voters’ reaction to Palin, but showed the same movement among the same groups as in Colorado.There was, however, another factor that appeared in the Washington Post-ABC poll. There was a change in which candidate Virginia voters thought was “more honest and trustworthy”--from 44 to 38 percent McCain in the poll released Sept. 7 to 43 to 41 percent Obama in the poll released Sept. 21.That could be a result of another McCain strategy backfiring: the rash of ridiculous negative ads, highlighted by the ads claiming that Obama had defamed Palin by taking his statement about “lipstick on a pig” entirely out of context and the ad claiming that he was a supporter of sex education for kindergartners.
As the campaign proceeds, it is hard to see how McCain can undo these two mistakes. He can’t get rid of Palin. And his campaign staff, drawn from the same people who defamed him in the 2000 South Carolina primary, will be tempted to run even more scurrilous ads in order to slow Obama’s momentum. | {
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Confession Bear: I HAVE BEEN SELLING USED WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR ONLINE FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS USING PICTURES OF NOT WELL-KNOWN MODELS AS THE WOMEN GOING TO BE WEARING THE PANTIES THERE ARE NO WOMEN INVOLVED, JUST ME
Good guy OP: Likes imgur, and says so by using a meme site made by a redditor. :) | {
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5 Tips for Family Camping with the Dog
Veteran family campers know "The Checklist" typically gets pretty extensive. From lanterns to lighter fluid and sleeping bags to first-aid supplies, chances are, the car is going to end up crammed by the time you've packed everything you could need.
Of course, the supplies you'll pack will vary depending on what kind of camping trip you're planning, but if you decide to bring the family dog along, there are some crucial items you'll definitely need to find room for.
So once you've selected a canine-friendly campsite, be sure to keep in mind the following considerations.
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:
Toothman, Jessika. "5 Tips for Family Camping with the Dog" 20 December 2010. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hiking/5-tips-for-family-camping-with-the-dog.htm> 03 March 2015. | {
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Farmers turn to 12-inch twin-row
Holmes County, Miss., farmer Keith Killebrew took note of the alternative way his neighbor was planting soybeans this season, and incorporated the method in his crops.
“I saw how he planted one row and moved the hitch over 4 inches for another row, and then I saw how well the plants blossomed,” Killebrew said.
Ultimately, Killebrew and his twin brother, Heath, elected to purchase a 12-inch, twin-row planter that would give them a similar advantage.
The twin-row planter costs about 50 percent more than the traditional planter system. However, because its design creates a staggered seed drop, it can lead to various economic advantages, including improved canopy, less disease, increased yield and crop uniformity.
Presently, Monosem is the only manufacturer of a 12-inch, twin-row planter.
Heath said the brothers deliberated over making the pricey investment, but calculated that the savings the twin-row planter could generate would justify the cost.
The Killebrews used the twin-row to plant 3,500 acres of soybeans, 100 acres of twin-row, skip-row cotton and 2,000 acres of single-row cotton.
“If we save on Roundup (sprays) it will make a difference,” he said. “And over the long run the savings will pay for the planter.”
The popularity of the 12-inch, twin-row planter is emerging as a new pattern, at least in the Delta.
Robert Wilson, an independent farm equipment representative, and Jay Rose, employee with Ayers-Delta Implement Inc., covering Belzoni, Lexington and Greenwood, Miss., both have sold twin-planters to a growing list of clients over the past year, including the Killebrews.
Interest in the area is growing fast, both conveyed. Wilson, based out of Missouri, said the trend is regional. “In southeast Arkansas six years ago there were no twin-rows. Today it dominates that area,” he said. “Twin-row is still a new concept to many farmers, and farmers can be slow to change.”
But Rose said once word spreads — particularly during harvesting — about a few farmers' success from using a new machine or practice, nearby farmers quickly adopt and conform. He anticipates that will happen with the 12-inch, twin-row planter.
Wilson said that several years ago, Georgia peanut growers were among the first farmers to use the twin-row planters, reaping the benefits of less disease and greater yields.
“Slowly, the twin-rows worked this way,” he said.
Wilson said that because the twin-row planter enables a farmer to plant twice as many seeds in one sweep, it improves scheduling proficiency for the entire operation.
“The ability to pick five or six days quicker can pay dividends with yield when you are racing against bad weather or hurricane season,” he said.
Rose said farmers appreciate the twin-row's dual capability for twin-row or single row planting, as well as its effectiveness on both premium soil and less desirable soil.
Morgan City, Miss., farmer Neil Pillow said he and his brother, Stephen, recently were convinced to purchase a twin-row planter because of its versatility and ability to create extra-width space within rows.
They had planted with a conventional planter, but sought help to gain some preferred width in their seed spacing.
Stephen said they have been impressed by the planter's flexibility and precision after using it to plant about half of their farm's 5,000 soybean acres.
“We planted (12-inch, twin-row) on flat (soil) and on a bed, on no-till and on maximum till,” Steven said.
“Its versatility allows us do whatever we want to do,” added Neil.
Neil said that by using the twin-row planter, soybeans are less likely to canopy prematurely — a problem the family-farm Wolf River Plantation and Sons Planting Co. has contended with in past seasons.
Furthermore, he said, using the twin-row planter provides growth “insurance” that a zone in the field or specific row won't be completely devoid of crop maturation.
“It gives the assurance that we won't have a blank space of zero growth,” he said.
The brothers agreed that the twin-row planter should save them from spraying a second or third Roundup application. It also means a savings in labor costs.
They have enough confidence about their investment that they are already planning to use it to plant their corn next season.
The equipment's durability is a feature that attracted Isola, Miss., farmer Ashley Millican.
He was already a fourth of the way into his planting period, when after discussing the change with the Pillows, Millican purchased a twin-row planter. He recently used it to plant 2,500 acres of soybeans and 100 acres of cotton on what he described as primarily marginal ground quality.
He too said using the twin-planter should cut his fuel usage — especially with the recent spike in fuel costs — in half, and help reduce scheduling pressures.
“Over time this will pay off,” he said. “Plus, someone has to be the guinea pig for the first few years with something new. | {
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Road Trip: Our students travel to D.C. Inauguration
Editor’s note: Choghri, Fairey and O’Brien are three of four Humber Journalism students who travelled to Washington, D.C. last week to cover the Presidential Inauguration and following day’s Women’s March, stopping en route in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Jan. 20, after running one of the most controversial campaigns in American history. The next day, data collected by Erica Chenoweth from University of Denver and Jeremy Pressman from University of Connecticut, estimated three million people across the United States attended various Women’s Marches in protest of Trump and his proposed policies.
Despite this polarization, the election wasn’t simply black and white, as we learned first-hand from American voters of all parties. There was an uproar across the country when Donald Trump said he would not accept the results of the election if Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won, but it was the nation’s Left that marched the streets to exercise their first amendment rights over the weekend.
Our first stop was in Altoona, PA, a once prosperous railway town in America’s rust belt, which has historically been dominated by Republican candidates. Out of 23,000 eligible voters in Altoona, about an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh, over 20,000 voted for Trump.
The media was quick to highlight issues of racism, sexism and misogyny in Trump’s campaign, but the people of Altoona concerned themselves with economic growth and opportunity. These weren’t necessarily people filled with hate, but hard working Americans who felt left behind by governments of the past.
In the heart of Washington D.C., only one name could be heard, chanted over and over again: TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP! The closer we got to the National Press Building, we discovered that this was not the only thing being chanted.
Angry protesters began chanting “get these fascists out of here” and “f–k these Nazis”, booing at apparent Trump supporters. Many of these supporters got into altercations, both verbal and physical.
The smells were as strong as the words. The air was full of marijuana, and burning flags with Trump’s face and famous logo becoming ash blowing in the breeze.
It seemed like every cop in Washington was patrolling the streets on the eve of the inauguration. Whether officers were standing in front of the National Press Building, driving in cop cars, riding bikes or helicopters, their presence could not be ignored.
On the day of the inauguration, that presence increased. Police forces, Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service, FBI and the US Army worked together to secure the inauguration grounds.
Protesters who had been stationed at the corner of K street and 13th street for several hours described a man with blood streaming down his face after he was hit with shrapnel from a concussion grenade.
The riot police were outfitted with shields and batons, and attempted to subdue the crowds. What started out as pepper spray and flash bangs quickly turned to tear gas and rubber bullets. Some protesters became more aggressive by smashing windows and eventually lighting a limo on fire.
Amongst the chaos at Franklin Square, a Trump supporter pushed and shoved wildly with several protesters in the middle of the street. He let out a yelp as protesters hurled insults at him, and he retreated off the street through the crowd. While trying to get his Make America Great Again hat back from protesters, he had been pepper sprayed by another civilian.
“I had to grab it from a couple people, and some people tried to push me off of them,” a man, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
He held out his glasses, covered in orange, a mix of pepper spray and tears streamed down his face.
“I don’t know what this stuff is, this has never happened to me before, but I wasn’t gonna let them take my hat,” the Trump supporter said.
He seemed defiant, never defeated, much like the Trump movement that swept across America. Hard working, determined people with too much momentum to be stopped. They knew from the beginning they would win, no matter how many hits they took in the process. | {
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Max Scherzer and the Nationals deliver the Mets again toward the cellar
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Considerably together with Washington, the Mets3rd batter of the sport did some harm in opposition to the opposing beginner. Just after an Asdrubal Cabrera double, Jose Bautista introduced him dwelling with a solitary. Bautista was termed out at minute foundation once a analyze upon a toss against Michael A. Taylor, who experienced only bobbled the ball. In just the supreme of the instant, Matz learned himself inside a jam once providing up singles towards Daniel Murphy and Matt Wieters in the direction of location adult males upon to start with and moment with merely just one out https://www.shopmetsgearonline.com/Jose_Lobaton_Camo_Jersey-534. When a sacrifice bunt by means of Scherzer, Matz was ready towards order Trea Turner in direction of fly out toward specifically business in direction of position an conclusion toward the risk Wilmer Flores White/Royal Jersey. Matz ran into a common condition in just the 3rd inning at the time Anthony Rendon went backyard back again Jose Lobaton Men's Jersey, this year inserting Washington up 3-1. Other than 2 regrettable pitches towards Rendon, Steven Matz didn Quite incorporate a terrible night time. Within just the evening, he pitched himself out of a couple of sticky circumstances and minimal the non-Rendon hitters within just the lineup towards 6 hits in just 6-moreover innings https://www.shopmetsgearonline.com/Seth_Lugo_Royal_Jersey-435. In just the fourth inning, substantially including Washington, the guy who scored the team initial function of the sport scored the following. Jose Bautista drove within just an additional work upon a solo household work, his 7th of the yr and 5th as a Achieved. Steven Matz found out himself inside dilemma once more in just the 6th inning. Soon after a couple of walks toward Daniel Murphy and the participant of the 7 days, Mark Reynolds, Matz experienced adult males upon initial and instant with 2 outs and Scherzer coming up. Components grew to become Quite dicey whenever Scherzer achieved foundation and introduced up Trea Turner with the bases rich. When 2 pitches, Matz obtained Turner toward pop out in the direction of Wilmer Flores at 3rd towards close the inning. Regretably, the 7th inning didn include these kinds of a delighted finishing. At the time Matz arrived out of the recreation, Tim Peterson arrived in just, gave up a one toward Rendon, and then routinely still left. Jerry Blevins was known as inside of toward encounter Bryce Harper and factors went relating to as properly as by yourself needed. Harper deposited the ball into the instantly industry seats and gave the Nats a direct that they under no circumstances surrender. The Mets strike 2 far more household operates right before the close of the activity, yet they weren sufficient in direction of conclusion the hole as both equally were being solo pics. Kevin Plawecki strike his inside the backside of the 7th and Asdrubal Cabrera matched him in just the closing 50 percent of the future inning. The Mets attempted toward produce a comeback 1 previous period within the backside of the 9th, yet that far too arrived up quick. A Kevin Plawecki solitary obtained components begun off very well, still Jose Reyes and his .473 OPS grounded into a fielder alternative. Amed Rosario, who was benched in just choose of Reyes for no matter what purpose, grounded into a double participate in toward conclude the video game and finish the Nationals 5-4 gain. The Mets and Nationals are again at it once more tomorrow night time for the minute recreation of this 4-activity mounted as the returning Noah Syndergaard can take upon Tanner Roark and his fiery bosoms https://www.shopmetsgearonline.com/Kevin_Plawecki_Royal_Blue_Jersey-708. SB Country GameThreadsAmazinAvenueFederal BaseballBox scoresESPNMLBWin Chance AddedWhat WPA? Fangraphs.com Massive winners: Jose Bautista, +20.7% WPA, Kevin Plawecki, +14.0% WPA, Michael Conforto, +11.5% WPA, Asdrubal Cabrera, +11.0% WPABig losers: Wilmer Flores, -21.5% WPA, Amed Rosario, -20.0% WPA, Jerry Blevins, -18.0% WPA, Jose Reyes, -16.0% WPA, Matt den Dekker, -14.5% WPATeh aw3s0mest perform: Kevin Plawecki 9th inning solitary, +13.3% WPATeh sux0take it easy participate in: Amed Rosario recreation-finishing double participate in, -20.0% WPATotal pitcher WPA: -16.8% WPATotal batter WPA: -33.2% WPAGWRBI!: Bryce Harper | {
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Framework Battleground: Bootstrap vs Foundation Vs Semantic UI
User Interface or abbreviated as UI can defined as the connection between the user and the technological device the person is using, it can be a computer or it can even be a mobile phone. UI is simply a set of commands that is used by the user to communicate with the program on the device. The user interface of a device is one of the most important things because it helps in determining how efficiently a task can be achieved in the device by the user. While several debates have been floating around regarding the newest types of UI, this article is set to focus on the three different types of UI with special emphasis on their features and a bit of comparison between the three.
The three types of User Interface Framework to be discussed are:
Bootstrap
Foundation
Semantic
A bit in-depth:
Before we proceed to make any sort of comparisons between the three of the UI, it is best to have a varied and in-depth knowledge about all the three of them, in order to understand all their features and the specifications.
Bootstrap UI:
Bootstrap is a free and open source front end web framework that is mainly used for web designing and also for several web applications. This User Interface has gained popularity in a very short period of time and has been ranked the second most-starred project with around 100,000 stars and 45,000 forks. This UI contains design templates for various kinds of typography, buttons and even other interface components like navigation and such. The design templates are mainly HTML and CSS-based and the web frameworks only concern with the front-end development.
Salient features:
The Bootstrap has upgraded to several versions since its initial release and the features of the same have gone up and improved with the latest upgrades.
Some of the main salient features of the Bootstrap UI are:
The compatibility of the Bootstrap UI is something that has been attracting a lot of audience. The UI is compatible with the latest and the newest versions of Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and even Opera.
The second upgraded version of the UI, or the Bootstrap 2.0 has been evident on supporting a very responsive web design which simply implies that the web pages in this version of the UI adjusts themselves dynamically.
The third version has been considered as of the most revolutionary ones with its mobile version design.
The Bootstrap 4.0 alpha was further upgraded and improved with addition of Sass and Flexbox support in it.
Functions:
The Bootstrap is customisable and is made up of various types and number of stylesheets. There is also a stylesheet that is named as Bootstrap less where the web designers
Modifications and adjustments on the Bootstrap UI is restricted up to a certain level and can be done with the help of a central configuration stylesheet.
The upgrade of the Bootstrap to Bootstrap 2.0 has added several “customising” improvements in the documentation. The developer has the free liberty to change or adjust the features according to their will or needs.
As of the fourth and the latest edition of the UI, it uses Sass in place of Less for the stylesheets.
The width-layout can be changed and modified accordingly along with the pixels and resolutions.
Pros:
A wide angular support with a great stability.
The upcoming angular 4 is set to be launched with all the missing links.
Cons:
The UI has been very much criticised for its lack of usability and the fact that the developer has to manually modify and customise the features of the site depending on their needs.
The present version of the Bootstrap doesn’t have a Flexbox grid which is very much recommended for a better and responsive UI layout.
Foundation:
Foundation is yet another very popular and responsive UI with a front-end framework. This UI is the perfect amalgamation of the HTML and CSS UI along with responsive grid, templates, trendy typography, buttons and navigating features and the list goes on. The Foundation is an open source project that is looked over by ZURB.
Salient features:
This UI has been developed and designed on several browsers and specifically on various mobile devices with a very responsive framework that allows the developers to have a very rapid development.
Some of the features of the Foundation UI are:
It has the usage of Sass mixins which helps the developers using this UI to efficiently make their layout stylish and attractive yet keeping it simple and clean.
The second version of the UI, Foundation 2.0, it supports responsive design which is almost similar to that of the Bootstrap UI in which the web pages adjusts themselves dynamically.
The Foundation 4.0 mainly focuses on the mobile version of the UI and enhancement of the same.
Functions:
The Foundation UI is almost similar to the Bootstrap UI with differences in bits and pieces.
The UI has a primary and standard 940 pixel width along with a very flexible and customisable grid layout. The toolkit is very responsive and helps in adjustment of the width of the columns automatically.
The Foundation UI contains several other components apart from the HTML elements, advanced features like navigation lists, drop-down options and pagination to name a few.
Pros and Cons:
The upsides and downsides to the Foundation UI are more or less similar to that of the Bootstrap UI.
Semantic:
Last but not the least; Semantic UI is one of the most popular and easy to use UI and development framework that helps in producing beautiful and very responsive layouts using HTML.
Features and Functions:
Some of the most important features of the Semantic UI are:
The words and classes that fall under the Semantic UI are treated as exchangeable concepts and the developers tend to procure the same benefits like that of the BEM and SMACSS without tedium.
The Semantic UI uses very clean and simple phrases that are called behaviors that in turn is responsible for triggering the functionality.
The feature of performance logging helps the user to track down several bottlenecks.
Pros:
The UI is very well credited for its flexible grid support.
There is no need of writing your own CSS command.
It is one of the most well documented UI which also supports a lot of components with API.
Cons:
Doesn’t have angular support and also lacks material design support.
To sum it all up:
Now to conclude it all, it can be very well seen that each of the UI have their special features and specifications and all of them are good for a good user’s experience. If the three of the UI are compared, the Semantic UI can be a given a bit more preference but that definitely doesn’t mean that the other two of the UI are bad. | {
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Registration will be between 11.00 and 11.15 for an 11.30 start, and we will play the usual four sessions, with a break for lunch, and finishing around 18.30 to 19.00. You are welcome to play all or part of the day as convenient.
Entry fee £9, with prizes for the winner and runners-up.
If possible, please let me know in advance if you intend to play, the more I know about, the more prizes I buy, but you are welcome to turn up on the day if you find yourself unexpectedly free.,
Feel free to ask any questions, and we hope to see as many of you as possible on the day | {
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On November 11th, we had the pleasure of hearing Dr Helen Roche (Cambridge) speak about “Narrating the fall of empires” in völkisch and National Socialist racial ideology. In the space of an hour, Helen led us through “schematic narrative templates” of racial discourse in 19th century, Weimar, and National Socialist German writings. Using a methodological approach drawing upon the notion of such ‘templates’ articulated by James V. Wertsch (in Voices of Collective Remembering, CUP 2002 and “Collective Memory” in Wertsch & Boyer, eds., Memory in Mind & Culture, CUP 2009, pp.117-37), Helen explored the “metaphysics” of National Socialist history by linking cultural decline theories with a Geschichtsdogmatikin popular, political, and educational texts.
Helen argued that we can read textbooks published under the Third Reich as analogous to a state-sponsored attempt to craft a specific “schematic narrative template” from scratch. She suggested that a civilisational narrative about the decline and fall of states played a particularly important role in the racial ideology espoused by Nazism and accordingly taught to German children, via textbooks like Volk und Führer: Deutsche Geschichte für Schulen from the late 1930s to 1945. In this narrative, the “purity” of the German essence (or blood) and the ancient heritage of this essence was granted primacy in educational processes. Tracing a narrative of imperial decline and fall explained in racial terms (e.g., miscegenation with ‘lesser’ races produces a ‘weaker’ state/empire, thus leading to its eventual demise) from Joseph Arthur Comte de Gobineau’s An Essay on the Inequality of Human Races (1855), to Houston Stewart Chamberlain’s disquisition on the end of the Roman Empire (his Die Grundlagen des Neunzehnten Jahrhunderts sold over 60,000 copies in its first year of publication alone!), through voices of ideologues close to Hitler including Hans F.K. Günther (1891-1968) and Alfred Rosenberg (1893-1946), Helen showed how the Nazi belief that all great cultures of the past died out due to “blood poisoning” permeated a state policy that children should be endowed with a “racial sense” or “racial feeling” via education – specifically, school history textbooks.
Her research carried important questions for future research, highlighting connections to a variety of other disciplinary fields. Jo Whaley (of the Department of Modern & Medieval Languages, Cambridge) drew on his extensive knowledge of German history from the early modern period to the present to highlight particular spaces of engagement that underscore the broad import of Helen’s micro-study. Jo asked:
What happened to competing voices of the biological/racial turn (e.g. biological thinking such as eugenics in Britain and France followed very different trajectories) – what made Germany so exceptional? Should we read Nazi racial history as the next step in a national discourse that, from 1919, focused on a German deficit or failing to achieve?
What is the relationship between the pre-1914 tradition (Gobineau, Chamberlain) and its development under the Nazis from the 1920s-30s, especially since the Nazi regime was utterly disenchanted with academia and the history produced by university academics?
Did racial thinking make any contribution to “modernity”? (We might think of eugenics, prisoner rehabilitation programs, the hygiene movement, and even education: while some research areas under the Nazis were ‘dead ends’, others flourished in the postwar period – on this note, we might think to explore the postwar careers of figures such as Günther…)
As always, the discussion period was thought-provoking and provided many opportunities for a complicated reading of the original paper – many thanks to both Helen and Jo for their insights. | {
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About Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher, who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party.
He is mainly remembered for his support of the cause of the American Revolutionaries, and for his later opposition to the French Revolution. The latter led to his becoming the leading figure within the conservative faction of the Whig party, which he dubbed the "Old Whigs", in opposition to the pro–French Revolution "New Whigs", led by Charles James Fox.
Burke was praised by both conservatives and liberals in the 19th century. Since the 20th century, he has generally been viewed as the philosophical founder of modern conservatism, as well as a representative of classical liberalism.
The worthy gentleman [Mr. Coombe], who has been snatched from us
at the moment of the election, and in the middle of the contest,
while his desires were as warm, and his hopes as eager as ours,
has feelingly told us, what shadows we are, and what shadows we
pursue.
Young man, there is America--which at this day serves for little
more than to amuse you with stories of savage men and uncouth
manners; yet shall, before you taste of death, show itself equal
to the whole that commerce which now attracts the envy of the
world.
All persons possessing any portion of power ought to be strongly
and awfully impressed with an idea that they act in trust, and
that they are to account for their conduct in that trust to the
one great Master, Author, and Founder of society. | {
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Necessary cookies enable core functionality of the site including accessibility and security. You can disable these by changing your browser settings, but this will affect how the website works for you.
Analytics Cookies - We'd find it helpful to set Google Analytics cookies to help us improve our website and your experience. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. | {
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Bill Ferris’ “Voices of Mississippi” wins two Grammys
Historian and Mississippi native William Ferris took home a Grammy Award on Sunday for a retrospective of his work as a Mississippi folklorist.
“Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris” won the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album. The 120-page book that accompanied the recordings also received a Grammy for best album notes. A box set, “Voices of Mississippi” contains two discs of Ferris’s blues and gospel recordings from the 1960s and 1970s, one disc of recorded stories and a DVD of documentaries he made in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Ferris, an associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has received a number of awards and accolades for his work with southern folklore, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination for co-editing the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. In the 1980s, Quincy Jones tapped Ferris to help compose the score for the film “The Color Purple.”
Ferris has written and edited 10 books and created 15 documentary films, most of which deal with African-American music and folklore from the Mississippi Delta. A former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Ferris also founded the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, where he taught for 18 years. | {
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I've actually bought a couple of 1987 G1 headmasters in the last weeks: Chromedome, Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf, and I already own Mindwipe, Snapdragon and Apeface. I also own Predaking, and if I'm honest, Predaking is a way better toy than the Headmasters, in all respects. A lot more impressive as a display piece, better play value, better designs.
Don't get me wrong: the regular Headmasters are pretty cool in their own right (especially the triplechanging Horrorcons), but given the choice your are stating, I'd choose Predaking every time. | {
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Cite This Source
Power
Technically, you have the power to influence the direction of a massive construction project...all with the survey data you provide to the project's managers. You can mess with the GPS coordinates at will; placing data points in anthills, landfills, and other undesirable locations. You can find ways to drag out projects for someone you don't like, taking three days for a survey that should have taken six hours. None of this is ethical, and this behavior certainly won't help your career prospects. In fact, this questionable conduct could even affect your surveyor's license. Conclusion: Although you might briefly enjoy this sense of absolute power, the potential consequences just aren't worth it. And you probably couldn't live with yourself. | {
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News
SAFC thanks Invest In Africa
Sunderland AFC has today thanked Invest in Africa for its support, as the club gets set to announce a new principal partner.
SAFC announced an initial partnership with Invest in Africa in January 2012, kicking off the ground-breaking not-for-profit initiative which promotes Africa as a leading business destination and actively challenges misconceptions about investing on the continent. The partnership developed further when Invest in Africa became the club’s principal partner and shirt sponsor for the 2012-13 season.
The club and Invest in Africa will continue to work together in the future, further cementing the positive relationship that has developed between the two parties.
Sunderland AFC’s chief executive, Margaret Byrne, said: “We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Invest in Africa for their support over the last 18 months.
"The partnership between Invest inAfrica and Sunderland AFC really helped to kick-start the club’s work on the African continent, which is now going from strength to strength." | {
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Data in MongoDB has a flexible schema. Collections do not enforce document structure. Decisions
that affect how you model data can affect application performance and
database capacity. See Data Modeling Concepts for a full high
level overview of data modeling in MongoDB.
This document describes a data model that describes a tree-like structure
in MongoDB documents by storing references in the parent-nodes to children nodes.
The Child References pattern provides a suitable solution to tree storage
as long as no operations on subtrees are necessary. This pattern may
also provide a suitable solution for storing graphs where a node may
have multiple parents. | {
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New Movement Aims to 'Reset the Net' Against Mass Surveillance
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New Movement Aims to 'Reset the Net' Against Mass Surveillance
A coalition of nearly two-dozen tech companies and civil liberties groups is launching a new fight against mass internet surveillance, hoping to battle the NSA in much the same way online campaigners pushed back on bad piracy legislation in 2012.
The new coalition, organized by Fight for the Future, is planning a Reset the Net day of action on June 5, the anniversary of the date the first Edward Snowden story broke detailing the government's PRISM program, based on documents leaked by the former NSA contractor.
"Government spies have a weakness: they can hack anybody, but they can't hack everybody," the organizers behind the Reset the Net movement say in their video (above). "Folks like the NSA depend on collecting insecure data from tapped fiber. They depend on our mistakes, mistakes we can fix."
They also want mobile apps and websites to post a Reset the Net splash screen on June 5 and are distributing a privacy packet for users that contains a bundle of various free software tools, like Adium and Pidgin (for encrypted chat), Textsecure, and Redphone (encrypted phone calls and text messaging) and GPG (for encrypted email).
"A year after Snowden's shocking revelations, the NSA is still spying on innocent Americans without a warrant," Michael Kieschnick, CEO of CREDO Mobile, said in a statement about the Reset the Net campaign. "CREDO will continue to demand Congress and the president take action to stop unconstitutional mass warrantless surveillance, and until we win real reform, we will encourage users to adopt encryption tools to protect their personal communications from government abuse of the 1st and 4th amendment."
"We are speaking to different people at a lot of these larger platforms," says Tiffiniy Cheng, co director of Fight for the Future, which launched the Reset the Net movement. "We're not sure where we are in those conversation but the conversations are going well." She notes that the fight against mass surveillance is much more complex than the anti-SOPA campaign, and large companies may take different approaches this time around.
"A lot of companies have either made some public statement or have taken on security practices that would move us towards making mass surveillance very difficult to conduct, so they're headed in the right direction," she says. "We expect that they will come out and support the greater movement to make mass surveillance extremely hard to do.... Because the surveillance is done in so many different ways ... there are different ways that you can push back on mass surveillance." | {
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Look What You Did, You Little Jerk
Imagine you are driving home from a long day one Friday and little ghoul-faced vampires, witches, and sheet-masked bodies start to dart around your car. They slow the traffic and swallow up your vehicle in a wave. They wade into the street and whack your sedan with buckets full of candy. A few of the gutsier ones press their faces up against the car windows and cackle at you, their little voices become a taunt, and their painted faces smear against the glass in some orgiastic tradition. It is like any other Halloween of the year, and yet it never ceases to be unnerving. Therein lies that unsettling fact: Whether under control or not, children can be terrifying.
There is a similar scene in Lynne Ramsay’s new film We Need to Talk About Kevin. Eva Khatchadourianis caught in a Halloween frenzy, made even more chilling by the use of Buddy Holly’s “Everyday” on the soundtrack. She manages to make it into her house, down an old glass of red wine, and collapse into a corner as the children surround and pound on her door yelling “trick or treat.”
Ramsay’s film is an adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s 2003 novel of the same name. It takes place in the wake of a school massacre executed by the Kevin we all need to talk about. Tilda Swinton is perfectly cast as Eva, the cool, statuesque mother softened — or made pathetic — by her son’s horrendous crimes and the shame she has to suffer for them. John C. Reilly is the affable and oblivious Franklin, who believes his son can do no wrong. Ezra Miller plays the teenage Kevin at the apex of his sociopathic tendencies, and Miller really does “play” Kevin: He oozes such charisma that he seems to be having just a little too much fun.
Set post-massacre, we find Kevin’s mother alone, a shell of her former self, consigned to a new life of doubt and forced reflection. Kevin has always been a strange child, we learn, through the slanted view of mother Eva’s recalling that makes up much of the film’s running time. But interest in the Kevin character is largely propelled by what Alyssa Rosenberg calls “the Bad Thing” in an article she wrote about the novel for The Atlantic. “The novel exploits and forces us to acknowledge our greedy desire to see horrible things happen,” Rosenberg writes.
It would be delicious to watch the film without any exposure whatsoever to the story, to let “the Bad Thing” dawn on you slowly, because, despite film being a perfect medium to satisfy our scopophilic viciousness, Ramsay doesn’t indulge our wishes so explicitly. Instead, her skillful filmmaking whittles away at the marrow of the characters in expert use of parallel imagery. The film is a precisely crafted visual feast, and if you’re familiar with Lynne Ramsay’s cinematographic style, from features such as Ratcatcher and Morvern Callar, Kevin is perhaps its apotheosis. The film is constructed with a series of interweaving scenes free of chronology, with Eva as the conduit. You can never be sure the time or place of the scenes. Instead, it creates a pool of images the viewer must wade through: the orgiastic opening of the La Tomatina festival in Spain, the red-paint-splattered house that Eva’s been consigned to live in, the way Kevin bites off his fingernails and lines them up in his jail cell, Eva’s own sacrificial meal of smashed eggs with the shells in them. The film delays the desire to see Kevin act out the Bad Thing by imbuing every banal action and moment in the film with portentous weight.
I couldn’t help but think of America’s favorite Kevin, Macaulay Culkin’s invocation of him in the early Home Alone series. Culkin’s Kevin is the black sheep of an absurdly large family that is corralling everyone together for a Christmas trip abroad. Kevin is the poster image for childish rebellion: Everyone already hates or is irritated by him, so he plays along by not making anything easier and is accidentally forgotten. Finding himself alone in the morning, Kevin is shocked and a bit scared. “I made my family disappear,” he says to himself, in the cavernous house he’s been stranded in. It takes him only a second to realize the repercussions of this statement and he stands, wiggling his eyebrows, emboldened: “I made my family disappear!”
This Kevin, the kind of Kevin parents will let their children watch for ages in the weeks before and after Christmas, was also a bit of a sociopath. He revelled in his family’s departure. He ransacked the house. He played war with a pair of very laughable villains, in which he showed a prowess with scare tactics that matched theirs. He loved every minute of it, all the while his mother, wringing her hands, took pains to return from France, repeating the mantra “I’m a horrible mother” again and again. The Home Alone Kevin has always been a hero of sorts, not a bad boy. He had villains to fight against, and his adventure allowed his family’s worry and negligence to fade into the background. He may have been a bit of a sociopath, but his mother worried about him, and he was so cute, right?
Ramsay’s Kevin is one we don’t want to remember. After Eva papers a room with maps and images from her years abroad, Kevin says, “These squiggly squares of paper. They’re dumb,” and sprays paint throughout his mother’s room of her own. When Eva and Franklin decide to have a second child, Kevin is petulant in the creepy, reserved way he internalizes his anger. She tries to describe to him, at age 7, how “Mama Bear and Daddy Bear” went about creating his sister. “You mean fucking?” he says. He looks his mother straight in the eye, methodically breaking crayons, and gives her a steely argument for why he will never accommodate a little sister: “Just because you’re used to something doesn’t mean you like it. You’re used to me.” We would like to forget this Kevin, but we cannot. Nor can Eva. She is trying to move on with her life but is forever wedded to the Bad Thing.
It is her own self-punishment to stay in the town where the Bad Thing happened instead of fleeing, as is her wont. Through a series of dreamlike flashbacks, Eva’s present life is woven into her past life, and we learn she’s been demoted on a number of levels. Once a respected travel writer, Eva now lives in a small town in upstate New York, applying for menial work at a depressing lower-tier agency. “I don’t really care who you are or what you done — so long as you can type and file you can have this job,” says a potential employer to Eva near the beginning of the film.
Even before Kevin is born you sense a subtle disgust on Eva’s part at the child inside her. Perhaps it’s the idea of motherhood in general. So much of the movie’s silence is woven into assumed understanding of Eva’s plight. Ramsay has expertise in rendering a single woman’s perverse grief on a couch to a stellar soundtrack, as witnessed in Morvern Callar. It can be easy to forget the protagonist’s own culpability as we surrender to her force in directing the story. During one rare mother-and-son outing, Eva lets out a litany at the miniature golf course: “Fat people are always eating. It’s food. They’re fat because they eat the wrong food.” Kevin snarls at his mother, “You know, you can be kind of harsh sometimes. Wonder where I got it?”
This is the question that haunts Eva, where Kevin “got” the Bad Thing, because she feels, as anyone would in the situation, to blame. There’s really no place in the popular imagination for bad mothers, for dissatisfied mothers made unhappy by their children. There are a slew of articles about how difficult it is to be a mother in the modern world, to balance a career with motherhood, or to stay at home forgoing other aspirations. But little sympathy is extolled for the subtle embarrassments and horrors of children, those who cling a little too hard to your car on a Halloween evening. The mother is expected to love unconditionally, blindly, and stupidly and be made happy by the effort.
The pre-massacre Eva was not exactly sympathetic in these maternal respects. She’s a successful writer and businesswoman. She lives in a downtown loft in New York with a doting husband, who finds it his responsibility to move the family into a sprawling, minimalist house upstate. And on top of it all, Eva’s kind of a bitch. In Shriver’s novel, Eva relates her encounter with a bereaved mother after the massacre at the grocery store:
I imagine you can grieve as efficiently with chocolate as with tap water.… Besides there are women who keep themselves sleek and smartly turned out less to please a spouse than to keep up with a daughter, and, thanks to us, she lacks that incentive these days.
It takes something beyond starry-eyed appreciation for Swinton’s steely yet sad character to see to this literary core, there in the first pages of Shriver’s book, that a sort of wicked and “Bad Thing” exists in most of us, latent or expressed. Eva’s harshness seems to flourish and develop after she loses everything: She perfects her own punishment.
In the aftermath of Kevin’s Bad Thing, the moral weight of the story entirely falls on the shoulders of the mother, not her criminal son. You can produce a psychopath even if you are a good mother. What we learn is that Eva was not a good mother, or even an okay mother. However, the reality is that even if the Eva and Franklin parental unit did talk about Kevin, they would not have been able to stop him from killing his classmates and teachers. Good parents or bad, they could never have conceived the plans he had in mind.
The problem of the child psychopath is about where to place the blame, and this is never perfectly clear. For one, children are terrifying: in their newness, in their mocking report of the results of nature vs. nurture, in their callow and perceptive insults. There are so many unnerving and complicated cases of parents who were wholly oblivious to their children’s often fatal tendencies. Perhaps part of the confusion is obliviousness, for both the public and the parents. In Home Alone Mrs. McCallister traverses 4,000 miles while beating herself up for forgetting her son. In We Need to Talk About Kevin there is direct identification between child and parent, which gives the story its resonant tension.
Eva is not unlike her son, and perhaps that’s why she’s never liked him and why he hates her. Kevin and Eva share a similar haircut: blue-black shorn hair, the wispy bits cutting like little knives across their cheeks. They both desire for control of every situation, whether through childproof cabinet ties or bike locks. They share a common distaste for the whimsy and kindness of others, and they equally hate the other for seeing through them. It is hard to not hear Ramsay’s recurring choice of song “Mother’s Last Words to Her Son” as the perfect leitmotif:
I never can forget the day
When my dear mother did sweetly say
You are leaving, my darling boy,
You always have been your mother’s joy.
As the film moves on, two years past his incarceration date, we learn that Eva is preparing Kevin’s room for his return: ironing his shirts, placing his favorite childhood book, Robin Hood, on the night table. It becomes difficult to tell who’s more deluded: the son, “out of his head on Prozac” in prison for killing his classmates and a teacher, or the mother, bearing the scarlet letter, whether it’s paint an upset townsman has thrown on her house or her methodically and dutifully scraping it off her fingernails and hair during the course of the film. Ultimately Kevin and Eva belong together: Separated by bars or outside of them, because they hate each other or because they are each other, because they both made their families disappear or because they are now left with nothing but each other. | {
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Customers purchased millions more Amazon Devices this holiday season compared to last year – the best-selling Amazon Devices this holiday included all-new Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick 4K with all-new Alexa…
Java is one of the most popular languages in use by AWS customers, and we are committed to supporting Java and keeping it free. Many of our customers have become concerned that they would have to pay for a long-term supported version of Java
As part of Amazon’s $50M commitment to Computer Science (CS) Education, students now have access to Advanced Placement (AP) CS course offerings, scholarships, and early college internships through the…
Today, Bloomberg BusinessWeek published a story claiming that AWS was aware of modified hardware or malicious chips in SuperMicro motherboards in Elemental Media’s hardware at the time Amazon acquired Elemental in 2015, and that Amazon was aware of modified hardware or chips in AWS’s
Amazon’s Principal Engineer Community sets the standard for engineering excellence at Amazon. The community is comprised of Principal, Senior Principal, and Distinguished Engineers who are responsible…
Just in time for the new Eredivisie season, ESPN+ has acquired the streaming rights to the Dutch league in the United States. On top of that, ESPN+ has also acquired the rights to the Australian A-League and Chinese Super League. The rights deal comes | {
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Articles tagged with: bodybuilding
Brief Exercise Reduces Impact of Stress on Cell Aging, Study Shows
Exercise can buffer the effects of stress-induced cell aging, according to new research from UCSF that revealed actual benefits of physical activity at the cellular level.
Learn how you can easily bring more visitors to your site for free
If you have a website and want to increase its rating and bring more members, then MusclesProd.Com invites you to join our BodyBuilding Web Sites Directory: http://www.musclesprod.com/top/
Eduardo Correa lives in the capital of laid-back: Florianopolis, a resort island off the coast of Brazil. So we could all forgive E.C. if he chilled at the beach instead of killing it in the gym. But that’s not how he rolls.
Learn how to keep your joints healthy and strong for many years.
We always lift weights thus placing a stress on our tendons and connective tissues. In case when we get enough time to rest tissues heals and become stronger to be able to support stress next time. In event of not getting enough rest the risk of trauma is unavoidable and if you don’t pay attention to this problem things may worsen. One of the problems some bodybuilders, weightlifters and other sportsmen may get is Tendonitis
Learn why bodybuilding is always a contest. Get to know more about this lifestyle and what it brings you.
Did you ever think about participating in a bodybuilding contest? What was your decision? Did you think you are not better/bigger enough? Or are you not ready? Or you are just training for yourself? May be you don’t want to stay on a diet? Any reason you would choose I must say that you are already competing.
Hey huge guys, its time to get some great pumping and hard look before competition or before summer and beach season. Today I will present you training routine which I use last month prior competition to get that separation, hard look and extreme pumping.
Each day you will work with supersets. That means you will be doing 2 exercises one after other immediately with no rest.
In combination with cardio and diet this routine will make you look very, very attractive.
Kai Green is one of those guys about whom we never heard and in one moment he became popular. Green turned Pro in 2004 by winning heavyweight and overall titles at the NPC Team Universe and since then he obtained many achievements even life was not easy for him. That is amazing and motivational for us.
“What Kai Greene has had to overcome in his life on his quest to follow his dreams and become one of the top bodybuilders in the world is simply amazing,” FLEX Editor-in-Chief Allan …
Reigning Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler has had one of the most remarkable decades in the history of pro bodybuilding. The last time he finished lower than second was the 2000 Mr. O. In his 21 contests since, he’s been runner-up in eight (including five Mr. Olympias), defeated only by fellow Mr. O’s Ronnie Coleman and Dexter Jackson. Cutler won the other 13 (including three Mr. Olympia’s and three Arnold Classics). How’s that for consistency?
By MusclesProd
Everything we are doing has some consequences. Same is for bodybuilding. Going to the gym is a very good thing and has many benefits not only for your health but for your personal life. Every principle bodybuilding has will affect your life positively, did you ever thought about this?
Working out and creating the body you wanted will make you happy and your self esteem will grow and this will be felt by others too who will appreciate you more.
Self-discipline and capacity of setting goals will make you look like …
After an impressive amateur career that saw him win the light-heavy class in both the USA’s (2007) and Nationals (2008), Tennessean Peter Putnam placed sixth in last year’s Jacksonville Pro 202. “Pump” has long been noted for his quality quads. As evidenced by his legs, he’s the expert. So, pop quiz, hot shot. See how much you know about his thigh training philosophy as you take this Peter Putnam Quad Quiz.
Before you turn the page because you think this type of stack is only for those “old” guys who read m&f, consider this: Heavy lifting has been shown to initiate inflammatory processes that not only cause destruction of joint cartilage but also inhibit its rebuilding. So even if your joints move like well-oiled machines today, too much heavy lifting could make you move like the Tin Man well before old age sets in. | {
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Divide and Conquer, or XPath, XSLT, XQuery and XProc packaging
Packaging of various X* technologies seems to be of interest for a lot
of people for now. And of course it is for me. But it seems everyone
comes with its own idea of packaging, as well as a different scope.
So to add to the complexity yet, I will present here my own ideas on
that matter. Hopefully, I will try to tidy up the different concepts
and to identify the different needs. And as always, I like to speak
about concrete. To ease further discussions, if only that. So I will
introduce a prototype of a packaging system for X* libraries and
extensions for Saxon.
Packaging is nothing in itself. It is always related to something
else (a language, a technology, a framework...) Packaging is just a
mean to ease sharing and delivering something in the scope of that
"something else." The several files in an ODF document are packaged
in a single ZIP file, with a pre-defined structure, to make it
possible for an application to use its content. The important point
is not the structure in itself, but rather the information it gathers.
I have followed some very interesting discussions about X* packging
during the last few weeks, with very interesting people. Rapidly, I
have seen everyone were talking about slightly (or not) different
things. The most important point where people have different views
IMHO, is the scope of packaging.
As with most of modern languages, an XML developer may have to deliver
different pieces of software, depending on the project: libraries,
standalone applications, or web applications built for a specific
framework. If you look at Java for instance, this is reflected quite
clearly in its various packaging formats: JAR files for libraries and
applications, WAR files for web applications, EAR files for entire
enterprise applications...
WAR files contain Java classes, as JAR files. But the structure is
quite different, and there are a few other files, describing what is
in the package: "that class is a servlet class, conforming to the
definition of servlet and coded to live in a servlet container, with a
precise lifecycle," or "the package depends on this JAR file."
The same way, you can package XSLT libraries or XQuery modules,
telling a processor that when a stylesheet or a module imports a
specific URI, some functions are available (provided as plain XSLT
stylesheets, XQuery modules, or extension functions.) Or you can
package an entire web application using XProc to control the overall
processes, XQuery to query XML databases and XSLT for the presentation
layer (sounds very MVC, doesn't it?) But those packages are really
different beasts: when the first example just need to package some
XSLT, XQuery, Java, whatever code, alonside a simple cataloging
system, the second example require to define a complete web framework,
its lifecycle, how script can plug into this and exchange information
with it ("this XProc pipeline has to be evaluated on an HTTP GET on
http://www.example/app/theuri, it knows you will provide it with
request information as a wa:http-request element, as we agreed upon,
and that XSLT stylesheet has to be applied to its result; by the way
it will access runtime information by using the extension functions
you provide.")
There has been some work on XRX frameworks, and clearly it would be
beneficial for anybody (users, but also implementors,) to have such a
standard packaging format for entire applications following their
rules (as WAR and EAR files can be to Java.) And they would benefit
also from a more low-level packaging format dedicated to package X*
libraries, and would build upon them. But they really are at
different levels, and I think it is fundamental to make the
distinction between both concepts.
As part of the EXPath project, and because I think this is the first
step X* technologies need for several years to enable the delivery of
libraries, I am particularly interested in a library packaging
format.
To illustrate that, I've built a very simple prototype of a package
manager for Saxon. On the one hand you have a simple GUI to install
and delete packages in a repository, and on the other hand you have a
shell script to launch Saxon (setting the classpath for extension
functions and setting catalogs to resolve XSLT imports refering to
libraries.) If those tools are built around a well-defined, open
package format, other implementations could be written (for eXist, for
MarkLogic, XQilla, Zorba... but also for oXygen, providing a one-click
implementation to install a package and then being able to enable it
in some scenarii.)
You can find the manager at http://www.fgeorges.org/purl/20090624/.
You should be able to run it simply by clicking on one of the links on
the launch.html page (through Java Web Start,) but you can also
download the JAR file (look also in the lib/ sub-directory,) putting
both JAR files in the classpath and running Java the usual way, with
the main class org.expath.pkg.saxon.PackageManagerGUI (there is also a
text interface with org.expath.pkg.saxon.PackageManagerTextUI.) You
first have to set up an environment variable EXPATH_REPO, pointing to
a directory (that will be your EXPath Packaging repository, just
create an empty directory.) The interface is very simple: choose the
install item in the file menu, and select the package file you want to
install. To remove a package, select it in the list of installed
modules and select delete in the menu.
Once a module is installed, you can use it via Saxon by adding the
additional JARs to the classpath as needed (for extension functions)
and by setting up the XML Catalogs support. The following script does
that for you: http://www.fgeorges.org/purl/20090624/saxon. It needs a
few environment variables: EXPATH_REPO as explained above,
APACHE_XML_RESOLVER_JAR must point to the Apache XML Commons Resolver
(see http://xml.apache.org/commons/, and be sure to pick the resolver
JAR) and SAXON_HOME must point to the directory containing the Saxon
JARs.
But what about the package format itself? In this prototype, this is
a simple ZIP file, with the following structure:
where expath-pkg.xml is the package descriptor, and expath-http-client
is the directory containing one module (here the EXPath HTTP Client
module.) This module is implemented as a Java extension, besides a
frontend XSLT stylesheet that take care of Saxon-specifics to bind to
the Java functions. During the install, an XML Catalogs file is
created, to resolve the URI http://www.expath.org/mod/http-client.xsl
to that stylesheet, in the local repository. One stylesheet can then
simply import that URI and use the functions of the module. The real
package for the HTTP Client can be downloaded at the same place:
http://www.fgeorges.org/purl/20090624/expath-http-client-saxon-0.3.zip.
There are of course still a lot of work defining exactly the package
format, how to handle dependencies, improving the implementation...
But I think that gives the big picture. If you are interested, here
is what the package descriptor looks like:
We can see the package contains one module, namely "EXPath HTTP
Client," version 0.3. The URIs are used to create an XML catalog.
This version of the package contains all the dependencies (the JARs
used by the Java implementation of the extension functions,) but they
can be also left out, and configured with the following element:
The GUI does not take them into account yet, but it should propose to
automatically download JARs when possible, and give the user a list of
libraries and their homepage when a manual download is required. But
of course, the same format can be used to package standard XSLT
stylesheets, without any Java features, just by mapping the main entry
point files to their public URIs.
Of course, this format will be particularly useful once precisely
defined in an open spec, and if several processors support it (either
natively, or through external managers.)
To end this post, I would like to introduce an idea from Jim Fuller:
CXAN. I am sure most of you know CTAN for TeX, or CPAN for Perl.
They are central, organized repositories of libraries for those
languages, accessible throught HTTP. With a proper packaging format,
it would be possible to set up such a web repository gathering XPath,
XSLT, XQuery and XProc libraries and applications, installable
automatically with a manager that would install a package from its
name, handling dependencies and the like. But for sure, that is yet a
step forward.
4 Comments:
When I read this part "but it should propose to automatically download JARs when possible" I actually started thinking of Maven. Perhaps we could actually reuse Maven in someway for the dependency management?
About dependencies, that's clearly the part that needs more work. I do not want to rely on the user having Maven installed, but it would be interesting to add the Maven info *in addition* to the homepage, name and version of the dependency (and maybe to a direct link to the JAR, if available.)
The point is to have in any case enough info to install by hand, but we can add optional info for any dependency manager, *in addition*. | {
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10 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BABIRUSA
THE CREATURE FEATURE
Article found at: https://www.wired.com/2014/05/the-creature-feature-10-fun-facts-about-the-babirusa/BABIRUSAS ARE NO ordinary pigs.
Found in the swamps and rainforests of Indonesian islands, babirusas have barrel-shaped bodies balanced on delicate, deer-like legs. The most well-known species of babirusa is distinguished by its naked body and massive, curving tusks. Read on to meet this strange and charismatic oinker.
1. Babirusas are native to the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula, and Buru. Humans first colonized Sulawesi approximately 30,000 years ago and soon began hunting and eating babirusas. It’s thought that humans introduced babirusas to Sulu and Buru — although given the babirusa’s swimming prowess, it’s also conceivable that the animals made the journey of their own accord.
2. There are four species of babirusa. The most well-known (Babyrousa celebensis — the naked-looking babirusa with the monster tusks) is found on Sulawesi. The other species of babirusa have longer coats that vary in color from white to creamy gold to black and brown.
3. Babirusas are very unique pigs. Babirusas are wild members of the pig family (Suidae), but they differ from other pigs in several ways. Their snouts are not as specialized as those of other pigs. Babirusas also have complex, two-chambered stomachs, which are more reminiscent of the digestive systems of sheep and other ruminants than those of their fellow pigs. Scientists think babirusas branched off from the rest of the pig family early in its evolution.
4. Babirusa means “pig-deer” in the Malay language. It’s thought that the Sulawesi people gave the babirusa this moniker because their large canines remind them of antlers, but the name could also reflect how the babirusa combines slender, deer-like legs and a multi-chambered stomach with its other, more pig-like traits.
5. Babirusas eat almost everything. They’re omnivorous, with a diet that includes leaves, fruits, berries, nuts, mushrooms, bark, insects, fish, and small mammals (even smaller babirusas!). Babirusas use their hooves to dig for roots and insect larvae in the ground and are also able to support themselves on their two back feet to stand up and feed on higher leaves.
6. Baby babirusas are fast developers. While most piglets are striped at birth (camouflage to evade predators) and dependent on their mothers for a long time, babirusa young lack stripes and develop quickly. They typically wander from the nest and begin sampling solid foods by ten days old. Babirusa litter sizes are also small for pigs, usually only one to three piglets per litter. This small litter size and lack of camouflage is often attributed to the babirusa’s predator-free environment.
7. They do well in captivity. In the wild, babirusas might live ten years. But several babirusas in zoos have made it past 20 years old. In his blog Tetrapod Zoology, Darren Naish says captive babirusas “exhibit excitement and enthusiasm on greeting familiar people, engaging in tail wagging, head shaking and jumping and running about.”
8. They engage in an unusual ploughing behavior. Given soft sand, captive babirusas (primarily males) will kneel down and push their heads forward through the sand, creating a deep furrow. As they plough, they snort, growl, and produce foamy saliva. Males plough most vigorously when they are in the enclosure of another male. As the babirusas appear to mouth the sand as they plough through, it’s believed the behavior has some sort of scent-marking function, although the exact purpose remains unknown.
9. They have awesome tusks. The north Sulawesi babirusa is most famous for its amazing tusks, which only the males possess. Like many pigs, the male babirusa’s canine teeth continue to grow throughout its life. The lower canine teeth are long and overlap the edge of the babirusa’s snout as they grow, but it’s the upper canines that are truly magnificent. These teeth start out growing downward, but then rotate and begin to grow up and into the top of the snout, penetrating the skin and curving back towards the animal’s forehead. The tusks can reach lengths of 17 inches and can actually grow back into the skull.
10. But what are those tusks for? It’s actually a mystery. One hypothesis is that the males use their tusks during fights over females. It seems reasonable, until you look at how babirusas really fight. They don’t hook tusks, but stand up on their hind legs and “box” each other with their front hooves. Additionally, babirusa tusks aren’t built to withstand much pressure; they are brittle and easily broken, not at all suited for combat. It seems likely that the tusks serve a display purpose, perhaps signaling genetic fitness to females, but this is an idea that hasn’t been tested. For now, the purpose of those marvelous tusks is still a mystery. | {
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Shop owner, distributors: Dobner bears fault for his death
Published: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 6:36 p.m. CST
(Continued from Page 1)
WHEATON – The defendants in a wrongful death suit brought by the mother of Max Dobner, an Aurora man who died in a 2011 car crash after smoking synthetic marijuana, have launched their defense by stating that the young man bears most of the blame for the incident that claimed his life.
Last month, the defendants – Ruby Mohsin, of Glen Ellyn, and Kevin and Brandon Seydel, of Bettendorf, Iowa – said in documents filed in DuPage County court that they believe Max Dobner misused a particular kind of product, known commonly as synthetic marijuana, to become intoxicated, and, as a result, later crashed his car into a house at the corner of Mooseheart Road and Route 31 in Batavia Township.
Dobner died in the June 14, 2011, crash.
The action comes in response to the suit filed a year ago by Max's mother, Karen Dobner, of Aurora.
The wrongful death suit initially was filed against Mohsin alone, as she was the owner of the Cigar Box, a tobacco shop in Aurora, now closed, at which Max Dobner is believed to have purchased the synthetic marijuana product.
However, in the months since, Dobner's lawyers have pushed to learn the identities of the distributors and manufacturer of the product, which the court documents say was sold under the brand name "iAroma."
In the court filings, Dobner's lawyers say Mohsin identified Kevin and Brandon Seydel, who are involved with a company identified as Spaced Out Herbz, as those who sold the iAroma product to her.
Dobner's lawyers amended the lawsuit in August to include the Seydels as defendants.
In her suit, Dobner alleges that the iAroma product was "intentionally mislabeled" as a potpourri product, even though her lawyers assert that the store owners and distributors knew that the product was "routinely, if not exclusively, ingested by people" by smoking.
Dobner also asserts in court documents that Mohsin was warned personally by someone that iAroma was dangerous and could "cause psychotic problems." And, Dobner alleges that Mohsin did not seek out the identities of those making the product, or any lab certifications of the product's safety.
In their responses, the defendants stated that the product was not sold to be smoked. Instead, they said, it was labeled "Not for Human Consumption" and was intended to serve as "an ionizer or deodorizer," similar to incense.
They said anyone smoking the product, as Max Dobner did, would "misuse" the product.
In the court filings, Mohsin's lawyer argued that Max "smoked iAroma in conscious disregard of the knowledge that doing so would cause him to become intoxicated" and, by doing so, "freely and voluntarily assumed the risk of consuming iAroma by smoking it."
In a response filed by his lawyer, Kevin Sydel argues that, as a result, Max bears "50 percent of more of the total fault" in the incident.
Mohsin also denied outright selling the product to Max on June 14, 2011, or ever being informed of the dangers of the product.
Dobner's lawyers, in response, have denied that Max's death was the fault of his own negligence, as well as denying that iAroma was intended for use as a deodorizer or that it was labeled as "Not for Human Consumption." | {
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Opening times for The Co-op Food in Christchurch
Bransgore is located at 7-8 Oak Tree Parade, Bransgore, in Christchurch. The post code of this spot is BH23 8AB. It is a branch of The Co-op Food group, serving customers from Dorset county. In order to contact the office please telephone the number 01425 672259. This spot is open on: Monday 07:00 - 23:00, Tuesday 07:00 - 23:00, Wednesday 07:00 - 23:00, Thursday 07:00 - 23:00, Friday 07:00 - 23:00. On Saturday: 07:00 - 23:00 and on Sunday: 07:00 - 23:00. It is situated not far from Burton, so it also delivers its services there. | {
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“I just want to say that I am proud of the decisions my wife makes as a mom and I support every single one of them,” Brinkley wrote.
“Please respect your wives as mothers.”
His post has more than 500,000 reactions and over 300,000 shares, with many parents commenting that they share a bed with their child, too.
Co-sleeping is highly controversial subject within the parenting community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against sharing the bed with baby as it can lead to accidental suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The CDC recommends parents put their babies to sleep on their backs in their own beds every single time.
However, many parents note that co-sleeping or bed-sharing is unavoidable. Some caregivers find that getting up to assist a crying baby throughout the night prevents sleep, while other parents say sharing a bed helps them bond with their child more. Some parents report falling asleep while breastfeeding as the reason for letting baby sleep in their beds, with others doing so because of the cost of a crib. A 2010 survey found that 14 percent of parents regularly slept with their infant.
Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its guidelines on infant sleeping to acknowledge this reality. While the group still says separate beds are best, it recommends that parents who share their beds with baby should have a firm mattress and to ensure the area surrounding their child is free of pillows and blankets to reduce the risk of suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics also notes that sharing a bed with a baby is far safer than sleeping together on a couch or chair.
Along with the health concerns, some say a sleeping baby stuck between two partners could hamper intimacy, or make for a cramped bed. For Brinkley, a little less room to spread out is a small sacrifice to make in return for caring for his children.
“Do I have to squeeze into a small corner of the bed sometimes? Yeah," he wrote. “But my God how beautiful does she look holding my children?” | {
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Shortcuts
Procedures
THE GALACTIC EMISSION LINE OBJECT ATLAS
This atlas contains the model spectra of the Orion nebula, and of the
planetary nebula NGC 7009. The templates cover the wavelength range from
0.1 to 1.1 microns.
The continuum of the Orion's template contains the nebular contribution
plus a combination of Kurucz model atmospheres to simulated the stellar
contribution. The fluxes of the UV, optical and near-IR emission lines
from different sources are also incorporated into the template (J.R. Walsh,
private comm).
The continuum of the planetery nebula has a nebular component and a hot
stellar component simulated by an 80000K black body. The fluxes of the UV,
optical and near-IR emission lines, from different sources, are also
incorporated into the template (J.R. Walsh, private comm.).
Details about how each individual template has been constructed can be found
in the header of the STSDAS binary files. The header can be read using the
tupar task of the IRAF ttools package. Files can also be dump into an ASCII
formatted file using the tdump task of the IRAF ttools package. | {
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Lady Gaga Orange & Blue Hair
Lady Gaga Taps Into New Wave Vibes With Orange & Blue Hair
Lady Gaga is known for being an aesthetic chameleon, changing her looks on a whim. She can pull off almost anything and has certainly tried a lot of looks. Her hair has been blonde, brunette, peach, yellow, rainbow, turquoise, green, and more. Now, she's debuting a brand new hair color — well, more like two.
In a photo posted to her Instagram that serves as both a debut of her new 'do and a plug for her upcoming tour, Gaga showed off tresses with vibrant hues of orange and blue. She also shouted out to her hair dresser, Frederic Aspiras, and her makeup artist, Sarah Tanno in a captioned on the photo.
No word yet on whether the hair is specifically for the tour, or just for fun. The singer showed off glitter red lips and thick black eyeliner, too, which could totally be stage makeup or just Lady Gaga being Lady Gaga. | {
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The European Commission's President-designate Jose Manuel Barroso has defended the nomination of Rocco Buttiglione as justice commissioner.
This comes after the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee rejected the appointment of the conservative Catholic Italian who told MEPs last week he thought homosexuality a sin.
However, the European Parliament can only endorse or reject the entire 25 member team of commissioners when it votes on 27 October and Mr Barroso has said that he plans to hold talks with parliamentary leaders before then on 21 October.
Do you agree with the European Commission President-designate? Should Rocco Buttiglione be appointed as Europe's justice commissioner?
This debate has now closed. Thank you for your comments.
Your comments:
Here's me thinking that the beauty of living in a democracy is that we can express our own opinions. Mr Buttiglione should not be railed in this way. He stated very clearly that while he regards homosexuality a sin he didn't go so far as to say he thought it was a crime. He's entitled to this opinion, regardless of what others think, and as just one member in a cabinet of 25 this particular view is unlikely to result in any draconian laws designed to castigate gay people. I didn't realise that the state of democracy was so bad that only those people who had liberal values were allowed to represent the public. Let him stand. This whole affair sets an awful precedent.Fraz, Sheffield, UK
Commissioners have to be acceptable to all of Europe, not just their country of origin
Giacomo, London, UK
Buttiglione is a well known Catholic fundamentalist, whose party was behind recent legislation to ban stem cell research and artificial insemination. Commissioners have to be acceptable to all of Europe, not just their country of origin, so the European Parliament should have the courage to reject a Commission that includes this man. Giacomo, London, UK
One of the greatest achievements of the last 40 years was the removal of many forms of discrimination based on sex and sexuality. It is inconceivable that a person who holds views totally contrary to the spirit of that achievement should be allowed to become of all things Justice Commissioner. Richard Boesch, Xativa, Spain
So much for tolerance. Tolerance from the Left is a one way street and the parliament shows it. For the record I completely disagree with him but still believe he should be let in but that would be tolerant. Can the UK please leave this farce called the EU - soon ?Des, UK and Ireland
The opposition of the liberal left to Mr Buttiglione just shows how intolerant the liberals are to anyone who does not agree with themDavid Harris, Southampton, UK
All views should be represented at the European Commission, so as to ensure a truly pluralistic Europe. Whoever tries to portray the defence of family and marriage as extreme views is certainly against that pluralism, and suspiciously against the future of Europe. Mr Buttiglione is just one more among millions of people who are in favour of preserving the basic foundations of human society, and should be respected.Mercedes, Tel Aviv, Israel
It sets a dangerous precedent to exclude someone from an organisation based on their beliefs
Thomas, Birmingham
It sets a dangerous precedent to exclude someone from an organisation based on their beliefs. On their actions yes, if the commission could have shown this man was actively misusing power to discriminate then this would have been proper but his beliefs are his own business until they affect his work.Thomas, Birmingham
Most Italians don't identify with Buttiglione: he's a divisive politician - contrary to his declarations at the EU Parliament hearings, he does give precedence to his morals over the law, and has time and again demonstrated it as a cabinet minister. His constituency is the Opus Dei. The EU Parliament has rightly judged him totally unfit for the post. Buttiglione is bad for the EU Commission and Barroso should just dump him.Luca, Milan, Italy
Mr Buttiglione was very clear in expressing the distinction between his personal view and what the political and legal reality is. If you can no longer express your views, even in a moderate and respectful manner, as he did, then Europe really has fallen into a deep hole. Alessandro Nolet, London
The problem is not what Buttiglione will do, but what Buttiglione believes. He said that sin is different from crime but this doesn't matter: new integralists want the autodafè.Massimo, Vicenza, Italy
Yet again the PC people are out in force
Andrew Robinson, Liverpool, UK
Why should his comments about homosexuality be held against him? Yet again, the PC people are out in force. These people believe in democracy as long as it is their freedom of speech that is being heard.Andrew Robinson, Liverpool, UK
Any official who cannot separate church from state should be appointed at the Vatican and not as a commissioner.Ben, Miami, USA
I don't see any problem with Rocco's role as Justice Commissioner provided that he keeps his opinions as they are - just opinions that shouldn't affect his work. Everybody has their opinions and can express them. However he shouldn't be allowed to even attempt to impose his ideals on other people.Daniel Curwood, Annesley Woodhouse, UK
Allowing our political masters to only choose those who agree with them is extremely dangerous
Tim, London
Of course he should be appointed. Buttiglione made it clear that he was totally opposed to discrimination in any form against homosexuals - he just happens to hold the personal view that it is a sin. Allowing our political masters to only choose those who agree with them is extremely dangerous. It threatens the whole basis of our freedom of speech, thought and conscience.Tim, London
It seems obvious that any person who states that 'homosexuality is a sin' and that the purpose of marriage is to have children has an agenda, and therefore people of good conscience have every right to question such a person's appointment. Mr Buttiglione should be soundly rejected and the fault should be laid at the feet of those who put forth his nomination.Gary E. Kaminski, Buena Vista, PA, USA
Anyone with such extreme views is unfit for public office and especially as a justice commissioner, a post in which he may have to make judgements on issues about which he holds inflexible views. The EU would never have come into being if it had been composed of narrow-minded people like Buttiglione. How can this man even be considered for a commissioner's post?John M, Lyne Meads, UK
No. They should reject the whole 25 member team and get shot of Mandelson at the same time while they still have a chance.Richard, London | {
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Is Norway ready to go carbon neutral?
A gas processing and CO2 removal platform run by Statoil off the coast of Stavanger, Norway, as seen earlier this year. Norway, a leading oil producer, announced that it will be carbon neutral by 2030.
The Norwegian parliament voted this week to become carbon neutral by 2030. That appears to mean that the nation's net carbon footprint would be reduced to zero over the next 14 years.
“This is a direct response to the commitments Norway took on by ratifying the Paris agreement and means that we will have to step up our climate action dramatically,” said supporter Rasmus Hansson, the leader in parliament of the Norwegian Green Party, The Guardian reported.
The announcement comes amidst a chain of high-profile environmental protection moves in the Scandinavian nation. In May, the parliament made a sweeping move against deforestation, committing the government to only contract within deforestation-free supply chains. Then there were reports at the start of June that gas and diesel cars would no longer be sold in Norway by 2025; a move that would increase the prevalence of electric vehicles, which already make up nearly a quarter of the nation's new car sales.
But some observers, even those within the Norwegian government, are skeptical that there is sufficient groundwork to make that goal feasible, while others question whether carbon neutral just means investing in the environment without reducing emissions.
Climate Minister Vidar Helgesen, a Conservative Party member, is “not comfortable” with the proposed timeline, saying that the mechanisms parliament suggests using in order to meet the goal do not currently exist.
“It is incumbent on me to underline that this proposal from parliament is really about carbon offsets,” Mr. Helgesen told the Guardian. “It is not about national emissions reductions beyond what we will contribute, through the EU process.”
Helgesen is pointing out that carbon neutrality represents a calculated net figure. When calculating neutrality, the UN factors in a country’s investments in environmental projects abroad and their contribution to restrictions on worldwide emissions.
That means that while Norway itself is currently responsible for 53 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, an increase from 1990, the country’s emissions can be balanced by environmental good works abroad for the carbon neutral label. These contributions are called carbon offsets. The European Union system also allows for countries within it to trade emission allowances amongst themselves.
The language in the Norwegian parliament’s motion, translated by the Guardian, points to the international component of the carbon neutral plan: “climate neutrality can be achieved through the EU emissions trading market, international cooperation on emissions reductions, emissions trading and project-based cooperation.”
Norway, which is not a part of the European Union, does participate in the EU emissions trading market. Extraction of resources from its oil fields make it Europe’s largest liquid petroleum provider and the world’s third largest natural gas exporter, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
“If Europe were to replace coal with Norwegian natural gas, this would result in a 50% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions for every unit of energy produced. We produce gas with low emissions, which can replace coal with high emissions,” Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen, director of the Norwegian oil and gas association, said at a January meeting of Arctic nations, according to the Guardian. Norway was criticized that same month for approving licenses that would allow oil companies to explore new areas for drilling in the northern seas.
This week's carbon neutrality announcement is not a first for the country. Norway made a similar proposal in 2008, setting its target for carbon neutrality at 2030, before backing off after the 2009 UN climate talks in Copenhagen did not end in a multinational deal.
At that time, there was skepticism about whether the country would actually reduce emissions or just fund environmental programs elsewhere.
"They're willing to spend a lot of money on a climate policy that's based abroad, but so far they haven't been quite so willing to make politically difficult choices at home that people will feel," Steffen Kallbekken, a senior analyst at the nongovernmental organization, Cicero, the Institute for International Climate and Environmental Research, told the New York Times at the time. "So it's not so much of a model as it could be."
That same year, the World Wildlife Foundation study entitled “Norwegian Consumption, Chinese pollution“ found Norway’s appetite for imports is increasing pollution in developing nations – a predicament that is certainly not limited to the Scandinavian nation. Carbon footprint calculations do not take into account the emissions produced by goods that are imported into countries, the study says.
The current proposal, by Climate Minister Helgesen’s summation, is missing some crucial details about how the nation will proceed to reach its goals. And the government will be asking parliament for more details, the Guardian says.
However, there is a concerted effort by some in Norway's legislature to ensure that the country becomes a model of restrained natural gas usage, and that the carbon neutrality is not reached purely through carbon offsets.
“Our climate neutrality position could mean nothing if it is done that way,” Mr. Hansson of the Green Party said, noting his desire to see the country be a viable contributor the goal, agreed upon in Paris, to keep the earth’s temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. | {
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time for a new game (TPS recommendations)
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I'll check out edf, but I don't have vita or web access for the ps3 (I'm too old school for my own good...I'm still bummed most games don't have couch co-op :/ ). I do have a ps2 though.
I have just cause 2 but for some reason I didn't really dig it. Maybe because I had no idea what was going on story wise, maybe because the protag was fairly obnoxious, maybe because I got tired of flying around everywhere. I should probably give it another try.
As far as auto aim goes, for a time I couldn't imagine playing a shooter without auto. I could barely beat red dead redemption with auto on. But uncharted 2 changed that. I'm currently playing through GTA v with free aim on. Makes the game fun again.
there are physical copies of EDF 2025 for PS3. and i'm pretty sure it has couch co-op.
i couldn't really dig just cause 2 much either. nor the EDF game i played. but i can understand why they're liked in the least. i only suggested the EDF series because there are fans for the reasons i've stated, basically relaxing destruction, looting enemies for new weapons and extra health. plus can be played with others. you can make the games easy or insanely tough with many difficulty options per mission. higher difficulty rewards better loot in weapons.
rockstar games like red dead and GTA series are much preferred with auto-aim unfortunately. they've never really had tight gun controls. xD i swear i think in GTA 5 there's like, a tiny white dot for your reticle that you can barely see. i'm not the biggest uncharted fan, but their gun controls are really good. the first UC was one of the first shooters i really played on PS3, and playing on the hardest difficulty really taught me how to shoot in that game, it was headshots or die over and over. :p i don't play shooters very often lately though, have to be in the mood.
oh and since you mentioned couch co-op you should really look into resident evil 5, 6, and revelations 1 and 2. those are some other options. people are either fans or not fans of the newer RE's. because they aren't in the survival horror style as much, even though they carry elements of them. there are other reasons people don't like them as well, but the people who really enjoy them will say they like the co-op aspect of it. which i can see why, if any of those to recommend definitely be 5 and revelations 1. | {
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(5) After a few years of raising your 4 children you decide to add to your family again. You fall pregnant with twins.
If you have straight hair you have GGB
If you have wavy hair you have BG
If you have curly hair you have BBG
First and Middle names from: http://nameberry.com/list/402/Names-...sic-Rock-Songs
Your name is: JenniferLeigh
Your husband’s name is: EricLouis
Where do you live? Frisco, Colorado
What are you and your husband’s occupations? I’m a ski instructor and daycare owner and Eric is a camera operator at a local news station. | {
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Help keep Snichael from joining a gang:
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Without a doubt, the 4 MAD Trips I went on (the last ever, it turned out) were my favorite times as a junior member of The Usual Gang of Idiots. (For those not familiar with them, the MAD trips were begun by Bill Gaines in the early 1960s – all-expense-paid jaunts for staff and regular contributors to places all around the world, lasting 1 or 2 weeks each; at first, they were every year; but by the late 1980s, every other year. Bill thought they would build cameraderie and enhance creativity…whatever: they were a damn good time!)
My first was the 1987 MAD trip to Paris and Zermatt, Switzerland. It was also the first trip of Sam Viviano (now MAD’s Art Director but then a lowly freelancer like me). Sam and I realized that the two of us must have been the first new contributors on the trips in 15, maybe 20, years. (there had been new MAD staffers, but I think we were the first new writers or artists to meet the page-count requirements to go on The Trip). Aside from the honor of being admitted to this truly exclusive club, one unforeseen benefit of being the “new kids” was that, for the Founding “Usual Gang” — who had been on more than 20 MAD Trips together, and who had heard all of each others’ stories several times over — Sam and I were, at long last, a fresh audience for them! Which we took full advantage of, hanging out ’til 3 a.m. in the bars with Al Jaffee, Bob Clarke, Jack Davis, George Woodbridge – hearing all the stories of not only the good old MAD-Magazine days, but the MAD-comic/Harvey Kurtzman days; the non-MAD stuff like their doing the artwork for half the national ad campaigns, board games, and graphic-design-whatevers of the 1950s and 60s; the days of Bob Clarke on staff of “Stars & Stripes” with Bill Mauldin during WWII. It was great stuff! All from first- or second-hand sources of the guys who actually lived it! I can’t speak for Sam, but I’m pretty sure I glanced over at him several times during these bar all-nighters to see a look in his eyes that said the same thing I was thinking:“Wow! Can you believe this?! We’ve hit the All-Time Mother Lode of Fandom!”Because that’s what we were right then: just fans.
And then there was…The Dinner. (Which I capitalize because for most of the invitees, every other dinner in our lives will pale into undeserving lowercase by comparison.) The setting: the world-famous L’ami Louis restaurant in Paris, which had been the center of the gastronomical universe of Haute Cuisine a generation earlier (none of this light, low-fat “Novelle Cuisine”-crap for Bill Gaines! Even if it was the 80s!). We were duly warned beforehand: eat light earlier that day; this would be a 7-course meal, over roughly 4 hours…”and forget about your cholestrol!” The best way to sum up this exotic & expensive feast: they served us pate de foie gras...and escargo…and frogs legs — all BEFORE the main course. (And, yes – it was at this dinner that epicurean history was made by our Lenny Brenner: I’m referring of course to the Invention of the Escargo Hero-Sandwich!)
Also in the joint that night, we would learn, was the president of the French company that makes Cointreau [KWAHN-troh ], the very classy & also expensive liqueur. His young American wife was a MAD fan and recognized several of the more recognizable MAD folk. He had the restaurant serve us all complimentary glasses of Cointreau, and, in return, several of the MAD artists drew up quick ‘thank you’-sketches to present him. One was a caricature of him and his wife; another was a drunken Bill Gaines swigging a bottle of Cointreau; still another, Alfred E. Neuman in a beret sipping Cointreau. Finally, Bob Clarke’s drawing was passed along – it was a giant koala bear sitting astride a 747. After much head-scratching and confused questioning, it dawned on Bob, “Cointreau?! I thought he said he was president of Qantas!”
One other memorable group-recognition incident: we all took a trip-within-The-Trip to the house of Claude Monet, iconic French Impressionist painter, in the town of Giverny, northwest of Paris. In the middle of all the high-art reverence we could muster, suddenly a large group of visiting college students from Northern California spotted Dave Berg, Al Jaffee, and Sergio Aragones…and proceeded to surround and besiege them for the next half-hour with fan-questions about MAD, and requests for autographs and sketches. (Monet wasn’t home at the time, so I’m not sure how he felt about being “upstaged” by other artists in his own house; the rest of us were highly amused by it.) | {
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Honestly, I'm surprised there wasn't an EMT onsite for this masterful, albeit horrific prank. The lines between 'good fun' and 'reasonable' were blurred, to say the very least; but there's no denying the fact that this is straight up gold in terms of quality pranking. | {
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TREKKING
168 Free images and vector silhouettes about TREKKING. Need a TREKKING image or vector? Find the best free stock images and vector silhouettes about TREKKING. Download all TREKKING images and vectors and use them even for commercial projects. | {
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More importantly, who are you Karen Nielsen and how may I serve you?????
As I try to calm down, let me introduce you to me sitting down to watch this episode. Watching the teaser, I had just started chewing on a gooey Margherita pizza complete with spicy salami. You can imagine my discomfiture.
And at first, I’ll admit, I was cocking an eyebrow at this Catholic Kunoichi plot. I’m still cocking an eyebrow at it, but thankfully, the episode takes the themes deeper than vampire slaying.
Wait, no it doesn’t. It just takes the vampire slaying theme really, really deep. I won’t even try to cover all the themes touched on here. I can’t and keep things coherent. I’m surprised the episode could. But let’s cover what we shall, shall we?
You’re going to think this is strange, but the day I watched this episode, without knowing a thing about it or even remembering the previous week’s teaser, I had been having a conversation with myself in the car that morning about the Bible’s Old and New Testament proscriptions against eating the blood of animals and the inherently blasphemous nature of vampire myths. Because, doesn’t everyone?
Since said conversation has proven oddly (divinely?) relevant to the episode at hand, let me share a few verses surprisingly relevant to this conversation. Bear with me.
Leviticus 17:10-13, 14 (NLT)
“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people, for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood—neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’…The life of every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood, for the life of any creature is in its blood.’ So whoever consumes blood will be cut off from the community.
Here we see God forbid His people to eat blood for two reasons. One, in its blood is the life that God Himself gave it. To eat the blood is to disrespect not merely the life, but the One who gave the life. Two, blood is provided as atonement, which is a $10 word that means to pay the price for a sin committed. Ergo, the innocent bull’s blood is shed for the sins you committed so that you yourself don’t have to die for them even though you deserve to. Blood is the only price that can be paid for sin.
John 6:51-58 New Living Translation (NLT)
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
If you’re saying “WHAT?” right about now, join a couple thousand years’ worth of multitudes before you. Unsurprisingly, most of Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him after this. But Jesus is speaking in spiritual terms, not physical ones, His point being that in the same way people eat food to live, we must feed off of Him to live spiritually and eternally.
You’re starting to see the relevance to our X-Files discussion, yes???
Matthew 26:26-28 (NLT)
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it,for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
Finally, not only is Jesus’ flesh and blood the life source provided for all of mankind, but His innocent blood is sacrificed as a payment for mankind’s sins. In other words, the innocent takes the punishment for the guilty so that the guilty don’t have to be punished for their own sins. The innocent is sacrificed in order for the guilty to live.
Whew! I know that was a lot. But we had to get on the same page with allmost some of writer Karen Nielsen’s myriad Biblical allusions before we could go any further.
Anyway, this moment of breaking bread and drinking wine that Jesus first shared with His disciples is what’s known in Christianity as the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, or the Eucharist among other names. Jesus’ disciples still commemorate His death this way. Now, Catholic Christians believe that during the Eucharist, the wafer and wine that Christ speaks of here materially and substantially, and through no small sacred mystery, become the body and blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation.
Now we can clearly see the parallels being made between the cannibalism in the opening scene, not only the literal licking of a putrid pancreas, but the cannibalism of one human being’s organs for another human being’s survival, be that human being an aging starlet or a nameless patient in a hospital, and Scully’s participation in the Eucharist.
If the innocent dying for the guilty is a spiritual principle and even Scully takes part in the body and blood of Christ, Scully, who by the end prays to Mulder rather than God, is Barbara Beaumont really so evil?
YES.
If you remember without scrolling up however many pages I’ve been venting my Phile emotions, blood is sacred for two (heavily simplified) reasons: 1. It contains within itself life given by God which man has no right to desecrate. 2. Blood is the only thing that can pay for sin. It’s blood that pays for sin in both the Old and New Testaments and blood is forbidden to be consumed in both the Old and the New Testaments (ref. Acts 15:28-29).
What is a vampire? It’s a creature that should be dead but keeps itself unnaturally and blasphemously alive by mocking Christ’s sacrifice for sin and further mocking its Creator by feeding on a life He made. Welcome, Barbara Beaumont. Come on down to Crazy Town.
By the by, if you ever wondered why Dracula was afraid of crucifixes and sacramental bread, it’s because everything he was and did was in violation of God’s natural and spiritual laws. Now you know. Tell a friend.
So, this is an episode that toys with cannibalism but is really about the physical and spiritual implications of vampirism. And might I add, it’s a much more interesting treatment of vampirism than the dreck that was “3” (2×7), which naturally, I skipped during my most recent rewatch.
For that matter, if we’re going back, “Our Town” (2×24) also treated cannibalism as another form of vampirism that provided the gateway to eternal youth for its practitioners, only blood wasn’t touched upon, visually or otherwise, so much or so often as it is here.
Anyway, Scully is fueling herself on the blood of Jesus (Really, she’s just reaffirming an ambiguous faith in faith itself, but why split hairs?). She’s not violating any natural or spiritual principles by participating in the Eucharist. She’s a Catholic in good standing and no Barbara Beaumont. May Scully live forever.
Mulder, though, he knows he’s a reprobate. He’s my favorite fictional reprobate ever. Mulder doesn’t believe in God, he believes in Scully. This is something I probably don’t find sweet the way that many Philes do, but I do get it. It’s very human. (It’s not quite where we left Mulder’s character development in “The Truth” (9×19/20) or I Want to Believe, but I’ve given up on continuity. You can’t be disappointed if you don’t care.) And it’s consistent with the nature of their relationship over the years. Scully, for her part, privately whispers her prayer for their future to Mulder rather than God. And even though I have my personal misgivings that Barbara Beaumont and Dr. Luvenis aren’t the only sacrilegiously attached couple who have outstayed their welcome, HOW ABOUT THIS IS PRETTY MUCH HOW THEIR RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE ALL THE TIME, THANK YOU, CHRIS CARTER.
With no intention of making a perverse pun, I finally have some meat to chew on. I have something interesting enough to muse over. It was not too much to ask.
This doesn’t just challenge your gag reflex like “F. Emasculata” (2×22) or make you squirm in your seat like “Roadrunners” (8×5). My very soul recoils at certain scenes here. Much of it felt over the top and unnecessary. And yet, I’m here to tell you that in terms of writing, I think it’s the most well thought out episode of the season and possibly the whole revival (if I had the stomach to rewatch all of Season 10).
It has to end sometime, Scully. And if this little shenanigans Chris Carter once called a breakup had to end, I’m glad it ended this way. And if The X-Files has to end (I’ll say a prayer for that), let it end with this, one last thoroughly thought out episode, ‘cause we all know the next one’s not gonna be it.
Oh yes, there are the parallels between The X-Files unnaturally extending itself through this revival and Barbara Beaumont sitting in the dark, reliving her heyday on a loop. No, nothing lasts forever.
Except for eternity in heaven or eternity in hell.
“I made a choice – It was mine. I’d gladly trade my lifetime here for an eternity in heaven.”
A-
Just for Kicks:
By the by, another conversation I had had earlier in the day before I watched this episode? About cults and about how one of the hallmarks of them is absolute control by a teacher who knows everything you don’t. This time I was actually talking with someone outside my own head, though.
Once again, Mulder’s uncanny intuition is on overdrive.
What is reverse aging when you spend your pretty-faced life in a lightless coffin of a tenement apartment in New York City with a naked, dirty crowd of grown adults who use words like “dinnie”? Go ahead and kill me.
Barbara Beaumont bordered on too comical at times, and crossed that border into farcical during her little musical recital. I confess, this took me out of the episode a bit. And yet, mad props to Season 11 for using diegetic music in in two out of its ten episodes. Y’all know I’m a sucker for that.
Speaking of Barbara Beaumont, did the actress that played her remind anyone else of Mila Kunis?
Still, no one has answered the question: Where did Juliet learn how to be a ninja?
“Every human being has a time bomb built into their genes.” TRUE. And in more than one way. The Bible calls it original sin. Like yeast in a loaf of bread, decay by a more palatable name, it’s eventual corruption is built in it from the beginning.
Scully would, could, should be dead after her fall through that dumbwaiter and yet Mulder was pretty much chilling.
Continuity Control: During Season 1, Mulder wore glasses while reading more times than I have the patience to post links for, not least of which was the very first shot we ever had of Mulder in the Pilot (1×79).
What a coincidence that Juliet comes walking into the church that Scully’s praying at. Of all the diocese in all the towns in all the world, you walk into mine.
Am I the only one? I’m a veteran X-Phile, but sometimes the cinematography was so dark I, mercifully, couldn’t make out what was happening.
There are moments of supreme tension here. I actually partially covered my eyes when Barbara Beaumont leaned in to kiss one of her minions. I was afraid I was about to witness a bloodbath.
Juliet and Olivia’s last name, Bocanegra, “black mouth”. I wonder if there’s a history to that name I don’t know about? Or am I just supposed to be visualizing a mouth black with blood? Eww.
Best Quotes:
You may have noticed that this section of my reviews has been neglected for a while now. That’s because there hasn’t been anything worth quoting. But somehow, this time around, there was so much great dialogue I had to pick and choose and still left some great quotes out. Scully and Mulder have the best banter they’ve had all season. Nay, since the final episode that awaits is none other than the inventively named “My Struggle IV” (11×10), I think it’s safe to officially call this the best banter of the season. Period. | {
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Coach Gives And Takes Abuse From Newcastle Fans
Written by Dr. Ed Harrison
11:16pm Saturday, April 25th, 2015
Commented 66 times
Social media lit up after the game today as John Carver got into some altercations with fans during the game against Swansea, and fans were not happy (an understatement) that Newcastle were beaten for a 7th time in succession – the longest losing streak ever for Newcastle United in the Premier League – and passions were certainly running high, especially in the second half after Swansea came from behind and went 3-1 up after 71 minutes.
John Carver – at St. James’ Park today against Swansea There are claims that Carver continually swore at fans from the dugout, and the abuse seems to have gone in both directions.
The raw emotions just boiled over on both sides, as Newcastle dropped to a seventh straight loss and after looking OK in that first half we fell apart in those final 45 minutes.
A bright spot was the appearance of Siem de Jong as a substitute in the second half, and he wasted little time in scoring his first goal for Newcastle after 87 minutes.
If Siem is up to playing maybe even a full game soon, there’s some hope because of the Dutchman’s class and ability to put the ball in the net, and he’s a leader on and off the pitch.
Newcastle are now only four points above Hull City and Leicester City – who both won today and five points above Sunderland – who are 3rd bottom and took a good point at Stoke.
But all three teams have a game in hand on Newcastle – and only Sunderland have a worse goal difference than Newcastle, so we are now in a real relegation battle if those three teams win their games in hand.
If the powers that be at Newcastle are not worried we could be relegated this season – they should be.
66 comments so far
I’ve never been so appalled and disgusted by my beloved Newcastle United. Mr. Ashely, please explain to me why you chose to buy this once great football club? Was it simply for advertising purposes because I find it hard to believe that all the money you’ve spent on Newcastle wouldn’t have been better off sending a spacecraft to the moon and painting your God awful brand all over it. Mr. Carver, you say the team gave their all today? You’re either blind sir or a liar, our players look disinterested, lazy and frankly as fed up with the situation as we are, the key difference being they make more in a week what most of us make in a year. The thought of my club being treated and performing the way it currently is makes me sick to my stomach. I plead with ALL fans NOT to renew your season tickets, NOT to buy any Newcastle merchandise, NOT to buy anything on match days if you insist on going. We Are no longer Newcastle United but Newcastle Cast Adrift, DisUnited and an embarrassment to the league.
Whats the point of staying up and Carver or Brolly guy getting the job and spending peanuts? More misery for us and another 50 million for Mr Tubbs. Better to bite the bullet now and get relegated and stay relegated til the fat controller has gone. I welcome an extended tenure for Carver and relegation. I can see something massively positive coming out of a prolonged relegation. I see only continued misery staying in the Premiership.
The club needs to be relegated to start again. It can only rebuild when Mr Tubbs is gone. There can be no bouncing straight back up again. We stay down until he is fed up with making no money and sells up.
If the team was in any kind of good form none of this would have happened. We the fans have been blind & are lying to ourseleves. If we were not losing 7 games in a row nothing would have happened. No protests, boycotts, altercations, etc. I doubt relegation would do anything at all. The majority of supporters are comfortable with how things are…watching premier league football each week.
When we finished 5th, we still had this fat, wicked man as owner. The only thing that matters to the majority are…results. No one did anything then.
Only when things go sour on the pitch do they off it.
It’s too late, most will renew their tickets. Too many for it to matter. Why? Because they believe that next season we will have a go at the cups, spend money, when in reality our cup is the 40pts cup.
One thing I would like to point out that Ed mentioned: “these boycotts do not help the team.”
Don’t they? Then tell me what does, sir? Having the support of 52,000 fans & one of the largest away supports in the division week in & week out? That has certainly helped the team so far.
Carver definitely won’t be dismissed. Our 2 ‘biggest’ games are still to come. The Leciester & QPR matches. Ashley know’s if we get at least 4 pts from those, & with players coming back from injury by then, we will stay up.
About 4 games ago i reckoned we might get 2 more points from WBA and Leicester.
I was plainly delusional… we are gonna finish up with 35 points,
We are currently 18/1 to be relegated…well worth a punt.
jimily’s posts are always tinged with sarcasm…but he has been spot on over the last few years regarding Ashley’s intentions…and unfortunately he is right…the only way to get rid of Ashley is to get relegated and stay down.
I think back to the euphoria of Filbert Street May 2nd 1992 and the beginning of a bright future under Keegan etc…how ironic we go to Leicester on May 2nd 2015 needing a result of some sort…
It was for his style of football, also he wasn’t Ashley’s choice as Shepherd’s regime had signed him before the takeover was completed.
Ashley has done a lot of things, which I get. Even appointing Joe Kinnear. One thing I didn’t get is why he sacked Chris Hughton. It’s been 5 years. Still don’t get it. Our Goals For columns was amazing with him.
When this is all over and he is gone he’s going to find it so hard to watch a Newcastle game .
.It will bring it all back for him and his family ..We know his hands are tied ..we know he’s towing the party line for Ashley, and its not loosing games that is his biggest downfall.. Its the fact he stood up in front of fellow Geordies and told uz lies over the FA cup match ..
Ashley is a first class Basta*d he has hung Carver up in front of us all ..
Saying all that I really do feel sorry for John Carver the Man right now.
I do have a bit of sympathy for Carver. He should, like King Percy, never have been offered the job in the first place. Guilty parties are Tubbs and his cabin boy Penfold. Carver is taking the daily flack and not getting any support – they’ve hung him out to dry. Recall when there was a rumour about a £60 million transfer pot – they acted pretty quick then to deny it – faster than lightening. Fans forum questions last Monday – have not even been replied to. Tubbs model of how to run a club is coming off the rails.
Lucky, mate. I usually make a point of never betting against my own team (nor for) but I’m kind of pissed now considering how much I could have made these past 7 weeks for an outright win againt our opposing teams.
Too late to start cashing in? Surely this 7 loss run about to end, even with a draw.
I’m on with the United Nations at moment on 14.mhz ..I am handling messages for UN for aid to Nepal ..got link via Israel To Kathmandu ..Working with American UN op’s .. the only contact they have got right now is through our link ..Earthquake has killed normal comms .
Trying to organise VHF repeater for Nepal and get it flown out there .
Carver needs to chill out and people need to get off his back. It can’t help anyone getting on his back at the minute nor the team. He is there until the end of the season so if people do go to the game they should support him not apply more pressure. Protest against Ashley yes but the team and coach needs left out of it right now. We all know he isn’t a perfect NUFC manager but we are still in a tricky situation in the league, they need support right now by the supporters that are going.
What I’v read about the protest today seems decent but I cant find many good pictures like. Last week there was lots of pictures and video’s that had been sourced. Lee Charnley’s face was a picture on MOTD while it was going on. Brilliant.
Wonga has massive debts and huge losses Newcastle has Ashley and huge losses
Has not one single Journalist or TV Company attempted to locate and interview Ashley…is he hiding in a hole in the ground like Saddam Hussein ? Or has he left the Country as he certainly has switched the lights off
I don’t think relegation is the only scenario which could rid Ashley of our club. Although, it is the most probable.
But I do believe if the stories and coverage of the boycotts and protests continue and intensify to the point that football fans around the world know and fully understand that shopping at SD is supporting a force which is killing football, then Ashley will lose more money than he ever spent/earned at NUFC and will have no reason to stay owning the club.
However, until Newcastle fans can actually be united and consistently leave the majority of seats at SJP empty, and consistently get media coverage of the Ashley Out campaign game after game, I don’t see Newcastle United in the Premier League in 16/17 and for a long time beyond then.
Waking up to the headlines in the Sunday papers: Pardew reported to be after Cisse. Bournemouth could be next to win promotion after Watford and to replace Newcastle in premier League. Elton John pens new song to celebrate. Carver John pens new version of Elton’s classic ” pisssing in the wind” and shouts abuse at fans. Charley does nothing. Ashley has disappeared down a drain pipe, search continues Wonga has massive losses and writes off £220m loans Sports Direct exposed in Dispatches TV programme Japanese fan of Newcastle found hiding on Pacific Island since WW2 asks to be left alone Apollo 13 returns to moon, it’s safer there Cold pork pie nominated as winner of Britains Got Talent
Last fan switches off lights at St James Park and is awarded Freeman of the City
TV programme “Shameless ” to be made into blockbuster ( they went bust too ) film staring Mike Ashley , Lee Charnley and John Carver . Location shooting to be moved from Merseyside to Tyneside.
To be followed by remake of Teletubbies Dipsy ,La La , and Po
I wandered lonely as a cloud , surrounded by a host of complete and utter twats ruining the club and turning the City into a joke.
Ashley is invited onto the Jeremy Kyle show and allegedly could fail lie detector tests when asked “are you the right and responsible man to be running a Premier League football club”
North Korea flooded by asylum seekers from a football club in the north east of England in search of a better life disappointed to find that their Illustrious Leader is already living there.
health update
My latest checkup was yesteday and after a battery of tests the results show the cancer remains stabilized and has not spread further.
Some background - I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 after being in remission for six years. and I completed four months of intense chemotherapy in late July.
The cancer metastasized through the bones and one treatment available I am undergoing is hormone treatment.
There is no cure for Stage 4 cancer and I will continue to have exhaustive blood tests about every three months and CAT-scans and bone-scans when necessary.
I will do my best under the circumstances and I take this as another challenge - a big one.
Ed Harrison
Comments
The purpose of the comments is to allow Newcastle United fans and others to express their views on the news of the day concerning the Newcastle United Football Club.
We'd ask that you be civil towards other readers and refrain from obscene language and any comments on religion, ethnic groups or politics.
Let's make this work - and let's help the Newcastle United Football Club become great again.
Ed Harrison
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One of our avid readers Kacper Tylenda from Poland was the person who came in during April, 2017 and redesigned this web-site from top to bottom.
We think he did a fantastic job to modernize the site with the roll-out on Thursday May 18th surprisingly smooth.
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It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love. | {
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All in the Family
In the News: The dumbing down of America with Tennessee House voting the bible as the state book, global warming talk barred from Wisconsin state agencies, and prayer before university football games. After celebrating the birthday of feminist pioneer Mary Wollstonecraft and hearing Roy Zimmerman's "Creation Science 101," we talk with Len Eisenberg, founder and CEO of Evogeneao, promoting evolution education.
AUDIOBOOK DRAWING. There is still time to enter the drawing for a free download of the audiobook of Dan Barker's new book, Life Driven Purpose. Send an email by April 29 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.' with the Subject "Free Audiobook" and include your name, physical mailing address, and how you listen to Freethought Radio. Five winners will be announced on next week's show. | {
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AMD A6-3400M not working on Linux kernel 3.0
09-18-2011, 07:52 PM
I'm using Ubuntu 11.04 64-bit version.
Tried compiling kernel 3.0.4 and used the 3.0 kernel from xorg-edgers and neither of them work. No display on screen although the system does seem to be loading. This is on the Asus K53TA-BBR6 laptop.
Haven't tried newer kernel versions since kernel.org is down.
On Fedora 15 64-bit with latest updates and 2.6.40 kernel, also not working.
Comment
Not working with Ubuntu 11.10 beta 1 64-bit dvd either. The menu shows up, I select live desktop option and absolutely no display. It does boot into the desktop though because I can hear the login sound playing.
Comment
I have the same board AMD a6-3400m with a Radeon ATI hd 6520. (Its on a HP notebook I got at a very good price...).
I'm still trying to make it work with the open source driver without success (x11-drivers/xf86-video-ati).
I'm on Funtoo (based on gentoo) with the 3.1.0-rc4-git2 kernel, and masked versions of Xorg and video drivers, libdrm, libkms, mesa, ...).
I had the same problem but I was able to connect to the machine with ssh from my other machine. You have to install & config sshd before in a chrooted shell on your machine.
in case of trouble (black screen), if you use grub to start, try to edit the grub command and add "vga=711" kernel options or (radeon.modeset=0). I can't confirm now. But I think the AMD ATI Radeon HD 6520 is only usable with the proprietary drivers from ATI. This card is too recent right now (mid april 2011). May be in a few months it will be ready.
Comment
I have the same board AMD a6-3400m with a Radeon ATI hd 6520. (Its on a HP notebook I got at a very good price...).
I'm still trying to make it work with the open source driver without success (x11-drivers/xf86-video-ati).
I'm on Funtoo (based on gentoo) with the 3.1.0-rc4-git2 kernel, and masked versions of Xorg and video drivers, libdrm, libkms, mesa, ...).
I had the same problem but I was able to connect to the machine with ssh from my other machine. You have to install & config sshd before in a chrooted shell on your machine.
in case of trouble (black screen), if you use grub to start, try to edit the grub command and add "vga=711" kernel options or (radeon.modeset=0). I can't confirm now. But I think the AMD ATI Radeon HD 6520 is only usable with the proprietary drivers from ATI. This card is too recent right now (mid april 2011). May be in a few months it will be ready.
Regards,
Bernard
thanks Perfmonk, will try that. problem is i can't see anything on booting the live CD, so can't install ubuntu 11.10. i might be able to install using the alternate iso and then I can try changing grub settings. | {
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Header$type=menu
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New Features: It is a latest version of this game comes with World Map zoom in & out options and fixed all bugs. | {
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Growth through embracing discomfort… I’ve had a wonderful winter back in the Gunnison Valley after 3+ years in Hawaii. My time in Hawaii gave me many unique opportunities to embrace discomfort. As a professional I progressively advanced my fundraising and public speaking skills and reconnected with my youth in poverty through the most powerful mission I’ve … Continue reading Running from Tony: Embracing Discomfort | {
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Trend Alert Top Designer Wallpaper Sources
Title Posted by Deborah (at) dvdInteriorDesign aHome Decor Website, a Connecticut-based Design Blog and portfolio collection of the latest trends and products as seen at trade shows and in the marketplace, including ideas for stylish living and inspirations.
It's Back!Yes, wallpaper is back and it's back in a big way!. Despite all those tiring memories of scraping that old yellow wallpaper from the past (1970?) off of many walls to clean them up with a fresh application of paint, I am excited to add paper as an instant update to any room. The options available today have me forgetting those painful memories and wanting more. It's looking great in the entry, the bathroom and on the ceiling. It is a welcomed trend shift for an update.
So here are the latest prints and designs, let's take a look at everything from florals, to wood textures, murals and more.
Wallpaper is a visual obsession lately . Fashion is first, and home decor usually follows. I'm a little obsessed with wallpaper lately so indulge me little bit. I like patterns, color and different motifs.
image via HGTV
Drop it Modern is the added surprise that completes this luxurious Bath for HGTV House of Bryon.
Green and white is a very popular color choice this year. (design note) This reflects not only the color of the year " Greenery", but also an interest in motifs again and desires to connect with nature.
My go to company for bold graphic and fragmented patterns in wallpaper and fabrics is definitely Thibaut. They have many colors and usually a coordinating fabric option for upholstery and drapery.
interior design by Annie Anderson
The garden inspired wallpaper in this dining room/ library is sophisticated, warm and welcoming. (Design Tip) Notice the extra drama added by the orange banding, the finishing touch on this wonderful room.
WOW! Sometimes it takes a show house for a designer to show their creativity. I am in love with he color explosion in this room. The papered ceiling is the final detail that brings it all together with continuity .
With the advancements in digital printing, a new era of paper is available. This custom wallpaper was spotted in the Holiday House Stairway by Iris Dankner with Brooklyn-based Wallpaper Projects: a boutique design studio specializing in custom made wallpaper for Architects and Designers.
I especially like patterns, exotics, and find lately myself enamored with sexy moody florals (as seen @elliecashmandesign ). With the abilities offered through digital media, one can take a print and apply it to a variety of products.
Seen At the Architectural Digest Design Show
@flavorpaper rocks the house with this collaboration with @OvandoNY a wonderful NY florist. #adds2016 great wall drama #designhounds by @dvdinteriordesign
Because of the surface area it consumes, wallpaper packs a big punch. A wall covering is one of the easiest ways to add interest to any ...here is a highlight from Instagram at the Architectural Digest Home Show. Flavor Paper
AP 7 - BLUSH
Area Environments: Artists creating environments with wallpaper.
Yes, this is art. Area Environments has been in business for over 25 years and has evolved into a booming art, fabrication, and print business that employs a growing number of artists and tradespeople.
"What sets us apart from other companies is that we are all artists creating wallpaper with artists' eyes. The care and time we take to create the best, most visually appealing paper has paid off for us; our customers recognize this as well and keep coming back for more. Starting Area is one of the most exciting things I've ever done. As we continue to seek out artists from around the world, our collection of unique designs will inspire new ways of relating to and using wallpaper. It is truly rewarding to share our love of art."
Great pattern for a ceiling.
This is a great way to add a graphic pattern to your space. The ceiling is often overlooked when is comes to thinking about pattern or color. The wall space has also been used wisely for storage and for maintaining a a clean look.
Add personality to a bookcase.
This wallpaper with its bold pattern adds personality and a pop to an otherwise nondescript bookcase.
"Lindsay Cowles Voted one of the “Top Emerging Artists” by Art Business News."
This is the paper you saw! Often someone will ask for a paper recommendation and while I have no favorites, this is one of my favorites. Lindsay is a contemporary abstract expressionist based in Richmond, VA. She paints large-scale abstract paintings with bright, bold color and energetic movement.
Root Cellar Designs is a boutique Print Studio of wallpaper and fabrics founded and curated by friend and fellow interior designer Tamara Stephenson and her partner Susan Young. Shown above is a current installation in a powder room for Holiday House, NYC.
Beautiful installation by Zoe Design. This looks like a handpainted mural, but it is finely detailed and 1/2 the cost since it is printed.
Another method for a fabric wall finish is Stenciling!This Fortuny Wall Stencilis named because the pattern is reminiscent of ones used in the famed Fortuny silks from Italy. It is perfect for creating fabric finishes, like the subtle stria technique shown here, done with solid, high contrast, or with the "lost and found" edges technique of the Faded Damask.
Watercolor leaf pattern by Pixersize
Eco-friendly and free delivery, Pixersize not only has beautiful arrangements, they are also a great resource fo furniture makeovers, temporary papers and custom arrangments!
Yes, the use of toile is beautiful in new places such and the bedroom with a romantic feeling accented with love birds and your lovers' name carved into the trunk of one of the trees. This romantic scenery is from the design studio of Rebel Walls.
Also, come join our Facebook group where we chat all things HOME! You can find it right here. Share your favorite wallpaper or let us know if you purchased one of the latest introductions for your home.
Please Note: dvd Interior Design participates in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a small source of income to support my site. This is at no additional cost to you my reader, but very helpful in providing me with an opportunity to continue this site. Thank you for you support. Deborah From dvd Interior Design Lately.......Feng Shui for your Living Room
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7 smart and sassy crime fiction writers dish on writing and life.
It's The View. With bodies.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
A Question of Class #mystery @barbross
LUCY BURDETTE: I love love love Barbara Ross's Maine Clambake mystery series. Her characters feel so real, and the setting is interesting and unique. As she was preparing to launch her fourth book, Fogged Inn, I persuaded her to visit us here. And we not only get her smart blog post, we get her husband Bill's fabulous photographs.
Barbara Ross: Thank you so much to the Jungle Reds
for having me. I had dinner with two of the Reds in Key West this week, (Hi
Lucy! Hi Hallie!), but sadly now my husband and I are making the long drive
back to New England.
The latest book in my Maine Clambake Mystery series, Fogged Inn, was released last week. I
love writing this series about the Maine coast and the complexities of life and
society in Busman’s Harbor, a small Maine town dependent on lobstering and the
tourist dollars it can generate in its short summer season. And I love writing about
my protagonist, Julia Snowden, a young woman who returns to town to save her
family’s failing clambake business from bankruptcy.
As I’ve
written the Maine Clambake series, I’ve thought a lot about the question of
class and the complexity that topic all across American life. I suspect like a
lot of authors, I find it to be a minefield.
For one
thing, there’s the general role of class in American life, which is often
contradictory and hard to understand. It has to do with money, or perhaps more
broadly with resources, but not exclusively, and also with outlook, aspiration,
opportunity, and peers (who are, in some cases, resources).
Julia Snowden
is the product of a marriage between a summer person mother, whose family owns
a mansion on a private island, and a dad who as a teen delivered groceries to
the island on his skiff. By the time Julia’s parents marry, there isn’t much
economic difference between their families. Julia’s mother’s family fortune is
long gone. Though they’ve hung onto the island, the mansion is empty and in
disrepair. Julia’s grandfather on her father’s side is a successful lobsterman.
But, as Julia
says in Clammed Up, the first book in
the series. “A town person
marrying a summer person was still rare, but had been even rarer when my
parents married thirty-two years ago. Especially a marriage between a
high-school educated boy and a girl from a family that owned an island. As a
result I’ve always felt a little apart. Neither a local nor a summer person, I
didn’t fit in anywhere. I went to elementary school and junior high in the
harbor, but always knew I’d go away for high school. It wasn’t a financial
thing. During my childhood there was still good money to be made from
lobstering, fishing and construction. I was separated by a mother From Away,
and my parents’ expectations for me.”
In some ways, the
complexities of Julia’s family echo those of any resort town. As she explains in, Boiled Over, “Oh geez, the
socio-dynamics of a resort town. The natives look down on the seasonal
homeowners, who look down on the monthly house-renters, who look down on the
weekly hotel-stayers, who look down the weekenders, who look down on the
day-tripping tourists, who look down on the natives, in an endless cycle of
misunderstanding.”
As I write the characters that populate my Maine town, the
locales, the summer people, the retirees, and the tourists, I want to give them
all their due—to recognize their struggles, honor their perspectives and not
judge their choices (or in some cases, lack of choice). I find the best way is
to be specific—to write about specific people, with specific histories, in a
specific place. The road to stereotypes is paved with generic characters and
settings, and I find myself attracted to stories that recognize the
complexities and contradictions of real lives.
Readers, how to you
react to the social structures occupied by the characters in books you read?
Writers how do you negotiate the minefield of class in America in the
characters you create?
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries, Clammed Up,
Boiled Over, Musseled Out and Fogged Inn.Clammed Up was
nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel and
was a finalist for the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Barbara blogs with a wonderful group of Maine mystery authors at Maine Crime Writers and with a
group of writers of New England-based cozy mysteries at Wicked Cozy Authors.
30 comments:
It certainly seems as if folks living in places that attract summer visitors or seasonal tourists feel a bit of proprietorship about their town; I know there are always grumblings about the summer folks at the shore even though the economy of the area depends on the summer beachgoers. It is a bit of a conundrum.As for the social structures of the characters in books, if it’s honest and well-drawn, it’s good . . . stereotypical characters and settings are frustrating and annoying.
I live in a place where the population ebbs and flows with the seasons (and where one very popular bumper sticker used to be "If we can't shoot 'em why do they call it tourist season?"). There's the legitimate argument that the economy is entwined with the seasonal people and the tourists-- but also the other side that some of us do live here, and get very frustrated with people who treat this as a playground to be careless with and endlessly criticise. People who let their kids harass marine life, who feed the seagulls, who leave their cigarette butts in the sand, who don't tip at restaurants because they won't be back...they all make it hard to be tolerant of the people who do nothing more heinous than clog our favorite shops and our roads half the year.
On the flip side, I think it makes me more cognisant of these issues when I travel. We were with a high school group outside the US last year, and every time someone in the group was a stereotypical Ugly American, I think I died a little inside.
We have a summer influx as well--and with the growing popularity of indoor water resorts, there's a continual influx of people into those places year-round. Besides all of the issues noted by Joan and Jennifer above, some issues go deeper, as Barb Ross noted. We get plenty of speeches by the politicians about how the economy has improved here--all the great new jobs--BUT those jobs are service industry jobs that typically don't pay a living wage and often get filled--especially in the summer--by people with summer green cards.
As for characters in books--make them real, honest, no matter their position in life, and I'll be in it for the duration of the story--the series, I'm hooked!
You do such a good job with making your characters real, Barb. I just finished reading FOGGED INN - another hit!
Readers, one of Barb's local characters speaks today as my guest over on the Killer Characters blog! Take a listen to Officer Jamie Dawes here: http://www.killercharacters.com/2016/03/my-name-is-jamie-dawes.html
Boy do these issues resonate with my setting (and also the place I live), Key West. Because it's so warm all year, we have not only tourists, but a large number of homeless folks. As you can imagine, major conflicts ensue between homeless, seasonal tourists, cruise ship visitors, and locals (called conchs.)
I'm almost to the end of Fogged Inn and enjoying so much! There's another interesting theme in your book--people who have "escaped" the small town, but have returned home for one reason or another and struggle with how it feels to be back.
Another shout-out from me - LOVE this series! So happy to see the new one which I have right on my bedside table as I speak. R
eading your comments about town/summer relationships it strikes me how it's similar to town/gown -- relationship between college student and townie... and the friction between the factions a la romeo and juliet. They say CONFLICT is the most important seasoning for any story, and there you have it built into the very fabric of your story.
Mornin', Barb!! Fun to find you here this morning. I love your series, and it's one I relate to.
Boone, where we live, is much like what you describe.
The locals are, for the most part, families who have been here and on family land for generations. The land is not as many acres as it once was but they try to hold on to it as long and as tightly as they can. There's some resentment in some quarters towards those who have moved here for any number of reasons, and who are, for the most part, employed by the university here. Then there are the "summer people" who come up from Florida, have bought homes at ridiculous prices and have caused property prices to be at a level those of us living here can no longer afford. We have seasonal skiers and weekend leaf lookers.
We all depend on one another for different aspects of our lives.
But.
It does not stop the underlying currents that are constantly eddying and occasionally erupting. Especially in zoning issues.
My father-in-law spends his summers up at Sherkston Beach, Ontario. He owns his trailer and lives there all summer. And there is always a bit of a "hmphf" when it comes to the folks who come to the park for the day or have weekend/weeklong rentals. Even though there is probably no difference in class/economics/social status between the two groups. I guess it's a "we live here and you're just visiting" mentality.
And Hallie, yes! College towns. My university was the biggest "thing" (and probably the second biggest employer) in the Olean, NY area. The businesses in the little neighboring town of Allegany both loved and hated the college students. They loved us because we went the bars and restaurants and ordered pizza. They hated us because we were "outsiders" who only lived in the area for 10 months of the year, made a mess, and went home. And for our part, we called them "townies" and some (not me) looked down on them because, well, they weren't university students.
I agree. If you draw the character realistically you're fine. It's when you sink into cliche that you get in trouble.
This post exemplifies her intelligent approach to mystery writing. Threaded through Barb's stories are the kinds of conflicts faced by real people, and she writes with such deep respect for her characters.
In my Joe Gale series I've tried to acknowledge how class informs human interaction. In Quick Pivot, longtime reporter Paulie Finnegan's background is contrasted with that of the scion of the Preble family:
Valedictorian of the 1958 graduating class at Riverside High School, Preble was a track star and senior prom king. He was the first local boy accepted to Harvard since the mid-forties, not that anyone should have been surprised, given the Preble family legacy. He came home seven years later, with two degrees to hang on the wall and a couple of years of world travel under his belt. The Chronicle did a front page story about his homecoming.
Paulie got his South Portland High School diploma in 1956, barely having met the requirements for graduation. Thank God for shop class. Then he did some travel of his own, but it was on Uncle Sam’s dime. Paulie was pretty sure nobody in his Ferry Village neighborhood noticed when he was honorably discharged by the Coast Guard.
Count me among Barb's many fans, precisely because her Clambake series, while cozy, doesn't brush aside the real issues of Maine coastal towns. I can always tell when I'm reading a book by an author whose closest relationship with our state was a weekend trip or watching the Murder, She Wrote series. The words 'quaint', 'crusty' (referring to an old lobsterman) and idyllic will all be used. Natives will dress like an LL Bean catalogue (except for the crusty lobsterman, who wears old pants that smell of fish and a turtleneck sweater) and the people from away )who are not called people from away) have just walked out of the the Brooks Brother's summer clothing sale.
Maine is complicated, with real issues about class, property values, poverty, zoning, nativism, management of forests and fisheries...dozens of things that aren't touched on by writers using the state as window dressing. Barb never does that, and I appreciate it.
That being said, Barb, when do we get a book where governor "Lou LePlage" is found floating face down in the waters off Busman's Harbor? That has the potential to be a real bestseller! :-)
Welcome, Barb! I'm so intrigued by the "real Maine" and all of its issues — that plus a cat on the cover! Sign me up! As a New Yorker, I kinda like the tourists (although I stay away from Times Square, as a rule).
I've had my eye on Fogged Inn for a while now, as the cover draws me in so. And, well, I'm a fog fan. The timing here on the Reds blog is always so perfect in my reading life. I am currently reading a series that is set in San Francisco with fog as a recurring element, I just received a book some of you might be familiar with entitled Time of Fog and Fire, and here today is Fogged Inn. I'm thinking maybe I should just make March my "fog" month.
Barbara, Fogged Inn will be my first Clambake mystery read, but I always go back and pick up the previous books. After reading your post and all the comments about how authentic your series is, I'm looking forward to reading your stories set in a place I'd love to visit. And, your attention to detail about class and the different peoples that inhabit a place have me thinking about being more aware of that element. I've always appreciated and gravitated toward books that portrayed the interacting of different groups of people in a realistic manner, but now I will probably be thinking of it even more.
I'm on the road back from Key West. Today's leg, Fayetteville, NC to Alexandria, VA. The internet was annoyingly terrible at our hotel in NC this morning. Now I'm in a diner in Emporia, VA,
Thanks everyone for your kind comments about the Maine Clambake Mysteries. It makes me so happy people are enjoying them.
Julia, thanks for your comments about the real Maine. The last one made me laugh and then made me want to cry! I have considered murdering the crony who is buying up great swaths of my little Maine town. (Fictionally, of course.)
I'm sure it's different out in the neighborhood enclaves in the far flung boroughs, but I love the way in NYC you're a native as soon as you master the subway system and ordering a sandwich at the deli. (Hesitate and you die--works for both.) None of this "from away" stuff.
The conflicts of your series, and the conflicts Julia feels, are some of the reasons I love it. I have spent a lot of time on the Cape, and also worked for Universities. Tensions between folks are part of life there, but everywhere. Julia is an outsider insider, and I love her take on things. I also LOVE this series.
I love not only the series, but reading about these sorts of real-life issues. When I moved to CT a few years ago and landed in Norwich (not a tourist mecca by any stretch of the imagination), I was still struck by the attitudes of people "born and raised" here and how others didn't measure up. I remember an interview I did for the paper I worked for back then. The man I was speaking to had spent 25 years in the town, had invested in it and bought property and tried to make it more appealing for people to visit and live, and he was still referred to as an outsider. Crazy stuff.
A tourist season. I always wondered why there was no bag limit :). There was another popular bumper sticker in Miami, it read "Welcome to Miami. Leave your money. Go." That was a different Miami. There's not much of a tourist season there anymore. It does often seem that tourists are not on their best behavior though. Living in Florida I've had them come into my yard and pick fruit from the trees and watched people scurry from commercial groves with laundry baskets of fruit. Strikes me as odd. Do they do that at home? Don't know. It's dangerous to paint with a broad brush as a writer. I like Barbara's approach of giving each character its due. There's a lot of wonderful things to be found that way.
Love the conversation here. I moved to a resort town fourteen years ago to run a B&B and am still considered "new." There is definitely tension here. However, the summer locals tend to cause more of it than the tourists. Most tourists seem happy to be here and are usually easy to get along with (although sometimes clueless - can you PLEASE use the cross walks??) The summer locals have buckets of money and can be somewhat vocal about "you wouldn't have a job if I didn't come to your town every summer" and "what on earth do you people do here in the winter." Most year-round locals suck it up and wait to "get their town back" at the end of season. Hallie is right - plenty of tension to include in a story (and definitely a lot of motives for murder mysteries!)
I remember the fun we had as children in Marblehead as we planned our class-based revenge on the tourists who invaded our town during the season. It was humiliating to be photographed doing our childhood thing then asked to repeat the activity so strangers could record it.
During summers in Marblehead parents and adult neighbors were most helpful in passing along the stories of their own "gawkers' special" tricks. When an outsider complained? They were at their exemplar best. as they shut down their coffee shops and fried clam concessions or made the main street "One Way" in both directions.
Some of these stories go back generations to the beginning of colonial settlement, the favorites though cluster during revolutionary times. Knowing that your ancestors were neighbors with your best friends' ancestors--or your girl or boyfriend's--had a solid way of shaping your behavior.
The Clambake series sounds wonderful. I hate the general assumptions made by people about each other based on where they're from. We need a national plague of courtesy and friendliness to sweep through. Let's face it: people can be pretty damn stupid and thoughtless.
When I taught in Jamaica, friends talked about taxi drivers and other service worker types, neglecting or over-charging locals during tourist season. She also said they took note of who did that when deciding who to do business with the rest of the year.
Linda--my mother-in-law ran a B&B in our Maine town for 15 years, so I totally get it. She felt the tourists we stayed in B&Bs, ie the people who didn't need TVs in every room or a pool, were the best tourists. (Of course, that was her take.)
Pat-I am all for a national plague of courtesy, though as a New Englander, I have to draw the line at friendliness. :-)
Reine--Marblehead is a perfect example of a town that is a suburb and a summer place (decreasingly so) and its own place all in one.
Kait, wow, I can't believe the nerve of going into someone's yard or orchard and stealing fruit. In Key West, the worst visitor behavior has to do with drunkenness and lack of clothing--more on that to come in KILLER TAKEOUT. But in a milder way, tourists do things like simply ignoring traffic lights. Since when did it become ok to just cross the street even if your light is red? And then glare at the rest of us? John and I get strong urges to go around correcting people, but we mostly hold back:)
Roberta, although you can get ticketed for jay walking, I'm afraid it's de rigueur in the Boston area. To be fair I haven't been there in 2 or 3 years but it was like that even that recently. People will look the other way and even hold their hands like a traffic cop as if that guarantees you will stop. Scary. I've only seen one naked person crossing the street there, however. That was 1996 in the theatre district at Tremont and Stuart.
Thanks, all. As Roberta says, crimes in Key West tend to drunkenness, and all the associated behaviors, like walking into a stranger's house and falling asleep on their couch. What always amazes me is, per the newspaper crime report, how many of these drunk tourists are cops or school principals back home in Michigan or Minnesota or wherever. | {
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Compare Prices on Crown Princess Southern Caribbean Cruises
Cheaper to cruise then to stay in a nursing home....
Sail Date:
January 2014
Destination:
Southern Caribbean
Embarkation:
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
I will start off by saying we enjoyed the cruise very much. We were in a inside cabin on the Riviera deck. We boarded the boat around 2:30 pm. No line up. First night we had no air in the cabin. Called and this was fixed immediately!. Food was excellent. Movies Under The Stars was great. Lots of brand new movies. Princess Patter kept us up to date on everything... Bingo was fun, although a bit pricey.
clientele..... Were in our 30's, and I think I was the youngest on the ship. We figured it out and it literally is cheaper to cruise than for the geriatric population to stay in a nursing home. Between the Walkers, Canes, and electric scooters running around, you really had to watch yourself. It never clued in to me that I was on a nursing home cruise till I read the sign at the pools..... No adult diapers to be worn in pool..... Jesus......
Ship.... Now I didn't do much research, I left it up to my GF and she booked it all. I had no idea about the ship ect. OK, now I More
honestly thought I was on the original Love Boat. Very Very bland dated ship. No frills, but they are appealing to the geriatric population, not people in their 30's or even 40's. I found out that the ship was released to Princess in 2006. I personally thought 1986.....If you like the "wood " look, then you will like this ship. I was told that all the princess ships are all the same.
Casino.... There was a rude player at the Casino who was playing Blackjack and throwing money around like it grew on trees. He lost so much money, and was swearing at dealers, pit bosses ect. They did not kick him out, they allowed him to continually play. I get that they want to take him for all his money, but at the expense of other paying customers having to listen to this???
No points accumulated on your card if you play Blackjack. You could play 8 hours a day and still have 0 points. There is no program, but play on the slots for 20 min, and you will have enough for a drink... What a joke....
Food.... Awesome,, Crown Grille .... Awesome...
I truly hope Princess starts catering to the younger crowd, as I felt out of place with some of the clientele that have their nose in the air. And please princess, get with the times with décor. We are not in the 80's anymore... Less | {
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Presenter Information
Location
Room 129
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Abstract
Librarians face numerous challenges when designing effective, sustainable assessment methods for student learning outcomes in one-shot, course-integrated library instruction sessions. In this presentation, we will share how librarians at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) use a rubric to assess students’ authentic learning products from one-shot instruction sessions for a research and writing course required for all undergraduate students. We will share how rubric-based assessment enhances student learning and explain how we use this type of assessment to demonstrate our information literacy program’s effectiveness.
University 200: Inquiry and the Craft of Argument is a sophomore-level writing and research course required for all VCU students. Information literacy is a stated core competency for UNIV 200 and librarians provide instruction for all of the approximately 80 sections of the course offered each semester. To assess student learning in these sessions, we developed a worksheet and a rubric based on information literacy learning outcomes defined with UNIV 200 faculty. The worksheet serves as both an applied learning exercise for students and an assessment object.
In this presentation, participants will learn about the benefits of using rubrics for learning assessment in a one-shot environment, the mechanics of how we employed rubric-based assessment programmatically for UNIV 200 at VCU, and our findings on students’ achievement of information literacy learning outcomes. Additionally, we will discuss how we use our findings to improve librarian teaching, and how a rubric-based assessment model can be translated to any one-shot environment regardless of content being taught.
Presentation Description
The presenters will explain the benefits of using rubrics to assess information literacy learning outcomes in a one-shot library instruction environment. Participants will also learning how the rubric-based assessment model can be translated to any one-shot environment regardless of the content being taught.
Share
Librarians face numerous challenges when designing effective, sustainable assessment methods for student learning outcomes in one-shot, course-integrated library instruction sessions. In this presentation, we will share how librarians at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) use a rubric to assess students’ authentic learning products from one-shot instruction sessions for a research and writing course required for all undergraduate students. We will share how rubric-based assessment enhances student learning and explain how we use this type of assessment to demonstrate our information literacy program’s effectiveness.
University 200: Inquiry and the Craft of Argument is a sophomore-level writing and research course required for all VCU students. Information literacy is a stated core competency for UNIV 200 and librarians provide instruction for all of the approximately 80 sections of the course offered each semester. To assess student learning in these sessions, we developed a worksheet and a rubric based on information literacy learning outcomes defined with UNIV 200 faculty. The worksheet serves as both an applied learning exercise for students and an assessment object.
In this presentation, participants will learn about the benefits of using rubrics for learning assessment in a one-shot environment, the mechanics of how we employed rubric-based assessment programmatically for UNIV 200 at VCU, and our findings on students’ achievement of information literacy learning outcomes. Additionally, we will discuss how we use our findings to improve librarian teaching, and how a rubric-based assessment model can be translated to any one-shot environment regardless of content being taught. | {
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As surely as the toll echoes from Big Ben, every nationwide election in Britain for more than a century has been won by one of two parties: Labor or the Conservatives.
Next week, that august record is likely to come crashing down, courtesy of a far-right insurgent party that has seized on a pervasive anti-immigrant and anti-establishment mood to rocket to the lead in polls for the European parliamentary election.
The rise of the U.K. Independence Party has shaken up British politics in a way rarely seen here. While far-right parties have long been influential across continental Europe, they have always been relegated to the fringe in this country, which sees itself as open and inclusive.
But the political and economic stars have aligned in UKIP’s favor, and a party that’s dismissed as racist, xenophobic and a bit loony by London sophisticates suddenly is steering the national debate with its calls for Britain to close down borders and leave the European Union. A victory in European elections would confirm its newfound status as a major political player, even though UKIP lacks a single seat in the British Parliament.
The party’s message has resonated particularly well in struggling small towns and decaying industrial centers, where the benefits of a recovering economy are scarcely felt and where mainstream politicians are seen as out of touch with constituents furious over a massive influx of foreign workers.
“We’ve gotta get control of our country back,” said Gordon Harris, a youthful-looking 73-year-old with a skull tattooed on his forearm. “I’ve got nothing against immigration, but it’s just too much. It’s out of control, and we can’t cope.”
For decades, Harris was a truck driver and a Labor voter. But one recent night, he turned out at a conference center in this genteel Cambridgeshire market town to cheer Nigel Farage, who as UKIP’s leader has become the nation’s preeminent channeler of anti-establishment vitriol.
The party’s emergence doesn’t just challenge the ruling Conservatives, who have scrambled to the right on immigration and environmental policies to keep from being outflanked. As Harris’s conversion shows, it also threatens to eat into support for Labor, which risks losing the backing of working-class voters alienated by the party’s progressivism.
UKIP’s appeals to the Reagan Democrats of Britain are hardly subtle: On one campaign billboard, a dejected worker sits on the curb with a coin cup at his feet. “British workers are hit hard by unlimited cheap labor,” reads the ad’s text.
The message is typical of a European election campaign that has been dominated in Britain by voters’ fears, not their hopes.
“UKIP promises a better yesterday,” said Peter Kellner, president of the polling firm YouGov. “The appeal is to people who feel that Britain has become a less attractive, less secure and more frightening place. They dislike the modern world and want to get off.”
The party has traditionally done well in European elections, which are held every five years to select the 751 members of the European Parliament. The elections are marked by low turnout, and UKIP has struggled to translate its success in the European vote into success where it most counts: British parliamentary elections. But the party, which has been around for two decades, has never done as well in the polls as it is doing now.
‘Different Britains’
Farage, UKIP’s leader, is a somewhat unlikely champion of the working man. He made a small fortune as a commodities broker in London’s financial district,and for the past 15 years has been employed on the taxpayer’s dime as a member of the European Parliament — a job he wants to eliminate. His German-born wife also earns a government salary working as his secretary.
But Farage is a gifted salesman whose breezy style and ear for a sound bite would not be out of place on American talk radio — or in the local pub, where he often campaigns, pint in hand. That sort of everyman quality places him in marked contrast with the stiff and remote Oxbridge-educated politicians who dominate the Labor and Conservative parties.
And it serves him particularly well when talking about immigration, an issue that polarizes the British electorate like few others.
In cosmopolitan London, immigration is widely seen as a virtuous driver of economic growth and cultural vitality. But here in rural eastern England — where jobs working the fields have been a magnet for Lithuanians, Portuguese and others from across Europe — immigrants are seen as a drain on public services and as competition for housing and employment.
“There are two completely different Britains. There’s London, and there’s the rest of Britain. Attitudes are very different,” Farage said in an interview before taking the stage for the UKIP rally here. “Nobody in this country has voted for 4 million immigrants to come here in the last 15 years, and for probably another 3 million to come between now and 2020. There’s unrecognizable change happening in our country. The life prospects and job prospects, particularly of working-class people, have been severely dented.”
Farage’s solution is for Britain to exit the European Union, a body that by law allows citizens of all 28 members to move freely across the bloc. In the past decade, the expansion of the E.U. into eastern Europe and the economic crisis that has roiled southern Europe have made Britain an especially attractive destination, and millions have made the journey.
The influx began during the Labor government of Tony Blair and has continued unabated under Tory Prime Minister David Cameron, despite pledges by Cameron to sharply reduce the flow. Farage argues that until Britain leaves the E.U., no government will be able to claim control of the nation’s borders.
“What we’ve done is say to 485 million people, ‘You can all come, every one of you,’ ” Farage said, referencing the total population of the E.U. “ ‘You’re unemployed? You’ve got a criminal record? Please come. You’ve got 19 children? Please come.’ We’ve lost any sense of perspective on this.”
Getting valuable momentum
Critics accuse Farage of pandering to anti-foreigner sentiment, and the party has come under assault in recent weeks for overtly racist comments made by its members. In one case, a local council candidate tweeted that a black comedian should emigrate to “a black country.”
On Tuesday, a prominent young UKIP activist who is of Indian heritage abruptly resigned, saying the party had lost its way by blaming foreigners for the struggles of ordinary Britons.
“The direction in which the party is going is terrifying,” wrote Sanya-Jeet Thandi in an article for the Guardian newspaper. “UKIP has descended into a form of racist populism that I cannot bring myself to vote for.”
Farage has been forced repeatedly to deny that UKIP has a problem with racism. He has said that UKIP will not go form a coalition with other far-right parties in Europe — several of which also are expected to do well in this month’s vote — because he disapproves of their policies and language on race.
The criticism has done little to dampen enthusiasm for the party, and indeed may be feeding it by confirming for many alienated Brits that the elites are out of touch.
Matthew Goodwin, author of a book that chronicles UKIP’s rise, “Revolt on the Right,” said that if the party finishes first in the European elections, the outcome “will amount to a complete rejection of the British political class.”
It also will give UKIP valuable momentum going into next year’s elections for the British Parliament — momentum that Farage already seemed to sense as his speech in St. Ives neared its finale.
“Are you prepared to join our people’s army that will topple the establishment on May 22?” he shouted to a packed auditorium.
The crowd of 700 backers clad in UKIP purple rose to its feet and roared its response. | {
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ファイル形式・When importing uncompressed audio files into Audacity・Make a copy of the file before editing (safer) - Selecting this means that Audacity will take longer to import files, but it will always have its own copy of any audio you are using in a project. You can move, change, or throw away your files immediately after you open or import them into Audacity.・Read directly from the original file (faster) - Selecting this means that Audacity depends on your original audio files being there, and only stores changes you make to these files. If you move, change, or throw away one of the files you imported into Audacity, your project may become unusable. However, because Audacity doesn't need to make copies of everything first, it can import files in much less time.
・Uncompressed Export Format - This lets you select the format that Audacity will use when you export uncompressed files. 11 common options are displayed in the list, but you can also select "Other" and choose a nonstandard file format for Audacity to export.・Ogg Export Setup - Use this control to set the quality of Ogg Vorbis exporting. Ogg Vorbis is a compressed audio format similar to MP3, but free of patents and licensing fees. A normal quality Ogg Vorbis file is encoded with a quality setting of "5". Note that unlike MP3 encoding, Ogg Vorbis does not let you set a bitrate, because some audio clips are easier to compress than others. Increasing the quality will always increase the file size, however.・MP3 Export Setup - Use these controls to locate your MP3 encoder and set the quality of MP3 encoding. Higher quality files take up more space, so you will need to find the level of quality you feel is the best compromise. For more information, see Exporting MP3 Files.
Spectrograms
You can view any audio track as a Spectrogram instead of a Waveform by selecting one of the Spectral views from the Track Pop-Down Menu. This dialog lets you adjust some of the settings for these spectrograms.・FFT Size - The size of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) affects how much vertical (frequency) detail you see. Larger FFT sizes give you more bass resolution and less temporal (timing) resolution, and they are slower.・Grayscale - Select this for gray spectrograms instead of colored ones.・Maximum Frequency - Set this value anywhere from a couple of hundred hertz to half the sample rate (i.e. 22050 Hz if the sample rate is 44100 Hz). For some applications, such as speech recognition or pitch extraction, very high frequencies are not important (visually), so this allows you to hide these and only focus on the ones you care about.
Directories
Use this panel to set the location of Audacity's temporary directory (folder). Audacity uses this directory whenever you work on a project that you haven't saved as an Audacity Project (AUP file) yet. You have to restart Audacity (close and open it again) for changes to the temporary directory to take effect.インターフェース・Autoscroll while playing - Scrolls the window for you while playing, so that the playback cursor is always in the window. This can hurt playback performance on slower computers.・Always allow pausing - Normally the Pause button is only enabled while you are playing or recording. Checking this box allows you to set the pause button anytime, which allows you to press Record and not have the recording start until you unpause it. Sometimes starting a paused recording can be faster than starting to record in the first place.・Update spectrogram while playing - Because spectrograms are slower to draw, normally they are not drawn during playback, but this option lets you draw the spectrograms anyway.・Enable Edit Toolbar - Sets whether or not you want to display the Edit Toolbar, which has some common shortcuts for editing commands.・Enable Mixer Toolbar - Sets whether or not you want to display the ミキサー ツールバー, which lets you set the volume levels and input source.・Enable Meter Toolbar - Sets whether or not you want to display the Meter Toolbar for setting audio recording and playback levels.・Quit Audacity upon closing last window - By default on Windows and X-Windows (but not Mac OS), Audacity quits when you close the last project window. If you uncheck this box, Audacity will open a new blank document instead of quitting. To quit Audacity in this case, you must specifically select Exit (or Quit) from the File menu.・Enable dragging of left and right selection edges - Normally, when you move the mouse over the left and right edge of a selection, the cursor changes to a left or right pointer, and you can adjust that edge of the selection independently. If you don't like this feature, uncheck this box, and then clicking will always create a new selection (unless you hold down Shift to extend an existing selection).・Language - sets the language used by Audacity. Language files are named "audacity.mo" and are found in the "Languages" folder on Windows and Mac OS X, or in /usr/share/locale or /usr/local/share/locale on most Unix systems. Audacity will detect new languages the next time you start it.
Keyboard
This panel lets you change keyboard shortcuts. All of the commands that appear in Audacity menus appear on the left, along with a few other buttons that can get keyboard shortcuts. To change a command, first click on the command you want to change. Then type the new keyboard shortcut on your keyboard. Verify that the correct shortcut appears in the box below. If it's what you want, press the Set button. Or to get rid of a keyboard shortcut, press Clear.To reset to Audacity's defaults, press the Defaults button. This will get rid of any changes you have made.If you have customized your keyboard layout and want to share it with someone else, you can press Save... and save your complete keyboard layout as an XML file that you can share. To load an existing layout, press the Load... button and locate the XML file.Mouse
This panel doesn't let you change anything, but it lets you view all of the commands and actions that you can do using the mouse, many by holding down extra modifier keys. | {
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Posts Tagged ‘Treasury of Tennessee Treats’
I just realized that I haven’t posted on this blog in February. Luckily, I just made something that was definitely blogworthy so I will squeak in a February post.
Wednesday evening I spoke to a group in Alexandria, Virginia, about my book Pulling Taffy. The fun, interested and interesting crowd included one of my college dorm mates, Jo-Ann McNally (as gorgeous and peppy as ever); a man who had known and loved my darling honorary godmother Dagny Johnson; the wonderful Joan Sutton, my mother’s geriatric adviser; and a number of people who had lived through dementia care themselves. I had a wonderful time and came home with a gift from my hosts as well as money from book sales. (I love money!)
Family members also came—and I wanted to have something easy yet tasty on hand to serve them after the program. It was snowing the morning, and I really didn’t feel like taking the Tinkymobile to the grocery store to purchase any exotic ingredients. Fortunately, I thought of Keith Brownies.
This brownie recipe may be found in a book called Treasury of Tennessee Treats, published by the Keith Memorial Church in Athens, Tennessee, home of my college roommate Kelly Boyd. I wish I had a photo of Kelly and me at Mount Holyoke to show you, but all of those photos are in another state. Picture two long-haired, short, slightly plump, astronomy-and-film-loving young girls with big smiles, and you won’t be far off.
Kelly and I made these brownies back in the day—and a couple of years ago when I asked her for the recipe she sent me her late Aunt Lucile’s copy of the cookbook. Lucile Mitchell made the first and the best cream candy I ever tasted, and I am honored to have her cookbook in my collection.
In addition to the brownies and many other dishes, the Keith Cookbook features one of those charming, sentimental “recipes” for a good life favored by community-cookbook committees in generations past. (The copy I have, the book’s second edition, was published in 1962.) I’m sure the ladies wouldn’t mind my reprinting it. Its message is sappy but inspiring.
To tell you the truth, the brownies didn’t QUITE live up to my memory of them. (It’s very hard for anything to live up to a memory.) They were still extremely tasty, however—somewhere between fudgy and cakey in consistency—and no one seemed to have any trouble eating them!
Best of all, they took no time at all to make and used ingredients I ALWAYS have in the house. I will definitely keep them in my repertoire. I hope you enjoy them, too. | {
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Closure and relocation of Stockton and family law courthouses
Closure and relocation of Stockton and family law courthouses
Effective July 28, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. (noon), the Stockton Courthouse located at 222 E. Weber Ave. and the Family Law Courthouse located at 540 E. Main St. will be permanently closed. All services currently provided to the public by the San Joaquin Superior Court at the Stockton and Family Law Courthouses will be relocated to the soon to be completed new Stockton Courthouse at 180 E. Weber Ave. in Stockton. Public services will resume at the new Stockton Courthouse on July 31, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. read more > | {
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Money Managers: How to Teach Your Children About Money
Learning about money is one of those “It’s never too early” moments when it comes to your kids. In fact, it’s better to teach them about money, how to manage it and budgeting early so it’s ingrained by the time they’re adults. This way they’ll make responsible financial decisions down the road.
Provide an Allowance: When it comes to money, sometimes kids really do think it grows on trees. By providing an allowance and letting them pay for things, they really start to learn what the true value of a dollar is. It doesn’t really matter how much the allowance is but it should be enough for them to be able to save it over time and buy something substantial.
Saving Money: A piggy bank is an excellent way to teach young children about the value of saving money. They will learn that when you save money, you can get something you really want or save it for something you really need rather than spending it all at once.
Developing a Budget: When teaching your kids about budgeting, make sure you include both long term and short term goals (e.g. money for video games, money for investing and saving, money for clothes etc.).
Keep a Check: Just like how adults have a checkbook to keep track of money going out, you can also create a ledger for your kids so they too can learn about balancing money they have versus money they spend. It’s a great way to teach the value of a dollar, teach them responsibility and let them see just how they spend their own money every month. These ledgers can be made by hand or printed out online. Every single time they buy something new as well as put more money into their piggy the information can be added to it.
Robin Williams is an Executive at CashOne, a leading provider of online payday loans and instant payday loans. Serving the entire United States, CashOne is a preferred partner to help people get through their short-term financial crunches through fast approval and simple terms and conditions. Google + | {
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Dr. Joanna Slusky’s Gift Guide
What are the best gifts of all? The ones that come with a meaning and a sense of care that will be remembered far beyond the holiday season. Here are some top gifts of SIGHT, STYLE and SAFER BEAUTY from Chicago’s Favorite Optometrist...
CW1117_WebFlippers_3
1. NISANTASI SUN & 2. HAMPSTEAD SUN
Designed with 100% natural and malleable acetate material made from cotton, a flex hinge that adapts perfectly to the face, and mineral crystal lenses that provide polarized HD clarity with maximum UV protection. With a hint of gold or the classic black these are perfect for your holiday ensemble. $265
Flaunt festive lips all season long with lipstick collection of five universally flattering satin hues and fresh peppermint flavor. Perfect to give or get. $88
5 SMOKY EYE TRIO
Get party-perfect for your holiday events! This set is made with safer ingredients and includes a Volumizing Mascara, precise Liquid Eyeliner in black, and a new Silk Cream Eyeshadow that glides on seamlessly. $38 | {
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Providing free, reliable birth control to women could prevent between 41 percent and 71 percent of abortions in the United States, new research finds.
In a study published today (Oct. 4) in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers provided free methods of reversible, reliable contraception to more than 9,000 teens and women in the St. Louis area. They found that the program reduced the abortion rate among these women by 62 percent to 78 percent.
"The impact of providing no-cost birth control was far greater than we expected in terms of unintended pregnancies," lead author Jeff Peipert, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Washington University School of Medicine, said in a statement. "We think improving access to birth control, particularly IUDs [intrauterine devices] and [hormone] implants, coupled with education on the most effective methods, has the potential to significantly decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in this country."
The findings have implications for public policy, especially given that President Obama's health-care plan requires employers to offer plans that include birth control coverage. This requirement has been a point of controversy in the lead-up to the 2012 election.
Between 2006 and 2008, 49 percent of all pregnancies in America were unplanned, according to the CDC's National Survey of Family Growth. About 43 percent of these unintended pregnancies ended in abortion. Meanwhile, a 2011 study in the journal Contraception estimated that unintended births cost U.S. taxpayers about $11 billion a year.
To see if access to free contraception could budge those numbers, Peipert and his colleagues recruited 9,256 women ages 14 to 45 living in the St. Louis area through flyers, doctors and word-of-mouth. They also recruited patients from the city's two abortion clinics. Participants were given the option of using any reversible birth control method, from the birth control pill to a hormonal birth control patch to a long-lasting IUD or hormonal implant. [7 Surprising Facts About the Pill]
More than half of the women chose IUDs, 17 percent picked hormonal implants (tiny rods placed under the skin that release hormones), and the rest chose pills, patches and other hormonal methods. As a result, the researchers found, both teen births and overall abortion rates plummeted.
Among women in the free contraceptive program, the teen birth rate was 6.3 per 1,000 women, a huge difference from the national teen birth rate of 34.3 per 1,000 women.
Likewise, the abortion rate among women in the program was 4.4 to 7.5 per 1,000 between 2008 and 2010. Nationally, there are 19.6 abortions per every thousand women, a 62 percent to 78 percent difference. In the St. Louis area, the overall abortion rate in that time frame was between 13.4 and 17 abortions per 1,000 women.
The study highlights the importance of long-acting contraception methods such as the IUD, researchers said. Birth control pills have a higher failure rate than these methods, because women have to remember to take a pill at the same time every day. But IUDs, which last about 10 years, can cost more than $800, the researchers said, putting them out of reach for many lower-income women who may not be able to come up with that kind of money in one lump sum.
"Unintended pregnancy remains a major health problem in the United States, with higher proportions among teenagers and women with less education and lower economic status," Peipert said. "The results of this study demonstrate that we can reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy and this is key to reducing abortions in this country."
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Stephanie Pappas
Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science. She covers the world of human and animal behavior, as well as paleontology and other science topics. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has ducked under a glacier in Switzerland and poked hot lava with a stick in Hawaii. Stephanie hails from East Tennessee, the global center for salamander diversity. Follow Stephanie on Google+. | {
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Welcome, friend! Are you looking to kickstart your prayer life? Be sure to check out the Teach Me to Pray Journal, in addition to the tips in this post.
Knowing how to pray is one of those things you think should come naturally, right? Especially if you’ve been a Christian for a while?
But if you’re like thousands of other people who’ve landed on this post, I bet you’ve run into the same problem: you can’t focus. You don’t know what to say or even where to start sometimes. It just doesn’t come naturally for everyone.
I’ve been praying in some capacity since I was a teen. I remember curling up in my bed at night when my life felt confusing, asking a big mysterious God for guidance and strength. I drifted in and out of a youth group and felt guilty for my lack of commitment, although I wasn’t even sure what “commitment” to him should look like. Finally I promised this God that I would go to church when I went to college.
I kept that promise and my life turned upside down. After deciding to follow Jesus I never looked back. Early on I learned that if I was going to keep this up, prayer was going to be an essential part of my life.
But here’s the thing. I suck at praying.
I say that a little tongue in cheek because at least I’m trying, and I’m pretty sure God listens to whatever jumbled mess of thoughts I throw his way. But let me give an example of what my mornings can look like…
My alarm goes off, I grumble, hit snooze a couple of times.
I finally turn on my phone and start rifling through emails and notifications, to wake up my brain. I start thinking about my day.
Depending on the day, I either read some of the Bible or go work out. Or put it off and sleep more.
At some point I turn to God like I know I should (and want to):
“Good morning God, thank you for the beautiful sunrise, thank you for guiding our family…oh I wonder how Jonathan’s cough is this morning. I’ll need to give him his medicine, but first I’ll need to make breakfast…oh no, I hope we’re not out of bread…oh sorry God, I mean, uh, please help Jonathan feel better…is he well enough to go to the library? Ugh, I really need to deposit those checks on the way home, Marc needs to sign them before he leaves…oh hi God, sorry, ummmm where was I? Ugh, I’m so tired, can’t focus…”
I could blame the stage of life I’m in, but the truth is I have always struggled with this. I’m a Type A, always planning, always ten steps ahead of where I’m at.
I have difficulty being in the moment.
When I pray, I just can’t focus.
Some people naturally pour their hearts out to God every time they turn to him. Others have to learn it through practice and habit. Guess which category I fall into.
I’ve made the mistake of assuming that knowing how to pray is a skill that everyone should know automatically, but it doesn’t quite work that way. As someone constantly grappling with grace I know that my prayer life is not something to be ashamed of, but it reflects a weakness in character that needs strengthening.
Over the years I’ve learned that there are a lot of ways to connect with God in a meaningful way. I may not be the 21st century Psalmist, but I can pray faithfully and powerfully even with my disjointed, distracted train of thought. If you relate to this, I hope you don’t feel guilty. Just know that God is listening, no matter what you try. And if you feel like you don’t know how to pray, don’t worry. It’s never too late to learn.
How To Pray When You Just Can’t Focus
Here are some simple tips about how to pray and connect with God if you struggle with consistency and focus. Also be sure check out the free journal I developed as a result of the popularity of this post, which is a part of my free resource collection.
Pray out loud
Yes, even when you’re by yourself. Or not by yourself. When I was a college student I would pretend I was on my phone while I prayed during my walk to class so people wouldn’t think I was crazy! I think of the story of Daniel. A Babylonian law forbade anyone to pray to any god but the king, yet Daniel continued to pray visibly and loudly enough to get arrested. Why didn’t he whisper or do it in his head? (See Daniel 6.) I find that when I make my thoughts verbal, they’re less likely to trail off.
Sing hymns
No need to come up with eloquent words when they’ve already been written. Don’t turn on music and zone out; say the words and mean them. I’m a fan of old-timey hymns with rich lyrics as opposed to saying “hallelujah” over and over. Get a songbook/hymnal, or print out some lyrics and try it!
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord —Ephesians 5:19
Start with the Lord’s Prayer
Sometimes there is great value in ritual. It can keep us on target. Jesus’ disciples were with him constantly and must have seen his relationship with his Father, and yet they still asked, “how do we pray?” Jesus laid a foundation in Matthew 6:9–13:
This, then, is how you should pray: ’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
When I don’t know what to say, I know I can’t go wrong with honoring God, asking that his will be done; asking for what I need, for forgiveness and for help through my weaknesses.
Imitate great prayers in the Bible
Just as Jesus set an example in prayer, so did many other people in the Bible. Pick one. I love Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10 for starters.
Fast
It’s Lent as I write this so fasting is on a lot of people’s minds; however, it doesn’t have to be a special occasion to get your heart and mind spiritually focused. I know that whenever I have practiced a traditional fast by giving up food, the hunger is a constant, humbling reminder that my strength comes from God alone. That helps me focus.
Pray continually
This tip is for you, parents—yeah you who don’t have more than five quiet minutes to yourselves ever. You’re probably already aware of this, but praying doesn’t have to be a formal event. God’s listening all the time. Say a quick thanks, a shout out for your friend, praise, or a request for help whenever you think of it. Nehemiah did it constantly, if you want inspiration.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Pray with your kids
This seems obvious, but is it? I regularly forget to even pray at meals. Yet I nonetheless try to have regular times throughout the day. This practice not only for them—it helps me too. We pray when we load up the car (usually because this is stressful and I need the reset button). We pray at the beginning of our school day. We pray whenever someone is scared or sick or is being disciplined. We pray when kids throw fits and we pray when Mommy throws fits. We pray when something awesome happens and we want to thank God. We pray as a family at bedtime. These are quick and may or may not always be super heartfelt, but you know what? They add up. And what’s more, you’re teaching them how to pray!
Pray with your spouse
Sometimes this overlaps with the praying with the kids thing, but we try to spend at least some time in prayer together daily. Want to try something super humbling? Stop to pray in the middle of a fight.
Go for a prayer walk or drive
I did this a lot more before I had kids and when they were stroller size. Just thinking about it makes me want to get back in the habit. There is something about being outside that clears the mind. When you’re out walking you’re less likely to be distracted with your to-do list. Plus, there’s nature.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. —Psalm 19:1
Pray the Psalms
I remember the first time I read through the book of Psalms; I was completely bored. Yeah, really. At that time I was trying to absorb the knowledge that the Bible offered, and I was falling asleep getting through this very long collection of poetry. But years later, I love the Psalms because they have guided me in prayer on so many occasions. You know those times when your mind is a flurry and you’re either sobbing uncontrollably or you’re so numb that you can’t even do that? You want to pray but you don’t even know where to begin? Pray a Psalm. A couple of my favorites include Psalm 23 and Psalm 63.
Friends, I don’t call myself a prayer warrior, but even as I write this I feel empowered because I know that in spite of my weaknesses, I do speak and God hears my prayers. If you have a hard time focusing, I hope this lists empowers you too.
If you found these tips helpful, check out the free prayer journal in my free resource collection, which spends a week going through the teachings of Jesus. You’ll also receive a free email course about how to make prayer a daily habit:
Plus, check out my Facebook Live video on how I pray when I’m a hot mess:
Do you know how to pray when you’re having trouble focusing? What do you do?
Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.
The Proverbs 31 Woman—10 Myths Explained
We’re all living in the shadow of that infamous icon, “The Proverbs 31 Woman,” whose life is so busy I wonder, when does she have time for friendships, for taking walks, or reading good books? Her light never goes out at night? When does she have sex? Somehow she has sanctified the shame most women live under biblical proof that yet again we don’t measure up. Is that supposed to be godly—that sense that you are a failure as a woman?
Oh, the “Proverbs 31 woman.” I have a bit of a fascination with her, and so do others. Ministries and businesses are named after her.
Some women love her. Many aspire to be her. Others feel guilt and worthlessness; some despise her.
Do we really understand her?
Captivating(quoted above), by John and Staci Eldredge, is all about women living to their full potential, the way God created them to be. It’s worth reading if you want to explore the heart of biblical femininity. The quote pretty much slams the near-goddess status of Mrs. 31. It says, “she has sanctified the shame.”
But has she? Or have we?
I don’t think the Eldredges’ intent was to pick apart the woman herself (this is in the Bible, after all), but rather to pick apart the common way she is perceived. And I agree that this idea of a woman who is too good for the rest of us to imitate is a false understanding of biblical womanhood.
The more I’ve dug into Proverbs 31, I’ve discovered that I was missing much of what it communicates. It is difficult to understand at face value, which is why I think so many of us have a knee-jerk response when we read it.
Want to understand this passage better, and ditch the guilt and shame? Throw out some of the following myths.
Want to do some more in-depth study? Be sure to to check out this 7-day devotional on the Proverbs 31 woman called Woman of Strength, which you can find in my free resource collection.
1. Proverbs 31 was written for young wives.
Who do you think this passage was originally written for? You might be in for a shock. It was written for a young man. It is not an instruction manual for wives; its purpose is to provide a young man a vision for what he should look for in a wife.
It makes a lot more sense when you view Proverbs 31 as what it was intended to be—an epilogue, a conclusion—rather than a stand-alone passage. Proverbs is a collection of sayings that contrast wisdom with folly; many of them are written as warnings to young men to let wisdom and godliness guide them instead of their lusts.
That’s not to say that there aren’t applications for women; why shouldn’t we aspire to the godly characteristics displayed here? But the purpose of the passage isn’t to provide an impossible standard; it’s to provide inspiration for the possibilities.
2. She was a real person (wasn’t she?).
Wouldn’t we like to know whether the person portrayed here was a flesh-and-blood being? I think it’s possible that someone, or more than one person, was the real-life inspiration for these words—otherwise, why would you instruct a man to marry an ideal woman who couldn’t exist? But on the other hand, the Proverbs 31 woman is the fourth somewhat allegorical female personage in the book of Proverbs (following Wisdom, Folly and the Adulteress). So there may have been some creative liberties in describing her, even if she was real.
If you’re wrestling with this question of whether or not she was real, my question to you is, does it matter? Sometimes the Bible uses real people to communicate truth and sometimes it uses symbols and parables. That doesn’t change the core principles of the message being communicated, which we’ll explore.
3. She has always had her act together.
When I was a newlywed I barely knew how cook. But I wanted to be great at it because I knew it would make my husband happy. One time I made blueberry muffins—my husband’s favorite—and left out the baking powder. Ewwww. Rookie mistake. I was devastated and he was bewildered as to why his wife was crying over something so trivial. Fortunately, I rarely (not never!) make that same mistake anymore.
Being a competent wife/mother/homemaker/whatever takes time. It doesn’t matter how hard you try or even how naturally talented you are; you will only learn through experience. Proverbs 31 is not a snapshot of a newlywed. This woman has been married long enough to have multiple children and run a couple of side businesses while skillfully managing her household. In other words, she’s older.
Remember, if this was written to a young man, he probably wasn’t going to go out looking for a forty-year-old with lots of life experience. He was going to be looking for someone young who had the potential to grow into that mature, godly wife. Keep that in mind as we continue.
4. She rarely sleeps.
How in the world can someone get up while it is still dark to make everyone breakfast (v. 15), and yet “her lamp does not go out at night” (v. 18)??? Certainly every mom has some sleepless nights like that, but the passage seems to imply an ongoing state.
This is where cultural insight is useful. How would you get around at night if you didn’t have electricity? An oil lamp would come in handy if you had to use the latrine. It’s common in societies without electricity to leave a lamp burning at night, even while you sleep, so people don’t have to fumble around in complete blackness (source).
So why is it significant that her lamp does not go out? Consider verse 18 in its entirety: “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.” Her side hustles are making enough money to keep everyone comfortable! She is also wise enough to ration the oil so it doesn’t run out (see the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25).
5. Every wife and mother should aspire to live like her.
Consider this: the family in Proverbs 31 is making enough money to employ servants and have nice clothes. This is in part because of Mrs. 31’s side businesses, but it’s also evident that her husband is a man of standing the community, hanging out with the elders (v. 23). She is also in excellent health as far as we can tell.
Not everyone is blessed in these ways—with wealth, health and privilege. So would this passage not be relevant for them (most women in the world, actually)? Are you any less godly if you’re poor or in bad health? Of course not.
You have to look past the specifics and more at the principles.
6. She does everything.
Does she really “do it all”? Nope. This lady has servants.
I used to think, “Well, if I had servants, maybe I could do all of that too.” Granted, many of us in Western society have “servants” in the form of modern appliances, but if you’re dwelling on these thoughts then you’re missing the point of the passage. Most people in the world do not have servants, yet this passage is relevant for them. Again,you have to look past the specifics and more at the principles.
7. She never stops to rest.
She works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, right? Wrong!
How do I know? I’m fairly confident that someone upheld as a God-fearing woman in the Old Testament would observe the Sabbath. This didn’t mean just going to church on Sunday; this meant complete rest. No cooking. No cleaning. No gardening. No sewing. You couldn’t even walk more than half a mile! You had to sit and enjoy being with your family all day. Just imagine.
Have you ever tried observing a Sabbath like that ever, let alone regularly? While I don’t believe Christians are required to observe this old law, we probably could learning a thing or two about chilling out from Mrs. 31.
8. Proverbs 31 has no relevance for single women.
As a single woman more than a few years back, I was completely befuddled by this passage and assumed it wasn’t for me anyway. So I essentially ignored it. That was my loss.
Is this passage only for wives or only for women who want to be married? Absolutely not! Let’s start talking more about the principles of this passage, which are about character, not deeds. More specifically, “noble character.”
The only other time this phrase appears in the Bible outside of Proverbs is describing Ruth (Ruth 3:11). Who was Ruth? It’s a quick read in the Old Testament, so I’d recommend checking it out if you never have. She was a real person, she was single and she was she was dirt poor.She wasn’t trying to catch a husband; she was doing whatever she could to survive.
Hardly the same circumstances as Mrs. 31. And yet these women have identical character qualities. Single or married, we should focus on those.
9. This passage is irrelevant to the modern woman.
I hope it’s evident by now that it shouldn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, married or single, young or old, living in modern America or in a hut in the jungle; when you’re focusing on the principles of the passage and not the circumstances,there is much to take away. These timeless, cultureless principles include love, generosity, work ethic and faithfulness.
10. We should wonder, “How does she do it?”
One question that might hinder you when you consider Mrs. 31 is, “How does she do it?” But unless you enjoy feeling insecure about your talents and stamina, that’s the worst kind of question you can ask.
We should be asking, “Who is she?” Not her name or her place in history, but what is the essence of her being? That question is the right one when we’re trying to determine the core principles of the passage. And the answer is quite simple. She is a woman who loves God (v. 30). Her character, her wisdom, her self-discipline—all of these qualities flow from this fact.
I hope you’ve found these insights useful as a you figure out who you are. Whether you’ve loved her or hated her, I also hope and pray that you can find the incredible inspiration at the core of Proverbs 31.
Want to learn more about what it means to be a woman of strength like Mrs. 31? Check out the Woman of Strength devotional, one of the many resources you’ll find in my free resource collection.
What do you think about the Proverbs 31 woman?
Do you wrestle with mommy guilt—that nagging feeling that you’re not doing enough or that you’re screwing up? Then you’re in the right place! Be sure to grab the printable download of these Bible verses in my free resource collection.
I screwed up again. My eight-year-old’s eyes spilled over in tears and he turned away, a little embarrassed. “We just did what you wanted to do, not what I wanted,” he confessed. “It wasn’t fun.”
Mixed feelings of guilt, shame and anger heated my face. I had taken him to the mall on a special outing with just the two of us to get him some new shoes and a special snack. It didn’t turn out as planned because or local mall is shutting down stores like crazy. The shoe choices and the snack options were very limited.
I was hurt that he wasn’t more thankful, yet at the same time I felt horrible that I had let him down. My efforts weren’t enough.
Mommy guilt.
It’s this condition I’ve battled with ever since I heard his first cry. This impossible question lingers constantly: Am I doing enough?
I know I’m not the only one with this issue, so I asked members of our Facebook group what made them feel guilty. The answers weren’t surprising, things like:
Banish Mommy Guilt with Scriptural Truth
It’s sneaky because in one sense, it holds just a kernel of truth: we fall short of perfection. So in that sense, no we’re not “enough” and never will be. But on the other hand, because Christ does immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, we are more than enough through all of our weaknesses.
So the next time you are wallowing in guilt, whether you legitimately screwed up or are worried that you did, meditate on these truths and put their teachings into practice.
On Confession
I’ll be honest: I did not plan on having this section when I started thinking about this topic! But the more I dug into the word “guilt” in the Bible, it was apparent that the first step to healing is confession.
So be honest with yourself, with God and with other believers about those things that are weighing on your heart.
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
On Being Enough
That feeling of “not enough”? It’s a lie because Christ is more than enough. His love for you and intervention on your behalf give you a brand new start each and every time you feel “less than,” with your parenting and so much more.
Colossians 2:13–14
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
1 John 2:1b
But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…
Hebrews 9:14
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
On Moving Forward
I think this is the hardest part for my guilty conscience to accept. I know that I am forgiven and cleansed through Christ, but the truth is I still fall ridiculously short when it comes to loving my kids.
These verses help me remember to live in faith instead of fear, anxiety and guilt. God’s grace is sufficient; he fills in the gaps where I fall short. And because of this, my heart can be at peace.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Hebrews 10:22
[L]et us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Philippians 4:6–7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Want to keep these Bible verses handy? You can access them and other Bible verses for moms! Just click below:
Leave a comment: when do you you struggle with “mommy guilt”?
This is a book review for When God Says “Go” by Elizabeth Laing Thompson, which is all about rising to challenge and change without losing your confidence, your courage or your cool. Read on to learn how you can win a signed copy!
Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.
My hand shook as I held my cup of water. Was my heart racing too? It was late afternoon and I wondered if perhaps I’d had a little too much caffeine.
I couldn’t focus. I was meeting my friend at a local coffee shop to talk about her, but all I could think about was myself. I was worried, replaying conversations in my head and calculating worst-case scenarios.
She sat down with her salad and looked up at me. I realized at that moment that this conversation wasn’t going to go at all the way I had planned.
It wasn’t the caffeine. It was anxiety, which was starting to boil over into full panic.
Tears filled my eyes as I decided to forget agendas and just be real. Big things were unfolding in my life. They were good things. But, they were big, scary things like moving forward in an international adoption and making weighty decisions in my writing career. I was scared.
I wish I could say that this was months ago and that I have figured out how to deal with my fears. But this was just a few days ago.
I’m still scared.
Sometimes, especially when your days are full of diaper changes, wiping noses, schoolwork help and dishes, the speed of life can feel like a crawl. But at other times you find yourself on or about to get on a roller coaster, and there will a point when it will be too late to get off.
This is what it feels like when God says, “Go.”
It just so happened that the rumblings in my life started happening right when I received this book in the mail:
When God Says “Go”
My friend Elizabeth is a funny, passionate storyteller who brilliantly looks into the Bible and brings to life what it was like for everyday people to interact with God. Through their imperfect, emotional and often comical reactions, he brought his ultimate plans to fruition.
The people we read about in the Bible are just as human as you and I. And the God who worked with them is the same one who works with all of us. Elizabeth relates their stories to everyone’s.
To be clear, a call from God today isn’t an audible command. Usually it’s a combination of circumstance, advice, biblical truth and gut feeling/Spirit prompting. (The book explains in further detail about how to clarify whether God is prompting you or whether you’re just having indigestion.)
Whether God is saying “go,” “stop,” “stay” or “proceed with caution” to you right now, Elizabeth’s deep digging into the biblical narrative has some thoughtful and encouraging insight. While there were many points that were helpful to me personally, three especially stood out.
1. It’s Not About You
I’ve noticed a trend when I hear people talk about “God’s call” for their lives (and I fall into this trap as well). We can focus a lot on what he wants for us, without spending much time thinking about what he wants, period. We can get sucked into obsessing about our own gifts and dreams and whether we’re living to our “full potential.” Those aren’t bad things to wonder about, but they’re really secondary to God’s ultimate purpose: to redeem and restore all of creation. He’ll do that with or without our help.
There were more than a couple of people in the Bible who objected when God came knocking: “But God, I’m too young/old/wounded/fearful/inadequate.” Elizabeth talks about how Moses was terrified to go back to Egypt and help free the Israelites. What’s interesting about God’s pep talk to him is that it wasn’t about how great Moses was. Instead, God said, “I will be with you.” And that was all that mattered.
As I take my big scary steps forward in the direction I think God is calling me, I already know that I will be inadequate for the task. However, this is irrelevant. I can be faithfully confident that because of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 28:20 (“surely I am with you always”).
2. It’s Normal to Have a Range of Emotions and Responses
I know there are a couple of instances of ridiculously holy people in the Bible who responded to God’s call with enthusiasm and confidence. However, there are many who did not—in fact, I’d say most didn’t.
Some people had even had triumphs of faithfulness in the past, but because of the trials and pain of life, they faltered later. Mary, Jesus’ own mother who had humbly accepted her role to give birth to the savior, later doubted and questioned Jesus’ ministry—after all she had seen in her miracle baby! The apostle Peter as well had some pretty epic stumbling, even after having walked with Jesus and given up everything to follow him.
I’ve had times in my life where I didn’t question God’s will as much and cheerfully got on board, like when I had the opportunity to do mission work in Alaska right after I graduated college. At other times I’ve been anxious, doubtful or downright rebellious about the directions God has led me. These are all normal responses and, while we have to battle through them sometimes, our emotions won’t deter God’s plans. The good news is that while we might be a hot mess, he will remain consistent.
3. Sometimes the Only Way Out Is Through
This is a message I’ve been hearing over and over again recently. By nature I avoid conflict, vulnerability and painful circumstances. I’m pretty good at side-stepping problems. But as I’ve learned the hard way, sometimes the only way to get past your fears and problems is to work through them.
Elizabeth gives the example of the story of Esther, the queen of Persia (secretly Jewish), who was living pretty comfortably until she discovered that her own husband had agreed to annihilate her entire people. Here choices were to not act and watch her people die, or act, and possibly die herself, without helping the situation.
The story, of course, ended with her courageously taking action, as terrifying as it was. And I think that’s where I am in my current situation. When there’s nowhere to go but forward, your only option is to grow.
We cannot run from these situations. Some are griefs that feel past bearing, past surviving—and yet we must bear them. The only way out is through. And in situations like this, God is saying, “Grow.” He gives us no choice but to move forward. No choice but to change (When God Says “Go,” p. 101).
Is God saying “Go” to you in some way right now? Then I’d like to give you the chance to get a signed copy of Elizabeth Laing Thompson’s latest book!
Leave a comment: how is God saying “go” in your life, and how are you responding?
Having a daily quiet time can be one of the biggest struggles for busy moms (and others!). Whether you’ve been doing it for 20+ years or you’re trying to start a brand new habit, it can be really tough digging into the Bible and praying when you’ve got kid boogers all over your shirt, bags under your eyes, and barely more than two uninterrupted seconds on any given day.
Sometimes we get into a rut not just because we lack the time, but because we lack the focus and motivation to get started.
Even when we’re motivated, however, it can still feel a bit overwhelming or uninspiring: where to even begin?
That’s why I thought it would be fun to compile a bucket list of ways you can connect with God in your personal quiet times. I see lots of posts about date ideas with your spouse; why not have some date ideas with God?
Personally, I need to mix things up sometimes. When you have your whole life to get to know someone, whether he be your earthly husband or Jesus, the same thing day after day after day can get a little dull. While there’s certainly value in routine, my husband and I enjoy taking little adventures together. I want to be that way with God.
Too often I hear people speaking with guilt about how they just can’t into this “read the Bible and pray” routine they think they should be following. If it’s not working for you, try something else; mix it up. A dynamic relationship with God does not have to fit into any particular box.
This list is for you whether you don’t know where to start or you need to rekindle your passion for God. It’s not a must-do list; these are simply ideas to help you get inspired.
Quiet Time Bucket List: 20 Ways to Build Intimacy with God
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. See here for more information.
Studying the Bible
Have you ever tried reading the Bible from the beginning and then get stuck somewhere around Leviticus? You wouldn’t be the first! Here are some ways you can read the Bible during your quiet times that are more than just…reading the Bible.
Write the Word: It’s pretty simple. Instead of reading, why not try copying passages of scripture as you work through them? This is a good way to read the Bible and pray at the same time (gasp!). I made a little video about how I’ve been using this method in my own life:
The R.E.S.T. Method: Read. Engage. Savor. Take charge. Kaylene Yoder has a ten-day challenge to help you work through it.
Verse Mapping: If you’re scatterbrained and need things to be visual, check out this tip from Arabah Joy. You take one passage and discover new insights by drawing it out. This is a great option for we non-artistic types because it doesn’t have to be pretty!
The Color Method: Color code verses as your read them to help you visualize the message. Check out this guide to help you get started, or invent your own system.
Study Guides: Personally I think there’s a big difference between a fluffy devotional that has sprinklings of biblical teachings and an in-depth guide that helps you dig much deeper. She Reads Truth has some excellent, engaging studies.
Reading Plans: I’m a simple kind of reader, and a simple plan is helpful for me. I’ve gone through several annual Bible reading plans, which only takes a few minutes a day. I recommend trying different translations and methods. You can go straight through or use a plan the mixes it up so you’re not camped out in the, uh, less interesting parts for weeks and weeks. I’ve used The Bible App.
Study Buddy or Buddies: One of the most influential experiences in my personal faith was getting together once a week with two other women who knew the Bible better than me so they could teach me what it was all about. Maybe you don’t have someone like that in your life right now, but I’d encourage you to pray about it and just ask someone! I doubt they would say no. If you can’t meet in person, talk over the phone or even email each other!
Take a Class: It’s a pretty simple concept really; if you want to learn about something, sign up for a class, silly! Arabah Joy offers 7 Days in 7 Ways in an online course that will really help you take your Bible study to the next level with some fresh strategies. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I learned!
Memorize Verses: When Deuteronomy 6 says to write the commands on your heart, I think this is what it means. Take some notecards and write down your favorite verses and flip through them regularly. You’ll have them down before you know it…and you might just start quoting them! Check out some of the mama verses in my free resource collection if you need ideas for what verses to use.
Digging Deeper in Prayer
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I suck at praying. Well, at least I thought I did. But I’ve discovered that the cool thing about prayer is that there’s really no wrong way to do it! Here are a couple of tips to help you stay focused:
Fasting: I recently heard a sermon on the power of fasting and Oh. My. Goodness. I was challenged but inspired. You can fast as a way to humble yourself before God, to repent, to seek guidance, to ask for help, and—this is the kicker—to help you focus on God. There are a lot of ways to do it, but traditionally it makes sense to take at least a day to deprive your body of something it wants (like food, certain drinks, etc.). Try it! And try it again!
Prayer Journal: I’m obviously a big fan of this since I wrote the Teach Me To Pray guide. Prompting can help a lot. The Write the Word Journals from Lara Casey are also great resources when they’re available.
Prayer Buddy: strength in numbers, right? I learn so much when I hear the prayers of other people. Find someone you can pray with weekly—over the phone if needed!
Nature: Sometimes when I’m in a funk, I just need to drive outside of town and clear my head. Mountaintops are ideal, but if you live somewhere flat like I do, I’m sure you can nonetheless find inspiration in the beauty of creation.
Meditation: Not to go all woo-woo on you, but personally I find a lot of value in simply being quiet and listening for the Holy Spirit’s promptings. You can meditate on verses, or take in silence.
Keep a List: I like to write down all the prayer requests from my friends and family as well as the biggest items on my heart. Some places you can write it down include your planner, journal or even on a list on your phone. Bonus: since I have been in the habit, I can actually follow up with the people I’ve been praying for and ask them how it’s going!
“War Room”: First, if you haven’t seen the movie it’s definitely worth a watch. The idea is that you have a designated area of your house where you pray. In the movie they put up their favorite scriptures and prayers up around the inside of a closet. Personally, I like somewhere with a little more natural light…but do what works for you.
Embracing Your Creativity
Are you a creative type? Then use your passions and talents to connect with God! Think outside the box when it comes to your quiet times.
Sing: Even if you’re not signing a record deal, this is a simple yet powerful way to worship. Grab a hymnal, listen to your favorite artist, start a choir…do what inspires you.
Compose: I know a couple of people with this skill and I’m super jealous. Whether you write poetry, lyrics, play an instrument, sing, or all of the above, can you think of some ways to use your talent that will encourage you and others?
Guided Devotional Art: If you need more guidance or something a little simpler than Bible journaling, there are a bunch of artistic devotionals available. The Scripture Doodle six-week devotional is a great way to get started.
Kids’ Resources: Seriously, there is some phenomenal kids’ material out there that I think is helpful for adults too, especially if you want to get back to basics. In our house we are obsessed with the What’s in the Bible? series, which we stream on JellyTelly. I also highly recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible, which ties together the whole Bible narrative in an engaging and simple way.
I know there are more ideas out there so now I turn it over to you: how do you connect with God? And what’s on your quiet time bucket list?
When you’re a mom of young kids, “overwhelmed” can feel like a state of being. Since we’re constantly meeting others’ needs without always filling up our own tanks, it doesn’t take much for us to snap in anger or pass out in complete exhaustion. Encouraging Bible verses, anyone? Yes, please!
The other day I was going through an old journal and came across an entry over three years old. At the time, I had a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old and an infant:
Dear God,
Today was hard. A lot of days are hard. And then I feel guilty for thinking they’re hard.
Because I know my life is good. Incredibly good. I wouldn’t change a thing.
And so I just keep wrestling with my thoughts, one day after another. I grin and bear it through all the poop messes and the tantrums and the moments when I cry because I can’t find my keys and I just want to run away to somewhere very quiet.
Lord, you know me better than I know myself. I try to cling to you in all my desperate moments, even though I feel like I can’t see straight.
It broke my heart when I read this again, even though I knew that I would obviously pull through and we would all be fine. That was a really hard year for me. I felt desperately lonely and may have even been dealing with some postpartum depression.
It was around that time that I started a very simple practice that kept me grounded in truth rather than the lies of inadequacy that were swirling around in my head. I took a handful of 3×5 notecards and wrote out my favorite encouraging Bible verses on them. I left them in a highly visible place on the countertop in the kitchen. Every time I was having a “mommy moment,” I would whip out those cards and start flipping through them until a found a few that anchored my soul just enough so that I could face the next chaotic moment without screaming.
It didn’t take long before I had most of them memorized. And they remain my go-to verses when I just need to get my head on straight.
10 Encouraging Bible Verses for the Overwhelmed Mama
I’ve compiled many of my favorites in previous verses, which are now in a popular series of lists of encouraging Bible verse posts I call Mama Verses. It seemed only appropriate to add “overwhelmed” to the list!
Want a printable list of these verses for overwhelmed moms and more? You can find them in my free resource collection.
Finding Strength in God
In general, I get most overwhelmed when I’m leaning on my own ability and strength to get through a chaotic day. It never works. Here are some powerful yet encouraging Bible verses that remind me to rely on God for my strength.
Psalm 63:1
You, God, are my God,earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you,my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched landwhere there is no water.
When I am feeling completely burnt out and overwhelmed, I have to remind myself that what I’m really thirsty for is the Lord. I need to do whatever I can to fill myself up with him.
Psalm 42:11
Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,for I will yet praise him,my Savior and my God.
Putting hope in God is the only true remedy to a downcast soul.
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
This is becoming a new favorite of mine; I recommend reading the whole passage to understand the context better. We don’t have to be super moms in order to live courageous, meaning lives; we just need to hang out with Jesus!
Trusting God
Believing in God and trusting in God are two related but separate things. I might know in my head that I need to rely on his strength, but if I’m not entrusting my burdens to him, I will only continue spinning my wheels.
Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,who daily bears our burdens.
Read it: this says God is here for me daily. Do I believe it and turn to him?
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose.
No matter how hard it gets or how overwhelmed I feel, this truth reminds me that there is a bigger picture I might not see.
Waiting on God
I may rely on God and trust him, but sometimes I still have to wait. He never promises that life will be easy, and sometimes I have to be patient before I see answers to my prayers. These encouraging Bible verses remind me that waiting is not a bad thing.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord;be strong and take heartand wait for the Lord.
Be strong! Take heart! And wait. He’ll come through.
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lordand wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes.
It’s easy to get worked up and fret over all the things. But here and in many other places, God says “be still.”
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
That has to be one of the most encouraging verses in the whole Bible! Don’t give up!
Seeking Help
Don’t you sometimes wish Jesus would just appear in the flesh and give you direct advice (along with a big hug)? Well if that ever happens, I don’t think I need to be worrying about much of anything anymore 🙂 But in the meantime…we’re not alone. God puts people in our lives for a reason.
Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We mamas are carrying a lot of burdens. Other people are not only commanded to help you; they usually want to! We just have to be humble enough to ask: for babysitting, for help with meals, cleaning, you name it.
Ephesians 4:15–16
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
We need each other. Someday, when your life isn’t so crazy chaotic, you’ll be able to pay it forward to some other overwhelmed mom.
These encouraging Bible verses have saved my life; I hope they are able to help you too.
By the way, you know that journal entry I mentioned at the beginning? It ended with this:
You are good, God. You love me, you help me, and that’s all I need to know. Thank you. Amen.
Want to keep these verses handy? You can now download them in a printable form! Just click below:
What helps you when you feel overwhelmed as a mom? Please leave a comment here or on social media.
It was a fall afternoon as I talked on the phone with my friend and mentor and I realized that I was going to have a big cry.
Sob-fests don’t scare me like they used to, and so I let the tears come. I sat in my feelings for about a week, observing, analyzing, praying.
And the diagnostic word began to surface: disconnected.
The conversation that had started my self-examination was about how I was feeling about some of my relationships in church. Disconnected. But then that feeling started to spill over into other areas of my life: work, parenting, finances. Disconnected. Much of how I had spent my time and energy in recent months was mechanical, and whenever I hit a hiccup, my reaction was to disengage, disconnect. I was more interested in checking boxes and crossing items off lists than I was in getting down on my knees, digging in, getting real and getting dirty.
It was humbling when I was honest with myself. I dropped a few more tears and came to peace with my weakness.
And then I decided to take action. We were heading into the holiday season and I knew that I wanted to shift my focus in the New Year (and even before).
I’ve never done a “word of the year” before with much success. Pick one word that is supposed to guide my life for a whole year? It has felt arbitrary, and honestly a bit contrived.
Maybe I’ll feel that way at the end of this year.
Nonetheless, I’ve learned a lot about goal-setting recently, and so at least for this year, a word that provides singular focus makes sense.
Connection. I put it up in my kitchen: my command center, the heart of my home, family and work space. I pass it multiple times a day, and it keeps me centered when I’m pouring milk, writing out my schedule or filing away receipts.
I think I’m onto something here with this word of the year business.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. See here for more information.
5 Ways I’m Practicing Connection as “Word of the Year”
A word like this is inspirational on my kitchen wall, sure, but it’s empty without any way to put it into practice. Perhaps that’s why “word of the year” never really worked well for me in the past; I didn’t have any practical way to put it into practice day in and day out.
And while it would be ironically self-defeating if I watered down my word into a bunch of checklist items, I have spent many hours over the last several weeks mapping out exactly what practicing connection looks like. (I chose Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets this year to help me “make it happen.”)
1. Connection in My Home
I’ve actually done decently in this area, as I’ve worked steadily on decluttering and organizing over the past few years. But where I feel like I’d like to connect more is making my home…a home. A haven.
Three, maybe four years ago, we had the toilet and bathtub replaced in our main floor bathroom. We intended to finish remaking the whole room with new paint, laying tile that we already own, and replacing vanity and the linens. Surely this is not a terribly difficult task.
It’s years later, my friends. Years. I have made zero progress. I felt overwhelmed and uninspired by the project so I disconnected myself from it. We never budgeted for it. I was hoping my husband might take the lead, but it’s just not a high priority to him.
If it’s gonna happen, I must set it in motion.
I’m setting small, attainable goals. I’ll start with a Pinterest board. I’ll make a budget. I’ll block out a Saturday pick out some paint. And step-by-step, we’ll move forward.
And this is how I want to approach alllll of those little things in my home that just make it a little bit lovelier to be in. Connecting, step by step.
2. Connection in My Family
I homeschool my three kids. We have a good routine and rhythm in our home, which I love, but at the same time I can feel a little…checked out. And my kids can feel it.
This year it’s my goal to be intentional about each of my kids’ love languages (as well as my husband’s). I get one-on-one time with at least one of them each week. During that time I’m going to talk through with them what helps them feel loved, and then I’m going to do it! (My quality time kid will be thrilled.) My goal is to collect and record words, photos and mementos from our times together throughout the year. By Christmas, I’ll have a unique gift for each of them that commemorates how our relationship grew this year.
3. Connection in My Work
Last year was a huge year for me in my online business. I took some courses and worked hard to grow my audience, and I put together some digital products that I’m really proud of.
At the same time, by the end of the year I was feeling exhausted with it and, naturally, a little disconnected from my purpose. I’d gotten lost in numbers and productivity, which is the exact opposite of the message I want to communicate!
While I still have number goals, I’m much more interested in narrowing my focus this year and connecting with you. In my stress management course, Chaos to Calm (which I plan to open for enrollment in May), I’ll be doing more live and interactive coaching. In the Wiping Noses for Jesus is Legit Facebook Group, I’m going to be interacting more frequently and strategically to get to know you. As for the blog, I’m hoping to open up a bit more and sharing posts just like this one, where I worry less about the perfect title or presentation and just share my heart.
4. Connection in My Community
It’s hard to stay connected in friendships when you’re in this stage of life. It’s something I’ve continued to battle with, and I feel like I want to engage in my friendships in a deeper and more authentic way.
In addition to some changes in the small group I’m a part of at church, my personal prayer this year is to deepen three of my friendships. I know that’s a bit vague, but practically speaking what this looks like for me is choosing one person in my life whom I will pray for daily over the course of a week. I’m not sure where that will lead, but I’ll bet it will be pretty great.
Another goal is to bridge the gap between my online ministry and my “real-life” one. My hope is that by the fall I’ll be able to gather a group of women together in person to explore some of the topics I’m passionate about, particularly biblical stress management and rest.
A few years ago I started the practice of writing the Scriptures that spoke to me most on my hard days on notecards and putting them on my kitchen counter. After a time, most of them were memorized.
But then at some point I either misplaced or damaged the cards, and I fell out of the habit. I’m finding that I’m getting slower at recalling the verses I once knew so well. So this year I’m getting back into the habit, and my goal is to memorize one Bible verse a week. And this time I won’t throw out the cards!
There are a few other goals I’m working towards in business, finance, family and even having fun (like reading more fiction and learning to make sourdough!). I might reach them and I might not…but the point with my word of the year is to maintain the right perspective. No matter what I do, I am choosing connection over checklists and processes and perfection?
Have you picked a word of the year? I’d love to hear it and how you plan to live it out in the comments.
And if you need help learning how to map out some of your goals, be sure to check out this free resource, which is part of the free collection I offer for subscribers:
Hey friends! I’m super excited to share today’s post, which is packed full of info for how to be motivated based on your personality type (and how to motivate other people too). If you enjoy this and are looking for more resources to motivate and strengthen your faith, be sure to check out my whole collection of free resources.
As a coach and encourager, I think about motivation a lot. Whether I’m teaching an online course, leading a small group or even parenting my own kids, I frequently observe that some people follow through with expectations naturally…while others seem to rebel against the thought, ever! And everything in between.
I have a friend whose faith and maturity I admire tremendously. She was looking into ordering a daily prayer journal. While the journal was beautiful and she liked the idea, she nonetheless knew that once she had it in her hands, she would immediately resist using it.
Another friend loves learning about God and reads voraciously when she feels like it, but for the life of her can’t follow through with a daily Bible time, unless she’s in a study group.
Someone else I know is extremely disciplined about pursuing a hobby he cares about and will devote hours to filling out related spreadsheets. Yet a discipline of daily exercise? Not unless he finds a way he is convinced is right for him.
I personally can’t relate to any of these people.
There are other disciplines like eating healthy, family routines, keeping a clean house and so on. Some people seem to have no problem whatsoever keeping up. And some (most?) seem to incessantly struggle with at least one area.
While curious about why some people seem to be self-motivated and some aren’t, I’ve conceded that everyone has a different personality and complex reasons about how they’re motivated. And while that’s true to some extent…it’s not an entirely satisfying answer.
Is there an explanation for how people are motivated that’s actually practical and can help no matter what your natural bent is?There IS, according to the findings of Gretchen Rubin!
Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.
The Four Tendencies
I was so excited to stumble upon The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin because she has examined my questions with about a million times the intensity and a devotion to research.
She’s boiled down this aspect of human behavior—motivation—to be explained by how we respond to expectations.
Everyone has a tendency when it comes to responding two types of expectations: internal and external. Internal expectations are self-imposed, like fitness goals or household schedules. External expectations are things like work deadlines, meetings or what you signed up to bring to a potluck.
Based on how you generally respond to internal and external expectations, you can fall into one of four categories: “Upholder,” “Questioner,” “Obliger” or “Rebel.” You have a dominant Tendency as well as a secondary one.
One reason I love this framework is because it doesn’t value one Tendency over another. As Psalm 139:14 says, everyone is “beautifully and wonderfully made.” With an accurate understanding of your Tendency, you can work with your personality to be motivated and follow through, rather than wishing you were different. And by better understanding and considering other people’s Tendencies, you can gracefully accept them for who they are and learn how to communicate with them more effectively.
While The Four Tendencies isn’t explicitly a Christian framework, I see a lot of practical application. In fact, I find it helpful to consider what Tendency people in the Bible are because it sheds some light on how God works through each type.
Motivated by All Expectations: the Upholder
I’ll start with one of the more “extreme” personality types: the Upholder. This is the person who readily responds to both internal and external expectations. Upholders are generally self-starters, easily motivated and reliable. They love checklists and following rules. You want Upholders on your team because they will carry their weight 110% every time.
On the other hand, they can also be rigid, perfectionistic, uptight and impatient. In situations where the expectations aren’t clear, they can feel anxious and uncertain. They will even go as far to create the rules inside the rules when they aren’t clear. They can be judgmental of others who don’t think the way they do. While Upholders are usually aware of their own need for self-care, they can be susceptible to driving themselves a bit mad with all of their expectations, which may be reasonable or not. They also can be resistant to delegating or trusting others to get the job done.
I am an Upholder, through and through. My greatest strengths are also my greatest weaknesses. Being self-aware helps me recognize when I’m following rules for rules’ sake, and in turn can help me let them go—for myself and for others.
When I think of Upholders in the Bible, the most obvious one is Paul. As a Pharisee he was an extreme rule follower and was so passionate about the rules that he sought to persecute those who didn’t fit inside his box. But when he found grace in Christ, his world was turned upside down. Instead of being passionate about rules, he became infinitely more passionate about grace and the freedom it ultimately brings.
Motivated by Internal Expectations: the Questioner
When I told my husband about The Four Tendencies, he was initially skeptical and expressed his distrust of personality frameworks. And he immediately confirmed my suspicions that he is a Questioner. This Tendency will follow expectations if those expectations make sense. Questioners critically examine all external expectations, and if they are deemed worthy, they will make them internal expectations and follow them.
As an Upholder, I love Questioners because they help me think critically rather than just following all the rules. They tend to do a lot of research and love the concepts of fairness, efficiency and effectiveness. Once they come to an internal conviction, they will stick with that conviction faithfully.
Questioners’ weaknesses are related to their strengths. They can be so data-driven that they can reach “paralysis analysis” and avoid making decisions altogether. This can be exhausting. But once they come to an opinion or decision, they can stick to it stubbornly. With their self-directed reasoning, they can also rationalize some strange ideas. To convince them otherwise you have to present them with extensive data, which can be frustrating.
A friend of mine who is a Questioner says that setting deadlines helps her avoid analysis paralysis and decision fatigue, and that has been freeing for her. Understanding this Tendency also helps explain the person who can never “take your word for it” or questions everything.
I believe that David in the Bible was a Questioner. When the Israelites were terrified of Goliath, he immediately questioned their lack of faith and had a firm internal conviction that God would have his back. I often have wondered how this same man fell into extreme sin later in life, like when he took a military census instead of trusting in God’s provision, or when he committed adultery and murder. His rationalization and stubbornness make more sense if you think of him as a Questioner who strayed (and fortunately came back once he saw his errors).
Other possible Questioners of the Bible: Gideon, Jonathan, John the Baptist
Motivated by External Expectations: the Obliger
There’s a reason that accountability and coaching programs are so popular. They work! Many people cannot be self-motivated with tasks and habits they know they need to do for themselves, like maintaining personal health, keeping house or being disciplined about completing a passion project. But if you present an external expectation like a deadline or a consequence for other people if they don’t follow through, Obligers are dutifully responsive. According to Rubin, Obligers are probably the largest group.
Obligers are reliable team players and are very responsive to others’ needs. But, unsurprisingly, they can be especially susceptible to overwork and burnout, as well as exploitation. In fact, if you push Obligers to their limit, they can actually slip into what Rubin terms “Obliger rebellion,” when they just stop showing up. If the outer expectations are too much for them to handle, they crumble because there is not enough internal motivation to carry them through.
While Obligers can naturally feel frustrated with themselves since they lack internal motivation, the great news is that the solution to being motivated is easy to identify! If you’re an Obliger and you want to be motivated, the key is to find an external accountability system. This can look different for every person, but if you can find a way to let someone else down by failing to meet an expectation, you’ll be much more likely to follow through.
I wonder if perhaps some of the more selfless people in the Bible were Obligers, like Ruth and Esther. While it’s difficult to know the motivation behind why they did what they did, they appeared to be very responsive and courageous when others needed them to step up. Perhaps Moses was an Obliger as well. At different stages in his life he appeared to be weak and cowardly, but when he had a clear outside expectation from God as well as from his community he was heroic. (He also seemed to have a couple of instances of Obliger-rebellion when he got pushed to his limit!)
Other notable Obligers of the Bible: Aaron, the Apostle John, Barnabas.
Not Motivated by Expectations: the Rebel
On the opposite extreme from Upholders are Rebels. They resist all expectations, internal and external. This Tendency is fascinating and befuddling to me, as it is my complete opposite. Yet some of my dearest friends are Rebels; I am drawn to them because of their creativity and authentic way of living, as well as their ability to think outside the box.
It can be frustrating to be a Rebel or to work with a Rebel because rules and “shoulds” do not motivate them; in fact, they are demotivating. Some Rebels feel energized by breaking rules just to prove that they can. This does not mean that Rebels are doomed to be slackers and slobs, but it does mean that they need to think about motivation differently than the other Tendencies.
Three things that motivate Rebels are their sense of identity, their ability to be free and the opportunity to step up to a challenge (they love to prove people wrong). For example, a friend of mine is very passionate about her love for her kids; she’ll go to the moon and back for them. But she has to maintain a sense of freedom when running her household; otherwise she doesn’t feel true to herself or her family. So she doesn’t do well with strict routines and schedules, but when the mood strikes she will do a beautiful job cleaning, organizing and decorating. If she finds a particular task challenging or frustrating, she’s wonderfully creative and determined to complete it.
When communicating with a Rebel, you can’t force them to do anything (even when you’re communicating with yourself). Rubin recommends the following sequence of information: information, consequences and choice. Present the Rebel with their options, explain the consequences of their decisions and then let them choose. If the desired outcome resonates with their identity and they have the freedom to choose it, they’ll come through.
I’m pretty sure that Peter in the Bible was a Rebel. He was obviously resistant to outer expectations in the Gospels and struggled with inner ones as well, most notably when he denied Christ on the night before the crucifixion. But once he found his identity in Christ, he became a force to be reckoned with in the Book of Acts. (His name literally means “Rock.”) I’m sure he got a kick out of resisting the authorities, and it makes sense that he rejoiced when he was persecuted. Tradition holds that when he died he was crucified upside down at his own request. Sounds pretty Rebel-like to me.
Other possible Rebels in the Bible: Jacob, Samson, Jonah, the Prodigal Son, Mary sister of Martha.
I hope you find this framework as insightful and practically helpful as I have. Most people know what their Tendency based on these basic descriptions, but if you’re not sure you can take Gretchen Rubin’s quiz here.
I’d love to hear from you: what do you think your Tendency is, and how do you think understanding this framework can help you be more motivated as you live out your faith?
Are you wrestling with sadness this Christmas? While we’re mostly enjoying the season, our family has a nagging sense of pain and loss as we wait for our international adoption referral.It hurts to think that our future child might be suffering and can’t create memories with us this year.
Christmas Sadness: How to Cope When the Holidays Hurt
The Christmas season is upon us, and for many it’s a time of joy, laughter and family.
But for some, it’s a time of unspoken sadness, grief and remembering loss. There are loved ones you can’t be with, unfulfilled dreams, and painful memories.
Or perhaps it’s a mixed bag; you enjoy the season, but there are still instances nagging pain.
Whatever your story, it is an emotional time of year, for good or for bad. In the hubbub of the festivities, it can be easy to shove the swell of emotions aside and just power through—and feel completed depleted afterward.
On the other hand, it can be tempting to want to pull away from it all and hibernate until January.
Click over to Equipping Godly Women to read more about how to approach the holidays in a godly way with these complexities of emotion.
Leave a comment: are the holidays painful for you? How do you cope?
Do you have a hard time connecting in prayer? I do too…and that’s why again and again I go back to Jesus’ teachings about prayer whenever I’m in a rut. If you enjoy this, be sure to check out the Teach Me To Pray 7-Day printable journal.
For the longest time, I thought that I pretty much stink at praying.
Don’t get me wrong, I come to God regularly, maybe with a prayer list or journal in hand if I’m really on top of things.
But too many times, daily prayer has just been an item on my spiritual checklist, and as a result it has felt rote, aimless, boring and powerless.
I quickly lose focus and my mind wanders to what it thinks are more interesting pursuits.
I’ve wondered at times, What is wrong with me? Is there a “right” way to pray? Or a wrong way? What exactly does God expect us to say when he already knows our thoughts, anyway?
I think Jesus’ disciples wondered about some of these things. I’m guessing this is why he offered them many lessons on prayer.
Jesus came to a people who were very…religious. The Jewish leaders at the time loved marking all the right boxes, praying long and loud, making a show out of fasting and demonstrating to everyone how extremely godly they were.
And then there were the regular Joes like the rest of us mortals who probably felt a little inadequate and lost when talking to the LORD of the universe.
What made Jesus’ approach to prayer different was that it was an ongoing conversation in an intimate relationship with his Father, rather than religious act you could check off your daily list.
Along with Jesus’ other teachings, his words on prayer were tough pills to swallow.
And you know what? They’re still tough. But that’s what makes them so effective.
The secret to a powerful prayer life isn’t following some formula or method.
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WELL HELLO!
I'm Gina, a happily married mom of three and stress management coach. I help exhausted, overwhelmed moms find peace and purpose in the everyday. Be sure to sign up for tons of free resources that will help you stop just surviving and start thriving! Read More… | {
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“Oh, what will the signal be/For your eyes to see me/Watching offside as I wait/Just in case you need me/So I still will set the stage/Send my thoughts to you/I’m receiving every wave/that sent love, sent love through…”
Summary Capsule: Post-apocalyptic mutant dog rock star wants to summon a demon through the power of rock, and… do you really need to know more?
Deneb’s Rating: Four mutants out of five.
Deneb’s Review: You know, it’s been a while since we’ve had any really weird animated films coming our way.
Think about it. The last one that was truly oddball (that I’m aware of, anyway) was The Triplets of Belleville, and that was A: almost a decade ago, and B: French, so what do you expect? (I love ya, French folks, but you’re tied with the Japanese in the category of ‘World’s Most Bizarre Collective Subconscious’.) Now, of course there’s always the experimental, avant-garde film-festival stuff, but those tend to be about ten minutes long and often made by just one animator. The full-length, mainstream weirdos? Those tend to be somewhat rarer – as in, a lot.
It wasn’t always this way, though. Back in the late ’70’s and early ‘80’s, there was a brief rash of something strange and wonderful in the world of animation. Something bubbled up from the bottom of the cauldron, and gave us things that were dark and rich and new. These were films that dared to experiment, to push the boundaries of what animation could do and get away with, that dared even to suggest that some day, maybe, there could be animated movies that weren’t just for kids.
It didn’t last for long. None of them were terribly successful, and the industry shrugged its collective shoulders and went back to making family-friendly fluff (which, for the record, I like, but still.) But before the bubble burst, we got films like The Secret of NIMH, Heavy Metal,The Black Cauldron – and, oh yes, Rock and Rule, the movie we are about to discuss.
The movie starts out with a narrative scroll explaining that The War finally happened (as just about everyone knew it was going to at the time). The only survivors were street animals, a motley collection of cats, rats and dogs which eventually wound up mutating into a gestalt humanoid species that more or less resemble the Dognoses from Donald Duck comics. Flash forward to a goodly length of time after that, and society has reformed into something more or less resembling the early ‘80’s, albeit with stuff like hover-cars and the like.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the power of Rock ‘n Roll. One of the biggest names in this future’s music industry is Mok (Don Francks), an aging rock star known for his bizarre and theatrical performances. Well-known though he is, however, his career seems to have peaked some time ago, and he’s had trouble regaining momentum. Hmm. Looks like he might have some spare time on his hands. Maybe he should take up a hobby.
Well, how about summoning a demon? Yeah, that’d do. Mok has become obsessed with the notion of bringing forth a creature from the underworld to do his bidding – just what he wants it for is a little unclear, but he’s bound and determined to do it, nonetheless. (None of these are spoilers, by the way, as this is also all described in the opening crawl.)
The trouble is, he can’t do it alone. He requires a specific vocal tone, a unique voice that will complete the ritual and allow him to carry out his dark plans. He’ll know it when he finds it, but he’s been looking all over the place for such a voice, and so far he’s had no luck.
This all changes when he returns to his hometown of Ohmtown and encounters a small-time rock band made up of Omar (Paul Le Mat), Angel (Susan Roman), Dizzy (Dan Hennessey) and Stretch (Greg Duffel). Omar and Angel are the lead singers, and a couple. It’s somewhat of a bumpy relationship – he’s a bit too focused on his career, and not enough on hers – but they do seem to get along well otherwise.
In any case, Angel winds up taking the lead on the night that Mok comes calling. Wouldn’t you know it, she’s the one that he’s been looking for – she’s got the voice! He’s just got to have her, and quickly sets out trying to seduce her into his employ.
Angel, however, isn’t having any of it. Her career with the band may not have gone as smoothly as it might so far, but they’re her friends, and she’s not going to desert them just as they’re starting to have some success. Mok isn’t taking no for an answer, though – if he can’t recruit her willingly, he’ll simply change tactics and make her work for him.
And make her he does, spiriting her off before she has the chance to do anything about it. Omar and the others smell a rat in all this, and follow the two to Nuke York (yes, “Nuke York”), where Mok is hard at work making preparations for a mammoth concert. At this concert Angel will sing, and his demon will be unleashed at last.
Will our heroes succeed in finding her? Will Omar and Angel ever manage to patch up their differences? And can the world’s most evil rock star be stopped? Well… maybe. Yeah, that’s a definite maybe.
There seems to be something about Rock music that draws filmmakers like flies to honey, and causes them to make these grandiose movies themed around it. This is already the third review of this particular subgenre I’ve done for this site (the others being Phantom of the Paradise and Streets of Fire), and I have no doubt that there are many more entries in it out there waiting to be discovered.
What’s different about Rock and Rule, of course, is that it’s animated, which allows the filmmakers to get really out there with the story and visuals – and oh, they are out there; we’ll be getting to them soon enough. But there are other differences besides that; oh yes. Lots and lots.
To start with, Rock and Rule may be the first Rock movie set in its own little universe that plays by a set of rules all its own. One could, of course, point to Heavy Metal as a counterargument,but from what I’ve seen of it, that’s more of an anthology film – it has lots of little stories that are only tenuously fit together. R&R, on the other hand, is one story, one narrative, one world – and oh, what a weird and wild world it is.
That, really, is the key to what makes the film stick in the head – the world. We may technically be dealing with the distant future here, but it feels almost like a nostalgia piece, up until you get into the flying cars and the weird post-apocalyptic stuff and the whole mutated animal thing, and… well. Just about everything else, really.
But that’s the genius about a movie themed, not just around music, but around the feel of music – music creates its own worlds, and ones that are not necessarily tied to strict reality. Music, after all, is not logical, it is emotional, and the more intense the music gets, the more powerful the emotions, and the more fantastic the mental images. And if you tried to capture early-‘80’s Rock and put it onscreen, you might not exactly get Rock and Rule, but you’d probably get something awfully close.
Which brings us, of course, to the music. I’m honestly not too familiar with this type and era of Rock, but if you do happen to be a fan of it, I’m sure you’ll be satisfied. The movie isn’t exactly a musical, per se, but there are a number of original songs written for the movie that are worked into it in a natural sort of way, and sung by some pret-ty well-known people. I mean, Debbie Harry, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Earth Wind and Fire? Even I’ve heard of these guys (I don’t know a hell of a lot about them, but I’ve heard of them), and music-wise, they deliver. Not all of the songs are really my thing – some are a bit too raucous for my liking – but I do like most of them, and they’re all very appropriate in terms of character, mood, tone, etc. In any case, they all fit the film perfectly, which is not something you can say for all soundtracks.
So that’s how it sounds – how does it look? It looks pretty damn awesome. Considering the time when it was made and the tight budget involved, Rock and Rule is a minor triumph of animation. It’s not always perfect, but it’s consistently good, and even when there is the occasional glitch, chances are you’ll be too caught up in the dark, brooding visuals to notice. The cityscape of Nuke York, for instance, is a lovely bit of gritty post-apocalyptic hellhole-ishness, and every time Mok shows up, it’s likely that there’ll be some darn nifty stuff to goggle at. The demon sequence, for instance (oh come on, that’s not a spoiler; it’s all about summoning the thing) looks spectacular, and is worth waiting for.
Right – Mok. Let’s talk about Mok. I know that normally the villain goes second in these reviews, but while he may not technically be the protagonist, the entire film revolves around him, so he’s worth bringing up first (not to mention that there’s a lot to say about him, so better now than later).
Mok is, first and foremost, a really great villain. He’s got all the traits a classic bad guy needs – he’s cunning, manipulative, theatrical, absolutely evil and possessed of enough power to make going up against him a really tough proposition. Moreover, the man runs on pure ego; he’s obsessed with maintaining his rock star image to the point where he has his minions work as a special-effects crew so that he can dissolve into a cloud of sparkles or something if he thinks it’d impress somebody. While it’s never outright stated as such, it’s implied that this is his motivation for the demon-summoning – he may still be one of the biggest names in the industry, but if he can’t be the biggest, he’s going to punish all those wretches who refuse to recognize his magnificence by sending a monster from Hell after them. That’ll show ‘em!
Furthermore, he’s got one of the most distinctive looks I’ve ever seen in an animated character. Conceptually he’s something like an evil hybrid of Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and while that would have worked perfectly well on its own, the animators went a step further and gave him an image that is unmistakably his. He’s tall and cadaverous with great big long fingers and wears a succession of cool I’m-an-evil-rock-star outfits, but the real genius went into his face, or, more specifically, his lips. Mok’s lips are just fascinating – I don’t think I’ve encountered anything like them in animation before. Most characters with noticeable lips tend to possess ones that are pouting or puffy, but not Mok. His lips slope inward, in a manner that looks disturbingly like they were carved into his face with a chisel, and seem to have more articulation in them then some people have in the rest of their bodies combined. It’s difficult to articulate just why this is so mesmerizing; it just is – you’ll have to see it to understand it. Combined with a whopping mouthful of teeth and his oddly rectangular eyes, Mok draws your attention like a magnet every time he’s onscreen, and it doesn’t leave him until the movie is finished. If you remember one thing about this movie, it’ll be him.
Also, one should mention his voice. While I’ve never encountered Don Francks before, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for his stuff in future – between this and being a fill-in voice for Dr. Claw in Inspector Gadget, the man has talent. He provides Mok with a resonant, purring grate of a voice that honestly surprised me at first, as I had been expecting something more Tim Curry-ish. Still, what works works, so I ain’t complainin’.
Following him, the “real” protagonist of Rock and Rule would probably be Angel, who is also a pretty good and memorable character. At first glance it might seem like she’s a typical damsel-in-distress type that the hero has to rescue, but really, nothing could be farther from the truth. As voiced by Susan Roman, Angel is gutsy and determined, with a take-no-crap attitude and a refusal to compromise her standards for money or power. She’s loyal to her friends, devoted to her craft, and while she does remain Mok’s prisoner throughout most of the film, that’s because he’s, well, Mok – against a more conventional foe, one gets the impression that she would have just kneed him in the tender parts and gotten away. She is, in short, a genuinely positive female role model, and her helpless situation only serves to accentuate this – it takes a good character to keep one’s interest and respect even while they’re not in an active role.
Next up, we have Omar. A lot of people don’t seem to like Omar very much, and while I can see why, I don’t really agree. Sure, he can come across as a bit of a jerk sometimes, but that’s not really who he is – he’s more of an Angry Young Man. One must remember that for a good chunk of the film he’s semi-convinced that Angel has deserted him for Mok, so while his petulance can get a bit over-the-top at times, it’s a realistic way that someone like him would react; he’s the sort of guy who deals with his problems by angrily going “who cares?” and then going off to kick a wall. The thing is, though, that he does care – he genuinely loves Angel, and while it’s sometimes difficult to understand what she sees in the big meathead, he does ultimately prove himself worthy of her, and as voiced by Paul Le Mat, he’s got a certain James Dean-ish charm. Even if you do want to slug him sometimes, he’s an OK guy.
Moving on to the supporting characters, we have Stretch and Dizzy. Stretch is a jittery goofball, and as such serves as the main comic relief. He’s nothing too revelatory character-wise, but he does have a few good lines here and there, and never crosses the line into outright annoying. Dizzy is kind of an awkward nerd, which also makes him a bit of a stock character, but he serves an ancillary purpose by acting as the conscience of the group. When Stretch is too busy freaking out and Omar is too busy sulking, Dizzy’s the guy who gets things going by saying something like “look, we gotta get moving; Angel needs us!” He’s not terribly deep, but as a supporting character he works fine.
Finally, back on the bad guy side of things, we have the Schlepper Brothers, Toad, Zip and Sleazy. They serve as Mok’s dim-witted goon squad throughout the movie, filling the usual roles of the heavies. However, they are a little bit deeper than that, and ultimately wind up having hidden depths that I won’t go into here. As minions go, they’re fairly memorable.
So, to wrap things up, is Rock and Rule a perfect movie? Well, no – it does have its flaws. For one thing, if you’re expecting that this is something you can watch with the kiddies just because it’s animated, you’re wrong – there’s swearing, some (mild) drug use and implied sex. (Mind you, I’m sure there are plenty of kids who would love it, but it’s really more for early-teens on up.) The story is nothing to write home about, basically being “Mok’s gonna summon a demon, and until he does, here’s stuff that happens”. Also, the characters (aside from Mok) are by-and-large nothing new, and sometimes seem a little overly cartoonish for all the sturm und drang that’s surrounding them. (Oh yes – and the whole “evolved animals” thing? Doesn’t affect the plot in the slightest.) There’s a certain style that the movie has, and if it doesn’t click with you, then you may not like it very much.
However, if it does, you’re in for a treat. I mean, we’re kidding ourselves if we think that people watch movies like this for the plot or the characters; they watch them for the ride, man! And the ride on this one is ultimately pretty cool. The animation was great for its time, and remains darn pretty even today; the soundtrack is fairly impressive even if it’s not your thing, and the whole shebang just has a bizarre rock n’ roll sci-fi edge to it that makes it fairly unique. If you’re in the mood for something dark and rich and weird, then Rock and Rule’s your baby.
Go ahead and check it out. And rock on!
“Oh come now, Angel; you’ve been swayed by false rumors. I mean, I’ll admit that my rise to the top wasn’t ENTIRELY done without a bit of judicious murder and bribery here and there, and yes, I do enjoy a good round of torturing kittens and puppies every now and then, but evil? That’s a bit of a jump, don’t you think?”
Intermission!
There are several scenes in the film that feature what look like vintage computer graphics. In fact, these were largely animated through more traditional means, using overlays lit from underneath.
The film was originally to be named “Drats”, and aimed at a younger audience.
Mok’s full given name was originally ‘Mok Swagger’, something that Mick Jagger’s lawyers objected strongly to. Therefore it was not used, but it was in the comic book adaptation, and many fans of the movie have adapted it as the character’s ‘real’ name. Personally, I think just plain Mok is more elegant, but whatever.
At one point, the band’s car drives under a sign reading “Bridge to Aitch”. If you pause at this point, the rest of the sign can be read: “One Way Only (and this ain’t it). No doing anything on bridge.”
The various shots of the Ohmtown cityscape from above were done using a multi-plane camera, with lights shining through a matte painting during nighttime scenes. The cars driving through it are real model cars traveling along the painted streets.
This was the first animated film made in Canada. It was also the last such film that Nelvana ever made, as it flopped at the box office and nearly bankrupted the studio. Their subsequent efforts have all been less ambitious, more family-friendly fare.
The process of animating the demon involved smearing cow brains on the camera lens.
Groovy Quotes:
Mok: When I want your opinions, I’ll give them to you!
Angel (singing) Oh, what will the signal be/For your eyes to see me/Watching offside as I wait/Just in case you need me/So I still will set the stage/Send my thoughts to you/I’m receiving every wave/that sent love, sent love through…
Officer Quadhole: (repeated line) Sliiiime!
Dizzy: You’re just nervous. Take a deep breath.(Stretch does so)
Stretch: Hey, it woiked! I’m not noivous! I’m scared!
Mok: No Santa Claus, no Tooth Fairy, and no Uncle Mikey!
Mylar: Fabuloso!
Mok: (singing) My name is Mok, thanks a lot/I know you love the thing I’ve got/You’ve never seen the likes of me/Why, I’m the biggest thing since World War Three!
Omar: Hold onto yer privates, generals!
Mok: What did you think of my last album?
Angel: I loved it!
Omar: I bought it, too. My gerbil uses it for a room divider.
Video game voice: We’ve got company at twelve o’clock.
Stretch: But the house is such a mess!
Angel: I couldn’t leave them for anything.
Mok: I didn’t offer you anything – I offer you everything!
Toad: Ya gonna apologize, rude-boy?
Omar: I’m sorry, dogbreath.
Mok: Yes – good, clean fun! All work and no play makes Mok a dull boy!
Dizzy: Nuke York’s only three days away.
Stretch: It’s gonna take us six days. We only got half a car left.
Mok: Evil spelled backwards is ‘Live’ – and we all want to do that.
Officer Quadhole: What are ya doin’ in a public fountain?
Omar: We give up, Quad – what are we doin’ in a public fountain?
I wouldn’t be surprised – it is kind of surreal that Nelvana devoted themselves pretty much entirely to kiddy stuff after this. It IS kind of their roots, though – they’d never made anything like Rock and Rule before, and they never would again. Kind of makes you wonder what we’d know them for if the movie HAD been a success, doesn’t it?
I picture Rock & Rule only with Care Bears. You *know* someone’s thought of a dark and edgy reboot of the ‘Bears :) Still it is a little sad that something that was obviously so much a labor of love had to be put aside in favor of commercial stuff.
I wouldn’t say THAT exactly – I mean, they did DO it; they did make the thing. It wasn’t put aside, they MADE that puppy. They gave it their best and hoped it would make money, and, well, it didn’t. It’s certainly a shame that it didn’t spark off more projects like it, but at least we got what we got.
That’s actually a callback to a cut scene. The same couple are seen earlier on trying to sell “Mok’s Concert” T-shirts, which nobody is buying – so, naturally, they try again with “I survived Mok’s Concert” shirts, which gets the same results for different reasons. | {
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Motor running very rough
JOSH PLETT
MEMBER
2003 BUICK CENTURY
3.1L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES
My motor is running rough. My check engine light is on. I have changed all spark plugs, plug wires, and coil packs. I have double checked to make sure I have the correct firing order. It runs the same as be for I changed all parts. I went to autozone and had a read out. It said originally that cylinder 3 wasn't firing. Cylinder 3 plug when I changed it was the only plug that had dark wet oily look to it. There is no oil or antifreeze smell nor is it expelling any smoke/oil or antifreeze/water out the exhaust. There is no leaking or smell of either liquid when motor is running or otherwise. It is making a ticking noise when running. Thought maybe if I replaced all electrical the roughness and ticking and the cutting out when depressing the gas would stop? It has not. It has changed nothing. The read out from autozone also stated oxygen sensors not reading? Needing to know what the next step in figuring out the problem?
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ADMIN
Hello JOSH,
It sounds like you have one of two problems, either the camshaft lobe is flat which you can check by removing the valve cover or you have low compression which you can check by following this guide. | {
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} |
New 'Medicare for Beginners' Workshops
The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA), in partnership with the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP), will offer additional ‘Medicare for Beginners’ Workshop dates this spring and summer. The daytime seminars are May 25 and July 19, both starting at 3:00 pm.
The additional dates will be daytime seminars on the off months the agency isn’t hosting a regular ‘Medicare for Beginners’ evening event. The seminars will be at COAAA, 3776 S. High St., Columbus, Oh 43207.
‘Medicare for Beginners’ workshops help those who are new to Medicare by offering unbiased advice to help individuals navigate through the Medicare process. The workshops are a valuable resource for those who need help understanding their Medicare options. | {
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Replacement Pillow
Removing the pillow insert from the deluxe Kindermat and Daydreamer mat covers before washing helps to maintain their fluffiness and extend their life. However, if you want or need a backup, NapMat.com has these replacements available. These pillows replace the pillow inserts in the deluxe Kindermat and Daydreamer mat covers, not mats by Stephen Joseph, Mint, or other mats.
About Nap Mat
Napmat.com works hard to provide a variety of wonderful personalized gifts and products to help little ones successfully go off to school, to welcome a new baby to the family, and to offer wonderful gifts for family, friends and loved ones. | {
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} |
Monday, August 11, 2014
A few days before. I search for information on the New Orleans Saints 8'' x 20'' Framed Letter Art, so i have to tell.
New Orleans Saints 8'' x 20'' Framed Letter Art
Take a virtual tour of your favorite NFL teams city when you hang this 8aposapos x 20aposapos framed letter art in your home or office. This art piece features quotSaintsquot spelled out by arranging photographs from local landmarks and attractions arranged to form letters making it the perfect piece for any New Orleans native or fan. Read more
It's essential to spend less in today's financial state. We should be mindful with funds, but we are able to easily nevertheless keep store shopping. You can find everything required for a smaller amount when on the net. Please keep reading to discover getting the very best information regarding thrifty shopping on the net. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
If you are like the rest of our user community, your IT team is busy. With pressure to deliver on-time projects, you don’t have a lot of time to spend making your management tools work. You need network monitoring tools that work for you. You want tools that makes it easy to find performance issues before your users do and resolve them before they impact the business. That’s why tens of thousands of customers around the world love WhatsUp Gold.
1/2
How many devices do you monitor on your company's network?
Under 25 25-50 51-100 Over100
2/2
One last question before you visit our site:
When do you plan to purchase a network performance monitoring solution?
kses is an HTML/XHTML filter written in PHP. It removes all unwanted HTML elements and attributes, and it also does several checks on attribute values. kses can be used to avoid Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). NOTE: I don't have time for kses right now..
Cloud Toolkit .Net provides many useful and good-looking .Net controls for use with .Net applications (VC++, VC#, VB.Net etc). Update (September 2011): The project has been inactive for a few years and will remain so. No support provided!
This library is meant for high performance calculations for science or 3D games/rasterizers using SIMD instructions of x86 processors to allow an unparalleled level of optimization. This takes advantage of MMX, 3DNow!, 3DNow!+/MMX+, & SSE/SSE2/SSE3/SSSE3
ABSim is an Agent-Object-Relationship (AOR) simulation system based on a Java program library. The development of ABSim has terminated. Its successor is <a href="http://oxygen.informatik.tu-cottbus.de/aor/?q=node/2">AOR-JSim </a>
Codewars is an client-server game. You have to write a robot-program in any programminglanguage, which fights against other robots in an simulated arena. A musst see for fans of artificial intelligence and coding.
CorEngine is a work in progress, OpenGL graphics powered 3D game engine designed to help independent game developers with quick prototyping and game/virtual environment creation.
The engine supports a standard set of features, like skeletal animation, post processing, Lua/C programming, physics powered by Bullet Physics, GUI and 2D/3D Audio.
MsraConsole is a Remote Desktop sharing Tool.
This Project is inactive. The forked Project is MsraCon wich uses Windows Authentication. https://sourceforge.net/projects/msracon/
The Tool could be used as Help Support solution in Classrooms. It shares the Windows Desktop Screen of multiple Computers with some Viewer Computers (Users). The Viewer can take control over the Mouse and Keyboard.
It is only a programming sample, don't use the Software in productive Environments!
It uses the Microsoft Remote Desktop API RDPCOMAPILib and AxRDPCOMAPILib the source Code is in C#. Requires Net Framework 4 or higher to be installed.
Pearl MATE 3.0 (16.04)
!!!!!!! THIS VERSION IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED !!!!!
Please see new location for all versions of Pearl 3.0:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/pearl-os-3-0/files/
>>>>> However <<<<<
You you do prefer this version if you go and comment out our repository and
just use the ubuntu archives for updates. If all you would like to keep is
pretty much the theming etc ... this is probably a good choice.
I am very sorry for this issue... totally my fault...humans geeze..lol..
btw to comment out our repo simply put an # in front of the deb http://..... line in the /etc/apt/sources.list file.
PocketGCC is a port of well-known GNU C/C++ compiler and Binutils for ARM-WinCE-PE platform. Both crosscompiler and native builds are provided, allowing to develop applications for WindowsCE devices with ARM-compatible processor on the go without desktop
ZEngine is designed to provide a powerful yet easy to use 2D game API using OpenGL for fast 2D drawing and SDL for everything else, it is completely cross-platform and the class based design makes it easy to learn and use.
jsXe is the Java Simple XML Editor. Out of the box it provides a tree view, DTD/Schema introspection and validation. It's aim is to provide a framework for XML editing through any number of views that can be loaded at runtime as plugins.
This is the Sokofinity project. The goal of this project is to recreate the classic NES game DuckHunt, only this time in 3D with Virtual Reality. Using an Infinity Box and Flock Of Birds positioning sensors, the game gets a new dimension.
Note: this p
This is the source code repository for my VMLAB User Components. The Project Website contains detailed descriptions of each component. You can also Download Components as pre-compiled DLL files from this site. The "AVR Peripheral" components should be installed to the "mculib" directory; all other components are installed in the "userlib" directory. A few components include a "readme.txt" with additional setup instructions.
Most components are licensed under the LGPLv2 (or higher). A few of the older components are released into the Public Domain.
The Program Killer is a Delphi 6 program that monitors the Process List on Windows 95/98/Me and Windows NT4/2000/XP for unauthorized EXE files (User Definable) and if found, those Processes are Terminated via the Windows API.
AbsoluteX is an open source free class library primarily developed for use with X Window System.
AbsoluteX uses object-oriented design and free software LGPL licensing.
It gives you the ability to develop open software, free software, or even commer
Get latest updates about Open Source Projects, Conferences and News.
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I agree to receive these communications from SourceForge.net. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at anytime. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy or Contact Us for more details.I agree to receive these communications from SourceForge.net via the means indicated above. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at anytime. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy or Contact Us for more details. | {
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} |
Jazz Fills the Air Near Brookhaven Accommodations for Annual Winterfest Guests
Wineries Open Their Tasting Rooms to Jazzy Winter Fun
BELLPORT, NY--(Marketwire - Feb 14, 2013) - Jazzing up the winter doldrums, Long Island's Winterfest returns to ignite some fun and relaxation with exceptional music and fine wines every weekend. Winterfest began on February 9 and continues through March 17 while a host of special events. Comfortable Brookhaven hotel accommodations make it easy to create an exciting winter weekend getaway.
Bearing the theme "JAZZ on the Vine" for its fourth consecutive year, Winterfest embraces the area's wine industry by captivating guests with six fun weekends of jazz performances inside local winery tasting rooms and allowing them the opportunity to enjoy remarkable music while celebrating the tasty flavors borne from local vines and the skilled craftsmanship of area vintners.
Centrally located to provide easy access to the impressive list of vineyards participating in the many events of Winterfest 2013, the stylish SpringHill Suites Long Island Brookhaven, NY hotel is an ideal destination for those planning to attend the festivities. Featuring full afternoon schedules in the tasting rooms of some of the area's most noted wineries, as well as a host of other cultural happenings and fine dining opportunities, Winterfest is destined to make winter an exciting time on Long Island. A special attraction to this year's sixth annual event includes concerts in the newly renovated Suffolk Theater on Riverhead's Main Street. Celebrating its grand opening on March 2, the theater is opening after a five year restoration that has transformed it into a magnificent performing arts center with state-of-the-art services.
While attending Winterfest, guests of the Marriott's SpringHill Suites near Medford, NY can enjoy spacious home-like comforts when choosing from the hotel's selection of well-appointed studio suites, all offering amenities such as complimentary Internet access; in-room refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker with tea service; a flat screen LCD TV with cable/satellite service, premium movie channels; and an iPod docking station. Ideal for traveling families, guest accommodations include cotton-rich linens over thick king- or queen-size mattresses and a pullout sofa for more comfortable sleeping arrangements. Providing added savings and a delightful convenience, guests are treated to a breakfast buffet served daily in the lobby of this hotel near Fire Island and have access to a relaxing indoor pool, outdoor patio and 24-hour fitness center.
About the SpringHill Suites Long Island Brookhaven Hotel
The SpringHill Suites Long Island Brookhaven Hotel welcomes travelers with comfortable accommodations designed to provide home-like comforts and convenient access to popular business destinations and nearby attractions including Tanger Outlets shopping, Atlantis Marine World and Baseball Heaven. The stylish lodging also offers well-equipped venues for small business and social gatherings as well as a 24-hour business center for the convenience of traveling executives. Free parking and complimentary airport shuttle service to and from the nearby Islip Airport are among the many amenities that make the SpringHill Suites an ideal destination for those seeking a remarkable Long Island hotel experience. | {
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Mammals
More than 50 mammal species are found in Northern Virginia; and Willowsford habitat is suitable for many of them.
Some mammals, such as gray squirrels and white-tailed deer, are often seen. Others, like skunks, fox and bears are more elusive. The smallest mammals, including voles and shrews, are rarely seen because they spend much of their lives underground or hidden under leaves and low growing plants.
Roles of Mammals in Ecosystems
Animal species have different roles in the habitat or ecosystem, and all species in the ecosystem rely on each other.
Keystone species, such as white-tailed deer, have a disproportionately large impact on an ecological community, affecting many other organisms. As Virginia’s largest herbivore, a relatively small number of deer can have a huge impact on a forest environment. Their excessive browsing removes native tree seedlings, young shrubs and groundcover plants, leaving less food and shelter for other animals.
Predators, such as foxes and coyotes help manage prey species, such as rodents. And certain mammals—the ecosystem engineers—can influence habitats by modifying their environments. Beavers, for example, build dams, create ponds and wetlands, and alter stream habitats. | {
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Alto-Shaam Golf Outing Raises $100K for Lymphoma
The sixth annual Jerry Maahs Memorial Golf Outing held on Aug. 9 at Ironwood Golf Course in Sussex raised more than $100,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Wisconsin chapter, making the event its largest independent fundraiser in the state.
Alto-Shaam founder Jerry Maahs passed away from lymphoma in 2006. The Jerry Maahs Memorial Golf Outing was founded in 2009 to honor Jerry’s memory and to support finding a cure for this cancer.
“Our goal is to support research that will one day save many lives,” says Steve Maahs, chief operating officer and president of Alto-Shaam. “My family is overwhelmed by the supportshown by our employees and extended business community. Not only will my father’s industry legacy continue, but his memory will continue to live on as we support the discovery of a lymphoma cure.”
Finding a cure for lymphoma remains a growing concern. Nearly 71,000 new non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2014, according to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. The NCI estimates almost 19,000 people in the U.S. will pass away from the disease this year.
Because of the generous donations from sponsors and the Alto-Shaam family, Jerry’s name will continue to support a research grant to help find a cure for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The Jerry Maahs Memorial Golf Outing has raised nearly $225,000 since its inception in September 2009.
The golf outing continues to grow each year. The first event included 56 golfers and six volunteers working to raise $7,680. This year, 187 golfers and 31 volunteers helped raise $100,000. Golfers came from throughout the U.S., including Arizona, New England, Florida, California, Washington, New York, and Georgia.
“We look forward to seeing an end to non-Hodgkin lymphoma,” Steve says. “Every person who helped with the golf outing—whether sponsoring the outing, donating prizes, volunteering at holes, or swinging the club—should be proud of their contribution toward that goal.”
The research portfolio includes seven cutting-edge investigations underway at prestigious research institutions and a strategic alliance with a biotechnology company.
“We would like to congratulate and thank Steve Maahs, the golf committee and Alto –Shaam, Inc. family on their amazing event and generous donation,” says Mike Havlicek, Wisconsin chapter executive director. “Alto-Shaam has once again proven to be not only an industry leader, but a valued community leader. LLS is grateful to have their support and partnership. The company’s efforts and generosity bring help and hope to patients and their families.”
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by FSR, Food News Media, or Journalistic, Inc. | {
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The Locked ONProximity Sensing t-shirt is a stone cold radar-detecting piece of apparel. When separated from companions, its radar screen stays in scan mode. But get within a few meters of another Locked ON wearer? Target detected, baby.
The decal on the front of the shirt is removable, since you probably wouldn't want to wash it, and runs on three AAA batteries. Its radio frequency transmission/detection range is about three meters, so chances are your eyes will spot a Locked ON compatriot before your radar will. At least, though, everyone around you will know you two were made for each other—or at least, your shirts were. [ThinkGeek via Techeblog] | {
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All about clinical management of HAE
Clinical management of hereditary angioedema (HAE) is complex and, in addition to trigger avoidance, may include short- and/or long-term prophylaxis, intervention for acute attacks, and emergency treatment. Separate algorithms may be required for each.13
TIP: The World Allergy Organization guidelines state that every patient with HAE should be considered for home therapy and self-administration training.
Long-term prophylaxis
Ongoing treatment used to prevent symptoms in patients not adequately managed with acute therapy13
The treatment options for long-term HAE prophylaxis are C1-INH concentrate or androgens. Both have been shown to reduce HAE attack frequency.13 Choice of treatment depends on contraindications, adverse events, risk factors for adverse effects, tolerance, response, and dose required to control attacks.13
Short-term prophylaxis
Used to prevent edema when a predictable stressor (eg, dental work) is planned13,14
Short-term prophylaxis is generally limited to patients in unusual circumstances, particularly those about to undergo a surgical or dental procedure. Currently, however, there are no therapies approved for short-term prophylaxis.13
2012 WAO guidelines list C1-INH concentrate and androgens as short-term prophylactic options. If used, C1-INH should be administered 1 to 6 hours before the procedure. Short-term prophylaxis with an androgen should begin 5 days pre-procedure and continue 2 to 5 days post-procedure.13
Acute treatment
Treats attacks as they occur to reduce morbidity and prevent mortality13
If none of these drugs are available, solvent detergent-treated plasma or frozen plasma (if a safe supply is available) should be used.13
On-demand therapies are typically approved for use in adults and adolescents; one is also approved for use in pediatric patients.
Emergency treatment
Steps to take for laryngeal or abdominal attacks
Emergency treatment during an acute attack can be extremely challenging because, unlike allergic reactions, swelling related to HAE does not respond to epinephrine, antihistamines, or glucocorticoids.2 C1-INH, administered as early as possible, has been proven effective for the emergent treatment of HAE attacks.15
Laryngeal attacks
Acute HAE attacks involving laryngeal swelling are potentially fatal. Attacks of this type must be treated immediately in the hospital—not in a local clinic—in case emergency intubation or tracheotomy is necessary.16
Involvement of the upper airway usually begins slowly. Voice alteration and dysphagia indicate high risk of total airway obstruction. If there is suspicion of airway involvement, begin treatment immediately.9
Abdominal attacks
Acute abdominal HAE attacks can include severe pain that may mimic appendicitis, bowel rupture, or bowel obstruction. It is very important that HAE be correctly diagnosed in such cases.10
Pain management using NSAIDs is often effective.
Quality-of-life issues with HAE
For patients with HAE, suffering goes beyond the physical. Most feel a loss of control due to frequent, unpredictable attacks and the fear that they may face a life-threatening HAE attack. Many patients suffer from depression, fear, and anxiety, especially if they lack understanding of their condition.17
Healthcare professionals should clearly understand and communicate the issues around HAE and the urgency of treatment.
Additional considerations
Monitoring of "trigger" medications13
Because various medications, such as estrogen-containing oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and ACE inhibitors, can contribute to the onset of attacks, medication history and selection should be carefully reviewed when treating patients with HAE attacks.
Dental or surgical procedures13
Short-term prophylaxis (using C1-INH, for example) should be considered for patients scheduled to undergo a dental or surgical procedure.
Help maintain quality of life across the care continuum
Recognize the key role of the specialist nurse in education and support
Foster effective communication among team members
Ensure dissemination of information to patients and team
Discuss the need for trigger identification and avoidance
Network and share information among all specialties treating angioedema
Encourage patients to connect with the US Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA)
HAE clinical resources
View current recommendations for the treatment of HAE, download diagnostic tools, or get the latest news about HAE. | {
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1. Introduction
This code implements MDI tab view for easy navigation.
The views are supported on a control bar, which can be floated (of course
docked!).
2. Implemented Features
Control bar-based owner-drawn tab view. Supports fonts and color settings,
the default is as follows
The normal/inactive tab text is painted black,
The active tab text is painted blue,
The tab text of a modified document is painted red.
The control bar can be docked (currently only top and bottom) or floated.
Custom MDI window list dialogs, similar to VC++.
Full screen modes.
Cool menu popup, three types.
From a right click on the tab control itself, as shown above.
From the right click on the tab control bar.
From a right click in the MDI main window client area, just a place
holder (demo) build yours.
Display of company logo text in the MDI main window client area.
MDI client background text logo and banner painting.
Saves and restores the state of the MDI child window, i.e. normal or
maximize, and the position of the control bars and the main window frame.
Tool tips and tab icons (icons!...just a demo-do not know what will be
better, let me know your views).
Minimum modifications to existing projects, say automated! Few changes to
only existing main frame class and maybe application class, no base
class to derive from.
3. Unicode?
There is no reason why it should not work!
4. Files required:
WindowManager.cpp/h: Manages the window list, and subclass the MDI
client to create the tab view bar. It also contain the class
CDocumentList, which lists all open documents. This is really
where life begins... NOTE: The CDocumentList class can
be very useful for many applications, take a good look.
ViewManager.cpp/h: Manages the views of the application, creating
the view tabs.
Others
tabview.h: Contains the resource ids needed by the controls. (NOTE:
Not used directly, deleted later).
tabview.bmp: The full screen and popup menus bitmap.
5. How to use it?
There is a bit of work involved in integrating the
resource file into your project. Lets do it, the difficult part first...
Move the bitmap file, tabview.bmp to your res directory, and
tabview.rc to the project directory.
Add the resource file tabview.rc to the project's *.rc2
file, and merge the resource id file tabview.h with your resource file,
resource.h. If you have not being manually modifying resource files
then read this...
Identify the last resource type (numbering starts from 128) in your
resource.h file, copy and paste the resource type identifiers (2)
from the tabview.h, give each an incremental id and finally increment
the VC++ object _APS_NEXT_RESOURCE_VALUE by 2, i.e. 1 more than
the last incremental id.
Similarly, copy and paste the dialog control ids (8) (numbering starts
from 1000) and increment the _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE by 8.
Finally, copy and paste the menu items ids (9) ( numbering starts from
32771) and increment the _APS_NEXT_COMMAND_VALUE by 9. The
project should now compile without any problem, and you can now delete the
tabview.h file.
Now, move the files WindowManager.cpp/h, ViewManager.cpp/h,
WindowTabCtrl.cpp/h and PopupMenu.cpp/h to the project directory
and add the implementation files to the project.
Open the WindowManager.h file, and in the Forward
Declaration part change the CMainFrame to your main window frame class
name (see TODO). Also include the header file of your main frame class in the
WindowManager.cpp.
Include header files, WindowManager.h and ViewManager.h in
your main frame header file and declare in a public section the
following:
pViewManager, a pointer to an instance of the viewmanager. The
viewmanager, control bar and tab control, is created by the window manager.
uID, an id of the control bar. With the defaulted value, hiding and
showing of the control bar is already implemented. If, however, you decide
to use a different id-say ID_THE_NEWVALUE, you can easily implement the
hiding and showing of the tab control bar by inserting the following in your
main frame message map. No further code is required. This is what is
done to the default status bar and toolbar created by the AppWizard...
In order for command messages to be handled directly in the
CWindowManager, use the ClassWizard to override the
OnCmdMsg() method of the main frame and modify it to be similar
to the ff:
// This function routes commands to window manager, then to rest of system.
BOOL CMainFrame::OnCmdMsg(UINT nID, int nCode,
void* pExtra, AFX_CMDHANDLERINFO* pHandlerInfo)
{
// Without this, the window manager menu commands will be disabled,// this is because without routing the command to the window manager,// MFC thinks there is no handler for it.if (m_MDIClient.OnCmdMsg(nID, nCode, pExtra, pHandlerInfo))
return TRUE;
return CMDIFrameWnd::OnCmdMsg(nID, nCode, pExtra, pHandlerInfo);
}
Tired eh! Just compile and have fun...
Well, you will need this too...build the menus, all the menu ids are
already defined so just select them from the ID combo box of the
property sheet.
On the View menu build the ff:
Menu Item ID
MENU ITEM STRING
ID_VIEW_VIEWTAB
Op&en File Tabs
ID_VIEW_FULLSCREEN
F&ull Screen
On the Window menu build the ff:
ID_WINDOW_NEXT
Ne&xt Window
ID_WINDOW_PREVIOUS
Pre&vious Window
ID_WINDOW_CLOSE_ALL
C&lose All
ID_WINDOW_SAVE_ALL
&Save All
Note: The Windows... menu is build for you automatically.
Well, well, well...if you need to support the position and control bar
restoration then do this...(unfortunately, neither the main frame class
destructor nor the window manager class destructor is called by the MFC
framework!)
Add message handle for the WM_CLOSE message for your main
frame, or modify the existing one adding the following single line, calling
the SaveMainFrameState() method...
Finally! replace the main frame displaying code at the end of the
InitInstance() of application class with the
RestoreMainFrameState() as
BOOL CDemoApp::InitInstance()
{
.............................
// The main window has been initialized, so show and update it.// pMainFrame->ShowWindow(m_nCmdShow); ///// <--- we do not need this one!
pMainFrame->m_MDIClient.RestoreMainFrameState(m_nCmdShow);
pMainFrame->UpdateWindow();
return TRUE;
}
6. Code Snippets
The icon support in the tab is application specific.
What I mean is you will need to build a more suitable solution for your
application. If, however, you have some ideas as how to implement something
general let me know.
For the current implementation... The OnCreate() function of
the CViewManager, which created both the tab and itself (the tab
bar), simply creates a place holder icon to fill an image list, which is then
attached to the tab.
LoadStandardIcon() is used to load system icon in there. You
may wish to replace this with the commented code, IDR_DEMOTYPE is
your application specific resource type.
HICON hIcon = AfxGetApp()->LoadIcon(IDR_DEMOTYPE);
In the AddView() function of the same class, the tab image
index is set to 0 (zero) the only image in the image list. Finally, in the
DrawItem() function of the tab, CWindowTabCtrl, the
dummy icon is replaced by the small icon attached to the frame of your child
window, parent of the view.
Initially, I considered getting the icon from the Windows shell, based on
the registered file extension SHGetFileInfo() API. However, it does
not look nice for the view frame icon to be different from the tab view icon. By
the current implementation, all is needed is a good citizenship like the VC++
itself. Let your application child window system icons reflect the file type and
there will be no need to write extra codes.
7. Credits
The code is based on code and ideas shared by the following:
Iuri Apollonio, he wrote the base codes using status bar. What is
his new email address?
Ivan Zhakov, his "MDI Windows Manager dialog" is better than
Iuri's. The Window manager class is now the main engine driving the view
manager.
Chris Maunder, his owner-drawn tab control code snippets are used
to improve Iuri's.
Adolf Szabo, his Full-screen mode idea is simpler than that
implemented by MS and MS's Mike B.
YOU, and many others...
Use this code in any project, there is no restriction!
Write whatever you like or do not like about this code in the comment
section, I will take note of all. Happy coding...
Paul
Selormey, Japan.
8. To Do
Ability to dock on all sides of the main frame, involves more work since
the tab control is owner-drawn.
Improved main frame window position saving and restoration...
Support for multiple monitors-I do not have the OS (Win98/Win2000) to
test this now (if I do, not the video card and monitors!)
Support for screen resolution changes. I have API code for my C/SDK
application, well tested on Win95 using the QuickRes program. I do not use
QuickRes currently, so a bit reluctant to implement it.
Your wishes...
9. Known Issues
The popup menu does not currently support accelerators (but is this
needed?).
The modified flag is not re-drawn immediately, I do not wish to play any
game to introduce flickers! (implementation still good enough!).
Add yours...
10. In this Update
Many parts are rewritten to address most of the issues in the comment
section.
The "tab view" is now CMDIChildWnd class, so splitters and others
should work.
Many bug fixes.
Should work with existing codes without little modifications, see Step 5. | {
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Database Backup failed - Not enough disk space
I've been getting a pop-up stating that my database backup has been failing. However, when I look, I see that I have plenty of space.
CAUSE:
By default, Kaseya stores the two most recent database backups on the server.
If the disk that the database backup is stored on only has 50gb of free space and the database itself is 30gb, then the first database backup will succeed but the second database backup will fail. After the first backup, the free space will drop down to 20gb (50gb -30gb). The next backup will fail because there isn't enough space.
RESOLUTION:
In this event, you will need to increase the amount of space allocated to the drive that the database backups are stored on. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Virginia Minifarm Land For Sale
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Blue Ridge Mountain Mini-Farm with Extensive Trout Stream Frontage. This is an excellent 29.416 acre farm, fenced for horses, goats or cows, 36x40 barn built in 2008 with a 12’ shed off one side, three 10x12 stalls and a tack room. All of this is within 15 minute pull of Virginia Highlands Horse Trails and Fox Creek Horse Camp. This property has...
Blue Ridge Mountain Farm House for Sale. This circa 1841 gem has been well cared for, has many original features and located on 3.25 acres with a wonderful view. Original wide plank flooring is in great condition and located throughout the original part of the home. Doors, woodwork and windows are also in good shape and really take you back in...
Grayson Highlands Mini-Farm with Wonderful Views. This property has 2 houses. The first is an antique cabin circa 1880. This is the real thing. It has a full bathroom, kitchen and woodstove for heat. Spring water services the cabin and there are several strong branches on the property for watering livestock. There is a barn in good condition and...
Blue Ridge Mountain Mini Farm. Very nice custom built home on acreage located in Elk Creek Virginia. This 4 bedroom 2 and 1/2 bath home is custom built with a guest/ mother in law suite located over attached, 2 car garage. Large open floor plan with cathedral ceiling in living area, extra large bedrooms and spacious closets throughout. Massive...
Blue Ridge Mountain Cabin and Acreage This 3 bedroom 3 bath cabin is situated on 45 acres and is in very close proximity to Trout fishing on Big Wilson Creek, the New River, Grayson Highlands Park, Jefferson National Forest and all of the recreational opportunities Grayson County has to provide. This 45 acre tract has long frontage on Bear Branch...
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Captured in a beautiful setting is this remodeled farm house that has original hardwood floors, first floor bedroom and charm throughout. This property is set up for the perfect mini farm with mostly openland for crops or grazing, fencing for animals, fruit trees, a two car garage, and shed for
This sizeable 7-Bedroom, 5-bath Country Home on 11+ acres and is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains with easy access to National Parks and outdoor recreation. The house was previously used as medical clinic on the first floor and the residence on the second floor. The first floor has 3 (bed)rooms, 1 full bath and 2 half baths. The...
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Here is a rare opportunity to take a step back in time, while still enjoying all the modern conveniences. If you have ever pictured yourself retiring to a self-sustaining mini-farm in the quiet peacefulness of the country, this is the perfect opportunity. This place is set up for your own homestead, with spring water, plus a nice small, but very...
New River Frontage in Grayson County VA. This is a great building site/mini-farm with level accessible New River Frontage. There is ample open land for gardening, livestock, orchards or haying. The land has a gentle up slope for a great elevated building site. The view across the river is undeveloped and scenic. This type of property is difficult... | {
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From the developers of Battle Realms and Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard | {
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El principio del fin de la ceguera.
Archivos diarios: 11/06/2013
If your interests lie in macular and vitreoretinal disease, then this year’s ARVO meeting surely did not disappoint. For the first time, a full-day retina subspecialty symposium was held just before ARVO—giving retinal specialists and general eye care practitioners an additional opportunity to hear about the latest and greatest in retina from a roster of world-renowned experts.
It was the perfect way to gear up for the many sessions at ARVO that reviewed the constantly evolving landscape of treatments and imaging technology and introduced new avenues of retinal research. Attendees were eager to hear the long-awaited results of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (See “The Latest on AREDS2 at ARVO 2013.”). Other hot topics this year included the role of Eylea in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the genetics of AMD and several novel treatment approaches to AMD. Presentations also highlighted a new retinal prosthesis that may offer help to patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), as well as new ways to treat macula edema.
Retinal Prosthesis
It was a milestone moment for retinal technology in February when the FDA approved the first implanted device to treat adults with advanced RP. The Argus II Electronic Retinal Prosthesis System (Second Sight Medical Products)—which has been cleared in Europe since 2011—should be commercially available in the US later this year. For now, it’s been granted “humanitarian use,” an approval pathway limited to devices that treat or diagnose fewer than 4,000 people in the US each year.
The Argus II Implant (left) attaches to the retinal surface with a tack. The cable that both powers the chip and conducts the image signal from the episcleral housing is seen temporally. An early frame of a fluorescein angiogram (right) in a patient with the Argus II Implant demonstrates some persistent macular perfusion. Images: Elaine Leibenbaum, Julia Haller, MD, and Carl Regillo, MD.
A few studies evaluated this prosthesis, hopefully paving the way for its more widespread use. One study looked at the safety profile of 16 patients in Europe who had received the implant.1040/C0017 The patients were followed on average for 6.2 months, and reported no surgical or serious, device-related adverse effects. Ten patients experienced no surgery or device-related adverse events at all, whereas the other six reported minor adverse effects, such as IOP elevation, nausea, fainting, conjunctival irritation and a retinal tear.
A second study found that the Argus II implant has good long-term reliability, with only one failure in 30 subjects (each with an average of 4.2 years of use, representing more than 125 cumulative patient years).1037/C0014 Further, accelerated lifetime testing demonstrated that finished implants have more than a 10-year lifetime in accelerated testing. Another study confirmed these results, echoing previous tests that demonstrated the ability of the prosthesis to provide visual function over several years.349
Diabetic Retinopathy
Researchers evaluated 759 patients from the RISE/RIDE Phase III trials to see if Lucentis (intravitreal ranibizumab, Genentech) had an effect on the severity of a patient’s diabetic retinopathy.4028 Results showed that a greater proportion of patients in the ranibizumab arm had a two- or three-step regression of diabetic retinopathy on the ETDRS scale vs. those in the sham group. A three-step improvement was achieved at 36 months in 3.3% of the sham group, compared to 15.0% and 13.2% in the 0.3mg and 0.5mg treated eyes, respectively. Over the course of 36 months, 33.9% of the sham-treated eyes developed proliferative diabetic retinopathy, as opposed to only 12.8% and 15.1% of the ranibizumab-treated eyes.
Another study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Macugen (intravitreal pegaptanib, OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc.) combined with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) vs. PRP alone in the regression of retinal neovascularization in eyes with high-risk proliferative disease.2439/C0140 At six months, the combination of pegaptanib with PRP showed better preservation of best-corrected vision, greater decrease in retinal thickness and maintained visual field better than PRP alone, but showed no major difference in neovascular regression.
A second study of 30 patients compared combination therapy of ranibizumab with PRP vs. PRP alone in treatment-naïve proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).5761/D0008 This study uncovered a greater change in best-corrected vision, a larger decrease in central retinal thickness and a lower incidence of vitreous hemorrhage in the combination treated group––again suggesting that anti-VEGF agents in conjunction with PRP may be preferred to PRP alone.
Additionally, a retrospective study of 78 patients seemed to indicate that metformin may reduce the rate of PDR in type 2 diabetes patients.2249/C0150 In the non-metformin group, 15 patients (45.5%) developed PDR as compared to just 12 patients (27.3%) in the metformin-treated group, indicating a trend of less PDR in the metformin-treated group. A larger study is recommended.
Macular Edema
Several studies are investigating alternative approaches to treat macular edema––either secondary to diabetes or vein occlusion. The MOZART study evaluated the safety and efficacy of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex, Allergan) in 59 patients with visual impairment from diabetic macula edema (DME).2387/C0088 Investigators noted that, over the six months, central retinal thickness was reduced and acuity improved—28% of patients had 20/40 or better acuity vs. just 6% at baseline. They observed IOP greater than 25mm in 7% of patients, with 4% of patients developing cataracts. No endophthalmitis was reported.
A second study showed positive results using a different intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection (DEX-I), with a gain of more than 10 letters in 27% of cases at two months and 24% at four months.2382/C0084 However, this study showed that recurrence of edema was observed in 76% of cases at four months, leading to re-treatment in more than one-third of cases.
Diabetic macular edema, as confirmed by optical coherence tomography.
Another study evaluated Ozurdex in patients with macular edema from vein occlusions. Forty eyes were treated with Ozurdex and were followed for six to 24 months.254/D0099 Overall, 94% showed initial regression on OCT, lasting an average of 4.2 months, with two lines of improvement. Overall, 59% improved 14.2 letters on average, while 10% worsened and 31% remained the same. Approximately 19% had elevated IOP and were treated with drops. In eyes that were not previously treated, the results were even better—86% showed improvement. Half of the patients required retreatment, with an average of 1.6 treatments per year. The results seem to indicate that Ozurdex may be an effective treatment in such patients––even those who did not respond well to anti-VEGF agents.
Other research looked at the role of laser, as well as anti-VEGF in combination with laser, in the treatment of macular edema. The LLOMD study evaluated 15 eyes of 13 patients with reduced visual acuity secondary to diabetic macular edema who had a mean VA of 20/100.2396/C0097 At six months, the mean VA gain was 12.6 ETDRS letters, with the central retinal thickness decreasing an average of 76.7µm in patients who received laser in combination with ranibizumab. Additionally, 37.5% of patients required a second injection at six months. However, with the addition of laser, the study showed that the number of injections needed over the first year was greatly reduced compared to previous studies of injections alone. In total, the researchers determined that approximately 10 injections are needed during the first year. Further, they concluded that adding macula grid laser to ranibizumab injection may reduce the economic burden of treatment.
Two additional studies revealed that reduced-energy focal macular photocoagulation could have advantages over traditional focal macular laser. 2375/C0076,2416/C0117 Both seemed to indicate that, by reducing the laser exposure when performing the procedure, there were decreases in CRT and increases in vision––with potentially less collateral damage and inflammation to surrounding viable tissue. More research is needed to investigate whether reduced-energy focal macular photocoagulation could replace more traditional laser therapy as the standard.
Eye on Eylea
Several reports evaluated Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals), the latest FDA-approved anti-VEGF agent for the treatment of wet AMD. A number of these looked at the role of Eylea in patients whose choroidal neovascularization did not respond to other agents, namely Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) and Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech/Roche).
One study evaluated 41 eyes of 34 such patients—77% of these patients had a good response to Eylea after one month, demonstrating decrease in central retinal thickness and absorption of subretinal fluid.4176/A0094 Best-corrected visual acuity improved in these patients to 20/74, from 20/122.5 at baseline.
A second study evaluated 60 eyes of 52 patients that did not respond after five consecutive injections of the other agents.3806/B0116 After three Eylea injections, 28 eyes (46.7%) displayed improved acuity, while 18 eyes (30%) showed decreased acuity, and 14 (23.3%) had no change in acuity at three months.
Lastly, a study evaluated 19 eyes of 17 patients receiving Eylea as primary therapy, with dosing as needed.3817/B0127 Over a 20-week period, patients received on average 1.84 injections, with an interval between injections of approximately 11 weeks. Five of these patients were determined to be non-responders to other anti-VEGF agents. Of these five, four responded positively to Eylea, indicating again that Eylea may be an effective alternative for patients who do not respond to other agents. Also, this study seems to indicate that the interval to repeat injections may be longer with Eylea than the other agents.
However, a separate study looked at the costs associated with Eylea.3838/B0148 The researchers hypothesized that, despite fewer injections, the cost of treatment per patient would actually increase. The study reviewed the records of 30 patients treated for wet AMD from 2011 to 2012 at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. The average duration between Avastin or Lucentis injections was 29 days, as opposed to 34 days with Eylea injections. No complications were noted in any groups. Total cost over the six months was $3,700 for Avastin, $96,000 for Lucentis and $366,300 for Eylea. This study suggests that while Eylea may reduce the frequency of injections, office visits and possibly complications, it appears to add considerable health care costs per patient.
New AMD Treatments
Several studies evaluated novel treatments for AMD. One study investigated the safety and feasibility of an episcleral brachytherapy device (SMD-1) for wet AMD.3787/B0097 Six patients received radiation for five and a half minutes to the macular CNV using a brachytherapy probe adjacent to the macular sclera via a subtenon retrobulbar approach. Patients also received concomitant anti-VEGF injections, as needed. The procedure was readily performed and well tolerated, with no adverse effects. At three months, all patients experienced improved best-corrected vision, with a mean gain of 19 ETDRS letters. At 12 months, three patients continued to demonstrate improved vision of seven letters on average, and two of those patients did not require any additional injections. All patients had reduced macular thickness compared to baseline, but two patients did demonstrate a reduction in vision.
Another study evaluated the safety of 1% CLT-005 topical eye drops, designed to inhibit Stat3, which has been associated with neovascular and inflammatory processes in animal studies.1716 The researchers determined that the drug was able to deliver the active ingredient to the RPE/choroid in animal eyes, without adverse effects—paving the way for additional studies regarding its role in the treatment of AMD or geographic atrophy (GA).
Australian researchers looked at the progression of early AMD after treatment with nanosecond pulse laser compared to patients with a natural history of AMD.4146/A0064 They treated 48 patients with bilateral high-risk AMD with ultra-low energy laser in 12 spots around the macula of one eye. At 12 months, three of the 48 treated participants progressed to GA, while seven of the 70 control group progressed. At 24 months, four in the treated group and nine in the control groups progressed to GA, suggesting that a single course of nanosecond laser intervention may potentially reduce the odds of progression to advanced AMD. A larger randomized controlled study is now underway.
Another study evaluated the safety and tolerability of an extrafoveal subretinal injection called rAAV.sFlt-1, an anti-VEGF gene therapy for AMD, in elderly patients.4504 Twelve patients underwent the procedure with minor adverse effects and no evidence of local or systemic toxicity. The researchers noted that this injection should be further evaluated as a potential strategy for long-term anti-VEGF therapy.
Research continues on Emixustat HCL, a novel orally administered agent in development for the treatment of GA associated with dry AMD.4506 Emixustat HCL is a rod visual cycle modulator that inhibits isomerase activity and reduces retinal toxins, such as A2E, which damages the RPE and overlying photoreceptors. Four dose levels and two dose regimens were examined in 72 patients who were followed for 90 days. No adverse systemic effects of concern were noted, with just two patients experiencing treatment-related events. All ocular adverse effects resolved upon drug cessation, and were mild with no severe events observed. Results were encouraging, and a long-term Phase II study in now underway to evaluate its role in GA patients.
Other studies looked at using existing therapy more effectively. A team of researchers in Italy evaluated whether ketorolac eye drops combined with ranibizumab intravitreal injections would provide additional efficacy over ranibizumab alone in wet AMD.4175/A0093 Sixty eyes were divided into two groups: one received ranibizumab alone, and one was treated with ranibizumab plus ketorolac BID for six months. At the end of six months, there was no statistically significant difference in best-corrected vision or number of injections required. However, the mean six-month change in central macular thickness was 146.53µm in the combination group, while the change was 106.88µm in the ranibizumab-only group. This is the first study to identify an additional effect of ketorolac eye drops combined with ranibizumab. More studies would be needed before a change in current protocol would be appropriate.
Two separate studies evaluated photodynamic therapy in combination with anti-VEGF injections.4509,3790/B0100Both indicated that this therapeutic combination might be an effective way of improving acuity in patients with wet AMD, while perhaps reducing the overall number of treatments needed. In one of the studies, 96.2% of eyes lost fewer than 15 letters, and 27.3% gained 15 or more letters.
Genetics in AMD
Genetics in eye care have been garnering a lot of attention lately, specifically the role of genetics in AMD.
One study evaluated data from the 100 Genomes Project to confirm the contribution of known genetic risk factors for AMD.6166/C0051 This investigation revealed that, in the population of European descent, CFH has the largest attributable risk (25.6%), followed by ARMS 2 (22.5%), then C3 (9.1%) and CST3 (5.8%). In other populations, the risk allele in ARMS2 is the major contributor to risk, followed by CFH. In Asian and African populations, CST3 takes precedent over C3 as the third strongest contributor to AMD risk.
This patient is at high risk for AMD due to multiple confluent drusen in both eyes. Perhaps genetic testing could one day identify patients like this earlier.
In Spanish patients, a study found that CFH and CB genes, combined with environmental risk factors such as smoking and body mass index, were associated with an increased risk of GA.6183/C0068 A second abstract confirmed the role of CFH gene in AMD risk in a cohort of Brazilian AMD patients.6175/C0060
In another study evaluating the genetic contribution of AMD in 38 Armenian patients, researchers found no genetic differences in the risk alleles compared to a Caucasian population.6196/C0081 All of this research indicates the genetic factors that could influence the development or AMD may be very similar across different groups.
Interestingly, some of these same studies seem to suggest that the HDL-related CETP gene may be associated with AMD in African Americans, pointing to a potential risk modifier in lipid pathways.6168/C0053
An abstract submitted by Johanna Seddon, MD, ScM, identified three new genes that may add to the predictive power of risk models for progression to advanced AMD.6178/C0063 They are the R1210c mutation in CFH, and variants to the genes COL8A1 and RAD51B. She suggested that these new genes will be useful for AMD surveillance in the future, along with genes that have already been identified and established factors such as drusen size, baseline AMD status, demographics and environmental factors (including smoking, age and body mass index).
Additional studies attempted to see if there was a link between genetic profile and response to treatment. One study evaluated the genetic profile of 835 patients from the CATT (Comparison of AMD Treatment Trial) trial to determine if certain genotypes responded better to treatment than others.6187/C0072 Results revealed there were no strong associations between the studied genotypes and response to anti-VEGF treatment.
A second study evaluated the IVAN study and also was unable to find any associations between genetic profiles and response to anti-VEGF treatment.6185/C0070 However, another study of 43 patients seemed to indicate that patients with high-risk alleles for AMD responded more poorly to treatments than those with low-risk alleles.6186/C0071
This link of genetic profiles to treatment response may continue to be investigated, as this could bring us closer to personalized treatment of AMD––based on genetic factors and other components.
Retinitis Pigmentosa and Rare Diseases
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most frequent cause of inherited deafness–blindness in humans, accounting for approximately 50% of all cases and affecting one child out of 25,000. Today, there is no specific and/or curative therapy for USH patients, except the hearing aids and cochlear implants designed to correct hearing impairment. Among the three USH clinical subtypes defined by the severity of the hearing impairment, the presence/absence of vestibular dysfunction, and the age of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) onset, USH1 is the most severe. In the past decade, several strategies to prevent and treat RP have been developed, including retinal implants, pharmacological agents, stem cells, retinal cell transplantation, and gene therapy. Clinical trials for some of these strategies are currently underway.
In 2012, the first ever gene therapy for USH1B, UshStat® (developed by Oxford BioMedica and using its LentiVector® platform technology) moved into human studies. Three dose levels for safety, tolerability and aspects of biological activity of UshStat® are under evaluation at the Oregon Health & Science University’s Casey Eye Institute where the study has started and at the Centre Hospitalier Nationale d’Ophthalmologie des Quinze-Vingts in Paris where the study should start soon with support from Foundation Fighting Blindness. This safety study will prepare for future efficacy trials. Further treatment advances will require more scientific effort such as: 1) to identify all causative genes and determine their function, 2) to develop appropriate animal models, 3) to uncover the mechanisms underlying the retinal defect in USH syndrome, 4) to engineer appropriate viruses for transfer of genetic material into appropriate cells.
We have started a new clinical trial using gene therapy with an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector encoding Rab escort protein-1 (REP1) to treat patients suffering from choroideremia (NCT01461213). An AAV2 vector encoding human REP1 driven by a CBA promoter with a woodchuck hepatitis virus post-translational regulatory element (WPRE) was used. The first six patients have reached six months follow-up and a paper detailing the effects of gene therapy is currently undergoing peer review. The formal results of the study will therefore be reported soon. In the meantime we can share the following observations:
Through microperimetry testing, we have observed an underlying functional defect in this disease, similar to Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), but more subtle. In fact, this observation was made previously by Dr. Sam Jacobson using psychophysical testing in choroideremia patients. This observation is exciting because it implies that we might see improvements in retinal sensitivity (and visual acuity in later stages) as evidence of successful gene transfer.
We have observed no problems in detaching the fovea in these six patients, or at least any negative effects on their vision are more than compensated for by gene expression relating to the vector. Retinal thinning was only seen in one of the six patients, but in a non-seeing area and stretching of this area was noted intra-operatively. We believe the problems of foveal thinning in the LCA studies relate to a combination of patients having a thin fovea at baseline and the injection being initiated too close to the fovea and/or too rapidly, thereby causing excessive horizontal stretch of the neurosensory retina. The technique we have developed would be suitable for all the other rod-cone dystrophies where the peripheral retina is thinner than the central macula.
We have set the study up as multicentre, so that expert ophthalmologists from other UK centres follow the patients up after six months. This spirit of openness is ideal as other experts have the opportunity to examine the patients and therefore provide independent verification of our initial findings. We have also been sharing our data with other centres worldwide to help them submit regulatory applications.
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) refers to a form of inherited retinopathy with early-onset and severe loss of vision. Clinical trial of gene augmentation therapy for LCA caused by RPE65 mutations has been ongoing at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Florida since 2007. Earlier reports from our group, as well as from other groups performing similar clinical trials in parallel, showed that a single surgical procedure introducing the normal version of the RPE65 gene leads to improved vision in a matter of days to weeks. But RPE65 –LCA is a complex blindness due to two pathologies: progressive loss of photoreceptors to degeneration, and malfunction of all surviving photoreceptors. The assumption all along was that correction of the malfunction would halt or slow down the photoreceptor degeneration.
To evaluate this natural assumption, we imaged the retina in patients and measured the sublayer within the retina where photoreceptor nuclei reside. This sublayer slowly thins over many years and the rate of thinning should mirror the rate of photoreceptor degeneration. In untreated eyes, the photoreceptor layer measurements were abnormally thin even in the youngest of the patients with ages as early as 3 years, and showed progressive further thinning when examined serially over 5 years. The rate of thinning was about 10% per year. We compared the rates of photoreceptor degeneration in treated regions to untreated regions and found no difference. The treated regions continued along the expected rate of degeneration, even though paradoxically retaining the vision improvement achieved immediately after the gene therapy.
We hypothesized that once initiated, retinal degeneration advances despite successful gene augmentation therapy. We tested this hypothesis in the dog model of the human disease. But first we needed to know the natural history of degeneration in the dogs. Examination of a large number of dog eyes with the same non-invasive imaging tools used in human patients showed that dog retinas are without any degeneration for the first 5 years of their lives (until ~35 human years). Thus RPE65-disease is late onset in the dog compared to the human. When dogs were treated at ages after the onset of degeneration, gene therapy resulted in improved visual function but did not slow down the retinal degeneration – just like the results in patients.
At this stage we do not know why the photoreceptor cells degenerate in RPE65-disease but our results are most consistent with the following speculative explanation for the paradox observed. Visual function is originating from the minority of cells that are functionally-potent wheras degeneration is dominated by the loss of cells that are functionally-silent. In order to improve outcomes of gene therapy, we need to start using stages of animal models that truly represent the human condition. We need to assume less and prove more. We need to better understand the pathways of cell loss and find means to augment gene augmentation by inducing cell-protective pathways or inhibiting cell-death mechanisms.
UF-021, isopropyl unoprostone, is an eyedrop which was already approved to treat eyes with glaucoma or ocular hypertension in the USA and Japan. Previous studies showed that topical IU increases human choroidal blood flow, and that an intravitreal injection of IU protects photoreceptors from light damage in rats. It was also shown that apoptosis of cultured photoreceptors was successfully inhibited by unoprostone but not by prostaglandin.
A Phase 2 clinical trial has been completed in Japan, in which 103 Japanese RP patients were randomized into 3 groups: high dose, low dose, and placebo groups. They completed 6 months of follow-up time. The primary endpoint was central retinal sensitivity measured by microperimetry. The secondary endpoints were: visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, retinal sensitivity by HFA, and vision-related QOL assessed by VFQ25. In a comparison of changes from baseline within groups, there was a statistically significant increase in central retinal sensitivity threshold for the high-dose group. In a post-hoc analysis that adjusted for baseline differences, a dose-dependent improvement in mean central sensitivity was demonstrated. There were statistically significant differences between the placebo and high-dose groups in the change from baseline in central retinal sensitivity and in the proportion of patients with worsening of the retinal sensitivity by ≥4dB (placebo 21.2%, high dose 2.6%). There was also a statistically significant change from baseline in the high-dose group in mean retinal sensitivity by HFA. A subgroup analysis showed that, among subjects whose central retinal sensitivity <29.4dB, there was a significant difference in the high-dose group. In a comparison within groups of changes from baseline in patients’ VFQ-25 total points values, the changes within the high dose group were statistically significant. In conclusion, this phase 2 trial shows that UF-021 improves or maintains the central retinal sensitivity in RP patients.
Recently, a Phase 3 clinical trial has started in Japan in which 300 RP patients will be randomized into 2 groups: high-dose and placebo groups. The primary endpoint of P3 is the central retinal sensitivity measured with HFA. All patients will be followed for 52 weeks. After this period, they will enter an open label safety study for 52 weeks.
One of the most common causes of irreversible blindness is loss of photoreceptor cells. An exciting new therapeutic strategy for treating these conditions, which include AMD and diabetic retinopathy as well as inherited retinopathies, is photoreceptor cell transplantation.
Some years ago we demonstrated that it is possible to transplant photoreceptor cells into an adult mouse retina, provided the cells are at a particular stage of development – a post-mitotic photoreceptor precursor (MacLaren et al., Nature in 2006). Even though we could only manage to obtain around 1000 integrated cells, this was an important proof-of-concept and forms the basis of our programme because this knowledge might be used to generate appropriate cells for transplantation from stem cells.
After 5 years of optimization, we were able to increase the efficiency of transplantation and with around 30- 40,0000 integrated cells we could demonstrate restoration of vision in a mouse model of stationary night blindness (Pearson et al, Nature 2012). This is another important proof-of-concept because it demonstrates that the transplanted photoreceptor cells make functional connections and there is enough plasticity to actually improve vision. Recently, we have also shown that we can transplant photoreceptor precursors in a variety of animal models of retinal degeneration including in models of severe degeneration and still improve vision (Barber et al, PNAS 2013).
So far we have focused primarily on studies involving the transplantation of photoreceptor precursors obtained from early post-natal retinas into visually-impaired adult mice. In order to develop this into a useful treatment we need to use a renewable source of cells for transplantation. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) represent the most promising such source of cells for transplantation and considerable progress has been made in their differentiation in the laboratory toward photoreceptor lineages. For some years now we have been trying to differentiate mouse ES into photoreceptor precursors efficiently enough to be able to transplant effectively. Until very recently we have not been successful. However, we have now used a new differentiation protocol based on the landmark paper in Nature in 2011 by Yoshiki Sasai. He demonstrated it is possible to generate synthetic retinae from mouse ESCs.
We have now optimised this protocol and shown for the first time that following transplantation, the rod precursors from these ESC-derived retinae, integrate and mature within adult degenerate retinae. This is an important study because it shows conclusively that ESCs can provide a useful source of photoreceptors for retinal cell transplantation.
Now that we have shown that it is possible to transplant mouse ESC- derived photoreceptors, the next step towards clinical translation is to develop human ESC lines to provide a potentially unlimited source of transplantation-competent photoreceptor precursors. We are now starting to work with hES cells and aim to develop GMP compliant processes that may enable translation to clinical trials.
6) The Use of Muller Glial Cells in Retina Repair. Dr. Tom Reh Dept. of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
The study of Regenerative Medicine attempts to find ways to replace cells in the body that have degenerated such as do photoreceptor cells in retinal degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The use of stem cells is one such method that takes an undifferentiated (usually embryonic) cell and converts it into a mature, functional cell such as a photoreceptor neuron that would be found in the adult retina.
Other methods though can be used to generate new photoreceptors, one of which utilizes Muller glial cells that are natural support elements in the retina. Over the past 10 years now, Dr. Reh and his collaborators have provided evidence that the retinas of some higher species such as the chicken had the potential to generate new neurons. In response to an acute insult that extensively damaged the photoreceptors, he found that many of the Muller cells re-entered the cell cycle and began to express biochemical markers associated with embryonic retinal progenitor cells. Work in vitro continues on this to dissect the various factors involved in the reprogramming of glial elements into neurons. Differentiation of the glial-derived progenitor cells offers several advantages over more traditional forms of transplantation and stem cell implantation. For example, the cells are already in place with no need to surgically implant new cells. Also, there is the possibility of decreasing or eliminating the deleterious immunological problems evoked by implantation of foreign cells into the retina.
In lower species such as fish and amphibians, there is a well known ability to regenerate retinal neurons after trauma or degeneration induced by other means. Understanding the molecular and biochemical pathways of regeneration could ultimately lead to the ability to reprogram native glial cells into retinal neurons such as photoreceptor cells in the human.
We have previously demonstrated in dogs with CNGB3-achromatopsia that intravitreal bolus injection of CNTF (1) resulted in transient restoration of cone function and day vision, and (2) optimized long-term cone functional response to AAV-mediated gene augmentation therapy. The objective of this study was to determine if sustained intravitreal delivery of CNTF by encapsulated cell technology (ECT) could reverse the disease phenotype of CNGB3-achromatopsia in dogs long-term.
Dogs homozygous for the D262N missense mutation in CNGB3 were unilaterally implanted with CNTF-secreting, encapsulated cell implants. The pre-implant CNTF secretion rate is 15 ng/day. The animals were 3 months (n=2) and 27 months (n=1) of age and were day blind with no recordable cone ERG prior to surgery. Following implant placement, the dogs were examined weekly by standard full-field electroretinography under general anesthesia and visual behavioral testing in an obstacle avoidance course.
In the operated eyes, day vision and cone function were partially restored by 1 week following CNTF-implant placement. The amplitudes of single and flicker cone ERG responses were small (~5-10% of normal) but were maintained for at least 5 weeks thus far. Scotopic ERG responses were reduced in 2 of the 3 implanted eyes to <30% of amplitudes recorded in the non-operated fellow eyes. These ERG data were comparable to our observations following single intravitreal bolus injection of 12 μg CNTF.
In conclusion, sustained intravitreal delivery of CNTF by ECT rescues cone function and day vision in CNGB3-achromatopsia. It remains to be shown if this therapeutic effect can be sustained long-term and if ECT can be combined with AAV-mediated cone-directed gene augmentation to optimize treatment.
To date, several clinical studies have been completed, including a phase 1 study in RP, 2 phase 2 studies in RP (early and late stages) and a phase 2 study in GA. Cone photoreceptor preservation by AOSLO was demonstrated in the RP study.
A phase 1 study in MacTel was completed recently and the study showed that both NT-501 implant and surgical procedure were well tolerated. We are actively planning a multi-center phase 2 study for MacTel in the U.S. and Australia.
The primary endpoint of the phased 2 study will be “change in area of IS/OS loss at 2 years post implant as measured by en face imaging by SDOCT in study eye(s)”.
The study will include 68 subjects
Study duration will be 2 years
We expect to initiate the study in the second half of 2013.
From a regulatory perspective, we have achieved the following objectives:
Obtained the fast track status for RP and GA with the FDA
Obtained the orphan designation for MacTel and RP with both the FDA and EMA.
Received agreement from FDA and EMA regarding the primary endpoint for the MacTel phase 2 study
Actively pursuing agreement/advice from the FDA and EMA regarding using cone preservation by AOSLO as the primary endpoint for the RP phase 3 studies
Note: The new results reported below are taken from a recent press release (May 16, 2013) from Advanced Cell Technology.
Human stem cells have two important characteristics. First, their numbers can be expanded in cell culture to almost unlimited amounts. Secondly, the cells have the potential of developing into any cell type of the body, for example, retinal photoreceptor or retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Thus, stem cell implantation is attractive as a possible therapy in replacing dead or defective cells in cases of retinal degeneration.
In macular diseases such as Stargardt Disease and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), early problems in pigment epithelial cell function can lead to death of photoreceptor cells. Thus, replacement of dead or defective RPE cells through stem cell implantation could prolong photoreceptor cell life and even restore their function.
The company Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) is conducting clinical trials in patients with Startardt Disease and AMD and have already published preliminary results indicating the safety and tolerability of their stem cell implantation. In this report (Lancet 379:713, 2012), the hESC-derived RPE cells showed “no signs of hyperproliferation, tumorgenicity, ectopic tissue formation or apparent rejection after 4 months.” In their most recent press release, ACT reposts that vision of one of their patients “has improved from 20/400 to 20/40 following treatment.” Although ACT adds the disclaimer that “improvement in the patient’s vision reported in this press release may not be indicative of future results….”, the positive results are welcome and give hope for improvement in other patients using this form of Regenerative Medicine.
The eye is an organ that is well-suited for the development and testing of novel therapeutic approaches. It is easily accessible and allows local application of therapeutic agents with reduced risk of systemic effects. Need exists for the development of non-viral therapeutic approaches for ocular diseases. Our lab and others have investigated the potentials of nanotechnology for ocular delivery of therapeutic genes. Investigations thus far have highlighted great potentials for nanoparticles to be a successful approach for ocular gene delivery.
Our group has focused on the efficacy of compacted DNA nanoparticles for the treatment of different diseases, particularly those associated with the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. We have shown that nanoparticle treatment leads to efficient transfection of ocular cells, long term gene expression, and exerts no toxic effects on the eye even after multiple injections. These nanoparticles mediate significant functional rescue in models of retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt macular dystrophy and Leber’s congenital amaurosis. They have no limitations on the size of the genetic cargo and effective gene expression has been demonstrated with vectors up to 20 kb in the lung and 14 kb in the eye, making them an ideal complement to AAVs especially for delivery of large genes. Furthermore, in a side-by-side comparison study with AAV, we recently reported that nanoparticles can drive gene expression on a comparable scale and longevity to AAV.
We have synthesized two series of orally active multifunctional antioxidants (MFAOs) possessing distinct free radical scavenging activity and independent metal attenuating activity. Both series demonstrate similar selective metal chelating activity against iron, copper and zinc, as well as similar antioxidant activity against hydroxyl, peroxide and superoxide radicals assessed in human retinal pigmented epithelial (ARPE-19), human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), and SRA human lens epithelial cells. Oral administration to mice indicates that the first MFAO series rapidly accumulates in the lens and retina but not the brain. Rat studies indicate that this MFAO series delays lens changes induced by diabetes, gamma irradiation, and UV irradiation and protects the photoreceptor layer against light damage. In contrast to the first series, oral administration of the second series of MFAOs to mice results in their accumulation in the brain and retina, but not the lens. Both series of MFAOs demonstrate no toxicity when administered by gavage at doses of 1600 mg/kg.
Since mitochondrial dysfunction and amyloid beta (Aβ) neurotoxicity are associated with age-related retinal changes, the effect of MFAOs on these factors has also been investigated in human neuroblastoma and retinal pigmented epithelial cells. Although these compounds chelate iron, they do not adversely affect mitochondrial function. In fact, they actually protect mitochondria from manganese poisoning. Both MFAO series also bind zinc; but zinquin staining indicates that these compounds do not adversely reduce cytoplasmic zinc levels. However, both MFAO series readily remove zinc from the neurotoxic amyloid beta zinc complex which is not readily degraded by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2. The removal of zinc from the neurotoxic amyloid beta zinc complex by MFAOs allows MMP2 to degrade amyloid beta. The interaction of MFAOs with zinc is similar to the “metal attenuation” activity demonstrated by clioquinol and reported for PBT2, an analog of clioquinol undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimer’s dementia.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2), a multi-center randomized clinical trial tested the addition of lutein (10 mg)/zeaxanthin (2 mg) and/or omega-3 fatty acids to the original AREDS formulation. The investigators found neither harmful nor beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The main effects analyses indicated that lutein/zeaxanthin had beneficial effects for reducing the risk of advanced AMD by 10%, for reducing the risk of advanced AMD by 26% in persons with the lowest dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin, and for reducing the risk for progression to neovascular AMD by 22% in the head-to-head comparisons of lutein/zeaxanthin vs. beta-carotene.
The safety of the AREDS formulation was tested with the elimination of beta-carotene. The finding of increased lung cancer in those supplemented with beta-carotene in mostly former smokers provided compelling data to eliminate beta-carotene. Furthermore, there was an increased efficacious effect in those treated with lutein/zeaxanthin compared with beta-carotene as indicated above. A safer and more efficacious formulation, which can be defined as the AREDS2 formulation would eliminate beta-carotene, add lutein (10 mg) and zeaxanthin (2 mg), and retain vitamin C (500 mg), vitamin E (400 international units), zinc (80 mg) and copper (2 mg).
a) Epiretinal implant: The ARGUSII system is produced by Second Sight Medical Products, Sylmar, California with sixty epiretinal electrodes, goggles with camera and an electronic transmission system to the back of the eye. After a study in thirty patients had been completed, the system had received the CE-mark and FDA approval recently. Twenty more patients had been implanted in the meantime. Maximum visual acuity reported so far was 20/1200 with mobility improving in most patients. Presently, a post-marketing study is planned and the costs for the device have been mentioned as 150.000 US$ per piece.
The camera has been reported to have some advantage because of the possibility of zooming but also has disadvantages as fading of the image occurs easier and can be compensated only with head nodding. For further information see Humayun et al. (2012) Ophthalmology 119:779–88.
b) Subretinal implant : The Alpha IMS is produced by Retina Implant AG, Tübingen/Reutlingen, Germany. After a pilot study in eleven patients (2005-2009) a clinical main trial with presently 25 more patients is ongoing in several centers (Oxford, London, Tübingen, Dresden, Hong Kong among other centers). This system consists of a light sensitive chip, similar to a camera chip that is implanted into the subretinal space in the back of the eye at the position of the degenerated photoreceptors. Each chip consists of 1.500 light sensitive photodiodes, amplifiers and electrodes. The image is resolved point by point and, depending on the brightness of each point, a current is forwarded to the bipolar cell layer. There is no camera outside the eye because all the electronics are in the eye and move with the eye except for the power supply coil that is implanted under the skin behind the ear. The best recorded visual acuity is 20/546. Due to microsaccades, fading occurs rarely and facial recognition has been reported by some patients. For further data see Stingl et al. (rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/280/1757/20130077.full.pdf+html). The study is still ongoing and observation time so far is 1.5 years.
c) Other developments: In Australia, three patients have received a wire bound suprachoroidal (Bionic Vision) electrode array with 24 electrodes; no complete implant is available yet. Another new development includes preclinical work with passive elements by Palanker et al. Stanford University, USA (Mathieson et al. (2012) Nature Photonics 6, 391-7). By means of having three photosensitive elements per pixel in a row, sufficient voltage can be produced in order to stimulate the retinal neurons. However, this requires an enormous amount of light that only can be produced by special laser driven goggles.
A newly founded company in Paris (PIXIUM VISION) has now joined forces with former German-Swiss company IMI and the Palanker group to explore further possibilities of the use of passive elements.
For further comparison on the various approaches see Zrenner (2012), Nature Photonics 6: 344–5.
Degenerative blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration affect millions of patients around the world. These disorders cause the progressive loss of rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina, eventually leading to complete blindness. A number of approaches are being explored to restore vision to blind patients. Our goal is develop and test novel pharmacological therapies for vision restoration. Here, we demonstrate the restoration of visual function to blind mice following the injection of red-shifted chemical “photoswitch” compounds.
We have created several small molecule photoswitches that can be used to control the activity of neurons by reversibly blocking native ion channels in response to light. In order to evaluate the ability of these photoswitches to restore light sensitivity to blind mice, we have tested them in an rd1 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Our in vitro retinal light response measurements were carried out using a multi-electrode array (MEA). We also tested the restoration of several visually guided behaviors in blind mice in vivo.
We have previously demonstrated that the photoswitch AAQ could drive light responses in formerly blind retinas in vitro as well as restore the pupillary light reflex and light-aversive behaviors in blind mice. Here, we present the restoration of light sensitivity to blind mice in vitro and in vivo with two red-shifted photoswitch molecules, DENAQ and BENAQ. Unlike AAQ, DENAQ and BENAQ do not require the use of ultraviolet light and render a blind retina sensitive to visible (blue-green) light at a light intensity equivalent to ordinary daylight. These red-shifted molecules photosensitize the retinas of blind rd1 mice in vitro. The photoswitches persist up to several weeks in vivo and are well tolerated in the eye. DENAQ and BENAQ are selective for degenerated rather than healthy retinal tissue, suggesting they would not interfere with any remaining photoreceptor mediated vision in patients with retinal diseases. Intravitreal injection of DENAQ also restores light sensitivity to rd1 mice in vivo in an exploratory locomotory behavioral assay. Furthermore, DENAQ-injected rd1 animals are able to reverse the polarity of their naïve light response after appropriate fear conditioning, indicating their restored vision is sufficient for visual learning to take place.
In conclusion, red-shifted chemical photoswitches such as DENAQ and BENAQ, and our pharmacological approach in general, hold great promise for restoring visual function in end-stage degenerative blinding diseases.
Our project aims at restoring vision in patients with blindness consecutive to photoreceptor degeneration as in retinitis pigmentosa using optogenetic proteins. It is a collaborative program supported by Foundation Fighting Blindness and Gensight, a start-up company created thanks to the support of Novartis and Novartis Venture fund. The project is achieved together with Dr Roska at FMI in Basel Switzerland and Pr Sahel and myself at the Vision Institute in Paris France. Retinal prostheses have shown that it is possible to restore some vision in blind patients but we work on an alternative strategy, the optogenetic therapy, which consists in reactivating residual retinal cells by expressing photosensitive ionic pumps or channels after the photoreceptor degeneration thanks to gene therapy. We are trying to reactive photoreceptors, which have lost their sensitivity to light using the chloride pump, halorhodopsin.
Indeed, we have shown:
1) that some cone PRs remain in blind patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa. These PRs have lost their photosensitive part, the outer segment, which explains why the patient is blind. Similar dormant or non-photosensitive PRs are also found in animal models of the disease.
2) and that these dormant PR in blind mice can be reactivated to light by expressing halorhodopsin, via gene therapy. Visual perception in these blind mice is indicated by light responses in PR and retinal ganglion cells.
3) After showing these results on blind mice, we have used postmortem human retina in culture to show that human cone PRs can express the functional halorhodopsin at a sufficient level to polarize PRs
Our current objective is to demonstrate that this high level of expression can be obtained in vivo on non-human primates and that it does not trigger an immune response because halorhodopsin is a bacterial protein. We have already tested our AAV viral vector and obtained high and selective expression of the Green fluorescent protein GFP in cone PRs. When we co-express halorhodopsin and GFP, we still maintain a high protein expression as indicated by the GFP fluorescence.
We still need to demonstrate that this expression level can activate the retinal tissue by itself and measure markers of the immune response prior to testing the clinical batch of virus. This demonstration is quite complex to obtain because we are using normal monkeys. Therefore, their PRs have their natural response to light and we are introducing an additional sensitivity to light. We have therefore to bleach the natural light response to demonstrate an optogenetic-mediated response. To give us more chances, we can also culture the retina for some period of time to lose the natural response and demonstrate the halorhodopsin-elicited response.
Inherited retinal diseases (RD) display an impressive degree of allelic and genetic heterogeneity as nearly 10,000 mutations in >190 genes have been identified. Mutations in these genes account for 30% to 90% of cases, depending on the type of disease. Comprehensive genotyping of persons with inherited RD improves genetic counseling and the accuracy of disease prognoses. Moreover, genotyping identifies persons who are eligible for novel therapies. We are entering an era of routine testing for RD-associated defects, both in academic and non-academic centers. The identified known and novel variants are not published or deposited in open access databases. Sharing sequence variants and their associated phenotypes are at the heart of DNA diagnostics and it therefore is of utmost importance to register this information in publicly available databases.
The structure and use of RD-mutation databases need to meet the following criteria: 1). Web-based open access; 2). Registration of all published sequence variants; 3). Easy upload of new variants; 4). Accurate assessment of mutation data; 5). Regular updating. We propose the implementation of Leiden Open Variation Databases (LOVDs) for all RD genes in the next five years. LOVDs were previously created for 10 Usher syndrome-associated genes. A team of BS students and staff members in Islamabad, will collect all published sequence variants for the remaining RD genes, scrutinize them for their proper annotations, and upload them in gene-specific LOVDs. World-wide curators will check the new entries.
‘Empty’ LOVDs were created for all RD associated genes, and all published variants were registered for AIPL1, LCA5, RDH5, SEMA4A, and TULP1. Other mutation repositories previously were created for CEP290, NDP, and Bardet-Biedl syndrome-associated genes. These will be taken up in LOVDs. In 2013, variants of another 20 RD-associated genes will be deposited in LOVDs and the existing LOVDs will be updated every year.
The long-term success of this endeavor relies on a robust organization of sequence variant updating, proper curation, database maintenance, and a sound financial basis. It will also be vital to introduce compulsory deposition of sequence variants prior to publication submissions, and the compliance of diagnostic facilities worldwide to deposit unpublished variants in LOVDs.
C) RI Announcements, New Business and Conclusion
RD 2014 – First Announcement – Dr. Matthew LaVail
The XVIth International Symposium on Retinal Degeneration will be held in Pacific Grove, California, USA on July 13-18, 2014. The venue will be the Asilomar Conference Grounds. The organizers are: Drs. Catherine Bowes Rickman, Matthew LaVail, Joe G. Hollyfield, Robert E. Anderson, John Ash and Christian Grimm. The RD2014 website is under construction; please continue checking for when it is up and running. It is hoped that up to 30 Travel Awards can be funded for students, Post-doctoral Fellows and junior faculty members below the rank of Associate Professor. Important deadlines are: 1) Travel Award applications: February 3, 2014 2) Meeting and Hotel Registration: March 17, 2014 3) Online Abstract submission: March 17, 2014
4) Final Comments – Ms. C. Fasser
Ms. Fasser thanked all the speakers for their excellent presentations.
She remarked how heartening it is to see all the progress in clinical trials for the inherited retinal degenerative diseases and to hear about new trials to come in the future.
She hoped that all participants would have a very fruitful ARVO meeting and that we would all meet again for the RI meeting next year in Orlando. | {
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This was great for a number of reasons - a nice dinner with my sister, mum and husband, the food is fantastic, I love the restaurant (as you you will from this earlier post), and because it was family I got to try everyone else's stuff!
The giant tube of deliciousness you see in the picture is a Paper Dosa. Everything we had was brilliant, particular shout outs go to the Dosa, the pancakes, the Kozi Chuttathu (Chicken breast chunks marinated with coconut powder, turmeric and yogurt), and Erachi Thengaa (lamb dish cooked in a thick sauce of onion, tomato, ginger and fried coconut).
So I'm hoping to form a habit of visiting this restaurant. They do take away but it's collection only and by the time I got it home it would be cold. If I'm ever passing by with a car though... I can't wait to try the sister North Indian cuisine restaurant The Dhabba!
New things
I managed to fulfil a life long dream recently in a random round about way.
Rockin' Roy is producing an album at the moment for release later this year and I ended up doing the backing vocals on the single! The sound is choral so I had to sing the part several times using different vocal ranges. I'm not sure what my range actually is but apparently it's not too shabby! It was a bit surreal standing in the little mic booth created in the room of our flat which Rockin' Roy has converted into a recording studio.
I've always wanted to sing on something 'real' and now I have, on a real single which will actually be released out into the world! I'll link to it once the artist launches.
I'm just part of the background of course, but it's nice to part of something and the song is good and extremely catchy. I had a dream a long time ago about singing in a band and got as far as doing some rehearsals with people but that was it. Being on this track is a small thing really, but while the idea of being on stage is quite exciting, it gives me the FEAR and I'm not sure it's something I'll ever have the guts to do. I get nervous singing even in my own house alone these days so this was a tiny triumph in the wilderness of bizarre nonsensical free floating anxiety. I have a lot of friends (and family) who are performers in various arts and I'm awe of them all for being able to do it. I'm even in awe of some of them for being really good at it...You mad brave fools! | {
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You are here: Home/News/ Sun Pharma Recalls 40,000 Bottles of Antidepressant in U.S.
July 15, 2014 By: galadmin
Sun Pharma Recalls 40,000 Bottles of Antidepressant in U.S.
India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is recalling 41,127 bottles of antidepressant venlafaxine hydrochloride in the United States after the drug failed to properly dissolve, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
Sun Pharma’s unit Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Inc. began the voluntary recall in June and was classified by the FDA as a Class II, meaning that use of or exposure to the drug may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.
“Stability results found the product did not meet the drug release dissolution specifications,” the FDA said in a post on its website Friday.
Dissolution tests are commonly conducted to help predict how a drug performs inside the body.
Sun Pharma manufactured the drug at its plant in the western Indian state of Gujarat. A company spokesman in Mumbai declined comment.
The company’s recall of venlafaxine hydrochloride comes three months after Pfizer Inc said it was pulling 104,000 bottles of the same drug, which the U.S. company sells under the brand Effexor XR, after a pharmacist reported that one of the bottles contained a heart drug.
Sun Pharma also began a recall of 200 vials of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine in the U.S. in April due to a lack of assurance of sterility.
In January, the company pulled 2,528 bottles of its generic version of the diabetes drug Glumetza.
If you purchased this product, return it to the place of purchase for a refund or throw it away. For further information, feel free to contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
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Talcum Powder Linked to Cancer
Several studies — and the anecdotal evidence from thousands of women across the country — link the use of talcum powder on or near the genitals with ovarian cancer. This correlation is strong enough that juries across ... continue reading...
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Breaking Out
Breaking Out was staged around the Arnolfini building. The auditorium became The Basement where there were sounds from folk to pop punk, grime to drum and bass from groups Thistle & Thorn, The Rival, Deep and Conducta.
Screenings of short films were interspersed with live performance in The Box, from live action to animation, the political to the personal. The Lab chill out space included acoustic music, visual artwork and opportunities for creative interaction. Around the building audiences stumbled across audio interventions from Travelling Light Youth Theatre, acro-balancers and free runners from Circomedia and more. | {
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Me-ow that’s a good price! Especially considering she’s one of the hottest cabaret acts on the planet.
See the show our Sydney critics called ‘simply electric’, giving it five stars. Spend the night with a ‘cabaret diva of the highest order’ (The New York Post) these holidays.
The multi-award winning show, a dark twist of the classic tale, is available to you for just £15.
More details:
Warm up with a little match girl this Christmas. Destined to set your night on fire with debauchery, heavenly vocals and twisted humour, this Aussie cabaret girl is high quality diva-esque entertainment. Praised as ‘sensational’ by The Times, who also gave her five stars, now is your chance to get out of the cold and enjoy some hot, funny cabaret.
What Time Out says: 'Cabaret star Meow Meow -who was so superb in Kneehigh's 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' last year -offers her radical take on Hans Christian Andersen's festive fable, spinning comedy and music into the story, and drawing out its not inconsiderable darker elements.'
Need to know:
Voucher valid for one ticket to 'Meow Meow's Little Match Girl' on selected dates between December 15 - 30.
Please select your preferred date on checkout.
Customers purchasing multiple tickets will be sat together.
Please print your voucher and present it to the box office on arrival.
Cannot be cancelled, exchanged or refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. | {
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Braising involves cooking meat or vegetables slowly in a covered dish with a small amount of liquid — water, stock, and perhaps even a splash of wine. It can be done in the oven in a covered casserole, on the stove top in a Dutch oven, or on your counter in a slow-cooker.
Time Saver: Braising requires very little supervision. No basting, stirring, or flipping required. Most recipes involve just a single step: Meat, vegetables, and seasonings are unceremoniously combined, and the meal basically cooks itself while you go about the rest of your day.
Extra Healthful: Cooking meat at high temperatures or over direct heat (such as char-broiling or grilling) increases the formation of harmful compounds, such as acrylamide, HCAs, and PAHs. Experts believe that potential health risks associated with meat consumption can be vastly reduced by choosing healthier cooking methods like braising. (No need to hang up your barbeue tongs entirely, however! See my previous post for tips on making your barbecues healthier.) | {
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Product Description
Use Coupon code "A3S2" to get extra 25% off for this flight controller !
Description:The Eagle A3 Super II is our top of the line flight stabilization system designed specifically for fixed-wing aircraft. The A3 Super II has an integrated high precision 6-axis (3 gyro + 3 accelerometers) MEMS sensor with advanced attitude and PID control algorithm. The gyro can accurately detect the angular velocity and attitude of the aircraft and issue commands to all servos, which enables perfect balance and stability throughout the flight. The A3 Super II has built-in capabilities for delta-wing (flying-wing), v-tail, remote master gain adjustment, and separate dual aileron and elevator control. Finally, two of the most exciting new features on this gyro are the One-Click Auto-Recovery which allows you to return your plane to upright, level flight at the flip of a switch (similar to Horizon's SAFE technology) and the One-Click Hover which allows you to put your plane into a perfect hover at the flip of a switch.
Tech Note: Always make sure you are using the latest firmware and programming software with your Super II gyro. Click here to download the latest firmware.
Important: The A3 Super II is an advanced flight stabilizer. You must have a Windows PC, know how to install USB drivers, and have a strong working knowledge of Windows applications in order to program or update the firmware on this gyro. If you are interested in a 6 axis gyro which does not require a computer for setup and programming, please consider the Eagle A3.
Gyros (also called flight stabilizers) help keep your airplane stable during take-off, flight maneuvers, and landings which can be helpful during windy days or when learning how to fly RC planes. Advanced gyros, like the A3 Super II, also include accelerometers which allow you to turn your plane "right side up" if you lose orientation of your plane during flight. Gyros also help you master aerobatic maneuvers like knife edges and hovering as the system can "lock" in a planes position / trajectory. Once thought to be for beginners only, Gyros are now common in all classes of aircraft and are utilized by all levels of flyers. Gyros are great for learning, they let pilots practice advanced aerobatics, they give you piece of mind in less than ideal flight conditions, and they can often help you avoid costly crash damage.
Features:- Works with all major receiver brands including Spektrum, Futaba, Hitec, JR, Tactic, and more.- Integrated design of 6-axis (3 gyro+3 accelerometers ) 32-bit MEMS sensor for self-stability and self-balance.- Advanced brown-out fast recovery ability provides better security and reliability.- 6 Flight modes: - Normal Mode (2D Mode): this is the standard flight stabilization mode found on most airplane gyros. - 3D Flight Mode: this mode will attempt to hold the LAST position the aicraft was in. For example, if you put the airplane into a knife edge and then activate 3D mode, the airplane will hold the knife edge as long as the pilot provides appropriate throttle input. - Auto-Recovery Mode (also called Auto Balance Mode): this mode will automatically "right" or balance your aircraft if you lose orientation or if the aircaft becomes inverted. This functionality is similar to Spektrum's SAFE technology. - Auto-Hover Mode: this mode will hold the airplane in a perfect hover (nose pointed towards the sky) on 3D capable aircraft. - User Defind: allows you to select different modes (Normal, 3D, or Off) for each gyro axis. - Gyro Deactivated Mode: this turns the gyro off to allow unassisted/non-stablized flight.- 2 stick control modes: Manual Mode(MM) and Auto Mode(RR/AR).- Various wing types: 1AIL+1ELE, 2AIL+1ELE, 1AIL+2ELE, 2AIL+2ELE, delta-wing and V-tail.- Independent gyro gain adjustment and gyro ratio selection for each flight mode.- Separate adjustments for servo travel limits.- Up to 333Hz servo operating frequency, compatible with all analog and digital servos.- 5-level response rate setting allows you to use it on gas-powered planes.- Compatible with HV (7.4V) receivers and servos.- Flat or upright mounting orientations.- Newly designed config GUI makes gyro setup simple and intuitive. | {
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Nick Carter Revealed His Baby's Gender On 'DWTS' & Fans Are Pretty Psyched About It
It’s a boy! Nick Carter and his wife, Lauren Kitt Carter, revealed their baby's gender live on Dancing with the Stars Monday night, and his fans were super pumped about it. The catch? It was a surprise to both parents, too. After the former Backstreet Boy received his scores with dancing partner Sharna Burgess, Nick's wife Lauren was brought on stage. There, the Carters opened a giant silver box with a glittering purple bow, releasing a cloud of blue balloons. “Ah, you’re having a boy!” co-host Erin Andrews told the happy couple. “It’s a Backstreet boy!”
The fun reveal followed up an awesome night of performances for Nick and his partner Sharna Burgess, including a contemporary dance dedicated to Lauren. Throughout the night, each dancing pair picked an idol to inspire their choreography; and while Nick mentioned that there are many people he admires, he felt that his wife was the obvious choice. “Lauren is the woman that I dreamed of,” he said. “She’s my savior in a lot of ways.” The couple shared their pregnancy story at the beginning of the segment, describing the pain they felt after suffering a miscarriage. Now, after a year of trying, Lauren is 16 weeks pregnant.
On top of Nick's happy baby news, there was this: The performance earned a 10 from all three judges, though Julianne Hough shouted, “I wish I had an eleven!” Bruno Tonioli described the piece as “a love poem perfectly visualized through dance," and Carrie Ann Inaba told the pair, “You took my breath away.” The perfect score earned Nick and Burgess a spot in next week’s episode.
After the show, Nick and Lauren each took to Twitter to follow up on the exciting announcement:
And it wasn't long before congratulatory tweets started flooding in — including some from a few celebs: | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Episode-569- Listener Feedback 12-13-10
So on a Monday what else would we be doing but answering your emails and questions. Today we have great ones like getting started hunting as a teen, life insurance on kids, more proof that the global warming scare is total bullshit and more of your questions and commentary. To be on a show like this send your email to jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com with “question for jack” in the subject line.
Remember if you have a question and background information ask the question (in one to two sentences first) followed by your background information. Due to extremely high email rates this will give you the best chance of getting your email on the air.
Join me today as we discuss…
Is there any reason to have life insurance on kids at all
Is water fluoridation required by law or simply local policy
Are gemstones a good way to invest as an alternative to gold and silver
Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.
29 Responses to Episode-569- Listener Feedback 12-13-10
A big part of dental hygiene is eating good food. Avoiding eating too much sugars and grains which are food for bacteria, and eat lots of stuff you need to chew on like vegetables, which will clean your teeth.
Mandatory Laws:
|Twelve states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have laws intended to provide statewide
fluoridation. These states and the year that the fluoridation legislation was passed are listed below:
District of Columbia (1952)
Has only one water system and it has been fluoridated since 1952.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 100%
California (1995)
Fluoridation is mandated for communities of 10,000 or more service connections (estimated 25, 000 population).
“Outside” funds must be found for purchase, installation, and operations of the fluoridation system.
The law does not address water supply wholesalers.
The law sets a MCL of 2.0 mg/L.
California’s law cannot be enforced unless “outside” funds are made
available to the community for purchase, installation, and operation of the fluoridation system.
UPDATE:
• Implementtion of mandatory fluoridation began in 2007 affecting approximately 18 million Southern Californians.
• Recommended range of 0.7 to 0.8 part per million
• 2006 rates for California population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 27.1% (9,881,390 people)
* see FAN’s California NewsTracker
Connecticut (1965)
set lower limits on the size of the communities which must comply.
Fluoridation is mandated for communities with populations of 20,000 or more and
natural fluoride content of less than 0.8 mg/L.
Fluoridation levels must be maintained between 0.8-1.2 mg/L.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 88.9%
Delaware (1998)
Fluoridation is mandated for all municipalities but not rural water districts. State
funds will pay for fluoridation equipment, but not chemicals, for three years from
date of passage of the law. Delaware, which had previously passed a mandatory law in 1968,
changed it to require a referendum in 1974, then changed it again to a mandatory law in 1998.
Delaware provides funds for fluoridation equipment for 3 years from the date of passage of the law.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 73.6%
Georgia (1973)
Contain provisions which allow a community to exempt itself from compliance with the
State law, if a community decides it does not wish to institute this public health measure.
Georgia’s law cannot be enforced unless money is made available to the community by the state.
Law mandates adding fluoride to all incorporated communities.
The fluoride level must be no greater than 1 ppm.
Exemption to fluoridation is by referendum.
The law provides for “non-compliance” unless state makes funds available for the
cost of the fluoridation equipment, the installation of such equipment and the
materials and chemicals required for six months.
The law provides tax deduction for cost of device to remove fluoride if person
deemed allergic and advised by physician or approved by the Department of
Human Resources.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 95.8%
• Georgia water worker fired on Nov 20, 2008, for refusing to purchase and add fluoride to water system
Illinois (1967)
The law provides for addition of fluoride according to rules of the Department of Public Health.
The fluoride levels must not be less than 0.9 or more than 1.2 mg/L.
Regulations specify adding fluoride to all water supplies when the fluoride
concentration is less than 0.7 mg/L.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 98.9%
Kentucky (1966)
Kentucky statutes clearly delegate powers to the State Board of Health to adopt regulations
necessary to protect the dental health of the people. Under this law, Kentucky established
standards for approval of public water supplies. These administrative regulations have been
challenged in the courts and upheld. Administrative regulations states that fluoridation is required
for all communities with a population of 1,500 or more.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 99.8%
Louisiana (2008)
UPDATE:
• The state Legislature approved and Gov. Bobby Jindal recently signed into law Act 761, that requires
Louisiana public water systems that serve 5,000 or more customers to add fluoride to drinking water.
• Act 761 states that utilities are not required to move ahead with fluoridation unless the state
identifies sufficient funds to cover those costs.
• The new law also allows residents to opt out of fluoridation through a petition
signed by at least 15 percent of registered voters and a municipal election.
Minnesota (1967)
Fluoridation is mandated for all communities except where natural fluoride content
conforms with established regulations of the Board of Health.
Fluoride levels are to be established by Board of Health regulations.
Regulations set levels at Aaverage concentration of 1.2 mgs. per liter@ and
neither less than 0.9 mgs. nor more than 1.5 mgs.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 98.7%
Nebraska (1973)
As of 2000: Contain provisions which allow a community to exempt itself from compliance with the State law,
if a community decides it does not wish to institute this public health measure.
The law mandates adding fluoride to all political subdivisions.
It provides an exemption by adoption of an ordinance by initiative. Fluoride is not
to be added if the drinking water has a concentration of 0.7 mg/L or greater.
Fluorides must be maintained in the range of 0.8-1.5 mg/L; optimum range 1.0-1.3 mg/L.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 69.8%
• In April 2008, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 245. This piece of legislation requires all cities
with a population greater than 1,000 to add fluoride to their water supply by June 1, 2010.
The legislature included an opt out provision into LB 245. Either by vote of city council or public petition,
the question of fluoridation can be put to the vote of the people.
• Summary of Nov 4, 2008, Fluoridation Referendums: 80% (49 out of 61) communities voted against fluoridation.
• FAN’s NewsTracker on Nebraska.
Ohio (1969)
Law mandates adding fluoride to systems supplying a population of 5,000 or more when natural
content is less than 0.8 mg/L
The system must maintain a fluoride level between 0.8 and 1.2 mg/L.
Ohio has provisions which allow a community to exempt itself from compliance with
the State law, if a community decides it does not wish to institute this public health measure.
Ohio, placed a time limit of 240 days on the period during which a referendum concerning fluoridation could be held.
Ohio provides funds for fluoridation equipment and chemicals.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 89.3%
Puerto Rico (1998)
by the passage of legislation in 1952, provided money for adding fluoride to the
water of those aqueducts of the Island of Puerto Rico as may be suitable therefore, as a
preventive to dental caries. This, in effect, made fluoridation mandatory in Puerto Rico, but it
was not enforced and as of 1997, there was no water fluoridation in Puerto Rico. In September
1998, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed into law a mandatory requirement for water
fluoridation. It will be implemented in phases and by the year 2000, 75% of the population in
Puerto Rico should be drinking fluoridated water.
2008 UPDATE: While FAN is not aware of any fluoridation scheme in Puerto Rico, in 2006,
the Association of State andTerritorial Dental Directors selected the communities of
Barranquitas, Cayey, and Fajardo-Ceiba for the 2006 Community Water Fluoridation Award Recipients.
NOTE: “Water fluoridation was instituted in Puerto Rico during the years 1953 and 1954.
However, during the latter part of the 1980’s, water fluoridation was discontinued due to budgetary constrains…”
South Dakota (1969)
Fluoridation is mandated for all communities of 500 or more except where natural
fluoride content conforms to State Department of Health regulations.
Regulations specify adding fluoride when the natural content is less than 0.9
mg/L and requires the system to maintain the fluoride concentration within a
range of 0.9 mg/L to 1.7 mg/L with an average level of 1.2 mg/L.
Public vote by special election was allowed, if petition filed within 120 days of
passage of the law. Special election to be held within 90-120 days after date of
filing petitions. Provides for reimbursement for actual cost of acquiring and
installing equipment, excluding chemicals.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 95.0%
Nevada (1999)
Nevada passed their law to apply only to counties over 400,000 population and only to water
systems in that county that serve a population of 100,000 or more. This applies to 4 water
systems in Clark County [Las Vegas]. The law also requires an advisory question must be placed
on the ballot in that county at the general election of November 7, 2000, to question if
fluoridation of the water should cease in any water system in that county. State regulations
required waters systems in Clark County to fluoridate by March 1, 2000. Fluoridation passed in
November 7, 2000.
It requires the fluoride level to be maintained between 0.7 mg/L and 1.2 mg/L. It also exempts any
well that is less that 15% of the total average annual water production of the water system.
The law also required a referendum to be held in Clark county on November 7, 2000 to determine
if fluoridation should be discontinued. Fluoridation was approved on November 7, 2000.
Nevada, which had passed a law in 1967 requiring a public vote before fluoridation, changed their
law in 1999 to mandatory fluoridation in all counties with populations greater than 400,000.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 72.0%
OTHER:
Michigan (1968)
passed a mandatory state law in 1968, with a lower limit population of 1,000 on the size
of the community which must comply, but in 1978, changed their law from “shall fluoridate” to “fluoridate.”
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 90.9%
Massachusetts
Law enables a community through a Board of Health order to implement fluoridation. Implementation is
subject to a 90-day waiting period during which a petition for referendum may be filed.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 59.1%
Maine (1957)
have laws which require a public vote before fluoridation can be instituted.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 79.6%
New Hampshire (1959)
have laws which require a public vote before fluoridation can be instituted.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 42.6%
Utah (1976)
have laws which require a public vote before fluoridation can be instituted.
2008 UPDATE: Population receiving optimally fluoridated water: 54.3%
Some additional thoughts on life insurance for kids: if you ever lose a child, you’re not likely to want to return to work for a very long time. Life insurance can provide you the umbrella to enable you to stay home as long as needed.
Hey Jack, great show. As a person who has lived with the tankless water heater, I can’t give them high marks. We had one that serviced our 2 bathrooms and a second for the laundry and kitchen. They are temperamental and we ended up going through 4 of them in less than 5 years before we figured out that we needed a pressure regulator to keep from blowing up the heat coils. We finally decided that our best bet was a compromise.. for space reasons, we kept the on-demand heater in the laundry room, but put in a regular water heater in the bath area.
I have the Bosch WR430-3K and have had it for five years now. I like it, but every once in a while I have to fine tune the screw that determines when exhaust fan shuts off after a few seconds after turning the tap off; otherwise it will run for close to an hour. A 100 lb tank of propane lasts me a bit over a year. I use the woodstove for my dishwater and even adjust the water level in my washing machine and pour hot water heated on stove, this results in a warm wash. I also heat water on my woodstove for dishes six months of the year. Total how water cost for me is about 70 bucks a year.
Good answer to Aden’s question. Take a look at Appleseed. We take folks from “just picked up this rifle on the way here” to shooting sub 4MOA groups in 2 days.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
This is a non profit group, and 100% of the work is done by selfless volunteers. We want all Americans to learn learn to shoot safely, and hear some first hand tales of the sacrifice our fathers & mothers endured so we would have this right.
If you PM the shoot boss in your area and ask, you can usually get a loaner LTR (Liberty Training Rifle) for use at the event. Laws are different in each state as to age and who can loan you a rifle so just ask the local shoot boss. If you really want to learn, and your folks are cool with it. We’ll make it happen for you.
We had a 7,8,9 and 12 year old at our last event in Oregon. By the end of day 2 the 7 year old was shooting a 135 on the Army Qualifying Test – scoring Marksman.
Being young and flexible, with an open mind and teachable attitude goes a long way to becoming a Rifleman.
Pretty sure CPS was there for the beating allegations and not the organic food or fluoride free water. I have a good friend who works for the county and let me tell you she has WAY WAY WAY bigger fish to fry and doesn’t give a rats bum about organic food or fluoride.
Thanks Jack for featuring my question on tankless water heaters. I see your point, however, other than the extra hot shower when the power goes out, I think that a prepared type person could have better backup water sources and save oodles of money on water heating by going tankless. These might be best in a bugout or cabin situation where you go up for the weekend and don’t need/want to waste all that propane and time to heat up an entire water heater. Then again the best option is to not spend a penny and go solar!
FYI on life insurance for kids: this can be a good financial move for a child in the event that he or she develops a medical condition later which might preclude them getting a policy on their own or cause them to pay much higher rates. The rates on policies for children are very low and a policy already in force can not be cancelled for a later medical reason; the child can assume payments when they grow up, ensuring coverage.
Hot water: if you have an electric heater, wire in a 24-hour timer and run it for just the hours you need hot water. Extra insulation outside the tank will make a positive difference, as well as pipe insulation for a few feet away from the heater to prevent radiant loss through the piping. This is available at hardware stores, is very cheap and easy to install.
If you have a freestanding hot water heater and you live in an earthquake zone (and many of us do!), secure them to the wall to minimize the amount of property damage or injury caused by seismic activity.
For more great tips, go to http://www.disastersafety.org, type in your zip code, and get a list of the most likely threats in your area along with specific information to prepare for and mitigate likely problems.
Very good advice for the kid looking to get into hunting. At 15 years old, there are few options for people in most states.
Check with your high school. When I was a kid, I joined the JROTC program. If your school has one, (or the program exists in another school you can access), I highly recommend looking into it. Also check with your local college, many will allow high school students into an ROTC program, or similar junior police program.
My instructor was exceptional. At 14, I had hands on experience with several types of firearms, had been repelling off of towers and cliffs, and all the other “fun stuff” people associate with military training.
There is a huge difference in the quality of programs, and it all comes down to the dedication of the instructors. As I said, my instructor was great, but there are many who are looking to kill time until retirement by hiding in classrooms. Check them out before signing on. None of the fun stuff, and certainly none of the gun handling will happen in a public school these days, but in my case those experiences were conducted on weekend and summer trips to military bases. My brother didn’t have access to ROTC programs, but did the junior police training and had similar experiences.
Sadly, in many areas these programs are vilified as recruiting pools for the government. That is absolutely false. I never went into military service, specifically because of the program. I guess once you’ve jumped off of 200′ towers and qualified as expert on the range, the recruiting videos lose their luster. But it has instilled in me a profound respect for those who do chose to serve, and the class was by far the most useful bit of education I received during my schooling.
Back to the point, they’ll teach you to shoot a gun, give you plenty of practical experience and safety training. You’ll also meet people with similar interests, making it easier to find supplemental experiences and training. You’ll also build references, which are a necessity in many states to get various permits. In my state of NY for example, you need references from 5 other gun owners to get your concealed carry permit, which they require for essentially any hand gun. Someone who’s asking here about how to get trained probably doesn’t have five gun owners in their life they can go to for references. Hopefully he doesn’t live in a state run by whining anti-gun nazi bitches, but knowing other gun owners helps anyway.
If the primary interest is in hunting, rather than marksmanship or general gun ownership, there may be other options. Depending on your state, there are various permissible trapping methods. As a kid, I snared many a rabbit in the winter. There’s also fishing, and again, depending on the state, bow hunting may be an option at a younger age.
Parental supervision is a given here. It’s not that I believe a 15 year old can’t be trained to behave safely or responsibly, but laws are laws, best to cover your ass. Besides, there are many good reasons not to hunt alone, just for personal safety. As an adult who knows the woods, I don’t go more than about 2 miles into them alone for the simple reason that if I fell or was injured, no one would be able to find me. If someone else is going along on the hunt anyway, it may as well be a parent or experienced adult.
On the Gemstones.
I talked to my friend who works jewelry at a pawn shop. He told me that they will only pay $1.00 per point with a minimum of 10 points for diamonds.
In other words, if it ain’t at least 1 carat they don’t even take it into account.
I also know they give near nothing for most other stones unless they are top quality & large!
Getting vinegar smell out of 5 gallon buckets.
Don’t bother, it isn’t worth the effort, I know!
You can still clean them out & use them for other things where smell is not a factor.
They make great buckets for your seeds to be saved in. They are Food Grade & the seeds don’t care about the smell 🙂
They also make for excellent toilet buckets.
Again, the poop won’t give a crap about the smell 🙂
On the same note, when using buckets for a toilet.
Keep 2 buckets, one for going in & the other to hold content for covering up your excrement.
Some things that work well are sawdust, mulched leaves & good old dirt.
If you use dirt, then the hole you dug can be filled in with your bucket full of Shisnit when it’s full.
This has the makings of Night Soil & can fertilize the area you do it in.
On the tankless water heater.
Besides the things already mentioned, I found out that you must have a water softener hooked up to it to prevent the heating coils from getting scale on them.
Policing your Community.
If you start this before a SHTF situation then when the S does HTF you will already have a system in place.
When I walk my dogs around the neighborhood this is just what I am doing. I keep an eye on things for my neighbors & most of them know I carry a gun since I make it no secret & open carry most of the time. I even had one of my neighbors tell me that she feels safer just knowing I am walking around armed! Made me feel damn good hearing that from her.
It actually did pay off just taking my dogs out when I caught some guys in the act of checking cars for unlocked doors. I talked to some neighbors to let them know what happened & one of them called the police to report that his car had been ransacked but nothing was taken. He told me that he wouldn’t have done anything if he hadn’t been informed that I gave the police the license number of the car I saw that morning.
So people, talk to your neighbors. Let them know if you see anything suspicious going on!!
From our perspective, a BOB is something EVERYONE should have. However if you step back and look at it from a person who frequently see’s children being kidnapped by their own relatives and parents fleeing from the law, then this could look like someone who’s about to run away from something. So this social worker wonders, why are they so worried about leaving quick and what might they be fleeing from. The social worker saw it as a red flag and I think if they were met with education instead of what I imagine was hostility, it wouldn’t have been an issue.
I’m not even going to touch the issue of vaccination because I have very strong views that might be contrary to many here.
inverter on car – very good option. I have a hose that i can hook up to my exhaust pipe (dryer vent line and a rubber reducer fitting) and run it out my garage window. This solution works well for generators. Further, if you replace your normal car battery with a deep cycle battery (or two) you can easily run most inverters with no problem at all, then just idle the vehicle to keep things charged. Not a bad option if you need to keep something running for a little while until you get your primary generator up and running, or to really juice up a freezer for 30 or 45 mins at a time so you can shut it down for another few hours.
I agree with Donna on the life insurance for kids. You’d be surprised how many people, even kids, are uninsureable. An inexpensive child policy, which is often obtained without a medical if the child is young enough, can save the day when the kids is old enough to start a family and realizes he/she needs to help spare their family from extreme financial burden in the event of their death.
Hi Jack. I would like to suggest composting as a solution to human waste disposal – as an alternative to the solution recommended in this episode (plastic bags and chemicals). When I say ‘composting human waste’ I don’t mean combining human waste with your regular garden/kitchen compost system – I mean a system dedicated to human waste. Composting toilets can be quite sophisticated if desired, but from a prepping point of view and for a person who is not very interested in many hours of research or practice, the minimum preps are: a barrel of sawdust/ woodchips or similar carbonaceous material, a bucket and a place to leave the material undisturbed such as a large bin with simple aeration or a corner of the backyard(those without backyards will have to be more creative and thoughtful – but in a SHTF scenario when the toilets aren’t working I bet that rubbish collection isn’t either). For those who have experienced frustrations or failures in composting – composting human waste is absolutely not to be intimidated by. It does not need to include any kind of turning as you might be used to with garden compost. Using a sawdust/woodchip based compost toilet also need not be smelly, fly attracting or in any way offensive. The only smell I have ever noticed with many different styles of compost toilets has been amonia, which can be reduced/eliminated if the system does not also have to dispose of urine. Compost toilet designs and info are all over the internet. Many books have been published which can answer all of your questions about design, handling and disease. A classic text which you might find at your library, online or at a bookstore is The Humanure Handbook. IMHO composting human waste is a lot less gross than treating it on masse, flushing it into the ocean, or hoiking it off property in a plastic bag full of chemicals.
Cheers,
Anji and Evan
I have life insurance on my kids but for different reasons than Americans.
Here in Canada it is actually against the law to purchase or provide private health insurance. You have no choice but to use the government run health care system. However, the government doesn’t fund all treatments and the wait lists for treatments can be very long.
The Supreme Court actually ruled that the wait lists were a violation or our rights an unconstitutional. People have actually died waiting for care. Politicians have been to afraid to do anything though because as soon as they start talking about reforming health care the socialists, unions and media go nuts.
With this in mind, if my girls are ever sick and need treatment I’ll mortgage my house and sell everything I own to get them treatment ASAP in the USA (thank God for the USA and please don’t ever adopt “Canadian style health care”).
If they turn out ok I’ll gladly accept the debt and pay if off, however if they don’t make it at least I’ll have the insurance to pay off the debt.
@Jake to me it is more about the term “double”, the video is well done I admit but the issue here is the following…
1. The presenter points out that if you take the effect of more plants into account with studies that show greater warming the effect is still a big concern. Fine but he provides no evidence that these other studies are accurate.
2. All of these alarming numbers revolve around DOUBLING the CO2. When I was in school in the 80s there was about .033 percent of CO2 in the atmosphere. Today the number is .039, so exactly how long would we have to go on totally unabated to double this number? I mean we are talking about 30 years to get an increase of .006%.
3. The entire point of climate change has been to tax us on carbon, as I have stated this doesn’t do anything to actually cut carbon or pollution.
4. These studies seem to ignore the scientific FACT that CO2 has a saturation limit. It only effectively reflects certain wavelength of UV light, and it is already at a concentration that reflects about 100% of those wavelengths. This is fact, it can not be disputed.
People please listen to me, we must cut the use of fossil fuels, I totally agree with that, they do cause large amounts of pollution. Such as sulfur oxide, mercury, dioxins not to mention the damage their extraction does to the land.
So please use your brains with all of the clearly dangerous pollution from the extraction of gas, oil and coal why do you think all the focus is on the most benign (even if we believe the bullshit) pollutant.
Seriously even with new controls this stuff still causes acid rain, coal mining literally rusts ground water with sulfur oxide, coal companies strip mine and remove mountain tops, gas drillers do hydraulic fracturing and pollute ground water. Again it just keeps going, there are so many real reasons that we should be doing alternative and clean energy technology. There are so many forms of pollution that no one could ever effectively deny and what does the entire world focus on, the same gas you EXHALE with each breath.
Why? The forces behind this have no intention of reducing fossil fuel consumption, just creating a new fiat currency and derivatives from it by making CO2 which today is a worthless gas into a global commodity. This will create profit for industry, taxes for government and oppression of people. What it won’t do one bit of is cutting real pollution.
@Jake I gave you a scientific reason that the entire thing is bullshit, stop drinking the koolaid. As for science this so called science is backed by government and all objecting opinion is persecuted. That is the anti thesis of science.
Did you just ignore this FACT
“These studies seem to ignore the scientific FACT that CO2 has a saturation limit. It only effectively reflects certain wavelength of UV light, and it is already at a concentration that reflects about 100% of those wavelengths. This is fact, it can not be disputed.”
Jake
Although I disagree with Jack’s stance on global warming…he’s 100% right on one thing: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!
Whether it’s taxation or grant money to scientists…it’s all about the money.
For those who might say that science is objective need to spend some time in the trenches because it’s anything but. Oft times scientists THINK they know what the outcome will be and thus their data SHOWS that THEY were CORRECT. Scientists have huge ego’s, end of story.
OK, I have to say this even though I don’t have all the info & can’t remember the show I saw it on.
I watched a show where they were taking Ice-core samples. They found that during an Ice Age the carbon levels were not that high. They also found a time when the carbon levels were 800(eight hundred) times higher. It was hundreds of years before there was any significant change in the temperature of the earth.
For goodness sakes people it’s a Planet! The temperatures go Up & Down with the cycles of the Sun, Asteroid Impacts, Volcano Eruptions….
Do you really think that mankind’s pollution is anything compared to 1 Volcanic eruption?
The ejection from 1 Volcano has changed the temperature of the earth several degrees.
Once again I say “It Is A Planet!” The temperature WILL change & mankind can do NOTHING about it!!!
I asked a question because I don’t “drink the koolaid” but rather like to check my facts, and explore disconfirming evidence — So if you could point me to some information about the “FACT that CO2 has a saturation limit” and how this pertains to warming scenarios, that would be
great.
I find nothing that has debunked the handbook, I find people claiming that it is simply not true but zero evidence presented in the article you reference and others. Just because someone that believes in the boogey many says that a person who wrote a book disproving it is wrong is not a debunking. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Increased speed limits lead to more deaths
WASHINGTON -- States that raised their speed limits to 70 mph or more have seen a big jump in traffic deaths, according to a report Monday by an auto safety group.
Some 1,880 more people died between 1996 and 1999 in the 22 states with higher speed limits on rural interstates, said the study, compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, funded by insurers. It was based on data collected by the Land Transport Safety Authority of New Zealand. Congress repealed the 55 mph national speed limit in November 1995.
An institute researcher said New Zealand did the study because groups are questioning whether to raise the country's speed limit, which is 100 kilometers per hour -- about 62 mph.
"There's a significant societal cost," said Allan Williams, the institute's chief scientist, who said drivers often think a speeding ticket is the worst that can happen.
Supporters of higher speed limits pointed out that federal highway data show the nation's vehicle fatality rate fell each year from 1996 and 1999, from 1.69 deaths per million miles traveled to 1.55 deaths.
"We've moved toward a transportation system where cars are a lot safer and there are better measures like guard rails on highways," said Stephen Moore, a proponent of limited government and president of the Club for Growth. "We've made it safer to drive at faster speeds."
Institute researcher Susan Ferguson agreed that other factors are making highways safer, and that the nation's death rate dropped as a whole. But she said the study expands upon institute studies from the late 1990s, which showed a 12 to 15 percent increase in deaths when speed limits rise.
The study said the 10 states that raised limits to 75 mph -- all in the Midwest and West -- had 38 percent more deaths per million miles driven than states with 65-mph limits. That's approximately 780 more deaths.
The 12 states which raised their limits to 70 mph include California, Florida, North Carolina and Missouri. They saw a 35 percent increase -- some 1,100 additional deaths.
The report didn't examine the effects of other trends, such as the tendency to drive faster in rural states where cities are far apart. Nor did it analyze the increasing number of sport utility vehicles on the road in the late 1990s.
A separate review of six states by the institute found drivers are traveling faster than any time since the institute began collecting data in 1987. Researchers observed in Colorado, which has a 75-mph speed limit, one in four drivers going above 80 mph. In California, where the speed limit is 70 mph, one in five drivers was clocked at 80 mph.
The institute's study of speeds in Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, Colorado and California also found that when rates are raised on rural interstates, speeding increased on urban interstates.
Average travel speeds on urban interstates in Atlanta, Boston and Washington were the same as or higher than on rural interstates near those cities, even though the speed limits on those urban interstates were 55 mph. In Atlanta, 78 percent of drivers on one urban interstate exceeded 70 mph, the report found.
Institute President Brian O'Neill said tolerance of speeding and advertising that encourages drivers to speed is part of the problem. He pointed out a Dodge ad that invited consumers to "Burn rubber."
"It's up to drivers to obey speed limits, but the manufacturers aren't helping with ads that equate going fast with having fun," O'Neill said. | {
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Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson and Seattle designated hitter Nelson Cruz have moved ahead in fan voting for starting spots in the All-Star Game, leaving five Kansas City Royals still in the lead.
Very few 21-year-old athletes have been on more of a rollercoaster in the past year than Royals pitcher Brandon Finnegan. He became the first player to pitch in the College World Series and MLB World Series in the same year. | {
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Several sharks were involved in a deadly attack on a New Zealand man, a coroner has found.
Adam Strange, 47, from Auckland, was killed in a rare shark attack at Muriwai Beach on Auckland’s west coast in February.
In a ruling on Wednesday, coroner Morag McDowell said the television commercial and film director died of blood loss from multiple shark bites, mostly to his legs, while there was also evidence of drowning.
Mr Strange was swimming in preparation for an upcoming race when the attack happened shortly after 1pm on February 27.
A fisherman noticed Mr Strange was being followed by a lot of birds and there were schools of small fish around him.
Two minutes after spotting the swimmer, the fisherman heard splashing and Mr Strange’s calls for help, and saw a lot of blood in the water.
The fisherman, who was not named, told the inquest he saw more than one shark attacking Mr Strange, who became limp and was face down in the water.
The man called emergency services.
A friend of Mr Strange, who was surfing at Muriwai Beach, also saw the attack, and recalled seeing a number of shark fins.
Surf lifesavers were alerted at 1.30pm and raced to Mr Strange’s aid.
When they reached him, a single shark, measuring about three to four metres, had hold of him.
Lifesavers used their boat and oars to get the shark to release Mr Strange and kept it at bay until police arrived, and shots were fired at the shark, which sank below the water’s surface.
Mr Strange’s body was then recovered.
Surf Lifesaving NZ told the inquest there had not been a recorded shark attack in west Auckland waters for at least 30 years.
Despite the rarity of the attack, the area is a known breeding ground for sharks. | {
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All pi-topCEEDs come with CEEDuniverse preloaded, a puzzle filled Online Game that teaches you how to code, build circuits, and make hardware that interacts with the game in real time. | {
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About
Teams are the source of most of the productivity, creativity and reliability in organizations. Work and play are both successful – or not – because of the quality of teams performing the mission at hand. Understanding and developing the behaviors of success requires that team members develop and utilize the seven ESI skills measured by the TESI® and explained in our book, The Emotionally Intelligent Team. Powerful use of these seven skills is the path necessary for your team to experience the four results shown in the Collaborative Growth Team Model and the universally sought after benefits of sustainable productivity and emotional and social well-being for the team and its members. This journey can create profound benefits for team members, teams and their organizations. | {
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Adding a place for funeral homes to upload any docs to their file
(I think this a OA idea but it wasnt letting me add it) Adding a place for funeral homes to be able to add any documents regarding their claim. Instead of faxing them or emailing them they would go straight to digiclaim | {
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Weekly gas prices: Fall nationally, near steady in Nebraska
Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have fallen 0.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.33/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.39/g, according to gasoline price website NebraskaGasPrices.com.
Comment
Nebraska City News-Press - Nebraska City, NE
Writer
Posted Dec. 3, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2012 at 8:25 AM
Posted Dec. 3, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2012 at 8:25 AM
Nebraska
Average retail gasoline prices in Nebraska have fallen 0.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.33/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.39/g, according to gasoline price website NebraskaGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Nebraska during the past week, prices yesterday were 5.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 3.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 11.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 10.0 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.
"While the national average continues to fall, we've done the math- the yearly average in 2012 is all but guaranteed to set all time record highs," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "We still stand at $3.63/gal for a yearly average, and gasoline prices would need to average no more than $2.35/gallon for every day left in 2012 for the national yearly average to drop below 2011, something that appears impossible. In the meanwhile, we have lowered our forecast for Christmas gasoline prices to average between $3.25-$3.35/gallon," DeHaan said. | {
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Pages
Friday, November 8, 2013
Morning Visitor
Isn’t he just he cutest…. The dog and I heard something at the door…. Every time I opened the door there was nothing there…. The last time I got up, I saw a squirrel in the bush by the window. So I thought that was the noise… You know the bush hitting the window… Nope!
It was this little bugger crawling across my screen to get from one side of the porch to the other. I can say I was scared to open the door to shoo him away for fear he come in the house. He was there for over 10 minutes with me taking pictures and tapping on the glass. No fear of me! | {
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Wasn't the reason Mawae left was because he was too much of a locker room lawyer? .....and that was when he was a useful player. Doesn't make sense.
The real story is that when Penguini was given the head coaching position of the NY Jets back in 2006 he called Kevin Mawae into his office for a sit down. They were having a conversation & Kevin mentioned that they were both about the same age when Kevin asked Mangini jokingly "What should I call you? Coach, Eric or Mr. Mangini" and Mangini fired back "I don't care what you call me so long as you call me the boss."
It was right then and there Mawae knew to 911 his agent & immediately start the FA shopping process which led him to his new home in Tennessee.
Now I know more than anyone that the NFL is an occupation & not a career for 90% of the players in the league & only that golden 10% gets to call themselves real "career players", but Kevin Mawae is a career player, President of the NFLPA & put himself thru Wharton School of Business most nights & off seasons in order to further himself. He also gave the Jets 110% of himself only to be cast aside by a new HC with a Napoleon complex.
I say bring him back as a back up C along with a spot on the coaching staff.
Please Coach Ryan - At least take a meeting with Kevin, you may be surprised to find out how useful he can still be to this team. What have you got to lose by just talking to the man?
i'm not for it, but it wouldn't kill me to see him back. and i think it's a little harsh to call him the fat chad pennington. mawae definitely accomplished more individual success at his position than chad could ever dream of.
i'm not for it, but it wouldn't kill me to see him back. and i think it's a little harsh to call him the fat chad pennington. mawae definitely accomplished more individual success at his position than chad could ever dream of.
I was just being funny because, again, here we go with someone having a crush on an old player instead of thinking about what's best for the team.
Pennington, Mawae, Coles......these players were losers, won nothing in any city they've ever been in. For a team like ours, these types are the last thing we need here.
This isn't the Ex-Jet Home For A Cushy Retirement. We want the Super Bowl, time to act like it.
Kevin asked Mangini jokingly "What should I call you? Coach, Eric or Mr. Mangini" and Mangini fired back "I don't care what you call me so long as you call me the boss."
So what you're saying, basicly, is that Kevin felt he did not have to respect the new Head Coaches authority? I'm sorry, are you trying to convince us he was right...or that he is a jackass?
The Coach, your age or not, fat doofus or not, IS the boss.
It was right then and there Mawae knew to 911 his agent & immediately start the FA shopping process which led him to his new home in Tennessee.
So not only did Kevin not believe in the standard chain of command, he (not Coach Tub-O-crap) choose to leave the team asap all because the Head Coach dared to make the case that he was the Boss?
Again LL, not making much of a case for your boy here.
He also gave the Jets 110% of himself only to be cast aside by a new HC with a Napoleon complex.
No doubt he gave 110% on the field.
But from your OWN description of events, the only one with a complex appears to be Kevin, a rather obviosu "I don't have to respect the Head Coach's authority" complex, and that has no place on an NFL team, and no place on a Rex Ryan/Jets roster or staff.
Neither did Kevin Mawae that was Chris Baker who said "Chad is like an egg back there." And why would we start Mawae in front of Mangold? I mean we hired back Tony Richardson & exactly how much action did he see last season? I say offer Mawae a back up Center/coaching job and again let him retire a NY Jet.
are you seriously comparing mawae and richardson? t-rich was blocking for jones and greene on a regular basis. mawae's not even wanted by the mighty titans, whose o-line isn't exactly a brick wall. of course, mawae was part of the reason their line was shaky.....
The real story is that when Penguini was given the head coaching position of the NY Jets back in 2006 he called Kevin Mawae into his office for a sit down. They were having a conversation & Kevin mentioned that they were both about the same age when Kevin asked Mangini jokingly "What should I call you? Coach, Eric or Mr. Mangini" and Mangini fired back "I don't care what you call me so long as you call me the boss."
It was right then and there Mawae knew to 911 his agent & immediately start the FA shopping process which led him to his new home in Tennessee.
Now I know more than anyone that the NFL is an occupation & not a career for 90% of the players in the league & only that golden 10% gets to call themselves real "career players", but Kevin Mawae is a career player, President of the NFLPA & put himself thru Wharton School of Business most nights & off seasons in order to further himself. He also gave the Jets 110% of himself only to be cast aside by a new HC with a Napoleon complex.
I say bring him back as a back up C along with a spot on the coaching staff.
Please Coach Ryan - At least take a meeting with Kevin, you may be surprised to find out how useful he can still be to this team. What have you got to lose by just talking to the man?
Worth a shot IMO.
we all know of mangini's issues. he's gone. we know mawae's issues. he's gone too. why bring mawae back. both were bull-headed morons who needed to be shown the door. your love affair with mawae is misguided, but i just hope the jets remember how much mawae sucks.
we all know of mangini's issues. he's gone. we know mawae's issues. he's gone too. why bring mawae back. both were bull-headed morons who needed to be shown the door. your love affair with mawae is misguided, but i just hope the jets remember how much mawae sucks.
Sorry I have to agree to disagree when the guy played with a broken hand, sore back and Lord knows how many bumps & bruises. Plus he holds the record of having played in over 183 consecutive games without ever missing a down.
How many players these days are listed as "day to day" for not playing during the season because they have a cold? Are you kidding me? Yeah, you guys are right, having players like that in our locker room really sucks.
Sorry I have to agree to disagree when the guy played with a broken hand, sore back and Lord knows how many bumps & bruises. Plus he holds the record of having played in over 183 consecutive games without ever missing a down.
Parcells loves the guy, has already hired several of his ex-Jets, and he's even passing on Mawae.
Sorry I have to agree to disagree when the guy played with a broken hand, sore back and Lord knows how many bumps & bruises. Plus he holds the record of having played in over 183 consecutive games without ever missing a down.
How many players these days are listed as "day to day" for not playing during the season because they have a cold? Are you kidding me? Yeah, you guys are right, having players like that in our locker room really sucks.
Nobody ever questioned Mawae's toughness and production on the field. However, he would provide not one iota of that production for the Jets. He's washed up and would never see the field. The only possible tangible effect of signing Mawae would be for him to divide the locker room with more of his politics, anonymous quotes about teammates, and NFLPA BS that should be left to a conference room. From your previous post, the guy clearly has problems taking orders. Maybe he was a leader on the team 5-10 years ago, but he holds no sway with any of the current players on the roster. He has absolutely no place on this team. This is not a retirement home. Bringing in Joe Klecko would have more of a positive impact then bringing back Mawae and his ego.
Limo, Don't get me wrong. I loved Mawae as a player for the Jets in his time, but I don't want him back. Not for a NY minute. I believe you are thinking with your heart (and hormones maybe) rather than your brain here. Don't think there's much left in Mawae's tank. Makes more sense to bring in a young kid to learn the position while backing up Nick. Plus, Mawae is union leader/clubhouse lawyer type and why would any team elect to bring that bafggage in? | {
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In a decisive legal victory for the NCAA and the four major U.S. pro sports leagues, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp late Friday issued a permanent injunction against New Jersey’s latest effort to legalize sports betting. The injunction prevents New Jersey from implementing a law that would have repealed the state’s ban against sports betting and permitted casinos and racetracks to offer sports wagering. While New Jersey has already filed a notice that it will appeal the injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the ruling is a major setback for the state's leading advocate of sports betting: Governor Chris Christie.
The turbulent path of New Jersey’s attempt to legalize sports betting
Since 1992, the odds have been stacked against New Jersey legalizing sports betting. In that year, President George H.W. Bush signed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (“PASPA”) into law. PASPA enjoyed bipartisan support due to concerns about the influence of gambling on sports and the danger of athletes and coaches “throwing” games. These worries ostensibly distinguish sports betting from other types of betting such as slot machines, poker games, lotteries and other “bets” that are regulated and in some cases prohibited by states’ laws.
PASPA is often described as a federal ban on sports betting but is more technically a ban on states' ability to license, sponsor or authorize sports betting. This slight distinction is significant because advocates for states’ rights contend that PASPA, by taking away states’ autonomy on sports betting, violates the U.S. Constitution. Also, while PASPA is a “federal law,” it doesn’t apply equally across the country. PASPA exempts four states -- Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana -- that had already adopted sports betting by 1992. As a result of this exemption, you can legally bet on any NFL game this Sunday in Nevada. But in New Jersey you can’t.
Attitudes about sports betting have become more permissive since 1992. Even NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently opined that Congress should allow states to legalize sports betting under certain conditions. But PASPA remains the law of the land.
In 2011, Christie took on the federal government and signed the New Jersey Sports Wagering Law. This law created a limited regulatory scheme where casinos and racetracks could apply for sports betting licenses. Other types of betting providers, as well as bets on college games played in New Jersey and games played by New Jersey colleges, would remain illegal. New Jersey hoped to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue by taxing sports bets.
The pro leagues and the NCAA then told New Jersey, in so many words, don’t bet on it. They filed a lawsuit against New Jersey in federal court, contending that New Jersey’s law violated PASPA. The U.S. Department of Justice soon joined them in a crusade against sports betting in the Garden State.
The plaintiffs charged that Christie’s law would jeopardize “the public’s faith and confidence” in team sports. They also highlighted that sports betting substantially impacts “interstate commerce,” since big-time pro and college sports constitute national industries. This is a crucial legal point. Under the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause, a federal law can usually restrict states’ decision making so long as the law regulates an economic activity that crosses state lines. Much to the chagrin of states rights’ advocates and those who read the Constitution literally, courts today broadly read the Commerce Clause to uphold federal laws that merely impact an interstate industry. So even if the actual activity -- a person places sports bets at a New Jersey casino -- occurs in just one state, the games subject to the bet might be played in other states, or rivals of those teams might play in other states, thus violating federal law in the broad interpretation.
New Jersey fired back at the lawsuit with a two-pronged argument against PASPA. The first argument was that PASPA unlawfully treats Nevada favorably compared to other states. This argument is grounded in the equal sovereignty doctrine, a controversial principle holding that states are owed equal treatment by the federal government. Some jurists, including John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, embrace the equal sovereignty doctrine. Critics, however, stress that it is nowhere to be found in the actual Constitution. Second, New Jersey maintained that PASPA unlawfully barred New Jersey from exercising its authority under the 10th Amendment. The anti-commandeering principle forbids Congress from ordering states to govern or regulate in a particular way where there is no related federal regulatory scheme.
Judge Shipp was assigned the case and in February 2013 held for the leagues and the NCAA. In September 2013, two of the three judges on a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit panel also sided with the leagues and the NCAA. In affirming the constitutionality of PASPA, the majority rejected the equal sovereignty doctrine as unrelated to an issue like sports betting. The majority also reasoned that PASPA only prohibited New Jersey from legalizing sports betting, but did not compel New Jersey to maintain its state-law prohibitions against sports betting. This distinction may sound immaterial -- no matter how it is read, PASPA blocks New Jersey from legalizing sports betting -- but it is important for the purposes of the anti-commandeering doctrine. This doctrine only helps New Jersey if the federal government compels it to act, not prevent the state from acting.
The dissenting voice on the Third Circuit saw the law quite differently. Judge Thomas Vanaskie reasoned that the distinction between prohibiting New Jersey from legalizing sports betting and compelling New Jersey to ban sports betting was “illusory.” He stressed that no matter how it is read, PASPA unlawfully prevented New Jersey from pursuing a right that it enjoys through the anti-commandeering doctrine: the right to legalize sports betting. While Christie hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would consider Vanaskie’s argument, the Court declined to grant certiorari.
But a dedicated gambler is often undeterred by a loss here and there. Enter Christie’s Plan B to legalize sports betting in New Jersey: In September 2014, Christie joined New Jersey Acting Attorney General John Jay Hoffman in filing a motion with Judge Shipp. Christie and Hoffman asked Shipp to hold that the state was not required to criminalize sports betting. They stressed that while the majority of the Third Circuit held against New Jersey, it also held that a “state may repeal its sports wagering ban” without violating PASPA, and that each state is free “to decide what the exact contours of the prohibition [on sports betting] will be.” According to Daniel Wallach, a partner at Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., and a leading expert on gaming law, this language indicated that New Jersey could partially ban sports betting and thus partially legalize it: “In my view, the phrase the ‘exact contours of the prohibition’ suggests that New Jersey is free to decide just how much of a prohibition on sports gambling it wants to maintain on its books.”
Contemporaneously, Hoffman issued a formal opinion that under his office’s interpretation of New Jersey law, privately owned casinos and racetracks could accept sports bets without violating criminal law. With momentum on his side, Christie on Oct. 20 signed New Jersey Senate Bill 2460 into law. The bill partially repealed the state’s ban against sports betting and would have allowed casinos and racetracks to offer sports wagering beginning Oct. 26. The wheels were set in motion for New Jersey to partially legalize sports betting by decriminalizing it.
In October, Judge Shipp delivered disappointing news to Christie and Hoffman when he entered a temporary restraining order barring Monmouth Park from conducting sports wagering and prohibiting the state from implementing Senate Bill 2460. The order lasted until Friday, when Shipp issued a permanent injunction against New Jersey and granted final summary judgment in favor of the leagues.
Was Judge Shipp right to issue a permanent injunction?
Judge Shipp ruled for the NCAA and leagues despite the Third Circuit’s observation that states can repeal their prohibition on sports betting and are permitted to “decide the exact contours” of how they prohibit sports betting. Wallach, for one, takes issue with Shipp’s reasoning. “For Judge Shipp to read the Third Circuit’s language in the manner suggested by the leagues,” Wallach contends, “ignores the plain language and obvious meaning of the words employed by the Third Circuit.” Wallach adds that New Jersey’s repeal law "comports with prior statements made by United States Solicitor General Donald M. Verrilli, Jr., who asserted in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that New Jersey was free to repeal its ban against sports wagering 'in whole or in part' without violating PASPA."
New Jersey’s law, Wallach emphasizes, "is precisely the kind of law that the Solicitor General said would not be a violation of PASPA." Wallach, who attended Thursday’s oral argument, said that famed lawyer Ted Olson (New Jersey’s legal counsel) stressed that the federal government and the leagues (who were aligned with the federal government in the prior case) "were engaging in a classic 'bait-and-switch' by backtracking from the DOJ’s prior acknowledgment." Wallach expects this to be a key issue on appeal.
For at least two reasons, however, Shipp seemed troubled by the public policy implications of making sports betting lawful in New Jersey. First, Shipp signaled concern that New Jersey would, in violation of PASPA, inevitably regulate sports betting at casinos and racetracks. This is because those casinos and racetracks are already regulated by New Jersey, meaning it may be difficult for New Jersey to avoid also regulating sports books at those same casinos and racetracks.
Second, Shipp seemed worried that letting New Jersey decriminalize sports betting might open the door for other states to circumvent PASPA by decriminalizing sports betting as well. "This case has national implications," Wallace stresses. "It’s not just about New Jersey. If New Jersey prevails, we can expect other states such as Delaware, Pennsylvania and, perhaps, Florida to follow New Jersey’s 'blueprint' and enact similar partial repeal laws that likewise benefit only licensed gaming operators such as casinos and racetracks. Since casinos and racetracks are prevalent in many states, Judge Shipp may have been concerned about the impact that his ruling could have throughout the country and on the continued viability of PASPA." Wallach noted that during Thursday’s oral argument, Judge Shipp pointedly asked Ted Olson if other states could pass similar legislation if New Jersey prevails, which Wallach saw as a "harbinger" of this evening’s decision.
Wallach also believes that Judge Shipp viewed New Jersey’s repeal law as a “work-around” of PASPA, as evidenced by the following question he asked of Ted Olson during oral argument: "Are the federal laws so easily evaded that we can cast a law in such a way to, in essence, get around and do indirectly that which you cannot do directly?" By asking this question, Wallach reasons that Judge Shipp "may have been looking to avoid a result that could have the effect of rendering a federal law (PASPA) meaningless, especially if other states were to implement New Jersey’s approach."
Lastly, during oral arguments on Thursday, Shipp asked numerous questions about the meaning of the dissent by Judge Vanaskie. In the dissent, Vanaskie viewed the choice for states as one where there is no regulation of sports betting or a complete ban of sports betting. Neither scenario fits New Jersey’s desire to partially legalize sports betting. Shipp emphasized that point in his opinion Friday night.
Does New Jersey have a chance on appeal?
Shipp's order grants final summary judgment, which, under federal law, means it is appealable to the appropriate appellate court (the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit). SI has learned New Jersey has already appealed Shipp's ruling, and will probably move to expedite the appeal in order to present its case as early as possible. New Jersey employed a similar tactic (with the leagues' consent) in the first lawsuit, and it is expected that the Third Circuit will again grant expedited review. If that happens, all written briefs would be filed by the end of February, and oral argument likely scheduled for late March or early April. Based upon this anticipated timetable, look for the Third Circuit to issue a decision between May 2015 and July 2015. The losing side could then petition for "en banc" review where all of the judges on the Third Circuit would hear the case. The last step of an appeal would be to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.
New Jersey’s chances of success before the Third Circuit will undoubtedly be greater than they were before Judge Shipp, who most observers expected to rule in favor of the leagues. The outcome of the appeal will ultimately hinge on the Third Circuit’s interpretation of a single paragraph from its opinion in the first case -- that “a state may repeal its sports wagering ban” without violating PASPA, and each state is free “to decide what the exact contours of the prohibition will be.” While New Jersey believes this “exact contours” language allows it to partially repeal its state-law prohibition against sports betting -- especially in view of the U.S. Department of Justice's prior concession on that point -- Wallach is skeptical the Third Circuit intended for its “exact contours” language to be utilized as a pathway for states to avoid the strictures of PASPA. As Wallach explains, “this language was never intended to be a ‘loophole’ for states to exploit, but, rather, it was a rationale expressed by the Third Circuit majority as to why PASPA did not ‘commandeer’ states to maintain unwanted state-law prohibitions against sports betting on its books.”
Wallach expects the Third Circuit judges will shift their positions in this new case. While Judge Vanaskie previously sided with New Jersey in concluding PASPA violates the anti-commandeering doctrine, his dissenting opinion seemed to reject New Jersey’s partial repeal strategy. In a footnote, Vanaskie revealingly wrote that he “fails to discern” how the Third Circuit majority opinion “leaves much room for the states to make their own policy.” He made clear that “the only choice is to allow for completely unregulated sports wagering (a result that Congress did not intend to foster), or to ban sports wagering completely.” Thus, Judge Vanaskie appears to be aligned with Judge Shipp’s “all-or-nothing” approach on just how far a repeal must go to avoid running afoul of PASPA. This is not a good sign for New Jersey, which, ironically, will be looking to the judges who previously ruled against it to side with it this time around. Not a promising prospect according to Wallach, who believes New Jersey’s chances for success on appeal may be no greater than 25 percent in view of Vanaskie’s footnote and the public policy considerations associated with potentially opening the floodgates for nationwide sports gambling.
National politics lurk in the background of New Jersey’s plans. Christie is considered a likely candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Will he fight as hard for his sports betting case if his focus is on running for president and if the odds of his case prevailing are low? Only time will tell.
Michael McCann is a Massachusetts attorney and the founding director of the Sports and Entertainment Law Institute at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. He is also the distinguished visiting Hall of Fame Professor of Law at Mississippi College School of Law.
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Where have all the time gone? From a physical point of view, time is only moving at a uniform rate without going back in a human known environment. "Time to go" is more of the birth and death of lament, and more on the mediocrity of repentance, we are all very clear, where omega watches time is not to transfer our will. Just as the "Prince of horses" are keen to capture the same, the tota kings three Prince Na Zha from downtown (taking the sea at the end of the week) a beautiful Monkey replica rolex watches King became a young spark, when (the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Zhenguan period 500 years ago) when a stupid fat young cadres. Even the celestial beings in the sky will gradually grow old because of the passage of time. (Shang Dynasty to the Eastern Han Dynasty, the replica uk human world has been close to the millennium, the sky is equal to less than three years), let alone the people on the ground? "Time is a butcher's knife", this is true also.
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Apple may have a new roadmap, with new phones every spring and autumn
iPhone 6 casing
It's been suggested that there could even be three size variants of the new iPhone - check out these mocked up images by artist Peter Zigich. He calls the handsets iPhone 6 Mini, iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 XL (these look rather like the iPhone 5C variant though). However, as ZDNet rightly points out, different size variants aren't exactly easy to just magic out of thin air.
Pretty, yes, but also horrifically scratch-prone. Will your next iPhone have a plastic back?
The iPhone 6 will finally do NFC
About time too. Well, that's what iDownloadblog reckons, quoting Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Many Android phones now boast NFC and Apple appears to have been happy to be left behind here.
See our video below on what Apple needs to do to slay Samsung's Galaxy S4
The iPhone 6 will run iOS 8
With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, who's betting against the next iPhone coming with iOS 8?
We'd expect a September or October release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases.
iOS 7: what do you think?
iPhone 6 storage
We've already seen a 128GB iPad, so why not a 128GB iPhone 6? Yes, it'll cost a fortune, but high-spending early adopters love this stuff.
iPhone 6 home button
According to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included". It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though?
iPhone 6 screen
The Retina+ Sharp IGZO display, would have a 1080p Full HD resolution. It's also been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market.
Take this one with a pinch of salt, because China Times isn't always right: it reckons the codename iPhone Math, which may be a mistranslation of iPhone+, will have a 4.8-inch display. The same report suggests that Apple will release multiple handsets throughout the year over and above the iPhone 5S and 6, which seems a bit far-fetched to us.
Patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not.
Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also says he believes the new iPhone will have a bigger screen. Different sizes also seem rather likely to us - the word on the street after WWDC 2013 was that there would be 4.7 and 5.7-inch versions.
More rumors in September 2013 point to a six-inch display, but this seems a little large to us.
You'll probably still be able to see the camera lens in the iPhone 6
iPhone 6 processor
Not a huge surprise, this one: the next processor one will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life.
iPhone 6 camera
Apple's bought camera sensors from Sony before, and this year we're going to see a new, 13-megapixel sensor that takes up less room without compromising image quality.
An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff.
Will the iPhone 6 be handy for pro photographers? [Image credit: Apple Insider]
iPhone 6 eye tracking
One thing seems certain - Apple can't ignore the massive movement towards eye-tracking tech from other vendors, especially Samsung. It seems a shoe-in that Apple will deliver some kind of motion tech within the next iPhone, probably from uMoove.
iPhone 6 wireless charging
Wireless charging still isn't mainstream. Could Apple help give it a push? CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable.
The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones. Here are more details on the iPhone 6 wireless charging patent.
Meanwhile, a further Apple patent seems to imply that future iPhones will be able to adjust volume as you move them away from your ear.
And could the iPhone 6 really have 3D? It's unlikely, but the rumours keep on coming. | {
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HR Intel: How the Zika Virus Impacts HR
A round up of workplace developments and legal trends to help keep HR ahead of the curve
Now that the Zika virus has made its way up from South and Central America, HR professionals and business owners in the United States need to start paying attention. While the virus is not as severe as Ebola in terms of its immediate risk of death, Zika’s impact will be felt throughout American businesses, particularly those operating in mosquito-friendly climates and whose employees must travel into Zika-affected areas.
Florida has already declared a Public Health Emergency and has about 16 cases of the virus state-wide, all of which are travel-related. More states likely will follow suit as the weather warms up and the virus continues to spread via the aedes aegypti mosquito, travel and sexual transmission. President Obama has asked Congress for $1.8 billion to halt the spread of the virus, which will be used for mosquito control, vaccine research and enhanced medical care for pregnant women.
Beyond the public health concerns, HR professionals and business owners should be on the lookout for a number of issues that could grow more severe in the wake of the Zika crisis:
Travel restrictions may be imposed on individuals with the virus;
Employers may see an uptick in disability, pregnancy-related and workers’ compensation leave claims;
National origin or race discrimination claims related to the virus may also increase;
The spread of the virus may increase employers’ burden insofar as health insurance coverage to employees and their families; and
Employers should use caution before sending their employees into Zika-affected areas.
Note: the Occupational Safety and Health Act may not afford employees the opportunity to legally refuse the work as the virus likely does not represent an “immediate risk of death or serious injury.”
In the next four years, employers and HR professionals will experience something that has never happened before: five separate generations of workers will be in the workplace simultaneously. If you thought the Baby Boomers and Millennials have trouble communicating, just wait until the Traditionalists meet Gen 2020!
Like it or not, the companies that are successful in the future will be the ones that compete for the best talent today, even if that means (shudder) catering to millennial culture. That means more flexible working arrangements, enhanced paid sick leave and parental leave benefits and a clearer connection between performance, rewards, benefits and pay.
Along those lines, a recent Talent Management Rewards Pulse Survey found that only 32% of HR executives said their merit pay program was effective in differentiating pay based on performance. Meanwhile, only 20% of executives found their existing merit pay systems to be effective at driving higher levels of individual performance and only 26% said their managers and employees are satisfied with the performance rating process. There is tremendous opportunity for change and improvement there, starting with an overhaul of the performance management system and training supervisors on the unique challenges of managing several generations at once.
Double-whammy for Yahoo!
While Yahoo goes through the painful process of shedding 15% of its workforce, the beleaguered Internet behemoth is also facing a lawsuit that claims its employee performance and ranking system was rigged to beat the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Specifically, the suit accuses Yahoo of using a “forced ranking” system – sort of a bell-curve for HR – that forced certain percentages of the workforce into performance “buckets” that (allegedly) didn’t paint an accurate picture of performance.
The suit also claims that the ranking system enabled Yahoo to terminate employees for “cause,” rather than label terminations as “layoffs,” the latter of which may have triggered both the federal WARN Act and California’s counterpart “mini-WARN” legislation, requiring the company to provide advance notice of layoffs to employees and to compensate them during the notice period.
HR grab bag
Wal-Mart got slammed by a huge $31 million verdict due to a trifecta of claims for discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination brought by a fired pharmacist. The retail giant allegedly ignored repeated warnings from the employee that patients were getting prescriptions filled improperly due to lack of training and management. After receiving the warnings, Wal-Mart then terminated the pharmacist, explaining that the termination decision was made after the pharmacist misplaced her key to the pharmacy. Wal-Mart (allegedly) retained a male pharmacist who had similarly misplaced his key.
Is your company website accessible to the legally blind? If not, it may violate Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires reasonable modifications made to corporate communications to account for disabilities. The Department of Justices (DOJ) is ramping up efforts to target employers with websites that are inaccessible and plaintiffs’ attorneys smell blood in the water, meaning they are targeting employers with letters and phone calls threatening litigation.
No, not “Goodfellas” protection. This is legal protection in the form of their very own (eponymous) piece of legislation called the Grocery Workers Retention Act. The law will go into effect in May 2016, and it will require successor employers of grocery workers (companies that merge with or acquire existing grocery businesses) to retain all existing workers for 90 days. The law will also require successor employers to author written performance reviews of all existing employees and retain the records for three years. The companies are not obligated to retain the workers after the 90-day period.
How is this song relevant to HR?
In the last edition of HR Intel we asked you how “Take on Me” by A-ha is relevant to HR. Take on Me is (in addition to being one of the signature 80s songs) a study in perseverance and adaptability. The version of the song that we all know and love was (by several accounts) the fifth or sixth version of the song released by the band, meaning the song went through several rewrites, remixes, producers and managers before the final product was revealed to the world. The lesson there for HR is to stay focused if things don’t go your way. A minor tweak here and there and you could have yourself a hit.
As to how you might avoid becoming a one-hit wonder, that’s another idea for another column.
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PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.--It appears as if he qualifies for a career as a porn star, known for dropping his pants to expose his penis as the world labeled him as a serial cheater, attracting nearly all bimbos with his freaky double-life.
From most perspectives, he’s despised for committing malignant transgressions against his family and wife, Elin, after it became evident that he had extramarital affairs, badly ruining his credibility among peers and spectators sitting in the galleries to witness the world’s greatest golfer.
Eventually the bitterness will revoke all attention and mend believability for the transcendent athlete on the planet, but he’ll always be described as a sex-addict by the resentful populace who cannot stand Tiger Woods for his poor judgment.
Half of the people hate an iconic golfer, once known as the inimitable role model who runs an educational center for children, unforgiving of his sex scandal that has ravaged an idolized career.
He almost responded with the best performance since his eight-month intermission while rehabilitating his surgical repaired knee, and his opprobrious sex scandal that unmasked the contemptuous side of Eldrick Woods.
As it happened, he aroused the crowd in the gallery when he fired a remarkable 3-wood shot that soared over the Pacific Ocean, traveled 250 feet and landed on the greenery and rolled 15 past the hole Saturday.
Seemingly, it led to a two-putt giving Woods his third straight birdie for a 5-under 66, tied for the lowest round in the U.S. Open and trailed five shots behind Dustin Johnson, an indecisive leader who collapsed on the charming surface of Pebble Beach on Father’s Day.
While thousands surrounded the green pulling for a tattered Woods Sunday, he absolutely lost balance in an enthralling tournament, bringing back memories of his lousy and hopeless letdown at the Masters and leaving behind grievance entering the Open.
Faced with the similarities from Augusta, it wasn’t a scene of madness involving the chaotic media when swarming reporters questioned Woods about the status of his irreparable marriage and disgraceful scandals that dented a dynamic career.
For much of the afternoon, the Open belonged to the biggest names, such as Woods, his nemesis Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, but neither of the high-profile golfers prevailed in the grandest moment of the tournament, faltering on the final day.
This was the happiest ended on the coast for the unlikeliest winner Graeme McDowell, defeating runner-up Gregory Havret, two European golfers who survived the likings of the supreme stars of the tournament near the beautiful shores in California.
In a competition Woods transcended, like when he once dominated the fairways with a fiery mindset that he could win his first major title this year and move within legend Jack Nicklaus’ record of 14 major titles, he almost rejoiced in triumph before falling out of the spotlight.
It’s clearly easy to fathom that his time to win seemed perfect on Father’s Day, a day he reflects on the memorable moments with his late father, Earl Woods, who would have scolded and been very disillusioned with his son’s sickness of wrongly cheating on his wife after raising him to be a family-oriented man.
That’s certainly the truth when his father demanded strong character with his influential principles, but arrogantly, Tiger had an unmanageable and disloyal demeanor, ignoring his father’s ethical structures for his poor conduct.
As he ballooned near the top of the leaderboard with a 4-over 75 to tie with Mickelson at 3 over, Woods returned to a gratifying position and heightened his chances of winning the Open.
But unfortunately, he gaffed. He looked unbeatable, but he was beatable. He stared furiously, but he looked petrified. He had it, but he fell. He was a rising star, but crumbled as a fallen star. If he expects to win another major title, he’ll have to close it out strongly and not deteriorate on the final day when competition is vital.
Realistically, it’s the one sport requiring momentum and a tough-driven mental attitude, but he still hasn’t fully escaped or recovered from the tainted scandal, desperately trying to mend his impaired marriage.
There’s a sense that Tiger doesn’t have the urge or mindset, worried about salvaging a damaged relationship. The tabloids are still revealing disheartening chronicles about alleged mistresses, and there’s no doubt that he’s marked as a sexual criminal for the rest of his life with a polluted legacy, which is corroded forever.
This would be the appropriate time to admit that Tiger is gently fading out of the picture, faltering and tarnishing as the invincible and impeccable icon all people admired, including children before he foolishly lived a deceitful and insidious lifestyle. He’s not the same Tiger we once knew after he became known as a Tiger, looking for the women in the Woods.
The craziest thing is that we gaze at him like a villain, the bad man with immoralities and lack of respect for women. It’s far more fascinating, and even more annoying, that he owns all the limelight for being described as a narcissism and the most polarizing athlete of his infidelity. He said that he’s practicing Buddhism. So maybe he learned the values of acting as a true family man and not a sex-addict.
He spent ample time in rehab to cure his sex-addiction, a mental disturbance that destroyed his legacy, career and family.
So maybe he now avoids pancake waitresses, porn stars, teenage girls, and any other wicked female with nothing better to do but have sexual activity with a star athlete, after losing out on something very priceless.
Besides, he’s an elite athlete often motivated to rise in the biggest occasion, but he continues to struggle at the sport that made him famous, rich and admired.
As Mickelson stumbled to win a national championship, Woods’ failed to close out his second major in a row with useless play in the final round. He finished tied for fourth, hopeless, disappointed and empty again, on the verge of finishing winless of a major in a full year.
Realizing that he has gone two years without winning a major title makes us believe he’s no longer the menacing athlete on the planet, but quickly approaching the end of a captivating and epic age when he greatly dominated the courses with his iron stick and brilliancy.
But as of lately, it’s Woods having the paltry majors on the fairways. He missed half the greens in his final round, bogeying the first hole and was mocked when someone hired a plane to advertise a banner that flown the skies and read “TIGER ARE YOU MY DADDY?”
He begins the day 1-under par before lifting to 4-over after 13 holes, but eventually deflated Sunday with an awful 75 and could have won by capitalizing on even-par.
It’s sad to utter that he’s an irrelevant name, dropping out of contention for his blunders and meltdowns. Not even third-round leader Johnson was relevant, who seemed in command with a three-shot lead and looked fearless and unflappable, but went back six shots following a double-bogey at one point and plunged quickly on the leaderboard.
Els was just as bad, losing and botching an astounding front nine and reached 3-under after eight holes. There was Mickelson, who could have one another major, but didn’t making the turn at even par and bogeyed three holes on the back nine to finish tied for fourth.
There was only one winner and his name was the mysterious McDowell, the guy of Northern Ireland and the first European to win the Open in 40 years on an unfriendly course, as Tiger’s uninspired outing disappointed the homeland when he played badly in front of an ecstatic crowd finally reconciling trust in a tumult athlete.
Considering that Woods was finally recovering and finding his identity once again as the world’s greatest golfer, think again. He’s nowhere near the world’s greatest golfer, but the world’s greatest porn star, maybe. Just call 1-800-LAP-DANCE to reach Mr. Woods. | {
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For a more tranquil walk explore the Edwardian rose garden, ravine garden or luxurious herbaceous borders next to the reflecting lake where a certain Mr Darcy met Miss Bennet in the BBC production of 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Children can let off steam in Crow Wood Playscape with its giant slide, badger den and ropewalks, whilst the nearby Timber Yard Cafe offers delicious hot and cold snacks, soups and range of cakes.
Opening Times:
Park: 8:30am - 6pm
House: 11am – 5pm Closed until Friday 26 February
Garden: 11am – 5pm
Book a Minibus, Coach or School Bus with a discounted ticket package for any attraction | {
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As some of you might know, the Falcons just completed E-baying practically their full rosters worth of black road jerseys and practice jerseys tonight. How Mitch Fritz and Daniel Corso's jerseys fetched more than Karri Ramo's, I'll never know.
In any event, yours truly just plunked down a couple hundie on young Matt Smaby's #27. No pressure Matt, but you better make the team now.
This is a tough pill to swallow. For the first time in franchise history the team has lost a series where I really believed they were the better team.
NJ-3
TB-2
Johan Holmqvist allowed 3 goals on 26 shots in the loss. He did allow a bit of a softie on the short side for Jersey's first goal, but he was good. After his horrible Game One performance, I think Johan did a lot to regain the confidence of the franchise going into an offseason where decisions need to be made concerning the netminder's job. Brad Richards had both Lightning goals on the power play. Filip Kuba had a pair of assists in the game to atone for accidentally knocking over Holmqvist after a Tim Taylor turnover that resulted in the game winning goal. Vaclav Prospal and Vincent Lecavalier also had assists.
Going into the offseason, I feel a lot better about the team's blueline than I did 3-4 months ago. Dan Boyle is one of the best defensemen in the league and Filip Kuba earned every penny of his free agent deal from this summer. I was impressed with how Shane O'Brien quickly factored into the mix and Paul Ranger will be approaching 250-300 pro games by the end of next season so he should start to really hit his comfort zone as a player. It will be difficult if not impossible to retain Cory Sarich and the team might do well to find a younger, more mobile replacement for Nolan Pratt. Now is the time for one of the Lightning's young defensive prospects like Matt Smaby or Vladimir Mihalik or Mike Egener to step up as a player.
In net, Holmqvist probably did enough in the playoffs to earn the starting job going into next season. Marc Denis' nearly $3M per year contract is unsustainable from a budget standpoint and he may be traded or even bought out before next season. That leaves young Karri Ramo in the Lightning's backup role and, mark my words, he could be a Calder contender next season.
I think the most amount of work for this team needs to be done up front this summer. Lecavalier, Richards and St. Louis showed why they're paid premium dollars in this playoff series. The core is sound. The supporting cast, however, is horrible. There was no greater endictment of the Lightning's lack of offensive depth than the fact Andreas Karlsson spent all of today's game playing on the Lightning's second line and second power play unit. What do you do if you're the Lightning? That's got to be the biggest question of this offseason. They have some decent fourth line type pieces (Andre Roy, Nick Tarnasky, Evgeny Artyukhin) and some decent third line type pieces (Ryan Craig, Eric Perrin, Jason Ward should they retain him). The question is whether they can find a couple of more forwards with the skill to play on the scoring lines and possibly a natural third line center.
It's going to be an interesting offseason. If I was a young forward who hasn't fully established himself as a scorer in the league, I'd take a long hard look at Tampa. I have a feeling Lecavalier and Richards could make some young man a lot of money if they latch on here.
Update:Jonathan Boutin is in net tonight being backed up by Bryon Lewis, an emergency goaltender who was signed yesterday by the Springfield Falcons. This points to either an injury to Karri Ramo or a recall to Tampa Bay. Munce is still with Johnstown, apparently, playing backup tonight against Reading.
Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon met with the Booster Club prior to the game. "We have two years left on our deal with Tampa Bay," Landon said, debunking a rumor that Edmonton was planning to become Springfield's parent team next season. "I told our fans that I feel their pain." Landon also assured the fans the Falcons have not been sold and will operate next season.
As Nigel mentioned in the Greco/AHL discussion, Bill Barber and Claude Loiselle canceled their appearance with Springfield fans to watch Mike Lundin play UMass. If Maine's season is indeed finished, and considering Springfield's injuries to their defensemen (Rosehill, Rullier and now Matt Smaby), Lundin could be signed pretty quick - pending education issues, I'm sure. | {
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