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The new kid on the block is actually not that new at all, but it seems to be the fastest way to turn back time on your face and body. What you put into your body is now back in the limelight with several large pharmaceutical companies starting to take note by offering a range of nutritional supplements. The cosmetics world was shocked when leading pharmaceutical brand Unilever proved that its nutritional supplements could reduce fine lines and crow’s feet by up to 30% in 14 weeks. These supplements were also found to stimulate the skin to produce “significantly more fresh collagen”. As a result the supplements sold out within days and are still out of stock in many places. There are many time capsule supplements emerging onto the market that are bursting with multivitamins and antioxidants. These combinations of nutrients are designed to make the skin look great and to boost your body and slow the signs of aging. When it comes to getting their hands of the latest anti-aging supplements, Londoners are amongst the most enthusiastic. Everybody is after that magical formula that will reduce wrinkles, up the energy reserves and stop the hands of time in their tracks. Many celebrities are starting to use nutritional supplements in a bid to stay looking younger without resorting to chemical or surgical measures. They are choosing formulas containing vitamins A, C and E, grape seed extract, glucosamine, omega oils, amino acids and antioxidants as part of their regime and this trend looks set to grow and grow. The fact that the large pharmaceutical companies are sitting up and taking notice is big news. More and more people are shunning synthetic remedies and anti-aging supplements in favour of their natural counterparts. This has led to the pharmaceutical companies investing in clinical trials of natural extracts and supplements and the findings are pretty interesting. It’s only a matter of time before more and more companies start to release their answer to nature’s remedies. At Ageless Health we’ve long advocated the use of natural supplements to sustain health and slow the signs of ageing. Our range of supplements have been developed with natural ingredients to give you all the support you need to live well and to look great every day.

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Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal did something supposedly “controversial.” He called for a national revival. According to Helderman, Jindal insisted this was a religious event, not a political one. The rally was founded by American Family Association. Jindal said: "Let's all go plant those seeds of the gospel….Share the good news with all whom we encounter." He added: "We can't just elect a candidate to fix what ails our country. We can't just pass a law and fix what ails our country….We need a spiritual revival to fix what ails our country." So, what makes the rally so “controversial”? Is it the liberal protesters outside the rally? For those aware of America’s history, there should be nothing controversial about Governor Jindal’s appearance at the rally. America was born as a result of a national revival, known as the First Great Awakening. It began in the 1730s under the preaching of the humble and brilliant Jonathan Edwards. And it was spread from colony to colony through many itinerant preachers, but especially Rev. George Whitefield, a British evangelist who spoke to thousands in a day long before microphones. The founders made it clear that our republic depended on the people being virtuous and that religion was the means by which the people would be virtuous. You can see this in Washington’s Farewell Address. Thomas Jefferson---who later in life privately held unorthodox beliefs, while regularly worshiping in orthodox services, which he supported financially---was a champion of religious freedom. So was his friend and compatriot, James Madison; and they were therefore heroes in their day among the evangelicals. They lived in the Piedmont region of Virginia, which was a hotbed of revivalism and a part of what we now call the Second Great Awakening. That movement helped give birth to the abolition of slavery. So, when any modern leaders, like Governor Jindal, assert that America needs a new spiritual awakening, they are the ones in touch with our nation’s history---not the modern intelligentsia that views the religious right as interlopers to an otherwise blissful secular state.

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Corning is best known as the home of Corning Glassware and the Corning Museum of Glass – the museum details the history of glass and the art of glass making as well as the science behind glass making. There is also the opportunity to see a live-glass blowing demonstration and take a stroll around the glass gallery attached to the site. The town itself is very quaint and very walkable. The Gaffer District is the main downtown area and is full of shopping boutiques and restaurants. The area also offers much in the way of outdoor activities and experiences, including many hiking trails, biking and fishing as well as wineries and breweries.

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Vinay Rai is engaged in promoting culture as a tool for activism and change. Together with his wife Meenakshi, he developed a global musical project linking gypsy communities across the world through Nomadic Caravan. Dedicated to Roma Gypsies of the world, Nomadic Haat is offering a framework for civic agencies and civil society to engage in meaningful and cooperative ways with the culture, the art and the music of nomadic tribes. The duo has also launched courses in nomadic studies to empower young people from different background to strengthen their skills on culture, traditional art and folk of India through video and social media.

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ISO/IEC 17025 was first issued in 1999 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It is the single most important standard for calibration and testing laboratories around the world. Laboratories that are accredited to this international standard have demonstrated that they are technically competent and able to produce precise and accurate test and/or calibration data.

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The way she shakes her head kind of makes me think the idea of her going to a funeral is crazy. She sighs and then kicks the white foam of the surf that rushes in with the coming high tide. “Is that what the other night was about?” I ask. “Yeah, I did that, didn’t I? I guess I was trying to fit in all that living in one night.” She chuckles and hides her face with her hand for a second. I like her smile, I decide. I like her laughter even more. When Jenna Traynor laughs, I can feel it. “You’re making fun of me,” she says. I hadn’t realized I’d chuckled until Jenna looked at me curiously. But I guess I did. “Are you sure about that?” She winks at me and then smiles as her cheeks turn pink.

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With custom keys on your keyboards, every type of software can be optimized. For example, if the software your company uses has applications that require special combinations of keystrokes, you can have these "shortcuts" built into your keyboards by using special colored keycaps or keycaps with special symbols. This makes it easier for your employees to use your software, and it also makes it much faster and easier for new employees to learn their jobs.

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BEVERLY HILLS, CA – (March 22, 2016) – Award-winning filmmaker Alejandro Amenabar’s (The Others, The Sea Inside) latest psychological thriller Regression arrives May 10 on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment and Dimension Films, and Digital HD and On Demand from Starz Digital. Regression features an ensemble cast led by Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Training Day, The Purge), and Emma Watson (Harry Potter, Perks of Being a Wallflower). Hailed as a “carefully-crafted tale of collective psychosis” by the Hollywood Reporter, Regression also stars David Thewlis (Harry Potter, Anomalisa), Dale Dickey (“True Blood”) and Devon Bostick (“The 100”, Diary of a Wimpy Kid). Regression will be available on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment for the suggested retail price of $26.99 and $22.98, respectively. TWC boasts an active television production division which garnered twelve Emmy nominations in 2015. TWC Television produces the reality powerhouse Project Runway, with its spin-off series Project Runway All Stars, Under The Gunn, and Threads. Scripted series include John Fusco's Marco Polo with Netflix, going into its second season, and War & Peace, which debuts on Lifetime, A&E and HISTORY in 2016. Other recent TWC television productions include Mob Wives, Million Dollar Shoppers, Rodeo Girls, Cement Heads and Trailer Park: Welcome to Myrtle Manor. Scripted projects in development include Ten Commandments, Daniel Stashower’s The Hour Of Peril and military drama Six. TWC also developed Nanny Diaries and produced The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

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Zoning codes are a set of rules that regulate what can and can’t be done on a particular piece of property. They’re established and enforced at the city level. In California, you can find zoning codes for virtually every city in the city’s municipal code. Most cities also provide an online copy of their zoning map which gives you a visual of the city with a zoning overlay. I’ll use the City of Dublin in California as an example throughout this post. Dublin provides a zoning map, and you can find more information on their zoning code in the municipal code. The zoning code for Dublin, and most other cities, is broken up into four categories—residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural. Within these categories are districts, for example “Single Family Residential.” Each district has a specific set of rules for development and construction on any piece of property within its boundaries. You’ll also notice that each district has a letter/number designation. You may have noticed Dublin’s zoning code includes some other zoning designations that aren’t included here. If not, they’re on the zoning map as commercial corridor, downtown Dublin, historic overlay, and a few more. These additional overlays are just another layer of regulations specific to a certain area of the city. It’s important to note that the names of zoning districts and overlays, their designations, and their specific rules change with every city. They’re generally similar, but you’ll have to dig in to get specifics on each cities’ rules. Let’s say you own an acre of raw land in Dublin and it’s zoned R-1 (Single Family Residential). You want to know what you can build on your property, so you consult the zoning code again. Except this time, you’re looking for specific building regulations based on your zoning. For Dublin, these are called Residential Development Regulations but again, each city varies a bit with the language they use. The development regulations set out minimum lot size, setback requirements, height limits, etc. Zoning codes are all well and good, but in the real world, they give you close to zero power in terms of developing your property. Of course, it’s better to have a zoning that allows you to do what you want. But you’re still going to need discretionary approvals from your city. Further, zoning codes are subordinate to something called general plan land use designations. Land use designations are beyond the scope of this post, but we’ll be getting into those later. Just know that zoning codes give you an idea of what you could legally build on your property, provided the city approves of your project.

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Examines the nature of energy and matter, their interactions and changes, and the application of fundamental concepts to the study of our natural world. These concepts will be explored in hands-on laboratory experiments. This course integrates the fundamental concepts and ideas about the nature of physics and chemistry with the natural world. Prerequisite(s): CCR 092 (or higher) or equivalent and MAT 050 or equivalent.

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Tony Blair is a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007; he resigned from all these positions in June 2007. Blair's role as Prime Minister was particularly visible in foreign and security policy, including in Northern Ireland, where he was involved in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. From the start of the War on Terror in 2001, Blair strongly supported United States foreign policy, notably by participating in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and 2003 invasion of Iraq. In his first six years, Blair had British troops ordered into battle five times ��� more than any other prime minister in British history. Blair is the Labour Party's longest-serving Prime Minister; the only person to have led the Labour Party to three consecutive general election victories; and the only Labour Prime Minister to serve consecutive terms, more than one of which was at least four years long. He was succeeded as Leader of the Labour Party on 24 June 2007 and as Prime Minister on 27 June 2007 by Gordon Brown, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer.On the day he resigned as Prime Minister, he was appointed the official Envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East on behalf of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and Russia. In May 2008, Blair launched his Tony Blair Faith Foundation. This was followed in July 2009 by the launching of the Faith and Globalisation Initiative with Yale University in the USA, Durham University in the UK and National University of Singapore in Asia to deliver a postgraduate programme in partnership with the Foundation.

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Digital Preservation (DP) in India has not received the attention that it deserves. There is neither a regulatory framework for the same nor is it pursued with any seriousness under the national e-governance plan (NEGP) of the department of information technology (DIT), India. In the absence of ICT policy of India, digital preservation has still to cover a long gap. The only solace is that a national digital preservation programme (NDPP) of India has been launched by Indian government. However, the NDPP seems to have stagnated with no development happening in this regard. The DP initiatives of India are facing many road blocks that are preventing them from materialising in India. For instance, intellectual property rights (IPRs) are commonly found conflicting with DP initiatives. Further, with the rapid advancement of technology day by day, old applications and methods are becoming obsolete. We need to upgrade them from time to time. We also need to change form of various IPRs protected works from one form to another. This sometimes results in IPRs violations. In short, IPRs issues in the digital era and cyber space are difficult to manage and we need both good policies and laws to manage the same effectively. According to Praveen Dalal, advocate Supreme Court of India and leading cyber law expert of India, "DP issues would become more complicated with the enactment of laws like Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 1998 (DMCA). Efforts are in the pipeline for adoption of an efficient Digital Rights Management (DRM) system in India. This seems to be a step in the direction of protecting fast-growing Indian digital entertainment and media industry. However, in the absence of good ICT Policy and effective legal framework, these initiatives may not produce the desired results, suggests Dalal. The stagnation of the NDPP cannot be removed till the government of India takes some active steps in the direction of utilising the services of experts who are familiar with this aspect. Till now no such serious efforts have been undertaken by Indian government. Ever since India has associated itself with information and communication technology (ICT), it has gained a lot in terms of reputation, money, projects, etc. However, India’s dominant position has almost slipped away from its hands thanks to the corruption, lack of accountability and absence of transparency in e-governance initiatives of India. India has become technologically bankrupt due to these factors. The department of information technology of India (DIT India) has received vast amount of autonomy, finance and powers. However, it failed to bring home the much needed expertise, results and success. The chief reason for the same is that the prime minister’s office (PMO) does not care to look into the matters, policies and laws made by the DIT India. No time in the past the prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh took any preventive and stern action against the falling standards of DIT. Being the prime minister of India, it is his primary responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in all departments or ministries. (5) Ensure good and effective cyber security and cyber forensics capabilities, etc. These are some of the ICT related issues that the PMO must urgently consider before it is too late. Further, although the PMO is busy in many others, perhaps more important tasks, yet the situation has become so alarming that if immediate steps are not taken, PMO may have to answer some bitter questions in future. Cyber law of India is governed by information technology act 2000 (IT Act 2000). It is good step in the right direction but with passage of time it has become redundant and burdensome. Although a chance was given to the department of information technology (DIT) India yet it failed to utilise the same. According to Praveen Dalal, Supreme Court Advocate and leading Cyber Law Specialist of India, the information technology amendment act 2008 (IT Act 2008) further diluted the criminal sanctions against cyber criminals. By making many of the cyber crimes “bailable”, the amendments have diluted the deterrent effect of the cyber law of India. While countries all over the world are strengthening their cyber laws, India on the other hand is going in the opposite direction. What is more surprising is how Law Ministry of India in general and Veerappa Moily in particular approved such a distorted and undesirable law. By approving these damaging amendments, Law Ministry has done more harm to the cyber infrastructure of India. So what is the solution for this undesirable position? According to Praveen Dalal the only solution seems to make proper, contemporary and relevant amendment sin the IT Act, 2000 of India. Since it is the primary responsibility of the Legislative Department of Law Ministry to update laws, the initiative must start from their side, suggests Dalal. Cyber Law Of India Requires Amendments Says Pravee...

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Author’s Note: I would like to thank Dr. Vern Bullough and Dr. Sandra Cole for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. The psychological and medical literature of transsexualism, which began after Hamburger et al.’s announcement of Christine Jorgensen’s sex reassignment some 52 years ago, consists chiefly of clinical reports and studies written by presumably nontranssexual individuals. It is a literature which has been historically based on a number of unfounded assumptions: that those with gender identity disorder (as it is now called) are mentally disturbed; that their destinies are best determined by mental health professionals; that only those who are profoundly unhappy in their birth gender should be allowed access to body-changing medical technologies, and then only after passing various tests required by psychotherapists; and that body-changing medical technologies should be used only in the service of altering bodies to resemble as closely as possible those of the “other” sex, with no intermediate states allowed or even conceivable. Only in the last few years have new writings begun to challenge these assumptions. The assumptions which have driven the literature arose from the often sexist and homophobic attitudes of researchers and clinicians and have colored both public and private perceptions of transsexuals and transsexualism and set the course for the literature itself by determining not only the research questions asked, but the ways in which the resulting data have been interpreted. The biases of researchers are often kept overtly out of their papers, but are made clear in their conversations with other professionals. Cautionary voices of anthropologists, feminists, occasional clinicians, and transsexual people themselves have been virtually ignored. Questions of experimenter bias, subject selection, and the power dynamics of the client-caregiver relationship have not been addressed. Until recently, the voices of transsexual and transgendered scholars were entirely absent from the discourse. Consequently, the literature of transsexualism is largely pejorative, tending to blame and otherwise stigmatize transsexuals not only for their very transsexualism, but for shortcomings in research design and treatment. When the assumptions underlying this literature are understood, the literature’s failing can be seen to lie not so much in the inadequacies of transsexuals themselves as in the shortcomings of the system which arose to treat and study them, and in the disenfranchisement of transsexuals themselves, who have been considered unworthy of contributing to the literature. Much of the existing literature, although technically accurate, addresses in detail questions which no longer seem relevant. For instance, there have been any number of studies designed to determine the ways in which transsexuals vary from controls (i.e., “normal” individuals). A great deal of effort has been expended in attempts to “manage” transsexualism and transsexuals themselves. Meanwhile, other, more important, questions remain unaddressed. We do not particularly need further studies about the relative performance of transsexuals vs. control groups on the scales of the MMPI; we need studies which will define a new literature which is less bound to the notion of the inevitability of genital surgery and Ken and Barbie stereotypes of masculinity and femininity, which empowers transsexual people rather than degrading or stigmatizing them, and which asks new questions relevant to a new century. Although people we would today characterize as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and transsexual have always existed (cf. Feinberg, 1996; Taylor, 1996), it was not until the nineteenth century that they were came under the scrutiny of the medical profession [1]; that is, physicians selected them as fitting subjects for study and ascribed pathology to them. This is perhaps best exemplified in Krafft-Ebing’s (1894) Psychopathia Sexualis, in which one can read grim clinical depictions of century-ago analogs of modern-day homosexuals, transvestites, and transsexuals (Bullough & Bullough, 1993, pp. 204-207). Initially, variations in sexual orientation and gender expression were considered by physicians to be different facets of the same disorder, a sort of “third sex” (Ulrichs, 1994). It was not until the publication in 1910 of Hirschfeld’s Die Transvestiten that the two were adequately differentiated. In the last two decades of the twentieth century homosexuality ceased to be viewed (except by extremists) as a mental disorder, but transsexualism and other gender variabilities remain codified in the DSM with the diagnostic label Gender Identity Disorder (DSMIV-TR). During the first half of the twentieth century, the professional literature almost uniformly viewed homosexuality as a disorder. The work of Evelyn Hooker (cf. Hooker, 1957), the removal of homosexuality from the DSM-III in 1980 (described in Bayer, 1987), the pioneering work of Masters & Johnson (Vern Bullough, personal communication), and the rise of the gay liberation movement following the Stonewall Rebellion of 1969 (Duberman, 1993) did much to change this literature. These days, the acknowledged and unacknowledged assumptions of researchers about gay men and lesbians are quite different than in the past, and from the contemporary perspective much of the earlier literature seems naive and biased. The few medical professionals, like Charles Socarides, who continue to stubbornly insist without benefit of data that homosexuals are mentally ill are forced to seek alliances with organizations like the right-wing American Family Association and in fact begin to look rather troubled themselves (cf Socarides, 1996). This sort of change of paradigm (Kuhn, 1962) is not uncommon in science; in fact, it is perhaps our only real evidence that science actually works. Harry Benjamin’s 1966 The Transsexual Phenomenon was the first serious attempt to provide a name and a theoretical framework to explain people who wished to gain access to these medical technologies. He called them transsexuals. The psychiatric condition he presumed them to have was first called transsexualism, then gender dysphoria (Fisk, 1973), and is now known as gender identity disorder (DSM-IVTR)—but transsexuals we remain. Transsexualism and Sex Reassignment, Green & Money’s 1969 edited text, provided a multidisciplinary look at the newly conceived phenomenon of transsexualism; it provided a multidisciplinary treatment model that is followed by gender programs to this day. Benjamin’s and Green & Money’s volumes were milestones, and hold up well after 30 years, but much of what has followed has been a virtual rehash. Denny (1993) has called this literature “a collection of papers by clinicians explaining to other clinicians how to deal with such troublesome people.” It is a literature bothersome in a variety of ways, but its primary shortcoming is that it has never examined in a systematic and rational way Benjamin’s model of transsexualism or looked at alternatives to the treatment system described in Transsexualism and Sex Reassignment. Consequently, the literature has come to consider transsexualism a condition discovered rather than invented (Denny, 1997a). The existing literature has many problems. Its themes, its assumptions, and its language make it nearly impossible to discuss transsexuals or transsexualism in a healthy way. It is on the whole profoundly disrespectful of transsexual people, who are portrayed as sexual stereotypes, ridiculed for their manner of dress, and insulted in a variety of other ways both overt and covert. It actively promotes a model disempowering to transsexuals, who have been expected to surrender their autonomy to mental health professionals and then disavow their transsexualism by disappearing into the woodwork and passing as nontranssexuals after their gender transitions. And it has historically limited choices by recognizing only two options: remaining in the sex of original reassignment, or emulating as closely as possible the other sex. Much of the literature continues to ignore the commonly-expressed fact that many transgendered individuals find it more comfortable in the nether ground between the two commonly acknowledged sexes. Except for relating strictly autobiographical experiences, transsexuals have been considered to have had nothing important to say about transsexualism. Certainly, they have remained unpublished. I recently noted that until recently, all major theoretical papers, all of the descriptive studies, and all of the textbooks about transsexualism were written by nontranssexual persons. The transgender revolution of the ’90s made it clear many transsexual persons view themselves in ways other than depicted in the psychomedical literature (cf. Bornstein, 1994; Boswell, 1991), but they were unable to share it with the world because their transsexualism silenced them: first, under the prevailing reign, if they spoke the truth they were considered not to be “true” transsexuals and risked being denied access to body-changing medical technologies (see Bolin, 1988; Denny, 1992; Kessler & McKenna, 1978; and Stone, 1991 for critiques); and second, no one would publish their work. Is it any wonder perceptions of transsexuals and transsexualism have entered a period of intense change now our voices are being heard? In the past several years, transsexual and transgendered persons have begun to contribute meaningfully to the literature and much of what they (I should say we, as I am proudly transsexual) have to say is dramatically different from what has previously been published. We tend to be influenced not only by the medical and psychological literature, but by feminist and queer theorists, by each other, and of course by our own experiences. Queer and transsexual and transgendered scholars bring a different vision to the table, for we tend to look at the desire to change one’s body and social role not as a sign of psychopathology, but as a form of self-expression not dissimilar to getting a tattoo or having a rhinoplasty. The problem, if any, is seen to lie not within us, but within a hostile and rejecting society that cannot or will not accept us as we believe we are (Califia, 1997; Wilchins, 1997). Gender identity disorder is a term coined by the medical community to ascribe pathology to what is actually a healthy process of self-discovery and personal growth. In this view, much of the literature is flawed by this presumption, which causes in its adherents a peculiar tunnel vision in which transsexualism is seen as a journey from one restrictive gender role to the other, equally restrictive role, and transsexuals themselves are constructed to fit this model (Bolin, 1988; Denny, 1992; Stone, 1991). Transsexual and transgendered scholars reject this bipolar model, considering that acceptable gendered space lies anywhere along the continuum between male and female, or off the continuum altogether (Boswell, 1991). The idea is not to produce new males and females who conform as closely as possible to existing gender norms, but to help people unhappy in their assigned gender role to find gendered space they find comfortable C wherever that may be. My ultimate purpose in this paper is not to debate the merits of lack thereof of social-constructionist vs. essentialist approaches to transsexualism. [3] I do, however, wish to give examples of the ways in which the medical and psychological literature has vilified and stereotyped transsexual men and women. I have used selected quotations to illustrate my points. My quarrel is not with the individual authors, but with the literature itself. The Benjamin model has been attacked from a variety of perspectives, including psychiatry (Wiedemann, 1953; Socarides, 1976; McHugh, 1992), feminism (Greer, 1989; Raymond, 1979); social constructionism (Billings & Urban, 1982; MacKenzie, 1994) and Christianity (O’Donovan, 1982, 1984). The hostility of authors like Socarides, McHugh, Greer, and Raymond is without parallel in any field of science. McHugh (1992) cited “the confusions imposed on society where these [transsexual] men/women insist on acceptance” and “the sad caricature of the sexual reassigned” (pp. 503, 509). Socarides says of sex reassignment surgery, “The creation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein monster pales in comparison with this grotesque spare-parts, Tinker-Toy type of surgery practiced on living, suffering, and desperate human beings” (1976, p. 138). Not surprisingly, none of these authors cite empirical evidence to document their often outrageous claims, and none offer significant data of their own. None, in fact, have interacted to any significant extent with transsexual people. [4] Their work is opinion disguised as science, and it is venomous almost beyond belief. But if the enemies of sex reassignment have been uncritically critical, so, too, have many of its supposed proponents. Much of the supposedly objective literature is characterized by moral pronouncements, outrageous attacks on the nature and appearance of transsexual people, and the use of nomenclature and pronouns which are offensive (deliberately, in some cases) to transsexual people. This is but the visible tip, however, of what lies under the surface of a literature which presumes that transsexuals are what the medical community has always supposed them to be: manipulative, dishonest, maladjusted, sexual stereotypes. It is a literature which gives permission to its authors to write whatever they wish about transsexuals, with no fear of censure. Occasionally, authors will unabashedly state their moral distaste for sex reassignment. For example, Donald Laub and Norman Fisk wrote in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1974, “To change an individual’s God-given anatomic sex is a repugnant concept.” It goes without saying that such a gratuitous remark has no place in a surgical journal—or does it? Apparently, this amazing statement went entirely unremarked until 1991, when I pointed it out in Chrysalis, a journal I edited. Less subtle was psychoanalyst Robert Stoller, who frequently and vociferously made known his concerns about sex reassignment. He wrote, of transsexuals and sex reassignment, “After 30 years… both the treatments and the patients (of both sexes) have been, at most, near misses” (Stoller, 1982, p. 283). In this sentence, Stoller informs the reader of his opinion that male-to-female transsexuals are not “really” women. Money & Primrose’s remark illustrates a phenomenon pointed out by sociologist Irving Goffman (1961, 1963): when an individual is stigmatized, whatever he or she does is interpreted and interpretable as problematic in light of the stigma. Thus, when transsexuals endeavor to learn more about their situation—something that would be considered admirable in expectant mothers or individuals with sickle-cell anemia—their resourcefulness is viewed as emblematic of their condition. There have been grave problems with a lack of respect with the terminology of transsexualism. The widespread use of terms such as “male transsexual” and “female transsexual” to refer, respectively, to male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals, are offensive to transsexuals (Cromwell, Green, & Denny, & Cromwell, 2001), but the terms are generally not used maliciously. The same cannot be said of pronouns. In the psychomedical literature, authors wield pronouns like swords, using them to express their disapproval and pronounce the “true” sex of transsexuals. By far the worst offenders are Janice Raymond and Leslie Lothstein. Raymond’s (1979) book is a political manifesto unconvincingly (and in my opinion unethically) disguised as science. Lothstein’s (1983) book on female-to-male transsexualism is egregiously offensive. He not only uses female pronouns to refer to subjects who live as men, but refuses to use their male names, calling them by their original female names, which no longer match either their appearance or the realities of their lives. “It was hard to believe that the cocky, self-assured ‘male’ sitting in the waiting room was really a biological female” (Lothstein, 1983, p. 95). Note how Lothstein uses quotation marks to tell the reader his subject is not “really” male. Considering that Lothstein is a male with the first name of Leslie, one might think that he would be aware of the pain pronoun misattribution can cause. Should I turn the tables and refer to Ms. Lothstein and her regrettable book, turning Lothstein into a female on paper, it becomes clear how disrespectful such pronoun misuse really is, that I am attacking Lothstein on a personal basis. This is because it has long been considered appropriate for others to make decisions about which pronoun to use with transsexuals, regardless of the self-perception of the transsexuals themselves, but it is decidedly not okay to do so with nontranssexuals. Quite simply, with it comes to transsexualism the usual rules of propriety do not apply, and no one seems to notice that they have been set aside, even in the hallowed pages of medical and psychological journals. It goes without saying that many nontranssexual women wear long nails, or are less than discrete with their hairdos, makeup and jewelry. The literature clearly gives Steiner license to ridicule the appearance and grooming of transsexual women in language she would never use if she were talking about nontranssexuals. Can you imagine the stir the above paragraph would have caused had it been applied to African-American or Republican women? She arrived late, having been delayed in a “clinic.” Most of the audience was slightly taken aback as she appeared in a tight figure-hugging fire-engine red dress with sides slit up her thighs and beige spike heels, her long straight very, very blonde hair falling sensuously over her eyes. [Name deleted] had definitely out-transvestited the transvestites, who wondered what kind of “clinic” she had just left! The literature is filled with sweeping generalizations of transsexuals; the sky is the limit: “These (secondary transsexual) individuals do not pass easily in the opposite gender role without the aid of hormones and electrolysis. Their natural voice is quite masculine, numerous expensive cosmetic procedures are often necessary before they can approach the total femininity they seek.” (Dolan, 1987). “All transsexual biological females are homosexual in erotic object choice, and all of them wish to have a penis…” (Steiner, 1985, p. 353). It goes without saying that many secondary transsexuals and some male crossdressers are quite passable and in fact rather attractive without hormones or electrolysis, and more than a few female-to-male transsexuals identify as gay men (cf Allen, 1989; Cameron, 1996). Generalizations about transsexuals go beyond appearance to behavior. As late as 1993, one gender program’s application included the question, “How often have you used prostitution as a means of supporting yourself?” It was presumed that male-to-female applicants had of course prostituted themselves. Such questions are not asked of persons seeking treatment for other conditions; it is simply acceptable to ask such questions of transsexuals, but of course, it would not be appropriate to do the same with persons with heart disease or diabetes. Professional journals contain a number of articles which should never have been published. By portraying transsexuals as deviant, the literature opens publishing avenues for articles which reinforce this perception, however undeserving they may actually be. Milliken (1982) opened a paper titled “Homicidal Transsexuals: Three Cases” by stating that transsexuals are known to be overall less violent than the general population; he nevertheless then searched until he found three transsexuals who had committed or attempted to commit murder. Psychiatrists are arguably less violent than the general population; however, I know of no papers titled “Homicidal Psychiatrists: Three Cases.” If I were to write one, there would be little chance of it being accepted for publication in a peer-review journal. LeAnn: Yes. My first name was Lonnie. I had started to spell it Loni, and my second named worked, too. But the clinic told me I had to change it. Following is a paragraph from “What;s Wrong with Stanford?” a one-page flyer distributed around 1980 by Golden Gate Girls & Guys, a transgender support group. It describes a question-and-answer session with Judy Van Maasdam of the Gender Dysphoria Program in Palo Alto (formerly the Stanford Gender Program). Ms. Van Maasdam gave three criteria by which a person is diagnosed as “transsexual”: (1) the inner feeling of being from the other sex; (2) a past history of activities usually associated with the other sex; and (3) a heterosexual orientation post-operatively. This last point raised much dissent in the group, and Ms. Van Maasdam curtly explained that her Program made this distinction and that those who disagreed with it were more than welcome to take their business elsewhere. Clearly, this “our way or the highway” mentality signifies professional arrogance. Such arrogance was common in gender programs in the 1970s (Denny, 1992). Needless to say, they were then blamed for being manipulative and dishonest. I wrote Dr. Cooper about this paragraph, and he assured me participation in his study was not mandatory in order to receive hormonal therapy. His article, however, argues otherwise. Under the medical model, transsexuals are seen as blameworthy, not only for their condition, but for other things that are wrong with the world. Raymond (1970) scolds them for perpetuating the binary gender system; it’s as if she expects transsexuals to be some sort of gender heroes/heroines, and is lashing out at them because they have somehow disappointed her (one wonders why, if Raymond believes traditional gender roles should be deconstructed, she colors so carefully within the gender lines herself). Transsexuals are also sometimes considered at fault for the shortcomings of the medical model, most notably for the well-known problems with follow-up (Stoller, 1982). It’s hardly surprising that transsexuals, who were trained by gender programs to assimilate into society, did so, thereby becoming “lost to follow-up.” It’s perhaps to be expected that transsexuals who were frequently manipulated by the gender programs would have some enmity towards them, and so would be motivated to make themselves less than available for follow-up for which they were often expected to pay the cost (see Stone, 1991). Such eventualities were, of course, never considered by the gender programs workers. Denny & Bolin (1997) , who conducted a follow-up study outside the clinical setting, recently reported a rather surprising finding: almost 100% of more than 100 members of a transsexual support group were available for follow-up, some as many as five years after leaving the group. Group members in fact were part of a cohesive social support network which maintained long after their gender transitions. It would seem likely that the infamous problem with follow-up is actually a problem with the medical model which was used in previous studies; transsexuals have been unfairly blamed. Steiner chooses to interpret the differential rates with which male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals request cosmetic surgery as due to differences in personality factors; she overlooks the fact that cosmetic surgery is often necessary if male-to-females are to present successfully as female—a trait Steiner considers important; note her passages above. Female-to-male transsexuals typically pass quite well without any intervention other than hormones and top surgery. Feminine features like a small nose or lack of an Adam’s apple are unlikely to cause an otherwise masculine individual to be perceived as female, but the observe is not true (Kessler & McKenna, 1978). Males in our society only occasionally have plastic surgery to make them appear more ruggedly masculine, but surgeons are frequently called upon by women to feminize their faces and bodies. When transsexuals follow the same pattern, male-to-females are characterized as having personality disorders, and female-to-males as being psychologically healthy. Because the literature views gender variance as undesirable, it has eschewed exploration of third-gender roles or androgyny in favor of binary gender norms. Transgendered and transsexual persons must either be cured or helped to assimilate as members of the “other” gender; there is no middle ground. It is but appropriate and reasonable to use techniques, however intrusive, to eradicate transgender behavior, however benign. Even exorcism is worthy of consideration as a tool to “cure” transsexualism (Barlow, et al., 1977). The excesses of behaviorists, in particular, have been legion (see Denny, 1994d, for a review of the literature with adults). Some of the experiments have been more than a little reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.” Cooper (1963), in an attempt to control a man’s crossdressing, kept him awake for one week with amphetamines and gave him drugs every hour to make him violently nauseous while requiring him to view pictures of himself crossdressed. The subject developed cardiac problems and had to be hospitalized for a month. Incredibly, while the author lamented not having scheduled regular EKG, neither he nor his contemporaries considered that his treatment may have been a bit overzealous. Barker, in 1965 in comparing the effectiveness of electrical shock and purgatives in the treatment of transvestism, never mentioned the use of nonaversive techniques, and he certainly never discussed the possibility that the subjects might be counseled to accept their need to crossdress and integrate their crossdressing into their lives rather than being repeatedly shocked or made nauseous. Because professionals, rather than those with lived experience, have been considered the ultimate authorities on transsexualism, the literature has tended to perpetuate myths and misinformation. Transsexuals themselves have been unable to correct these mischaracterizations. It has frequently been claimed that transsexuals have stereotyped notions of manhood and womanhood (see Bolin, 1988, Ch. 8 for a review). In my experience, and in the experience of those who have taken the trouble to study transsexuals outside the clinical setting, this is no more true for transsexuals than for anyone else, although transsexuals frequently report feeling they had to dress and behave in gender-stereotypical ways in order to please their caregivers (Bolin, 1988, 1994; Cromwell, 1997; Denny, 1997d). Nor do all transsexuals hate their genitals, as has been frequently claimed. Many masturbate frequently, a trait generally considered to be a contraindication for surgery, and a behavior about which a great many transsexuals have lied to a great many clinicians (Stone, 1991). In a thousand ways, transsexuals are unlike what has until recently been written about them, but they have been forced to conform or risk being denied access to hormones and surgery. The hubris of professionals can be almost without bounds. For decades, it was assumed that almost all male-to-female and all female-to-male transsexuals were heterosexual after surgery. Lou Sullivan, a female-to-male transsexual who identified as a gay man and refused to hide or lie about his sexual orientation, was able to obtain surgery only after a concerted and energetic campaign to educate professionals (Pauly, 1992; Sullivan, 1989). The reality of Sullivan’s sexual orientation was too apparent; he died of AIDS in 1991—and yet in 1996, a clinician insisted to me that were no gay-identified female-to-male transsexuals. Ironically, I must even now cite a professional source as well as Sullivan’s own work in order to document the fact of his homosexuality. In retrospect, it is professionals, and not transsexuals, who were more likely to have been stuck in a Rambo/Bimbo limboland. They have consistently projected their often sexist notions onto transsexuals. Kessler & McKenna (1978) have noted that those turned away by one program included Puerto Ricans, who “looked like fags” to the gender clinic doctors (p. 118). They note also that one prominent clinician turned away male-to-female transsexuals whom he did not find sexually appealing (p. 118). When transsexuals, desperate for treatment, conformed to professionals’ Ken and Barbie notions, it merely confirmed and perpetuated the expectations generated by the literature (Denny, 1992). While a thorough discussion of the ways the literature has impacted transsexual lives would be enlightening, it would be a formidable task. I would like, however, to mention the effect the literature has had on two widely-disseminated and often-referenced protocols. The Standards of Care of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, Inc. (Walker, et al., 1984), which were first introduced in 1980 as a set of minimum consensual guidelines for the hormonal and surgical treatment of transsexualism. They presuppose that transsexuals are incapable of making their own decisions about treatment and give gatekeeping power to mental health professionals for treatments which are available to nontranssexuals without such gatekeeping. Nearly twenty years after their introduction, the same suppositions rule and have even gained in strength; the most recent proposed revision increases the gatekeeping power of mental health professionals over transsexuals (Levine, 1997). Until recently, they defined the breasts of female-to-male transsexuals as “genitals,” which they clearly are not. Bolin (1992) has pointed out that such characterizations are based on the view of female bodies as commodities. Transsexuals themselves become commodities under the Standards of Care. For example, a recent flyer for a professional workshop called “Managing the Transsexual” (a vision of a lion-tamer with a whip and chair comes immediately to mind) enticed professionals by promising a highly motivated audience which was willing to pay cash for psychological and medical treatment. Not only do transsexuals find their autonomy limited by treatment protocols; they now have a mental illness. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association, 3rd edition (DSM-III, 1980) saw the inclusion of gender identity disorders for the first time. DSM-IV (1994) includes categories for both Transvestic Fetishism (302.8) and gender identity disorder (302.85), replacing the DSM III-R’s (1987) diagnosis of Transsexualism. The DSM-IV’s language has been roundly criticized by Wilson (1997), who finds that it and its supporting materials (Spitzer, ed., 1994) perpetuate negative stereotypes about transgendered and transsexual persons by the use of demeaning images and terminology. Wilson notes among other things that (1) the DSM-IV casebook describes a male who crossdresses as “The Fashion Plate;” (2) the DSM-IV categorizes transvestic fetishism with criminal behaviors like pedophilia and exhibitionism; and (3) the DSM-IV “blames the victim” for discrimination suffered by gender-variant people at the hands of society. Inclusion in the DSM is of little benefit to transsexuals, who, despite psychiatric diagnosis, are routinely denied insurance benefits for hormones, surgery, and counseling, and who, because they are categorized as mentally ill, frequently find themselves losing their jobs or custody of their minor children. Several years ago, Dierdre McCloskey, a prominent economist, was involuntarily psychiatrically hospitalized when she announced her decision to undergo sex reassignment. While it’s unclear what, if any, role the DSM played in McCloskey’s hospitalization, it was certainly available to provide a psychiatric label for what was in fact a well-considered and rational decision (McCloskey, 1996). The Standards of Care and the DSM were prepared by committees which drew heavily upon authoritative published material about transsexualism. Now they in turn are considered authoritative. They are nevertheless based upon a flawed and pejorative literature, and continue the faulty assumptions, sexism, and negative stereotypes of that literature. There is little doubt that they will come under increasing attack from activists, and little doubt that they will fall under the weight of their own shortcomings. The psychomedical literature of transsexualism is self-influencing, like a snake swallowing its own tail. It invites a certain understanding of transsexualism, and suggests certain directions for future research, which is done in due course and which in turn finds its way into the literature. Those most directly influenced by it are those who produce it; they tend not to see its recursive nature; they are simply too close to it. The careful reader may note that most of the articles and books I have chosen to use as examples predate 1991. There are two reasons for this. First, time, even a few years, gives us a perspective that is lacking with the more recent literature; and second, there has been considerable improvement during the past ten or so years. Certainly, however, the literature continues in large part in its previous vein; it is simply disparaging transsexuals in more subtle ways. We will probably have to wait a decade or so to document that fact. However, I will give one recent example of a paper which is colored by an author’s assumptions about transsexuals. Lothstein (1997), argues that interacting with prospective clients outside the consulting room can be “dangerous to our profession” (p. 273). That seems strange enough to those of use who are both transsexual and professionals and who have not considered ourselves in danger from transsexual acquaintances, friends, relatives, or lovers, or when we look in our bathroom mirrors—and it would certainly seem a peculiar notion to those trained in ethology, anthropology, or other disciplines which have as their mainstay naturalistic observation. However, insight into Lothstein’s thinking is perhaps best gained by the following sentence: “Person and Ovesey (1978) even visited transvestite and transsexual support groups to learn more about the phenomenon and to clinically inform their psychoanalytic perspective on how gender is experienced outside the consulting room” (p. 273, italics mine). Lothstein’s use of the word even shows how daring, dedicated, and perhaps foolish he considers Person & Ovesey to have been for venturing into transsexual space; he makes it sound as if they were Daniel, going into the den to beard the lion. None of the more than 300 transsexual support group, group therapy, and national transgender meetings I have attended have been anything other than polite gatherings; certainly none were anything like the circus Lothstein described in his 1977 paper (see above). It will come as no surprise to the reader that it is my belief that the literature needs to be reformed. In fact, reform is underway, and I expect it would continue without any help from me. I am, however, not averse to hurrying things along. We are in need of a new literature for a new century, a literature which is respectful to transsexual and transgendered people, and which will explore new territory without being bound by limiting beliefs. Before this can happen, the contributions of non-clinicians—anthropologists, sociologists, queer and feminists scholars, and transgendered and transsexual authors—who have been for the most part been ignored by medical and psychological professionals, must be acknowledged and their viewpoints and data incorporated into the clinical zeitgeist. Moreover, we must learn to talk about transsexuals as human beings rather than patients, for only then will we be able to discuss then in terms that do not endow them with pathology. There has been resistance among clinicians to other voices (Denny, 1993). But the literature must change, and the literature will change. My hope is it will happen sooner rather than later. Transsexualism is rather like a land that has been colonized by conquistadors from across the seas. For nearly 50 years now this transsexual country has been flying the flag of our masters. It’s not the flag of Spain or France or Portugal or England, or even the United States. The flag of the transsexual land is a caduceus, a staff entwined by serpents. Our flag is the symbol of the medical profession. Physicians have owned this land and its inhabitants—transsexuals—registered, copyrighted, trademarked, lock, stock, and barrel, signed, sealed, and delivered. [2] This approach can be useful when dealing with individuals who have psychological or psychiatric problems; however, the model makes it impossible to look at any transsexual or transgendered person without a presumption of psychopathology, and colors the very language used. (See Cromwell, Denny, & Green, 2001). [3] Well, maybe just a bit. While postmodern theory can be difficult to read and sometimes seems to have its own rather opaque language, it has much of worth to say. Unfortunately, some medical and psychological professionals reject it in its entirety, usually with claims that it is antiscientific. “The difficulty with social constructionism is that it impedes science and the collection of knowledge” (Hershberger, 1997, p. 560). Hershberger is being shortsighted, for he presumes scientists and therefore science have no social agendas—and of course, they do. What social constructionism actually attempts to do is to cast loose the moorings of science, to test unchallenged and often unconscious assumptions scientist may not even know they have. In this regard, it is indeed scientific, for it enables new viewpoints that result in reinterpretation of existing data. What essentialists are actually arguing for is to maintain the status quo, which impedes science, which is really all about the very shifts in perspective that social constructionism can facilitate. [4] I have a letter from McHugh, written in 1994, in which he expresses his profound disbelief that a post-operative male-to-female transsexual could be sexually attracted to other women. If McHugh had spent any time with male-to-female transsexuals, he would have known that a significant percentage (probably about one-third) of post-op male-to-females self-identify as lesbian. One wonders how someone with so little knowledge of transsexualism and transsexuals feels qualified to rage about them in the pages of American Scholar, as has McHugh. [5] In contrast to the behavioral treatment of adults, which has gone unremarked, the behavioral treatment of children (attempting, of course, to cure them for their own good) has come under heavy fire. See Zucker & Bradley (1995) for an medially-biased overview and Burke (1996) for an anti-treatment position. Abel, G.G. (1979). What to do when nontranssexuals seek sex reassignment surgery. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 5(4), 374-376. 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D. Thourson Palmer sheared sheep in rural Ohio, studied in the Appalachian foothills, explored Japan by train and pack, and got lost in the Central Valley of California. He’s writing fantasy and lives in Columbus, Ohio. Revik Lasivar knows he is a savior. He knows he will never be defeated. He knows he is fighting for good. Ours Is the Storm is a fresh take on the classic fantasy novel and is listed on BestFantasyBooks.com’s top Indie Fantasy. Raze is an ongoing weekly epic fantasy web serial, a serious, character driven portrait of the greatest warrior the world has ever known, told from his holding cell before his execution at the hands of the woman he loves; a cell he chose; a cell in which he waits. To find out why, you have to get to know RAZE.

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Johann Ernst, Prince of Saxe-Weimar, was born 25 December 1696, son of Johann Ernst III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and his second wife, Charlotte Dorothea Sophie of Hessen-Homburg. His name was linked to the figure of Johann Sebastian Bach, who lived at the court of Weimar from 1708 to 1717, in the same years that music became the main interest of the young prince, a coregent of the duchy. Johann Ernst took violin lessons from G. C. Eilenstein, a musician of the court. In February 1711, he moved to the University of Utrecht and had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam, where he bought a copy of the Estro Armonico concertos by Vivaldi. On returning to the Weimar court, he became an enthusiastic supporter of the new instrumental Italian style, taking composition lessons with Johann Gottfried Walther, the organist of the municipal church and cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach. Walther had previously dedicated the treatise “Praecepta der musikalischen Composition” to the young prince for his twelfth birthday. The birth of the concertos “appropriati all’organo” by Walther, like the concertos for harpsichord and for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV 592-596 and BWV 972-987), was due to the great passion of Prince Johann Ernst for this genre of music. He commissioned the two virtuosos to transcribe many Italian violin concertos and adapt them for keyboard. As well as the celebrated Vivaldian concertos, Bach also adapted four compositions by Johann Ernst. Telemann himself had dedicated a series of violin sonatas to the prince in 1715. The style of these concertos was largely indebted to Vivaldi’s way of writing: some compositional ingenuities do not compromise the general effect of freshness, life and vivacity. The first and fourth concertos also exist in the transcription by Johann Sebastian Bach for harpsichord.

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It is the policy of the State Board of Education and the Ohio Department of Education (collectively the “Department”) that openness leads to a better informed citizenry, which leads to better government and better public policy. It is the policy of the Department to strictly adhere to the state’s Public Records Act. All exemptions to openness are to be carefully construed and any denial of public records in response to a valid request must be accompanied by an explanation, including legal authority, as outlined in the Ohio Revised Code. If the request is in writing, the explanation must also be in writing. The Department, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, defines records as including the following: Any document – paper, electronic (including, but not limited to, e-mail), or other format – that is created or received by, or comes under the jurisdiction of a public office that documents the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office. All records of the Department are public unless they are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law. Section 1.1 – It is the policy of the Department that, as required by Ohio law, records will be organized and maintained so that they are readily available for inspection and copying (See Section 4 for the e-mail record policy). Record retention schedules are to be updated regularly and posted on the Department’s website. Section 2.1 – Although no specific language is required to make a request, the requester must at least identify the records requested with sufficient clarity to allow the Department to identify, retrieve, and review the records. If it is not clear what records are being sought, the records custodian or his/her designee may deny the request, but shall provide the requester an opportunity to revise the request by informing the requester of the manner in which the Department keeps its records. Section 2.2 – The Department may ask the requester to put a public records request in writing, may ask for the requester’s identity, and the intended use for the information being requested. However, the requester does not have to put a records request in writing, and does not have to provide his or her identity, or the intended use of the requested public record. Requesters will be informed that they are not required to put the request in writing, provide their identity, or purpose of the request. The Department may explain how providing the request in writing, the requester’s identity, and purpose may enhance the Department’s ability to respond to the request. Section 2.3 – Public records are to be available for inspection at all reasonable times during regular business hours, with the exception of published holidays. Public records must be made available for inspection promptly. Copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable period of time. “Prompt” and “reasonable” take into account the volume of records requested; the proximity of the location where the records are stored; and the necessity for any legal review of the records requested. Section 2.4 – Each request should be evaluated for an estimated length of time required to gather the records. Routine requests for records should be satisfied within a reasonable amount of time. Routine requests include, but are not limited to, meeting minutes (both in draft and final form), budgets, salary information, forms and applications, personnel rosters, etc. Requests that require legal review are not considered routine requests. If fewer than 20 pages of copies are requested or if the records are readily available in an electronic format that can be e-mailed or downloaded easily, the request should be satisfied as quickly as the equipment allows. Section 2.5 – Any denial of public records requested must include an explanation, including legal authority. If portions of a record are public and portions are exempt, the exempt portions are to be redacted and the rest released. Section 3.4 – Requesters may ask that documents be mailed to them. They will be charged the actual cost of the postage and mailing supplies. Section 3.5 – The Department may choose to waive copying costs for routine requests or requests involving a small number of copies. Documents in electronic mail format are records as defined by the Ohio Revised Code when their content relates to the business of the Department. E-mail is to be treated in the same fashion as records in other formats and should follow the same retention schedules. Section 4.1 – Records in private e-mail accounts used to conduct public business are subject to disclosure, and all employees or representatives of the Department are instructed to retain their e-mails that relate to public business (see Section 1 Public Records) and to copy them to their business e-mail accounts and to the Department’s records custodian or his/her designee. Section 4.2 – When an email’s content pertains to the work of the Department, employees and the records custodian or his/her designee are to treat the e-mails from private accounts as records of the public office, filing them in the appropriate way, retaining them per established schedules and making them available for inspection and copying in accordance with the Public Records Act. The Department recognizes the legal and non-legal consequences of failure to properly respond to a public records request. In addition to the distrust in government that failure to comply may cause, the Department’s failure to comply with a request may result in a court ordering the Department to comply with the law and to pay the requester attorney’s fees and damages.

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In order to evaluate the improvement in knowledge and practice of the trainees in providing health care services at the grassroots level after the program, Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI), as an independent assessment body, has been conducting the survey in 15 provinces. The survey was started with Yen Bai Province, from March 25th to April 3rd 2019. In the fieldwork, the research team surveyed 30 CHSs in three districts (Tran Yen, Van Yen, and Luc Yen) where the team collected information in various forms. The team directly assessed CHS trainees via clinical observation of the medical doctor/assistant doctor; interviews with health workers on knowledge and practice using structured questionnaires that correspond with their designated job titles (managers, doctors/assistant doctors, nurses, midwives, and pharmacists). In the meantime, the team also gathered forms on service provision of CHSs and conducted patient exit interviews. Additionally, a number of focused group discussion were undertaken with the members of Commune People Healthcare Steering Committee, health workers who were involved in the training, and people living in CHS’s catchment area in order to obtain comprehensive and objective view about the CHS’s performance after the training programs. In each district, the team, furthermore, discussed with leaders of district health center and relevant departments (Medical Professional Department, Personnel and Organization Department, Pharmacy Department, etc.), which offered health managers’ reflection and perspective on the training outcomes. The information collected from the survey will be synthesized and analyzed to provide a comprehensive post-training assessment of the capacity improvement of CHS staff in providing PHC services in 15 provinces of HPET.

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JUST LISTED: The largest remaining private portion of the original Camp Huntington — one of the early sites for Scouting in Southern California — is being offered to the market for the first time in more than forty years. Set on a varied, verdant slope in Rubio Canyon, here is a private and tranquil oasis with mountain and canyon views, adjacent to wild lands but just minutes from the city below. The Traditional home offers four bedrooms, two and one-half baths, spacious living room, family dining room, pool, attached double garage, plus a separate workshop. Oaks, pines, deodar cedars and ancient olive trees are spread across the idyllic landscape, creating smaller areas for play, shade, relaxation and the simple delight of the remarkable environment. The property is comprised of three parcels totaling just under five acres, zoned LCR1-20,000. All include both water and utilities; the owner has additional water stock certificates in-hand to allow for potential development. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a large private retreat or to create several individual estates.

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People with periodontitis have a greater likelihood of hypertension, according to a study published in Cardiovascular Research. High blood pressure affects 30-45% of adults and is the leading global cause of premature death, while periodontitis affects more than 50% of the world’s population. Hypertension is the main preventable cause of cardiovascular disease, and periodontitis has been linked with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

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Dr. İpek's research project addresses the question of how socialization among states and non-state actors influences preference change and results in cooperation on energy security. Focusing on the creation of the European internal energy market, which is crucial to achieving energy security for the European Union (EU), and NATO's initiative to promote energy infrastructure security, Dr. İpek's project will identify contingent factors of socialization affecting cooperation in regard to energy security. These findings would then help guide policy makers and diplomats in setting appropriate mechanisms to facilitate cooperation to overcome the challenges of energy security. Fulbright Senior Scholarships allow researchers to spend up to six months in the United States. Following the completion of their research activities in the United States, grantees are expected to return to Turkey and share their Fulbright experience with others.

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The International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) Secretary General John Graz and the IRLA South American Secretary General Edson Rosa visited Peru and Chile on September 21 through 30. On September 24, they met with various religious leaders and officials in Lima, Peru. The Honorable Aldo Estrada Choque, Vice President of the Congress of the Republic, congratulated the IRLA for its promotion and defense of religious freedom in the world. He affirmed that religious freedom is a fundamental freedom for the Republic of Peru. On September 25, the IRLA delegation met the President of the Commission of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, Raquel A Gage Priale. Dr John Graz proposed the organization of the First World Festival of Religious Freedom in Lima, Peru in 2009. This proposal was supported by several religious leaders, including Presidents Samuel Sandoval and Pastor Orlando Ramos, leaders of the Adventist Church in Peru. The date of November 21 was chosen and a steering committee was nominated.

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IronWolf is committed to providing value added solutions for our customers. We believe that relationships are the key to our company. We listen to our employees, customers, and partners to create the best solution for the application. Our success is driven by our values, mission and vision. We build relationships on trust, respect, integrity and loyalty. To develop synergistic relationships that elevate the financial well being of all parties involved. To create world-class solutions that increase the value for our business partners. OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT is dedicated to providing quality solutions in a timely manner. Our support staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the event that parts are needed for repair, most items can be shipped from our warehouse the same day. IRONWOLF’S EMPLOYEES protect the values that support our culture. We believe that people are the ultimate source of our competitive advantage. At IronWolf, we work smart, have fun, and enjoy our successes.

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External auditors are certified or licensed individuals from independent firms that contract with a school district to perform the annual financial statement audit. The work performed by the external auditor is guided by established professional standards and legal mandates. The external auditors audit the year-end financial statements. The external auditors may also be consulted to discuss issues such as alternative accounting treatments of specific accounting transactions and new legislative mandates. The Board of Education appointed Cullen & Danowski, LLP as the independent auditors of the Jericho Union Free School District. At the September Board of Education Meeting the External Auditors presented a report to the Board of Education and to the general public. The district received the highest level of approval on its audit for 2017 and the auditors provided an "unmodified opinion."

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The Village Hall Committee will be holding their AGM on Tuesday, 26 January 2010, at 7pm in the village hall. If you are interested in helping with the general running of the village hall, fund-raising, and the on-going refurbishment and improvement then perhaps you might like to become a member. The village hall is used for a variety of functions from the summer Gala Day to the school plays, youth club, birthday parties and the New Year Party. Anyone aged 16 or over is welcome to come on board.

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Below is a list of crimes reported for North Whittier in the latest seven days. Keep in mind that the number of crimes reported for this time period may increase over the coming weeks as the Sheriff provides additional data. Over the last six months, the rate of 18.4 crimes per 10,000 people is higher than in nearby Avocado Heights and Hacienda Heights and lower than Pico Rivera. North Whittier is covered by two police jurisdictions. The neighboring communities are Avocado Heights, Hacienda Heights, Industry, Pico Rivera, Whittier and Whittier Narrows. North Whittier is one of the 272 neighborhoods in Mapping L.A., The Times’ resource for crime, neighborhoods, demographics and schools.

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Mario Anglada has over 23 years of experience developed at leading Healthcare companies such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle Health Science, Univision Communications and now leads Hoy Health LLC. Hoy Health LLC, is a first-of-its-kind health-tech platform that provides a comprehensive and integrated bilingual healthcare support ecosystem to medically underserved patients offering solutions relative to medication access, medication adherence, tele-health and chronic condition management programs. Hoy Health’s core businesses include HoyMEDS, a prescription medication discount program; HoyRX, a medication discount voucher program; HoyCCM, a clinical chronic condition management program and its direct to consumer retail counterpart HoyLIFE chronic condition management kit; and HoyDOC, a telemedicine program. Visit http://www.HoyHealth.com. Medical Travel Today (MTT): Tell us how you got started in this venture. Mario Anglada (MA): I have almost 25 years of experience in healthcare, with leadership roles in marketing and sales for all different types of products within the medical arena. During my career, I have worked in a variety of market segments including pharmaceutical, over-the-counter medications, medical devices, medical nutrition, drug distribution, pharmaceutical distribution, as well as telemedicine and healthcare products and services. Over the years, I saw that while the U.S. population is rapidly increasing, within the Hispanic domestic population there were no concentrated solutions that focused on the needs of the Hispanic consumer from the perspective of culture and language. We created Hoy Health to solve the needs of Hispanics, as well as other medically underserved populations across the United States. Our ultimate vision is to have a global company providing services worldwide. MTT: Please describe the Hoy model, what makes it unique and its product and service offerings. MA: Hoy has basic elements to all its products and services: all are directly billed and sold to the consumer. We built a platform that does not need a payment mechanism by a third party, which eliminated the need for insurance. HoyRXallows anybody in the United States to utilize our purchase platform to buy medications for themselves or loved ones at a standardized pricing bracket of $10 to $40 in $5 increments. The system generates a voucher that is immediately emailed and available for use at 62,000 pharmacies throughout the country. The voucher is prepaid. Consumers can purchase vouchers for their family members living in the U.S. or in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Our team will transmit this purchase to our partners in each of those countries. The partner then delivers the medication that was pre-purchased for the family members within 24 hours of a purchase on our site in the United States. HoyMEDSis a drug discount card. The card is free, and the consumer takes it along when paying for medication. The pharmacist will take the information on the discount card and will tell the consumer the discounted rate — up to 80 percent discount for cash pay pricing. HoyDOCis our telemedicine platform offered to consumers and doctors. It is a free and complete medical record. Soon, this platform will allow consumers to have primary care consults with board certified bilingual physicians across our geographic footprint at a very low cost. Our projected consult cost is expected to be around $25, which allows the consumer to have access to a doctor 24/7 in either English or Spanish. Initially, it will be available in the United States and Central America at scale, but we plan to take this global. MTT: What would you say are the unique features and benefits of the program? What sets you apart? MA: I think the uniqueness of what we are doing is related to understanding what the consumer needs from the perspective of primary care medicine. We have modeled our products and services to be accessible without the need of a third-party payer. Today, someone with insurance can get adequate primary care very effectively. The problem is that those who do not have insurance or are without the support of a third party are unable to engage with doctors. Keep in mind that 90 percent of your life is dependent upon primary care — so our unique value proposition lies in taking products and services that historically were only available through an insured model and offering them directly to the consumer at a more affordable, low-cost. MTT: Could you expand on how this addresses a global need? MA: We chose primary care because the needs of a diabetic consumer in Kenya, Rwanda, Puerto Rico, Puerto Vallarta or the Bronx are the same. The primary care delivery model is typically the same – a face-to-face interaction with a healthcare professional and longer-term monitoring. We sought to create products and services that not only supported products and services here in the United States, but also met the needs of anybody in the world. That’s our mission: providing affordable and acceptable primary care to everybody, everywhere. Our first phase is to utilize that affinity across international borders for consumers in the United States. Ultimately, once we have that established across the globe, our goal is to replicate the Hoy Health model of direct consumer purchases from our website, resale partners and support ecosystem in every country, worldwide. We want to take our U.S. model – in which the consumer buys on our platform from partners and then interacts directly with the primary care provider without the need for insurance – and replicate it in every country we enter. MTT: Why now? Why hasn’t this been done before? And how is this going to be received in the community? MA: In the United States, there’s been a separation of primary care from an institutional setting. Historically, you went to your doctor’s office in your community and that doctor was typically associated with a hospital system, hat hospital system and the doctor were your primary care providers. Now, we’re seeing new models of care that are more direct-to-consumer. For example, telemedicine and virtual care are a reality, allowing the consumer and provider to consult directly from a variety of provider apps. Another trend is that retailers have entered the primary care space and now provide services directly to the consumer. Consumers embrace all of this. We have started with the Hispanic community because historically, these consumers have been underserved in terms of their medication or healthcare needs. I think about 17 percent of the population in the United States today is of Hispanic origin. When you look at the number of doctors that are Hispanic, we are only talking about seven percent of them being designated Hispanic. That’s a big differential. When you overlay on top of that the language barrier, those numbers get even smaller. We are at the inflexion point where a tablet or a cell phone is available to most consumers across the country and internationally. This means consumers can have a telemedicine consult video, communicate with healthcare professionals at a distance, and access health information all from their devices and whenever it is most convenient for them. MTT: Does your model accommodate resellers and channel partners? MA: Absolutely. We have contracts in place with unions and plan sponsors, hospitals, retailers, benefits companies, and other intermediaries that are our conduits to the consumer marketplace. The variety of scope of our channel partners are impressive – and we are always welcoming new collaborative opportunities. As our investor community expands, and our footprint grows nationally and internationally, Hoy Health is destined for even greater success on a global level.

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We are a locally owned and family-operated business. We have lived in the Seguin/New Braunfels area for over 25 years. We both graduated from Southwest Texas State University, and we met while working at Schlitterbahn in 1999. Fast-forward to 2018, Ella now teaches at Navarro Junior High, and I (Mike) am leaving Schlitterbahn after 25 years. We have met so many wonderful people at Schlitterbahn, and getting this project off the ground wouldn’t have been possible without some of their help. Although it will be sad leaving the Bahn behind, we are looking forward to this next great adventure and can’t wait to make some of the best tasting ice cream you will ever try.

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Should I Get Help? And What If I Don’t Get Help With My Anger Issues? If you’re like most men, you’ve been taught to hide your emotional concerns. But hiding problems with anger only makes them worse and can lead to other serious problems. Although difficulties with anger can create a lot of problems, these difficulties can be remedied. Left unaddressed, however, difficulties managing anger often worsens and can result in damaging, long-term consequences for you, your kids, your marriage, your career, and your future. So, if you’re reluctant to get help with your anger for yourself, consider doing it for the well-being of your kids or the people close to you. For many men, one of the biggest obstacles to seeing an anger management therapist is the concern that if others — like coworkers — found out, something bad will happen or they’ll lose respect. Don’t let these fears impact your family, your relationship with your partner, or your future success. Muster the courage to ask for the help you need. Research shows, finding a anger management therapist who you’re comfortable with — and one who understands men — is critical for psychotherapy or anger management to be effective for you. But it’s not easy to find an experienced therapist who’s skilled at working with men. I’ve trained thousands of health professionals nationwide in how to best help men, and have helped men in individual counseling and psychotherapy for over 20 years. I can help you to better manage your anger. I know asking for help is sometimes hard, but phoning now is a start. Give me a call at |||PHONE_NUMBER||| . I’ll be happy to talk with you and answer any questions you might have.

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Our servers collect data regarding each site visitor’s session. This information is collected so we can compile and analyze usage data to provide reports to Morehouse College as well as further develop the site to be more useful to visitors. Site visitors are not required to submit personal information to the website(s) we host on behalf of Morehouse College. However, if they decline to do so, we may not be able to provide site users with requested content or services. Any personal information that site visitors submit through the website is owned by Morehouse College, and used only to provide the contracted-for services.

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Do you sometimes get the feeling that there’s a whole world of news Out There which, for some reason, the usual media won’t touch? The BBC Radio 4 news was this morning covering the terrible tragedy of the sinking of a boatload of refugees off Italy. To answer it they interviewed a guy now resident here, who had actually got into Europe after more than one such trip. He started off by saying that things were so bad at home in Libya that he couldn’t stay, but then went on to describe the horrors of the voyage, the starvation, the daily deaths, the women lapsing into insanity and finally his return home. “Goodness!” exclaimed the presenter. “After an experience like that whatever made you decide to try again?” And here’s where the script went off-message, because the guy explained that he hadn’t made the choice. He’d been on his way to church with others, when government officials rounded them up and forced them on to a boat. At that point the interviewer said thankyou, and spoke to a United Nations official who described the economic and physical pressures that made ordinary people feel constrained to strike out for Europe. And that’s a sorry enough tale. But fleeing from a war zone is one thing. Being exiled from your country on a lethal overcrowded hulk by your government – apparently on the grounds that you are a Christian on his way to church in a predominantly Muslim country – is another, and very much more sinister. Why do you suppose it’s one in which the BBC (or the other mainstream media) seems to show no interest, even when first hand evidence is presented in a relevant interview?

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Pouyan Rezvani is an Iranian postdoctoral researcher at the project PAL. In his PhD dissertation he worked on two hitherto unpublished astrolabe texts by Abū Rayḥān Bīrūnī under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jan P. Hogendijk at Utrecht University. He was an academic member of the department of the history of science at the Encyclopaedia Islamica Foundation (Tehran, Iran) from 2013 to 2018. His special interest is history of astronomical instruments in Medieval Islam. PhD: Utrecht University, Mathematics Institute, GS-Natural Sciences, 2019. Dissertation: “Two Treatises on the Astrolabe by Abū Rayḥān Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Bīrūnī (973-1048 A.D.)”; Promotor: Prof. Dr. Jan P. Hogendijk. MA: University of Tehran, Institute for the History of Science, Astronomy in Islamic Civilization, 2011. Thesis: “Theoretical Foundations of Sundials in Islamic Civilization with Persian Translation and Commentary on Ibn al-Haytham’s Risāla fī al-Rukhāmāt al-Ufuqīyya (Treatise on Horizontal Sundials)”; Advisor: Dr. Mohammad Bagheri. BSc: University of Arak, Faculty of Science, Physics, 2009. “Chronology of the Events of the Samarqand “Observatory and School” Based on some Old Persian Texts: a Revision” (with Hamid-Reza Giahi Yazdi), Suhayl (International Journal for the History of Exact and Natural Sciences in Islamic Civilisation), vol. 14, Barcelona, 2015, pp. 145-165. “Two Early Persian Texts on Shadow Schemes and the Regulation of Prayer Times”, Suhayl (International Journal for the History of Exact and Natural Sciences in Islamic Civilisation), vol. 13, Barcelona, 2014, pp. 119-147. Introduction to the Facsimile Edition of Three Treatises by Thābit ibn Qurra (Sundials, Solar and Lunar Motions, a Fourteen-Sided Solid Inscribed in a Given Sphere), Miras-e Maktoob (written heritage) Publications with the Collaboration of Institute for the History of Science (University of Tehran), Tehran, 2014.

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Riverhawk’s workplace health & safety program aims to remove or reduce the risks of the health, safety and welfare of all who may be affected by our business operations. To do so, Riverhawk’s management strives to provide a safe working environment, safe systems of work, and a commitment to all matters relating to health and safety in the workplace. Riverhawk maintains a commitment to continually improve our performance through effective safety management. This is done by asking all employees to comply with safe work practices, report all incidents on the job regardless of seriousness and to report any known or observed hazards to a member of management.

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Trying to navigate through insurance and addiction treatment options that are available to you can be challenging and disheartening at times. While you are well aware of how important it is to get help for your or a loved one’s addiction, insurance companies don’t always seem to feel the same way. Fortunately, there are options no matter what type of insurance that you have, you just have to be willing to put in the effort to find the one that best meets your needs. The type of addiction treatment that you may have access to can greatly depend on your insurance as well as funds that you have available. In some cases insurance companies will agree to allow you to select any center that you wish while paying a certain amount each day. Others may only allow you to select from centers that have already been pre-approved by the company. It is important to communicate with your insurance company about the fact that you are seeking treatment so that you can get as much information about the assistance that they are willing to provide before you get started. If you have a treatment center in mind you should contact them to determine whether or not they accept your insurance. If they say they do not it is worthwhile asking if they are willing to negotiate with your insurance company. In some cases there is the ability to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both parties. This is especially true when there are not providers that have been approved by your insurance company that are in a close distance to where you live. Remember what you are fighting for when negotiating your way through this process. It is also important to note that you may be able to get care without the use of your insurance depending on the area in which you live. Some states have taken measures to help anyone get the treatment that they need. The rise in drug related deaths and crimes have put a focus on the need for people to have access to these services in greater numbers than ever. Be sure to look into any services that may be offered in the community in which you live. There are also some centers that are non-profit or take on a certain number of cases free of charge each year. These centers often require that you apply, and a spot is not guaranteed. They often select individuals on a case by case basis depending on a number of factors. This is still an option, however, if you are willing to go through the process. It can be extremely daunting when you are dealing with insurance and addiction treatment issues. The key is to keep yourself focused on what your ultimate goals is. There is no room to give up on the ultimate goal. You may be told no a number of times while trying to get the help that you need and deserve, but with perseverance there is always a way.

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If you’re planning to improve the condition and quality of your home and business, then you came to the right place! San Diego Foundation Repair provides foundation inspections and maintenance services to residential and commercial facilities. This is one of the best things you can do first before you purchase or sell your property. Give us a call or visit our website so we can assist you with your concerns. Foundation Repair Problem, Solved! Plumbing leaks, drainage, and poor soil conditions are just some of the reasons why a foundation fail. The good thing is – there are a lot of options available in terms of repairing your foundation. Basically, you need to determine the problems in your home – like sloping floors – and the reasons behind these. At San Diego Foundation Repair, one of the goals is to find out what started everything – and we believe that it’s best to check the interior of the home first before we proceed with the exterior and crawlspace (if applicable). To come out with the best foundation repair inspection, we believe that we need to thoroughly check the entire home or office space so we can come out with the right solutions. Our mission, as one of the top foundation repair service companies, is to provide the most accurate repair for residential and commercial spaces, in accordance with State and Local Building Codes. We also keep in mind to provide a practical solution, therefore, our services are available at a reasonable price. You and your property are our top priorities so we come out with a solution that is both affordable and of high quality. So if you’re looking for the best foundation repair inspection in San Diego, then look no further! Give us a call now or contact us through our website. Our foundation repair company does not just focus on giving the right inspection and maintenance service to your facilities, we also aim to equip you with the right knowledge so you’ll know how important it is to ask for professional assistance. Neglecting a cracked slab or worn out stemwall is a usual scenario that may lead to further problems. Are Foundation Bolts Important In Every Home? Foundation bolts are essential tools when attaching a wood sill plate to the concrete perimeter. It’s important for a home to have this as bolts secure the house to the foundation in case of an unlikely event, such as an earthquake. How Do I Know If My Stemwall Is No Longer Usable?

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In conformational isomerism where the two geometric forms easily interconvert, such as most open-chain single-bonded structures; instead, the terms syn and anti would be used. When the substituent groups are oriented in the same direction, the diastereomer is referred to as cis, whereas, when the substituents are oriented in opposing directions, the diastereomer is referred to as trans. An example of a small hydrocarbon displaying cis/trans isomerism is but-2-ene. Cis and trans isomers often have different physical properties. Differences between isomers, in general, arise from the differences in the shape of the molecule or the overall dipole moment. These differences can be very small, as in the case of the boiling point of straight-chain alkenes, such as pent-2-ene, which is 37 °C in the cis isomer and 36 °C in the trans isomer.[3] The differences between cis and trans isomers can be larger if polar bonds are present, as in the 1,2-dichloroethenes. The cis isomer in this case has a boiling point of 60.3 °C, while the trans isomer has a boiling point of 47.5 °C.[4] In the cis isomer the two polar C-Cl bond dipole moments combine to give an overall molecular dipole, so that there are intermolecular dipole–dipole forces (or Keesom forces), which add to the London dispersion forces and raise the boiling point. In the trans isomer on the other hand, this does not occur because the two C-Cl bond moments cancel and the molecule has a net zero dipole (it does however have a non-zero quadrupole). The two isomers of butenedioic acid have such large differences in properties and reactivities that they were actually given completely different names. The cis isomer is called maleic acid and the trans isomer fumaric acid. Polarity is key in determining relative boiling point as it causes increased intermolecular forces, thereby raising the boiling point. In the same manner, symmetry is key in determining relative melting point as it allows for better packing in the solid state, even if it does not alter the polarity of the molecule. One example of this is the relationship between oleic acid and elaidic acid; oleic acid, the cis isomer, has a melting point of 13.4 °C, making it a liquid at room temperature, while the trans isomer, elaidic acid, has the much higher melting point of 43 °C, due to the straighter trans isomer being able to pack more tightly, and is solid at room temperature. Thus, trans-alkenes, which are less polar and more symmetrical, have lower boiling points and higher melting points, and cis-alkenes, which are generally more polar and less symmetrical, have higher boiling points and lower melting points. In the case of geometric isomers that are a consequence of double bonds, and, in particular, when both substituents are the same, some general trends usually hold. These trends can be attributed to the fact that the dipoles of the substituents in a cis isomer will add up to give an overall molecular dipole. In a trans isomer, the dipoles of the substituents will cancel out due to their being on opposite site of the molecule. Trans isomers also tend to have lower densities than their cis counterparts. The cis/trans system for naming alkene isomers should generally only be used when there are only two different substituents on the double bond, so there is no confusion about which substituents are being described relative to each other. For more complex cases, the cis/trans designation is generally based on the longest carbon chain as reflected in the root name of the molecule (i.e. an extension of standard organic nomenclature for the parent structure). The IUPAC standard designations E/Z are unambiguous in all cases, and therefore are especially useful for tri- and tetrasubstituted alkenes to avoid any confusion about which groups are being identified as cis or trans to each other. Z (from the German zusammen) means "together". E (from the German entgegen) means "opposite". That is, Z has the higher-priority groups cis to each other and E has the higher-priority groups trans to each other. Because the cis/trans and E/Z systems compare different groups on the alkene, it is not strictly true that Z corresponds to cis and E corresponds to trans. For example, trans-2-chlorobut-2-ene (the two methyl groups, C1 and C4, on the but-2-ene backbone are trans to each other) is (Z)-2-chlorobut-2-ene (the chlorine and C4 are together because C1 and C4 are opposite). Whether a molecular configuration is designated E or Z is determined by the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules; higher atomic numbers are given higher priority. For each of the two atoms in the double bond, it is necessary to determine the priority of each substituent. If both the higher-priority substituents are on the same side, the arrangement is Z; if on opposite sides, the arrangement is E. Cis–trans isomerism can also occur in inorganic compounds, most notably in diazenes and coordination compounds. alkenes and alkynes to alkanes, but for a different reason: the trans isomer cannot line its hydrogens up suitably to reduce the alkene, but the cis isomer, being shaped differently, can. In inorganic coordination complexes with octahedral or square planar geometries, there are also cis isomers in which similar ligands are closer together and trans isomers in which they are further apart. For example, there are two isomers of square planar Pt(NH3)2Cl2, as explained by Alfred Werner in 1893. The cis isomer, whose full name is cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), was shown in 1969 by Barnett Rosenberg to have antitumor activity, and is now a chemotherapy drug known by the short name cisplatin. In contrast, the trans isomer (transplatin) has no useful anticancer activity. Each isomer can be synthesized using the trans effect to control which isomer is produced. For octahedral complexes of formula MX4Y2, two isomers also exist. (Here M is a metal atom, and X and Y are two different types of ligands.) In the cis isomer, the two Y ligands are adjacent to each other at 90°, as is true for the two chlorine atoms shown in green in cis-[Co(NH3)4Cl2]+, at left. In the trans isomer shown at right, the two Cl atoms are on opposite sides of the central Co atom. A related type of isomerism in octahedral MX3Y3 complexes is facial–meridional (or fac/mer) isomerism, in which different numbers of ligands are cis or trans to each other. Metal carbonyl compounds can be characterized as fac or mer using infrared spectroscopy. ^ "IUPAC Gold Book - geometric isomerism". Goldbook.iupac.org. 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2010-06-22. ^ "Chemicalland values". Chemicalland21.com. Retrieved 2010-06-22. ^ Craig, N. C.; Chen, A.; Suh, K. H.; Klee, S.; Mellau, G. C.; Winnewisser, B. P.; Winnewisser, M. (1997). "Contribution to the Study of the Gauche Effect. The Complete Structure of theAntiRotamer of 1,2-Difluoroethane". Journal of the American Chemical Society 119 (20): 4789. IUPAC definition of "stereoisomerism" IUPAC definition of "geometric isomerism" IUPAC definition of "cis-trans isomers"

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Lizabeth Kate Morell, a.k.a. "Liza," is proud to be part of the Bailey team, having lived in California serving the local community for over 30 years. Liza specializes in extraordinary homes for the contemplative life, retirement options and sustainable, cooperative development. Her specializations prompted a move to Corralitos after being a long-time Aptos resident, expanding her real estate territory to include not only Santa Cruz County but also the greater Monterey Bay area. Liza has been serving in the educational community, currently on the Board of Directors of The Orchard School, and was director of Glenbrae Learning Program for middle school students. A graduate of UCSC, with Honors in Psychology and Community Studies, Liza traveled extensively and received dual citizenship in New Zealand, prior to returning to Santa Cruz to raise a family. Her daughter Arianna, "Lulu," is an accomplished performing artist and honors student attending the University of Redlands in Southern California. Liza was born and raised in New York, where she enjoyed the natural beauty of Long Island and attended the Dalton School in Manhattan. "Liza continues our tradition of joining forces with full time real estate professionals and offering them tools and resources to serve our clients." Paul and Robert Bailey.

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The idea of strategic planning for corporations evolved in the 1960s from military planning concepts. In The Little Black Book of Strategic Planning for Distributors, Brent Grover hints at the similarities between business and war. Harvard professor Michael Porter was the catalyst for a corporate interest in strategy according to Brent, releasing Competitive Strategy in 1965. Brent postulates in The Little Black Book that the generation of business leaders who fought in World War II were receptive to Porter’s aggressively competitive message, leading to a wave of interest in corporate strategy and the rise of big-time consulting firms Boston Consulting and McKinsey as the strategic planning go-to experts.

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GFWC partners are the organizations with whom GFWC has established a formal relationship and mutual understanding. Our partners offer unique and customized services: materials, speakers, kits, and/or additional information specifically designed for GFWC clubs. GFWC is proud to partner with a number of dynamic and impactful organizations. Together, we are working to improve our communities and better our world. Prevent Child Abuse America is the leading national, not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is “to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children.” Prevention is defined as the abuse or neglect never occurring. The Prevent Child Abuse America national office is located in Chicago, Illinois, and its network includes 47 statewide prevention chapters. The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. They carry out this mission through research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies' lives. They help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies, and if something goes wrong, they offer information and comfort to families. Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) is a national nonprofit organization founded to improve the environment where more than 90 percent of America’s population lives—cities, towns, and metropolitan areas. In 1993, its founders shared a vision of a verdant, healthy, functioning urban environment supported by a broad base of community residents who value trees as part of their community’s infrastructure. Today, ACTrees is a growing national network of more than 250 member and program partner organizations. These organizations are involved in community greening, stewardship of their community trees, public environmental education, policymaking, and other activities which engage residents in growing and sustaining tree canopy, and our urban groves and forests. Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation. For more than five decades, HOBY has been inspiring young people to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, workplace, and community. HOBY also provides adults with opportunities to make a significant impact on the lives of youth by volunteering. More than 4,000 committed HOBY volunteers plan and execute the programs each year. Due to the selfless efforts of volunteers and the contributions of generous donors, nearly 10,000 students participate in HOBY programs annually. Easter Seals provides services to ensure that all persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play. Easter Seals assists more than one million children and adults with disabilities and their families annually through a nationwide network of more than 550 service centers. Each center provides top quality, family focused, and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the community it serves. The Heart Truth® sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is a national education program for women that raises awareness about heart disease and its risk factors and educates and motivates them to take action to prevent the disease. Through this program, the NHLBI leads the Nation in a landmark heart health movement embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women. The Heart Truth and The Red Dress are registered trademarks of HHS. Red Dress is a service mark of HHS. National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA. The Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign educates women and health care providers about the five most common types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. This initiative was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and supports the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or Johanna’s Law, passed unanimously by Congress in 2006, and signed into law in 2007. Inside Knowledge offers information and resources in English and Spanish to women and health care providers about risk factors, symptoms, and prevention strategies associated with each of the cancers. For more than 65 years, Heifer International has provided gifts of livestock and environmentally-sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 15 million families in more than 125 countries through training in livestock development and livestock gifts that multiply. Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity focused on restoring children’s smiles through performing surgery on facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. They are dedicated to raising awareness of this life-threatening issue and providing lasting solutions that will allow children to be healed, regardless of financial standing, well into the future. Operation Smile’s free surgeries and medical missions are made possible by the thousands of volunteers and donors, throughout the world, who generously contribute time, talent and resources. Shot@Life, a United Nations Foundation’s campaign, seeks to educate, connect, and empower Americans to champion vaccines in order to save children in developing countries. Every 20 seconds, a child dies of a vaccine-preventable disease like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, and polio. You can help save a child’s life by encouraging, learning about, advocating for, and donating vaccines. For more than six decades, GFWC has supported UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, in its efforts to ensure the world’s most vulnerable children have access to health, and immunization, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency and disaster relief, and more. Are you concerned about the decline in your club's membership? Is it a struggle to find volunteers? Have you ever wondered, "Where are the young people?" Holding a Bridging and Bonding conversation will help your club explore these questions. Invite club members, family, friends, or members of other organizations. The ideal size is about 12-18 participants. A Bridging and Bonding conversation can help your club strengthen ties with other organizations and increase your visibility and membership. Your club will be recognized at the GFWC International Convention and contribute to a GFWC national report on the issue. Materials are free and support is available. Contact Debi Witte of the Kettering Foundation at |||PHONE_NUMBER||| or |||EMAIL_ADDRESS||| This project is a collaboration between GFWC and the Kettering Foundation. To learn more about the foundation, click here. Sew Much Comfort provides adaptive clothing to support the unique needs of our wounded service personnel members, including all branches of the military and national guard. Unfortunately, standard clothing does not properly fit with fixators, prosthetics, and casts. For many, a hospital gown is the only option. SMC adapts store-bought or sewn clothing using our custom-designed patterns. The clothing is designed to appear as normal civilian clothing, and is constructed for ease of dressing, fostering self-care. Sew Much Comfort is the only organization providing adaptive clothing at no cost to our wounded service members.

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Trillium Health Partners Foundation is proud to host the 8th Annual Laugh Out Loud, presented by Square One. Since 2013, this high profile gala has featured comedic heavyweights, including Howie Mandel, Martin Short, Gerry Dee, Russell Peters, James Corden, Jay Leno and last year, Wayne Brady! Laugh Out Loud 2020 builds on our tradition of delivering unparalleled entertainment by showcasing the best comedy the world has to offer. This edition of Laugh Out Loud sees the return of energetic funnyman Howie Mandel, who launched our LOL gala in 2013 as event headliner and is coming back to mastermind the comedy fest in support of mental health care at Trillium Health Partners. Mandel has carved a name for himself as the darling of network television, hosting hit primetime shows such as Deal or No Deal, and as the endearing and long-serving judge on America’s Got Talent. With a prolific 30-year career that includes movies, TV game shows, and even an animated series, this versatile performer has risen through the ranks of show business to become one of the most recognizable names in entertainment. So join us on Saturday, February 29, 2020 for a very special night of laughter at the Toronto Congress Centre to support Trillium Health Partners! Check out our pics from LOL 2019 with Wayne Brady!

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Building on nine successful national conferences on teaching Canada’s history, the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) in collaboration with l’Association québécoise pour l'enseignement en univers social (AQUES) will be holding the 10th such national conference entitled Identities and Engagement. This French language conference will be held on October 17-18, 2013 at the Chateau Bromont hotel, in Bromont, Quebec. The 2013 edition of the event on the teaching, learning and communication of the history of Canada will address various issues concerning Canadian history, identity and engagement of students as well as including a number of sessions on the francophonie in Canada and teaching history and social studies in French outside of Quebec. In Addition the ACS will mark the 50th anniversary of the royal commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism with a number of sessions on the Commission and its impact on the development of Bilingualism and Biculturalism in Canada over the last 50 years. The ACS invites proposals for sessions. These may be individual workshop sessions, panel or other types of conference sessions. The ACS will cover the travel costs and one night hotel costs for all session proposals that are accepted. All conference participants must pay the conference registration fee of $270.00 ($140.00 for students). The conference organizing committee welcomes proposals dealing with methods for teaching our history and obstacles to overcome in making history relevant to the daily lives of students in the classroom. We invite submissions on such topics as the impact of historic conflicts on Canadian identity, history and geography. Other topics include the social and economic characteristics of Canada during the first two decades of the nineteenth century, the nature and evolution of relations between British, French and Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the challenge of teaching history in our classrooms. The organizers are seeking proposals from various disciplines and perspectives. We ask that proposals be no longer than 200 words. Proposals will be evaluated by the Conference steering committee of the Association for Canadian Studies. Individual sessions will be 20 minutes in length and group session will be 75 minutes. Visit our web site at www.acs-aec.ca to register for the conference as well as for additional conference information. Please send proposals by e-mail to James Ondrick, Director of Programs of the Association for Canadian Studies at |||EMAIL_ADDRESS||| or call |||PHONE_NUMBER||| before the deadline of May 27, 2013. The conference will be pertinent to all those interested in issues revolving around the teaching and communicating of Canadian history. Professors, students, teachers, researchers, civil servants, decision makers and members of non-profit and history related organizations will benefit from the conference sessions, as well as the opportunity to meet and hear experts from across Canada. The conference will look at the most effective methods in teaching history, address current issues in communicating history and look at the relevance of history in our daily lives. The event will bring together teachers and pedagogical consultants from across Quebec, as well from a number of provinces throughout Canada. In addition, many of Quebec’s and Canada’s leading academics and authors as well as researchers and representatives from museums, archives, government, non-governmental organizations and media will be present. The theme this year of identities and commitment is closely linked to the different identities that make up our Canadian society. Thoughts on francophone integration, multiethnicity or deep research of our own identity will be a subject discussed at the conference. The commitment goes hand in hand with that identity, whether through social involvement or the energy deployed by our youth: If the identity is well defined, the commitment is that bigger. This identity construction and commitment grows daily in our classes in history and education for citizenship, geography and contemporary world. Across the disciplines of the social universe, we are helping to shed light on these different identities and encourage commitment social or personal for each of our students.

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Mentorn Media's output has a breadth and quality that ranks it as one of the UK's foremost producers. Established in 1985, Mentorn Media is one of the UK's longest established independent television production companies, making thousands of hours for broadcasters in the UK and worldwide. Our offices in London, Cardiff and Glasgow produce programmes across a range of genres. We are one of the biggest independent companies in the UK, and pride ourselves on building strong relationships of trust with institutions, government departments, businesses and members of the public who provide access. Question Time, The Big Questions, Traffic Cops, Motorway Cops, and Cowboy Trap are recognized brands in the BBC's output, placing Mentorn Media as the sixth biggest supplier in terms of hours to the BBC. We have begun the second series of BBC Three current affairs studio show Free Speech and recently produced the acclaimed Panorama documentary: Stephen Lawrence - A Time For Justice. Over the last couple of years Mentorn Media has produced two series of The School Musical and in 2010, An Idiot Abroad with Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington for Sky1, as well as the award winning documentary series Fish Town for Sky Atlantic broadcast in 2011. If you've worked for Mentorn Media, add credits to your profile to appear here.

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Jasmine Harman finds properties in Cartagena, Spain for Richard and Jackie from Southampton. The couple is torn between moving to Devon or Spain, with Richard wanting to stay close to family in Devon while Jackie dream of a lifestyle change in Spain. With a budget of £250,000, it is Spain that offers the best value for this kind of cash. The first property on view in Spain was in the conservation area of Campillo de Adentro. It is an extended country house set in two acres of land with amazing mountain views. The property comes with a small pool, two bed rooms, a summer kitchen and a conservatory. The asking price at the time of viewing was £228,000. Next on view was a property in the old town of Totana, which is surrounded by prime hiking land. The detached villa has three bedrooms, ½ an acre of land and a pool, and has a BBQ and a choice of four different outside eating areas. Finally, the couple was shown a house in the beautiful village of La Penilla. It is a traditional rustic home set in 1.3 acres with a pool and olive grove. Inside there are three bedrooms and a separate annex with an additional bedroom.

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Provinces, municipalities, police forces, businesses, investors and untold other Canadians have been working at the double-quick to get ready for legalization of cannabis. Canada’s senators must not be seen as partisan laggards who hold up their hard work. The answer is ‘not very long from now’, provided some opposing senators turn their minds to the substance of Bill C-45 rather than focusing on how they it can be delayed. The most recent timing issue emerged earlier this week, when Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor told a special committee meeting of the Senate that Canada’s provinces and municipalities need eight to 12 weeks of lead time to adapt to the regulations that would follow approval of the bill. Other organizations have also been preparing diligently, hiring staff, training individuals, investing etc. These organizations have important timetables and they expect the Senate of Canada to respect their work by doing its job. Indeed for provinces like Ontario and New Brunswick, approval can’t come soon enough. In this sense, approval of Bill C-45 by May of this year sounds more desirable than July for provinces, who have already invested significant time and resources for the preparation of legal cannabis. So it’s time for us to pull up our socks and get on with the work we are paid to do. The question of timing arose shortly after the Bill arrived in the Senate in November last year — driven by reactions to the federal government’s July 2018 target date for the kick-off for the proposed new regime. At that time, Andrew Scheer, the Leader of the Conservative parliamentary caucus, who obviously doesn’t think we have a problem with cannabis in Canada, publicly directed Conservative senators to delay the Bill. So much for independence in sober second thought. Mr. Scheer’s Senators appear to have snapped to it and a very serious public health issue is becoming a political football. These Senate Conservatives are saying “what’s the rush?” while going AWOL in participating in the Second Reading debate. As of Feb. 7, not a single member of that caucus had spoken in the Chamber to Bill C-45, even though there has been ample opportunity to do so since November. In fact, that group shut down questions minutes after I had delivered my second reading speech on Nov. 30. This is all a bit rich from a political party which itself knows something about moving legislation with dispatch. Time allocation motions were employed over 100 times during the tenure of the previous government, with some bills pushed through in one day. By contrast, time allocation has not been used in the Senate once since the 2015 election. Admittedly, the view is different from the opposition benches. Adequate time to study a bill comprehensively is crucial. But let’s be real. Bill C 45 will be scrutinized for months as opposed to days. Hardly a rush. In the midst of the timing debate, it is important to note that the conversation on legalizing cannabis is not new. Indeed, the Senate of Canada’s Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, chaired by a former Conservative senator, recommended the legalization of cannabis in 2002. Another challenge with debate in the Senate is the slap-dash, truncated, approach to debates which are plagued by tactical adjournment-driven delays. This happens far too regularly. But the new cadre of independent Senators see the possibility of a more effective and efficient Senate which moves beyond the replication of the political dynamics of the House of Commons. One that really does provide sober second thought. Reform-minded senators of every stripe were advocating for this long before my arrival. But we now have a critical mass interested in pushing that agenda forward. At the centre of this discussion is a proposal for the creation of a senate business planning process, one in which senate leaders organize and map out timelines for review of government business. This would ensure that blocks of time are set aside on the calendar to really dig down into legislation in a concentrated way. Alas, the response from some of my Conservative colleagues was that they preferred the traditional way of doing business. But I think it’s time to move on and I suspect that many Canadian observers of the old-school Senate would agree. I’d be supportive of trying this again, and I know that Senator Peter Harder, the government representative in the Senate, as well as senators from all corners of the chamber, also like this approach. Frankly, there will be a time when we have to decide. Let me conclude by saying that, like other independent senators, I don’t have to take instructions from Andrew Scheer or Justin Trudeau. My focus is on doing the best job I can for Canadians. Now that is a privilege. This article appeared in the February 8, 2018 edition of iPolitics. Read it here.

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Miha Pogačnik is a virtuoso violinist and cultural ambassador with an exceptional capacity to use classical music to inspire creative leaders to think beyond traditional boundaries. His presentation will be titled "Passage Through The Fire: A Harmonious Strategy For Uncertain Times", and is likely to be one of the most unforgettable presentations of the year. Through his music, Pogačnik brings the concept of 'Creative Leadership' to life by exploring the relationships between harmony and tension, success and failure, flow and crisis. In an economic climate of great turbulence, there's no better time to seek creative inspiration from 'outside the box'. Part impassioned classical musical performance, part live improvisational drawing and 100% unbridled energy, Miha is an inspirational master of communication. His presentation is made possible by the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. Miha Pogačnik boasts an unusual mix of musical and corporate skills. He is the President and Founder of the Institute for Development of Intercultural Relations through the Arts (IDRIART) and a Board Member of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. Since 1998, he has directed the annual Business and Art Conference at Castle Borl, Slovenia and has also addressed the World Business Academy, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and groups at the United Nations. Miha´s clients also include Ericsson, Royal Dutch Shell, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Saatchi & Saatchi, Whirlpool, Skandia Insurance, ABN Amro Bank, Nike and The Body Shop. He has also orchestrated 180 intercultural festivals and exploratory learning journeys around the world to build bridges between cultures, minds and perspectives in recognition of the need for change. Miha also serves as Cultural Ambassador of Slovenia. He works in English, German and Slovene.

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Lawrence's Nolan Spencer was chosen as the Midwest Conference Player of the Week. APPLETON, Wis. -- Lawrence University baseball standout Nolan Spencer has been chosen as the Midwest Conference Player of the Week following the Vikings' spring break trip to Florida. Over the Vikings' final six games, Spencer (Elmhurst, Ill./York) hit .478 while batting in the lead-off spot. The senior shortstop went 11-for-23 with a triple, six runs scored and four runs batted in. Spencer also collected five walks to help him compile a .571 on-base percentage. He did some damage on the bases as well by going 6-for-6 on stolen bases. Spencer pushed his average on the season to .395, and he is now 10-for-10 on stolen bases. Lawrence returns to action on Saturday when the Vikings host the University of Chicago in a four-game set at Whiting Field to open Midwest Conference play.

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The 18th International Symposium on Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc and Wireless Networks (WiOpt 2020) will take place from June 15 to 19 , 2020 in Volos, Greece. It welcomes different perspectives, including performance analysis, protocol design, wireless communication, and optimization theory. Contributions to this symposium should improve the state-of-the-art in design, analysis, dimensioning and operations of wireless network by providing insights into theoretical aspects as well as providing practical methods and tools. All forms of wireless networks are of interest: from cellular wide-area and local-area networks to dense and sparse Ad Hoc networks; domain specific vehicular, public-transport and personal-area networks as well as application-specific sensor networks. Tutorial proposal: TBD.

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It seems the norm that everyone despises their job, and yes, the occasional grumble is to be accepted. But when your job begins to raise your stress to abnormal levels, you could be putting your personal relationships, safety and health at risk.

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Lausanne, Switzerland, June 14, 2015 — Crossing the pond for the first time in 2015, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) travels from Norway to the United States as the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour continues with the $800,000 FIVB St. Petersburg Grand Slam this week in Florida, the second of five double-gender FIVB Grand Slams on this year’s schedule.

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History or rumour has it that the Ailsa Tavern was named after a young woman of that name that was once the land lady of the pub. The story goes that she and a local dignitary would meet via an underground passage. This was rumoured to run from the tavern to his house some distance away. The couple could not meet in public because the differences in their social position would have scandalised public opinion at the time.The tale is probably based on fact as rumours about the tunnel persist to this day. So reads the famous plaque in the garden of the Ailsa Tavern. Everybody loves a little local legend, a little naughtiness and a little 'upstairs-downstairs' romance, but this a true story? The beautiful barmaid on the pub sign and the little lady with the pewter jug, walking through the Wisteria will have to remain a mystery! However, like most good rumours, there is an element of fact in the story and in this case it is the 'underground passage'. There is no evidence that the tunnel ever came near to the pub, but it was built for an ultimately romantic purpose.

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Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce that it has set up the Acquisitions Advisory Committee and the Services Consultation Group. This means that LAC will henceforth be able to call on the expertise and invaluable advice of external specialists from across Canada, at the same time strengthening the links it enjoys with the library and archives communities. These two committees are in addition to the Stakeholders' Forum, which, for several years, has been bringing together key organizations from Canada's library and archives communities. You can find the mandates, the lists of members and summaries of the discussions of our committees in the About Us section of our website.

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The dangers of alcohol abuse during the teenage years are well documented. Alcohol use has links to memory loss and deterioration of parts of the brain; in teens, the risk of alcoholism is unique. Since teen brains are still developing, they sustain serious damage that can be irreversible. To mitigate risk of permanent damage, parents of a teen struggling with an alcohol dependency should look into an adolescent drug detox program as soon as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that alcohol is the most common drug of abuse in youth in the United States. Though the consumption of alcohol is illegal for those under the age of 21, youth aged 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. Teenagers are more likely to engage in episodes of binge drinking compared to adults, and 1/3 of all high school seniors reported a past 30 day drinking episode in the 2017 Youth Behavior Risk Surveillance System (YBRSS). Additionally, research links the early onset of drinking with an increased risk of the development of an alcohol use disorder. The risk is highest for those who binge drink, and those who develop and alcohol use disorder may require supervised alcohol detox and withdrawal. Adolescent alcohol use can have a myriad of negative side effects, but one of the most concerning is the effect the substance can have on normal brain development. Alcohol interrupts communication between the nerve cells in the brain and those in the rest of the body. The primary active ingredient in alcohol, ethanol, suppresses the activities of nerve pathways, which is what makes an intoxicated person appear lethargic, sluggish, or slow. In developing brains, the risk of permanent damage is much higher. In particular, two areas of the developing brain are vulnerable to damage during episodes of teenage drinking: the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. A component of a major brain system called the limbic system, the hippocampus plays a vital role in memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Research on adolescent drinking shows that extended alcohol use is linked to a 10% reduction in the size of the hippocampus itself. During this crucial stage of development, the hippocampus is especially vulnerable to damage, such that alcohol may poison the nerve cells themselves. Permanent damage to the hippocampus can affect the ability to recall information in an academic setting or even related to future job performance. In general, the brain develops from back to front. In infancy, newborns are limited to seeing a short distance as their occipital lobe develops. By the time a child has reached adolescence, much of the rear portions of the brain are fully developed; however, the prefrontal cortex is still evolving and research shows that it goes through the most change during adolescence. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in judgement, planning, impulse control, and decision-making. Young adults who drink heavily have smaller prefrontal cortexes than those of the same age who don’t drink. Additionally, alcohol can disrupt the physical changes the teenage brain undergoes during this stage of development, leading to a decrease in cognitive function and reduced ability to problem solve. Unfortunately, the changes that the brain undergoes after exposure to alcohol in adolescence can be permanent. Teens who drink heavily in adolescence may experience structural changes to the brain that impair the ability to make calculated decisions, regulate emotions, form and recall memories, and absorb and apply information. The implications of these changes are wide ranging and expand well beyond the bounds of academic performance. Teenagers who drink heavily are at higher risk for alcohol and other substance use disorders, as well as increased risk for vehicular crashes and other injuries related to alcohol use. Several factors may affect teen alcohol use. First, research shows us that teens gravitate to risky behaviors such as drinking as a form of “novelty seeking.” At this point in their development, teens often seek new experiences to test boundaries in preparation for “leaving the nest.” Secondly, peer pressure often lead teenagers to take a first drink, especially in the age of social media “challenges.” While a little “experimentation” may seem harmless, even small amounts of alcohol over adolescence can increase a teen’s likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use disorders can be difficult for parents to pinpoint, because, at first glance, these symptoms could just be parts of being a teenager. However, most parents know intuitively when there is a larger problem. Dealing with a teen drug addiction is never easy, but with appropriate intervention, you can minimize the damage and get your child on the road to recovery. Does Your Child Show Signs of An Alcohol Use Disorder? Confront the problem. When approaching a teen about a potential substance use disorder, it’s important to use the right method. Teens are more likely to be combative or resist the idea that their drinking may be problematic. Learn the specifics about holding an intervention. Be nonjudgmental. Parents may ask questions out of concern for their child, but the teen may hear a critical tone. It’s important to frame questions and conversations in a neutral, non-threatening manner. Communicate empathy and compassion. Your teen should know that you understand how difficult this stage in development can be. Let them know that everyone struggles sometimes, but substances, such as alcohol, are not a healthy way to deal with the problems inherent in this stage of life. When your child feels they can trust you, they are more likely to open up. Teenagers are vulnerable to permanent brain damage as the result of drinking in adolescence. Unfortunately, the damage to the structures can be permanent, so it’s essential to address the behavior as soon as possible. By intervening as soon as a problem arises, parents can help their teens reach their full potential.

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With more than 28 years of federal service as an internal employee development consultant, and 20+ years in career counseling, Karol Taylor brings a broad perspective and considerable knowledge to the Career Management process. Offering career support in the training office of a small federal agency along with teaching and Academic Advising at the Community College level gave Karol a broad brushstroke of career-related experiences. Retired with an Encore Career as a private practitioner, Karol leverages her knowledge of both worlds to provide value-added Career Management experiences. Karol graduated with an MA in Counseling Psychology in Adlerian Studies from Bowie State University (BSU), with internships at the local community college career center. Karol is a certified Job and Career Transitions Coach, Certified Career Management Coach, Certified Brain-Based Success Coach, Certified Career Counselor, and a Certified Networking Strategist. Karol has been an active member of the Maryland Career Development Association (MCDA) since 2004, when she served as President, and went on to serve as Publicity Chair. In 2016, Karol left her post at MCDA to become the Maryland Counseling Association (MCA) President-Elect for a three-year term which ended June 2019. Karol has been a member of the National Career Development Association (NCDA) since 2004, where she currently serves on the Awards and Nominations Committee. Karol has been a member of ACA since 2015 and served on the 2018 Compensation Committee. In 2019, Karol received the Mark L. Savickas Scholarship for Outreach and Achievement from the Career Construction Institute and the Maryland Counseling Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Karol received the 2014 NCDA Merit Award and 2016 NCDA Outstanding Career Professional Award. In addition, Karol received the following MCDA Awards: 2011 President’s Award, 2014 Technological Innovative Award, and 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2013 Karol received the Middle Atlantic Career Counseling’s Outstanding Career Practitioner Award, and in 2003 their Career Ambassador Award. Karol is the coauthor of two books published by JIST, America’s Guide to Federal Jobs, 4th ed. and Find Your Federal Job Fit. She has had job search-related articles published by the National Career Development Association, the Association for Career Professionals, International, the National Employment Counseling Association, ATD’s Public Manager, and ACA’s VISTAS publication. Karol regularly presents at professional conferences including the America Counseling Association, National Career Development Association, National Employment Counseling Association, and the Maryland Career Development Association. She is a GCDFI/Facilitating Career Development Instructor and offers federal job search workshops. Karol Taylor can be contacted at: |||PHONE_NUMBER||| (M) and karoltaylor@verizon.net.

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With three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty there’s no shortage of gorgeous countryside to stay in if you want to try camping in Somerset. Exmoor National Park is a particular beauty spot, with lush green hills and valleys where you can enjoy a secluded break away from the rat race. You could even pitch your tent beside the River Exe, where adults, children and dogs alike can relax and unwind, bathe and fish, or explore the walking trails that track across the extensive farmland nearby. Exmoor is also a designated Dark Sky Reserve, which makes it the ideal place to do a bit of stargazing once night falls. There’s plenty to explore when you go camping in Somerset, from the county’s 50 miles of coastline and one of the longest stretches of sandy beaches in Europe, to attractions such as the Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole Caves, the historic West Somerset Railway or the shops and restaurants of the ancient Roman city of Bath. And when you’ve worked up an appetite, indulge on the best of Somerset’s local food – a slice of world famous Cheddar cheese, a bottle of Butcombe Beer or a local version of the traditional South West cream tea, made with Whortleberry jam unique to the Exmoor area. Westermill Farm, a 500 acre working hill farm in the heart of Exmoor National Park, offers a perfect spot for camping in Somerset. You can buy supplies from the small, seasonal shop on site – open for an hour each morning – including locally sourced bread, milk, eggs and bacon for breakfast, fruit and veg, a selection of home grown free-range meat (including award-winning Aberdeen Angus) for the barbecue, and of course, marshmallows for toasting over the last embers as evening falls. And the provisions don’t end there. Although peace and quiet are in plentiful supply at Westermill’s secluded countryside setting, you won’t be without your creature comforts. Facilities include natural spring drinking water, modern toilets and hot showers, plus a payphone, dishwashing area, laundry and Calor gas exchange. Camping in Somerset is the ideal break for families and couples looking for a combination of outdoor fun and rural relaxation.

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Dying Light 2 is set to be released on Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4. The game is powered by the C-Engine, a new generation of Techland’s in-house technology dedicated to open-world action-adventure and action-RPG games. The bold sequel to the open-world phenomenon, Dying Light 2 brings to life a unique post-apocalyptic vision of the Modern Dark Ages – a brutal, bleak and unforgiving reality where you are as likely to perish at the hand of a human as you are by the infected. In this exhausted world, your quick thinking, exceptional parkour abilities and brutal combat skills are the only things that let you dive into darkness and emerge alive. Make morally grey decisions and witness how they impact the world at multiple levels, shape the transformation of the City, and ultimately decide its fate. 5 Other Games I’d Rather See Get a Wii U HD...

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George Mylonakis specializes in geotechnical earthquake engineering, computational geomechanics, stress wave propagation, and soil-structure interaction with emphasis on pile foundations and retaining structures. He holds a Diploma degree in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University, Athens (1993) and a Ph.D. degree from State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo (1996). He has held or is currently holding appointments at the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER) as Research Assistant and Associate (1993-1997), City University of New York (CUNY) as Assistant and Associate Professor with Tenure (1997-2004), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) as Visiting and Adjunct Professor (2010-), and University of Bristol as Professor (2013-). Professor Mylonakis is recipient of the Shamsher Prakash International Research Award (2002), the City University of New York’s Performance Excellence Award (1999), and a Nominee for the 2001 Best Paper Award of the Japanese Geotechnical Society (2001). He has served as Coordinator, Researcher and Reviewer in over 15 research projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER), the Shimizu Corporation, the General Secretariat for Research andTechnology (GSRT) and the Ministry of Education of Greece, among others. Over the past fifteen years, Professor Mylonakis has authored or co-authored approximately 200 scientific publications (over 60 in professional journals), delivered more than 50 invited talks around the world and refereed for over 30 international journals. His work has attracted over 1000 citations by independent researchers. He has served or is currently serving as Editorial Board Member in the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (ASCE), the Journal of Earthquake and Structures, and the Journal of Environmental Geotechnics (ICE). Professor Mylonakis has also served as GuestEditor in Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering Journal and is elected member of the National Soil Dynamics Committee of ASCE. He is also member of several professional associations including ASCE, ICE, EERI, JGE and GRACM.

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Boucherville, Quebec, November 25, 2019 – Colabor Group Inc. (TSX: GCL) (“Colabor” or the “Corporation”) announces the appointment of Ms. Danièle Bergeron as Director of the Corporation effective today. Ms. Bergeron joins the Board of Colabor as the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec’s nominee, replacing Mr. Marc Baillargeon.

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Giorgio Galotti gave up a law career to work in the arts. After settling in Turin two years ago, Galotti opened a gallery and started a small, curated art fair called Dama, taking place from November 2nd to 5th in the historic Palazzo Saluzzo Paesana. The reason? Because Galotti believes that collaborative projects like this are the future of galleries. I graduated with a law degree with a focus in history and literature. After a master’s degree in contemporary art and a course in fundraising with Pier Luigi Sacco, I began to work at an archive of art from the 1960s in Rome. I cataloged works by Chamberlain, De Pisis, Pascali, Lo Savio, Kounellis, and many others, stored in a cellar in the historic center. When I was asked if I wanted to be payed in cash or in works of art, I chose the second option without hesitation. Soon I realized that I working as an art dealer would be my path. How and when did your gallery open? After that I opened a hybrid project space in Rome in 2008, that was a cross between a gallery and a non-profit, without any definitive goals except the idea of gaining experience in the field and learning a profession. Then I moved to Turin in October 2015 and opened a gallery in my name with the idea of growing along with it. What is your program? What is the connecting line between your artists? I am interested in the traditional means of expression, such as painting, sculpture and photography, but with a vision of my own generation, which often involves aspects of our current reality. What type of space did you choose for your gallery? A garage inside a courtyard with a baroque street display. I have always been attracted to garages and all the spaces I looked at always had in common a concept of formal simplicity. However, lately, I have been interested in more complex environments, such as ancient salons or places where there is living history, which I like, because in these spaces, nothing can be taken for granted as it can in a more neutral space. So maybe sometime my gallery will be in a different space. I imagine a place that does not need artificial lights and dialogs with nature. What do you think of the the panorama of art fairs today, and why did you decide to found DAMA in Turin? DAMA is a reaction to a system that I don’t agree with because it compresses galleries and artists into canons that they don’t necessarily belong in. Besides, I have always been more interested in making what I want, than in waiting for someone else to present something else to me. What I don’t like in the the usual art fair is the frenzy and superficiality that take place there, so typical of our generation. It is the most ‘pop’ way to go about it, to become known, but it is also a way to be forgotten quickly, like a summer turtle. However, an artist’s way always involves slow times, as the work develops from idea to reality. Perhaps this is why we don’t consider DAMA a fair, but an opportunity. Is there a person, or people, who have influenced your professional point of view? There are only two, both Italians: Fabio Sargentini and Leo Castelli. The first for his courage and vision, the second for the class he displayed in his art market dealings. If you could represent any artist you like, even from the past, who would you choose? There are many of them, all have in common a remarkable generosity, they derive from Lawrence Weiner’s way of working in disciplines that I’ve always been fascinated by: poetry, conceptual art, and graphics. How do you see your gallery in ten years? And DAMA? My gallery will go along with the development of my life, it will grow with me. If I live near the sea, it will be on a beach, if I live in the countryside, it will be in a barn, if I am in a city, who knows. I hope DAMA will be able to continue on its own with the support of all of the people who love the idea of it. I am convinced that collaborative projects like this are the future of galleries. Giorgio Galotti takes part in the 2nd edition of DAMA in Turin from November 2nd to 5th, 2017. From January 2020 the gallery has no permanent location.

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According to the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), their hotline received a message from a soldier under contract of the 14th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), who said that the Ukrainian army was preparing large-scale provocations in anticipation of the summit in the Normandy Format in Paris on December 9. According to the AFU soldier, the brigade command ordered the redeployment of heavy military equipment from permanent storage sites closer to the front line. In order to conceal the traces of the equipment movement, the personnel were ordered to dig over the areas where the heavy armoured vehicles were passing. The applicant also complained that it was extremely difficult to do so in freezing temperatures and frozen ground. Soldiers only have crowbars and blades. The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Lugansk People’s Republic checks the information received via the hotline. If it is confirmed, those involved in crimes against the civilian population of the Donbass will be held criminally responsible for the crimes under articles 439 and 440 of the LPR Criminal Code.

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Actress Padita Agu has shared the sad story of how her three-year old marriage packed up. In a video she shared on her Youtube page, Padita narrated how she got married to her ex-husband the very first day they met after maintaining a long distance relationship over the phone. According to her, she met her ex-husband at a friend's house. She had gone to the friend's house to console her and this friend later called to tell her that the man who was in her house when she came visiting, was interested in her and wanted her number. ''This guy and I have been talking over the phone and we got to the point of agreeing to be married. So he decided to sell me this wonderful idea, that how about we go on some adventure, lets get married the very first day we get to see because all this while we have been taling, I don't remember his face. I haven't seen him. He just saw me once when I came to my friend's place to consolde her. He might I seen me in my movies, I don't know. All I know is that at this point, we don't really know each other. We haven't seen each other but we have been talking over the phone. I don't remeber his face, I don't remember how he looks but we have been talking so we are so familiar but not just facially. So he said okay, how about we try some adventure, we arrange a marriage and we just see ourselves right at the registry when we are getting married. I was like wow, that's deep, that is serious. I was like what would my family say? What would I say to them> I was just scared but excited at the same time. So he said for my family, we don't have to tell them about the secret marriage. So once we are done, we would go and meet them as though we were just dating and we tell them we want to get married and we take it from there. So once we get married, maybe years later, if we had kids and all that, we can now open up to them and say 'oh by the way, we had a secret wedding. At that point, it wouldn't matter because then, we are already married. And as for him and I, once we do it and we meet ourselves and we realise we don't want this anymore, as quietly as we did it, we would just go and undo it. So I thought to myself, there is no harm in this. If we don't want it again, we dissolve it quietly like he said and my family don't have to know because eventually we would wed properly. So, I thought it was a nice idea. So, I went to the regustry because he was out of the country at the time. I went to the registry,got us registered. The day came, it was my birthday. He also chose my birthday to make it special. So I felt wow, this is amazing. That day I didn't tell anyone. In between, he told me not to tell anyone. that if I tell people, nobody would encourage it for some negative reason. Some might be jealous.

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Excelsior Academy is a multiple award-winning school committed to excellence in academics and character education. Some of the various awards and special recognitions are described below. On several occasions, Excelsior Academy has been recognized at the local, state and international levels. One of Excelsior Academy’s proudest moments was being recognized in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges awarded Excelsior with a six-year clear accreditation and several commendations. Excelsior was recognized as a National School of Character award winner. Excelsior Academy has had the honor of being chosen as a host school by the California League of Middle Schools and by four international teams of educators from Pakistan, Colombia, Singapore and England. The San Diego Chargers named Excelsior Academy as a Chargers Champions school.

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FDR & Associés is an independent, global consultancy specializing in helping financial institutions, insurance firms and the legal professional to manage financial, legal, investigative and security risks in complex and high risk environments. We support clients by providing strategic consultancy, expert analysis and in-depth investigations, handling sensitive financial and legal issues and providing practical on-the-ground hands on support and expert advice. Our unique combination of services, more than 20 years of experience in the respective fields of expertise, geographical reach and the trust our clients place in us, ensure our effective and result oriented problem solving capabilities across the world are capitalized.

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It’s been nearly a year since I reviewed the beautiful and challenging Limbo for Xbox LIVE Arcade. While at first Playdead didn’t show any interest in porting the game, recently CEO and co-founder of Playdead Dino Patti confirmed via Twitter that it is indeed on its way to PSN and Steam. The game is great (I gave it a 9/10), and I’m sure there are plenty of non-Xbox gamers out there who haven’t yet experienced the dark, surreal adventure that Limbo offers. This will be a good of a time as any, I say. The release date hasn’t been confirmed yet. But rumors say we should see it sometime late July. Until then, keep watching the official website and GAMINGtruth for up-to-date info.

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The government of Ethiopia has fired a big state company from the project to build the 6,450MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the country’s most important construction project, citing tardiness. Interpreted as a sign of new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s determination to clean up politics and balance ethnic interests, the decision is a blow for the military-run Metals and Engineering Corporation (Metec), which held the contract for mechanical and electrical work, including installing turbines. Abiy told reporters on 25 August he had cancelled Metec’s contract, citing complaints of lengthy delays made by dam’s main contractor, Italy’s Salini Impreglio. “It is a project that was supposed to be completed within five years, but seven or eight years later not a single turbine is operational,” Abiy told a news conference in Addis Ababa, reports Reuters. “Salini has even demanded compensation because of the delays,” Abiy said. “We decided to cancel a contract with Metec and offer companies with experience. Otherwise, it will take even longer,” he added. According to The Financial Times, Metec is perceived in some parts of the country as a tool of Ethiopia’s former governing elite, which had been dominated by the small Tigrayan ethnic group, represented by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Founded in 1970, Metec is Ethiopia’s biggest industrial company with interests in engineering, construction, arms manufacture and even sugar refining, reports the Financial Times. One local analyst told the FT the sacking of Metec was “very significant”. Situated on the Blue Nile, the GERD dam has been under construction since 2011 and is reported to be about two-thirds complete. It has sparked diplomatic tensions with Egypt, which worries about its water supply, but expressions of good will have marked recent talks since Abiy Ahmed came to power. The dam will dramatically increase the country’s power generation capacity, and Ethiopians see it as central to Ethiopia’s development and prestige. In July, the unexplained shooting of the project’s chief engineer, Simegnew Bekele, drew large crowds of protesters.

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Fahe is a 501(c) non-profit that serves Appalachia through affordable housing, community development, and job creation. We are a network organization with members and partners operating throughout the Appalachian region. Our mission is to create life changing opportunity by providing a platform for peer exchange, training, technical assistance, and access to capital and finance opportunities. Our network serves tens of thousands each year through this collaboration, bringing hope to Appalachia, at scale. The Fahe Membership Network consists of 50+ non-profit housing organizations across the six states of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, and Maryland. By collaborating with organizations that are an established part of the community we can more effectively impact regional issues such as energy efficiency, health, education, and the growing need of our large elderly population.

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How can this be? Current plans call for building new nuclear weapons as if the Cold War had never ended. This is dangerous. In the past, we lived with great risks that, at the time, we thought were justified. No longer. It is time to take a hard look at the arsenal and replace the weapons we need for today’s threats — and forgo the rest. During the Cold War, the greatest danger to the United States was a “bolt from the blue” from the Soviet Union — a massive surprise nuclear attack. We armed ourselves to the teeth to prevent this. Thankfully, those days are over. The Soviet Union disappeared 25 years ago. Current Russian belligerence, although worrisome, does not constitute a renewed Cold War. The Cold War arsenal includes intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarines, long-range bombers, cruise missiles and the nuclear warheads they carry. Last month, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that maintaining and replacing the arsenal over 30 years would cost $1.2 trillion in constant dollars, or $1.7 trillion with inflation. The CBO’s new cost estimate is much higher than previous ones and should be a wake-up call that current plans must be rethought. We should consider all aspects of our nuclear posture and our conventional forces’ needs before rushing headlong into these expensive and contentious development programs. We believe, too, that taking a more prudent course in rebuilding our deterrent systems could help avoid a new arms race with Russia that neither side should want.

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ASTROWORLD is the 3rd studio album by rapper Travis Scott. It was released on August 3, 2018, by Cactus Jack Records, Epic Records, and Grand Hustle Records. The album follows his second studio album Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016), and his collaborative album Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho (2017) with Quavo. The album features guest vocals from Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean, Drake, The Weeknd, James Blake, Swae Lee, Gunna, Philip Bailey, Nav, 21 Savage, Quavo, Takeoff, Juice Wrld, Sheck Wes and Don Toliver, among others. Production was handled by multiple producers, including Mike Dean, Allen Ritter, Hit-Boy, WondaGurl, Tay Keith, Tame Impala, Frank Dukes, Sonny Digital and Thundercat. Astroworld was supported by three singles, “Butterfly Effect”, “Sicko Mode”, and “Yosemite”. The album received critical acclaim and performed well commercially, debuting atop the US Billboard 200 with 537,000 album-equivalent units, of which 270,000 were pure sales. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Astroworld is nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, with “Sicko Mode” receiving nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.

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Last night we sat down with our two children, ages 11 and 13, for a family movie night. We were cruising through titles and stopped dead at “PAY IT FORWARD,” one my all time favorites that we had not yet watched as a family due to mature content. It was only after it ended when we started to discuss it that I realized what a perfect film it was for the EASTER weekend. EASTER is all about “Paying it Forward” and what a world we would have if everyone acted about in it. First the movie. IMDB sums the movie up like this. “A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance.” More specifically the new, maimed, social studies teacher asks his 7th grade students to take on this project for the year, to come up with a NEW idea how to make the world better. Our lead character, an 11 year old boy of an alcoholic mother and abusive father, comes up with the “pay it forward” concept and puts it in to action. For those unfamiliar with the film it means to do something hard and incredibly generous for someone else that likely does not deserve it. Our boy Trevor helps a drug addicted, homeless man get a fresh start, tries to help his mother get off alcohol and stay away from the returning abusive husband, he connects deeply with the very wounded social studies teacher and works to reconnect him to the world, and to love, and more. As he plot unfolds he thinks his idea has failed because the short term outcomes do not match his expectations. What he does not know until the end of the film is that HE has started a movement. A jaded news paper reporter hundreds of miles away is the recipient of one of these random acts of extreme generosity and when told about ‘pay it forward’ feels compelled to track the source down. Over the course of the film we discover many lives touched by this one idea and 3 single acts of our boy Trevor. He has changed the world. He has succeeded and now, because of this reporter he knows it. Is it to bad we don’t have a reporter tracking our lives to see the outcomes of our actions or rather, is that a good thing? Well as a Christian I believe I do have that reporter. I believe that every thing I have done and will do in my lifetime I will have to account for. Until I became a Christian the thought of that freaked me out, and was so scary that it kept me at a distance from my faith, but not anymore. There was a moment many, many years ago when I chose to share with a friend my deepest secret that I had been too ashamed to tell anyone that I discovered GRACE. With tears pouring from my eyes, I acknowledged that I, like these incredibly damaged adults in this movie, was not perfect and was in need of forgiveness and acceptance. I needed to not only be forgiven, but forgive myself for the mistakes I had made ( and continue to make ) and that for me, it was my faith in Jesus Christ that allowed both to happen. That moment changed my life as it was the moment I chose to accept the GRACE that has been offered to me, and is in fact offered to everyone. “Pay it forward” is not a Christian film per se but within it is the message at the heart of Christianity, and that is that we all deserve to be loved unconditionally and have the opportunity for forgiveness such that we can aspire to become our best selves every single day. Being your best self means not living just for you, but living to serve others. Living to ‘pay it forward.” That is what makes it such a perfect fill for Easter. When the teacher gave these children the assignment and asked them what they thought about it they all said it was stupid, dumb, ridiculous as they did not see themselves as powerful. They did not see themselves as having the POSSIBILITY to positively impact the world at large. Wow. Ask you child this question. Ask the neighbors’. Ask anyone. Then discuss it. It is about paying it forward, it is about living the most generous and loving life we are capable of and at the same time, forgiving ourselves when we are far from perfect. In this film 11 year old Trevor shows his family, his community, that everyone can make a difference. “Be the Change you want to see in the World.” Happy Easter.

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Under the New Trump Standard, Why Wasn't Obama Impeached? In truth, Democrats want this President out because they don't like him or his policies. One of Trump's major campaign promises was to build a "wall" to protect our southern border. Never mind that, in 2006, 26 Democratic senators — including Hillary Clinton, then-Sen. Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer — voted for hundreds of miles of barriers and fencing. And every Senate Democrat voted for 2013's Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which again called for hundreds of miles of barriers. But the surge did work. By 2008, the violence subsided to the point where American soldiers, celebrating with Iraqis in Ramadi, were on the streets not even wearing their helmets. War correspondent Dexter Filkins, who had all but given up in Iraq when he was last there just two years earlier, could not believe the improvement: "The progress here is remarkable," said Filkins in 2008. "I came back to Iraq after being away for nearly two years, and honestly, parts of it are difficult for me to recognize. The park out in front of the house where I live — on the Tigris River — was a dead, dying, spooky place. It's now filled with people — families with children, women walking alone, even at night. That was inconceivable in 2006. The Iraqis who are out there walking in the parks were making their own judgments — that it is safe enough for them to go out for a walk. They're voting with their feet. It's a wonderful thing to see." But Filkins warned that the gains could erode. "It's pretty clear," Filkins said, "that the calm is very fragile. The calm is built on a series of arrangements that are not self-sustaining; indeed, some of which, like the Sunni Awakening, are showing signs of coming apart. So the genie is back in the bottle, but I'm not sure for how long."

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WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump signed a law Wednesday supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, likely angering Beijing just as Washington was hoping to ease the long-running US-China trade war. Washington and Beijing have delivered a series of positive signals in the last few days about closing in on a partial trade deal, known as "phase one."

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La Salle Academy is dedicated to providing a Christ-Centered Academic Education for children. La Salle believes in the God-given dignity of all individuals. With Jesus as the example, students learn more about human dignity and respect for all life. Through dedicated teachers as role models, students learn to appreciate both similarities and differences in each other. In addition, they learn more about the rich tradition of our Catholic faith and what it means to be a Christian. La Salle students experience a variety of instructional activities, incorporating ongoing technology to enhance learning. In addition, La Salle is academically competitive. In mathematics junior high students participate in Mathcounts which is held at Alvernia College. La Salle Academy is proud to offer an enrichment program for those students in Grades 3-8 who qualify. La Salle’s Enrichment Program, LEP, provides enrichment opportunities without the student having to leave the school. Enrichment activities can be carried over into the classroom and shared with other students. Students’ interests guide the activities to make this an enjoyable, challenging, and educational experience. Students qualify for the enrichment program through an evaluation process. The process involves parental permission, teacher input about classroom performance, and intelligence testing administered by the school psychologist. La Salle Academy offers remediation in reading instruction for students in kindergarten through fourth grades. These services are provided through the Berks County Intermediate Unit. Limited adaptations and modifications can be provided on an individual basis when necessary. Parents of students requiring these services meet with the Instructional Support Team, consisting of the parent, teacher, principal, and school psychologist to determine how to best meet the needs of the child.

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The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru has opened for business in Broughton, Wales, with the aim of being a catalyst for growth and jobs in Deeside, across North Wales and the wider cross-border and Northern Powerhouse region. The centre will look to provide businesses with a new level of research and development opportunities and support. It will enable businesses to access advanced technologies, helping them to drive improvements in productivity, performance and quality. The AMRC was officially opened by First Minister Mark Drakeford and Economy and North Wales Minister Ken Skates on yesterday (28 November). Drakeford said: “This is a world-class facility, which will be a key driver in bringing the latest research, technology and skills to Deeside and the wider North Wales region. Situated in the Deeside Enterprise Zone, it will focus on advanced manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive, nuclear and food.The region has a strong manufacturing base and AMRC Cymru will build on this, driving research and expertise across the supply chain. Backed by £20m from Welsh Government, and managed by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the centre will also aim to spark economic growth by developing innovation, commercialisation and the development of a new generation of skills. The centre will operate a 2,000 square metre open access research area. Airbus will be the first major tenant and will have a platform to develop its next-generation wing technologies aligned to its Wing of Tomorrow programme, which is part of a global Airbus investment in research and innovation. Colin Sirett, University of Sheffield AMRC CEO, described AMRC Cymru as a landmark moment for both Wales and the UK. “We share the Welsh government’s ambition and vision to spark growth and productivity for the area and are very proud of this new addition to the University of Sheffield AMRC’s stable of world-class facilities, which will be a beacon for innovation and advanced manufacturing in Wales and the Northern Powerhouse,” Sirett said. AMRC Cymru was designed and project managed by Arup and the construction was carried out by Galliford Try.

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EDITORIAL: This attempted imposition of contentious and discredited Church concepts on the Amazon by Europeans and North Americans is nothing less than theological colonialism. In an interview on Oct. 7 with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Cardinal Robert Sarah deplored the effort by some in the Church to use the Synod of Bishops on the Pan-Amazon Region as a laboratory to profoundly alter Catholicism. The African cardinal was referencing some of the central synodal themes of discussion, such as ordination of married men, “ordained” women’s ministries and a radical interpretation of inculturation and syncretism. “These points touch the structure of the universal Church,” said Cardinal Sarah (whose new book the Register reviewed). This attempted imposition of contentious and discredited Church concepts on the Amazon by Europeans and North Americans can be characterized in another way — as theological colonialism. Underway within the synod halls, as well as outside that gathering, are thinly veiled efforts to enshrine their ideological agendas in one impoverished region of the world, allegedly out of necessity, and then, as Cardinal Sarah noted, to export them across the universal Church. Concerns over the problematic instrumentum laboris were dismissed by the synod’s general secretary, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri, who reminded the gathered press Oct. 3 before the synod began that the document bears no magisterial weight. That was followed at the very opening of the international gathering by Pope Francis’ Oct. 7 declaration that the instrumentum must be seen as “a martyr text” that must be destroyed for the synod to do its work. All of that would have been more reassuring had the Holy Father not been followed a few minutes later by the official he appointed to guide the proceedings, 85-year-old Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes. The former Vatican official gave an opening address in which he bluntly put forward the viri probati (ordination to the priesthood of married “men of proven virtue”) as a topic to be discussed. He was followed, at synod press conferences throughout the opening week, by various bishops who advocated for the ordination of married men and women deacons. Emblematic of this persistent effort to further theological colonialism and shape public opinion was Bishop Emeritus Erwin Kräutler, former bishop of Xingu, Brazil, who is believed to be the main author of the instrumentum laboris and has long been an advocate for an end to clerical celibacy. He went on to promote the idea of women deacons, arguing, “We need concrete solutions, and so I’m thinking of the female diaconate.” He later admitted to the Register that he would like to see women eventually ordained as priests and that the synod “may be a step” to achieve that goal. All of this was discussed despite the fact that Pope Francis has stated categorically on multiple occasions that the ordination of women is a closed door. Nevertheless, projects warned about by Cardinal Sarah and others have been going for some time. Catholic groups, some operating under the aegis of the German bishops, have been funding social justice and aid projects in the Amazon for many years. For example, the most prominent group in organizing and running the synod, the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM), describes its primary purpose as advocating for the rights and dignity of indigenous peoples in the Amazon. It is closely supported by the region’s bishops’ conferences, and Cardinal Hummes is its president. But it also collaborates closely with the German bishops’ Latin American relief organization, Adveniat, which provided in 2016 alone 3.2 million euros to sponsor various projects in the Amazon. A second German aid organization under the German bishops, Misereor, gave more than 52 million euros to finance 337 projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. Both Adveniat and Misereor have organized events highlighting Amazonian spirituality throughout the synod, along with CIDSE, a network of European and North American Catholic social-justice organizations headquartered in Brussels. This close financial connection raises alarm because at the precise moment the Pan-Amazonian synodal process is underway, the German Church is pushing forward, despite the public opposition of senior Vatican officials, with its own “synodal path” that similarly intends to discuss possible changes in the areas of clerical celibacy, ordained ministries for women, and the Church’s teachings regarding sexual morality. This simultaneous timing surely is no mere coincidence. Also, as the Register reported on Oct. 17, the Ford Foundation — which has a long record of funding groups that promote abortion, gender ideology and “LGBT” advocacy — has granted millions of dollars of funds to the Brazilian bishops’ Missionary Council for Indigenous Peoples (CIMI) and to two other organizations that, like CIMI, are members of REPAM and therefore participating actively in the Pan-Amazon synodal process. There are other voices speaking out in the Paul VI synod hall, calling for a thorough renewal of the zeal for evangelization and creative solutions in fostering vocations that do not also demand the abandonment of the Church’s ancient tradition of the discipline of celibacy or the rejection of Church teaching on the ordination of women. They are joined by some of the most prominent leaders in the Church, such as Cardinal Sarah, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the prefect for the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the prefect for the Congregation for Bishops, who has written a new book exhorting clerical celibacy. Cardinal Sarah understands well the dangers of theological colonialism. In his interview with Corriere della Sera, he warned that if there truly is an effort to use the synod to turn the Church in the Amazon into a laboratory, “this is dishonest and misleading.” He also gave clarity for how all Catholics should react to any abuse of the Gospel, especially in parts of the world most in need of evangelization.

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While we may be well aware that carrying a little extra fat may not be good for our health, we rarely hear of any positive benefits. Now researchers from University of California, Berkeley are suggesting that having a little extra padding may help to protect us from developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. So far, the findings have only been observed in nematode worms and human cells grown in a petri dish, but the researchers believe that these results have far reaching implications. The one thing that all neurodegenerative diseases have in common is that they are caused by an accumulation of abnormal proteins. These proteins collect in or between the brain cells to form tangles or plaques, and it’s these plaques that cause the damage that results in mental decline and early death. The researchers from Berkeley made their unusual discovery after they observed that their nematode C. elegans worms, that had been engineered to mimic Huntington’s disease, started to grow fat. Intrigued, they found that this was due to an increase in the production of a specific type of lipid, known as ceramide, that stopped the formation of the proteins that go on to produce the plaques. Furthermore, they discovered that this fat was needed to turn on the genes that protected the worms from Huntington’s disease, thus revealing a pathway that could possibly be used to develop a treatment for the disease. More excitingly, the team also found that this was also the case for cultured human cells, with both the worm cells and human cells being almost completely protected from the plaques associated with Huntington’s disease. They then went on to treat the worms and the human cells with a drug that prevented the cell from storing the ceramide, and observed the same protective effect. The lead researcher has now begun further experiments to determine whether this drug can be used to formulate new treatments.

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