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Tuesday, August 15, 2006 Mrs. Plager told her boys not to grow up to be cowboys. So they didn't. Over at CIO the debate rages about whether or not Brian Leetch is an answer for our D corps. I said no but regular commentator Steve asked, well, who then? Uh ... good question. Regular surfers here know I'm a pint half full type of guy or as Lowetide would say I tend to Blue sky things. I'll admit to that. And while I can paint a scenario where the Oilers can make do with their D as presently constituted just as I painted a scenario where the Oilers could get by the Wings, the truth is this team has three decent guys who can eat up minutes (Smith, Staios, Tarnqvist) and a bunch of question marks. Bergeron might figure it out. Hejda may be a player. One of Smid, Gilbert, Syvret or Young may be ready. Greene may be ready to be Commodore (although I think he is a year or two away from that in reality). Check out San Jose's D if you want to see young and unproven. They did alright. The truth is the Oil likely will get a decent third pair out of the lot of them this season and in a year or two we will have a nice quality young D corps. So where do we look? A really nice summary of teams and their cap situations here and a few things jumped out at me. The Oilers have gone back to being young - the third youngest team after San Jose and Columbus from what I can see. Of course this includes Schremp on the roster. Jersey, even with the rumours that they are going to try and hide Mogilny and Malakhov on the IR to resolve their salary situation, are still in big cap trouble. Problem is the guy I like, Rafalski, has an expensive number on his contract and I'm not sure if Matvichuk or Lukowich add much more then what we have. So, why the Plager brothers up above? Because while the Blues may have, in some estimations (Lowetide again and Mudcrutch as well) have had a nice summer, I think they aren't even close to being back. And they have a lot of age up front - Weight, Guerin, Tkachuk and Drake. Only Detroit, Jersey and Dallas are older. And they have three young Dmen - Brewer, Backman and Jackman. Could we pry either of the latter two away for a young forward or two? Would Torres fit the bill? Or someone else? Maybe a fit? Posted by Black Dog at 2:12 PM

HOULTON, Maine — A compliance check recently conducted in Aroostook County to ensure that businesses that sell alcohol are complying with Maine’s liquor laws produced disappointing news, as nearly half of the establishments targeted were cited by police. Deputy Kris Malmbourg of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department said earlier this week that 33 establishments, including restaurants and stores, around The County were checked for liquor law compliance as part of the Underage Drinking, Adult Consequences campaign. Of those, 13 were summoned for violations. Aroostook County was selected last month as one of only four sites in the nation to participate in the underage drinking project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Community Voices, a countywide organization that works to curb substance abuse among youths, was awarded a $325,000 grant, which it is using to work with 11 law enforcement groups on a pilot project to get alcohol out of the hands of minors. Malmbourg said the most recent compliance checks were part of the initiative and are being conducted to reduce the number of underage drinkers and the number of underage drinking and driving fatalities in The County. They also are being conducted to deter those who provide alcohol to youths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teens are at far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population, despite the fact that they are below the minimum drinking age in every state. Thirty one percent of 15- to 20-year-old drivers who were killed in crashes nationally in 2006 had been drinking. According to Maine’s office of substance abuse, a 2008 statewide survey reported that 48.8 percent of Maine students in grades seven through 12 had tried alcohol. Research also has shown that 40 percent of children who begin drinking before age 15 will develop alcohol abuse or dependence at some point in their lives. Malmbourg pointed out that 142 people died in Maine from 2006 to 2010 as a result of a crash involving a 15- to 20-year-old driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or above. In 2010 alone, 22 percent of 15- to 20-year-old drivers involved in traffic fatalities in Maine had a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or above. “One careless decision by a young person can end and destroy lives,” Malmborg said. “We know we have more work to do, but if we got across to just one teen who might have otherwise chosen to drink and drive, we’ve accomplished something and hopefully changed lives. And if we’re able to reduce their access to alcohol, that’s tackling the first part of the problem.” Along with the 13 establishments summoned for noncompliance, the additional road patrols in Aroostook resulted in youth transportation and possession of alcohol citations, as well as citations for adults furnishing a place for minors to consume and alcohol for minors to consume. Other violations not alcohol-related were dealt with as a result of the increased patrols, ranging from driving violations to drug violations, according to Malmbourg. “Local enforcement officials and community partners came together for this campaign, and we believe it was a tremendous success,” he said. “Hopefully, the teens in our community now know we will not tolerate underage drinking, and just as importantly, the adults and organizations who provide the alcohol know they also face serious consequences.” This is not the first time that compliance checks have revealed that not all County businesses are enforcing the state’s liquor laws. In March 2011, the Sheriff’s Department oversaw an operation that had minors attempt to buy alcohol at 43 businesses stretching from Macwahoc to Fort Kent. Twenty-three of the establishments sold alcohol to the minors and were summoned for the violation, according to Sheriff Jim Madore. During the summer of 2010 in Caribou, the Police Department selected 12 local businesses where alcohol is served. Fifty percent of the businesses failed the test and sold the minor alcohol, according to Caribou Chief Mike Gahagan. Gahagan said at the time that he was stunned by the results, especially since the department offers free responsible beverage training to businesses in the city. Michelle Plourde Chasse, Community Voices project manager, said Friday afternoon that she also was disappointed with the results. She noted that compliance checks that were conducted in January revealed an almost 50 percent failure rate. That rate is slightly lower this time. “I wish there was a magic button because I would push it,” she said. “We will continue to offer training twice a year to businesses in this area and we are going to continue with compliance checks.” The project manager said she believes that it would be helpful to immediately list the names of businesses that were summoned in order to let parents and others know that they were cited. But the names have not been released in the past until the cases were settled in court, and Plourde Chasse did not have the list of businesses that were cited during this round of checks. Penalties for the violations can result in a fine, license suspension or both. Fines for stores start at between $550 and $1,500 for a first violation, depending on the number of offenses. The next wave of compliance checks will start this month and the enforcement campaign will continue throughout the year.

At midday a light snow began to fall; the white was a welcome sight. While parts of the country are shoveling out, we here in southwest Wisconsin have needed only a broom. The ground here has been bare most of the winter. It's been great for the farmers who try to get their corn and soybeans harvested before the snow flies. By late afternoon there was an inch of new white snow on everything--the ground, trees, fence posts, bushes, everywhere. It was nice to see something bright. In Wisconsin, winter just doesn't seem like winter without some snow. I've been itching to slide down a hill on a sled, but I need at least three or four inches before it's soft enough to cushion these old bones. The birds at the birdfeeders seemed extra busy this morning. Blue jays called and flew off in several directions. A pair of cardinals flew by me as I stood in the snow. A gang of black crows sailed high overhead, calling out to me as they passed by. I noticed a pair of jay-sized birds coming at me from the south and passing right over my head. There was no doubt they were robins. This was a nice treat, even though I saw them for only a few seconds. I think the birds knew there was snow on the way, and when they are busy, they tend to add more life at the start of a day. I broomed the snow off the woodpile and picked up three heavy chunks of split hickory. As I climbed the steps, I wondered where those two robins were headed and where they have been. I can't remember the last time I didn't see a robin in the winter, but it's been at least five years. Seeing the first return of a robin in the spring is not so shocking when you know a few are hanging around all winter. These winter robins are shy and rarely will come to the bird feeders. They prefer to fend for themselves, and they are good at it. They will gladly eat the nutritious berries of chokecherry, wild grapes, serviceberry, and highbush cranberry, but the winter robins' favorite food is the seed found in the dark red tops of the sumac. Over the years I have shared many winter stories with my readers--stories of the tracks in the deep snow as the landscape turns white. For me it meant a chance to write about how the wildlife survives in a snowy world. So I, for one, am looking for more snow. An Amish farmer told me the other day about seeing a large white bird on top of a fence post in a hayfield. This, of course, made me very curious, so I had to ask him some more questions. He said the bird was over a foot tall, but seemed to be huddled down over the top of the post. The bird was a hundred yards away, but it looked like there may have been some black spots on its white feathers. The farmer's excellent description was of the great white owl, also known as the snowy owl. It's always a wonderful treat to see one of these magnificent birds from the far north. Life can be very harsh on the Canadian tundra, and the snowy owl is used to cold winter weather. In the spring and summer they raise their young on the treeless landscape. Food is plentiful and the owls catch voles, lemmings, and flightless young birds. When winter comes, their true hunting skills surface, and they look for hares and ptarmigan. If the hunting is bad, many of these large white owls migrate across the northern boundaries of the U.S. in search of food. With their large, keen yellow eyes, snowy owls can spot their next meal at a great distance. On huge and silent white wings, they glide low to the ground and surprise their prey. The female great white owl is larger, and her feathers may be heavily barred with black, while the smaller male is lightly barred or pure white. When everything is covered with snow, the great white owl is perfectly camouflaged to blend with its surroundings. With no snow on the ground, though, the snowy owl stands out like a sore thumb. I've spotted them a mile away, sitting motionless in a tree or on top of a fence post. They truly are one of nature's most beautiful and mysterious winter birds. All art ©2013 Organic Valley

Psalm CXXVI. 5492 1. …How man had come into captivity, let us ask the Apostle Paul.…For he saith: “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” 5493 Behold whence we became captives; because we were sold under sin. Who sold us? We ourselves, who consented to the seducer. We could sell ourselves; we could not redeem ourselves. We sold ourselves by consent of sin, we are redeemed in the faith of righteousness. For innocent blood was given for us, that we might be redeemed. Whatsoever blood he shed in persecuting the righteous, what kind of blood did he shed? Righteous mens blood, indeed, he shed; they were Prophets, righteous men, our fathers, and Martyrs. Whose blood he shed, yet all coming of the offspring of sin. One blood he shed of Him who was not justified, 5494 but born righteous: by shedding that blood, he lost those whom he held. For they p. 604 for whom innocent blood was given were redeemed, and, turned back from their captivity, they sing this Psalm. 2. “When the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion, we became as those that are comforted” (Psa. 126.1). He meant by this to say, we became joyful. When? “When the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion.” What is Sion? Jerusalem, the same is also the eternal Sion. How is Sion eternal, how is Sion captive? In angels eternal, in men captive. For not all the citizens of that city are captives, but those who are away from thence, they are captives. Man was a citizen of Jerusalem, but sold under sin he became a pilgrim. Of his progeny was born the human race, and the captivity of Sion filled all lands. And how is this captivity of Sion a shadow of that Jerusalem? The shadow of that Sion, which was granted to the Jews, in an image, in a figure, was in captivity in Babylonia, and after seventy years that people turned back to its own city. 5495 …But when all time is past, then we return to our country, as after seventy years that people returned from the Babylonish captivity, for Babylon is this world; since Babylon is interpreted “confusion.”…So then this whole life of human affairs is confusion, which belongeth not unto God. In this confusion, in this Babylonish land, Sion is held captive. But “the Lord hath turned back the captivity of Sion.” “And we became,” he saith, “as those that are comforted.” That is, we rejoiced as receiving consolation. Consolation is not save for the unhappy, consolation is not save for them that groan, that mourn. Wherefore, “as those that are comforted,” except because we are still mourning? We mourn for our present lot, we are comforted in hope: when the present is passed by, of our mourning will come everlasting joy, when there will be no need of consolation, because we shall be wounded with no distress. But wherefore saith he “as” those that are comforted, and saith not comforted? This word “as,” is not always put for likeness: when we say “As,” it sometimes refers to the actual case, sometimes to likeness: here it is with reference to the actual case.…Walk therefore in Christ, and sing rejoicing, sing as one that is comforted; because He went before thee who hath commanded thee to follow Him. 3. “Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exultation” (Psa. 126.2). That mouth, brethren, which we have in our body, how is it “filled with joy”? It useth not to be “filled,” save with meat, or drink, or some such thing put into the mouth. Sometimes our mouth is filled; and it is more that we say to your holiness, 5496 when we have our mouth full, we cannot speak. But we have a mouth within, that is, in the heart, whence whatsoever proceedeth, if it is evil, defileth us, if it is good, cleanseth us. For concerning this very mouth ye heard when the Gospel was read. For the Jews reproached the Lord, because His disciples ate with unwashen hands. 5497 They reproached who had cleanness without; and within were full of stains. They reproached, whose righteousness was only in the eyes of men. But the Lord sought our inward cleanness, which if we have, the outside must needs be clean also. “Cleanse,” He saith, “the inside,” and “the outside shall be clean also.” 5498 … 4. But let us return to what was just now read from the Gospel, relating to the verse before us, “Our mouth was filled with joy, and our tongue with delight:” for we are inquiring what mouth and what tongue. Listen, beloved brethren. The Lord was scoffed at, because His disciples ate with unwashed hands. The Lord answered them as was fitting, and said unto the crowds whom He had called unto Him, “Hear ye all, and understand: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” 5499 What is this? when He said, what goeth into the mouth, He meant only the mouth of the body. For meat goeth in, and meats defile not a man; because, “All things are clean to the clean;” and, “every creature of God is good, and none to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.” 5500 … 5. Guard the mouth of thy heart from evil, and thou wilt be innocent: the tongue of thy body will be innocent, thy hands will be innocent; even thy feet will be innocent, thy eyes, thy ears, will be innocent; all thy members will serve under righteousness, because a righteous commander hath thy heart. “Then shall they say among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them.” 6. “Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us already, whereof we rejoice” (Psa. 126.3). Consider, my brethren, if Sion doth not at present say this among the heathen, throughout the whole world; consider if men are not running unto the Church. In the whole world our redemption is received; Amen is answered. The dwellers in Jerusalem, therefore, captive, destined to return, pilgrims, sighing for their country, speak thus among the heathen. What do they say? “The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoice.” Have they done anything for themselves? They have done ill with themselves, for they have sold themselves under sin. The Redeemer came, and did the good things for them. 7. “Turn our captivity, O Lord, as the torrents in the south” (Psa. 126.4). Consider, my p. 605 brethren, what this meaneth.…As torrents are turned in the south, so turn our captivity. In a certain passage Scripture saith, in admonishing us concerning good works, “Thy sins also shall melt away, even as the ice in fair warm weather.” 5501 Our sins therefore bound us. How? As the cold bindeth the water that it run not. Bound with the frost of our sins, we have frozen. But the south wind is a warm wind: when the south wind blows, the ice melts, and the torrents are filled. Now winter streams are called torrents; for filled with sudden rains they run with great force. We had therefore become frozen in captivity; our sins bound us: the south wind the Holy Spirit hath blown: our sins are forgiven us, we are released from the frost of iniquity; as the ice in fair weather, our sins are melted. Let us run unto our country, as the torrents in the south.… 8. For the next words are, “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy” (Psa. 126.5). In this life, which is full of tears, let us sow. What shall we sow? Good works. Works of mercy are our seeds: of which seeds the Apostle saith, “Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” 5502 Speaking therefore of almsgiving itself, what saith he? “This I say; he that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly.” 5503 He therefore who soweth plentifully, shall reap plentifully: he who soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly: and he that soweth nothing, shall reap nothing. Why do ye long for ample estates, where ye may sow plentifully? There is not a wider field on which ye can sow than Christ, who hath willed that we should sow in Himself. Your soil is the Church; sow as much as ye can. But thou hast not enough to do this. Hast thou the will? 5504 As what thou hadst would be nothing, if thou hadst not a good will; so do not despond, because thou hast not, if thou hast a good will. For what dost thou sow? Mercy. And what wilt thou reap? Peace. Said the Angels, Peace on earth unto rich men? No, but, “Peace on earth unto men of a good will.” 5505 Zacchæus had a strong will, Zacchæus had great charity. 5506 …Did then that widow who cast her two farthings into the treasury, sow little? Nay, as much as Zacchæus. For she had narrower means, but an equal will. She gave her two mites 5507 with as good a will as Zacchæus gave the half of his patrimony. If thou consider what they gave, thou wilt find their gifts different; if thou look to the source, thou wilt find them equal; she gave whatever she had, and he gave what he had.…But if they are beggars whose profession is asking alms, in trouble they also have what to bestow upon one another. God hath not so forsaken them, but that they have wherein they may be tried by their bestowing of alms. This man cannot walk; he who can walk, lendeth his feet to the lame; he who seeth, lendeth his eyes to the blind; and he who is young and sound, lendeth his strength to the old or the infirm, carrieth him: the one is poor, the other is rich. 9. Sometimes also the rich man is found to be poor, and something is bestowed upon him by the poor. Somebody cometh to a river, so much the more delicate as he is more rich; he cannot pass over: if he were to pass over with bare limbs, he would catch cold, would be ill, would die: a poor man more active in body cometh up: he carries the rich man over; he giveth alms unto the rich. Think not therefore those only poor, who have not money.…Thus love ye, thus be ye affectioned unto one another. Attend not solely to yourselves: but to those who are in want around you. But because these things take place in this life with troubles and cares, faint not. Ye sow in tears, ye shall reap in joy. 10. How, my brethren? When the farmer goeth forth with the plough, carrying seed, is not the wind sometimes keen, and doth not the shower sometimes deter him? He looketh to the sky, seeth it lowering, shivers with cold, nevertheless goeth forth, and soweth. For he feareth lest while he is observing the foul weather, and awaiting sunshine, the time may pass away, and he may not find anything to reap. Put not off, my brethren; sow in wintry weather, sow good works, even while ye weep; for, “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” They sow their seed, good will, and good works. “They went on their way and wept, casting their seed” (Psa. 126.6). Why did they weep? Because they were among the miserable, and were themselves miserable. It is better, my brethren, that no man should be miserable, than that thou shouldest do alms.…Nevertheless, as long as there are objects for its exercise, let us not fail amid those troubles to sow our seed. Although we sow in tears, yet shall we reap in joy. For in that resurrection of the dead, each man shall receive his own sheaves, that is, the produce of his seed, the crown of joys and of delight. Then will there be a joyous triumph, when we shall laugh at death, wherein we groaned before: then shall they say to death, “O death, where is thy strife? O death, where is thy sting?” 5508 But why do they now rejoice? Because “they bring their sheaves with them.” 11. In this Psalm we have chiefly exhorted you to do deeds of alms, because it is thence that we ascend; and ye see that he who ascendp. 606 eth, singeth the song of steps. Remember: do not love to descend, instead of to ascend, but reflect upon your ascent: because he who descended from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among thieves. 5509 …The Samaritan as He passed by slighted us not: He healed us, He raised us upon His beast, upon His flesh; He led us to the inn, that is, the Church; He entrusted us to the host, that is, to the Apostle; He gave two pence, whereby we might be healed, 5510 the love of God, and the love of our neighbour. The Apostle spent more; for, though it was allowed unto all the Apostles to receive, as Christs soldiers, pay from Christs subjects, 5511 that Apostle, nevertheless, toiled with his own hands, and excused the subjects the maintenance owing to him. 5512 All this hath already happened: if we have descended, and have been wounded; let us ascend, let us sing, and make progress, in order that we may arrive. Lat. CXXV. A song of degrees. A sermon to the people.603:5493 Rom. vii. 14.603:5494 Or, “made righteous.”604:5495 Jer. 25:11, Jer. 29:10.604:5496 [A bishop seems to have been present.—C.]604:5497 Matt. xv. 1, etc.604:5498 Matt. xxiii. 26.604:5499 Matt. 15:10, 11.604:5500 1 Tim. iv. 4.605:5501 Gal. vi. 9.605:5503 2 Cor. ix. 6.605:5504 Oxf. mss. “have a good will.”605:5505 Luke ii. 14.605:5506 Luke xix. 8.605:5507 Luke xxi. 1-4.605:5508 1 Cor. xv. 55.606:5509 Luke x. 30.606:5510 Luke 10:35, 37.606:5511 Provincialibus. 1 Cor. iv. 2.606:5512 1 Thess. 2:7, 9, 2 Thess. 3:8, 9.

Nowadays — in both the novel and in actuality — Maxine's younger sister, Bonnie, is happily married to a nonmusical retired physician. She stays in Motel 6's and accepts the fact that diner waitresses no longer recognize her. Back in the 1950s, however, she was Elvis's secret sweetheart (and so busty that the producers of The Ed Sullivan Show insisted on sewing another piece of cloth over her stage costume for a broadcast). As the Browns savor their fame, Bass foreshadows the real-life blows they would absorb in later years: the accidental death at age 12 of the Browns' richly talented youngest brother; the damage to Jim Ed's guitar-picking fingers when he stumbled while operating a circular saw; and Elvis growing distant and mean as his rising star leaves the Browns earthbound in the Arkansas woods. Gallant Jim Ed Brown is perhaps the least developed character in Bass's perceptive portrayal. Though the young man eagerly joined Elvis in hotel rooms to receive groupies, he comes across as stolid in later life, blithely carrying on as a minor solo act. (Jim Ed learned to play the guitar again, using different fingers, and he did ultimately partner with a major talent: country singer Helen Cornelius.) Readers taking stock of their own lives are apt to sympathize most with the long-suffering Maxine. We come to care about her and count on her for the novel's tension as she confronts the reality, as Bass puts it, of a time "when the contracts vanished and the Browns disbanded — and before she made her uneasy peace with that new accommodation, the cessation of fame." If the Browns were more prominent today, Rick Bass's novel might not have achieved the suspense it manages to deliver. Perhaps the group was jinxed; perhaps brother-sister acts came to seem cornball; or perhaps the bitch goddess of Fame is simply a false idol. Bass's Maxine proclaims that the Browns opened the gates for such glorious successors as Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, and that Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks both owe her thank-you notes. Perhaps she'll take solace in a shout-out called Nashville Chrome. Charlie Clark, a Washington writer, got hooked on oldies by the Browns in the early 1980s.

Well you people don't live here. Bad enough we have to hear what a debacle of a season we are having. But if we lose to the Clowns twice, thats an embarrassment. If you want the Steelers to lose, anytime you are not a true fan. Cleveland Browns suck! I want to see the young guys too. So, starting dl should be heyward McClendon and Woods. Lb's should be Worilds, Sylvester and whoever else. CB's should be Brown and the backups S's Golden and Allen. The offense should sit Ben, Brown, Pouncey, Miller, and Starks if Adams is healthy. We have a lot of FA decisions this off season. sent from my Galaxy SIII using tapatalk 2 Basically you guys nailed it on the head ...young guys please ... I'm really interested in Sylvester ... I've always liked him and thought he could take away the need for the other ILB ... guess either I was wrong or like usual the DL defense is to complicated for 2-3 year players to get some time to prove what they have??? I would even go as far as releasing somebody and signing the QB Johnson we had in the pre season and let him play the last game ... see what he has Our feeling are still hurt because of this season, so there is a lot of emotion out here. . .Simple, last game of the year and potentially the last time we will see Hampton, Foote, Wallace/Sanders, Lewis, Mendenhall, Kiesel and Harrison in a Steelers uniform. This is Cleveland; let's just go out there and kick their Brown Stained a$$es all over Heinz field. End the season on a positive and hope that the GM and ownership make the necessary changes to make sure this underachieving season was simply a case of bad diarreah. Remember, if the Steelers go out and crap the sheets, this will stew in our bellies for upwards of 8 months. . .I'd rather end the season on a positive note. Tomlin, Lebeau and all the coaches are about to have some uncomfortable meetings in the next couple of weeks with management and that is precisely what we all want. The Steeler way...is the only way. Well, seeing as how they will be without Trent Richardson and their starting QB will be Thaddeus Lewis, I say I'd like to see them not score lol. Don't recognize Thaddeus Lewis' name? Oh he was the coveted undrafted QB out of Duke in 2010 by the Rams. He's never played a regular season game and has spent his career on the Rams' and Browns' practice squad. I hope they don't rest any starters. I'd like to see what the defense can dial up against the likes of Thaddeus Lewis lol. A lot of stains on the ground. Not ours. And their fans. Why get a better draft pick? So we can pick a stud pass rusher and watch him sit for three years because LeBeau's defense is too hard? There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Many of you reading this are over the age of 27. Why is this important you ask, well of late Gaila and I have been trying hostels to save money. I think the average age is about 22 to 25 but who knows. Haven’t really asked, just observing. But safe to say I have definitely been one of the more “seasoned” guests at all the ones we have stayed at. You know what? Who cares! Truth is we have had very nice stays. Just like we have couchsurfing, camping and cheap hotels. I must admit, some of the hotel stays have been less than pleasant. Some down right disgusting to be perfectly honest. Part of The Bad, if you will. While writing this I am curled up in a hammock on the Pacific Ocean hugging the Nicaraguan coast just west of Leon. We are doing a weekend stay here at Quartzal Playa Hostel http://playa.quetzaltrekkers.org/ after two awesome nights at Lazybones Hostel http://www.lazyboneshostelnicaragua.com/?lg=En in Leon. I really am liking the vibe. Not only do we have clean and functional rooms, but we are getting for well under $30 for private rooms. If you are willing to do the dorm thing, most are in the $7 to $15 dollars a night range. Best of all however are the locations and the facilities. In Leon it was all about location, patio and pool. Here it is the garden, hammocks and ocean waves. Yes, we change the age curve, but who cares! Most of you are young at heart too and can get a dose of youthful enthusiasm from the 20 something guests. We are. We did a couple in the US and they were fine, but I think our expectations were wrong. Now that we are south of the border these relaxed accommodations seem to fit right in. Now, before you think everyone is wet behind the ears, that is simply not true. Last night we shared the Lazybones with a few German couples that were definitely in their late 50′s or 60′s. Even a family with a small 1 1/2 year old baby were there with us. They, like us were in the private rooms. Our motorcycle friends Mark from Idaho on KLR, Marco from Canada on F650GS single and Pedro from Redmond https://www.facebook.com/pages/Redmond-to-Rio/523014447726275 with his Vstrom DL1000 all elected to do the dorms and save even more money. Since you can’t sleep together those are not the best options for us. Four things impress me about the hostel experience: 1. Better than expected rooms 2. Super friendly people excited to have interesting conversations (not to mention Gringos) 3. Cheap food and beverages 4. They are well connected with the locals and can set you up with good tours, adventures & etc. OK, 5 things…just a general sense of happiness and well being. Yes it is true most are backpacking, but even the older folks we met in Honduras and here too all seem to have the same zest for life and inquisitive souls. As such, my advice is this: If you are young hurry up and get out there as the world is waiting for you. If you are middle aged and strapped for cash at the moment and who isn’t, then just go this budget route you will be happy you did. Indeed, at the moment I am sitting between a 30 something couple from North Carolina, 20 somethings from Germany and some 50ish ladies from somewhere TBD. If you are perhaps retired, use this as a way to stretch your financial resources and get a shot of youthful enthusiasm at the same time. All of the hostel hosts have been super gracious and very helpful. Telling us about hidden gems like Canyon Somoto and others. Today is yet another day in paradise and I sure am looking forward to our tree house hostel near Granada. After that, we will be looking for our next deal on Isla de Ometepe (a two volcano island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua) then Costa Rica and Panama! Oooooops, almost forgot to mention hostel in Honduras which is sort of a hotel/hostel/brewery. Seriously, if you get a chance go to D&D Brewery. What a unique place and Bobbie the guy that owns and runs is really excellent. Here are some that we have stayed at so far and can fully endorse & recommend: Lastly, Lonely Planet is full of good suggestions that have been pretty spot on as far as we are concerned. Travel well, with or without lots of money.

Blogger: Steve Rowland, Public Affairs Manager Spring seemed a long way off last week as I took my lunchtime walk through the woods, the leaves on the trees were yet to unfurl, the ground was bare and covered in a mulch of last autumns dead leaves, and a light, cold wintry rain drizzled down. And yet I realised that my mind had picked up on the subtle changes in the quality of light and drawing out of the days. I became aware of a slight tightness in my ears, an unconscious straining and heightened alertness to the bird song around me. And I thought that after more Springs as a birder than I care to remember, my brain was quietly and unobtrusively saying to my ears to be alert for couple of unremarkable notes of bird song one up followed repetitively by another down, up and down in short bursts, from a bird that takes its name from these two notes of song, the chiff chaff. (photo below). Naming a bird after the sound it makes is known as onomatopoeia and two other species that occur in the UK the cuckoo and the kittiwake also take their names from their calls. I will acknowledge here that chiff chaffs are not blessed with the most captivating of names or musical of songs. But for me they compensate for that with the charisma that comes from being the first of our returning migrants to fill our bare Spring woods with their song, perhaps a month before the other returning warblers have got back from a winter spent south of the Sahara. Chiff chaffs like many of our other warblers, might at a glance appear a little drab and indistinct. In particular at first you might easily confuse a chiff chaff with its close relative the willow warbler. (photo below). A rough guide to telling them apart is that a willow warblers legs are a light flesh colour whilst a chiff chaffs are black and a chiff chaffs has a more olive coloured plumage (being a birder you carry a veritable colour palette in your head to describe shades of green and brown feathers). But the surest way to tell these cousins apart is to listen to them singing. Compared to the chiff chaffs repetitive two notes, willow warblers have a to my mind a much nicer song, a lovely tinkling sound that seems to gently descend a set of musical scales before being hauled by the bird back to the top only to descend down them once more. Willow warblers arrive from their wintering grounds in Africa a little later in the spring than chiff chaffs which tend to spend the winter in the Mediterranean. So my brain wasn't tipping my ears off to listen out for a willow warbler practicing its scales, but for that starting gun of the season, a simple two note Chiff then Chaff song that would light up the woods and put a smile on my face, a sign of the end of winter and the beginning of natures headlong rush into spring. I didn’t hear a chiff chaff last week but I’ll be out again for a lunchtime walk in the woods this week, listening carefully for those two notes. If you have some time to spare over the next week or so why don’t you go out and see if you can hear a chiff chaff and then tell us here. Photos credit John Bridges (rspb-images.com) Blogger: Kate Blincoe, Communications Manager Look out of your window. The catkins are swaying in the spring breeze, the blue tit is hunting out caterpillars for its young family and an early bumblebee buzzes by. Nature is busy all around us. What if pound signs were flashing over all these beautiful, natural events? If you look on these living things as paid workers for us then the catkins tree is capturing carbon, the blue tit is performing pest control on your garden and the bumblebee is a professional pollinator. All these creatures are in fact performing tiny actions that in sum, add up to a healthy environment and hence healthy economy. In simple terms, if they didn’t do it for free, we’d have to pay to find a technical replacement. Let’s look at some of the massive ways in which we benefit financially from nature. Carefully managed wetlands reduce the risk of flooding to our homes and businesses. Salt marshes, such wonderful habitats, provide protection from sea level rise, acting like big sponges. Forests and peat bogs store carbon for us, helping in the battle against climate change. The list doesn’t end there: It is estimated that one third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees pollinating crops. Of course, beautiful places with charismatic wildlife also equal booming tourism and lots of visitor spend – especially in our stunning region. What about you and me and a walk together in the bluebell woods? Does that have pound signs attached to it? Yes. It will reduce our stress levels, increase our heart rates and hence improve our health. It’s a proven fact that nature is good news for the NHS budgets. For children, time spent in nature can even improve their behaviour and performance at school. As a bit of a nature loving ‘tree hugger’, a part of me screams at this reduction of wonder and marvel to pounds and pennies. Wildlife means so much more than that and has a basic, intrinsic right to exist. I believe that is the case, however, when so many political arguments are made in financial terms, it doesn’t do us any harm to be able to speak that language too. In a troubled economy, the need for a new development or construction project is often justified by saying growth is critical for our financial future. However, if we trash our special habitats and lose incredible species then, even in crude monetary terms, we risk jeopardising so much more than we gain. We overlook the function that the environment plays in our economy at our peril. The bottom line is this: We need nature more than it needs us. Article in Eastern Daily Press on Saturday 10 March 2012. Photo by Mark Sisson (rspb-images.com) Blogger: Jane Warren, RSPB in the East Green Team As we edge along towards spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s worth sparing a thought for the climate. Today is the beginning of Climate Change Week (12-18 March), and there are easy ways for us all to get involved. Many of us are already doing our bit, but it’s always good to be reminded! So here are three things to do this week: Get cooking with Climate Week cuisine: Make food part of the solution to climate change by eating a low carbon meal during Climate Week. Just follow one or all of these three tips: eat less meat or dairy, eat local and seasonal ingredients, and eat leftovers. Walk, cycle or use public transport: Use Climate Week as an opportunity to use more sustainable ways to get to where you are going. Take the train or bus instead of driving. Take advantage of the spring weather (!) and walk or cycle, getting some additional exercise! Swap, recycle or upcycle old things: Eliminate waste by finding a second life for things that would otherwise be thrown away. Host an event to swap unwanted items, such as books, toys or clothes, with friends or colleagues. Recycle unusual things like batteries, or electrical goods such as old mobile phones. You can even recycle through Ebay, by taking up the RSPB’s Ebay for charity challenge. Do you have something lurking in a loft, back room, garage or shed? Something that you know has some saleable value but you have never got around to selling? This could be your chance to do just that and step up for nature at the same time! Please do get in touch with suggestions of what you might have to sell, and we can check if it is worth us getting our fabulous Ebay volunteers to sell it on the auction site for us. Please do not send anything to us without checking first and please note that we can’t accept electrical goods! (It’s worth repeating that so that our collector Matt Howard isn’t locked in the cellar as punishment along with the potential deluge of books, CDs, DVDs, autographed Barry Manilow LPs etc.) Matt is looking forward to hearing from you at email@example.com Tel: 01603 697515. Our thanks to Climate Week for ideas and tips. Check out their website at www.climateweek.com and get inspired to create a sustainable future! Blogger: Gena Correale-Wardle, Community Fundraising Officer Do you remember in January when I blogged about the great partnership the RSPB had with Dozen Artisan Bakery and Pulse Cafe Bar, two great independent eateries in Norwich? I bet you’ve been waiting with baited breath to see how we got on.... Well, today I went to see the lovely manager of Pulse, Helen, as she presented us with a great big cheque (literally – see the photo!) for £86.50. That equates to 173 starters, mains and desserts eaten in aid of the RSPB. Dozen Artisan Bakery sold their field loaves for nature too – another £91 and 91 satisfied tummies and smiles on faces! Wouldn’t it be nice if all fundraising could be that easy?! The lovely people at both outlets also hosted pin badge boxes and gave out lots of leaflets to promote Big Garden Birdwatch, raising awareness of the project as well as raising even more money (over £40) through pin badge donations. A win-win all round! We are really glad to work with such great local, independent businesses in the area and hope we can do more with them in future. We are always looking for ways to get businesses involved throughout the whole of the Eastern England region so if you have any links or want to promote your business and raise money for nature in the process, do get in touch! The money raised will help the RSPB save and protect wildlife supporting schools and families through field teaching programmes and schools visits as well as directly managing habitats for wildlife at our amazing nature reserves. Thank you to all of you who ate great food and saved nature at the same time. Here’s to more fab little initiatives like this in the future! Email me at firstname.lastname@example.org or call me on 01603 697521. Blogger: Adam Murray, Communications Officer Last June you may have remembered my Swift, Swallows & House martins - I am a bit clueless blog post, well just as think I have nailed some of my bird ID skills I recently went on my hols to Osea Island. We went as a family with my brother and his gang and spent the time walking the island when the causeway (as seen on the Woman in Black movie) was covered by the tide. The island was a perfect tonic as there were no modern day distractions that seem to fill our free time usually. This meant that we had an excuse of not doing very much at all – just what I needed after the crazy hustle bustle of the RSPB Eastern Region office in Norwich. Each day we would spend many hours in wellies walking the island. In the interior we spotted dancing flocks of skylarks, eyeing foxes in the distance and then the adventurers inside us would walk alongside the beaches and salt marshes to circumnavigate our little piece of Essex. If we were lucky enough to get the tides right we would see vast numbers of birds coming into feed or queuing up ready for the seafood frenzy. The rest of my family were happy to spot a “funny looking goose” or distinctive oyster catcher with their carrot beaks. I on the other hand, trained zoologist and bitten by the RSPB bug, realised that I wasn’t just seeing a few species of animals out there on the mud flats but dozens – all ever so slightly different. However, this is my question to you – how on earth are you supposed to tell the difference? I am now going to give it a go. The keen ones amongst you, feel free to correct me, I won’t take it personally ;) Dunlin: Little fella, grey wings, white belly, slightly curved beak Turnstone: Little, black wings, white belly, red legs Common sandpiper: brown body, straight beak, black eye stripe Curlew sandpiper: if you squidged the two sandpipers together Green sandpiper: dark, white bellied sandpiper that is not green Grey plover: a more speckly version of a turnstone Curlew: This one I get, bendy beak and big as a chicken! Redshank: Medium sized, red legs and red beak near face Spotted redshank: red legs, black top beak, red lower beak So, can you see why I was confused. It doesn't help that when I was reading the information on my RSPB i-phone app it told me that these are the winter plumages of these birds - so as new species come in for the summer I will have to learn this all over again. I did however figure out that the bird call I has associated with the wilds of southern Ireland ( a previous family holiday) was not the charismatic oyster catcher but the close neighbours the curlew. I guess the beauty of this whole thing is now, once I get my eye in, I realise how many different species find the eerie and beautiful Essex coast a perfect tonic, just what they need.

Several home invasions have been reported in Oakland County in the past few weeks, according to the Franklin-Bingham Farms Police Department. They are urging residents to be wary of burglars posing as solicitors or lost travelers. “It appears that the burglars repeatedly ring the door bell and knock on doors to determine that no one is inside the house before they break in,” said Franklin officials in a Friday media release. “If an occupant answers the door, the suspect either claims to be looking for someone they thought lived there or offering some type of home improvement service.” Franklin police have kept investigations open in a few incidents in their village. The most recent, say officials, is a break-in that was reported around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Helmandale Drive. Authorities warn that burglars have been reported breaking windows in the back of homes or prying doors open. Suspects in these certain types of robberies are described by neighbors and victims as young men in their late teens to their early 20s, sometimes dressed in business or casual clothes. Suspicious vehicles have also been reported as being a green or blue SUV, a gray or sliver minivan, a silver Ford Taurus, a tan or white sedan, or a gray PT Cruiser. Officials are asking residents to be vigilant in immediately reporting any solicitors or suspicious people and vehicles in Franklin or Bingham Farms. Contact the police department’s dispatch center at 248-626-5444. Continued... Contact staff writer John Turk at 248-745-4613 or email@example.com. Remember to activate your home security alarm systems and lock all doors and windows. Do not leave valuables such as laptop computers, jewelry, iPhones and purses within view while you’re outside. Keep valuables stored in a safe or a heavy-duty lock box. See wrong or incorrect information in a story. Tell us here Location, ST | website.com National News Videos - Driver runs into Rochester Hills bar in accident that is one of many involving cars crashing into buildings in county (2058) - PAT CAPUTO: Detroit Red Wings show Blackhawks, again, why they are real Stanley Cup contenders WITH VIDEO (1530) - Pontiac taxpayers to pay $2.3 million of $7.8 million schools debt, neighbors to pay rest (1507) - Prince Fielder helps Tigers rally past Minnesota (1328) - DEAR ABBY May 24: Wedding thank-you note fails to deliver intended message (1066) - One killed, one injured in Brandon Township crash (1042) - PAULA PASCHE: Time for Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh to step up as leader (1032) - New backcourt leads Lathrup over Dragons (57) - Pontiac taxpayers to pay $2.3 million of $7.8 million schools debt, neighbors to pay rest (9) - Nearby neighbors concerned after man convicted of murder paroled, moves to Pontiac group home (8) - Auburn Hills chamber eyes lawsuit over $7.8 million Pontiac schools tax bill (8) - Property owners in eight communities may have to pay Pontiac schools' $7.8M debt (7) - Holly High School graduate to perform free vocal recital (6) - Michigan wolf hunting put on hold; issue will be put before voters (6) Recent Activity on Facebook Stephen Frye has covered the police beat and courts for The Oakland Press and now serves as online editor for www.theoaklandpress.com. Informs on and discusses current matters of legal interest to readers of The Oakland Press and to consumers of legal services in the community. Caren Gittleman likes talking cats. She'll discuss everything about them. Share your stories and ask her questions about your favorite feline. Roger Beukema shares news from Lansing that impacts sportsmen (this means ladies as well) and talks about things he finds when he goes overseas to visit his children, and adding your comments into the mix. Join Jonathan Schechter as he shares thoughts on our natural world in Oakland County and beyond.

What can you do to create a healthier personal environment? Assess your nest. Working with a home inspector, public health professional, contractor, or other construction expert as a guide, ask yourself some questions to evaluate your current house or apartment's environmental health: - Are you free of the "big three?" Radon, mold, and lead are all common home toxins. Radon testing is widely available, and best practices exist in new construction to minimize radon entry into the property. Check for moisture problems that act as hotbeds for mold growth, and look into mold testing if necessary. Finally, lead is present in many older homes' paint and pipes. Call your local public health department for information on testing for and eliminating lead in your home. - How well-ventilated is your home? While solid construction decreases your home's energy loss, a home that is too airtight can seal in indoor air pollutants. Proper ventilation also helps control moisture and reduce risk of mold and other environmental health concerns. Simple fixes to increase ventilation include installing ceiling fans and operable skylights and windows. - Does your landscaping contribute to your environmental health? Large lawns traditionally require greater pesticide use, and increase air and noise pollution generated from mowing. Consider planting perennial groundcovers, native foliage, or other low-maintenance landscaping. Even better, landscape with edible plants and devote a portion of your yard to organic vegetable gardening. Before you rent or begin new construction, consider these additional questions: - Will your new space support recycling/reuse with storage space for cans, bottles, paper, and other items? - What is your potential home's proximity to major noisemakers like airports, railroad tracks, or highways? - What will keep you warm? Although most mainstream commercial insulations are considered safe, check out some healthy alternative insulation, including those made with recycled denim and other cloth, wool, icynene and nanogel. - How big is your planned home? Small is good. A well-planned home with less square footage uses fewer building and maintenance resources. Clear the air. Consider these steps toward improving indoor air quality: - In your home, radon and mold tend to be the most serious barriers to indoor air quality. Relatively inexpensive tests exist to assess your home's mold and radon levels. - The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers guidelines about common workplace air quality complaints, which usually focus on temperature, humidity, lack of outside air ventilation or smoking. Find out more . - For employees in farming and industrial fields, on-the-job outdoor air quality is also a concern. Each state has a department of environmental health within its main health department that can advise workers and employers on outdoor air quality regulations. To find your state's health department, visit the Centers for Disease Control site. - If you smoke, stop. If you live with someone who smokes, insist on a strict outdoor smoking policy. Approximately 3,000 American adults die of lung cancer each year due to secondhand smoke exposure. In young children, secondhand smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and asthma. Know your H20. Increase your water quality with these tips: - The longer water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. Run or "flush" your tap for up to two minutes, depending upon how long it's been between uses. - Since hot water is more likely to contain lead, only drink, cook and make baby formula with cold water. - The only way to be totally certain about your home's water quality is to have it tested. This is especially important for people in high-rise buildings, where "flushing" the pipes may not be as effective. Your local water supplier, health department or university can offer information about credible testing resources. - Water filters have been shown to increase purity. Filters can range from simple pitcher-based systems to more elaborate reverse-osmosis home units. - Remember that bottled water is not necessarily of higher quality than regular tap water. And according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 60 million plastic bottles a day are manufactured, transported and then disposed of in U.S. landfills, compromising your community's environmental health. Green your cleaning. Are your cleaning products messing up your health? While we're far from knowing the health impact of all chemicals used in cleaning agents, you can easily (and very inexpensively) create your own house-healthy cleaners. Some tips: - Mix either vinegar or baking soda with warm water in a spray bottle, and you've got an effective, all-purpose cleansing agent. - Bypass commercial air deodorizers, many of which contain formaldehyde. Instead, add cinnamon, essential oils, cloves, or any herbs you like to a pan of boiling water, and let the sweet steam deodorize. - On laundry day, reach for Borax (sodium borate). This natural mineral acts as a stain-remover, bleach alternative and detergent booster. Baking soda can remove stains and deodorizes, and cornstarch absorbs greasy stains and starches your clothing. Lemon juice can also double for bleach. - Salt (sodium chloride) is a mild abrasive for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. - Consider hiring a "green" cleaning service, or ask your traditional housekeeper to use the methods and products you find healthiest. Increase your chemical awareness. While it's impractical to try to have no contact with chemicals, you can reduce your chemical exposure in relatively simple ways: - Some beauty products contain chemicals that are anything but pretty. For example, nail polish, body lotions, and perfumes often contain phthalates, a controversial substance linked to birth defects in animals and possibly humans. Shampoos that attack dandruff might also play havoc on your health; the active ingredient selenium sulfide is a neurotoxin and possible carcinogen. Hair dyes often have coal tar, another chemical linked to cancer. So read labels, and choose a product that will be as lovely for your health as it is for your appearance. - Don't create toxic trash. If you're tossing old medications, resist flushing them down the toilet, where they can invade water supplies. Also consider calling your local recycler, many of which accept old cleaning products, paint, oil and other chemicals that create even more treacherous landfills. - Be sure to air out your garments after a trip to the drycleaners. Dry cleaning employs a chemical called perchloroethylene, which is actually toxic to humans. Some environmentally conscious cleaners use methods that do not contain "perc;" seek them out. Better yet, when possible choose clothing that only requires a trip to your laundry room, not a professional cleaner. - Be mindful of plastic use. Some plastics contain bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like chemical potentially linked to cancer. Experts also advise against microwaving food in plastic containers; although research is inconclusive, the heating process is thought to release chemicals from the plastic into your food. Reusing plastic bottles is another source of controversy. Some experts think reuse is safe if you carefully wash and dry the bottles between each use, while others feel that wear and tear on the plastic causes toxic chemical leakage. An always-safe alternative is glass. Finally, you can reduce the amount of plastic produced by recycling. Look at the bottom of your plastic container for a number from 1-7. Items labeled 1 or 2 (usually soft drink, jjuice, water, milk, and detergent containers) are eligible for curbside recycling. Numbers higher than 2 are either unrecyclable or require special drop-off at a recycling center. Reduce the roar. Decrease sound pollution at home and work with these simple suggestions: - Employ low-tech solutions like earplugs and heavy curtains to block street noise. - White noise machines and noise-cancelling headphones also create quiet. - Double-paned windows reduce outdoor noise, including jet traffic. - Before you begin new construction projects, communicate with your architect and/or contractor about noise reduction options. Some building materials and methods offer greater sound absorption or masking than others. - When you are engaged in construction projects, or if you work in construction or another noisy trade, always wear hearing protection on the job. - Be mindful about your personal noise production. For example, are you really watching your television, or is it simply on as "background noise?" Could you use a push mower instead of a power model, a shovel rather than a snow blower? Could you bike instead of drive? Select "vibrate" rather than the latest ringtone? Even small actions increase the peace. Raise your EMF awareness. It is important to note that research on EMF exposure is ongoing. But these easy actions just might improve your wellbeing: - When possible, use a land line rather than your cell phone. - Use a hands free device or speaker phone function if using a cell phone. - Do not stand directly in front of your microwave oven while it's in use, or simply use your conventional oven. - Limit your computer time. - Use manual versions of personal care tools: an old-fashioned toothbrush rather than an electric model, or a razor instead of an electric shaver. - Don't sleep under an electric blanket. - Sit several feet from your television screen. Enjoy local and organic foods. The foods you choose not only impact your health from a nutritional standpoint, but from an environmental angle as well. Think about these fast facts: - Eating locally grown produce means less transportation is required to get that apple from the tree to your table. This translates to reduced air and noise pollution in your community. - Organic farming doesn't employ the pesticides often used in non-organic methods. That means that eating organic produce may reduce your ingestion of chemicals, and that pesticides will not leach into local water supplies. Joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) food plan might "cleanse" your diet and help your water supply. - Research indicates that raising livestock increases greenhouse gas emissions, pollutes water supplies, and contributes to land degradation and deforestation. Food for thought next time you're choosing between a steak and a salad.

Bonifay- In day three of testimony in the murder trial of Johnny Sketo Calhoun, the state called six more witnesses to the stand. Half of them were Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agents. Friday was also the first time this week jurors heard testimony regarding DNA evidence discovered in Calhoun's trailer. "I found a partial roll of duct tape and some pieces of duct tape," said FDLE Senior Crime Lab Analyst Charles Richards. Crime lab analyst Trevor Seifret told jurors crime techs found Brown's blood on that tape. He also revealed investigators found both Brown's and Calhoun's blood on other items. The state then introduced another key piece of evidence, a picture of the ceiling of Calhoun's trailer taken by Brown's camera. FDLE Agent Jennifer Roeder testified it was most likely captured December 17, 2010 the same date Brown disappeared. "In the internal workings of the camera, there's usually a setting when you turn on the camera where you can set the date and time and that time and date is stored," said Roeder. Holmes County Sheriff's Office Captain Harry Hamilton and Investigator Michael Raley were the final two witnesses of day. Raley testified as to what Calhoun told deputies when they caught him in his trailer the Monday following Brown's murder. "What was his response?," Assistant State Attorney Brandon Young asked Raley. "That he had been evading and hiding from law enforcement," said Raley. Besides Brown's blood in the trailer, investigators also discovered several strands of her hair. The defense will start presenting its case Monday.

The recruitment policy at ZEE does not just aim at placing the right mind at the right place for the right job. It takes a lot of care to see that the employees are happy and satisfied so that the organisation can have a long and enduring relationship with them and thus make them feel like a part of the family. This in turn, brings out the best in them. The flatness of the hierarchical structure of ZEE forms a base for cross-functional teams to work together regularly thus developing coherence and communication. A panel of senior colleagues oversees recruitments so that rational decisions can be taken and so that all biases are obviated. Every industry has its own aspirational brands that every youngster wants to work with. An ideal culmination of his dreams happens with landing a job with these companies. The Zee network has been one such sought after organization for years! In sync with being the best in the industry, ZEE prioritises its selection of students by virtue of going to the best campuses in the country and picking up only the brightest minds. The very fact that these young recruits bring in fresh perspective, constructive criticism and novel ideas, is something that ZEE stands to gain from. ZEE employs MBA graduates from premier B-Schools in the country as management trainees across various functions and work areas. These students are expected to perform under these various domains sometimes even cross-function across streams and departments for a year as an integral part of their training. This on-the-job training is expected to give them a feeler of real time work functions and pressures and also impart valuable experiential learnings. On the assessment of their contribution at the end of a successful management training programme, these trainees are confirmed as executives in their respective fields of work. ZEE's richness of human resource stems from the body of work and the sincerity in portraying the same. ZEE hand picks professionals from the media industry for junior, middle and senior management positions. Some absolutely critical criteria for these candidates are as follows: Mass communication / any management background (CA/LLB, etc) Considerable exposure in their areas of expertise like programming, direction, promo direction, operations along with a proven track record of excellence An external recruitment happens only if there is no internal response to the advertised vacancy. Last Updated - July 23, 2012

Sweet Tooth is a literary spy novel, both in the sense that it's an espionage story told by a literary writer and because it's an espionage story that, at its heart, is about literature. Set in the early 1970s against a backdrop of IRA bombings, Cold War anxiety, and labor unrest, the book follows a young, pretty MI5 recruit named Serena Frome who gets sucked into a decidedly low-stakes intelligence caper. Anyone looking for John le Carré-style intrigue will be disappointed. There's no clandestine slink through East Berlin, no sniffing out of Soviet moles. Instead, Frome embarks on an unremarkable undercover mission to financially support a young writer who's shown flashes of unfashionable anticommunism. It quickly turns out that the budding novelist and soon-to-be love interest, of course has an awful lot in common with McEwan himself. As things inevitably get complicated, McEwan has a lot of fun digging into (and taking digs at) his own past, even enlisting old pal Martin Amis, first publisher Tom Maschler, and early mentor Ian Hamilton as characters. Sweet Tooth offers enough atmosphere and forward motion to compensate for the story's slightness (and for an unnecessary twist ending that feels forced). It also provides McEwan with plenty of space to ruminate on writers, writing, and the power of stories both the kind in books and those that we spin in real life. B+

Before your equine athlete starts racing or competing it must have the muscle mass to power its required workload. This work can includes sit and sprint as well as middle and long distance racing, jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance, rodeo, polo, trekking, carts and games. The Hanley Formula is the most powerful muscle building equine supplement available. During hard training, racing and competing the large muscle groups which power the horse are broken down and damaged. The only way to build and repair these muscles is by providing your equine athletes the essential building blocks. The Hanley Formula contains all these building blocks. By using The Hanley Formula your horse can produce and repair its own tendons, connective tissue (collagen) and ligaments. Protein Needs for Exercise |Average 500kg Horse||Light Work||Moderate Work||Hard Work||Very Hard Work| |Protein Needs (Grams per Day)||700||768||862||1000| The Hanley Formula is an amazing supplement. We use it with the young horses for weight gain and top line. It is great for building lean body mass. For our top eventers the amino acids are crucial to maintaining them at the top end of the sport, assisting with muscle recovery and metabolism. We have used Hanley Formula on our stallion Don Quattro for about a year now. We have noticed that he maintained great overall condition right through the competition year without needing extra feed, and in particular his muscle condition was outstanding. Since I've been using The Hanley Formula my horses have raced more consistently, staying at the top of their game for longer. Their muscle tone and recovery are excellent .

Anna Karenina (2012) Anna Karenina SynopsisThe third collaboration of Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright, following the award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, is the epic love story Anna Karenina, adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The story unfolds in its original late-19th-century Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, from the passion between adulterers to the bond between a mother and her children. As Anna (Ms. Knightley) questions her happiness, change comes to her family, friends, and community. Anna Karenina Release Date In Theaters November 16, 2012 Anna Karenina Credits Starring: Keira Knightley, Aaron Johnson, Jude Law, Matthew Macfadyen, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Kelly Macdonald, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Williams, and Emily Watson Written by: Tom Stoppard Directed by: Joe Wright Produced by: Tim Bevan, Alexander Dostal, Alexandra Ferguson MPAA Rating: [ R ] Distributor: Focus Features Subscribe To Anna Karenina Updates if you're excited for Anna Karenina This Week In Home Entertainment: Argo & Anna Karenina, Plus Things Get Sinister There’s a lot of imagination in this week’s best releases. From a ghastly creature haunting old visual mediums to reenvisioned historical moments, and world and their wars built entirely for the small screen, this week in home entertainment offers a little something for everyone, even if that something is watching scantily dressed teens try to find a younger sibling in a haunted house. by Jessica Rawden February 19, 2013 comments Skyfall, Lincoln And More Nominated By The American Society Of Cinematographers Skyfall may be seen by some as just another silly blockbuster action movie, but the truth is that it really was one of the most beautiful films to be released in 2012, the Shanghai sequence alone deserving tons of recognition. But do you think that he deserves the top prize from the ASC? by Eric Eisenberg January 9, 2013 comments The Top 10 Movies Of 2012: Kristy's List Creating this list has filled me with a dizzying amount of joy and dread. Really, 2012 was a year that offered so many examples of daring and thrilling cinema that it was difficult to even determine what the criteria should be for a list of my personal ten favorites. In the end, I went with my gut, selecting those films that not only hit me hard in the theater, but also lingered with me for days, weeks, or months afterwards, and which I can still vividly recall. by Kristy Puchko December 19, 2012 comments The Top 10 Movies Of 2012: Katey's List 2012 was a really, really hard year to sum up in list form, and a top 20 would really be more appropriate to reflect the astonishing variety of blockbusters, out-of-nowhere successes and totally tiny arthouse stuff that grabbed me this year. A lot of these movies snuck up on me, only revealing their brilliance long after I'd written a review or thought I'd forgotten about it. Plenty of those not on this list did the opposite, making an amazing first impression and fading so quickly by Katey Rich December 17, 2012 comments Joe Wright And Keira Knightley Talk Collaboration In Anna Karenina Featurette With the cast and crew gushing so profusely about how terrific Knightley's performance is and how deep her devotion to the role was, it seems this featurette is meant as a kind of "For Your Consideration" ad. It's a relief to see Focus Features making such a push, since—despite all its grace, grandeur and great performances—this film appears to be getting lost in the shuffle with so many hotly anticipated titles nearing release. by Kristy Puchko December 3, 2012 comments Domnhall Gleeson Goes From Holding A Wand In The Background Of Harry Potter To Anna Karenina's Romantic Lead For a while Domhnall Gleeson didn't think he'd become an actor. As the son of famed Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, he had every young person's urge to separate himself from his parents-- even as it became clear to him that acting was what he wanted to do anyway. by Katey Rich November 21, 2012 comments Jude Law On The Difference Between The Theater And The World Of Anna Karenina It’s never easy playing the third wheel in a love triangle, particularly when it’s your wife who wants to leave you for another man. Couple this with the fact that Karenin (Jude Law) is a well-respected and very public figure in Russia’s aristocracy – and his crumbling marriage is being played out on a national stage – and you can understand why Anna Karenina is such a challenge by Sean O'Connell November 19, 2012 comments 5 Oscar Hopefuls You Should Catch Up With Over The Holiday This time of year you're probably overwhelmed figuring out your holiday plans and making a list of everyone you need to give presents, but there's another list you probably have in mind as a movie buff: the Oscar nominations. No, the nominees won't be announced until January 10, but now is the time to start catching up on the names that will probably be read that day by CB Staff November 19, 2012 comments Keira Knightley Explains Why You Shouldn't Be Intimidated By Anna Karenina The conversation, according to Keira Knightley, started on the set of by Sean O'Connell November 19, 2012 comments Aaron Taylor Johnson Talks Anna Karenina's Heightened Style If Anna Karenina was a by-the-numbers, Garry Marshall-directed romantic comedy, we’d actively root for Anna (Keira Knightley) to buck the odds and be with her true love, Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). But this isn’t Hollywood fluff. It’s classic Russian literature – Tolstoy, to be specific. Anna is a married Russian socialite, and Vronsky her forbidden fruit by Sean O'Connell November 16, 2012 comments Operation Kino 89: Swooning For Anna Karenina, And The New Short The Sleepover This week on Operation Kino, we're embarking on a pretty ill-fated affair, as we review Joe Wright's gorgeous new movie Anna Karenina. From there we bring you the newest installment of OpKino Indie, in which Da7e chats with Chris Cullari, Jennifer Raite and Carolyn Jania, the team behind the new short film "The Sleepover," by Operation Kino November 16, 2012 comments Director Joe Wright On Regaining His Confidence To Make A Bold Anna Karenina Now we have Anna Karenina, which might be the umpteenth adaptation of the Tolstoy classic but which stands very much on its own, partly because of Wright's bold decision to set most of the film inside a dilapidated theater, where bedrooms are tucked in among the rafters and horses can trot among the audience seats by Katey Rich November 13, 2012 comments Oscar Eye: Lincoln Holds Strong, Jennifer Lawrence Moves Up, And More Developments Between Election Day and a nasty fever that suddenly took over my life, I didn't have it in me last Tuesday-- and I got the feeling you guys had other things on your mind as well. Plus, what we're talking about this week is the same thing we would have been talking about last week: Lincoln and Skyfall, and the handful of mysteries still waiting for us down the line by Katey Rich November 13, 2012 comments Now Streaming: Netflix Instant Alternatives To Lincoln, Anna Karenina & Breaking Dawn - Part 2 This week, inspired by Lincoln, Anna Karenina, and Breaking Dawn – Part 2, for inspiration, we offer a selection of historical dramas, steamy costume dramas, and supernatural romances. by Kristy Puchko November 11, 2012 comments Joe Wright Considering A Harry Houdini Biopic As for Houdini, his biopic almost landed in the hands of The Hunger Games director Gary Ross. And his life story is informing a Broadway musical backed by Aaron Sorkin and Hugh Jackman. But the escape artist really deserves his own movie, and in my opinion, Wright would be a tremendous choice to take over the project. by Sean O'Connell October 12, 2012 comments Oscar Eye: Argo Prepares To Emerge As A Frontrunner, While Lincoln Surprises New York This week marks the wide release of one of the very big Best Picture contenders, Ben Affleck's Argo, but through sheer chance I've managed to catch up with four major Oscar movies in the last week. Argo is among them, so we'll start there, but there's plenty else to go over, even if the rest of these movies won't emerge in theaters for a few weeks yet. Exciting times to be a moviegoer! by Katey Rich October 9, 2012 comments Anna Karenina Posters Put Different Forms Of Love On Display This is such a smart campaign, because audiences need to be informed that Karenina -- despite being based on centuries-old Russian literature – is a passionate piece of filmmaking that crackles with creative energies, lustful performances, emotional heat and palpable tragedy. Don’t mistake this for another dry costume drama. by Sean O'Connell October 8, 2012 comments Toronto Film Festival Wrap-Up: The Good, The Bad, And The Best Oscar Bets The Toronto Film Festival technically doesn't wrap up until Sunday, when award winners will be announced (including the usually important Audience Award) and the crowds will recede from downtown Toronto for another year. But Team Cinema Blend has already left the premises, with dozens of movies and a handful interviews under our belts by Katey Rich and Sean O'Connell September 14, 2012 comments Anna Karenina: The Best Film Of TIFF 2012 So Far The heavy hitters emerged at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, as audiences got their first look at films that would make any cinema junkie drool. Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina, Ben Affleck’s Argo and Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha all played north of the border to packed houses … and we were there for as much of it as we could absorb. by Sean O'Connell September 8, 2012 comments Keira Knightley, Jude Law In Anna Karenina Character Posters Russian literature might not float your boat, but we remain excited for Karenina because of Wright’s previous collaborations with lithe, beautiful leading lady Keira Knightley. They reinvented Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, then found heat in a steamy pre-war affair on the wrenching Atonement. by Sean O'Connell September 3, 2012 comments Anna Karenina Featurette Shows Off More Theatricality And Glitz It's still hard to know exactly how it will work out, but today we get another glimpse at the film and, once again, it's cramming with arresting visuals and some intriguing looking performance. The clip also has a lot of Keira Knightley and Wright talking about the idea behind the film's melodramatic style. Take a look below by Katey Rich July 30, 2012 comments Joe Wright's Anna Karenina Shows Breathtaking Ambition In Six-Minute Clip Wright has become cheered for his incredible and complicated long takes, like the beach scene in Atonement and the underground fight scene in Hanna. But now his love of this elegant but hard-earned fluidity has informed the entire construction of his Anna Karenina, an epic breathtaking in its ambition. by Kristy Puchko July 23, 2012 comments Anna Karenina Steals Great Gatsby's Thunder With Glamorous Poster And Trailer Between Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby and Joe Wright's Anna Karenina, moviegoers will be spoiled for choice this winter, when it comes to luxurious adaptations of novels that explore ill-fated love in high society. Focus Features has previously unveiled a striking string of first look images for Anna that revealed an almost unrecognizable Jude Law, a stunningly regal Keira Knightley, and a mustachioed—yet dapper—Aaron Johnson. by Kristy Puchko June 20, 2012 comments Robocop Sets August 2013 Release, Anna Karenina Coming This Oscar Season It's hard to think of anything that really connects the upcoming Robocop remake and the upcoming Anna Karenina adaptation, so let's just get down to facts. Recent schedule updates at Box Office Mojo have finally assigned release dates for both films; by Katey Rich March 13, 2012 comments Keira Knightley Dances In First Look At Joe Wright's Anna Karenina In 2007 director Joe Wright made a huge splash when he directed Atonement, a period drama starring Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan and James McAvoy. The film was a huge hit, both with audiences and critics, and it ended up earning seven Academy Award nominations (and it won for Best Original Score). Wright's last two films, The Soloist and Hanna, were both a step away from what we have typically seen from the director by Eric Eisenberg February 24, 2012 comments Exclusive: James McAvoy Still Unsure On Anna Karenina, Talks Welcome To The Punch Wright has been very vocal about wanting McAvoy for the film, but it's been unclear if McAvoy's schedule would cooperate; based on what he told me it seems that's still very much up in the air. by Katey Rich April 13, 2011 comments Benedict Cumberbatch And Kelly Macdonald Join Joe Wright's Stunning Anna Karenina Cast Cumberbatch actually makes this even more of an Atonement reunion, having played the actual rapist who goes off scot free when Ronan's character Briony accuses McAvoy instead. The British actor has been working steadily for years in all kinds of films you might recognize him in by Katey Rich April 7, 2011 comments James McAvoy And Saoirse Ronan May Also Join Joe Wright's Anna Karenina Though Hanna, a modern-day action thriller with strong fairy tale elements, is a bit of a departure from the polished period world of Atonement, Anna Karenina gets Wright back to what he established early as his wheelhouse. It's a classic story that's building a phenomenal cast by Katey Rich April 2, 2011 comments Jude Law Might Join Knightley, Johnson In Anna Karenina It's still a little unclear which role he might potentially be attached to in the eight part novel. There's Anna husband, twenty years her senior, which might work considering Law is thirteen years older than Knightley by Mack Rawden March 19, 2011 comments Kick-Ass Aaron Johnson Considering Tolstoy And New Oliver Stone Flick If he chooses both of these projects, studios should start getting a pretty fair handle on Aaron Johnson’s bankability. All the acting talent in the world doesn’t make you a leading man by Mack Rawden March 17, 2011 comments Joe Wright Hints That Keira Knightley Will Still Star In His Anna Karenina Though Wright says he's "not sure yet" who the star will be, he also admits "it's fairly obvious" and "I'm loyal to my actors," and is only holding back because "she hasn't signed on the dotted line." by Katey Rich March 2, 2011 comments Around The Web

Import tolerances (Maximum Residue Levels or MRLs) for Bayer CropScience’s Movento and Ultor insecticides have been established on certain commodities intended for export to Japan, effective immediately. The recent announcement by Japan’s Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare establishes MRLs for spirotetramat, the active ingredient in the Movento and Ultor brand insecticides. The regulatory approval and establishment of MRLs followed a comprehensive safety review by Japanese regulatory officials. “We are thrilled that Japan has established the MRLs for commodities treated with Movento and Ultor,” says Kevin Adam, product manager for Bayer CropScience. “Japan was the last major export market to give their go-ahead. This is tremendous news for growers of grapes, citrus and other label-approved crops who want to incorporate Movento and Ultor treatments into their integrated pest management programs on their crops bound for Japan.” Movento and Ultor had already earned regulatory approval from the U.S., EU, Codex, Canada and Mexico with the establishment of MRLs by regional and national authorities there. A comprehensive list of established Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) can be found here. On October 15, 2010, Movento and Ultor received registration from the EPA for a second time, giving U.S. growers back a sorely missed tool for the management of their toughest pests. Crops listed on the product container labels for Movento and Ultor remain the same as under the prior registration, and include grapes, citrus, lettuce and apples, among others. For a complete list of approved crops, please refer to the most current product label. Growers have come to depend on Movento and Ultor to protect their crops against a broad spectrum of damaging sucking insects such as aphids, mealybugs, scales and many others. The efficacy demonstrated by Movento and Ultor is based on its two-way transport within the plant. After application, Movento and Ultor move upward and downward through the plant tissue, ensuring even and continuous distribution and better overall protection of young shoots, leaves and roots. Movento and Ultor target sucking pests specifically, and have minimal impact on beneficial insects which makes them a good choice for use in an Integrated Pest Management Program.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 4, 2014 – Xoom Corporation (NASDAQ: XOOM), a leading digital money transfer provider, today announced it has acquired BlueKite, LTD, a cutting edge technology company that develops solutions and applications to improve the way people around the world pay their bills. Xoom acquired BlueKite for approximately $15 million in cash and equity. BlueKite has built a robust technology platform for cross-border bill payments and mobile phone top ups. This acquisition will allow Xoom to offer adjacent services to their burgeoning money transfer offerings, with the ability to pay bills for their loved ones, as well as top-up mobile phones. By facilitating safe, reliable and accurate cross-border bill payments, Xoom will be able to help its customers take even better care of family members back in their home country. Guatemala City-based BlueKite currently has 30 employees. “I am very pleased to announce that Xoom has acquired this exciting, young company, BlueKite. By adding these services, Xoom continues to broaden our relationship with our customers, and in so doing, create greater lifetime value and increased loyalty to the Xoom brand,” said John Kunze, President and CEO for Xoom. “We’re excited to build out bill pay and top-up services and enlarge and strengthen the Xoom team with our new development center in Guatemala City. This development center will also augment our San Francisco product and development efforts.” Bobby Aitkenhead, former CEO of BlueKite, will report to Kunze as vice president in charge of Xoom Bill Pay and Xoom Top Up. "Xoom’s online and mobile platforms are disrupting traditional forms of money transfer, and we are thrilled to be part of the Xoom team,” said Aitkenhead. “The people, technology, consumer reach, and brand appeal are a perfect fit for our company. We all look forward to a great future together and contributing to Xoom’s mission of offering customers convenient, fast and cost-effective ways to send money." Initial product services will be announced later this year. Xoom is a leading digital money transfer provider in 31 countries, focused on helping consumers send money in a secure, fast and cost-effective way using their mobile phone, tablet or computer. During the year ended December 31, 2013, Xoom’s more than one million active customers sent more than $5.5 billion to family and friends. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and can be found online at www.xoom.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to, among other things, expectations, plans and prospects for Xoom, including, but not limited to, its expectations regarding its expansion into new markets, ability to improve the way people around the world pay their bills and market demand for bill pay products. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Xoom’s management as of the date of this press release, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information available to Xoom as of the date thereof,and Xoom disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: the evolving nature of the industry in which Xoom operates; its failure to attract new customers or retain existing customers; economic, political or regulatory factors beyond its control, in the U.S. or in countries to which its customers transfer money and pay bills; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; competitive pricing and marketing strategies by competitors; the adoption of competing technologies that supplant its services; the failure of partners to disburse funds according to Xoom’s instructions; declines in customer confidence in its business or in money transfer providers generally; potential breaches of its security systems; and other risks and uncertainties. For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the risk factors discussed in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including but not limited to Xoom’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013, Xoom’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 declared effective on September 10, 2013, and any subsequently filed reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All documents are available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) at www.sec.gov or Xoom’s website at www.xoom.com.

You’ve probably heard IAMSU without even knowing it: he’s the producer responsible for the slapping beat on “Up” by LoveRance (and on NYC radio, 50 Cent). He’s also a solo artist in his own right, and on his excellent new mixtape KILT he teams up with fellow producer/MC (and longtime FG fam) Trackademicks for the track “Clothes Shows And Afros.” Download the whole thing here. Pitchfork reviewed Kool AD of Das Racist’s latest solo joint 51 today, mentioning our dude Trackademicks as part of the tapes’ “impressive” lineup of producers alongside Young L and more. We agree! Download 51 here, check out more from Track on his Soundcloud, and stay tuned for some new joints very soon… Read More Birthday boy Trackademicks just released an awesome new suite of moody, futuristic instrumental r&b entitled Cherry 2000, grab it from his Soundcloud as one continuous piece or separate, DJ-friendly tracks. Right on time for the last weeks of summer (always the smoothest) it’s a new, free release from Trackademicks, aka Alameda, California’s true King Of Slaps, aka master of the Western Slapademic Tender Smobbin Cosmic Music. Fresh Coastin features guest appearances from Freddie Gibbs, Phonte, Polyester the Saint and of course Track’s Honor Roll crew. Download and cool out… In the latest edition of his “Liner Notes” video series, Trackademicks talks about the genesis of his State Of The Arts collaboration with Teedra Moses, “Face The Music.” The timing couldn’t be better, since the new Luxurious Undergrind mixtape from Teedra just dropped, featuring the Trackademicks-produced “Invitation,” as well as the 1-O.A.K-produced “So Special”. It’s a Honor Roll / Maybach Music explosion! Read More After weeks and weeks of blood, sweat and InDesign, the Fool’s Gold chapter of Frank151 is out! You can snag physical copies soon at parties and select retail spots around the world (and via subscription, of course). But since the internet streets can’t wait, you can peep a downloadable PDF and flippable web mag version of the entire issue right here. What’s inside you ask? Read More

YA COLFER, E. When a twelve-year-old evil genius tries to restore his family fortune by capturing a fairy and demanding a ransom in gold, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll. YA WOOD, M. On a bike trip in Ireland trying to recover from a broken heart, sixteen-year-old Morgan is transformed, not only by the others on the tour, but by her visits to the past, where she is believed to be the legendary half-goddess Morganne, sent to help end a faery curse. YA FALLON, L. Instantly drawn to a mysterious, alluring boy in her class, teenaged Megan, an American living in Ireland, discovers that they are linked by a supernatural destiny that gives them powers Megan never knew she possessed. YA THOMPSON, K. Bobby lives a reckless life smoking, drinking, and stealing cars in Dublin. So his mother moves the family to the country. But Bobby suspects their cottage might not be as quaint as it seems. And spooky details of the history of their little cottage gradually turn Bobby into a detective of night creatures real and imagined. YA DOWD, S. Coolbar, Ireland, is a village of secrets and Shell, caretaker to her younger brother and sister after the death of their mother and with the absence of their father, is not about to reveal hers until suspicion falls on the wrong person. YA THOMPSON, K. Irish teenager JJ Liddy discovers that time is leaking from his world into Tir na nOg, the land of the fairies, and when he attempts to stop the leak he finds out a lot about his family history, the music that he loves, and a crime his great-grandfather may or may not have committed. YA FOLEY, J. It’s 1993, and Generation X pulses to the beat of Kurt Cobain and the grunge movement. Sixteen-year-old Maggie Lynch is uprooted from big-city Chicago to a windswept town on the Irish Sea. Surviving on care packages of Spin magazine and Twizzlers from her rocker uncle Kevin, she wonders if she’ll ever find her place in this new world. When first love and sudden death simultaneously strike, a naive but determined Maggie embarks on a forbidden pilgrimage that will take her to a seedy part of Dublin and on to a life-altering night in Rome to fulfill a dying wish. Through it all, Maggie discovers an untapped inner strength to do the most difficult but rewarding thing of all– live. YA LENNON, T. Neil Byrne, a teenager in Dublin, Ireland, in the 1990s, comes to terms with the fact that he is gay and seeks acceptance from his friends and family. YA MELLING, O. Two teenage cousins, one Irish, the other from the United States, set out to find a magic doorway to the Faraway Country, where humans must bow to the little people. YA SF MCKINTY, A. Thirteen-year-old Jamie is overjoyed when a bequest sends him and his mother to live on an Irish island, where he and his newfound friend Ramsay travel back in time to help a young girl save her people from certain death. YA DOYLE, R. Mary O’Hara is a sharp and cheeky twelve-year-old Dublin schoolgirl who is bravely facing the fact that her beloved Gran is dying. But Gran can’t let go of life, and when a mysterious young woman turns up in Mary’s street with a message for her Gran, Mary gets pulled into an unlikely adventure. YA NAPOLI, D. Fifteen-year-old Melkorka, an Irish princess, is kidnapped by Russian slave traders and not only learns how to survive but to challenge some of the brutality of her captors, who are fascinated by her apparent muteness and the possibility that she is enchanted. YA KIERNAN, C. After their nan accidentally burns their home down, twin brothers Pat and Dom must move with their parents and baby sister to the seaside cottage they’ve summered in, now made desolate by the winter wind. Itʹs there that the ghost appears, a strange boy who cries black tears and fears a bad man, a soldier, who is chasing him. Soon Dom has become not Dom, and Pat can sense that his brother is going to die while their overwhelmed parents can’t even see whatʹs happening. Isolated and terrified, Pat needs to keep his brother’s cover while figuring out how to save him, drawing clues from his own dreams and Nan’s long ago memories, confronting a mystery that lies between this world and the next, within the Grey. Chloe: If I Stay by Gayle Forman Katie: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien Movies and TV Reese: Duck Dynasty Chloe: Earth to Echo Matt: Black Ops (XBOX 360) Will: Oblivion (XBOX 360) Reese: The Escapists (PC game) Pick up one of this action-packed novels to get your heart racing again! YA MARSDEN, J. When Ellie and her friends go camping, they have no idea they’re leaving their old lives behind forever. Despite a less-than-tragic food shortage and a secret crush or two, everything goes as planned. But a week later, they return home to find their houses empty and their pets starving. Something has gone wrong–horribly wrong. Before long, they realize the country has been invaded, and the entire town has been captured–including their families and all their friends. Ellie and the other survivors face an impossible decision: They can flee for the mountains or surrender. Or they can fight. YA GEBHART, R. Thirteen-year-old Tyson sneaks off with his roughneck, but ill, grandpa to go on his first elk hunt, amid reports of a stalking man-eating grizzly. YA STIEFVATER, M. Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races, both trying to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. YA LAYBOURNE, E. Trapped inside a chain superstore by an apocalyptic sequence of natural and human disasters, six high school kids from various popular and unpopular social groups struggle for survival while protecting a group of younger children. YA COLFER, E. In Victorian London, Albert Garrick, an assassin-for-hire, and his reluctant young apprentice, Riley, are transported via wormhole to modern London, where Riley teams up with a young FBI agent to stop Garrick from returning to his own time and using his newly acquired scientific knowledge and power to change the world forever. YA MY LANE, A. In 1868, with his army officer father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously “unwell,” fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire, where he uncovers his first murder and a diabolical villain. YA SMITH, R. A fourteen-year-old boy attempts to be the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest. YA SF LORE, P. In rural Ohio, friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting to a fifteen-year-old who has hidden on Earth for ten years waiting to develop the Legacies, or powers, he will need to rejoin the other six surviving Garde members and fight the Mogadorians who destroyed their planet, Lorien. YA PATTERSON, J. After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the “bird kids,” who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit and find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose. YA HOROWITZ, A. After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle’s dangerous work for Britain’s intelligence agency, MI6. YA DEUKER, C. Living with his alcoholic father on a broken-down sailboat on Puget Sound has been hard on seventeen-year-old Chance Taylor, but when his love of running leads to a high-paying job, he quickly learns that the money is not worth the risk. YA CARTER, A. A group of teenagers uses their combined talents to re-steal several priceless paintings and save fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop’s father, himself an international art thief, from a vengeful collector. YA SF MULLIN, M After the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano destroys his city and its surroundings, fifteen-year-old Alex must journey from Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Illinois to find his parents and sister, trying to survive in a transformed landscape and a new society in which all the old rules of living have vanished. YA CLINE, E. In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the Oasis. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines – puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win – and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape. YA MY RITTER, W. Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which, Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature. YA SF MORGAN, K. When 100 juvenile delinquents are sent on a mission to recolonize Earth, they get a second chance at freedom, friendship, and love, as they fight to survive in a dangerous new world. YA CARRIGER, G. In an alternate England of 1851, spirited fourteen-year-old Sophronia is enrolled in a finishing school where, she is surprised to learn, lessons include not only the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also diversion, deceit, and espionage. YA SF SANDERSON, B. At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superhuman powers, and now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners–the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny. YA SF YANCEY, R. Cassie Sullivan, the survivor of an alien invasion, must rescue her young brother from the enemy with help from a boy who may be one of them. YA SF CHARBONNEAU, J. Sixteen-year-old Malencia (Cia) Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, Cia is fearful when she figures out her friends who do not pass The Testing are disappearing. YA SF GRANT, M. In the near future, the conjoined Armstrong twins, under the guise of the Armstrong Fancy Gifts Corporation, plot to create their own version of utopia using nanobots, while a guerilla group known as BZRK develops a DNA-based biot that can stop bots, but at risk of the host’s brain. Yesterday morning the Youth Media Awards were held at the American Library’s Association’s Midwinter Conference. These awards are held annually and recognize some of the best books written for the year for kids and teens. Check out the recording of the awards ceremony and then take a look at the winning Teen books below! Given for excellence in literature written for young adults. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: This One Summer also was named a Caldecott Honor Book: the Randolph Caldecott Medal is for the most distinguished American picture book for children. Given for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens. Four other books were finalists for the award: Four other books were finalists for the award: The Family Romanov was also named a Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book, for most distinguished informational book for children and teens: These books, recommended for ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both quality literature and appeal to teens, while comprising a wide range of genres, styles and subjects. Click here to find the full list! Top Ten list from the final selections: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley Vango by Timothee de Fombelle The Story of Owen Dragonslayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston The Gospel of Winter by Brendan Kiely We Were Liars by e. lockhart The Young Elites by Marie Lu I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson Jackaby by William Ritter Noggin by John Corey Whaley Coretta Scott King Honor Book: The Coretta Scott Kind Book Award recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: The John Steptoe New Talent Award recognizes new talent and is determined by the Coretta Scott King Task Force: Schneider Family Book Award’s Teen Selection: for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: Stonewall Honor Books: given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: Check out the books, movies, TV shows, and music that come highly recommended by our Teen Advisory Board Members! Will: 1984 by George Orwell Veronika: Empty by Suzanne Weyn Ashley: Insurgent by Veronica Roth Movies & TV Will: Once Upon a Time Julia: Law & Order Chloe: If I Stay Barbara: FourFiveSeconds by Rhianna, Kanye, and Paul McCartney; I Need You by M83 Kelsey: Symphony Soldier by The Cab, Pirates of the Caribbean film scores by Hans Zimmer Julia: The Big Bang by Rock Mafia Katie: The Heart Wants What it Wants and My Dilemma 2.0 by Selena Gomez; Sledgehammer by Fifth Harmony; Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake; Something Big by Shawn Mendes

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved. Contact us for information about using this image. It was customary in the 18th century for a young man to ask the parents or guardian of the girl he wished to marry for permission to continue his courtship. Samuel Field (1743-1800) of Deerfield, Massachusetts, was the uncle and guardian ("since her kind and dutifull behaviour towards me and my Family, has much endeared her to me, so that she seems more like a Child than a Niece") of Hannah Taylor (born 1722). The letter responds to the request by Elihu Hoyt (1771-1833) to marry Hannah. Field admits that he does not pretend to control Hannah, but he feels the match would be a good one and he extends to Mr. Hoyt his best wishes for success in courting her.

The Baby Birds and Bees A recent article by Associated Press stated that a certain King Middle School in Portland, Maine decided to make birth control pills available for its students. That’s right, Middle School. The Apostolate of Being Words are not enough. In order to live sanctity we need living models. For that reason, God the Father sent us his son, Jesus. He also invites us to mirror Christ. Indeed, the greatest apostolate is to embody Jesus Christ as perfectly as possible. More than I Want to Know If we were to listen to what goes on in the locker room at halftime of a NBA game, either television folks would have to do a lot of bleeping or we would have to develop a new tolerance for profanity. Surely, neither would make the game more enjoyable. Immaculate Conception Young girl of faith from Galilee: so human, so prone to motherhood, craving life, yearning Yahweh to see a world more softened. Marian Strategy Apostolic mission: the role of the Rosary prayer when pursuing holiness. And Now, a Word from Whose Sponsors? “Appropriate” is a word that has fallen out of use – and application. Advertisers and television networks ought to exercise a little judgment about what is proper to show. The Vocation of Mary This is a festival of the mother of God whose skin is brown, red, and yellow as well as white. This is also a day to celebrate the diversity that God, the Creator has gifted us with. A Contemporary Christmas Carol Each one of us has this time of Christmas to discover someone in need, someone who is sad, someone who is looking for Christ. And so often we learn that we really don’t have to look that far.

The time has come to draw a line in the sand on extreme poverty. We have the resources and the will. What we no longer have is any excuse for inaction. On August 15, I signed into law House Bill 4369, which establishes the Commission on the Elimination of Poverty in the state of Illinois. The stated goal of the new body is to create a plan to cut extreme poverty in Illinois in half by the year 2015. By combining achievable goals with a comprehensive approach to poverty, I believe this Commission can move Illinois even further into the forefront in the national movement against poverty, and establish Illinois as the model state for others to emulate. The Commission will focus on those who live in extreme poverty, defined as 50 percent of the federal poverty line, or an income of merely $11,000 per year for a family of four. According to the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, 700,000 Illinoisans live in extreme poverty, 150,000 of whom are aged 12-24. Confronting extreme poverty demands more than making up for an unacceptable shortfall in the means required to achieve a reasonable standard of living. It also means we need to stand with those children and young adults whose fragile futures we have the power to shape. To provide opportunities for these families to work themselves out of poverty is both to help provide them what they need stay alive today as well as to provide them with the tools and opportunities to thrive tomorrow. Every person has a right to a safe place to live, adequate healthcare, food, and decent educational and employment opportunities. Because a quality life has so many dimensions, we have structured our new Commission to focus on eight key areas: - Affordable housing - Food and nutrition - Affordable and quality health care - Equal access to quality education - Dependable and affordable transportation - Quality and affordable child care - Opportunities to engage in sustainable work that pays a living wage - Availability of adequate income supports We already know that you can’t just give people a hand-out and expect them to succeed. These eight areas acknowledge that we need to cover people’s basic needs and, at the same time, that we can never make serious inroads into poverty until we open up to everyone the tried and tested pathways to success. A deeper look at rising poverty levels in Illinois shows why we need to take a broader approach: in the last 10 years, low-income students have risen from 36.3 percent to 40.9 percent of the total enrollment and this year alone has witnessed a 4 percent increase in the number of households that receive Food Stamps. These are problems we can conquer, but only if take into account – and address – the many factors of poverty. One reason we are creating this Commission is to ensure that the Illinois has a long-term plan. The political will exists to do something about poverty and so it is equally important to develop an approach that can garner support from both sides of the aisle. When everyone can agree that we must act to reduce poverty, there is no time to let politics overwhelm initiative. This bill, which passed unanimously in both the Illinois House and Senate, mandates that the Commission represent all points of view. I will appoint five members, the Lieutenant Governor will appoint one, and then the House Majority and Minority Leaders and the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders will appoint five each for a total of 26. This gives us confidence that when the Commission does develop a plan, it will be one that all of Illinois can get behind. We have allowed extreme poverty to persist for far too long. I am proud to say that the creation of this Commission is an important first step in remedying that inaction. We have now made a firm commitment to identifying and implementing policies that will greatly reduce the number of Illinoisans living in poverty. I hope that we can inspire other states and communities to follow suit, and pledge to dramatically reduce poverty in the coming years. These goals are not always easy, but they are within reach. It will require hard work and determination to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Yet it is a deadline that all Illinoisans can now await with optimism and hope. Viewpoints in this section solely represent the authors’ opinions and not the opinions of "Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity."

Meeting Mia for her first ever full frontal nude sessions proved to be a happy experience for both model and photographer. At the photo session in Paris, Mia proved herself to be perfect model material. Not only does this playful and sexy young woman have a superb body – with a particularly amazing ass - she also has the brains too. Mia recently moved to Budapest and is studying Public Management. She has plans to open her own model agency and experience in front of the camera is certain to help this ambitious girl on her way. Mia is gorgeous, polite and full of personality. She is the kind of girl you could easily fall in love with. She has the tiniest of appetites... but like many girls Mia just loves chocolate! With brains and beauty this girl is definitely headed for the top!

Miners’ Rescue Dominates News Interest Jump in Attention to Midterm Election News Summary of Findings The dramatic rescue of 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for more than two months dominated the public’s news interest last week, while the media focused on both the miners’ saga and the midterm Congressional elections. With the Nov. 2 elections fast approaching, the percent of the public tracking election news very closely jumped to 33% from 23% one week earlier. According to the latest News Interest Index survey conducted Oct. 14-17 among 1,002 adults by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Republicans continue to follow election news more closely than Democrats or independents. Currently, close to half of Republicans (47%) say they are following this news very closely, compared with 32% of Democrats and 26% of independents. The week of Oct. 7-10, 31% of Republicans said they were following news about the midterms very closely, compared with 21% of Democrats and 20% of independents. While the public appears increasingly attentive to election news, four-in-ten say they followed news about the rescue of the miners – heavily covered and broadcast live on television – more closely than any other news last week. Nearly two-in-ten (19%) say they followed news about the economy most closely; 15% say they followed news about the elections most closely. For its part, the media devoted 28% of coverage to the midterm elections and 21% of newshole to the drama that unfolded in Chile, according to a separate analysis by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ). Roughly 12% of coverage focused on the still-struggling economy – about 8% on the economy in general and 4% on the foreclosure issues causing new problems for the housing market. About half of the public (49%) says they followed news about the rescue of the Chilean miners very closely. That’s greater than the 33% that said they very closely followed news about a deadly explosion in a West Virginia coal mine this April and comparable to the 47% that said they followed news that closely about the deaths of 12 miners in a West Virginia mine in January 2006. Women generally paid closer attention to the developments in Chile than men: 55% say they followed this news very closely, compared with 42% of men. More than four-in-ten (42%) say they followed news about the economy very closely, while 19% say this was the story they followed most closely. About a quarter (26%) say they followed news about foreclosure problems very closely, while 6% say this was the news they followed most closely. A third (33%) say they followed news about the midterm elections very closely, 15% say this was the news they followed most closely. Nearly four-in-ten men (38%) say they followed election news very closely, compared with 28% of women. About two-in-ten of the public (19%) say they followed news about Obama administration plans to lift the ban on deep-water oil and gas exploration put in place after the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The story accounted for 3% of coverage; 5% say this was the news they followed most closely. Two-in-ten (20%) say they very closely followed news about a federal judge’s decision to block enforcement of the government’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning gays in the military. This news accounted for 3% of coverage and 3% say this was the news they followed most closely. While young people generally say they are following key news stories less closely than older people, that is not the case with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” story. More than two-in-ten (22%) of those ages 18-29 say they followed this news very closely, compared with 17% of those age 30-49, 19% of those age 50-64 and 24% of those 65 and older. These findings are based on the most recent installment of the weekly News Interest Index, an ongoing project of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The index, building on the Center’s longstanding research into public attentiveness to major news stories, examines news interest as it relates to the news media’s coverage. The weekly survey is conducted in conjunction with The Project for Excellence in Journalism’s News Coverage Index, which monitors the news reported by major newspaper, television, radio and online news outlets on an ongoing basis. In the most recent week, data relating to news coverage were collected October 11-17, and survey data measuring public interest in the top news stories of the week were collected October 14-17, from a nationally representative sample of 1,002 adults. About the News Interest Index The News Interest Index is a weekly survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press aimed at gauging the public’s interest in and reaction to major news events. This project has been undertaken in conjunction with the Project for Excellence in Journalism’s News Coverage Index, an ongoing content analysis of the news. The News Coverage Index catalogues the news from top news organizations across five major sectors of the media: newspapers, network television, cable television, radio and the internet. Each week (from Monday through Sunday) PEJ compiles this data to identify the top stories for the week. (For more information about the Project for Excellence in Journalism’s News Coverage Index, go to www.journalism.org.) The News Interest Index survey collects data from Thursday through Sunday to gauge public interest in the most covered stories of the week. Results for this survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,002 adults living in the continental United States, 18 years of age or older, from October 14-17, 2010 (671 respondents were interviewed on a landline telephone, and 331 were interviewed on a cell phone, including 157 who had no landline telephone). Both the landline and cell phone samples were provided by Survey Sampling International. Interviews were conducted in English. The combined landline and cell phone sample are weighted using an iterative technique that matches gender, age, education, race, Hispanic origin, region, and population density to parameters from the March 2009 Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. The sample is also weighted to match current patterns of telephone status based on extrapolations from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey. The weighting procedure also accounts for the fact that respondents with both landline and cell phones have a greater probability of being included in the combined sample and adjusts for household size within the landline sample. Sampling errors and statistical tests of significance take into account the effect of weighting. The following table shows the error attributable to sampling that would be expected at the 95% level of confidence for different groups in the survey: In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

Stocks Hit Highs While Uncertain Credit Union Members Continue to Save The Dow Jones industrial average in recent days has ended a surge that the markets hadn’t seen in 17 years. For some, it was one more sign that the nation’s economy may be continuing to move along the road to recovery. Industry watchers said the Dow’s ascension, which started at close to 14,254 on March 5 and peaked at 14,514 on March 15, was fueled by several factors, including a spike in gas prices. Investors may have either been spooked by the record rise or made some adjustments to their portfolio mix. For credit union members, who tend to err on the side of conservative, the Dow’s increase might have aligned with their savings, which were up in January, according to CUNA Mutual Group’s March Credit Union Trends Report. The timing of the Dow’s record movement coincides with the latest update from an initiative between CU Solutions Group and SaveUp. According to the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates, which owns CU Solutions Group, SaveUp is a free rewards program that encourages consumers to make positive changes to their financial behaviors. More than 40 credit unions have signed on with SaveUp since the alliance launched six months ago. Every time members contribute to their savings or retirement accounts, pay down their credit cards, mortgages or other loans or engage with SaveUp’s financial education content, they earn credits they can use to win prizes from sponsors such as Virgin America, Banana Republic and GameStop, as well as a $2 million jackpot, CUSG said. For the $737 million Northeast Credit Union in Portsmouth, N.H., SaveUp has served several roles particularly with certain member niches and their spending and long-term planning goals, said Andrea Pruna, vice president of marketing at Northeast. “SaveUp is a great innovative tool to engage with the Gen Y market, reward positive member behavior and help plan our marketing tactics using its incredibly useful data reports,” Pruna said. Unlike their baby boomer counterparts, Gen X and Gen Y have a bit more time to plan for retirement. To target these younger members, SaveUp recently released its first U.S. Consumer Savings and Debt Report with its major findings focused on the financial habits of Gen X and Gen Y. With Gen X, average mortgage debt was $181,706, which was 21% above the U.S. average. Average student loan debt and credit card debt were $44,270 and $8,801, respectively. Gen Y had less debt averages, according to SaveUp. The average mortgage debt was more than $161,000, which was 7.5% above the U.S. average. Average student loan debt and credit card debt were $40,273 and $4,113, respectively. “Our recent data report shows that young people are bearing a disproportionate share of the country’s non-asset debt, and if credit unions can engage younger Americans to offer them better terms, and longer term financial services, there is a real benefit to all sides,” said Priya Haji, CEO and co-founder of SaveUp. Meanwhile, despite the Dow’s winning streak and more consumers paying down debt, retiring comfortably remains elusive for some. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Retirement Confidence Survey, released on March 19, the percentage of workers confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement is essentially unchanged from the record lows observed in 2011. While more than half expressed some level of confidence, with 13% being very confident and 38% somewhat confident of being able to afford a comfortable retirement, 21% were not too confident, and 28% were not at all confident. The latter figure is the highest level of those not at all confident recorded during the 23 years of the survey, EBRI said. One reason that retirement confidence has remained low despite a brightening economic outlook is that some workers may be waking up to just how much they may need to save, according to EBRI. Asked how much they believe they will need to save to achieve a financially secure retirement, a striking number of workers cited large savings targets: 20% said they need to save between 20% to 29% of their income and 23% indicated they need to save 30% or more. “Aggressive as those savings targets appear to be, they may not be based on a careful analysis of their individual circumstances,” said Jack VanDerhei, EBRI research director and co-author of the report. “Only 46% report they and/or their spouse have tried to calculate how much money they will need to have saved by the time they retire so that they can live comfortably in retirement.”

Common Skin Conditions: Fine Lines and Wrinkles Creases. Furrows. Crevices. Cracks. No matter what you call them, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process. So, what causes wrinkles? As we get older, our skin becomes thinner and less supple, and its ability to protect itself from damage is also diminished. From smoking to sun exposure and even smiling, there are many possible causes of wrinkles.1 Whether you see them as markers of milestones or a sign of the mileposts behind you, wrinkles are a beautiful expression of who we are and where we have been—even still, most of us would prefer to keep them to a minimum. How can I prevent them? Wrinkles affect everyone as they age, but where and when they appear is largely up to you. Limiting sun exposure, or wearing long sleeves and hats when outside, is the best way to help maintain your youthful complexion a little longer. The importance of applying a sunscreen such as our award-winning, PABA-free Nu-Derm® Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 50 cannot be overstated for its ability to keep signs of skin aging at bay, now and down the road. Dry skin, often made worse by sun exposure, can also make the appearance of wrinkles look more prominent. Make it a habit to carry a reusable water bottle with you, and sip it constantly. Add a squeeze of fresh citrus like lime, lemon, or even orange to give your water a kick of flavor and some power-packed Vitamin C. What can I do to get rid of them? Unfortunately, wrinkles are just a part of life. Instead of trying to wage an all-out war on them, we suggest starting each morning with something you actually can control: a quick beauty trick that can help tighten the appearance of your skin. Fill a small basin with cold water and ice cubes, and dip your face in for 5 to 10 seconds. Doing this will help to shrink the appearance of pores and reduce under-eye puffiness.2 Follow that with a 10-minute facial massage to stimulate skin cells and tighten the appearance of the skin. Moisturizer has inherent plumping properties that temporarily smooth out the skin, so be sure to apply your favorite every morning. At bedtime, try a targeted eye-area product such as Obagi ELASTIderm® Eye Cream to help diminish the appearance of pesky crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eyes. A humidifier and a good night’s rest can also work wonders to help keep the stresses of the day from showing up on your skin. As you may have guessed, the key to flawless skin is really you: your discipline, your ability to stay young at heart, and your selection of just a few of the right products to bring out the best of every milestone you’ve achieved. Protect and bring out your natural radiance for years to come by incorporating these steps into your daily beauty ritual. References: 1. Cosmetic procedures for wrinkles. WebMD Web site. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/cosmetic-procedures-wrinkles. Accessed March 13, 2013. 2. Banish the bags under your eyes. WebMD Web site. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/banish-the-bags-under-your-eyes?page=2. Accessed March 26, 2013.

|S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r| Trouble with the Curve [Blu-ray] (Robert Lorenz, 2012) Review by Gary Tooze Theatrical: Malpaso Productions Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Disc Size: 28,797,006,423 bytes Feature Size: 26,927,726,592 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.84 Mbps Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: December 18th, 2012 Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video DTS-HD Master Audio English 3577 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3577 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB English (SDH), French, Portuguese, Spanish, none •Behind the Scenes: Trouble with the Curve Rising Through the Ranks (4:37) •Behind the Scenes: Trouble with the Curve: For the Love of the Game (6:02) Description: Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus-who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat-refuses to be benched for what may be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country's hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Against her better judgment, and over Gus's objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Clint Eastwood and a superb cast hit it out of the park in Trouble With The Curve, a great entertainment filled with heart, humor, family drama and fantastic acting. It's less a baseball flick, and more an engaging father/daughter relationship film that uses America's favorite pastime only as a bridge to get to the real heart of the matter. As an aging baseball scout battling failing vision, Eastwood must compete with computer programs and younger corporate know-it-alls, plus deal with a grown daughter (Amy Adams) who only wants his attention. This smart and extremely likeable outing has the veteran star right where he belongs and should draw his fans and beyond.Excerpt from Box Office.com located HERE Georgia to North Carolina in this sports drama produced and directed by frequent Eastwood collaborator Robert Lorenz. For decades, Gus Lobel (Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in Major League Baseball. But these days his eyes just aren't what they used to be, and as a phenomenal young batter enters the draft, the owners of the Atlanta Braves cast a shadow of doubt over Gus' judgment. Meanwhile, his daughter Mickey ( Adams) is an aspiring partner at a major Atlanta law firm. In the wake of his wife's death, Gus sent Mickey away, and their relationship has been strained ever since. But she knows a thing or two about baseball, and recognizing that her father's job is in jeopardy, she decides to help him -- even at the risk of derailing her own career. Now, throwing caution to the wind (and ignoring her gruff father's objections), Mickey joins Gus for a scouting trip that could keep him in the game until he's ready to retire, as well as repair a father/daughter relationship that once seemed all but lost. Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Robert Patrick, and Matthew Lillard co-star.Excerpt from MRQE located HERE Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Trouble With the Curve looks acceptable on Blu-ray from Warner. It has no flaws but the 1080P image lacks a certain identity to send it to the next level. There are a lot of outdoor scenes that look reasonably impressive. This sneaks into dual-layered territory with a supportive bitrate. Colors have a blue/teal leaning but contrast is adept. This Blu-ray has a consistent appearance. The baseball fields tend to look the most impressive and there is some depth. This Blu-ray isn't demo material but it gives a stong enough presentation to focus attention on the appealing story. CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION The DTS-HD Master 5.1 at a whopping 3577 kbps easily handles what the film dishes out including some surround baseball sounds. Mostly dialogue with a few effects. Marco Beltrami is a busy guy - notable for The Hurt Locker and 3:10 to Yuma - and his score here suits the film and the baseball milieu. There are optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide. Just a couple of shortish 'Behind the Scenes' pieces. One on Rising Through the Ranks (5-minutes) focusing on director Robert Lorenz climb up the ladder and a second entitled For the Love of the Game running just over 6-minutes. December 12th, 2012 About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links. Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Gary W. Tooze ALL OUR NEW FORMAT DVD REVIEWS

Mostly Credited As: Dylan Minnette Birth Name: Dylan Christopher Minnette Date Of Birth: December 29, 1996 (Age 19) Country Of Birth: USA Birth Place: Evansville, Indiana Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m) Dylan Minnette is an American actor, and was born on December 29, 1996 in Evansville, Indiana. Minnette's first high profile role was as Holly Hunter's nephew Clay on the TNT drama Saving Grace. Prior to that, he played the young version of lead character Michael Scofield on five episodes of FOX's Prison Break. In 2010, he played Jack Shephard's son David in the sideways timeline of the final season of Lost. In 2012, he portrayed Det. Michael Britten's son Rex on the short lived but critically acclaimed NBC drama Awake. Other credits include Two And A Half Men, Ghost Whisperer, Rules Of Engagement, The Mentalist, Supernatural, Let Me In, Medium, Lie To Me, Men Of A Certain Age, and Law & Order: SVU.

Daily Telegraph, April 3rd 2006, p.1 A drop in qualified staff appears inevitable as leaked documents suggest reduction by a third, with qualified nurses replaced by unqualified staff. While NHS Direct attracts millions of calls, website visitors and digital television viewers, seventy per cent of enquiries are passed back to the commissioning care trusts according to critics. Daily Telegraph, March 28th 2006, p.16 Reflecting on similarities between problems in healthcare for the young and old now and twenty years ago, the author asks about moral, ethical and personal perspectives in deciding how to prioritise health funding. Guardian, April 19th 2006, p.1 The parliamentary Health Select Committee is preparing to inquire into how NHS trusts acquired deficits despite extra funding. The article provides comments on costs and the progress of the reform programme. Financial Times, April 13th 2006, p.4 Tony Blair was warned at a Downing Street summit with local health heads that clearing the NHS deficit may take more than a year. Further job losses are anticipated as are cutting agency workers and shifting care outside hospitals as heavily indebted trusts seek cost saving measures. The article also touches on a think tank report’s assertion that moving care away from hospitals will result in ten per cent job losses. [See also Daily Telegraph, April 13th 2006, p.6; Times, April 13th 2006, p.4; Guardian, April 13th 2006; p.7; Independent, April 13th 2006, p.5] Financial Times, April 21st 2006, p.4 Poor and delayed NHS procurement procedures are adding £2.4m to the cost of PFI hospitals according to the Confederation of British Industry. The article looks at the process and provides comments. N. Hawkes & G. Hurst Times, April 18th 2006, p.2 “Vital specialist paediatric capacity” is threatened by an insensitive tariff which leaves four children’s hospitals with a £22m shortfall in income. The situation was revealed by a letter from the hospitals’ heads, and supports criticisms of the national tariff’s lack of sophistication. [See also Daily Telegraph, April 18th 2006, p.4; Guardian, April 18th 2006, p. 13] Public Finance. March 24th-30th 2006, p.20-23 Part of the blame for the current financial crisis in the NHS has been laid at the door of the new payment by results system. The author argues that payment by results should in the long run lead to efficiency gains and greater transparency in NHS management. Problems are to be expected in the implementation phase until the new system settles down. These include difficulties with calculating the national tariff, problems for trusts adjusting to a single national price for treatments, and perverse financial incentives for hospitals to do unnecessary work. Guardian, April 3rd 2006, p.1 Challenging the free at point of service stance, and calling for an urgent multiparty review of health policy, the “Doctors for Reform” pressure group claims that a service funded only by taxes will result in rationing and fail to meet patient expectations. The group which finds disillusionment with the current NHS system among voters, proposes an insurance-based alternative. [See also Independent, April 3rd 2006, p.6; Times, Monday April 3rd 2006 p.2] Financial Times, April 19th 2006, p. 15 The lack of an adequate commercial costing system half way through the implementation of “payment by results”, and conflicting policy directions underlie the current NHS deficits according to Darwall who asks whether internal markets can work, and whether Whitehall has the policy design capacity, and implementation skills needed for change on the scale required for NHS reform. The article looks at inaccurate data, management skills and alignment of incentives with efficiency. Health Service Journal, vol.116, Apr. 13th 2006, p.5-7 Reports on plans to achieve financial balance in the NHS in London. These include draconian measures to save money by reducing the number of referrals of patients for hospital treatment. GP decisions could be overruled by PCT referral panels. N. Hawkes & D. Charter Times, April 12th 2006, p.8 Cuts to the annual spend on drugs and temporary staff are proposed by the new NHS chief as a think tank report predicts 100, 000 job losses following reforms. The article looks at training and recruitment levels. [See also Guardian, April 12th 2006 p. 8] Financial Times, April 19th 2006, p.4 Given the discounts that pharmacists obtain from wholesalers and manufacturers of generic drugs, analysis finds the NHS paying up to 78% over the source price. Generic drugs account for 80% of NHS prescriptions while prescriptions overall make up 11% of the NHS budget according to the article. N. Timmins & J. Burns Financial Times, March 31st 2006, p.4 Although pay awards will be phased in for the NHS and other public services, the cost of the rises will consume almost a third of the extra money allocated to the NHS. The article provides comments from representative bodies including the British Medical Association which has described the awards, which will raise health workers’ pay by between 2 and 2.5 per cent, as “vindictive” and likely to alienate the profession. [See also Times, March 31st 2006 p.26; Guardian, March 31st 2006 p. 7] Health Service Journal, vol.116, Apr. 6th 2006, p.14-15 Article reports on a study of the early rollout of the payment by results system in South Yorkshire, where all acute trusts had achieved foundation status by June 2005. The study found that primary care trusts had too little control over hospital activity. Although a wide range of local initiatives had been put in place to try and control activity levels, no overall strategy has been developed to address demand pressures. At the same time, the hospitals had financial incentives to increase activity, and were also beginning to stop running unprofitable services. London: TSO, 2006 (Cm 6752) Key recommendations and conclusions of the Review Body are: 1) an increase in the Agenda for Change pay rates of 2.5 per cent from 1 April 2006; and 2) and increase of 2.5% in the existing minimum and maximum High Cost Area Supplements for Inner London, Outer London and the Fringe. The Review Body also recommends that the health departments ensure that a comprehensive survey is conducted annually to identify the earnings of the remit groups and their location within pay bands. London: TSO, 2006 (Cm 6733) The Review Body took into account the following economic and general considerations: 1) that the health departments were critically concerned about the affordability of the uplift; 2) the continued growth in the number of medical and dental staff in the Hospital and Community Health Service; and 3) that the latest NHS Staff Survey for 2004 showed some improvements in terms of staff satisfaction. The Review Body stated that doctors such as consultants and GPs have benefited financially from new contracts and the pay of doctors compares well with comparator groups. Analysis of figures from the Office of National Statistics indicates that doctors' pay has increased at a much faster rate than the average for high earners in the economy. The Review Body stated that there was no indication that there was a problem in recruiting in London, so there was no reason to increase London weighting Times, April 4th 2006, p.18 The question of which services should remain in a tax-funded core and which are appropriate for co-payment should be the focus of a multi party review of NHS aspirations according to Sikora of Doctors for Reform. Dropping failing areas like provision of hearing aids from the NHS would allow for a modern, innovative system based on insurance and co-payments, while increased rationing would decrease equity as the wealthy could queue jump by going private. J. Carvel and W. Woodward Guardian, March 24th 2006, p.1 Guardian figures show 4000 NHS job losses in the previous fortnight including 700 announced in Prime Minister Blair’s constituency. The Shadow Health Secretary has accused the government of allowing the NHS to sink under financial pressures and Chancellor Gordon Brown of ignoring the NHS in his budget. Plans for dealing with deficits have been submitted to the Healthy Department. [See also Times, March 24th2006 p.28; Independent, March 24th 2006 p.11; Daily Telegraph, March 24th 2006, p.8] Health Service Journal, vol.116, Apr.6th 2006, p.5Money intended public health improvement has instead been spent on NHS staff salary hikes which far exceeded the recommendations of the 2002 Wanless report. The report set out a vision of a “fully engaged” scenario in which people took control of their own health care. Achieving this scenario would require increased productivity, better health improvement services and action to tackle the wider determinants of ill health. In order to support this staff pay rises of 2% per year over 20 years were recommended. Instead, the Department of Health agreed immediate large salary increases under the new GP and consultant contracts and the Agenda for Change programme.

Both blunted osteocytic production of the Wnt inhibitor sclerostin (Scl) and increased T-cell production of the Wnt ligand Wnt10b contribute to the bone anabolic activity of intermittent parathyroid hormone (iPTH) treatment. However, the relative contribution of these mechanisms is unknown. In this study, we modeled the repressive effects of iPTH on Scl production in mice by treatment with a neutralizing anti-Scl antibody (Scl-Ab) to determine the contribution of T-cell–produced Wnt10b to the Scl-independent modalities of action of iPTH. We report that combined treatment with Scl-Ab and iPTH was more potent than either iPTH or Scl-Ab alone in increasing stromal cell production of OPG, osteoblastogenesis, osteoblast life span, bone turnover, bone mineral density, and trabecular bone volume and structure in mice with T cells capable of producing Wnt10b. In T-cell–null mice and mice lacking T-cell production of Wnt10b, combined treatment increased bone turnover significantly more than iPTH or Scl-Ab alone. However, in these mice, combined treatment with Scl-Ab and iPTH was equally effective as Scl-Ab alone in increasing the osteoblastic pool, bone volume, density, and structure. These findings demonstrate that the Scl-independent activity of iPTH on osteoblasts and bone mass is mediated by T-cell–produced Wnt10b. The data provide a proof of concept of a more potent therapeutic effect of combined treatment with iPTH and Scl-Ab than either alone. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. PTH; BONE; SCL; ANTIBODY; T CELLS; WNT10B Multifrequency atomic force microscopy imaging has been recently demonstrated as a powerful technique for quickly obtaining information about the mechanical properties of a sample. Combining this development with recent gains in imaging speed through small cantilevers holds the promise of a convenient, high-speed method for obtaining nanoscale topography as well as mechanical properties. Nevertheless, instrument bandwidth limitations on cantilever excitation and readout have restricted the ability of multifrequency techniques to fully benefit from small cantilevers. We present an approach for cantilever excitation and deflection readout with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, enabling multifrequency techniques extended beyond 2 MHz for obtaining materials contrast in liquid and air, as well as soft imaging of delicate biological samples. atomic force microscopy; multifrequency imaging; nanomechanical characterization; photothermal excitation; small cantilevers Tropical forests are being rapidly altered by logging, and cleared for agriculture. Understanding the effects of these land use changes on soil fungi, which play vital roles in the soil ecosystem functioning and services, is a major conservation frontier. Using 454-pyrosequencing of the ITS1 region of extracted soil DNA, we compared communities of soil fungi between unlogged, once-logged, and twice-logged rainforest, and areas cleared for oil palm, in Sabah, Malaysia. Overall fungal community composition differed significantly between forest and oil palm plantation. The OTU richness and Chao 1 were higher in forest, compared to oil palm plantation. As a proportion of total reads, Basidiomycota were more abundant in forest soil, compared to oil palm plantation soil. The turnover of fungal OTUs across space, true β-diversity, was also higher in forest than oil palm plantation. Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal abundance was significantly different between land uses, with highest relative abundance (out of total fungal reads) observed in unlogged forest soil, lower abundance in logged forest, and lowest in oil palm. In their entirety, these results indicate a pervasive effect of conversion to oil palm on fungal community structure. Such wholesale changes in fungal communities might impact the long-term sustainability of oil palm agriculture. Logging also has more subtle long term effects, on relative abundance of EcM fungi, which might affect tree recruitment and nutrient cycling. However, in general the logged forest retains most of the diversity and community composition of unlogged forest. Tropical forests are being rapidly altered by logging and cleared for agriculture. Understanding the effects of these land use changes on soil bacteria, which constitute a large proportion of total biodiversity and perform important ecosystem functions, is a major conservation frontier. Here we studied the effects of logging history and forest conversion to oil palm plantations in Sabah, Borneo, on the soil bacterial community. We used paired-end Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, V3 region, to compare the bacterial communities in primary, once-logged, and twice-logged forest and land converted to oil palm plantations. Bacteria were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the 97% similarity level, and OTU richness and local-scale α-diversity showed no difference between the various forest types and oil palm plantations. Focusing on the turnover of bacteria across space, true β-diversity was higher in oil palm plantation soil than in forest soil, whereas community dissimilarity-based metrics of β-diversity were only marginally different between habitats, suggesting that at large scales, oil palm plantation soil could have higher overall γ-diversity than forest soil, driven by a slightly more heterogeneous community across space. Clearance of primary and logged forest for oil palm plantations did, however, significantly impact the composition of soil bacterial communities, reflecting in part the loss of some forest bacteria, whereas primary and logged forests did not differ in composition. Overall, our results suggest that the soil bacteria of tropical forest are to some extent resilient or resistant to logging but that the impacts of forest conversion to oil palm plantations are more severe. Since the invention of hybridoma technology, methods for generating affinity reagents that bind specific target molecules have revolutionized biology and medicine. In the postgenomic era, there is a pressing need to accelerate the pace of ligand discovery to elucidate the functions of a rapidly growing number of newly characterized molecules and their modified states. Nonimmunoglobulin-based proteins such as DARPins, affibodies, and monobodies represent attractive alternatives to traditional antibodies as these are small, soluble, disulfide-free, single-domain scaffolds that can be selected from combinatorial libraries and expressed in bacteria. For example, monobodies—highly stable scaffolds based on the immunoglobulin VH-like 10th fibronectin type III (10Fn3) domain of human fibronectin—have yielded antibody mimetics that bind to numerous targets for applications including intracellular inhibition,[5,6] therapeutics, and biosensors.[6,8] These 10Fn3-based ligands can be derived from highly diverse libraries using techniques such as phage, ribosome, mRNA, bacterial, and yeast displays. antibodies; directed evolution; mRNA; ligand design; selection methods Modern high-speed atomic force microscopes generate significant quantities of data in a short amount of time. Each image in the sequence has to be processed quickly and accurately in order to obtain a true representation of the sample and its changes over time. This paper presents an automated, adaptive algorithm for the required processing of AFM images. The algorithm adaptively corrects for both common one-dimensional distortions as well as the most common two-dimensional distortions. This method uses an iterative thresholded processing algorithm for rapid and accurate separation of background and surface topography. This separation prevents artificial bias from topographic features and ensures the best possible coherence between the different images in a sequence. This method is equally applicable to all channels of AFM data, and can process images in seconds. adaptive algorithm; artifact correction; atomic force microscopy; high-speed atomic force microscope; image processing Little is known of how archaeal diversity and community ecology behaves along elevational gradients. We chose to study Mount Fuji of Japan as a geologically and topographically uniform mountain system, with a wide range of elevational zones. PCR-amplified soil DNA for the archaeal 16 S rRNA gene was pyrosequenced and taxonomically classified against EzTaxon-e archaeal database. At a bootstrap cut-off of 80%, most of the archaeal sequences were classified into phylum Thaumarchaeota (96%) and Euryarchaeota (3.9%), with no sequences classified into other phyla. Archaeal OTU richness and diversity on Fuji showed a pronounced ‘peak’ in the mid-elevations, around 1500 masl, within the boreal forest zone, compared to the temperate forest zone below and the alpine fell-field and desert zones above. Diversity decreased towards higher elevations followed by a subtle increase at the summit, mainly due to an increase in the relative abundance of the group I.1b of Thaumarchaeota. Archaeal diversity showed a strong positive correlation with soil NH4+, K and NO3−. Archaeal diversity does not parallel plant diversity, although it does roughly parallel bacterial diversity. Ecological hypotheses to explain the mid diversity bulge on Fuji include intermediate disturbance effects, and the result of mid elevations combining a mosaic of upper and lower slope environments. Our findings show clearly that archaeal soil communities are highly responsive to soil environmental gradients, in terms of both their diversity and community composition. Distinct communities of archaea specific to each elevational zone suggest that many archaea may be quite finely niche-adapted within the range of soil environments. A further interesting finding is the presence of a mesophilic component of archaea at high altitudes on a mountain that is not volcanically active. This emphasizes the importance of microclimate – in this case solar heating of the black volcanic ash surface – for the ecology of soil archaea. The development of new antiviral compounds active against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has surged in recent years. In order for these new compounds to be efficacious in humans, optimal dosage regimens for each compound must be elucidated. We have developed a novel in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic system, the BelloCell system, to identify optimal dosage regimens for anti-HCV compounds. In these experiments, genotype 1b HCV replicon-bearing cells (2209-23 cells) were inoculated onto carrier flakes in BelloCell bottles and treated with MK-4519, a serine protease inhibitor. Our dose-ranging studies illustrated that MK-4519 inhibited replicon replication in a dose-dependent manner, yielding a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 1.8 nM. Dose-fractionation studies showed that shorter dosing intervals resulted in greater replicon suppression, indicating that the time that the concentration is greater than the EC50 is the pharmacodynamic parameter for MK-4519 linked with inhibition of replicon replication. Mutations associated with resistance to serine protease inhibitors were detected in replicons harvested from all treatment arms. These data suggest that MK-4519 is highly active against genotype 1b HCV, but monotherapy is not sufficient to prevent the amplification of resistant replicons. In summary, our findings show that the BelloCell system is a useful and clinically relevant tool for predicting optimal dosage regimens for anti-HCV compounds. Background: Focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) is a direct-writing technique with nanometer resolution, which has received strongly increasing attention within the last decade. In FEBID a precursor previously adsorbed on a substrate surface is dissociated in the focus of an electron beam. After 20 years of continuous development FEBID has reached a stage at which this technique is now particularly attractive for several areas in both, basic and applied research. The present topical review addresses selected examples that highlight this development in the areas of charge-transport regimes in nanogranular metals close to an insulator-to-metal transition, the use of these materials for strain- and magnetic-field sensing, and the prospect of extending FEBID to multicomponent systems, such as binary alloys and intermetallic compounds with cooperative ground states. Results: After a brief introduction to the technique, recent work concerning FEBID of Pt–Si alloys and (hard-magnetic) Co–Pt intermetallic compounds on the nanometer scale is reviewed. The growth process in the presence of two precursors, whose flux is independently controlled, is analyzed within a continuum model of FEBID that employs rate equations. Predictions are made for the tunability of the composition of the Co–Pt system by simply changing the dwell time of the electron beam during the writing process. The charge-transport regimes of nanogranular metals are reviewed next with a focus on recent theoretical advancements in the field. As a case study the transport properties of Pt–C nanogranular FEBID structures are discussed. It is shown that by means of a post-growth electron-irradiation treatment the electronic intergrain-coupling strength can be continuously tuned over a wide range. This provides unique access to the transport properties of this material close to the insulator-to-metal transition. In the last part of the review, recent developments in mechanical strain-sensing and the detection of small, inhomogeneous magnetic fields by employing nanogranular FEBID structures are highlighted. Conclusion: FEBID has now reached a state of maturity that allows a shift of the focus towards the development of new application fields, be it in basic research or applied. This is shown for selected examples in the present review. At the same time, when seen from a broader perspective, FEBID still has to live up to the original idea of providing a tool for electron-controlled chemistry on the nanometer scale. This has to be understood in the sense that, by providing a suitable environment during the FEBID process, the outcome of the electron-induced reactions can be steered in a controlled way towards yielding the desired composition of the products. The development of a FEBID-specialized surface chemistry is mostly still in its infancy. Next to application development, it is this aspect that will likely be a guiding light for the future development of the field of focused electron beam induced deposition. atomic force microscopy; binary systems; electron beam induced deposition; granular metals; micro Hall magnetometry; radiation-induced nanostructures; strain sensing Intravenous zanamivir is recommended for the treatment of hospitalized patients with complicated oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus infections. In a companion paper, we show that the time above the 50% effective concentration (time>EC50) is the pharmacodynamic (PD) index predicting the inhibition of viral replication by intravenous zanamivir. However, for other neuraminidase inhibitors, the ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve to the EC50 (AUC/EC50) is the most predictive index. Our objectives are (i) to explain the dynamically linked variable of intravenous zanamivir by using different half-lives and (ii) to develop a new, mechanism-based population pharmacokinetic (PK)/PD model for the time course of viral load. We conducted dose fractionation studies in the hollow-fiber infection model (HFIM) system with zanamivir against an oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus. A clinical 2.5-h half-life and an artificially prolonged 8-h half-life were simulated for zanamivir. The values for the AUC from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) of zanamivir were equivalent for the two half-lives. Viral loads and zanamivir pharmacokinetics were comodeled using data from the present study and a previous dose range experiment via population PK/PD modeling in S-ADAPT. Dosing every 8 h (Q8h) suppressed the viral load better than dosing Q12h or Q24h at the 2.5-h half-life, whereas all regimens suppressed viral growth similarly at the 8-h half-life. The model provided unbiased and precise individual (Bayesian) (r2, >0.96) and population (pre-Bayesian) (r2, >0.87) fits for log10 viral load. Zanamivir inhibited viral release (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 0.0168 mg/liter; maximum extent of inhibition, 0.990). We identified AUC/EC50 as the pharmacodynamic index for zanamivir at the 8-h half-life, whereas time>EC50 best predicted viral suppression at the 2.5-h half-life, since the trough concentrations approached the IC50 for the 2.5-h but not for the 8-h half-life. The model explained data at both half-lives and holds promise for optimizing clinical zanamivir dosage regimens. In 2009, a novel H1N1 influenza A virus emerged and spread worldwide, initiating a pandemic. Various isolates obtained from disparate parts of the world were shown to be uniformly resistant to the adamantanes but sensitive to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir. Over time, resistance to oseltamivir became more prevalent among pandemic H1N1 virus isolates, while most remained susceptible to zanamivir. The government has proposed the use of intravenous (i.v.) zanamivir to treat serious influenza virus infections among hospitalized patients. To use zanamivir effectively for patients with severe influenza, it is necessary to know the optimal dose and schedule of administration of zanamivir that will inhibit the replication of oseltamivir-sensitive and -resistant influenza viruses. Therefore, we performed studies using the in vitro hollow-fiber infection model system to predict optimal dosing regimens for zanamivir against an oseltamivir-sensitive and an oseltamivir-resistant virus. Our results demonstrated that zanamivir, at a dose of 600 mg given twice a day (Q12h), inhibited the replication of oseltamivir-sensitive and oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses throughout the course of the experiment. Thus, our findings suggest that intravenous zanamivir, at a dose of 600 mg Q12h, could be used to treat hospitalized patients suffering from serious infections with oseltamivir-sensitive or -resistant influenza viruses. In this study, we pilot tested an in vitro assay of cancer killing activity (CKA) in circulating leukocytes of 22 cancer cases and 25 healthy controls. Using a human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa, as target cells, we compared the CKA in circulating leukocytes, as effector cells, of cancer cases and controls. The CKA was normalized as percentages of total target cells during selected periods of incubation time and at selected effector/target cell ratios in comparison to no-effector-cell controls. Our results showed that CKA similar to that of our previous study of SR/CR mice was present in human circulating leukocytes but at profoundly different levels in individuals. Overall, males have a significantly higher CKA than females. The CKA levels in cancer cases were lower than that in healthy controls (mean ± SD: 36.97 ± 21.39 vs. 46.28 ± 27.22). Below-median CKA was significantly associated with case status (odds ratio = 4.36; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.06, 17.88) after adjustment of gender and race. In freshly isolated human leukocytes, we were able to detect an apparent CKA in a similar manner to that of cancer-resistant SR/CR mice. The finding of CKA at lower levels in cancer patients suggests the possibility that it may be of a consequence of genetic, physiological, or pathological conditions, pending future studies with larger sample size. It has been proposed that elements of the renin angiotensin system expressed in the arterial wall are critical for the development of atherosclerosis. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is highly expressed by the endothelium and is responsible for a critical enzymatic step in the generation of angiotensin II. However, the functional contribution of ACE expression in the vascular wall in atherogenesis is unknown. Therefore, we made use of unique genetic models in which mice without expression of ACE in the vascular wall were crossed with apoE-/- mice in order to determine the contribution of tissue ACE expression to atherosclerotic lesion formation. Methods and Results Mice expressing either a soluble form of ACE (ACE 2/2) or mice with somatic ACE expression restricted to the liver and kidney (ACE 3/3) on an ApoE-/- background were placed on a standard chow or Western diet for 6 months. Atherosclerotic lesion area in the ACE 2/2 mice was significantly lower than that seen in the ACE 3/3 mice. However, these animals also had significantly lower blood pressure and reduced plasma ACE activity which precluded establishing a specific causal relationship between absent tissue ACE activity and decreased atherosclerotic lesion extent. Therefore, we studied the ACE 3/3 mice which are normotensive and lack vascular ACE expression. In the ACE 3/3 animals, atherosclerotic lesion area was no different from wild type controls despite reduced plasma ACE activity. We concluded that under these experimental conditions, expression of ACE in the arterial wall is not required for atherosclerotic lesion formation. angiotensin; atherosclerosis; endothelium We report the first use of ultrasonic standing waves to achieve cell cycle phase synchronization in mammalian cells in a high-throughput and reagent-free manner. The acoustophoretic cell synchronization (ACS) device utilizes volume-dependent acoustic radiation force within a microchannel to selectively purify target cells of desired phase from an asynchronous mixture based on cell cycle-dependent fluctuations in size. We show that ultrasonic separation allows for gentle, scalable and label-free synchronization with high G1 phase synchrony (~84%) and throughput (3×106 cells/hour/microchannel). Sample preparation is often the most tedious and demanding step in an assay, but it also plays an essential role in determining the quality of results. As biological questions and analytical methods become increasingly sophisticated, there is a rapidly growing need for systems that can reliably and reproducibly separate cells and particles with high purity, throughput and recovery. Microfluidics technology represents a compelling approach in this regard, allowing precise control of separation forces for high performance separation in inexpensive, or even disposable, devices. In addition, microfluidics technology enables the fabrication of arrayed and integrated systems that operate either in parallel or in tandem, in a capacity that would be difficult to achieve in macro-scale systems. In this report, we use recent examples from our work to illustrate the potential of microfluidic cell- and particle-sorting devices. We demonstrate the potential of chip-based high-gradient magnetophoresis that enable high-purity separation through reversible trapping of target particles paired with high-stringency washing with minimal loss. We also describe our work in the development of devices that perform simultaneous multi-target sorting, either through precise control of magnetic and fluidic forces or through the integration of multiple actuation forces into a single monolithic device. We believe that such devices may serve as a powerful “front-end” module of highly integrated analytical platforms capable of providing actionable diagnostic information directly from crude, unprocessed samples - the success of such systems may hold the key to advancing point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine. Sample preparation; Cell sorting; Magnetophoresis; Microfluidics Hyperparathyroidism in humans and continuous parathyroid hormone (cPTH) treatment in mice cause bone loss by regulating the production of RANKL and OPG by stromal cells (SCs) and osteoblasts (OBs). Recently, it has been reported that T cells are required for cPTH to induce bone loss as the binding of the T cell costimulatory molecule CD40L to SC receptor CD40 augments SC sensitivity to cPTH. However it is unknown whether direct PTH stimulation of T cells is required for cPTH to induce bone loss, and whether T cells contribute to the bone catabolic activity of PTH with mechanisms other than induction of CD40 signaling in SCs. Here we show that silencing of PTH receptor 1 (PPR) in T cells blocks the bone loss and the osteoclastic expansion induced by cPTH, thus demonstrating that PPR signaling in T cells is central for PTH-induced reduction of bone mass. Mechanistic studies revealed that PTH activation of the T cell PPR stimulates T cell production of the osteoclastogenic cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF). Attesting to the relevance of this effect, disruption of T cell TNF production prevents PTH-induced bone loss. We also show that a novel mechanism by which TNF mediates PTH induced osteoclast formation is upregulation of CD40 expression in SCs, which increases their RANKL/OPG production ratio. These findings demonstrate that PPR signaling in T cells plays an essential role in PTH induced bone loss by promoting T cell production of TNF. A previously unknown effect of TNF is to increase SC expression of CD40, which in turn increases SC osteoclastogenic activity by upregulating their RANKL/OPG production ratio. PPR-dependent stimulation of TNF production by T cells and the resulting TNF regulation of CD40 signaling in SCs are potential new therapeutic targets for the bone loss of hyperparathyroidism. Spontaneous regression/complete resistance (SR/CR) mice are a unique colony of mice that possess an inheritable, natural cancer resistance mediated primarily by innate cellular immunity. This resistance is effective against sarcoma 180 (S180) at exceptionally high doses and these mice remain healthy. In this study, we challenged SR/CR mice with additional lethal transplantable mouse cancer cell lines to determine their resistance spectrum. The ability of these transplantable cancer cell lines to induce leukocyte infiltration was quantified and the percentage of different populations of responding immune cells was determined using flow cytometry. In comparison to wild type (WT) mice, SR/CR mice showed significantly higher resistance to all cancer cell lines tested. However, SR/CR mice were more sensitive to MethA sarcoma (MethA), B16 melanoma (B16), LL/2 lung carcinoma (LL/2) and J774 lymphoma (J774) than to sarcoma 180 (S180) and EL-4 lymphoma (EL-4). Further mechanistic studies revealed that this lower resistance to MethA and LL/2 was due to the inability of these cancer cells to attract SR/CR leukocytes, leading to tumor cell escape from resistance mechanism. This escape mechanism was overcome by co-injection with S180, which could attract SR/CR leukocytes allowing the mice to resist higher doses of MethA and LL/2. S180-induced cell-free ascites fluid (CFAF) co-injection recapitulated the results obtained with live S180 cells, suggesting that this chemoattraction by cancer cells is mediated by diffusible molecules. We also tested for the first time whether SR/CR mice were able to resist additional cancer cell lines prior to S180 exposure. We found that SR/CR mice had an innate resistance against EL-4 and J774. Our results suggest that the cancer resistance in SR/CR mice is based on at least two separate processes: leukocyte migration/infiltration to the site of cancer cells and recognition of common surface properties on cancer cells. The infiltration of SR/CR leukocytes was based on both the innate ability of leukocytes to respond to chemotactic signals produced by cancer cells and on whether cancer cells produced these chemotactic signals. We found that some cancer cells could escape from SR/CR resistance because they did not induce infiltration of SR/CR leukocytes. However, if infiltration of leukocytes was induced by co-injection with chemotactic factors, these same cancer cells could be effectively recognized and killed by SR/CR leukocytes. Spontaneous Regression/Complete Resistant (SR/CR) mice are a colony of cancer-resistant mice that can detect and rapidly destroy malignant cells with innate cellular immunity, predominately mediated by granulocytes. Our previous studies suggest that several effector mechanisms, such as perforin, granzymes, or complements, may be involved in the killing of cancer cells. However, none of these effector mechanisms is known as critical for granulocytes. Additionally, it is unclear which effector mechanisms are required for the cancer killing activity of specific leukocyte populations and the survival of SR/CR mice against the challenges of lethal cancer cells. We hypothesized that if any of these effector mechanisms was required for the resistance to cancer cells, its functional knockout in SR/CR mice should render them sensitive to cancer challenges. This was tested by cross breeding SR/CR mice into the individual genetic knockout backgrounds of perforin (Prf-/-), superoxide (Cybb-/), or inducible nitric oxide (Nos2-/). SR/CR mice were bred into individual Prf-/-, Cybb-/-, or Nos2-/- genetic backgrounds and then challenged with sarcoma 180 (S180). Their overall survival was compared to controls. The cancer killing efficiency of purified populations of macrophages and neutrophils from these immunodeficient mice was also examined. When these genetically engineered mice were challenged with cancer cells, the knockout backgrounds of Prf-/-, Cybb-/-, or Nos2-/- did not completely abolish the SR/CR cancer resistant phenotype. However, the Nos2-/- background did appear to weaken the resistance. Incidentally, it was also observed that the male mice in these immunocompromised backgrounds tended to be less cancer-resistant than SR/CR controls. Despite the previously known roles of perforin, superoxide or nitric oxide in the effector mechanisms of innate immune responses, these effector mechanisms were not required for cancer-resistance in SR/CR mice. The resistance was functional when any one of these effector mechanisms was completely absent, except some noticeably reduced penetrance, but not abolishment, of the phenotype in the male background in comparison to female background. These results also indicate that some other effector mechanism(s) of granulocytes may be involved in the killing of cancer cells in SR/CR mice. Both phenotypic plasticity and genetic determination can be important for understanding how plants respond to environmental change. However, little is known about the plastic response of leaf teeth and leaf dissection to temperature. This gap is critical because these leaf traits are commonly used to reconstruct paleoclimate from fossils, and such studies tacitly assume that traits measured from fossils reflect the environment at the time of their deposition, even during periods of rapid climate change. We measured leaf size and shape in Acer rubrum derived from four seed sources with a broad temperature range and grown for two years in two gardens with contrasting climates (Rhode Island and Florida). Leaves in the Rhode Island garden have more teeth and are more highly dissected than leaves in Florida from the same seed source. Plasticity in these variables accounts for at least 6–19 % of the total variance, while genetic differences among ecotypes probably account for at most 69–87 %. This study highlights the role of phenotypic plasticity in leaf-climate relationships. We suggest that variables related to tooth count and leaf dissection in A. rubrum can respond quickly to climate change, which increases confidence in paleoclimate methods that use these variables. Spontaneous Regression/Complete Resistant (SR/CR) mice are resistant to cancer through a mechanism that is mediated entirely by leukocytes of innate immunity. Transfer of leukocytes from SR/CR mice can confer cancer resistance in wild-type (WT) recipients in both preventative and therapeutic settings. In the current studies, we investigated factors that may impact the efficacy and functionality of SR/CR donor leukocytes in recipients. In sex-mismatched transfers, functionality of female donor leukocytes was not affected in male recipients. In contrast, male donor leukocytes were greatly affected in the female recipients. In MHC-mismatches, recipients of different MHC backgrounds, or mice of different strains, showed a greater negative impact on donor leukocytes than sex-mismatches. The negative effects of sex-mismatch and MHC-mismatch on donor leukocytes were additive. Old donor leukocytes performed worse than young donor leukocytes in all settings including in young recipients. Young recipients were not able to revive the declining function of old donor leukocytes. However, the function of young donor leukocytes declined gradually in old recipients, suggesting that an aged environment may contain factors that are deleterious to cellular functions. The irradiation of donor leukocytes prior to transfers had a profound suppressive effect on donor leukocyte functions, possibly as a result of impaired transcription. The cryopreserving of donor leukocytes in liquid nitrogen had no apparent effect on donor leukocyte functions, except for a small loss of cell number after revival from freezing. Despite the functional suppression of donor leukocytes in sex- and MHC-mismatched recipients, as well as old recipients, there was a therapeutic time period during the initial few weeks during which donor leukocytes were functional before their eventual rejection or functional decline. The eventual rejection of donor leukocytes will likely prevent donor leukocyte engraftment which would help minimize the risk of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. Therefore, using leukocytes from healthy donors with high anti-cancer activity may be a feasible therapeutic concept for treating malignant diseases. A national survey of medical school admissions administrators was used to assess the acceptability of applicants' qualifications that included degrees earned partly online, partly in a community college, or in a traditional program. A questionnaire was sent from The Florida State University in 2007 to admissions administrators in the 125 accredited allopathic medical schools in the United States. In each of three situations, the respondents were asked to select one of two hypothetical applicants to invite for an interview. The applicants with their coursework taken in a traditional-residential setting were overwhelmingly preferred over the applicant holding the degree earned partly online. Further analysis indicated that online courses were perceived as not presenting sufficient opportunity for students to develop important social skills through interaction with other students and mentors. Graduate school admissions; online degrees; acceptability

“The Wizard of Oz” runs June 6-22 at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette, Royal Oak. Advance tickets are $20 for Thursday shows, $22 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at www.stagecrafters.org (online handling fees apply) or by phone at 248-541-6430. Remaining tickets may be at the box office one hour before performance ($2 more per ticket). Student, military and senior discounts available for specific performances. The Good Witch, Bad Witch Ladies Night Out Fundraiser is 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, at Baldwin Theatre. Advance tickets are $30, available at Stagecrafters.org or at 248-541-6430. Patrons attending opening night Friday, June 6, may attend 7 p.m. pre-glow for hors d’oeuvres and beverages hosted by Blackfinn Ameripub of Royal Oak. If you though the movie was spectacular, just imagine staging “The Wizard of Oz” live on stage. “Technically, it’s one of the harder shows ever, with the set pieces and the flying, but it’s exciting,” says Randall Wrisinger of Royal Oak, who directing the musical for Stagecrafters at Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak. He has been directing theater for more than 25 years — the last seven in Michigan — and previously directed “The Sound of Music,” a youth theater production of “Cinderella” and Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” for Stagecrafters He auditioned 100 youths for this show, casting 15 children ages 8-18 and and 35 adults, plus a dog. “I was very lucky — a member of our cast had a neighbor with a rescued Cairn terrier that looked just like Toto,” Wrisinger said. “His real name is Jo-Jo — they work with him, and he and Dorothy have quite a relationship becaase she’s with him all the time.” Wrisinger’s Dorothy is 15-year-old Gabrielle Phillips of Lake Orion, who acted and sang in Stagecrafters’ “The Sound of Music” last year. It’s based on the 1939 MGM movie starring Judy Garland. It’s so iconic, some of its lines were voted into “The 100 Greatest Movie Lines” by Premier magazine in 2007. “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” is No. 24. “This is the 75th anniversary of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ and we’re doing the Royal Shakespeare version, but it’s exactly like the movie,” Wrisinger says. “The music is from the movie, the characters are from the movie, and of course the story.” Stagecrafters is a nonprofit community theater now in its 57th year. Musicians are paid, Wrisinger says, although the cast and technical crew work on a volunteer basis. But everyone strives for a professional level. The show opens on Friday, June 6. “We’ll be ready, but that’s a challenge with the professional effects,” he says. “The amount of work on the set and the sewing of costumes ... the costume changes are fast, and the makeup people have their work cut out for them. The casrt works so well together, but the technical crew is extraordinatry.” A special event connected to this production is the Good Witch, Bad Witch Ladies Night Out Fundraiser on Wednesday, June 4, at the Baldwin Theatre. This is a themed evening in which patrons dress as their favorite “good witch” or “bad witch,” for a pre-glow of hors d’oeuvres prepared by Café Muse of Royal Oak, drinks including a Flying Monkey Brew, shopping, a raffle, costume contest and preview performance of “The Wizard of Oz.” The event begins at 6 p.m., and costume prizes will be awarded in each category. The fundraiser is sponsored by Credit Union Advantage. “The Wizard of Oz” is sponsored by Miner’s Den Jewelers of Royal Oak. “I think that when people think about the movie, they have it in their minds what it’s supposed to look like,” Wrisinger says. “We’re gonna get that, but with a flair. It’s a little bit of ‘Wizard of Oz,’ a little bit of (the Broadway smash) ‘Wicked,’ so it’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ with a twist, and I’m very, very excited to share that.” One of the mysteries of the story is that many characters have dual roles — one in Oz and one at home in Kansas. And so do the actors. In case you’ve forgotten the story, Dorothy is growing up on a Kansas farm with Auntie Em (played by Helen Frizzo of Royal Oak) and Uncle Henry (Bill Glace of Ferndale). A mean neightbor, Miss Gulch (played by Elizabeth Schultz of Royal Oak) claims Dorothy’s dog bit her, and she takes him away. But Toto escapes, and Dorothy decides to run away with him. She meets Professor Marvel (Ron Otulakowski of Eastpointe) who convinces her to return home. When she arrives home, a tornado hits the area and causes her to fall and hit her head. When she awakes, she finds herself in the colorful Land of Oz, where she meets the people of Munchkinland and good witch Glinda (Randi Hamilton of Ferndale). Dorothy also meets the Wicked Witch of the West (Schultz) who wants the magical ruby slippers that Glinda places on Dorothy’s feet. Then Dorothy sets off on a journey to seek help from the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. Along the yellow brick road, she meets a scarecrow (Matthew Miga of Ferndale, who also plays farmhand Hickory), a tin man (Bradley Ellison of Southfield, also playing farmhand Hunk) and a cowardly lion (Jerry Haines of Berkley, also playing farmhand Zeke). Together, they travel to Emerald City and the powerful wizard. But first, they must battle talking (and in this show, singing!) trees, and the scariest thing of all — evil flying monkeys. Stagecrafters’ flying effects are courtesy of ZFX Inc. The book is by L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, background music by Herbert Stothart, dance and vocal arrangements by Peter Howard, orchestration by Larry Wilcox and adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. “I wanted to do another show that involved youth and adults. I love working with the young people and seeing them grow up in the theater as well as the excitement that it creates in their eyes,” Wrisinger says.

(Mayor Cahill and Lord Mayor Ó Muilleoir in front of the Skainos Square building in east Belfast. Skainos Square, part of the East Belfast Mission, gives organizations a place to meet, congregate and hold professional conferences with quality, professional space and equipment. Skainos represents transformation and renewal for the community and its functions.) Last year, at the invitation of Mayor Jim Cahill, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, visited New Brunswick. The two mayors recognized that both Cities have undergone major transformations in becoming modern, thriving 21st century urban centers resulting from major redevelopment in the areas of education, business, housing, the arts, hospitality and healthcare. Francis Schott, part-owner of the restaurants Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi here in New Brunswick, points out what is especially unique about these two Cities is that these major redevelopments “are not about buildings, but about people, culture and opportunity.” Francis Schott and Lord Mayor Ó Muilleoir originally met when Mr. Schott received the “Serving America” award from Irish American Entrepreneurs and Mr. Ó Muilleoir was at this same awards dinner as the publisher of the Irish Echo. The Irish Echo is the most read Irish-American newspaper in the United States. From their discussions, Mr. Schott recognized the common pulse of life and energy between the Cities of Belfast and New Brunswick. At the invitation of Lord Mayor Ó Muilleoir, Mayor Cahill recently led a delegation from New Brunswick, comprised of representatives from Rutgers, DEVCO, George Street Playhouse, the New Brunswick Jazz Project, local businesses, and City government, to Belfast. The ambitious agenda of the three day visit was designed for the New Brunswick delegates to meet their counterparts in Belfast to explore the potential of developing mutually beneficial partnerships within their respective areas of interest and expertise. Belfast is also a university city. Belfast has two universities: Queen’s University Belfast has approximately 30,000 students and the University of Ulster will soon have 15,000 students on its Belfast campus. Of course, New Brunswick is home to Rutgers University and its now nearly 60,000 students with the merger of RU with UMDNJ and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Particular initial areas of interest between the higher education communities of both Cities include medicine, cancer and gene research involving diverse populations and specialties in the biomedical fields as well as engineering. Richard Edwards, Rutgers University’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, described the trip as fantastic. He noted, “The psychology of movement for the elderly and applications for athletic endeavors is currently being researched among a faculty member from Queen’s University and a faculty member from Rutgers University.” Mr. Edwards also toured facilities, specifically Belfast’s Cancer Institute and said, “They are doing cutting edge research and this would be the kind of research that Rutgers would be interested in.” The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, calling New Brunswick home, makes the educational exchange between Belfast and New Brunswick even more mutually beneficial for educational research and healthcare developments. Chris Paladino, President of New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO), got to work with both the business and University communities in Belfast. Strong parallels could be drawn from the Titanic Quarter, a massive redevelopment project underway, taking advantage of Belfast’s history as one of the world’s great shipbuilding centers and site where perhaps the world’s most famous ship, the Titanic, was built. And like DEVCO’s current $300 million College Avenue Redevelopment Initiative, Belfast is soon to experience a several hundred-million dollar project in the development of a new, expanded Ulster University campus. Approximately 20,000 faculty and students, and all activities from the University of Ulster that are currently based out of the nearby suburb of Jordanstown, will be relocated to Belfast by 2018. This is similar to the projects here where biotechnology and engineering companies are encouraged to invest and move to New Brunswick where regeneration is thriving and students are learning and growing. According to Mr. Paladino, “We have already benefitted from the exchanges of professional ideas and see long lasted possibilities for the future.” DEVCO’s Belfast counterparts were most interested in the comprehensiveness and diversity of New Brunswick’s revitalization and the key role DEVCO has played in projects like Gateway Transit Village, The Vue, The Heldrich, the renovation of the Post Office and the Middlesex County Courthouse, Civic Square, New Brunswick High School, Lord Stirling School, and many more. “Throughout the City of Belfast, its citizens are investing in the community,” said City Council Vice President Kevin Egan. “Run-down buildings are being transformed into activity centers for young people to take part in like skateboarding and areas for the community to come together.” The synergies between Belfast and New Brunswick are so simply stated and emerge through examples like Mr. Egan’s Belfast experience. Redevelopments like the Hub City Teen Center which continues to evolve for youth recreation like the current indoor soccer complex being built to be used for both indoor soccer and baseball, New Brunswick Public Schools working as recreational activity centers after school, and the Promise House sheltering victims of domestic violence and providing services for their success are examples of how “Belfast and New Brunswick remember their past to recreate their future,” said Mayor Cahill or like Lord Mayor Ó Muilleoir states, ‘Building the future Belfast – together.’ Both Belfast and New Brunswick understand that the arts are not only good for the heart and soul of a community, but are also good drivers for business as well. Theater, visual and performing artists, historical landmarks, and a vibrant hospitality and entertainment industry bring outsiders in and keep locals coming back for more in both locales. “Mayor Cahill and Lord Mayor Ó Muilleoir are two visionary men that have so much in common,” says Mr. Schott. “I am eager to see this relationship continue and being among the first incoming trade missions to Belfast in 20 years is something New Brunswick can take pride in, pushing our City to keep making the community as a whole and each of its working parts of education, business, housing, the arts, hospitality and healthcare working together.” Mayor Cahill said the participants in the Belfast exchange from New Brunswick will meet again to share a debriefing on each of their respective experiences while in Belfast and to determine and develop areas of future programming that will be of interest and beneficial to New Brunswick, its residents, businesses and organizations. But no one is letting any grass grow under their feet. Already, New Brunswick’s Jazz Project is looking to host and arrange for a concert venue for the 64 member Belfast Community Gospel Choir later this year in May. The New Brunswick Jazz Project is looking at collaboration opportunities with our City’s gospel choirs and other local musicians. No City taxpayer funds were used for the trip to Belfast. Among those in the City delegation were Mayor Cahill, Tom Loughlin (City Administrator), Michael Tublin (Director of International Programs and Co-founder of New Brunswick Jazz Project), James Lenihan and Virgina DeBerry (also of the New Brunswick Jazz Project), Mitchell Karon (New Brunswick Parking Authority Executive Director), David Saint (Artistic Director of George Street Playhouse), Greg Ritter (Chairman of New Brunswick City Market and owner of George Street Camera), Francis Schott, Richard Edwards, Chris Paladino, and Kevin Egan. (Picture of Belfast Choir Performing for New Brunswick Delegation) (From Left to Right: The Consul General, Gregory S. Burton, at the U.S. Consulate in Belfast with Francis Schott, Lord Mayor and Mayor Cahill)

Well, this weekend ought to be good. Today we’re just going to be relaxing all day, but tomorrow Brian has to work at his part-time job in the evening and I’m going to be going to a free Christian concert with one of my girlfriends from work. I hate to go without my husband, but he said it would be just fine if I went with my friends. Last night we went to Bessie’s house for Friday night movie night and served BBQ spare ribs, bread, chips, cheese, and sushi. It was a great night. Loving on the homeless, prostitutes and gang bangers that we serve. I enjoy my time with my guys and gals, especially when they call me Mama. There’s one young man named Neil, he’s a senior in high school, that I just love to death, he’s like a son to me. Every time he sees me he runs up to me first and just hugs me hard and tells me how much he loves me and misses me, then gives me a kiss on my cheek. Puts a tear in my eye every time. I think he just misses me telling him to pull his pants up. Cause every time I tell him that he pulls them up and laughs. Anyway, we talked to an interesting man last night. His name is Sony and he’s been homeless since he’s been 13 and he’s now 36 years old. He got put in the pen when he was 19 and was in for 10 years, didn’t ask him why it’s not my business. 2 years ago on Independence Avenue at a gas station, he was shot in the face and robbed basically for change. But the coolest part about his story was that he knows Jesus and he finds the joy with his life everyday. He said even though the right side of his face is paralyzed, his right eye is blind, and when he speaks, he drools he can still find joy in the life the God gave him, the second chance that the Lord blessed him with. He speaks with such a passion, it brought goose bumps to my skin listening to him speak about his life and how much he loves Jesus. People like Neil and Sony are who we serve in our Ministry. There are more stories, but those are just 2 from last night that I wanted to share. I love what we do and I wish I could be there full time doing this, but I do work a full-time job. So I help out when I can. Our web page is a little outdated, but you can check it out if you’d like: http://www.hope-outreach.org. Well, I think that’s all for today, I have to go pick up my van and we have to go drop off some food. God bless and take care. How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! ~ Psalm 116:5, NLT Yep, I have not been around in quite a while. Between work and the ministry, life has been just crazy busy. But last night I did go get my grand-daughter and spend a few hours with her and enjoyed that time. She just makes my heart soar!!! Well, since I’ve been working I’ve been trying to watch what I’ve been eating and not following any diet plan. I feel that if I follow a diet plan and fall off of it, I will fail. So if I just do my own thing, I’ll do just fine and so far it’s working. Brian has jumped on in the last 7 weeks also. So we’ve cut out red meat, pork, and basically anything white. We eat a lot of chicken, turkey, fish, and the nothing white is now whole grain/wheat. I quite drinking milk, mainly because it made too much, not to sound gross, phlegm in my throat. Now I drink Almond Breeze. I’m going to also try Coconut milk. Since I’ve been doing this I’m now down 63 lbs. and in the 7 weeks Brian’s been doing it, he’s down 27 lbs. I still have a lot more to go, but I went to my Drs. about 3 weeks ago, and he said he’s very proud of the way I’ve been doing things. I told him what I’ve been doing and what I’ve been eating and drinking, and he’s just ecstatic about it. Especially since how heavy I was, he’s very proud. I go back in June and I’m hoping to have quite a bit more off and also hoping to have him tell me that I can get off my high blood pressure medication. That would be nice. Today has been a pretty good day so far. I’ve been in my little cubical working on my payables and receivables and while doing that I have all my music I like, mostly worship music, in my computer. So I’ve been listening to it. I enjoy doing that and just praising my Jesus for the glorious day and life that he’s given me. Is my life perfect? Not by a long shot, but I can find the positive in the negatives. Here at work, I’ve had so many people tell me, ” you always have a smile on your face, what’s up with that?” I tell them, “It’s because the Lord let me wake up another day.” Then I just usually get a blank stare and I just smile and tell them to have a great and beautiful day too. Take care everyone and have a great and beautiful day yourselves!! I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. ~ Psalm 9:2, NLT Brian and I have spent quite a bit of time together this weekend and it’s been awesome. I have so much enjoyed going out and being able to serve our brothers and sisters in need on the streets. What a joy that is for me. Actually I think it’s more that the Lord has been letting me know that Brian needs to learn to let go of me a little more each time we go out and let me learn on my own. Brian is very protective of me and I know why. I’m his wife, of course he’s going to be protective of me, I have medical issues, MS with left side weakness, high blood pressure, my eyes go blurry, but when I’m serving and doing the Lords will, I’m strong and HE leads me to where he wants me to go and say what HE wants me to say. So I guess if we’re going to be living in the Northeast area, Brian’s going to have to learn that he can’t be with me 24/7. We’re going to be living in a place where the homeless and prostitutes are going to be able to come in, take a shower, wash their clothes, eat, take a nap, watch TV, etc. and I’ll be there too. He can’t keep me guarded all the time. Now our living quarters will be apart from where they will be able to hang out, but still. I just feel that the Lord is telling me that I need to talk to Brian to let him know that he needs to let go a little more than he normally does. That’s only part of what I have. My son told me last weekend that of course for the Labor Day weekend he’d have a 3 day weekend and come see me. Well, I never heard a word from him. I wound up calling him around 5 in the evening on Monday. He never even thought anything about it. Here’s the thing that bugs me the most. He’s living at his best friends dad’s house in the basement cause Lenny lets him. Fine. Well, he seems to care for Lenny and Melissa more than his own parents. I don’t get phone calls, or text messages. I finally told him last night that if I didn’t get even a text message letting me know that he’s OK, I’m going to go sideways on his ass. He kind of laughed and said, “mom you’re so cute.” I wasn’t trying to be funny or cute, I was letting him know how worried I get when I don’t hear from him for days and days. It breaks my heart and it hurts me terribly. So needless to say while I was trying to eat, I was crying. Well that pissed my husband off so he called Lil’ Brian, our son, and said, “I just want you t0 know that your mother is very hurt that you don’t call or come by and while she’s trying to eat her dinner she’s crying.” LB said, “she was fine while I was talking to her.” BB said, “She doesn’t want you to hear her cry or hear her pain that you put her through, you know how strong of a woman your mother is, but she’s hurt and I just wanted you to know so you have a great night Brian, OK? Good night.” Then he hung up. I haven’t heard from him since. It’ll take him a few days to process. That’s how his brain works. He gets told something, and he doesn’t react right away, he has to process. It drives me nuts. Well, that’s all I have to say for now. Have a great day and God bless everyone!!! I finally told my son that he is selfish and only thinks of himself. He really pissed me off this weekend. Not only was I pissed, but I was just down right hurt. I really wanted to spend time with both my kids this holiday weekend and I asked him a couple of times, are we going to see you at all this holiday weekend? His reply each time was “well, I don’t know.” All I said was, “It’d be nice to spend some time with you since it seems we never get to see you any more.” He said nothing. So last night after he got home, I went to my room and folded the laundry. He followed me and asked me what’s wrong. Well, I let him have it. Everytime he has a new girlfriend, which he’s been dating Kara for about 3 months now, he’s in his own world and has nothing, and I mean nothing to do with any of us, let alone even bring any of his girlfriends around us. Personally I think he’s ashamed of us. That just kills me inside. I told him that when I don’t hear from him it scares me cause he’s so irresponsible. I’m afraid I’m going to get a call or a cop show up at my door and tell me that my son’s dead. I asked him if understood my feelings, he said yes, but I said do you really? All I got was him staring at me. I’m hoping what I said will sink into that thick skull of his. Then he goes and stays with his old best friends parents. I’m glad he likes them, but sorry Bud, I’m not going to allow you to have your girlfriend spend the night in the same bed under my roof and I won’t buy your alcohol. They will. That pisses me off. I’ve asked them not to but why would they listen to me. My son is a 20-year-old man. If they let him drive drunk and get in a wreck, I’ll kill them. Apparently, my son is the only one left of their son’s friends that actually talk to them. Last night before I went to bed, I saw my son laying in the dining room area, in the dark, with his arm over his eyes, sniffing, so I hope what I said got to him. He needs to realize how immature and selfish he’s been. His dad and I have bent over backwards to help him out with letting him live with us in our one bedroom apartment, his dad helping him out with his finances to get him on his feet, helping him look for a new job, which a friend of our told us about a really good company that was hiring and he got a job there, so we’re letting him stay with us till his 60 days is up at his new job and he finds a place of his own. He just doesn’t appreciate what he asked us to help him with and we’ve done. Sorry to rant, but I had to get it off my chest. I know expressing it to him helped out a lot, but I needed to share it with others. I guess my public announcement of how angry I am. Although yesterday evening I did spend with my daughter. We went to go see Eclipse. I really enjoyed it a lot. But then again, I love the Twilight series. I’ve read all the books and now I can’t wait for Breaking Dawn to come out. I wouldn’t mind reading the Short Life of Bree Tanner. But I really wish that Stephenie Meyer would come up with more in the series. She is a good writer and I really like her writing style. Anyway, I better get back to the non-ringing lines here at work. We have about 42 people here at work and there are probably about 15 people here. Have a blessed day. Well, first off of course I had a great day on Saturday with Miss Isabelle. How could I not. She’s the light of my life. I love spending time with her. She’s growing like a weed, and pulling herself up on everything. Now she’s trying to get the whole walking around things down. It’s fun watching her figure it out, but it makes me sad when she bonks her head, or smacks her mouth on the table, but I guess she has to learn some how. Then on Sunday, wow what a day that was. Brian and I headed out to Bessie’s House around 8:30 to be there by 9:00 am. It was so great for me to be there for the first time. Bessie’s is a place for homeless and prostitutes to come in and take a shower, wash clothes, get some food, etc. Anyway, on Sundays they have their own Sunday service outside praising Jesus, they get fed, then Bessie’s House closes down for the day. But I totally enjoyed the day serving and listening to the service and just being welcomed with open arms by everyone that knows Brian and finally got to meet me for the first time they showed me love the way Christ loved the church. It was Amazing. I’m going to go with Brian every Sunday to help serve. I really enjoyed myself and felt at home there. Just seeing a difference from there to where we worship is crazy. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with where we worship, but the difference is in the people and how they see Jesus. People on the streets depend on Him more than people who have safety in their lives of living in homes and always having food in their bellies. They just seem to know Jesus more. So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6 Here recently I’ve been wondering about my weight with my MS. I know that my weight is a big issue, I mean BIG!!! Ge’ez, I’m BIG, B-I-G!!! So anyway, I’m looking into Lap Band Surgery. I’m going to go to a seminar on it in July to see what it’s all about. There’s a possibility that my insurance could cover up to 100%. I mean when you go through the list, I’m pre-diabetic, I have high blood pressure, my BMI is over 35, I’ve been over weight (or should I say obese) for at least 5 years, you have to be at least 18 (well I’m 40 so I think I qualify for that), your series of weight loss attempts have been short-term (yep, I qualify for that too). I have to do something so I’m going to talk to my Dr. about it on Tuesday when I go in. We’ve been talking about my weight anyway so it maybe something he might approve of. Maybe he’d even write a letter of recommendation to the insurance company stating that it’s a necessity for my health with my MS and all. Anyway, that’s the crap going on in my head these last couple days. But my poor husband has had a stupid summer cold. Now my daughter is getting it and if I get it again, I’m really going to be pissed at someone. I can’t afford to be sick again. I don’t take time off work. The only time I do is to leave early for my Dr. appointments. I accrue 2.3 hours each pay period and after next Tuesday I’ll only have 8.7 hours available. I’m not wasting those. So anyway, I have to keep myself healthy. But an update on my MS meds. I did get the authorization from my insurance company to go with the Copaxone, but I haven’t heard from my Neurologists office yet on when I’ll be starting it or what. But I’m feeling fine since I haven’t been taking anything. That Avonex was some Bad A$$ stuff!!! YUCK!!! Well, I better go and sit here at my desk and answer the phones. Take care & God bless. Well, I got a call back from my Neurologists office yesterday about my Avonex. I guess hearing me cry about it and hearing the pain in my voice got them to decide to change my treatment. So anyway they’re getting authorization from my insurance company and then I’ll be starting Copaxone. It’s an everyday shot, but it apparently doesn’t have the side effects that Avonex has. Do I want to do a shot everyday? No, but I will if it will make me feel better. Believe it or not, I think my body knows it’s Friday cause it’s tensing up dreading what normally happens tonight. Well, I’m not going to take my last shot, it’s going in the garbage. BYE, BYE AVONEX!!! Good riddance!!! I went to my regular Dr the other day and my blood pressure was really high for me. I have always ran normal. Always in the 120/80 range. Not Wednesday. It was 168/102. So needless to say they put me on a HCTZ which is also a diuretic. Yea me, I’ll be peeing a lot!!! LOL Anyway, I let him know that I was going to stop my Avonex and he thought it was a smart idea. I just gave him a look and said ‘really’? He said yea. He said he felt that I should know my body and if it made me feel bad and I hurt with it, then it wasn’t the right “treatment” for me. So this weekend will be fun. I have Isabelle tomorrow and she’s going to the dentist with me. The girls there will be enjoying that. They always loved it when the kids were little and they got to play with them at that time, now they get to play with the grand baby. They still can’t believe that Amanda has a baby. Jeez, I can’t believe Amanda has a baby. LOL. But anyway, it’s never too early to take them to the dentist and show them what it’s like. Get them socially involved with them. So, after the dentist, I’m meeting up with a girlfriend and her kids and going to take pictures of the kids for her. I guess it’ll be one way for me to get my name out there and hopefully get some business for photography and make a little cash on the side. :) Well, better get back to work. Take care and God bless y’all!!! Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself ~Ephesians 2:20

Cat PDA Vs. Human PDA, And Other Animal Behavior Explained From feisty kittens to pacing cheetahs, Vint Virga knows animal behavior. A veterinarian who specializes in behavioral medicine, Virga has treated many household pets in his clinic. But for the past five years he has been working mostly with leopards, wolves, bears, zebras and other animals living in zoos and wildlife parks. He deals with such issues as appetites, anxiety and obsessive behavior. "I'm always trying to provide every single animal I come into contact with ... with the opportunity to invent and think and discover on their own," Virga tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. Virga's book, The Soul of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human, was recently published in paperback. It explains how animals demonstrate mindfulness, forgiveness and adaptability — and what we can learn from them. Virga talks about how house cats, like lions, are more fulfilled when they forage for food — and how animals express affection differently than we might think. On making cats forage for food Probably the most important thing I stress to all my clients is to think about what the cat would do if they were living in nature. They would have to actually hunt for food. While we can't put out lizards and mice to run around in our house, we can portion out the food and make it more challenging and interesting for the cat to actually find. I take my clients through a program of actually teaching their cats to forage for their food. Yeah, it isn't live, but they've got to go on the hunt or the prowl throughout the house, and the locations in which they're going to find the meal scattered about in the house ... are going to be different every day. And cats find that very stimulating and very interesting — it adds a lot of richness to their lives. On how cats show affection differently from humans We need to step out of what we consider are the appropriate behaviors as humans and try to put ourselves in an animal's footsteps. ... Affection is shown by being cuddly and lovey for a lot of us — not necessarily all of us — [so we often think] that our cats would want to be cuddled and loved. Instead, a lot of cats, if you actually watch their natural behavior when they're in groups, the most affectionate cats might be sitting near each other. They might sit with their tails intertwined, rear to rear, but they're not usually face to face, nose to nose, or snuggled up next to each other. ... That says that cats feel comfort and they express their emotions in ways differently than we do. If that's true, then what behooves us [as] ... their caretakers and human family members, is to learn about what it is that cats think and feel rather than [imposing] what we think and feel upon them. On reading animal behavior at the zoo Usually I like to spend a fair amount of time sitting outside an animal's habitat and watching them, without trying to interact with them in any way, so I can understand as much about their behavior as possible — how they relate to other animals in their habitat, what they do in their time. It's one thing to see a wolf, for example, pacing alongside the edge of their habitat at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon when they're starting to anticipate that their afternoon meal might be coming. It's a very different thing if I see a wolf pacing around after their morning meal, before the zoo visitors have started to enter, because they reflect very different behaviors. One, we're talking about a wolf that's anticipating something and starting to get a little bit anxious or excited; and the other, we're talking about a wolf that even after his appetite and hunger needs have been met, he's still choosing to pace. That reflects something very different in behavior. On how zoos have changed to improve the animals' well-being I think the most important things that zoos have done in the past 10, 20 years, is that they [have] focused primarily on the animal's well-being. And, depending on their feedback and responses, looked at their behavior, looked at their overall happiness and contentment, and used that as the gauge for what to do for the animal. They've also applied as much [as] science knows about the animals in nature. What that looks like is providing them with a space that's a lot more rich and full than just a place that is an exhibit. So it's really shifting from not a cage, because most zoos don't even have those anymore, but from an exhibit to a habitat. The environment is much richer and more complex rather than flat and uniform, so that we can see them. [Zoos are] providing [animals with] opportunities to escape from view of the public — and that can be difficult for a zoo. ... Visitors complain to the zoo if they can't see the leopard, the bear or the lion. But on the other hand, if the lion doesn't have any choice of getting away from the public at times, particularly if there [are] crowds or noisy visitors, then we're taking away their sense of control over their environment. On captive-born zoo animals It is important to realize ... that most animals in zoos nowadays are captive-born. They are not, by and large, taken from the wild. Usually it's a number of generations that we would have to trace back to any type of direct wild animal. ... It becomes a constant effort by zoos, that is, supervised in a very strict fashion in terms of making sure that these animals are not inbred, to maintain diversity in the population, and yet what we are dealing with [are] ... animals that are to some degree different than their wild cousins. They lose some of those instincts by ... not having predators and the pressures of the world that they're being exposed to — from habitat loss and pollution and so on. They also are gaining other traits in that they're constantly getting this affiliation or connection to humans. I'm touched by the relationships that I witness every day between keepers and the animals in their care. TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. When Dr. Vint Virga makes his rounds, it's at a zoo. He's a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral medicine. He's treated many pet dogs and cats, but for the past five years he's mostly been working with leopards, wolves, bears, zebras, and other animals living in zoos and wildlife parks. Typical problems he deals with involve food issues, anxiety, and obsessive behavior. Earlier in his career, he practiced veterinary general medicine in emergency rooms and his own clinic. He's the author of the book "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human," which was recently published in paperback. Dr. Vint Virga, welcome to FRESH AIR. So can I start by telling you something about the new cat that my husband and I adopted? Because I think... VINT VIRGA: Please do. GROSS: I think, like, a lot of people with cats will have this kind of issue. So, you know, we took him home, and it was so exciting to get him out of the shelter. And, he just seemed to be hungry all the time - and we realized that he probably didn't get fed that much, you know at the shelter. It was a great shelter; but nevertheless. But he would just like, meow constantly, wanting food, and you'd feed him and then - he'd meow - he'd want more food. So we've been trying to figure out what's the best way of starting to, like, regulate his diet. Is it, like, a couple of big meals a day, and then you get no more? Or there's also - a lot of people do the - I think it's called, like, free - free feeding - is that what it's called? Where there's, like, a bowl of dry food out all the time and the cat just eats when he or she wants to, and there's a finite amount of food per day, and that's you get. VIRGA: Yes. Well, and you can imagine free feeding is probably the furthest from natural. A feral cat living on a dairy farm, or out in nature would not have a free choice of eating food whenever he or she wanted to. So what I really encourage clients to do, is to at the very least, divide their meals into a number of portions, and spread those throughout different times a day. If we have a kitty that we're dealing with that likes to get up in the middle of the night and wake the family members up early in the morning, that's particularly important to give them a meal as close to bedtime as possible, because you're giving them an option to eat during the night, and they'll probably be a tiny bit less motivated in the morning. But probably the most important things I stress to all my clients is to think about what the cat would do if they were living in nature. They would have to actually hunt for food, and while we can't put out lizards and mice to run around our house, we can portion out the food and make it more challenging, and interesting for the cat to actually find. So I take my clients through a program of actually teaching their cats to forage for their food. Yeah, it isn't live, but they've got to go out on the hunt or the prowl throughout the house, and the locations in which they're going to find the meals scattered about in the house or portioned out in the house. They're going to be different every day, and that - that - cats find that very stimulating, and very, very interesting. It adds a lot of richness to their lives. GROSS: So like, where do you suggest hiding the food? VIRGA: Oh, my goodness, everywhere from closets, to allowing certain shelves on a bookshelf, behind cabinets, behind the television, or entertainment center. Underneath dressers if there's enough crawlspace, inside boxes that they would actually have to either open, or inside balls that they would roll around and the food would actually drop out. Food can be put in something as simple as a - the cardboard tube inside a roll of toilet paper, and then taped up, punched with a few holes, and the cat would actually have to roll the tube around in order to get the food out. GROSS: I guess if you're not vigilant about cleaning up all those places where you put the food, the cat might soon have real vermin to chase (laughing)? VIRGA: (Laughing) I guess so. But if you put it in small portions, in five or six different places of the house, most people are - find that the cat is very, very thorough in terms of cleaning up everything. And the food doesn't have to be on a rug, or on the floor. It can be in a saucer, it can be in a cup, it can be in a little bowl, or; as I said before - a ball or a box. GROSS: Do you recommend this for all cats, or just cats who are having some kind of eating problem? VIRGA: I really recommended it for all cats. And what it is, is it's really just carrying over what I do with zoo animals over to the family situation. Within the zoo, the keepers are constantly looking for new ways to encourage the animals to invent, and explore, and interact with their environment. And consistently, and reliably, what we find is that those are the animals that live the most fulfilled lives, and seem to be the most emotionally healthy. GROSS: So how do you make sure you're not reinforcing bad behavior? Like if your dog barks, or whines, and it wants something? Or, your cat meows and it wants something? Part of you wants to give it to them because you love your animal, and you want to make them happy. But then, you don't want to encourage them to be nagging - you know - to be nagging all the time that they want something, and meowing or barking all the time. VIRGA: Right. So it really becomes a matter of timing. If we reinforce them, if we give them what they want - even if we don't give them what they want, and we give them just our attention - at a time right after they've done a behavior that they're hoping to get something out of, then what we're doing is reinforcing the behavior. And what instead I recommend is that we actually do our best to hold off on our instinct to respond to them, until they stop. If that behavior's really ingrained, it may take a while for them to stop. It may be just for a moment that they finally stop whining, or barking, or meowing. But at that moment, if we take the opportunity then to reinforce them with affection, or attention, or praise, or food, then what we end up doing is giving them a pretty clear message, and they figure it out pretty quickly, that - ah, so now if I'm quiet, or if I'm not demanding, whatever it is I want, that's when I'm actually going to get it. GROSS: Do you think it's a good idea to, like, feed your animal before they're asking for it so that you're not reinforcing the meowing or the barking? VIRGA: Yeah. Yeah, that falls in the category of preventing. And prevention is wonderful because what it does is it helps to solve the problem before it's actually happened. VIRGA: So that's the same thing as, for example, the cat that's active at three in the morning. One of the things you can do is put out food in several different, hidden spots in the house before you go to bed. And that gives them something to do when they wake up in the middle of the night. GROSS: I want to ask you about children. A lot of people have pets and children. And sometimes the pets and the children get along famously; other times, they don't. And sometimes the children can actually scare the pets. And you write about an example like that where a married couple got two kittens, two sisters. And after that, they had a baby, a daughter. And eventually, one of the cats became a hermit, hid all the time. And you figured out that that had to do with the way the daughter was playing with the cats. Tell us what the problem was. VIRGA: Well, their daughter was about two years old. And at that age, she was rather rambunctious and energetic. And she had a particular fondness for her kitties. In fact, her kitties were her favorite thing in the whole world. And if she had the - if she had her druthers, she would rather spend time playing with the cats than doing anything else. And the way in which she played was a little bit loud and boisterous and rough. And she hadn't really learned the subtleties and nuances of the signals that her kitties were saying to her - or conveying to her. So one of the cats was very tolerant and accepting of that, but the other cat became very reclusive and hid from her. What was going on was that she was just literally running in every time she saw them and screaming, kitty, kitty, kitty and chasing them throughout the house. VIRGA: If you or I were a little cat and we had someone chasing after us that way, we might want to hide too. GROSS: So what did you do to solve the problem? VIRGA: Well, two things. I helped them to appreciate the nature of the problem. And they didn't quite appreciate how their daughter's love and enthusiasm for the kitties really was bringing about this behavior. So part of it was education. But really, the main two things we did is we gave the cat an opportunity to be with the family without hiding - but be with the family in a safe way. So what we actually gave her was safe, elevated perches that were out of their daughter's reach in the most common places in the household that the family would gather -in the eating area, in the living room and then in the daughter's bedroom. And then, the other thing we did was that we taught the daughter a game that I called Whisper Kitty. And what I actually taught her to do was instead of - taking that incredible enthusiasm she had for her kitties and instead play game of, every time she was excited to see the kitties, she would tiptoe and walk softly and slowly and then whisper to the kitties. And she caught on to this. This, to her, was a marvelous, new game. And the kitties responded dramatically in a very short timeframe. GROSS: You know, you write in your book, impassioned cuddles and kisses are human, not traits we see in the feline world. So what does that tell us about how to express our love for our cats and what not to do? VIRGA: I think what it tells us, with respect to our cats as well as every species, is that we need to step out of what we consider are the appropriate behaviors as humans and try to put ourselves in an animal's footsteps or an animal's shoes, so to speak. Instead of thinking that for us, affection is shown by being cuddly and lovey for a lot of us - not necessary all of us - that our cats would want to be cuddled and loved. And instead, a lot of cats, if you actually watch their natural behavior when they're in groups, the most affectionate cats might be sitting near each other. They might sit with their tails intertwined, rear-to-rear. But they're not usually face-to-face, nose-to-nose, or snuggled up next to each other a lot. That says that cats feel comfort and they express emotion, their emotions, in ways differently than we do. And if that's true, then what behooves us as being their caretakers and human family members is to learn about what it is that cats think and feel rather than superimposing what we think and feel upon them. GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guest is Dr. Vint Virga. He's a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral medicine. He works with pets as well as zoo animals. And he's the author of the book "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human." Let's take a short break here, and then we'll talk some more. This is FRESH AIR. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. If you're just joining us, my guest is Dr. Vint Virga, a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral medicine. In addition to treating cats and dogs, he consults with zoos and wildlife parks on the care and feeding of animals. So you knew when you were young that you wanted to work with animals. You always loved animals, you had cats and dogs as a child - but you're working with zoo animals now and you - you didn't have lions, and tigers, and giraffes, and elephants as a child. How do you learn about the behavior of so many different kinds of animals that there's no - no way you could have been really exposed to outside of visiting them in zoos when you were - you know, before you became a veterinarian? VIRGA: Yes well, that's a really good question. When I - when I started in my behavioral medicine residencies at Cornell - part of behavioral medicine residency requires that you spent time with zoo animals. But I came out of that residency program thinking, oh boy how am I going to be able to work with zoo animals. I - I'll stick to what I feel is most comfortable and what I know best. However, when I got an opportunity to see a polar bear at a zoo fairly early on in my behavioral part of my crew, all I could do was take what I knew about behavior of animals in general and - and take it to the polar bear's side to try to figure what was going on with that particular bear. And as I got invited to start visiting more and more animals at zoos, I started to see some rather distinctive patterns and - and that is that they're definitely differences between giraffe behavior and - and leopard behavior - and between wolf behavior and tortoise behavior - but at the same time there're a lot more commonalities than - than we would actually think exists. I can't even to this day tell you that I - I can know what - what I'm going to see when I'm dealing with species that I haven't dealt with. But it's a matter of taking what I do know and then taking the time to - to really observe and listen and - and then put the two together to try to understand what's going on for that animal. GROSS: When you're making the rounds at a zoo what do you do? What are you looking for? VIRGA: Well, what I love to do if I had my druthers is - is come before anybody else at the zoo. Because I can usually see the animal's behavior a whole lot better than before - than when visitors are starting to come into the zoo. But usually I like to spend a fair amount of time sitting outside an animal's habitat and watching them, without trying to interact with them in any way, so I can understand as much about the behavior as possible - how they relate to other animals in their habitat, how - what they do in their time. It's one thing to see a wolf for example pacing outside - pacing alongside the edge their habitat at about three o'clock in the afternoon when they're starting to anticipate that their afternoon meal might be coming. And it's a very different thing if I see a - a wolf pace around after their morning meal before the zoo visitors have started to enter because they - they reflect very different behaviors. One we're talking about a wolf that's - that's anticipating something and starting to get a little bit anxious or excited. And the other were talking about a wolf that even after his appetite and hunger needs have been met, he still is choosing to pace. That reflects something very different in behavior. GROSS: So you've listened to a lot of wolves howl and try to understand what they're saying to each other. What can you tell us about what you've learned about how wolves communicate through howling? VIRGA: Well, I think that we think of wolves communicating - if you think of a how, if you try to translate it into words - we can't take animals, including wolves' signals, and try to translate them into sentences. But what we can see for example with wolf howls, is that they vary in pitch, and frequency, and tenor and duration, and they're used between wolf groups to communicate when - when individuals of a pack will - will separate to go on their nighttime hunt - they use it as a way to communicate with each other where they're located, and also where to check in with each other, and to also to reunite at the end of the day. GROSS: Something you wrote in your book leads me to believe that you are good at mimicking some kinds of meows, and understanding some of the variations in meaning that accompany it. VIRGA: Well - well, yes. So there's been all sorts of scientific studies that have looked at cat vocalizations and tried to categorize them. And I think in general though, what I tell people is you know better frankly than anyone. When your cat does certain vocalizations what they're - what they're saying to you - if there chirping or meowing in a certain way, it's probably because they want your attention. You notice a very different purring type of sound oftentimes when they're content and they are laying on your lap. But to dissect it and break it down into individual vocalizations, while it can be useful, I also don't know how practical it is in the real world. GROSS: Does this mean I'm not going to get you to meow. VIRGA: (Laughing) If you really want me to, I'll meow. GROSS: I really want you to. VIRGA: (Laughing) OK. Well, let's see for example I could give an example of our two Norwegian Forest Cats. They're very, very different terms of their vocalization. Our - our male is very quiet - he's a Norwegian Forest cat so is rather big, he's around 16 pounds, which is - which is a big but not heavy size - not overweight size for a Norwegian Forest cat. And when he wants attention he'll go (imitating cat) budururrr, and do little tiny chirps. If he is distressed about something - if I were for example come over and go Fritz, I haven't seen you in forever, I've been on a trip for a week, and I come up to him and instead of stroking him, which I know he likes, I just have to give that little human hug and - and he doesn't like it he most likely is going to go [imitation of cat noise] orrrerrrrow, and you know, run away. Our little girl on the other hand, Clara, when she wants attention she almost sounds a little bit like a yowling Siamese and she will sometimes be up in the - especially if I have been writing for hours and ignoring them, and I'm at my desk, she will go just out of reach in the hallway to where I can't see here and then start going (imitating cat) rowwww, rowwww, rowwww - and she knows very effectively that I'm not going to sit at my desk and - and ignore her. And she does it on purpose that she's just out of sight because she knows if she were in sight, that it wouldn't be nearly as effective at getting my attention. And sure enough I'll put - I'll put down my pen and step away from my desk and go and find her and - which is exactly of course, what I'm not supposed to be doing. Because what am I doing? Reinforcing the attention. GROSS: I was going to point that out. VIRGA: Yeah, so what I tend to do, Terry, is instead what I - what I like to do if I'm smart and really want to get work done, is I will prevent it as you'd said earlier and give them - give her a totally different part of the house to - to explore, to investigate - give her things to do, give her puzzle boxes and - and hide food and give her a little cat bed that I put maybe on the second or third bookshelf along with some sprinkled catnip. And - and that'll keep her busy until she's exhausted and - and she'll - she'll happily rest and sleep while I work on my - my writing. GROSS: What's a puzzle box? VIRGA: And puzzle box is like what I was talking about earlier - where you take just a simple cardboard box and you can fill it with shredded paper, or you can fill it with nothing other than food itself. But usually you're putting - what I put in there is either a scent or two like - like cinnamon and clove can be really interesting to cats - or catnip. Or I can put some - some freshly cut catnip branches. Matatabi's another plant that our kitty cats like - that's Japanese Silverthorne I think it's called. Or we can put just - I can just put food - the regular cat food Kibble, or Kibble mixed with a few pieces of freeze-dried fish or chicken. And then the box is - is not completely sealed, but sealed enough that it her a little while to get inside of it - which is just what I would do with a leopard or a lion GROSS: Dr. Vint Virgo will be back in the second half of the show. He's the author of "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human." I'm Terry Gross and this is FRESH AIR. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross, back with Vint Virga, a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral medicine. Although he still treats cats and dogs, for the past five years he's worked mostly with animals in zoos and wildlife parks. Virga is the author of the book "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human." I would imagine that the behavioral disorders that you've seen in a lot of zoo animals have to do with the fact that they're in captivity. What are some of the things that zoos have successfully done to make the zoo environment a little closer to the animal's natural environment that you think - things that you think have helped in terms of the behavior of the animals? VIRGA: I think the most important things that zoos have done in the past 10, 20 years, is that they've focus primarily on the animal's well-being and depending upon their feedback and responses, looked at their behavior, looked at their overall happiness and contentment and used that as the gauge for what's going - what to do for the animal. And then, they've also applied as much as science knows about the animals in nature. So what that looks like is providing them with a space that's a lot more rich and full than just a place that is an exhibit. So it's really shifting from - not a cage because most zoos don't even have those anymore - but shifting from an exhibit to a habitat where the environment is much richer and more complex, rather than flat and uniform so that we can see them - providing them opportunities to escape from view of the public. And that can be difficult for a zoo in that visitors complain to the zoo if they can't see the leopard or the bear or the lion. But on the other hand, if the lion doesn't have any choice of getting away from the public at times, particularly if there's crowds or noisy visitors, then we're taking away their sense of control of the environment. So a key part of what zoos do nowadays is give the animal control and choice in their environment by making it a lot richer and fuller and more complex. And then the third thing is environmental enrichment, like we were talking about with cats earlier, is applied to every single animal I work with. GROSS: So that there's things for them to do - puzzles...They have to hunt for their food. VIRGA: Right. The key that I'm always trying to provide every single animal I come into contact with is the opportunity to invent and think and discover on their own and to provide them with a richness of opportunities to explore their world and interact with it in a entirely new way. GROSS: Do you feel more positively disposed towards zoos than you used to when you started in veterinary medicine? VIRGA: Absolutely. I used to avoid zoos with a passion. And even when I made the decision that I wanted to try to do a little bit of work in zoos, it was very painful and difficult for me. But I also felt like if I didn't do what I could within the structure of zoos as they existed, they weren't going to go away. So the best thing I could do was do what I could within the organization, within the structure of what existed, to try to make things better for the individual animal. GROSS: And you point out that zoos actually have a very important place, now, in the lives of endangered species 'cause a lot of endangered species basically have no natural habitat anymore. And the zoos, at least, can try to reproduce some of that habitat. VIRGA: Yeah. And that applies to every - to almost every species out there. If we look at elephants - I don't know what the latest numbers are. But they're devastating, the number of elephants that are in Africa compared to what there were 10 years ago. Those numbers, if we look at them, for a wide number of species out there, reflect a changing world where the habitats are being compromised. Pollution is taking away the quality of life of these animals, encroachment of humans on their environments and poaching, hunting, are all taking away the world of these animals. And zoos can actually be looked at, in my mind, as havens, where at least we're doing the best we can for at least some of the individuals to try to turn around and then bring awareness to those species out there that most desperately need it. GROSS: Do you think the animals are changing in the sense that they're getting acclimated to humans? You know, like lions and tigers and giraffes and elephants that wouldn't necessarily be around humans are around people all the time in zoos - the zookeepers as well as the crowds who come to see them. So do you think that that changes the animal, or that the animal becomes more comprehending of humans and maybe more friendly? VIRGA: Yes, I think so. It's important to realize, too, that most animals in zoos nowadays are captive-born. They're not, by far and large, taken from the wild. And usually it's a number of generations that we would have to trace back to any type of direct wild animal that was originally captured many generations ago. And so it becomes a constant effort by zoos that is supervised in a very strict fashion in terms of making sure that these animals are not inbred, to maintain diversity in the population. And yet, what we are dealing with, very honestly, are animals that are, to some degree, than their wild cousins. And they lose some of those instincts by constantly not having predators and the pressures of the world that they're being exposed to from habitat loss and pollution and so on. But they also are gaining other traits in that they're constantly getting this affiliation or connection to humans. And I'm touched by the relationships that I witness every day between keepers and the animals and their care, even in some of the most - what would be thought to be solitary, unsocial animals. VIRGA: Like something like a takin, that in nature, I think, would keep away from humans as much as possible - or a leopard or lion or tiger. Bears - the bears that I work with are very, very oriented towards the keepers and definitely look forward to seeing them every day. They add a richness, and they add social interaction. GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guest is Dr. Vint Virga. He's a doctor of veterinary medicine who specializes in behavior medicine. And he's the author of the new book "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human." Let's take a short break. Then we'll talk some more. This is FRESH AIR. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR and if you're just joining us, my guest is Vint Virga. He's a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral medicine and he's the author of the new book "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human" and he now works mostly with animals in zoos although he continues to have the cat and dog patients that he had before he spent more time in zoos. So give us an example of a pet or a zoo animal in which you seen repetitive behavior and you had to diagnose what the problem was and tried to treat it? VIRGA: An example would be a Doberman retriever I saw a number of years ago and he would get up early in the morning and he would sit in his living room of this house and start to watch for reflections or lights on the wall even though there weren't any lights on the wall and as time progressed over the day he would continue to chase after what appeared to be imaginary objects. We couldn't see any reflections or any images or any insects or bugs that he was changing after. What it all started out with was, actually, a laser pen that one of the children in the house was playing with and he became so intent and focused on the laser pen that he would spend a good part of his day chasing after the laser. Then when the laser was not provided he started finding other things that didn't exist to chase after. GROSS: Oh, you're scaring me. I use one of those laser toys with my cat. GROSS: Am I going to drive her crazy? VIRGA: (Laughing) No. GROSS: Make her obsessive? VIRGA: In fact, it's very interesting because cats don't seem to show the pre-disposition that dogs do towards developing a compulsive response to the laser pen. They seem to be fully entertained by it. So that's a big difference between canids and felids with respect to that particular behavior. GROSS: OK, so you realize that playing with this laser pen caused, you know, repetitive compulsive behavior on the part of this Doberman. What did you do? VIRGA: Well, the first thing was to try to prevent any further images, laser pens, reflections from them feeding on the behavior, contributing to the behavior. When we're dealing with compulsive behaviors with animals, as is the case with many people, we end up relying upon medication. Usually training, learning, behavioral conditioning is not sufficient when a behavior reaches the degree of becoming compulsive. So what I did with this particular dog is I put her on an anti-anxiety medication and we were able then by reducing her anxiety level to start giving her other activities that she could spend other time enjoying rather than chasing after imaginary objects and it worked very effectively. GROSS: Were you able to eventually take a dog off the medication? VIRGA: Yes, we were. There are a couple of times that the behavior started to pop up again and by putting her on a low dose and then weaning her off again we were able to manage the behavior really effectively. GROSS: You've had your share of cats and dogs in your life. What's the worst behavioral disorder you've had with one of your own pets and that you've tried to treat? VIRGA: Oh my goodness. Well, Katie, our Labrador retriever, developed separation anxiety at a very young age. She, like a lot of dogs with separation anxiety, was at risk - I think greater risk of separation anxiety because of her background of having had previous owner and then been through really dramatic experience. The way in which Katie's separation anxiety manifested is she would destroy the house while she was left alone by three four years of age she was causing massive damage which as a young veterinarian out of vet school that was a lot to deal with especially when I didn't even own in my own home. We'd come home and we'd find carpets torn and shredded. We'd find poop and pee - poop smeared around the house, puddles of pee in all sorts of places. But aside from all that, those manifestations that we saw, think of what Katie must've been going through to cause that type of damage? She was a typical Labrador in terms of orientation towards people, very people oriented and also fairly energetic. But she never caused destruction if she wasn't left alone and before the separation anxiety really started happening she never caused any type of destruction. GROSS: How did you deal with it? VIRGA: Medication was really the primary answer for her. Alleviating her anxiety to the point that then we could give her other things focus other than when we were leaving her and then it was a process. Once I was able to alleviate her anxiety of helping her to give other things to do. Katie's favorite activities were then left for when we would leave at the beginning of the day to go to work in our respective practices - my wife and I. GROSS: And did it get to the point where you could take her off the medication? VIRGA: We tried twice with Katie and both times she had relapses so she was one of those dogs that I was never able to get medication completely. GROSS: But you're OK with that? VIRGA: Well, look at the quality of her life. GROSS: Exactly right. VIRGA: Yeah, so she ended up being on medication all the way pretty much until she was an old, old dog and wasn't able to get around very well. GROSS: So my understanding is most vet behaviors now think that positive reinforcement is much more effective and humane than negative reinforcement when you're trying to shape behavior or, you know, prevent an animal from doing something bad. VIRGA: Universally there's 60 some odd behaviorists in North America and every single one of us would say wholeheartedly that that is true. That isn't just in the veterinary behavior community. Most of the members of the zoo community have come to realize, a number of years ago, that the best way we can shape and change an animal's behavior is by encouraging and reinforcing behaviors that we want and not reinforcing behaviors that we don't want to encourage. GROSS: So one of our producers has two new kittens, very adorable very lively, but they're from the same litter and they just wrestle with each other and bite each other all the time and now they're starting to do that to the family too - to the family of humans - and they're scratching them and, you know, chewing on them. So what's a good way of getting them to like calm down and stop doing that? VIRGA: And how old are the kittens? GROSS: Ten months. VIRGA: Ten months. OK, so they're still really young. So what I would do with when they're starting to direct any type of attention's to people that's when I would just get up and walk away. I think you can count on the cats at that age not being injured if you were to literally just get up off the sofa and stand if they're on top of your lap. If you're standing and coming into house if you're at a meal and wherever you are the best thing I would say to her is that you should if you're standing and coming to the house if you had a meal and wherever you are the best thing I would say to her is that you should literally just get up and walk away from them so that you're not reinforcing the behavior. And you're also signaling them because they're orienting towards you they're wanting a response from you. You're signaling to them that that is not a behavior that you really want to participate in. On the other hand, whenever they're calm and quiet and acting appropriately, that's the time to lavish attention and praise but not so much that gets them all excited. Some of this they're most likely, very most likely going to outgrow 'cause they're just - they're teenagers at this point, preteens really. So they're full of energy and rambunctious. I would encourage her not to get involved with any conflicts between them unless they become serious and if so, give me a call because chances are they're going to work it out themselves and they will scratch or a little bite here and there is going to be better for them to understand their own limits or the other's limits rather than us trying to inter of the fear and say don't do this. Also if we interfere, all we're doing is getting involved in a behavior that then they're just going to turn around and direct towards us. GROSS: So a water gun can be pretty effective in the short term of getting away from you? VIRGA: Well, I don't know I see a lot of kitties that habituate to water guns so if you really need to do something aversive I think a compressed air canister, you know, the type you would use to a camera or a computer - not directed at them just sprayed in a cupped hand. The hissing sound will usually send most cats running. And at least what I like about that its not directional. A squirt gun will be perceived by most cats as being from you. What we'd rather have is that God or the universe anytime something like that anytime I do the behavior suddenly lets out this hissing sound that I don't like. GROSS: So here's a question for you. I was looking at your picture, you know, the author photo on the back of the book and you're wearing what looks like a leather jacket with a fur collar and I was wondering how you feel about leather and fur or is it faux leather and faux fur. VIRGA: It's actually faux. GROSS: What they now call vegan leather? VIRGA: Yeah. Yeah, which of course raises its own issues 'cause I'm sure it's made from petro-chemicals and everything else but, you know, it's like yeah, there's trade-offs. Yeah, I'm a vegetarian. Yeah, I was raised as a meat eater in undergraduate years I was actually an animal science major where I took other people to the slaughterhouse as a lab assistant so I'm very familiar with the animal production industry. You know, there's choices we make day-to-day and I don't think there's right or wrong personally about it I think the thing I would wish for is that everybody brought up mindfulness to what they're doing instead of just if you love steak and you want to continue eating steak at least recognize that there was a cow whose life was given up, basically, so you could eat the steak and the same thing is true for leather. GROSS: What did you do at the slaughterhouse? VIRGA: Well, I used to accompany the labs and help the teaching assistant with moving students through the labs and what we taught was what's actually involved with the slaughter of animals from moving them to the stockyard to actually being killed to them - how the body is then processed into what we would identify them as steaks and ribs and the bacon and so forth. And that type of reality is not something that's easy to shake or let go of. That type of familiarity with what's going on. So all I encourage people to do is just be aware and then from that, you know, make choices that feel right to them. GROSS: Well, Vint Verga, thank you so much for talking with us it's really been interesting. I really appreciate it. VIRGA: Oh, thank you very much for having me. GROSS: Dr. Vint Virga is the author of the new book "The Soul Of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human." You can read an excerpt on our website, freshair.npr.org. Coming up, John Powers reviews the new 50th anniversary restoration of the Beetles film, "A Hard Day's Night." This is FRESH AIR. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Last week, the fantastic adaptation of Me and Earl an the Dying Girl hit theaters in a limited run, and this week the lively Dope also arrives on the big screen. Both are spectacular coming of age tales from two very different sides of the spectrum, but they both have wonderful young characters, engaging relationships, and are special in their own ways. And with these two magnificent coming of age movies hitting the big screen recently, we thought it was a good time to look back at some of the great films to come out of this subgenre. But since everyone has gushed over films like Stand by Me, The Breakfast Club and Say Anything for years, I decided to put a more modern focus on coming of age films by counting down my picks for the Top 25 Best Coming of Age Movies of the Past 25 Years. That means you won’t find anything on here from before 1990. Do your favorite movies make the cut? Check out my list of the Top 25 Best Coming of Age Films of the Past 25 Years after the jump! Read More » Please Recommend /Film on Facebook Posted on Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 by Angie Han Before we close the book on another year in film, Brandcameo has one more set of awards to hand out. But these aren’t for achievements in acting or directing or sound mixing. These are for all the product placements that cropped up in the movies last year, from Reese Witherspoon‘s REI boots in Wild to, well, the entirety of The Lego Movie. The winner for most brands in a single film shouldn’t be hard to guess (I’ll give you a hint: it’s in the headline) but smaller films like Nightcrawler and The Theory of Everything apparently still found ways to squeeze in a few notable brand mentions. Find out who won the sometimes dubious honors in the 2015 Brandcameo Product Placement Awards after the jump. Read More » Top-ten lists can be predictable. They often feature the same 15 or so movies, recycled and reshuffled to a point where it’s pretty obvious those were the best movies of the year — or at least the ones that made it to the top of the consensus pile. But out of the hundreds of films released every year, why cut it off at ten? This list is not the ten best movies of 2014. These are the films that almost made the cut. Numbers 11-25. I decided to feature them because, unlike my top ten, these movies are at least a bit more varied. Foreign films, independent films, documentaries, animation, the movies on this list come from all over and contain at least a few surprises in an otherwise tired format. Make no mistake. The films I previously wrote about, in my opinion, are the ten best of 2014. But these movies are pretty damn great too. Below read my not quite top 10 movies of 2014. Read More » As it has done in the past, the New York Times offered a great collection of conversations with directors this year, as the Anatomy of a Scene series gave the directors of many films a chance to dissect their approaches to major scenes in films such as Birdman, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Interstellar, Foxcatcher, Wild, and others. (My only complaint is that directors such as Ava DuVernay and Jennifer Kent are MIA.) Below, you can watch the Anatomy of a Scene series from late 2014. Read More » Dallas Buyer’s Club was a big film at the end of 2013. This year, Wild, the new film from its director Jean-Marc Vallee, is said to be a powerful movie as well, thanks in part to a great performance from Reese Witherspoon. Now Vallee is setting up to make a new film, and this one will potentially combine major factors from his last two movies: it’ll be a story based in truth, anchored by a significant female performance. Vallee is in talks to be the Janis Joplin biopic director; he’ll direct Amy Adams as Joplin in a film about the late singer’s life. Read More » Cool Posts From Around the Web: Posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2014 by Angie Han Reese Witherspoon‘s only release in the first half of 2014 was Devil’s Knot, which actually premiered on the festival circuit last year. But the second half of the year brings not one, not two, but three juicy roles for her in three very different movies. One of those is Wild, the new film from Dallas Buyers Club helmer Jean-Marc Vallée. Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, who wrote the memoir on which the movie is based. After the death of her mother and the breakup of her marriage sends Cheryl spiraling toward rock-bottom, she sets out to heal herself by hiking the 1,000-mile Pacific Crest Trail. The first Wild trailer has just landed, and you can see it after the jump. Read More » Posted on Thursday, August 22nd, 2013 by Angie Han As Dallas Buyers Club prepares for its world premiere at TIFF, director Jean-Marc Vallée has booked his next gig. He’s just signed on for Wild, the Nick Hornby-scripted, Reese Witherspoon-starring adaptation of Cheryl Strayed‘s bestselling memoir. Hit the jump for plot details and more. Read More » Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon has just been attached to Wild, based on a booked by Cheryl Strayed and adapted by Nick Hornby. Fox Searchlight will distribute the film, which will start production later this year once a director is attached. Wild is the story of one woman who, seemingly out of options, decides to hike more than 1,000 miles on the Pacific Coast all by herself. Read the full press release below. Read More »

‘Time to bring us into the nation’ through constitutional recognition Source: News Corp Australia - By: Noel Pearson - From: The Australian - Date: 13 September 2014 HAD Galarrwuy Yunupingu and his dilak elders been present at the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, there might have been a scene like this: I wait for the new prime minister … An event is taking place at Yirrkala and I have called the leaders of the 13 clans together. No children or young people will participate, only leaders, men and women who have proved themselves: dilak. By my side are Djinyini Gondarra and the leaders of the Elcho clans, Richard Ganduwuy and Dunga Dunga Gondarra, Butharripi Gurruwiwi. Wilson Gan-ambarr, Gali Gurruwiwi, Gekurr Guyula and Timmy Burrawanga are there. Laklak and Dhuwarrwarr Marika are there, too, along with the great old man from Gan Gan, Garrawan Gumana. My cousin Banambi Wunungmurra brings the prime minister down to us. We have a petition for him. Learning of the cataclysmic history experienced by Aboriginal tribes in the coastal south and east of the country and the inexorable expansion into the west and the north in the first 110 years of European colonisation, and fearing the time when the Yolngu of Arnhem Land would face the same devastation, Yunupingu might have presented Edmund Barton — along with Samuel Griffith and the other founding fathers of the new nation — with a petition, as he did Kevin Rudd in 2008: We, the united clans of East Arnhem land, through our most senior dilak, do humbly petition you, the … Prime Minister of Australia, in your capacity as the first amongst equals in the Australian Parliament, and as the chief adviser to Her Majesty … to secure within the Australian Constitution the recognition and protection of our full and complete right to: • Our property, being the lands and waters of East Arnhem Land; • Economic independence, through the proper use of the riches of our land and waters in all their abundance and wealth; • Control of our lives and responsibility for our children’s future. EVERY nation is a unique creation. All democracies are not the same. Every society that has ever created a constitution has had to deal with a unique history and circumstances. There is no template democracy. There’s no template nation. In 1901, when the Australian nation was created, it reflected the ideas and biases of the time. One bias had as its cornerstone the exclusion of the native peoples of this country. It took a long 66 years before that exclusion from citizenship was remedied in 1967. Back when the referendum was crafted and overwhelmingly endorsed by the Australian people — 90 per cent of the country voted in favour of it — there was not one indigenous lawyer in the country, let alone an indigenous constitutional lawyer involved in the drafting of the amendment. Now, leading indigenous legal intellectuals such as Megan Davis are driving these developments. Even the greatest democracies are a search for a better unity. National democracy is not just a lapidary achievement. No nation has created the perfect unity. Facing racial conflict, President Barack Obama invoked the idea that the US is on a journey to a “more perfect union”. Ours is a journey to perfect our commonwealth and the unity it is intended to represent. During my involvement on the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, set up by Julia Gillard, I became convinced that the basis of our inclusion in Australian citizenship in 1967 was fatefully wrong. We were included as citizens of our own country on the basis of race, and that too reflected the bias of the time. In the decades leading up to the 1950s and 60s, and for a long time after, it was commonplace to talk about people of different races. So it is understandable that in 1967 the basis of our citizenship was determined in section 51 (xxvi) — the race clause. In retrospect, I saw — largely through the arguments of my colleagues on the panel — that our inclusion in the citizenship of the country on the basis of our alleged race was a momentous misstep. It was wrong, in fact. Today we understand that there are no races. And as long as human societies have assumed and perpetuated the idea that there are distinct races across the world, much misery has resulted. Today we understand there are no distinctions to be made among peoples on the basis of race. We are a human race. While we do not share a uniform culture, language, religion and ethnicity, we do share one characteristic: we are members of a single race. As long as we have a Constitution that characterises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the basis of race, it will have deleterious implications for their citizenship. It must be removed. With the knowledge of hindsight, we must perfect the basis of our inclusion in the nation. I believe the psychological and practical implications of these reforms will be profound. This is not just a matter of symbolism. I think this will be a matter of psychology. The day we come to regard ourselves as people with a distinct heritage, with distinct cultures and languages, but not of a distinct race will be a day of psychological liberation. And it will also be liberating for those in the wider community who treat us as members of a distinct race, with all of the freight that accompanies this. I believe constitutional reforms that remove the concept of race will have concrete, practical implications for indigenous wellbeing across this country. We have made many gains since 1967, but we have been significantly hobbled as well. And the chief thing that has hobbled us is the concept of race. This does not mean that when we get rid of race in our thinking, racism will not exist. There will still be discrimination. But such discrimination is based on an illegitimate idea: that people are different according to some racial criterion. So there will be need for protection against the illegitimate concept through the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. I see no contradiction in banishing notions of race from our Constitution while at the same time ensuring protection of peoples against the illegitimate use of this distinction. ON July 15 this year I had the honour of joining Rupert Murdoch and Tony Abbott in Sydney at the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Australian . In my remarks I said that: When the history of indigenous reform is written, the place of The Australian under the editorship of Chris Mitchell will be plain … Mitchell opened the pages of The Australian to all shades of debate and indigenous leaders and commentators: no other mainstream platform comes close. Like the paper’s founder, the paper’s editor these past 12 years seems impelled by an unremitting sense of native duty to the nation by taking his indigenous brethren with utmost seriousness. Rosemary Neill’s courageous coverage of tragic violence against Aboriginal women. Tony Koch’s pursuit of Mulrunji’s death at the Palm Island watch-house. Paul Toohey’s searing stories of the petrol-sniffing Hades in the centre. These all echo the proprietor’s campaign in The Advertiser in the Max Stuart case in 1959 abolishing the death penalty. The Australian treated these subjects not because it believed the country’s indigenous peoples innocent or guilty, right or wrong, noble or ignoble — but because the paper believed in our humanity, and that we and our affairs should not be left on the woodheap of the democracy. No paper welcomed indigenous writers and political leaders more than this one. The late Charlie Perkins, Marcia Langton, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Patrick Dodson, Lowitja O’Donoghue, Warren Mundine and more have been regular protagonists in the national conversation in the national paper. For those like me whose reform policies have been steadfastly supported by the paper’s editorials, we have not been spared contrary views and criticism in news reporting and commentary. The dialectic of the national conversation plays out in the pages of The Australian. This was a privilege for me: to witness Murdoch, one of those rare Australians whom the thoughtful senator from Queensland Brett Mason — in a forthcoming book on such figures — correctly identifies as having in some way changed the world, pause to reflect on a 50-year milestone on his journey. I think that not to marvel at Murdoch’s colossal media exploits and take some borrowed pride from the fact that, like Don Bradman in cricket or Howard Florey in medical science, he is Australian is as absurd as denying the global impact of Robert Hughes on art or Germaine Greer on feminism. There may or may not be some validity in the suggestion that the levelling instinct of Australians is a salient contribution of indigenous peoples to the national character, but at the heart of that instinct lies a cringe that makes us a smaller nation, with a smaller sense of our own possibilities, when we don’t recognise it as a double-edged sword. I suspect our aggressive egalitarianism is the engine that drives individuals to take on the forces of the establishment — witness the “Dirty Digger” taking over the London Sun — but it can also see the rest frantically determined to chop down the very outliers who have challenged and beaten the powers-that-be. This is our psychological, rather than cultural, cringe. One side of our egalitarianism challenges the status quo and the other preserves it through levelling. It was for me a signal event. I tell this story to give a context to my final remarks to that audience, in which I set out how constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians would allow the nation to reveal our true nature and the great hidden architecture of our commonwealth: Our nation is in three parts. There is our ancient heritage, written in the continent and the original culture painted on its land and seascapes. There is its British inheritance, the structures of government and society transported from the United Kingdom fixing its foundations in the ancient soil. There is its multicultural achievement: a triumph of immigration that brought together the gifts of peoples and cultures from all over the globe — forming one indissoluble commonwealth. We stand on the cusp of bringing these three parts of our national story together — our ancient heritage, our British inheritance and our multicultural triumph — with constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians. This reconciliation will make a more complete commonwealth. The colonial history that I have revisited in my Quarterly Essay, A Rightful Place is the reason why the relationship between our indigenous heritage and the country’s British heritage has eluded us. As troubled as this history is, and as troubling as it will be for the foreseeable future, these two things are the heritage of Australia. There is no denying it. It is the reality and it is the truth, no matter how much white Australians might want to ignore it or black Australians might want to reject it. Whatever the mutual denial of the past, the future must be one of mutual recognition. THERE are two reasons Australian conservatives should support constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. First, conservatism sees intrinsic value in tradition and inheritance — like our British heritage, indigenous tradition and inheritance is important and should be recognised and maintained. Second, conservatives value national unity. They disavow separatism, collectivism and division among citizens, preferring instead individualism bound by a common sense of national unity and patriotism. That is why they should support the removal of references to “race” that serve to divide citizens. In trying to understand conservative objections to the expert panel’s proposals, it is important to understand the Australian mix of liberalism and conservatism, and the influence of constitutional conservatism — the influential group of Australian constitutional experts whom Greg Craven dubbed the “con-cons”. This group, convening as the Samuel Griffith Society, values liberalism and democracy. They insist on parliamentary sovereignty and are ready to accuse judges of usurping parliamentary democracy. They value the Australian Constitution as inherited wisdom. It is because, as Waleed Aly observed in Quarterly Essay 37, “tradition has its own force and wisdom” that the conservative disposition prefers organic evolution to revolution in society. Conservatives approach constitutional reform with extreme caution. According to Aly, conservatism is “resistant to ideological zeal”: it “eschews utopian designs and adopts far more modest and pragmatic approaches to policy”. This explains conservative resistance to including principles such as “equality” or “non-discrimination” in the Constitution. While valuing free and equal participation in a liberal democracy, conservative pragmatists do not think such ideals can be protected simply by writing them into the Constitution. Such alterations risk giving the judiciary too much power. In their strong aversion to activist judges, constitutional conservatives tend to forget the history that has driven this conversation about constitutional recognition. Conservatives are concerned with limiting judicial activism, and therefore do not want symbolic words or sweeping “rights” clauses in the Constitution. Indigenous advocates need to take these views on board. But what conservatives in turn need to understand, in an effort to find consensus, is that for indigenous people the movement for constitutional recognition has always been about achieving constitutional protection and recognition of indigenous rights and interests within Australia. It is about reconciling the fact that there were peoples here before the British arrived, and making provision for those peoples and their interests to be recognised within the nation. Symbolism and poetry is only one part of it. Substantive change in the national approach to indigenous affairs is the other. Conservatives need to understand our position, too. Our people lived through the discrimination of the past. We have a legitimate anxiety that the past not be repeated, and that measures be put in place to ensure thingsare done in a better way. If conservatives assert that a racial non-discrimination clause is not the answer, then what is a better solution? In a recent paper, The Australian Declaration of Recognition, Julian Leeser and Damien Freeman assert that the Constitution is a rule book, a practical charter of government that sets out power relationships, such as between the commonwealth and the states. It is not a vehicle for aspirations and symbolism: these can be articulated in a declaration, not in the constitution proper. But if the Constitution is a practical rule book governing national power relationships, then we should also accept that there is one very important national power relationship that it clearly does not address. Arguably, therefore, the rule book should be amended to make provision for indigenous people to be heard in indigenous affairs. After all, if unelected judges should not decide what is in the interests of indigenous people, then who should decide? Indigenous people comprise only 3 per cent of the population and hardly get a fair say in parliament, even on matters directly concerning them. Parliaments have never been good at listening to indigenous people. This is why the discrimination of the past has occurred. This is the elephant and the mouse problem that has characterised indigenous affairs. We can find a way of ensuring that indigenous people get a fair say in laws and policies made about uswithout compromising the supremacy of parliament. Perhaps we could consider creating a mechanism to ensure that indigenous people can take more responsibility for our own lives within the democratic institutions already established, and without handing power to judges. As mentioned, conservatives should agree with the removal of racial discrimination from the Constitution. They believe in national unity and dislike internal divisions, separatism and collectivism. They must now also turn their minds to how the Constitution might be altered so that the discrimination of the past cannot happen again. We don’t want separatism: we want inclusion on a fair basis. We want to be inside the decision-making tent. We want our voices to be heard in political decisions made about us. A mechanism like this — guaranteeing the indigenous voice in indigenous affairs — could be a more democratic solution to the racial discrimination problem. Constitutional recognition could therefore include removal of the race clauses and the insertion of a replacement power to enable the commonwealth parliament to pass necessary laws with respect to indigenous peoples, and incorporation of a requirement that indigenous peoples get a fair say in laws and policies made about us. A new body could be established to effect this purpose, and to ensure that indigenous peoples have a voice in their own affairs. This is an edited extract of Quarterly Essay 55, A Rightful Place: Race, Recognition and a More Complete Commonwealth by Noel Pearson, available nationally on Monday.

What is a Satellite Church? Woodstock Church // Panama City Beach is a satellite campus of Woodstock First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia. Since 1986, Pastor Johnny Hunt has led our church to touch lives in our community and around the world. You can learn more about our main campus at fbcw.org What to Expect… Since we are a satellite campus of Woodstock First Baptist Church, the teaching time of our worship service is a video feed (projected onto a large screen) of Pastor Johnny Hunt preaching from our main campus in Woodstock. Our music & worship time is live and is led by great musicians here at the PCB campus. Pastor Johnny Hunt is the Senior Pastor of Woodstock First Baptist Church. Pastor Johnny oversees the teaching at all of our church campuses. Rev. Rick Young is the Campus Pastor at PCB. To learn more about Rick & his family, click here Wendy Young is passionate about leading others to worship. A graduate of Liberty University, Wendy has been involved in Music Ministry for over 20 years as a soloist, recording artist, team member, and worship leader. As a Pastor’s wife and mother of 3 teenagers, she believes that worship is a lifestyle that affects every area of her life. Steven was born right here in Florida but grew up in Midland, Texas. He went on to graduate from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri with a degree in Youth Ministry. After working for two years under Pastor Rick in the Middle School ministry at FBCW, Steven moved to Panama City Beach to help launch the latest Woodstock Church campus. Colby was born in Atlanta Georgia, but was raised right here in PCB. He is currently studying Youth Ministry at the Baptist Collage of Florida. After finishing a year internship at FBPC, Colby came to Woodstock Church // PCB to help Grow and Lead our youth. Do you have a question? Feel free to email Pastor Rick by using the form below…

A $50,000 House - But At What Cost? Can you still get a house for $50,000? The answer may surprise you. While, the average U.S. home price is $181,000 and for more than $130,000 less than that, you can become a homeowner. However, for that rock bottom price tag you may have to sacrifice a few things on your homebuying wish list such as size, location, age and amenities. Let's look at your options listed through Trulia.com: A Work In Progress 3 bed/2 ½ bath single-family home in Grove Park Location: Atlanta, GA To make this your new home you're going to have to either finish it yourself or hire a contractor to finish the work since it's only partially complete. It requires drywall work, electrical exterior painting, countertops, appliances, driveway and more. You may be able to realize a great profit if you can price the work right and you like the location; however it's going to take some major additional cash to make it livable. (Follow this step-by-step guide to make your homeownership dreams a reality. Read Top Tips For First-Time Home Buyers.) Not The Best Area 3 bed/2 bath 1,512 sq ft. single-family home Location: Beaverton, OR This property is a manufactured home in very good, move-in condition and boasts a new roof along with well-rated local schools. Its location (bordered by a major highway and freeway) may be a turnoff for some potential buyers. In addition there are disproportionately more neighborhood homes for sale that are either in foreclosure or are already bank-owned than in nearby areas which may mean that it's a less attractive area for buyers or that prices haven't dropped as much as necessary. It can also indicate that you may be moving into an area that has a glut of vacant homes because former owners have had to move out. History In the Making 2 bed/1 bath 897 sq. ft. condo in Hyde Park Location: Boston, MA The upside is that, as a short sale, the property is well under the local median sales price of more than $262,000, and it's located near public transportation for an easy commute into the city; the downside is that it will require a cash infusion to make some much-needed improvements, especially considering that the property is nearly 100 years old. (Don't let a slow real estate market drag you down - steer clear of these pitfalls. Check out 5 Mistakes Real Estate Investors Should Avoid.) 3 bed/2 bath 1,372 sq. ft. townhome Location: Centreville, VA This house could be the deal of your dreams if you're looking for affordable living within reasonable driving distance to the nation's capital. While the property doesn't offer a fenced yard or lawn to speak of, it is located in a thriving downtown suburb with a lower than average crime rate and high number of college-educated homeowners and young families. The cost of living in this area is relatively high so this property may help you afford to reach your goal of homeownership in this area. Similarly-sized REO townhomes are listing for at least five to seven times as much! Love It Or Lease It 2 bed/1.5 bath 1,040 sq. ft. townhome off Military Highway Location: Dallas, TX This property is on a pretty tree-lined street in the Riverview Estates/Bruton Terrace neighborhood in Dallas, just outside the city. The downside is that it's currently leased to a tenant for 12 months; if you can buy and hold until the lease is up and then either move in or rent it again it might be a deal worth considering. Find out what factors you should weigh when searching for income-producing real estate. Check out Top 10 Features Of A Profitable Rental Property.) Price-wise the property is a steal at 34% lower than comparable homes in the area and 54% lower than the average price for homes in the same zip code. Also, the local crime rate is well above national averages - three times higher overall (for all types of reported crime) and six times higher than the national average for robbery. Safety might rule this sale out. ( Needs Some TLC 2 bed/1 bath 1,006 sq. ft. duplex in Old North Milwaukee Location: Milwaukee, WI This short sale two-family property is located in a nice neighborhood with wide, tree-lined streets but also comes with a long list of needed repairs. If you're intending to move in or use it as an investment property you'll need to drop money on kitchen and bath remodeling, extensive roof and gutter repair, and drywalling work due to old roof leaks. However if you've got the cash (or elbow grease and skill) you'll get a gem in the rough - the home was built in 1928, has original hardwood throughout and sits on two acres. The home price is 24% lower than the local average list price and 63% lower than the average home price for properties in the same zip code. Depending on the renovation expense it might not seem like enough of a bargain to seal the deal! Priced To Move 3 bed/1 bath 1,528 sq. ft. single-family home in Autumnwood Location: Mobile, AL This brick, ranch-style home is an REO property that is selling for nearly $40,000 less than the last time it was sold - 22 months ago it sold for $85,400. The home was built in 1959 and features wood floors, a fenced backyard, newly-painted rooms and newly-tiled kitchen, and attractively landscaped front lawn. (Don't let buying a home bust your budget. Make sure the house you choose is worth the price you pay. Read 10 Tips For Getting A Fair Price On A Home.) The home is priced to sell - comparable properties in the neighborhood are selling for $30,000 more. And while the area is predominantly made up of families the local crime rate is twice the national average overall and nearly four times higher for certain types of crime including robbery and property crime. Get to know the neighborhood well before you rush to make an offer. 4 bed/1 bath 2,340 sq. ft. in Granite School District Location: Salt Lake City, UT This property has just entered the foreclosure process, meaning that the person holding the mortgage has defaulted on the loan. The property has been on the market for nearly four months (before the homeowner defaulted on the loan) so that may indicate it's either in poor condition or not a great buy for the location even if it is priced at 72% lower than the average list price for homes in the same zip code. (Sometimes it's better to cut your losses, but foreclosures and short selling can have devastating impacts on your credit score. Read Short Sales And Foreclosures: When It's Time To Move On.) The Bottom Line If your homebuying budget is tight you may be able to find a "gem in the rough" while the housing market is still depressed. But you'll need to lower your expectations, do a little legwork (and perhaps a little heavy lifting) to make it the home of your dreams. (To learn more about the homebuying process, be sure to read our Buying A Home tutorial.)

December 22, 2016 (++++) IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ART Dog Man #2: Dog Man Unleashed. By Dav Pilkey. Graphix/Scholastic. $9.99. Nobody Is Perfick. By Bernard Waber. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. $9.99. The whole point of these books is to be fun to look at – and it’s a pretty good point. Yes, Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man Unleashed has a plot – a convoluted, over-complicated one, in fact – and yes, Bernard Waber’s Nobody Is Perfick has some points to make, rather gently. But neither the story nor the homilies will be the main reason kids will enjoy these books: it is the art that will attract young readers and keep them interested. Pilkey is best known for the Captain Underpants books, “created” by made-up kids named George Beard and Harold Hutchins – this explains the drawing style and a lot of the plot elements. Dog Man Unleashed, a sequel to Dog Man, is cut from the same cloth, then woven and raveled or unraveled to provide much the same level of coverage of all things silly. Dog Man is a dog-headed cop – the stitches holding his head to his body are seen clearly – created when a bad-guy cat blew up a top cop and his top-dog canine helper, killing the man’s head (but not his body) and the dog’s body (but not his head). A touch of magical mystery surgery later and, ta da! Dog Man. In Dog Man Unleashed, our hero has to try to cope with his doggy instincts, which include licking all the bones in a pet shop and preferring smelly dead fish to live ones – and inevitably, one of his instincts, playing with a ball, eventually saves the day. He also has to deal with reporter Sarah Hatoff, rescue dog Zuzu, an evil fish, the continued depredations of Petey the Cat (the evil mastermind who inadvertently led to the creation of Dog Man in the first place), a new and completely flat Petey based shamelessly on Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley, a reanimated carnivorous dinosaur – well, the list goes on (and on), but rest assured that Dog Man is equal to all challenges, even those coming from Dr. Boog E. Feeva, the local witch doctor, whose prescriptions include “living spray” and “obey spray.” The puns and ridiculous plotting spray pretty much everywhere, and that makes Dog Man Unleashed fun for parents as well as kids (assuming kids will give up this graphic novel long enough for parents to read it). Pilkey channels his inner George and Harold so well that it is hard to be absolutely, 100% sure that Pilkey is real and George and Harold are his creations. It just might be the other way around. We ought to put Dog Man on the case: something about all this smells fishy. Like Pilkey, Waber (1924-2013) is best known for something other than the newest release under his name: he was the author of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and the series that followed. But back in 1971, in the days well before graphic novels, Waber created a kind of proto-graphic-novel – actually a series of stories – called Nobody Is Perfick, in which every page has a mixture of cartoon drawings and words, and the stories are told through the combination. Waber’s style here is vaguely reminiscent of Jules Feiffer’s: his characterizations come through clearly in these black-and-white drawings, in which the kids tend to be shown in less detail than their surroundings. The expressiveness of the characters’ faces is one wonderful element here. Another is the way Waber captures some of the not-wholly-intentional cruelties of children to each other. “Say Something Nice,” for instance, involves a boy named Arthur talking to a girl named Harriet and saying only things that he knows she feels are not nice, starting with “lizards,” “spiders,” and “creepy things,” and eventually escalating to “monsters” that “are crawling out of caves” and have the kids surrounded. Harriet gets more and more frightened, or seems to – but when her mother calls her to come inside, Harriet tells Arthur how much fun he is and says she wants to get together again the next day, leaving Arthur at the end with nothing to say but, “Grrr.” In “That Was Some Daydream,” a girl doing math homework is determined to focus and not have a daydream, and goes through a series of contortions (some literal) to avoid the daydream that, inevitably, she has anyway. “No Rain Again Today” is a complaint against sunny weather by a boy with new rain gear. In “Sitting Up Straight,” a boy says – and shows – how his best intentions to sit alertly in class gradually turn into a slump. These and the other stories here explore the everyday trials and tribulations of childhood in a way that makes the mundane special. And Waber’s wry humor is everywhere, most clearly in “Peter Perfect: The Story of a Perfect Boy,” which goes on and on telling about and showing all the ways in which Peter is 100% perfect, only to reveal at the end that no such boy is or ever could be real. That will be a relief to readers who rediscover Nobody Is Perfick – or, more likely, discover the book and all its charms for the first time in this new edition.

Misfit Monday? Nope. This week it’s Tragic Tuesday. It may be a while before I start posting particularly upbeat blogs again. Although, I will share the one bit of good news I have: Aiden is alive. Aside from one broken key (found where to buy replacements) and an A key that is a bit temperamental, all is well with him. So this isn’t in memory of my 4-year-old laptop. It’s in memory of my baby. Sunny, my 12-year-old golden retriever, who was basically a rescue dog when she was 6 months old. I’ll tell you her story, if you care to listen. It starts with Sam. Sam was probably the most energetic, play-driven dog ever. He was hyper. Really hyper. And we didn’t know what to do for him. My parents got the idea that maybe we should get a puppy for him, a playmate. So we started looking, and my mom found an add in the newspaper for a 6-month-old golden retriever puppy that needed a new home. So we took Sam with us to make sure they’d get along, first of all. The moment they met, they were instant friends. Love at first sight, no exaggeration. The family had been trying to take care of her, but with what had been going on, she had basically been suffering from neglect. So we took her home that night, and day after day at our house we watched her become happier and live up to her name: Sunny. Sam and Sunny were the perfect match. For three years they were absolutely inseparable. And then Sam died very suddenly of what was basically canine sars. The best vets in the state did an autopsy because they wanted to know what killed him and even then it was inconclusive. Sunny was heartbroken. I thought it was going to be like Where The Red Fern Grows, where Little Ann dies of loneliness and heartbreak after Old Dan is killed by the Mountain Lion. Sunny’s face started turning grey, and she wasn’t even 4 years old. We knew at that point that Sunny needed a friend. So we contacted a breeder we had met when I took Sunny to the state fair in dog obedience for 4H. They also had a female golden named Sunny. My Sunny knew all the obedience stuff, she just didn’t want to do it because she wanted to be with people and make new friends instead. Turns out they had a litter of puppies recently, and we claimed a little boy. When we brought him home, Sunny was like wtf is this little thing? Why does it keep following me? It took her about a week to figure out that it was a puppy, and that she could play with it. He wasn’t Sam, but he would suffice. The two remained together, and although Sunny wasn’t as attached to Skittles as she was to Sam, or as much as Skittles was to her, she returned to her regular, overly happy Sunny state of being. Sunny had various health problems over the years, including a torn ACL which she had surgery on, to another torn ACL which eventually healed up on it’s own (she couldn’t have surgery on this one because of another health problem). And then late last fall she was diagnosed with kidney disease, which would claim her life over the course of a few months. We kept her medicated and well cared for much longer than could be hoped for, nearly 8 months. She had off days, and last thursday we thought it was just another off day, but as the hours went by, we began to wonder if it was more than that. Friday she was possibly worse, and we rushed her off to the vet. I has to carry her to the car and into the vet because she was too weak to move more than her head and her tail. The vet ran some quick x-rays, and what he suspected based on what we had told him was backed up, although the x-rays weren’t absolutely conclusive. Sunny had a specific kind of tumor that had grown off her spleen and it had ruptured, causing major internal bleeding. Even on young healthy dog, one of these tumors was absolutely fatal. My dad called my mom at work, and the vet explained what was going on, and she said she’d leave work and come in. By the state Sunny was in, I was worried my mom wouldn’t get there in time. But she did, and we spent the next hour saying our goodbyes. A minute before the vets took her into the back to put her to sleep, she gave my mom and I the most hearty tail wag she possibly could, and I’m fairly sure she used the last of her strength to do it, to tell us she loved us one last time. I’ve never been part of the choice on whether or not to put an animal down before. I’ve never gotten to say goodbye either. With Sunny, I watched her weaken within the three hours we were at the vet, to the point where I knew she had hours left at best. My mom gave me the option to take her back home, but I didn’t even know if she’d live long enough for us to get her home. It was her time. So we said our goodbyes, and told each other I love you. She’s with Sam again, her soulmate. Running around, playing, like they used to do when I’d take them to a park near here and let them off leash. Her tail is going in circles, because that’s what it does when she gallops along. There are plenty of stuffed animals for her to tote around (we called them her dead ducks), and they all smell like me because the more one smelled like me, the more she loved it. There are plenty of friendly strangers for her to just go up and greet. And there will be mischief to be had, especially with teasing Sam. What may be decades for me will be the blink of an eye for her, when I see her again.

Screenings are sure to sell out quickly this year, so make a list and buy tickets early. These are the movies you don't want to miss. - I Am Another You 3 out of 5 stars Chinese national Nanfu Wang first started working on I Am Another You when she was a New York University film student on vacation in South Florida. She met a charismatic young drifter named Dylan Olsen and spent most of her vacation following him around to document what his life was like living on the street. If you already think you know how the rest of the film goes from that brief synopsis – the drifter turns out to be less of a free-spirited hero than a manipulative grifter – you're both right and very wrong. After Wang parted ways with Olsen, she went on to make the acclaimed documentary Hooligan Sparrow, about Chinese human rights advocate Ye Haiyan, before following up. The difference between Wang's approach in the first act of I Am Another You, filmed when she was a student, and the latter two thirds, filmed after she had the experience of running from Chinese police in pursuit of Hooligan Sparrow's story, is palpable. Early on, Wang falls prey to the rookie mistake of making herself too much of a subject. But her subsequent investigation into Olsen's past and present ends up – for both better and worse – humanizes him. It's a revealing look at how first impressions – even if accurate – fail to tell the whole story. – TM - Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke 4.5 out of 5 stars If you don't already have a favorite bar in Austin, Texas, you will after seeing Honky Tonk Heaven. The documentary tells the story of James and Annetta White, the proprietors of the Broken Spoke, an old-school country dancehall smack in the middle of trendy South Austin. James White tells stories about the history of the place over its half-century in existence – which included residencies by Willie Nelson and George Strait – while introducing the viewer to the importance dancehalls had in country music culture. Those days are long gone, but the Spoke keeps plugging along, even as modern multi-use apartment buildings spring up all around (sound familiar, Orlando?). With plenty of live music performances and even a little bit of a two-step lesson thrown in, Honky Tonk Heaven is as close as you'll get to spending a night at the Broken Spoke without having to travel to Texas. – TM International FilmsPop Aye 3 out of 5 stars A touching look at getting older and maintaining a connection to our youth, Pop Aye is the story of Thana (Thaneth Warakulnukroh), a Thai architect who is finding himself to be more and more irrelevant both professionally and in his strained relationship with his wife. But when he has a chance meeting with the elephant he had when he was a boy growing up in rural Thailand, he decides to purchase it and bring it back home. The ensuing road movie is filled with memorable characters like a hypochondriac ascetic, a trans prostitute and a pair of beleaguered policemen. Though the journey sags in the middle, much like the titular elephant, Pop Aye is filled with just the right amount of humor and pathos to make it a recommended watch. – TM Midnight FeaturesBad Black 3 out of 5 stars By any normal standard of filmmaking, Bad Black is not a "good" movie. A product of the zero-budget "Wakaliwood" film industry of Uganda, Bad Black utilizes amateur production techniques and actors to tell a uniquely Ugandan version of an over-the-top American-style action film. The plot can be hard to follow, but thankfully there's a narrator who fills in gaps while providing MST3K-style commentary about the characters and events on screen. It's a perfect fit for the festival's midnight slot, and will undoubtedly be a hit, especially since this screening is customized for Orlando audiences. – TM Birdboy: The Forgotten Children (Psiconautas) 4 out of 5 stars Cute animated animals deal with not-so-cute issues in this feature-length adaptation of a Spanish graphic novel. On an island devastated by some unspecified industrial disaster, Birdboy scrapes out an existence in the forest. Like a goth version of Looney Tunes' Egghead Jr., he drags his skeletal, black-suited self mutely through daily horrors – illness; drug use; trying and failing to fly; nightmares of terrifying demons. He's pursued by Dinky, a troubled schoolgirl (schoolmouse?) who wants to escape the island, but doesn't want to leave Birdboy behind. As she and her friends (a bunny who hears voices telling her to do bad things and a tubby, bullied fox) make their way through the scary dump full of mean, violent rats, they confront class warfare, rage, pain, greed and a lot of other stuff that's not usually on the menu for adorable cartoon critters. Psiconautas screens as a midnight movie, but aside from the trippy visuals and occasional flashes of black humor, it isn't average midnight movie fare – these animated characters are more likely to make you cry than laugh, and will stick in your mind for days after viewing. RIYL: dystopia, teen angst, anthropomorphic alarm clocks. – JBY 3.5 out of 5 stars The festival presents a special screening of Unrest, a documentary about people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The film is special not just for its topic but because the director and subject, Jennifer Brea, grew up in Orlando. After developing a high fever several years ago, Brea slipped into what is often labeled "chronic fatigue syndrome." But she didn't fight just the condition, she fought for answers – on film. "It was like I had died but was forced to watch as the world moves on," she says in the documentary. "I didn't know what else to do, so I just kept filming." But instead of becoming a self-indulgent cinematic exercise, Unrest embraces everyone who has suffered silently with this misunderstood condition (17 million worldwide, 85 percent women) and partially morphs into a medical thriller by exposing the horrible history of "female hysteria." "Central Florida is where I spent all of my formative years, and it's where I spent all of my time, dreaming what I would grow up to become and what I would do with my life, and it's also where I fell in love with film," Brea told OW. "[This screening] rivals how I felt about appearing at Sundance. I'm really excited to be coming home." "One of the amazing and I think really beautiful things about filmmaking is that it is a collaborative, creative process," she says. "When I started production, I was almost homebound and almost entirely bed-ridden, and at first I tried to travel to go on shoots, and I would, you know, go an hour from my house and would shoot for a day on location and would spend the next 30 days in bed. ... It took six months to get to six shoot days. ... I started to think about what were some sort of technological solutions that would allow me to have a presence in the field without actually having to travel to set. What I want people to take away [from the film is that] life is fragile and often unpredictable, but I think that it is ... possible to find a way to survive, and I think that's what a lot of the film is about on the deepest level," she says. "We are fighting. This is a movement." – CM Competition Documentary Features - Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape 4 out of 5 stars Hats off to the documentary Cassette for handily answering the question, "Are cassettes still a thing?" Yes, they're still a fucking thing, and they never really weren't "a thing," for those in the underground interested in transmitting their sounds in an affordable, quickly produced physical medium. At the core of this documentary is the notion that cassettes represented a democratization of sound production and dissemination in a way that no physical medium had before or since. This love letter to the format is all heart – the emotion during interviews with Henry Rollins, Rob Sheffield, Daniel Johnston, National Audio Company employees, and DJs Ron G and Red Alert is palpable. The true coup of this film, however, is extended conversations with Lou Ottens, the inventor of the cassette tape. He talks about his work with a dispassionate lack of nostalgia. And yet, there is one beautiful moment towards the end when Ottens, the slightest smile creeping across his face, confesses fondly, "The best thing is, it's not over yet ... all those crazy people are still working with cassettes." – MM 3 out of stars For most of us, it's too late to run away and join the circus. But the next-best thing might be watching Circus Kid, a delightful documentary that shines its follow spot not just on the history of the modern American circus but the meaning of family. At just 71 minutes, Circus Kid might seem too slight. And the fact that it's directed and partially narrated by its subject, Lorenzo Pisoni, might strike some as self-promotional. But the stories that Pisoni presents about the famous Pickle Family Circus and the countless clowns and acrobats (including Bill Irwin) it inspired will likely inspire you too, regardless of your opinions of the Big Top. The feature is accompanied by Richard Twice (3 stars), a short, partially animated documentary about a talented musician who walked away from potential fame after a life-altering stage experience in the late 1960s. It's a fascinating yet melancholy examination of how a single event can irreparably alter one's life. – CMFor Ahkeem 3.5 out of 5 stars Most documentaries either report past events or observe unfolding ones. For Ahkeem is a memorable example of the latter, as its camera provides extraordinary access to Daje Shelton, a 17-year-old black girl from the slums of St. Louis. The film, directed by Jeremy Levine and Landon Van Soest, follows her for a year and a half, as she struggles to avoid legal trouble, graduate from high school, raise a baby and maintain a relationship with her boyfriend – while he is trying to stay out of jail. And behind it all is the shadow of the 2014 Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Though the subjects' actions are undoubtedly altered by the camera, the film is still a memorable and painful portrait of a world that seems hopeless. (The film's executive producer is Jeff Truesdell, former editor of Orlando Weekly, who now lives in St. Louis.) The feature is preceded by a short Florida doc titled The Rabbit Hunt (3 stars), which is exactly what its name suggests. Directed by Patrick Bresnan, it is extremely difficult to watch, especially if you're an animal lover, but it also feels culturally and morally necessary. – CM Shorts ProgramsInternational Animated Shorts 3.5 out of 5 stars This annual block is known for filmmakers who push the thematic and technical limits of animated cinema. This year's offering is a mixed bag of quality, but discovering the assorted treats is nevertheless a worthwhile, mind-expanding experience. Most of the 12 films are surreal, absurd or experimental, and the group would have benefited from one or two selections with a traditional narrative structure, to serve as palate cleansers for the stranger fare. In addition, Pussy (2 stars) is better suited to the midnight shorts block. (About a vagina that springs to life and escapes a woman's body to wreak havoc, it is surely President Trump's nightmare.) Most accomplished is the Spanish-language Decorado (4 stars). The only foreign-language film (with subtitles) in the group, it's both laugh-out-loud funny and hauntingly dark. Only slightly less brain-bending are The Absence of Eddy Table (4 stars), Journal Animé (3 stars) and This Is Not an Animation (3 stars), while Fears (3 stars) is the sweetest. But sweet or not, make no mistake: This is an adults-only program. – CMShorts Program No. 2: “Everybody Knows” 3.5 out of 5 stars This narrative shorts block is titled "Everybody Knows" in tribute to Leonard Cohen. And, fittingly, most of the characters in the eight films are either being watched or judged, but ultimately exceed or defy expectations. Cul-de-Sac (3 stars), written by and starring Oscar winner (and Florida Film Festival friend) Shawn Christensen, is well acted, shot and paced but lacks some context and emotional punch. Laurels (3 stars) offers a unique and twisty take on film festivals while providing the block with its only comedy, albeit a dark one. Zaar (3 stars) is an unconventional and touching examination of an act of terror – from the terrorist's point of view. And Zero-Zero (4 stars), about an unlikely bond between a little girl and her seemingly unscrupulous neighbor, is an absolute gem. – CM - New Chefs on the Block 4 out of 5 stars Like pictures of food on Instagram, movies about food and chefs are apparently irresistible, and this tale of two restaurants spreading their wings is no different. The film follows Aaron Silverman of Rose's Luxury and Frank Linn of Frankly ... Pizza! from construction to doors opening and through their first year, covering 2013 to 2015. Viewers who know that 30 percent of restaurants fail in the first year, some even before opening their doors, may be biting their nails wondering whether these places will make it, especially in the challenging Washington, D.C., area, where business slows to a trickle when congress is out of session. Despite some pacing issues, including a slow start full of unnecessary Restaurant 101 info (some of the talking-head interludes are pointless — I don't care if it's Michel Richard saying it, lines like "You have to focus 150 percent" are just a waste of screen time), Silverman and Linn eventually emerge as engaging characters, and the filmmakers manage to make viewers care deeply about whether they'll succeed. The two men, and the two restaurants, are very different – Silverman's personal reserve dovetails with the studiedly casual perfection on his plates, while Linn seems like a big goofy kid who just wants to open a slice joint – but both end up surprising us. – JBY

Beckwith reports three different versions of the "trouble" story: one with Rabbit as the foolish partner, one with Rat, and one with Goat. [Notes by LKG] This story is part of the Jamaican Stories unit. Story source: Jamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith (1924). Sheep and Anansi Anansi tell Sheep, "Mr. Sheep, lef' you spoon here, don' carry it." Den go to de second house an' get some breakfas' again. After him get de breakfas' him say, "Mr. Sheep, where you spoon?" An' said, "Don't you tell me to lef' it at de firs' house?" "You mus' go back for it now!" Mr. Sheep gone for it, him eat off all de breakfas'. An' said, "Come, Mr. Sheep, but you mus' let' you spoon." "Me won't carry it at all." Den go up to de nex't yard an' get dinner now. Night is coming. An' said, "Mr. Sheep, where is you' 'poon?" An' said, "I lef' it at de las' yard you eat." Well, den, Sheep have to go back fe his spoon again; tell Sheep come back again an' Anansi eat off de dinner. Sheep couldn't get not'ing to eat. Rabbit and Anansi An' while dey go on, Brar Anansi saw Tiger den wid a lot of young Tiger in it. Brar Anansi took out one an' kill it an' give Rabbit a basket wid a piece of de Tiger's meat to carry for de Tiger's fader, an' took Rabbit along wid him to Tiger's house an' tol' Brar Rabbit to han' Tiger de basket. Anansi run, an' Tiger catch at Rabbit to kill him, but he get away. Brar Anansi run up a tree an' say, "Run, Brar Rabbit, run! Run fe stone-hole!" Took a razor an' give it to Rabbit. An' Tiger got up a lot of men to get Rabbit out de hole an' Tiger sent for Reindeer to dig him out, as he had a long neck to put down his head an' dig him out, but Anansi tol' Rabbit when Reindeer put down his head in de hole, he mus' tak de razor an' cut it off. A lot of people gadder to see Reindeer tak Rabbit out of de hole, but instead, Reindeer head was taken off an' he drop an' was dead an' de whole crowd run away wid fright. After Rabbit come out, Brar Nansi say to him, "Brar Rabbit, so 'daytime trouble' stay. So, as long as you live, never ask anybody to show it to you again!" Next: New Names

Debellish. When I collapsed next to her sparkling languid frame I called upon Shelley and Coleridge and Ovid and Virgil and O’hara and Miller and Penthouse Forum and every French film I saw growing up to get something back to you and…and…every line I composed simply debellished the beauty at hand. Nope, this one was for me and me alone, my friends. My words could do it no justice. No, no mortal soul could relay that info back without the transfer suffering brutally from flawed debellishments. However, when word finally leaked to Veronica and I was subjected to answer that question amidst the assault, “Was it fun!? Well I hope you at least had fun, you scumbag!” how blessed I was to have debellishments and all the lackings that come with them on my side, “No, no, please, Jeez, it really wasn’t. I hated every minute of it.” -- Chris Leo Desceltic or (di)celcian words are proud and free. They refuse all constraints of icons, phonetics, and borders, yet one way or another their point is always clear. Like shadows that move with stealth from one object to the next, Herodotus believed they came from caves. Like galleys, galleasses, gales, and the bile from the gall, they are both fluid like wind and calloused by toughened skin. When they are runes on rocks in Cork they are Keltic. When they are drunks and goons in Boston they are Seltic. When they are Milanese secessionists who draw their lineage ultimately from Czech they are Cheltic. When they were Keltoi in Greece they used another alphabet entirely. The Mandarin name for China is even Wade-Giles, like Wales-Gael. Like Smurfs they smurf smurfingly. They may conspire ("with spirits")at one moment, then turn and conspire ("against the steeple")the next, returning "Eiffel" to "I fell" and abscond on schooners like scoundrel pirates. And speaking of Pirates, Christopher Colombus' boat the Santa Maria was originally named the Gallega yet no one called it that. The Vulgate Bible misprinted certe ("certain, forever") as celte and it stuck. They knew. Though they are of one blood, they are from Gaul, Gall, Gael, Galatia, Gaia, Galicia, and Portugal and once spoke some form of Gaelic or Goidelic. When they gallivant in Paris they smoke Gauloise. The sound galno itself once meant “strong” in all of these hamlets, yet the word gall also meant "stranger" in all the same households -- yes, all those words are related. If it can be agreed that words mutate fastest on streets and ports, then it’s also worth noting that the Spanish word for “street”, calle, comes from Callaeci, the ancient Celts of the port that became Porto. These stubborn words have gall. Diselltious often comes from the Italian “scegliere” which means “to decide” which when then translated back to Latin means “cut off” which when then translated back to English any wise soul should interpret as “stay out of it, this word remains savage, protean, and ubiquitous”. "Goccia" is Italian for a "drop" and may have come from "Galicia" or the Portuguese Indian colony in Goa or both. In Galicia a drop is a "morriña" which is also their word for "saudade", the longing for something distant and unattainable. It's roots are said to lie in the missed feeling sailors experienced after returning home during the age of the great Portuguese discoveries. Not officially all out tears, but a few melancholic drops. These dicelcian words even move away from themselves. -- Chris Leo Dethrowned reigns leisurely at both the peak and valley of the bell curve, yet it can never be dethroned. In Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diaries a young reporter takes a job in San Juan to write an editorial on why so many Puerto Ricans leave the tropics for NYC. Puerto Ricans, having the world's most priveledged duplicitous status of neither sovereignty nor statehood, neither Latinos nor gringos, have chosen only one other exclave as their own, New York City. One Million Puerto Ricans live in New York. Why? Should we not pay attention to the choices of a people graced with a wisdom that comes with such a sweet situation? Why New York then when they could just stay on their better beach and kick it? By the book’s end the only answer Thompson comes up with is “want” -- but if only he went bike riding with me that day last summer when outside of George Washington High in Washington Heights at the northern tip of Manhattan I stopped the dirty ice cart to grab a cup of tamarindo and the perfect Puertoricana who learned something in 17 years women on Madison Ave never learn in 70, that nothing looks hotter than tight jeans and a wife beater in July, asked me what I was doing in the barrio, Thompson may have arrived at a slightly different conclusion and we may therefore have never received The Rum Diaries. I told her I was “fuggin’ diggin’ the fact that between the GW Bridge and GW High in GW Heights our man GW got what he wanted on the same piece of land he was once defeated: nobody speaking the Queen’s English in his rebel state. You know, he was hoping it would be German or French we spoke. If you had told him then it was gonna be Spanish!…shit. So after this I’ll ride back downtown, try and write something smart about it, sell it, and go buy a margarita with my hypothocized earnings, you?” To which she replied, “…White guys, why you always trying to make something of yourselves?” To which, as defeated as Washington once was on this very street corner, I then hopped back on my bike consumed like a skipping record trying to think of a rebuttal for that crafty cunt all the way from Washington Heights to the Gowanus. Upon arrival at home I couldn’t write that smart essay I had hoped to. Upon margarita to my lips I could not put the needle back into the groove. Eventually the breaking rebroke when I looked at my skinny man’s pancha caused by necessary margaritas to keep me in this party I'm always trying to leave and coughed up soot I ingested while trying to get healthy and productive and I got my answer: time to move to Italy and plant my feet. A "throne" began in Proto-Indo-European as “to hold firm”, yet something which is "thrown" is not held firmly at all. An ascent up the social ladder is generally seen as a good thing, but when it comes at the expense of your accent, when every cent gained is but a seed for a more reputable nascent grade, and every July sunset is not spent with your family, cousins, and friends outdoors in the best city in the world, it is proof that your long questions should start coming in shorter sentences. She dethrowned me. dethrowned = relax, wait here and it will come...that is, if you're waiting for it at all. But still, so why New York? If waiting nets the same results moving does, and Puerto Ricans can see things others can't, then what better place to wait than a city where everyone's moving? Don't mix moods though, dethrowning Puerto Ricans does not make them deseatful. On the contray, it is the anxious deseated mover and shaker who's more likely up to some form of deceit or another. -- Chris Leo dissert, from the Latin dis "apart" + the French servir to "serve", is one dessert with two spoons for one couple, which is most likely similar to the original dessert which meant "to clear the table", to "deserve". There's an easy rule to follow with new words: if it doesn't sound like the word it represents it is not a new word. "de-serve"Therefore, be careful not to dissect dissert, keep it beautiful, don't desert the goal. Or, if that poses a problem but the old word's grown as stale as a desert and you're looking for something new, try mixing Italian with Italian for "the true dessert," dulcerto (dulce for "sweet" + certo for "correct"). Just be sure to make no room for impostres (im for "not" + the Spanish postres for "dessert" = things like pizzert), or have we already disserted (think dissertation) on the topic at length. -- Chris Leo Divisionary verbs are auxiliary verbs that once supported primary verbs using “have” but now use “of”. They are semi-realized prodigals whose future evolution is obvious though the elder and middle stages are still the only versions in use. “Should have gone”, “might have known”, “could have taken” have become “should of gone”, “might of known”, “could of taken.” “Should of gone” literally means “the should part of gone” as if every verb already holds all possibilities within them. There is a should part of gone, a might part of gone, a could, would, am, was, has, and possibly even a got part already integral to “gone”. Basic verbs (be, give, have, take, keep, etc) being the most ancient verbs means relentless usage through the ages has exposed them to more mutable elements than newer verbs. In every language these verbs are never regular and therefore neither are the sentences and idioms they operate within. Though without fail the mutations of the basic verbs are gorgeous and playful, there’s an ebb and flow that in English is currently drawing them in to a gradual and temporal unirregulation (which is never quite a reregulation, but just a pull back in rather than a push out). Soon these divisionary verbs will close the bridge between the verbs they support thereby antiquating the main verbs while assuming positions of verbs proper themselves. Shouldgone, couldgone, wouldgone, and gotgone etc will solidify their previous slices of the “gone” pie into autonomous actions. Pioneering paths idioms like “how (does it) come?”, “what (does it) gives?”, “I (have) never (heard or anything like that)!” take are referencable for insight into the future evolution of these divisionary verbs before they push back out again. -- Chris Leo Downstate is not a word. Crack open the frizzy chiznazz and celebrate with River Plates because it is one rare decade indeed when you'll finally here us say, "no." There is the south, down south, down there, lowlands, meridianale, extremadura, and the rainbow of other colorful words we romanticize all things "south" with (the best of course being "Upper Egypt"), but downstate? No. Put downstate in the same skinny folder with mainlining heroin and studying yoga with the sole goal of autofellatio: things not to do. Please, we will rarely ask you to draw a line. Here, draw a line. -- Chris Leo Drawer in linguistics is an historical back-formation. An historical back-formation is a back-formation that continues to dig deeper and deeper into the past rather than plow ahead into the future in search of its lost soul. In this case, a drawer is someone who necessarily betrayed someone so the story could progress, or so he’s rewritten. Without betrayal and treason the plot can not curve, he pleads. We need him, the letch whines. Naturally, a drawer feels like a traitor and a traitor feels like a piece of churned mud. What to do then to appease your inner peace while the masses about loathe you, you traitor, you traducer, you plotter! Ration it out. Find the root of the reason for your t-reasoning ("t" as a symbol of the Cross) and reduce. Benedict Arnold hands it over to the crowd, “You tell me! You tell me! Why then did I do it? What drives a traitor to be a traitor?” “Traitor”, he argues, comes from the same source as “tract”, “trattoria”, and even “dates” and “tradition” as well as “traducer”, “plotter”, and “dare”. From the Latin “tradere” (“to hand over, to draw out”) do we not kill the fruits of the earth so that we can survive and our story grow? Do we not betray with every full tray served? Is to serve not therefore to survive? In French a traître is a caterer. The drawer keeps going back in his quest for absolution, to the Holy Lands and the Coptic Bible! There would be no resurrection without the most selfless of all saints, Judas Iscariot. Forget not that the “jew” sound of both Judas and Jesus is from the beginning of the almighty Yahweh. Of course the dip (from Old English dyppan, “to baptize”) into the hummus (“earth, clay, mud” out of which He molded us in His likeness) happened amongst trays. What a different course history would have taken if Jesus called himself a "Coward of Men" (as a British surname, from "cow herder") rather than a "Shepherd of Men" (from "sheep herder")! The very sound are, the English verb “to be”, in Proto-Indo-European initially meant “to plow”. The drawer, poor guy, therefore simply drew the shortest straw; and “straw” of course comes from the Proto-Indo-European stere, “to spread”, to help our story spread. And the drawer's draws, poor guy, are also often as muddied as this field tilled. i.e. “Oh man, this thing was starting to write itself -- boh-ring --I had to be the drawer so we could get to the next episode.” “I’m sorry, I don’t follow.” “Oh well I just figured, fine, I’d be the scapegoat and rat you out to Sylvia so this thing could progress y’know? No one else had the balls to be the bad guy for the sake of movement. The ease at which you fibbed was losing its excitement to all of us, man? So for the sake of everyone I drew, I drew man, you get it now, no?” -- Chris Leo Drungry, a relative of hangry, comes from Dubai and refers not only to the mysterious equation that colories from alcohol create a need for complimentary calories from food after, but also to the type of late night/early morning cuisine you might find to satiate said need: "A'ight, I'd like some aloo motor drungry and my sister would like a bowl of whatever it is you got stewing down there in the drungry." Folk etymoligists may try and tell you that "the drungry" was the lowest hold on pirate ships of the Arabian Sea where they kept their contraband hidden, but when the need actually hits, anyone living through it can assure you that the history of this word is much more direct. drunk + hungry = drungry (for more information on the current baby boom of words from Dubai, we recommend anotherfashionblog.blogspot.com) -- Chris Leo Dustriousness is a poster child for back-formations. A back-formation happens when a new word is formed by shortening a longer word when integral syllables mistaken for affixes are removed. The most confusingly disastrous back-formation occured when Prudence raced so hastely through a "below-job" it never grew bigger than "blow job" again. In this case the logic went: if a busy person is industrious then the opposite would be formed by simply removing the negating "in". When the new word looks like "something which collects dust" you light one up, call your assumption a fact, and kick back all dustriuoslike. industrious - in = lazy lazy lazy -- Chris Leo

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth BeharHistorical Fiction. In 1966, things are looking up for Jewish-Cuban immigrant Ruthie: she's the hopscotch queen of her New York neighborhood, her English is getting much better, and her Papi finally let her have a pair of white go-go boots. Then a terrible car accident lands her in a full-body cast, and Ruthie is stuck in bed for nearly a year. Adjusting is hard, but with support from her diverse group of family and friends, Ruthie finds new ways to explore art, faith, and her own fears. If you like bittersweet, realistic stories about surviving tough situations, you don't want to miss Lucky Broken Girl. Real Friends by Shannon Hale; illustrated by LeUyen PhamGraphic Novel Memoir. Before she became a famous author, Shannon Hale was an awkward, imaginative girl with a mission: to find "one good friend." She thinks she's found the one in pretty, confident Adrienne -- until 5th grade, when Adrienne begins hanging out with a group of popular girls who have no problem with being mean to Shannon to make themselves seem cooler. At home, Shannon's scary older sister Wendy continues the bullying -- can Shannon ever find a place to fit in? With crisp, colorful illustrations, this honest yet optimistic memoir is perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Smile or Cece Bell's El Deafo. King of the Bench: No Fear! by Steve MooreFiction. Middle school baseball player Steve suffers from a case of "Bean-O-Phobia" -- he's terrified of being beaned in the face by a baseball. This fear is just one of the many reasons that Steve spends most games on the bench alongside his friends, Carlos Diaz and Joey Linguini. Through short chapters and goofy, exaggerated cartoons, you can follow Steve as he tries to find his courage, as well as deal with a worrywart mom, a homework-eating snake, and a coach with an earwax problem. If you laugh-snorted your way through Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid books and want more stories about likable underdogs, this series opener is a home run. Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan; illustrated by Dana WulfekotteFiction. Eight-and-a-half-year-old Cilla Lee-Jenkins knows that she's meant to be a big-name author someday. People will want to know her life story, but she's got to start writing it now, before it's turned upside down by "The Blob" (also known as the new baby her mom is expecting). On top of this unwelcome deadline, Cilla also has to deal with two pairs of beloved grandparents -- one Chinese, and one white -- who can't seem to get along. Anyone who's ever felt both loved and annoyed by their family will want to root for Cilla in this funny 1st book in a series. Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Josee MassePoetry. What's in the ground beneath you right now? You might be surprised by the unexpected things you discover in this book of poetry about the underground world. Here, alongside whimsical cutaway artwork that gives you a peek inside the earth, you'll find poems about living things (like moles, bugs, and roots), things that are built (like rushing subways and pipes), and things that are buried (like pirate treasure and fossils). You'll even get some facts about caves, magma, and earthquakes, making this easy-to-read book a good pick for "scientists and daydreamers" (School Library Journal) alike. Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGheeFantasy. On a snowy morning in Vermont, an unusual fox kit is born. At the same moment, 12-year-old Sylvie Sherman falls into the river and disappears. Devastated, Sylvie's sister Jules struggles to find her way in an "After Sylvie" world. She finds comfort in the forest, where she can sort her treasured rock collection and catch glimpses of a fox -- a fox whose spirit is connected to Jules in ways that neither of them understands...yet. Told from the point of view of both girl and fox, this heart-wrenching yet hopeful book will appeal to mature fans of Sara Pennypacker's Pax. The Second Life of Abigail Walker by Frances O'Roark DowellFiction. Although Abby Walker is sort of friends with Kristen and the other popular girls, they've started being really mean to her. In a brave moment, Abby stands up to them -- and "that's that," no more friends. But after Abby spots a mysterious fox in her neighborhood, she soon finds herself making new friends and figuring out how to live according to her own rules. Readers who like a touch of fantasy will enjoy following the fox's story, while those who like realistic, emotional stories about friendships and family will want to read about Abby and what she's going through. Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions by Tracey HechtAnimal Fantasy. Animals are disappearing from the Valley every night. First, small animals like kiwis, jerboas, and a tarantula, but soon wombats, coyotes, and honey badgers go missing too. It seems like there's a kidnapper on the loose, and the Brigade -- Dawn the fox, Bismark the sugar glider, and Tobin the pangolin -- is determined to find out who it is and what they've done with the missing animals. With a twisty mystery, fascinating Australian animal characters, and just enough humor, The Mysterious Abductions kicks off the Nocturnals series, which continues in The Ominous Eye and The Fallen Star. Foxcraft: The Taken by Inbali IserlesAnimal Fantasy. After a mysterious gang of foxes burns down her home, young foxling Isla has no choice but to flee. Separated from her family, Isla tries to survive in a dangerous city full of furless (you might call them humans). There, she meets red fox Siffrin, who teaches her the magic of foxcraft…but can she truly trust him to help her find her family? Fans of Erin Hunter's books who want further sagas about complex, magical animal societies will be enchanted by this 1st adventure in the Foxcraft series -- so be sure to have book 2, The Elders, ready for when you're done! Pax by Sara PennypackerFiction. Peter and his pet fox, Pax, are best friends. Peter found the orphaned kit on the day of his mother's funeral, and the two have been together ever since. Even after Peter's father, who's headed off to fight in a war, forces Peter to abandon Pax in the wild, the two can't bear to be apart: Peter sets out to walk the hundreds of miles back to his pet, while Pax struggles to survive until their reunion. Illustrations by award-winning artist Jon Klassen enhance this moving tale, which has all the honesty and heart of classics like E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and Robert Newton Peck's A Day No Pigs Would Die. Contact your librarian for more great books!

Monday morning bus stops will be full of chilly children doing the two-sneaker shuffle dance, hands stuffed in wind breaker pockets, collars turned to the breeze, the air suffuse with old bug spray. These are sure signs of fishermen parents who, forcing the hand of spring, have banished all winter clothing to dark cellar corners, creating precious space for new season valuables. Rods, spare reels, waders, trout nets, selfies with stripers can all reclaim their order in closets and on shelves. Parents will tell their children, “It was so much colder when I was a kid”, “the heat’s on at school”, or “The days are getting warmer anyway”. This annual transfer, which may possibly occur without the agreement of all household members, is a direct result of this weekend’s New England Salt Water Fishing Show in Providence, organized by the Rhode Island Salt Water Anglers Association. These three days of all things fishing is as good an indicator of spring’s arrival as the osprey’s return or the smell of warm waffle cones at Brickley’s. There are over 250 vendors to visit, including our local Snug Harbor Marina, the Lonely Angler and a personal favorite, the Fluke ‘til You Puke Tournament. Attending the show is a good logical move as it affords fishermen an opportunity to coordinate networking, purchasing, shipping and even continuing education. We can stock up on staples such as lines and lures, swivels and scum frogs, bunker oil and bait keeper hooks, while conveniently taking stock of new technologies and outdoors-themed fashions. Time should always be allocated for a troll through the worm bar. There really is a worm bar. Each day offers seminars on catching wicked tuna with captains from the National Geographic TV show, rod and reel care, rigging plastics and dragging umbrella rigs. You can purchase some nutritious black pepper wild boar jerky to enjoy while appreciating the touring replica of an 18 foot great white shark or Peter Vican’s record 77.4 pound striped bass. It’s a lot like taking your family shopping, to college then out for lunch and an art gallery. Parenting can be very rewarding. This is also a great opportunity to speak with representatives from Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Our government controls how where and when we fish, so if you have questions about stocking, water access, clean water, licensing or regulation changes, this is your chance. They will be at booths 114 and 115. Women and kids under 14 are free on Sunday. This year kids can practice their casts, discover small gifts as they work through a scavenger hunt and meet the RI Sea Scouts. RISAA folding tables are heaped with used tackle bargains, much of which is just right for young fishermen. The real deal, however, comes when members help kids pick out a rod or lure or offer some assistance with casting. There is a genuine gleam in their eyes. More than just getting together to talk fishing, this group does a wonderful job encouraging young people to be good fishermen. Our new world puts pressures on children from angles few of us may have imagined; they benefit from natural outlets that keep them grounded. While a light tackle tarpon Xbox battle is a fine recliner chair challenge, real memories are cast on sandy riverbanks, wearing a silly fly fishing vest-just like your Dad’s- or paddling a canoe through water lilies in total silence. A subtle tug on your rod tip can be the greatest of erasers. Based on my admittedly sketchy science, this show may also be responsible for many spring yard sales, much like my hypothesis tying the increase of yard sales to rising bay temperatures. Closets exceeding their safe carrying capacity, bulging with shoes scarves and bags-belonging to either gender, mind you- might be easily bartered for cash over a Saturday morning early bird table. This frees up necessary capital for inventory replacement well timed for the northern striper migration. There may be a low incidence of minor injuries resulting from poor prior communication. Regardless, this asset reassignment creates important space for corkers, fly rods, self-help casting books and minnow traps, which over time, develop a patina very similar to fine art. This movement may include a vital collection of camouflaged hats because, for fishermen, there is an obvious difference between too many pairs of shoes and just enough of whatever we need to go fishing in a safe, fully loaded kind of fashion. After the show there is plenty on our horizon. RIDEM is hosting a public workshop on proposed hunting and fishing rule changes on April 2 at the Arcadia Management Area. US Fish& Wildlife is offering classes on tying cinder worm patterns on Tuesday, April 29th at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center. Snug Harbor has early morning party boat trips for cod and pollock. Finally, alewives have returned to the Saugatucket and even as far north as Massachuck Creek in Barrington; they can be seen with decent sunlight at the Main Street bridge. By Monday, we will have balanced economics, continuing education and art, making for a long but rewarding weekend, while officially welcoming a long overdue season. It won’t be long now until sunrise casting into Deep Hole makes us late for work, squid reappear under the lights and our pickups get that wonderful stale salt water essence. For the bus stop crew, odds are good there is a piece of spicy hot jalapeño turkey jerky in that windbreaker pocket just large enough to take away the chill.

Minister for inform as great as informative affairs Abul Kalam Azad pronounced kid reporters have been personification a critical purpose in strengthening a children’s rights transformation by their writings. He came up with a regard whilst inaugurating a two-day National Child Journalists Summit-2011 during a assembly residence of Bangladesh Institute of Administration as great as Management (BIAM) in a city Tuesday. Journalism Institute “Shishu Prakash” mutually run by Mass-line Media Center (MMC) as great as UNICEF have orderly a summit. More than 600 kid reporters from opposite tools of a nation have been in attendance a summit. “As a supervision has upheld a Right to Information Act as great as believes in giveaway upsurge of information, we have ensured sum leisure of press,” pronounced a minister. Among others, Dhaka University Vice-chancellor highbrow Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique as great as UNICEF nation executive Carol D. Roy attended a rite as special guests. Terming kid broadcasting a singular e.g. in a history, VC Arefin said, “All a young kids contingency be courteous to posterior their studies as many of today’s kid reporters competence widespread out to assorted fields, such as healing as great as engineering, in a future.” Mentioning a origination of broadcasting sanatorium spoken “Shishu Prakash” which constructed around 3,000 pup journalists, UNICEF arch Carol D. Roy said, “They have highlighted children’s problems as great as possibilities by their broadcasting practice.’’ Executive executive of MMC Qumrul Hasan Manju presented a keynote paper whilst kid publisher Kaberi Sultana Joty presided over a function.

Table of Contents: - Symptoms of MS - What Is Multiple Sclerosis? - Multiple Sclerosis Treatment - Early Signs of MS Part 1 of 11 What are the symptoms of MS? People with MS experience a wide range of symptoms. Due to the nature of the disease, it can vary widely from one person to another. The symptoms can change in severity from year to year, month to month, and even day to day. Two of the most common symptoms are fatigue and difficulty walking. About 80 percent of people with MS report having fatigue. Fatigue that occurs with MS is more than feeling tired. It can become debilitating, affecting your ability to work and perform everyday tasks. Difficulty walking can occur with MS for a number of reasons: - numbness of the legs or feet - difficulty balancing - muscle weakness - muscle spasticity Overwhelming fatigue can also contribute to the problem. Difficulty walking can lead to injuries due to falling. Other fairly common symptoms of MS include: - speech disorders - cognitive issues involving concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills - acute or chronic pain Part 2 of 11 What is multiple sclerosis? MS is a chronic illness involving the central nervous system. The immune system attacks myelin, which is the protective layer around nerve fibers. This causes inflammation and scar tissue, or lesions. This can make it hard for your brain to send signals to the rest of your body. Types of MS include: Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) RRMS involves clear relapses of disease activity followed by remissions. Symptoms are mild or absent during remission, and there’s no disease progression during the remission period. RRMS is the most common form of MS at onset. Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) CIS involves one episode of symptoms that are due to demyelination in the central nervous system. This episode must last for at least 24 hours. The two types of episodes are monofocal and multifocal. A monofocal episode means one lesion causes one symptom. A multifocal episode means you have more than one lesion and more than one symptom. Although these episodes are characteristic of MS, they aren’t enough to prompt a diagnosis. If lesions similar to those that occur with MS are present, you’re more likely to receive a diagnosis of RRMS. If these lesions aren’t present, you’re less likely to develop MS. Primary-progressive MS (PPMS) Neurological function becomes progressively worse from the onset of your symptoms if you have PPMS. However, short periods of stability can still occur. Progressive-relapsing MS was a term people previously used for progressive MS with clear relapses. People now call it PPMS. The words “active” and “not active” are used to describe disease activity. Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) SPMS occurs when RRMS transitions into the progressive form. You may still have noticeable relapses, in addition to gradual worsening of function or disability. Part 3 of 11 Treatment for multiple sclerosis No cure is available for MS, but multiple treatment options exist. If you have relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), you can choose one of the disease-modifying drugs. These medications are designed to slow disease progression and lower your relapse rate. Self-injectable disease-modifying drugs include glatiramer (Copaxone, Glatopa) and beta interferons, such as: Oral medications for RRMS include: Intravenous infusion treatments for RRMS include: Disease-modifying drugs aren’t effective in treating progressive MS. Other treatments may ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Because the disease is different for everybody, treatment depends on your specific symptoms. For most people, a flexible approach is necessary. Part 4 of 11 Early signs of MS MS can develop all at once, or the symptoms can be so mild that you easily dismiss them. Any symptom can occur first. The following are three of the most common early symptoms of MS: - Strange sensations, such as numbness and tingling of the arms, legs, or one side of your face can occur. It’s similar to that of feeling of pins and needles you get when your foot falls asleep, but it occurs for no apparent reason. - Your balance may be a bit off, and your legs may feel week. You may find yourself tripping easily while walking or doing some other type of physical activity. - A bout of double vision, blurry vision, or partial vision loss can be an early indicator of MS. You could also have some eye pain. It isn’t uncommon for these early symptoms to go away only to return at a later date. You may go weeks, months, or even years between symptom flare-ups. These symptoms can have many different causes. If you have these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have MS. Part 5 of 11 Your doctor will need to perform a neurological exam, a clinical history, and a series of other tests to determine if you have MS. Diagnostic testing may include the following: - MRI is the best imaging test for MS. Using a contrast dye allows the MRI to detect active and inactive lesions throughout the brain and spinal cord. - Evoked potentials require stimulation of nerve pathways to analyze electrical activity in the brain. The three types of evoked potentials doctors use to help diagnose MS are visual, brainstem, and sensory. - A spinal tap, or lumbar puncture, can help your doctor find abnormalities in your spinal fluid. It can help rule out infectious diseases. - Doctors use blood tests to eliminate other conditions with similar symptoms. The diagnosis of MS requires evidence of demyelination in more than one area of the brain, spinal cord, or optic nerves. That damage must have occurred at different times. It also requires ruling out other conditions that have similar symptoms. This includes Lyme disease, lupus, and Sjogren's syndrome. Part 6 of 11 What causes multiple sclerosis? If you have MS, the myelin in your body becomes damaged. Myelin is the protective layer that covers nerve fibers throughout the central nervous system. It’s thought that the damage is the result of an attack by the immune system. As your immune system attacks myelin, it causes inflammation. This leads to scar tissue, or lesions. All of that inflammation and scar tissue disrupts signals between the brain and other parts of your body. It isn’t clear what may cause the immune system to attack. Is MS hereditary? MS isn’t hereditary, but having a parent or sibling with MS raises your risk slightly. Genetics may play a role. Scientists have identified some genes that seem to increase susceptibility to developing MS. Researchers think there could be an environmental trigger such as a virus or toxin that sets off the immune system attack. Part 7 of 11 What is the prognosis for people with multiple sclerosis? It’s almost impossible to predict how MS will progress in any one person. About 10 to 15 percent of people with MS have only rare attacks and minimal disability ten years after diagnosis. It’s not a medical diagnosis, but this is sometimes called “benign MS.” Progressive MS generally advances faster than relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). People with RRMS can be in remission for many years. A lack of disability after five years is usually a good indicator for the future. The disease generally progresses faster in men than in women. It may also progress faster in those who receive a diagnosis after age 40 and in those who have a high relapse rate. About half of people with MS use a cane or other form of assistance at 15 years after receiving an MS diagnosis. At 20 years, about 60 percent are still ambulatory and less than 15 percent need custodial care. Your quality of life will depend on your symptoms and how well you respond to treatment. Most people with MS don’t become severely disabled and continue to lead full lives. This unpredictable disease can change course without warning. It’s rarely fatal, and most people with MS have a lifespan that’s close to normal. Part 8 of 11 Living with MS Most people with MS find ways to manage their symptoms and function well. You’ll face unique challenges, and those can change over time. Many people with MS share their struggles and coping strategies through in-person or online support groups. Having MS means you’ll need to see a doctor experienced in treating MS. If you take one of the disease-modifying drugs, you’ll have to make sure you adhere to the recommended schedule. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to treat specific symptoms. A well-balanced diet, low in empty calories and high in nutrients and fiber, will help you manage your overall health. Regular exercise is important for physical and mental health, even if you have disabilities. If physical movement is difficult, swimming or exercising in a swimming pool can help. Yoga classes range from beginner to advanced levels, and some are designed just for people with MS. Studies regarding the effectiveness of complementary therapies are scarce, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help in some way. The following may help you feel less stressed and more relaxed: - tai chi - music therapy MS is a lifelong condition. You should focus on communicating concerns with your doctor, learning all you can about MS, and discovering what things make you feel your best. Part 9 of 11 Dietary recommendations for people with MS Diet hasn’t been shown to impact the nature of the disease, but it can help with some of the challenges. If you have fatigue, for instance, a diet high in fats and simple carbohydrates won’t help. The better your diet, the better your overall health. You’ll not only feel better in the short term, but you’ll be laying the foundation for a healthier future. Your diet should consist mainly of: - a variety of vegetables and fruits - lean sources of protein, such as fish and skinless poultry - whole grains and other sources of fiber - low-fat dairy products - adequate water and other fluids You should limit or avoid: - saturated fat - trans fat - red meats - foods and beverages high in sugar - foods high in sodium - highly processed foods Portion control can help you maintain a healthier weight. Read food labels. Foods that are high in calories but low in nutrients won’t help you feel better. If you have coexisting conditions, ask your doctor if you should follow a special diet or take any dietary supplements. Part 10 of 11 Statistics about MS MS is the most widespread neurological condition disabling young adults worldwide. About 400,000 people in the United States have MS, though that’s only an estimate. Doctors in the United States aren’t required to report MS to any agency. According to the National MS Society, there hasn’t been a scientifically sound, national study on the prevalence of MS in the United States since 1975. Most people are between the ages of 20 and 40 when their doctor diagnoses them with MS. Women develop MS 2 to 3 times more often than men, a difference that has grown steadily for five decades. MS is more common among Caucasians of northern European ancestry than other ethnic groups. Rates of MS tend to be lower in places that are closer to the equator. The rates of MS are higher in places farther away from the equator. This may have to do with sunlight and vitamin D. People who relocate to a new location before age 15 generally acquire the risk factors associated with the new location. Part 11 of 11 What are the effects of MS? The lesions from MS can appear anywhere in the central nervous system. This means they can affect any part of your body. One of the most common symptoms of MS is fatigue, but it’s not uncommon for people with MS to also have: - some degree of cognitive impairment As you age, some disabilities from MS may become more pronounced. If you have mobility issues, you may be at an increased risk for bone fractures and breaks due to falls. Mobility issues can also lead to a lack of physical activity, which can lead to other health problems. Fatigue and mobility issues may also have an impact on sexual function. Having other conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis can complicate matters. - About multiple sclerosis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://multiplesclerosis.ucsf.edu/education_and_support/about_multiple_sclerosis - Adelman, G., Rane, S. G., & Villa, K. F. (2013, March 7). The cost burden of multiple sclerosis in the United States: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Medical Economics, 16(5) 639-647. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23425293 - Apatoff, B. Multiple sclerosis (MS). (2014, March). Retrieved from http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/demyelinating-disorders/multiple-sclerosis-(ms) - Hartung, D. M., Bourdette, D. N., Ahmed, S. M., & Whitham, R. H. The cost of multiple sclerosis drugs in the US and the pharmaceutical industry. (2015, May 26). Neurology, 84(21) 2185-2192. Retrieved from http://www.neurology.org/content/84/21/2185.full - Marrie, R. A., & Hanwell, H. General health issues in multiple sclerosis: Comorbidities, secondary conditions, and health behaviors. (2013, August 19). Continuum, 1046-1057. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23917100 - Mayo Clinic staff. Multiple sclerosis. Treatment. (2015, October 1). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20131903 - MS prevalence. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/About-the-Society/MS-Prevalence - MS symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms - Multiple sclerosis and nutrition. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/ccf/media/files/Multiple_sclerosis_center/2 MS and Nutrition.pdf - Multiple sclerosis in brief. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://msfocus.org/Facts-About-MS.aspx - Multiple sclerosis FAQs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/MS-FAQ-s - Progressive-relapsing MS. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS/Progressive-relapsing-MS - Types of MS. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS - Wellness for people with MS: What do we know about diet, exercise and mood and what do we still need to learn? (2015, March). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/NationalMSSociety/media/MSNationalFiles/Brochures/WellnessMSSocietyforPeoplewMS.pdf - What causes multiple sclerosis? (2009, July). Retrieved from http://msfocus.org/causes-multiple-sclerosis.aspx - Who gets MS? (Epidemiology). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Who-Gets-MS

“I believe that the lost secret of human emergence..the undefined catalyst that took a very bright monkey and turned that species into a self-reflecting dreamer..that catalyst has to be sought in these alkaloids in the food chain that were catalyzing higher states of intellectual activity.” — Terence McKenna Tony Wright and Graham Gynn are authors of Left In The Dark– the book that presents Tony’s research outlining a radical re-interpretation of the current data regarding human evolution and, they contend, our recent degenerated state we call “civilization”. You can read the book for free here. Despite such a young and extreme proposal positive reactions are growing and include such minds as Dennis McKenna, Stanislav Grof, Colin Groves, Michael Winkelman and many others. There are many mysterious anomalies about human evolution yet to be adequately explained. These include the human brains rapid expansion in size and complexity, why this accelerating expansion suddenly stalled roughly 200,000 years ago and our brains have been shrinking ever since, and why our rare glimpses of genius goes hand in hand with our species wide insanity. The following is a discussion with Tony Wright on these anomalies and more, followed by some further information on his theory. TS: After two decades of research and radical self-experimentation you’ve come to a synthesis between the ancient data and information coming out of modern science. Paradoxically this all seems to indicate a humongous problem, and simultaneously explains why we would be oblivious to it in the first place: we are all suffering from species wide neural retardation, and are now too deluded to even realize when faced with the mountain of evidence. Is this the general idea? TW: Yes. It should be virtually impossible to find any supporting evidence for such a profound theory if there was no real problem with the development and structural integrity of our neural system in the first place. If there were only ancient accounts of the diagnosis, or any supporting biological data, or initial support from some of society’s sharpest minds, then it should at least ring alarm bells. That all those elements exist and in addition our collective behavior has long been thought by many to be insane indicates something really serious just doesn’t add up. If everything is fine then the theory would be a no-brainer to refute, and we should at least have no fear in thoroughly checking it out. So during millions of years of evolution in the African tropical forest we developed a symbiosis with fruit, and your proposing that it is no coincidence the most complex tissue in the known universe evolved during a symbiosis with perhaps dozens of species of the most complex chemical factories on the planet. How did this occur? I’m proposing that the accelerating expansion of the neo-cortex was due to a runaway feedback mechanism driven by our own hormone system in combination with the complex plant bio-chemistry provided by our diet. What has been overlooked is the profound effects of flooding our brains 24/7 for thousands of generations with this highly advanced molecular engineering formula. Fruit is essentially a womb-like developmental environment for the seeds and has very unique, highly complex hormonally active chemistry. Our early development is dictated by the transcription process whereby changes in how the DNA is read dictate the type of structures that develop. Steroids like testosterone are the key players here, but by incorporating more and more of these DNA-reading plant chemicals into our diet we basically shifted from a typical mammalian developmental environment to more of a plant developmental environment. Along with regulating gene transcription many of these molecules increase brain activity, modulate the endocrine system including the pineal gland, inhibit mono amine oxidase (MAO inhibitors), are antioxidants and also inhibit the activity of our own hormones such as testosterone and oestrogens. Just altering the activity of these two hormones has a dramatic affect on many aspects of our development, physiology and neural structure. For example, decreasing they’re activity extends juvenility and the window for brain development by delaying the onset of sexual maturity. All this coming together would have many interconnected affects and, being that this bio-chemistry would be present in the developmental environment it would dramatically impact what develops at this most sensitive and rapid stage of brain/endocrine system growth in the uterus. This carried on after birth through breastfeeding, and then afterwards through directly ingesting this highly advanced molecular engineering cocktail we call fruit. Each generation would pass down a progressively modified neuro-endocrine system as a result. So after millions of years of ever more entangled co-evolution nearly all of the transcription chemicals present during our early development and on through life that were essential to our optimal design/functioning were lost and replaced by progressively worse substitutes irrelevant to our evolution.. all the way until we reach today’s ‘junk’ food. Ironically much of this actually has the opposite effect of fruit bio-chemistry on our hormones, causing the unique process to reverse. All of this sounds complex but at its foundation it’s just really basic engineering principles: If you change the design (transcription) and construction materials that a system or technology is built from and fueled by, then the structure and functionality of that system will inevitably change as a result. This logic is obvious when applied to any of our technologies but paradoxically we haven’t applied it to the thing involved in generating our perception, which just happens to be the most complex piece of kit we know. Our perception is directly correlated with and ‘effectively’ a product of the extremely sensitive structure and bio-chemistry of our brain and this has changed out of all recognition in a very short time. (more on this symbiosis) Makes sense considering even the slightest alterations in the structure or chemistry of the brain can result in major changes in overall functioning, how we perceive the world, and our sense of self. The powerful effects of taking even a minut dose of a psychedelic being a perfect example of this sensitivity! What happened when we lost this symbiosis? Even mild climate change can result in a shrinking of the forest. This would isolate and separate some symbiotic associations more easily than others but a big drying will affect even the most protected non seasonal niches. Eventually we left the forests and were separated from the highly advanced molecular engineering cocktail that we were immersed in for millions of years. The physiological structures most influenced by the symbiosis were the ones most vulnerable to exposure from the re-emerging basic mammalian hormone regime since it was these hormones that prevented their emergence in the first place. The most hormonally sensitive parts of our physiology would be the most affected; such as our reproductive system, immune system and our highly sensitive neural system, especially during its early development in the uterus. When the symbiosis ended and the archaic steroid regime re-asserts its influence the neocortex stalls and accelerating expansion turns into contraction. The complex neural architecture begins to erode and because the left hemisphere of the brain is more sensitive to steroids this side inevitably erodes at a quicker rate. Some genetic asymmetry and specialization was the primitive norm, and now one side is inevitably reverting back to the primitive type more quickly than the other. The orthodox view suggests each hemisphere has its own specialized capabilities and that the characteristics of the dominant left hemisphere, such as conceptual and rational thought/speech, are some of our most advanced traits. The data indicates that the development of the brain and in particular one side of the neocortex is now incomplete, and paradoxically the most retarded side has assumed control. With a loss of functioning we become less able to experience, understand and know, and with this comes fear. Fear is a powerful emotion that can mask all other mental functions and this played a part in suppressing the more baffling perceptions of the right hemisphere. When we lose any sense fear accompanies this and a growing sense of anxiety and the need for control arose as the left began actively resisting experiences it cannot categorize or understand since they are threatening to its very sense of self. This has severely limited our perception and compromised many abilities. The evidence suggests those abilities as well as a wholly different sense of self lie dormant in the right side of our brain and is only occasionally glimpsed by a tiny minority of people. Unfortunately this also creates a paradox. The dominant side of the brain is assessing itself and so while the concept of specialist abilities appears initially to make some sense on further investigation all is not as it appears and this doesn’t hold up. I have proposed that the abilities and perception facilitated by the left side of our brain are a more primitive and greatly reduced or distorted version of what still remains locked away in the right. Instead of separate senses a unified and highly advanced system that perceives everything all at once without any problems was the norm. These glimpses of synesthesia for example (which some are actually born with) could be a relic of this unified and coherent perceptual capability now well beyond and frightening to the primitive neural architecture of the left hemisphere. It’s interesting then that the myths of a previous golden age and humanities fall into dark times are found all over the world. Even the bible talks about our naked, forest dwelling, fruit eating past. This sort of theme is witnessed among Eskimos, Aborigines, Native Americans, Mayans and dozens of other cultures. Many also talked of a “higher self”. Do you think our ancient ancestors knew what happened? How did they go about addressing the problem? Do we still get glimpses of these right brained states of consciousness today? When you look at the ancient myths and traditions with all this in mind it becomes blatantly obvious that they all are attempting to describe and address through various techniques essentially the same thing- although both the myths and practices have become inevitably distorted over time from their original purpose as the condition progressed. Of course our tendency today is to dismiss them all as “myths” but in reality they may be more historic account than myth, and this would be expected if the condition was progressive. I’ve proposed that the origin of these ancient practices, such as shamanism, meditation, sleep deprivation, etc, were borne out of techniques to reduce the influence of the degrading left hemisphere and/or engage the abilities of the increasingly suppressed right hemisphere. If fruit was all that was needed to turn around the negative hormonal feedback loop that developed, our ancestors would have figured this out a long time ago. These practices would make a lot of sense if the general condition exists. Most of us today don’t escape the confines of the dominant left hemisphere except in dreams and perhaps subconscious glimpses during meditation or similar practices. More direct experiences are possible through supplementing with neuro-chemical analogues found in various psychedelic plants for example but a combination of approaches works best. Many such as prodigies, savants, etc, all display abilities characteristic of more access to the right hemisphere. Although if you were to take all of these abilities and put them together with once in a lifetime athletic feats, and shamanic states of consciousness it may still be only a glimpse of a state of being that our distant ancestors considered “normal”. While there has been a catastrophic loss the idea that we all have a fundamental problem with our neural functioning that is entirely treatable is immensely hopeful given our current situation. Food for thought There appears to be a mountain of evidence supporting Tony’s theory. For starters, we are learning more and more about the beneficial properties of fruit bio-chemistry all the time. One tomato for example contains 10,000 different phytochemicals that we currently know about. Many of these chemicals are transcription factors influencing the way the DNA is read and thereby influencing the structures that develop. Is it any wonder then that this can affect brain size? That our brains are shrinking? That poor construction materials can possibly lead to brain damage? Or that what a mother consumes can have a life long impact on the child after birth? For millions of years this unimaginably complex formula was directly influencing what structures develop at the most sensitive stages of growth. As the symbiotic relationship evolved the mammalian developmental environment was slowly infused with ever greater concentrations and complexity of plant hormones. This had a progressive impact on the way the DNA was read in turn resulted in novel structure and function. Even if the neo-cortex could be built to the same structural specifications, the major part of its essential neuro-active operating environment was also provided by the chemical cocktail in fruit. There currently is no other coherent and contextual explanation for the accelerating expansion of the brain which suddenly halted and began contracting around the time we left the African forests. In more recent times, the catastrophic loss of essential design specifications (transcription chemicals) and chronic neuro-chemical deficiency has been exacerbated by the use of increasingly poor quality construction materials. Katherine Milton’s findings suggest that we have lost around 95% of the complex plant bio-chemistry and nutrients that were present during our evolution for tens of millions of years. When considered within the context of the design, development and function of most complex and chemically sensitive thing we know, these factors in combination can only result in a massive failure. The chemistry of patriarchy It sounds unlikely that our left hemisphere is a dominant yet damaged version of the right, however there is evidence from various fields to support such a seemingly wild notion. Simon Baren-Cohen has discovered evidence that the left hemisphere is more susceptible to testosterone damage and that higher levels of testosterone in the womb are linked to a lower level of empathy and less social skills. His theory is that autism is an extreme form of the male brain; the male brain being ordinarily less empathic than female brains in the first place. Estradiol is made from testosterone by the enzyme aromatase and plays an important part in the “masculinisation” of the brain, or in this case, the damage to the left hemisphere. So the degree of masculinisation is determined by the amount of testosterone available and the degree of aromatase activity. The book elaborates: “As we have already seen (see Chapter Three for the link with oestrogen dependent cancer), the activity of aromatase is inhibited by plant flavonoids and, more importantly, by melatonin. Less melatonin leads to more aromatase activity, which in turn leads to increased masculisation of the brain and, at the extreme end of the spectrum, autism (which appears to be becoming much more common). Our ancestral fruit-based diet would have been rich in aromatase inhibiting factors – and in the past our pineals would have pumped more melatonin too. The degree of masculisation of the male brain we see today, therefore, may well be an aberration that has had huge consequences for us.” Males therefore appear to be the most damaged. Where this manifests in a greater degree of left-brain dominance it can be a disaster, as is evidenced by the abundance of fear and control in our male dominated society. Perhaps it is no surprise then that we live in such a patriarchal society where it’s the old men, chronically deficient in plant chemistry and suffering from years of testosterone driven over-masculinisation, who send the young to war and are currently running our society into the ground through they’re greed and lack of empathic understanding. Could it just be a coincidence that we see competitive and aggressive behavior all over the place and the biological data seems to predict this sort of behavior in the first place? To make matters worse much of the food we now consume contains the very same hormones that would have been inhibited, along with others that have many detrimental effects. If humanity were a single patient displaying the range of behavior we are collectively capable of and turned up at the neurology/psychology department of a prestigious hospital, what would they think of our mild to severe tendency for self harm and suicide? Or our oblivious destruction of the very environment that sustains us? Treating the hundreds of apparently ‘distinct’ behavioral, psychological and perceptual symptoms without at least checking for a general/structural cause would be grounds for serious negligence and a raft of law suits even if there were no smoking gun regarding evidence/mechanisms for a developmental/structural cause? In our case the evolutionary data and biological mechanisms are equivalent to fairly complete cctv footage of a serious accident, and the myths and spiritual traditions of many disparate cultures are eye witness accounts which include, once the dogma is stripped away, methods to treat the condition. Shamanism, psychedelic plants, yoga, meditation, fasting and sleep deprivation are just some examples of these techniques aimed at regaining some of this lost perception. Psychedelics and Other Clues Psychedelics like ayahuasca seem to be a powerful means of re-accessing these lost perceptual abilities (any wonder our left brained society has made these things illegal?). It’s been said that shamans for example who work with it enough can eventually bring in an altered state of consciousness willingly, without even drinking the brew. The beta-carbolines in ayahuasca alone are powerful MAO inhibitors with psychoactive properties by themselves (along with many other beneficial effects). We’re chronically deficient in not only a complex cocktail of plant MAO inhibitors but also the ones that our pineal glands would have produced in much higher amounts as well, given that flavonoids stimulate this gland. Pinoline is just one example. Many other psychedelics can undoubtedly help as a partial treatment. Tony’s mention of synesthesia being a relic of this advanced perception makes sense in light of E.A. Serafetinides research. Serafetinides administered LSD to those who had undergone either left or right temporal lobe removal. He found the perceptual affects were virtually non-existent after right but not left temporal lobe removal– further supporting the idea that the left hemisphere is no longer capable of making use of such profound activity and that this is another psychedelic catalyzing access to the latent functions of the more sensitive right hemisphere. Other research by Dr. Allan Snyder has found that by decreasing the dominance of the left hemisphere with magnetic fields the enhanced perceptual abilities of the right can be partially accessed. These include increased visual memory, drawing skills, and other abilities. He cites cases were autistic savants have damage to parts of the left hemisphere and how this results in a decreased ability to suppress the less filtered perceptions of the right hemisphere. Just one example of this is Steven Wiltshire, who has astonishing artistic abilities coupled with a photographic memory. Oddly, he cannot add or subtract! His left hemisphere lost its linear processing but this decreased its dominance, opening the door to the rights more advanced abilities. There are many others like Wiltshire with similar stories. Research into Alzheimer’s also supports the idea that we are chronically deficient in the chemicals abundant in a fruit, and that this is just a further symptom. Recently it’s made headlines that hundreds of dementia patients could be helped by a “drug breakthrough”. Dementia seems to be partially halted and reversed by drugs with the same sort of activity we see among these fruit chemicals (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22087826). A quick search on google reveals many fruit chemicals with the same exact properties. If this is the case then when we were flooded by an incredibly rich cocktail of flavonoids way beyond current research parameters then, relatively speaking, our reference points for dementia are invalid. Insanity and Hope If there was any indication at all that we had profound abilities locked within us then we should immediately look into this. Especially since it is precisely these sorts of enhancements in perception that are necessary if we are going to get ourselves out of the mess we’ve stumbled into. As Einstein said- “ The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them.” If there were any evidence at all for widespread neural retardation would it not be a near certain candidate for the root problem behind our collective insanity and inability to live harmoniously with each other and our environment? If there is a structural problem with our neural architecture then this provides an absolutely amazing opportunity for a species scale ‘fix’ to our current state of literal insanity, and offers immense hope for our dire situation here on earth. Even if there was only the slightest indication that this was the case then we should at least check to be sure. Not rigorously checking into such a profound possibility would actually be a symptom, and it should be very easy to dismiss based on scientific methodology. The current reaction to this research is split, but the initial support leans heavily towards the more creative, innovative and intelligent spectrum of society who have been willing to scrutinize with an open mind. Even still, such broad initial support is a conundrum for such a radical new idea. Although the book is not well known as of yet, the Transpersonal Association of Estonia has selected it for translation. Meanwhile it’s being dismissed- often before even evaluating the evidence-by those who cite current or familiar paradigms..exactly as predicted if the condition is real. The consensus among many striving to better our world is that we are collectively engaged in a tightrope act between disaster and a massive shift in collective awareness. Our ignorance is jeopardizing the continuation of not only our own species but countless others and the planet as a whole. We have the physical means to turn things around but it is a crisis of consciousness; and thus our own minds that stand in our way. We are glued into our conditioned behaviors and ways of viewing the world. Without a fundamental change in the way we relate to ourselves, the earth, and our place in the cosmos, we will only see more of the same. History repeats itself and, as we have seen time and time again, attempts to fix any of the individual problems (symptoms) that arise from a deranged collective mind are doomed to fail in the long run unless the damaged equipment generating all these problems is addressed. Major shifts in perception can be accomplished relatively quickly by combining various techniques. It’s straight forward: replace this plant bio- chemistry for the long term and diminish the influence of the left hemisphere while simultaneously engaging the right hemisphere. The trend is very consistent from those who’ve dabbled. The more one explores the more mind blowing and self-evident it becomes. Ultimately it comes down to a choice. Look at the evidence, experiment and decide for yourself. This only a glimpse at some of the supporting data. For more information see New book project Terence McKenna ~ “You must cut through the aura of programming and cultural assumptions that surround us from the moment we are able to speak. The only way this can be done is by dissolving the boundaries of ego. Ego is a structure that is erected by a neurotic individual who is a member of a neurotic culture against the facts of the matter. And culture, which we put on like an overcoat, is the collectivized consensus about what sort of neurotic behaviors are acceptable… ..The goal can now be stated. What this is all about is a return to archaism with the lessons learned in history. Thats where we were happy. The fall was a fall..Into a veil of tears..Into a world of limitation, pain, suffering, infectious disease and so forth and so on. It’s a prodigal journey into a lower dimension that can now be ended by a collective cultural decision to commit to this Taoist shamanistic feminized cybernetic caring aware present kind of being.” Latest posts by Trevor Smith (see all) - The Benefits of Living Foods - Dec 14, 2013 - Rupert Sheldrake: Are Psychic Phenomena Illusory? - Jun 29, 2013 - Transcending the Medical Frontiers: Exploring the Future of Psychedelic Drug Research - Jun 18, 2013

Mark it down. Recall it to your grandchildren one day. The week ending Friday 8th January 2016 is when “PC” in Australia sent us all around the twist. As a nation we are a mad house. We’re officially Bonkers! It is entirely possible after considering this post that you, the reader, add Koneko to the list of those who “don’t get it”. The Don’t Get It List is where everyone who doesn’t agree with a yet-to-be officially ratified, Political Correctness School of Philosophy, is banished for speaking out against politically correct philosophical pronouncements (PCPee-Pee). Note: At the time of writing nobody can confirm whether an offence has been committed by the use of the term “pee-pee”. What IS extremely certain is that having a “pee-pee” is problematic nowadays! So what did happen this week that sent us off the PC equivalent of the Richter Scale? The first mistake made was a seemingly innocuous one. We watched cricket on a summers eve (what were we thinking in retrospect? Bad move!) On a day where our forefathers would have packed a Test cricket venue, NOBODY attended a Test Match. EVERBODY, however, tuned in to the Big Bash. The Big Bash is where cricket mad Aussies, instead of hating the Paki’s or the fucking pommie bastards all dressed in white, get to cheer on teams dressed in bright colours. Sri Lankans, South Africans, English, West-Indians, Aussies & others play side-by-side in an atmosphere of camaraderie and high spirits. Personalities we once hated with a passion … such as KP & Freddie Flintoff … now boom into our lounge rooms as comics, entertainers and genuine great blokes (not sure if I can say bloke either?) Responsibility for the second mistake falls squarely on the shoulders of the Hobart Hurricanes bowlers. Why-oh-Why did they bowl 14 hapless deliveries that allowed Chris Gayle to plunder 41 runs? THAT interview would never have taken place. Without their misguided contribution we might still be teetering on the edge of sanity. But it happened. Squire Gayle entertained us like Zorro wielding willow and then proceeded to plunge mankind (used deliberately) into a new gender-based Ice Age. If you have just been released from a mental institution and don’t know what I am talking about click here. In summary, the crime was to flirt on television. His punishment = $10k fine. OUR punishment = not getting to see him Down Under ever again? All on top of the pain & suffering we are experiencing as a result of the pandemic known as PC. Let me state right now, before I exercise my right of free speech, that I support equality, and I deplore discrimination and domestic violence. Playful flirting and practical joking is NONE of these things. Do not trot out the “but this is her workplace” claptrap. Do you know how many people find their spouse or partner through “the workplace”? And do we really think that this would be the same story if Meg Lanning had propositioned a male reporter during a WBBL mid-match interview? Indeed footage materialised of a female news reporter “chatting up” a bare chested male beach goer. This was deemed fair television. Equality? If the fight is for equality, where is that elusive beast in all of the hoo-ha we are now being subjected to? And where does “freedom of expression” stand? Is it dead? A patron (he was a MAN) was ejected from the MCG at a subsequent BBL game for holding up a banner that read, “#standbyGayle”. In the very same ground a patron was NOT ejected (she was a WOMAN) for holding up a sign saying, “Marry me Marcus Stoinos”. Fancy harassing poor sweet Marcus in his place of work like that? Shame! But it doesn’t end there. No it is only the beginning of the week that was. Enter Peter Dutton MP. Most of us will admit to having “drunk text” at some stage and got it horribly wrong. Mr Dutton needs no such lubrication. The technology “Gaff-father” can do it sober as a judge and cock it up monumentally. Not only did he use the incredibly offensive description “mad fucking witch”, he inadvertently text “mad fucking witch” TO the mad fucking witch, which opened up the damned broom closet on a whole new front. Let me share the following with you as Exhibit A for PC out of control. The Sydney Morning Herald (referenced below) contained an article entitled, “Witching hour at Peter Dutton’s office as protestors call for sacking over text”. Let me quote … “The term ‘witch’ is generally thought of as a gendered insult when used by men to describe women. Feminist author and commentator Jane Caro told Faifax Media: By saying mad fucking witch you are actually painting a picture of something that is very different from “mad fucking idiot”, which would have been fine because it is an equal opportunity insult” An EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSULT … WTF? Leslie Nielsen (yep Leslie can be a boys name) could respond best. Surely you aren’t serious? I am serious and don’t call me Shirley! I can’t speak for you but I do not want to participate in a society that even contemplates an “equal opportunity insult”, let alone one that actually has a name for it! The article goes on to recommend Mr Dutton be sacked … and replaced by a woman (one proficient in the use of mobile technology I presume?). In a parallel Universe, a politician (call him Mr Button) accidentally sent a text (meant for a parliamentary colleague) to a male journalist calling him a “mad fucking warlock”. And, curiously, NOBODY jumped to the journo’s aid by trotting out an “equal opportunity insult” defense. How would it even go? Ahh Mr Button you shouldn’t refer to Barnaby Joyce as a warlock it would be more appropriate and non-gender-offensive to call him a mad fucking idiot? Meanwhile, back in our universe, the following occurred: - A father drove himself and his 2 young sons off a wharf in SA in a murder-suicide. Details about WHY have been suppressed by the media to protect the public ???; - A passenger on a domestic flight in WA groped cabin crew. It was never reported in the media and went unpunished ???; - A man committed domestic violence against his wife … and the wife’s mother encouraged her to go back to him ???; - A young man dies in an early morning one-punch attack in a Brisbane nightclub precinct; - George Pell continues to avoid the Royal Commission into child abuse in the church due to “ill health” but is fit to be in his workplace managing the Catholic Churches finances at the Vatican (talk about a discriminating workplace); - AFL player Dustin Martin remains “unpunished” after his accuser WAS prepared to do a TV interview (dentist style and for her employers network) but WASN’T prepared to undertake a formal police interview; - Donald Trump offends or discriminates against a new group every day … and continues to be a presidential candidate. [edit as at 20/1/17 he is now POTUS …] Violence is violence. Discrimination is discrimination. Abuse is abuse. If you threaten ANYONE with violence THAT is the issue. Not gender. According to the media a woman in a restaurant is a WOMAN but a man is a PATRON or a DINER. What would newspaper articles look like if gender was not allowed to be disclosed? “A patron in a bar alleges that they were threatened by another patron with chopsticks”, reads very differently from “Drunk AFL star threatens woman with a weapon” Here is the Ko-down … and it is an incredibly important one. Feminists, activists, PC devotees take note. If you try to push the barrows of equal opportunity and respect for women through the media using controversial sensationalism, then the men who most need educating will shutdown and an opportunity will be lost… Do not underestimate the potential for those with a pee-pee to throw the baby out with the bath water. If you want to make a real sustainable difference then keep the message simple, pure, fair and easy to understand … and don’t target sports people. The week where Aussies lost the plot completely just happened to coincide with the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo shootings … Liberté, égalité, fraternité

Monday, August 15, 2005 This is such a popular spot with Louise that we can't even mention 'dogpark' unless we intend on walking her there that moment. We have started to refer to it as 'the DP' instead. The nice thing about this park is that there is a section for families, with a playground, etc. and an ungroomed section for dogs. The dogs are allowed to dig holes, run off leash, generally play and sniff around in a relaxed manner. This next shot was taken the same day, on our morning walk. Louise had just met a young dog named Max. They played chase for a while, until Louise admitted that she couldn't keep up with such a young and energetic dog. His longer legs complicated matters even worse for her. But she was a good sport about it, and chased him for several minutes just for the fun of it. Before our walk home, I gave her a chance to rest. Since the grass was still damp, she felt the best way to cool off was to roll around in it.

This is Lisa Kelly – the much loved school worker whose death has touched the hearts of people across the borough. Moving tributes have come flooding in for Ms Kelly, who died after collapsing in the car park of Bamburgh School, South Shields, on Wednesday. Floral tributes were laid in the school grounds today. The pictures, released by her family, show the 30-year-old education practitioner with her partner Gavin and twin daughters Jasmine and Scarlett Calvert The school’s headteacher, Peter Nord, led the tributes to his colleague, who he described as being “loved by pupils, staff, parents and carers alike”. Tragedy struck the school when Lisa collapsed in the car park. She was airlifted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary but later died. Since then, tributes have been left by both those who knew her and strangers, who have all been moved by the tragedy. James Lister said: “I didn’t know her nor did I go to that school. But it’s always sad when you lose someone especially when they’re as young as Miss Kelly was. “Makes you appreciate life even more as you never really know when your time is up. “Obviously my thoughts go out to her family and to her students that must be upset and not truly understanding what happened.” Beverley Sanyang wrote: “Absolutely heart-breaking. My son did all his schooling with her and she truly was loved by pupils and parents. “Always smiling. My heart goes out to her family and her two little girls, My memories of her will always be of our time together in special care baby unit when our little girls were in together.” Describing the school staff member as having a “heart of gold”, Steph Martin said: “Absolutely heartbroken. Lisa was such a loving woman and had a heart of gold. She helped me loads in school. “Fantastic woman all round. Thoughts are with her family right now xx” Ali Lazenby wrote: “She was a beautiful young woman inside and out taken far too soon. RIP Lisa, thoughts are with Gav and girls and her family xx” Diane Moll said: “My thoughts are with her twins and her family, so sorry for your loss. Lisa Kelly was very, very special lady to all her pupils and their parents, she will be truly missed.” A report has been prepared for the coroner in Newcastle, who has been made aware of her death.

2017 State Advocacy Day - FREE REGISTRATION October 16, 2017 | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm MA State House, Great Hall of Flags MCACS Surgeon Advocates Led by seasoned surgical Fellows with participation from residents and students, grassroots advocacy helps us build and sustain relationships with our federal legislators through local interactions. Periodic meetings in your MA district office enable us to advocate on issues critical to surgery, demonstrating to members of Congress that we are trusted resources on healthcare policy. With your help, we can continue to foster relationships that we have initiated with our legislators. Read below what your colleagues have been doing and consider becoming an MCACS Surgeon Advocate by sending your contact information to the MCACS office. Contact your Legislators: Senate | House of Representatives Taking the Stop the Bleed Campaign on the Road MCACS member, Dr. David King, of the Massachusetts General Hospital, has been teaching limb and junctional bleeding control to lay persons for years. His first efforts, training all the elementary school teachers at a parochial school in Boston, pre-dated the Stop The Bleed campaign. Since the Stop The Bleed campaign began, the public visibility and interest in limb and junctional bleeding control has increased. Dr. King shared his knowledge during the September 20, 2016 MCACS Lobby Day. Now he is taking the lead in exporting this training to other schools, civic groups, police departments, and other first responders. MA State House Advocacy Day – September 20, 2016 The Massachusetts Chapter of the ACS hosted an Advocacy Day in the Great Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday, September 20th from 9 am to 2 pm. The event featured a panel on the surgical response to firearm violence. Guest speakers included Peter Koutoujian, Sheriff of Middlesex County; Dr. Eric Goralnick of Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Dr. David King of MGH; Dr. Michael Hirsh of UMass Memorial Medical Center; William Evans, Boston Police Commission; and Robert A. DeLeo, Speaker of the House. Event to honor President Pro Tempore Richard T. Moore and Representative Viriato Manuel deMacedo The Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) honored President Pro Tempore Richard T. Moore (D- Uxbridge) and Representative Viriato Manuel deMacedo (R-Plymouth) for their advocacy and leadership in helping to secure funding for 1.5 full-time positions for the Massachusetts State Trauma Registry. The event took place on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 in the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital. The Department of Public Health will use these positions to study trauma care in Massachusetts and research the outcomes of every trauma patient who visits an emergency department in the state. Funding for these positions was a part of the overall all state budget for 2014-2015 which was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Deval L. Patrick (D) in August. In the photo from left to right: Robert DeLeo, MA Speaker of the House; Peter Masiakos, MD, FACS-MCACS Council Member and its Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee; Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) President Pro Tempore; Representative Viriato Manuel deMacedo (R-Plymouth); Terry Buchmiller, MD, FACS-MCACS President; Dr Peter Slavin, President of MGH Massachusetts Chapter Develops New Grassroots Advocacy Program For many years, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has sponsored an annual spring Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. I have had the good fortune of participating in several of these events, which provide a wonderful chance for Fellows, ACS chapter officers, Governors and Regents, as well as young surgeons to learn about the legislative process and to gather with colleagues who face similar challenges. The program is growing: nearly 450 surgeons attended in 2014, up from 350 in 2013. However, we must do more to encourage greater participation of Fellows in advocacy and to foster collaboration between surgeons and policymakers, especially considering the relative number of representatives (435), senators (100), and Fellows of the College (approximately 79,600). View full article Surgical Advocacy Summit at the State House We are pleased to report on the success of the second annual Surgical Advocacy Summit at the State House on Beacon Hill in Boston on November 19, 2013 that was sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (MCACS). There were over 100 participants including surgeons, medical personnel and legislators and their aides. A panel discussion about "The Surgical Experience and Impressions of the Marathon Bombing on April 15" was moderated by Mr. Steven Baddour and there were presentations by Dr. Frederick Millham of Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Chairman of the State Trauma Committee, Dr. George Velmahos of Mass General Hospital, Dr. Peter Burke of Boston Medical Center, and Dr. Russell Nauta of Mount Auburn Hospital. Mr. Robert DeLeo, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, received the second John Collins Warren Award. Senate President Therese Murray presented citations to representatives of the State’s trauma centers and registrants met personally with their legislators and aides. A “white paper” was presented to the legislators and an article about the event was posted in the Boston Globe on November 19th. Photos of the event can be viewed here 2013 Advocacy Day Agenda View Past Programs Surgical Safety, Access, and Education Day at the State House June 27th 2012 View 2012 Agenda

TEL AVIV (Feb. 27) The sound of lilting music grows louder as the camera zooms in on a face in shadow. In the corner of the television screen the person’s statistics are flashed: age 25, lawyer, represents Israel abroad. A light is then cast onto the face, revealing a young Ethiopian Israeli woman wearing a business suit. In accentless Hebrew she says with a hint of defiance: “You did not expect to see me, did you? There are many others like me.” The same format is used to highlight other Ethiopian Israelis, including a soccer star, a deputy battalion commander in the army and one who recently earned a doctorate. The ad is part of a campaign launched by the Israeli Ministry of Immigration Absorption and the Jewish Agency for Israel to boost the image of the country’s 100,000 Ethiopians. In the eyes of many Israelis, Ethiopian immigration to Israel has been a failure. Most encounter Ethiopians through the media, where they are depicted as unemployed, poor and plagued by family violence. The younger generation is seen as adrift and drawn increasingly to a life of crime. The campaign aims to show the Israeli public young Ethiopians who have found success such as Maj. Shlomi Vicha, 27, a company commander in the Israeli army. In charge of three combat platoons, Vicha said he feels it is now his time to give back to the country that took him in as a young child who immigrated without his parents — and housed and educated him and his siblings. “I have no doubt that the army is the best place for having an equal chance for success just like everyone else,” Vicha added. “Everyone is equal here and whoever wants to succeed will succeed.” He has spent time speaking to Ethiopian youth. “I do what I can to contribute and explain to them about the army and how they can contribute,” he said. “It’s important that there are success stories so the public at large will see the other side and also so there can be models for the schoolchildren so they know that they too can succeed and go forward.” The statistics, however, are discouraging. Research conducted by the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews has found that among those who are employed, the majority work in blue-collar jobs and live below the poverty line, Ethiopian students drop out of high school at twice the rate of the general population and juvenile crime is rampant. The aggressive advertising campaign, being promoted on television, radio, the Internet and in newspapers, is aimed at casting a positive light on the community by focusing on its success stories. It also marks the arrival of the first major arrival of Ethiopian Jews to Israel 30 years ago. “We’ve decided we need to make an overture to the public, to include the public in their absorption,” said Jewish Agency spokesman Yarden Vatikay. He said that he hopes the campaign, entitled, “Thirty Years Since the Aliyah from Ethiopia — Success Depends on Us” will boost awareness about the community and draft Israeli volunteers to help integrate Ethiopians more completely into Israeli society. Integration has been the major stumbling block for the community. The majority arrived penniless, unable to speak Hebrew — and complete foreigners not only to Israeli culture but to the modern, Western world. Most had been raised in an agricultural, subsistence economy and were not all prepared for life in Israel. Unlike their highly educated Russian immigrant counterparts, the Ethiopians have struggled to integrate into competitive and aggressive spirit of Israeli culture and many are now dependent on government assistance. A phone number is provided in the ads for a hotline that gives information on how Israelis can either “adopt” an Ethiopian family — sharing meals and holidays with them — tutor students or give an internship to a young Ethiopian. Daniel Yosef, a 35-year-old architect, is among those in his generation of young Ethiopians who have found professional success. His siblings have as well: among them is a musician, a graphic artist and a fashion designer. Yosef said he hopes the campaign accomplishes its goal of showing “the other side, the side of success within the community.” But he added that it what is most important to him is not to boost awareness among today’s Ethiopian youth that success is within reach. “The campaign is one that has to be within our own society so we can raise our own self-image,” he said. “we need to provide a good example to the youth.” Employment remains a problem. Only some 76 percent of the community is employed, compared with almost 90 percent of the general workforce. Meanwhile, thousands of Ethiopian Israelis who have graduated from college often cannot find work in their fields. Many Ethiopians with law degrees, for example, can be found working in communal organizations or even as security guards instead of in law firms. Only some 15 percent of those with law degrees actually work in law firms, according to Jewish Agency statistics. An estimated 60 percent of Ethiopian Israelis who have academic degrees end up taking working class jobs when they cannot find work in their professions, research has found. “The campaign is not the solution to the problem, but part of the process. We want people to ask themselves whether they display racism, and whether they give equal opportunity to people at job interviews, or are they influenced by stereotypes,” said Immigration Absorption Minister Tzipi Livni told the Israeli daily Yediot Achronot. Despite the initial jubilation in the country during the airlifts of Operation Moses in 1984-85 and Operation Solomon in 1991, racism and discrimination persist. In September, an Israeli mayor tried to bar Ethiopian students from attending an elementary school in his town. Avraham Neguise, an Ethiopian rights activist running for Knesset in a new party aimed at Ethiopian voters, said the ad campaign should show not only the success stories, but also the challenges that face the community. “It seems like this is taking a few individuals who really did good work and succeeded which is good. However it looks like it is hiding the real problems,” he said. Vicha, the army major, thinks the situation for Ethiopians will improve when the younger Ethiopians feel less stuck between cultures and embrace what is good in both Israeli society and their heritage. “We need to take from both,” Vicha said.

Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal June 1 to make community colleges free to all high school graduates by 2017 raised as many questions as eyebrows. Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal June 1 to make community colleges free to all high school graduates by 2017 raised as many questions as eyebrows. But more importantly, it served to shine the spotlight on Massachusetts' 15 two-year institutions and the important roles they serve in their communities and the commonwealth. The idea of making community colleges, such as Massachusetts Bay CC, which has campuses in Wellesley Hills, Framingham and Ashland, free to qualified students is not new. In October, higher education officials proposed waiving two years of community college fees and tuition for Massachusetts high school students taking non-remedial and college preparatory courses. Two states - Delaware and New Jersey - offer community college scholarships. Other community colleges in NY offer full scholarships to students in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes. By actually carrying out the plan over the course of the next decade for a free two-year education, Massachusetts would again be setting a national standard for higher education. But as the ideas evolve, policymakers should keep in mind that only one-third of community college students in the state are recent high school graduates. The average age of students at MassBay is 27, reflecting the state average. Nationally, it is 28. And while community colleges are often seen as the receiving ground for students who don't have the resources to attend a four-year college either academically, financially or both, that is only a small part of the picture. Community colleges also play a major role in this state's economy, and their students may be the difference between growth and inertia. Jobs are being outsourced almost daily, with positions that could be filled by workers who live and spend locally going to other states or foreign countries if only they received the proper education and/or training. The governor's plan estimates that 20,000 unfilled jobs in the commonwealth require a two-year degree. In the MetroWest area, we are considered a potential growth area for the state, with a significant number of young persons as well as recent immigrants who work hard every day to achieve the American dream. An estimated 220,000 students attend Massachusetts' two-year institutions annually, and more than 90 percent of Massachusetts community college alumni are employed in the state, according to masscc.org. Many students are working adults seeking to advance careers with new skills, who are changing professions or re-entering the workforce. More than 25 percent are ethnic minorities. Ten percent are learning English. Many are the first in their family to go to college, whether they are a recent immigrant or not. The state's 15 community colleges turn out a highly skilled workforce in a short amount of time. When there is a shortage of workers in a certain sector like technology or health care, community colleges are able to create innovative, effective programs to quickly train potential new workers. In a state where one in seven jobs are related to the biotechnology field, MassBay in particular offers a nationally recognized biotech and forensic DNA program. Our goal at MassBay is not only to train people for the workforce so they can earn a living wage, but to also educate the whole individual so they can become lifelong learners as well as civically engaged citizens. Currently, the average cost of community college education in Massachusetts is $3,477, way above the national average of $2,272, and putting even an associate's degree out of reach for some. In many ways, the idea of two years of free college education for anyone who qualifies seems like wishful thinking by a politician seeking some positive headlines. Patrick's proposal, which also includes full-day kindergarten in all Massachusetts districts as well as a longer school day and year, did not include cost estimates or details about from where more money for education might come. That may be something on which politicians and voters will never agree. No one, however, can argue that making a college education available to more people is a bad idea. So whether a free community college education for all high school graduates would take the $180 million estimated by state officials and education advocates or the $25 million to $40 million alternative for some students as suggested by Higher Education Chancellor Patricia Plummer, what we all need to keep in mind is that education at every level - and at any age - is priceless. We now need to work together to find ways that we can implement this progressive dream. Indeed, together we can! Dr. Carole M. Berotte Joseph is president of MassBay Community College.

How did you get to where you are today? Was it meticulously planned out or did it just kinda happen? I’m guessing it was probably the second one, unless you’re Barrack Obama then it’s definitely the first option (he was born with presidential airs and graces I say). I have never had a grand plan like you see in the movies. All through my life when people asked me the dreaded “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?” question I would just palm them off and tell them ”I’m only ten, I don’t know what I want to do yet…’. However 10 soon becomes 13, then 16, then 18 and so on… (I’m not very good at counting it turns out…). I still vividly remember when an adult that I looked up to greatly at the time said to me when I was about 19 ”Philip, you really should know what you want to do with your life by now’. This really upset me. I’m a dweller by nature (as all my friends and family will know) and this set the dwell into overload. I’ve always considered myself to be quite mature and super sensible since I was very little, so I felt like I should know what it is I want to do. However it turns out they were a bit of a douchebag and my master plan was actually to be as indecisive as possible until the very last moment (more exciting that way)! For me deciding on what to study at college and ultimately for university felt like a good strong natural opportunity to access where I’m going and to finally force me to decide what I’m doing (oh how you must decide!). Of Course I didn’t, I bottled it and just choose subjects that I was good at and that I enjoyed doing. At college that for me was Physics, Maths and Music. When it came to choosing a degree (I cho cho choose you) I couldn’t decide between the sciency stuff and music. So I fudged it by finding a course that incorporated them both; Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems (win win). The only long term-ish plan I ever made was for when I finished uni (it was disastrous). I intended to move home for a bit and find a job in Manchester (so I could be close to my family) working as an engineer in broadcasting, they’d just finished building media city there for the BBC, so it was meant to be right?. Well so began a six month battle to find a job that turned me into the most miserable grouchy git ever. I ended up signing on and then working at a phone store, which I hated (I was bloody good at selling phones though). I had to cast my net a bit further and if I was going to find something I wanted. When I was eventually offered a job I wanted it was in London. In my mind I had no choice but to go for it, I wasn’t waiting another six months! I’m happy to say It all turned out for the best cause I have a great job now and I bloody love London. Its like they say, when life gives you lemons, eat them… Then again they’re actually quite sour and eating a lot of them in one sitting is probably not good for you. I sometimes think If I’d made a big grand plan I could have avoided all the unhappiness that happened after uni, but then I wouldn’t be where I am now and I can hand on heart say I learnt a lot from those bitter experiences. I should mention that I was lucky enough to have the safety net of having my family around me, so I wasn’t just struggling on my own, it could’ve been a lot worse in that respect. On reflection, as much as I’d like it be, life is not like a book. Its kind of a jumbly wumbly big timey wimey mess. When you’re a kid you think you’re destined to do something amazing (and we still can) buts its not just going happen on it own by magic (I thought there was an outside chance I was the second coming of Jesus and I just didn’t know it yet). Whatever life throws at you, you just have to make what sense of it you can at the time and make the best of it as it all happens. Hindsight is a beautiful thing though and everyone thinks ‘what if?’ from time to time. That’s today’s ramblings done for now. Here are my current musical obsessions (thanks to young Johnny Boy): Have a great rest of the week lads and lasses! photo credit 1: http://shocksandshoes.blogspot.co.uk photo credit 2: ypoiw.blogspot.com photo credit 3: http://letsenjoygaming.blogspot.co.uk

Thursday, February 21, 2013 Thursday, February 14, 2013 Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Monday, February 11, 2013 "The ability to create is the only sustainable advantage a business can have" Most of us were raised to believe in the benefits of competition. If we worked a little harder or did something a little bit better than the next guy, it would lead to some sort of victory or success. I now believe we would be better served if we changed our focus from competition to creativity. The end result would be that we become happier and more successful. Less stress and more reward. "Competition attempts to be like only a little better" In competition we analyze our opponents and copy what we think works. Then we try to do a little more or do it a little better. That sounds logical but there is a major flaw in that strategy and flaw is that it breeds sameness. "The great achievers are focused on creativity" Creativity leads to newness. A new way of doing things and not just a slightly better way. A totally new new product or service. To create something is so much more satisfying. It is exciting for you and your customers. "Competition is an outdated model that leads to modest gains" Friday, February 8, 2013 Pssst....if you like this hit the f button below and share it with your facebook friends. It will make us both happy! Tuesday, February 5, 2013 When we see images of cute little puppies, kittens or babies it triggers a reaction in us that we can't control. It causes us to be happier more protective creative and simply smarter. It is natures way to create the feelings necessary to continue our species. Young and defenseless images of cute innocent babies is just too hard to resist. In one study it was even found that if you had a really cute baby image in your wallet you were twice as likely to have a lost wallet returned with all your cash and credit cards untouched. So these images even create honesty in those who see them. Hey maybe these types of images could reduce shop lifting? Looking at these types of images causes people be calmer and happier. So imagine if you were in some waiting room and surrounded by these cute images. You would be much less likely to be upset about the wait. Cute and funny flood our systems with those feel good chemicals and hormones. A happy customer is much more like to buy. Viewing these type of images also cause us to be more relaxed and open to suggestions. Can you imagine a boardroom with cute kittens puppies and kids? That would take some courage to do but hey....whatever works. Now ask yourself where could I use these images in my business and in my life? Remember it will make your family happier too. Dig out those cute pictures of your kids and brighten up the attitude around your home. Now don't you feel better? Just remember....cute sells!

Known for his singing and songwriting, he first gained fame upon uploading cover songs to his YouTube channel as a hobby. He is a multi-instrumentalist who is experienced at guitar, drums, ukulele, and electric lead. He released his first EP, entitled 3 AM, on July 8, 2014. He was first inspired to launch a music career at a Bluegrass festival in 2008. In 2011, he was voted Knoxville, Tennessee's Best Young Voice in the junior voice competition. He is from Knoxville and used to play music locally there before hitting YouTube. His mother is named Becky and he has a younger sister named Sierra. From 2015 to 2016, he was in a relationship with Bea Miller.

ANNCR: Over the years, Cory Gardner supported three personhood amendments … to make all abortions illegal. TEXT: Cory Gardner Supported three personhood amendments to make all abortions illegal SOURCE: Amendment 62, 11/2/10; Amendment 48, 11/4/08; 2006 Colorado Right to Life Voter Guide IN 2008 AND 2010, GARDNER SUPPORTED BALLOT INITIATIVES IN COLORADO PROMOTING PERSONHOOD Gardner Supported Amendment 62, Or The Personhood Amendment: “I Have Signed The Personhood Petition. I Have Taken The Petitions To My Church And Circulating It In My Church.” The Fort Collins Coloradoan and the Colorado Independent reported that Gardner supported Amendment 62. “During a 9 News-sponsored debate (see here) in February, Gardner said he not only supported the personhood initiative, which would criminalize stem cell research, abortion, some types of birth control, and curtail in vitro fertilization in the state, but added, “I have taken the petitions to my church and have a legislative record that backs up my support for life.’” The full quote was “I have signed the personhood petition. I’ve taken the petitions to much church circulating it in my church and have a legislative record that backs up my support for life.” [Colorado Independent, 8/5/2010; 9News Debate, YouTube, 2/14/2010; Fort Collins Coloradoan, 9/26/2010] - September 2010: Gardner Supported Personhood Amendment But Refused To Answer Questions About It. In September 2010, the Denver Post reported that “Gardner does not talk much about hot-button social issues, such as his support for Colorado’s proposed ‘personhood’ amendment. ‘Everyone in this district is focused on jobs and spending,’ he said. ‘They are worried about the future of their families and businesses.’” [Denver Post, 9/29/10] - Daily Camera Editorial Board Blasted Gardner For Supporting The “Extreme Personhood Measures That Would…Ban Certain Forms Of Birth Control.” In October 2010, the Daily Camera editorial board wrote: “Gardner, who in the past has taken firm stances in favor of the extreme ‘personhood’ anti-abortion measures that would put all women of child-bearing age at risk and even ban certain forms of birth control, doesn’t like to talk about that now.” [Editorial, Daily Camera, 10/20/10] - January 2010: Gardner Attended 2010 Personhood Rally. “Friday’s Colorado March for Life, presented by Colorado Right to Life, was the largest in recent history, with marchers at the State Capitol numbering nearly 1,500. The march was marked by an unprecedented number of teens, with young people making up the majority of participants. ‘Personhood’ was the theme, with each speaker highlighting the need to recognize Personhood rights for preborn babies from the moment of their biological beginning. The Personhood USA slogan ‘Persons Not Property’ was displayed prominently, and chants of ‘Roe v. Wade has got to go!’ resounded through the streets surrounding the March. Prominent figures included Denver Bishop James D. Conley, Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Dave Schultheis, Senator Kevin Lundberg, State Representative Amy Stephens, State Representative B.J. Nikkel, State Representative Cory Gardner, Tom Lucero, currently running for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, and Jimmy Lakey, currently running for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.” [Personhood USA Press Release, 1/25/10] - “Personhood Was The Theme” Of Colorado March For Life Rally Attended By Gardner. “Friday’s Colorado March for Life, presented by Colorado Right to Life, was the largest in recent history, with marchers at the State Capitol numbering nearly 1,500. The march was marked by an unprecedented number of teens, with young people making up the majority of participants. ‘Personhood’ was the theme, with each speaker highlighting the need to recognize Personhood rights for preborn babies from the moment of their biological beginning. The Personhood USA slogan ‘Persons Not Property’ was displayed prominently, and chants of ‘Roe v. Wade has got to go!’ resounded through the streets surrounding the March…. Prominent figures included Denver Bishop James D. Conley, Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Dave Schultheis, Senator Kevin Lundberg, State Representative Amy Stephens, State Representative B.J. Nikkel, State Representative Cory Gardner, Tom Lucero, currently running for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, and Jimmy Lakey, currently running for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.” [Personhood USA Press Release, ellipses added, 1/25/10] - 2010: Colorado Right to Life: “Republican Cory Gardner supports Personhood, responded to our survey, has participated in CRTL events, and is considered 100% Pro-Life.” [Colorado Right to Life, accessed 10/2/10] - Amendment 62 Was A Ballot Initiative in 2010 That Asked Colorado Voters To Redefine The Definition of a Person Under The Colorado Constitution. “Amendment 62 proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to: apply the term “person,” as used in the sections of the Colorado bill of rights concerning inalienable rights, equality of justice, and due process of law, to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.” [Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, 2010 State Ballot Information Booklet, Pg. 16, 9/13/10] - November 2, 2010: Amendment 62 Ballot Initiative Was Decided On Election Day By Colorado Voters. [Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, 2010 State Ballot Information Booklet, Pg. 16, 9/13/10] Gardner Supported 2008 Personhood Amendment (Amendment 48) At Meeting With Doctors, Told Them The Initiative Was Targeting Abortion, Would Not Have Bearing On Contraception, Reproduction. In October 2008, Dr. Marc Ringel of Brush Family Medicine wrote of a 2008 Morgan County Medical Society meeting: m“During the ensuing discussion one of my colleagues asked about Amendment 48, titled the Definition of Person Amendment. The briefest of all the items we citizens will be asked to cast our ballot for or against, it merely states, ‘The term Person or Persons shall include any human from the time of fertilization’ The doctor asked the representative what personhood might imply, for example, in terms of an IUD or morning-after pill, which prevents implantation into the uterus of an egg within hours of fertilization, never getting to other hard questions like: what does it mean to the pregnant 14 year-old rape victim? to the woman with heart disease so severe that her odds of surviving a delivery are small? or to the woman whose fetus errant placenta has invaded her intestines and threatens to kill her if it continues to grow? Mr. Gardner responded soothingly that the writers of that piece of legislation were simply targeting abortion, not everything else that might have a bearing on reproduction and contraception.” [Dr. Marc Ringel, Brush News Tribune, 10/22/08] - Amendment 48 Was A Ballot Initiative in 2008 That Asked Colorado Voters To Redefine The Definition of a Person Under The Colorado Constitution. “Amendment 48 proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to: ‚ define the term “person” to “include any human being from the moment of fertilization”; and‚ apply this definition of person to the sections of the Colorado Constitution that protect the natural and essential rights of persons, allow open access to courts for every person, and ensure that no person has his or her life, liberty, or property taken away without due process of law.” [Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, 2008 State Ballot Information Booklet, Pg. 4, 9/15/08] - November 4, 2008: Amendment 48 Was Decided On Election Day By Colorado Voters. [Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, 2008 State Ballot Information Booklet, Pg. 4, 9/15/08] - 2008: Personhood Sponsor: Gardner Was “Very, Very Supportive” Of The 2008 Personhood Amendment. In November 2011, Bigmedia.org’s Jason Salzman reported that “I asked Kristi Brown, who’s changed her name from Kristi Burton since she sponsored the first personhood amendment with her father in 2008, if she expected to get the same support from major candidates that her measure had gotten previously. … ‘I haven’t personally talked to [Coffman and Gardner],’ Brown told me. ‘I know Cory Gardner is very conservative, has really good stands. I talked to him on the 2008 amendment. He was very, very supportive. He was one of our main supporters. So I would guess that he would.’ When she says a main supporter what does she mean? ‘Very supportive,’ she said. ‘He would come to events for us. He talked about it.’” [Bigmedia.org, 11/21/2011] - March 2008: Gardner Supported Personhood At A Press Conference. In March 2010, Colorado Right to Life stated “Cory Gardner also has a pro-life voting record (Tom Lucero has not been in a position to vote on life issues), Gardner was one of the standout legislators who have attended CRTL functions (legislative luncheons) in the past, and who supported Personhood at a press conference in 2008.” [Colorado Right to Life, accessed 3/16/2010; Colorado for Equal Rights, press release, 3/20/2008; VIDEO Denver Channel, 3/17/2008] - 2008 TV News Story Showed Gardner In Room With Several Republican Colleagues Signing On To Petition To Put Personhood Initiative On Colorado Ballot. “Udall’s campaign provided a television news story from March 17, 2008, that appears to briefly show Gardner in a room with several Republican colleagues signing on to the petition to put personhood on the Colorado ballot (around the 1-minute mark). Gardner’s campaign did not respond to questions about his support of the 2008 referendum.” [Politifact, 4/25/14] IN 2006, GARDNER SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT A FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT “TO RESTORE FULL PROTECTION TO PREBORN HUMAN BEINGS” AND SUPPORTED A FEDERAL LAW DEFINING PERSONHOOD AT FERTILIZATION 2006: Gardner Said He Supported Amending The U.S. Constitution “To Restore Full Protection To Preborn Human Beings.” In 2006, Gardner completed a questionnaire for Colorado Right to Life. He checked “Y” when asked, “would you vote for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to restore full protection to preborn human beings.” [Colorado Right to Life, 2006 Voter Guide] - 2006: Colorado Right-to-Life Asked Gardner If He Recognized Personhood Begins At Fertilization, Gardner Answered Yes. “In 2006, Colorado Right to Life asked all politicians running for office if they supported the Right to Life Act in Congress, ‘recognizing that personhood begins at fertilization.’ Gardner, then a first-term state representative answered yes.” [Politifact, 4/25/14; Colorado Right to Life, 2006 Voter Guide; H.R. 552, Right to Life Act, introduced 2/2/2005] ANNCR: Now he says he’s switched positions. TEXT “Cory Gardner changes position on personhood issue” SOURCE: Denver Post, 3/21/14 HEADLINE – “Cory Gardner Changes Position On Personhood Issue” [Denver Post, 3/21/14] Gardner “Dropped A Political Bombshell” When He Flip-Flopped His Position On Personhood Amendment. “Congressman Cory Gardner, who has been hammered for his position on social issues ever since he jumped into the U.S. Senate race, dropped a political bombshell Friday with his revelation that he was wrong to have supported previous personhood efforts. He said that after learning more about the measures, which would have had the impact of outlawing abortion, he realized the proposals also could ban certain forms of contraception, a prohibition he does not support. ‘This was a bad idea driven by good intentions,’ he told The Denver Post. ‘I was not right. I can’t support personhood now. I can’t support personhood going forward. To do it again would be a mistake.’” [Denver Post, 3/21/14] “Gardner, Once A Strong Proponent of ‘Personhood’ Measures” Has Switched Positions. “Gardner, once a stronger proponent of “personhood” measures, says he’s changed his mind and accepts the argument of critics that such measures not only ban abortion but prohibit some forms of contraception. The congressman and his defenders say he’s merely being open-minded. They compare his shift to Udall abandoning his opposition to gay marriage in 2011.” [AP, 3/25/14] Headline – “GOP Senate Candidate Cory Gardner Reverses ‘Personhood’ Stance” [AP, 3/22/14] ANNCR: But in Washington, Gardner hasn’t changed at all. Cory Gardner is still sponsoring a personhood law… to make all abortions illegal … even for victims of rape and incest. TEXT: Cory Gardner’s Personhood Law. TEXT: Make all abortions illegal. TEXT: Even for victims of Rape and Incest. SOURCE: H.R. 1091, 7/23/13 GARDNER IS SPONSORING A BILL RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BAN ALL ABORTIONS WITHOUT EXCEPTION Gardner Cosponsored (And Is Currently Cosponsoring) the Life at Conception Act, Declared Life From The Moment of Fertilization. In July 2013, Gardner cosponsored the Life at Conception Act: “Life at Conception Act – Declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being beginning at the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Prohibits construing this Act to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.” The last action on this bill was a referral to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice on 4/8/13. [Congress.gov, HR 1091, Introduced 3/12/13, Cosponsored 7/23/13] - Gardner Was “Still A Co-Sponsor Of A Federal Version Of Personhood.” KDVR reported “Gardner has sought to soften his stance on women’s health issues since declaring his candidacy in late February, quickly coming out against Colorado’s personhood initiatives — he is still a co-sponsor of a federal version of personhood — and penning an Op-Ed outlining his support for making birth control available to women over the counter without a prescription from a doctor.” [KDVR, 9/3/14] - Gardner Cosponsored the Measure in 2012 As Well. “Life at Conception Act – Declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being beginning at the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Prohibits construing this Act to require the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.” The last action on this bill was a referral to the House Committee on the Judiciary on 1/20/11. [Congress.gov, HR 374, Introduced 1/20/11, Co-Sponsored 3/20/12] - Personhood Campaign Spox: Gardner Is “Still 100 Percent Behind The Federal Amendment.” In July 2014, KUNC reported “The change is position for Gardner hasn’t been well received with Amendment 67 supporters, like Jennifer Mason, a spokeswoman for the Yes on Amendment 67 Campaign. ‘Obviously he’s a victim of some bad political advice, there’s no reason for him to pull local support while he’s still 100 percent behind the federal amendment. It doesn’t make any sense,’ said Mason. By changing his position at the local level she said, Gardner is showing it’s more of a political game than personal conviction. ‘He certainly didn’t win over any Republicans,’ Mason said. ‘Our base here in Colorado is made up of Conservative voters, who have been very disappointed with Cory Gardner.’” [KUNC,7/24/14] - Life Begins At Conception Act Defined A Human Being As “A Member Of The Species Homo Sapiens” At The Moment Of Fertilization. “To implement equal protection for the right to life of each born and preborn human person, and pursuant to the duty and authority of the Congress, including Congress’ power under article I, section 8, to make necessary and proper laws, and Congress’ power under section 5 of the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being. …Human person; human being.–The terms “human person” and “human being” include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.” [HR 1091, Bill Text, introduced 3/12/2013] Life Begins At Conception Act Is A Federal Personhood Measure. “Gardner co-sponsored a bill in Congress as recently as last year to give personhood status to fertilized eggs.” [AP,3/25/2014; KDVR, 3/24/2014] - Personhood USA President, Op-Ed: Gardner Sponsored The “Life Begins At Conception Act” In Congress, Which Would Guarantee “Protections Of Personhood For All Unborn Children, Just Like The Personhood Bills Here In The State Of Colorado.” “Representative Gardner, you’ve long said you stood in defense of unborn life from the moment of fertilization, including by co-sponsoring the federal “Life Begins at Conception Act.” That act would guarantee the rights and protections of personhood for all unborn children, just like the personhood bills here in the state of Colorado. Tarnishing that pro-life record by repudiating personhood now makes you untrustworthy–the worst kind of politician. I don’t want to think the worst of you, but it’s hard not to draw the conclusion that you jettisoned your core principles in a transparently desperate attempt to win a few extra votes.”[Christian News Wire, Keith Mason, Personhood USA President, 4/3/14] - Rand Paul, The Senate Sponsor Of The Life at Conception Act Said The Bill “Legislatively Declares … That Human Life Begins At The Moment Of Conception And Therefore Is Entitled To Legal Protection From That Point Forward.” The Huffington Post reported, “But Sen. Rand Paul is the Senate sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, which is identical to the bill co-sponsored by Gardner. And this is how Paul described his own bill in March of last year. ‘The Life at Conception Act legislatively declares what most Americans believe and what science has long known-that human life begins at the moment of conception, and therefore is entitled to legal protection from that point forward.’” [Huffington Post, 7/28/14] - Rand Paul Highlighted The 55 Million Abortions That Have Occurred Since Roe V. Wade And As A Result He Introduced The Life at Conception Act “In Order To Protect The Unborn From The Very Moment Life Begins.” The Huffington Post reported, “In January of this year, Paul released a statement saying: ‘Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, 55 million abortions have taken place in America. The question remains, can a civilization long endure if it does not respect Life? It is the government’s duty to protect life, liberty, and property, but primarily and most importantly, a government must protect Life,’ Sen. Paul said. ‘In order to protect the unborn from the very moment Life begins, I introduced the Life at Conception Act. Today, our nation wavers and our moral compass is adrift. Only when America chooses, remembers and restores her respect for life will we re-discover our moral bearings and truly find our way.’ [Huffington Post, 7/28/14] - Rep Boustany Said “This Bill Strikes At The Heart Of The Roe V. Wade Decision By Declaring Life At Conception, Granting Constitutional Protection To The Unborn Under The 14th Amendment. “After co-sponsoring the same Life at Conception Act in March, 2013, four months before Gardner signed on, Rep. Charles Boustany, (R-LA) issued a statement saying: ‘As a Member of Congress, I take the cause of fighting for the unborn just as seriously. That’s why I cosponsored H.R. 1091, the Life at Conception Act. This bill strikes at the heart of the Roe v. Wade decision by declaring life at conception, granting constitutional protection to the unborn under the 14th Amendment.’” [Huffington Post, 7/28/14] - Pro Life Alliance: Life At Conception Act “Provides Basis for Protection of All Unborn by Legislatively Establishing Personhood.” The Pro Life Alliance wrote in a factsheet that the “Provides Basis for Protection of All Unborn by Legislatively Establishing Personhood. A Life at Conception Act – as introduced by Congressman Duncan Hunter (H.R. 618) – is legislation that, quite simply, would declare the unborn to be “persons” under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and therefore entitled to the right to life guaranteed therein.” The Duncan bill read: “To implement equal protection for the right to life of each born and preborn human person, and pursuant to the duty and authority of the Congress, including Congress’ power under article I, section 8, to make necessary and proper laws, and Congress’ power under section 5 of the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) HUMAN PERSON; HUMAN BEING- The terms `human person’ and `human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being. [HR 618, Bill Text, introduced 1/22/2007; Pro Life Alliance, Life at Conception Act, factsheet] …WHICH WOULD BAN ALL ABORTIONS, EVEN IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST Gardner Claimed He Supported Personhood “As A Means To Ban Abortion.” “Gardner is on record since 2006 supporting so-called personhood measures at the state and federal level. These bills and ballot initiatives generally said the rights afforded to a person would begin at the moment a human egg is fertilized. The federal bill would impact the definition of a person under the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, while the state measure would obviously affect only Colorado law. Gardner’s campaign says he backed the proposals as a means to ban abortion, not contraception…The Democratic ads say he ‘led the charge’ or conducted an ‘eight-year crusade’ that would ‘ban birth control.’ The word ‘crusade’ may be overstating it, but Gardner did support state ballot initiatives and co-sponsored federal personhood legislation in 2012 and 2013. The Gardner campaign says he had supported the measures as a means of banning abortion.” [FactCheck.org, 8/15/14] Legislation That Defines A Fertilized Egg As A Human Being Would Ban All Abortions, Including Those Resulting From Rape And Incest, And Would Declare Common Forms Of Birth Control, Like The IUD, As Murder. In October 2011, the New York Times reported “A constitutional amendment facing voters in Mississippi on Nov. 8, and similar initiatives brewing in half a dozen other states including Florida and Ohio, would declare a fertilized human egg to be a legal person, effectively branding abortion and some forms of birth control as murder. […]The amendment in Mississippi would ban virtually all abortions, including those resulting from rape or incest. It would bar some birth control methods, including IUDs and ‘morning-after pills,’ which prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus. It would also outlaw the destruction of embryos created in laboratories.” [New York Times, 10/25/2011] Dana Milbank: Life At Conception “Would Effectively Outlaw Abortion.” “Paul won’t get far if he persists with the foreign policy he laid out earlier this year at the Heritage Foundation; he describes himself as a ‘realist,’ but his form of realism might have sounded good to Senate Republicans in the 1930s. And, like his father, he makes politically expedient exceptions to his libertarianism; last week he introduced the Life at Conception Act, which would effectively outlaw abortion.” [Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 3/20/13]

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Today – Family travelpack 101 – the most useful holiday stuff you need for your packing sheet Remember when you could sling some clothes and a toothbrush into a bag and head off somewhere exciting? I’m betting that was before kids, right? Now holiday packing can turn into a military operation, particularly during those first few years with young kids. Luckily you’re not the first to try to squeeze half the house into the back a family hatchback. Many parents have braved this before you and figured out how to make packing for a holiday easier and what you need that you might not have thought of. Here are some recommendations from a few of my favourite parenting bloggers: - I bring clothes pegs not just for the mass hand washing but to seal half finished large bags of crisps. Jenny – Mum of One - A roll of tinfoil and some masking tape to black out the window in the kids bedroom. Kirsty – The Mummysphere - My gp prescribes antibiotics that I can take with me because Erin always gets ill! Ear infections are common from swimming. Emma – Emma & 3 - I always take tea bags and uht milk sticks. Invariably we land late at night, or first thing in the morning and I NEED a cuppa before hitting the supermarket. I even do it when we go to a hotel in the UK as there are never enough! – Tanya – Mummy Barrow - Cross packing – so you put some of each persons clothes in a different suitcase so if one goes missing it’s not a disaster. Also zip lock bags for damp swimmers / toothbrushes etc. Kate – Mums Online - On long car journeys we take a small bucket & a supply of nappy bags which we use as a sick bucket. Helen – The Crazy Kitchen - The blue shoe covers you get when spectating at swimming lessons are handy for putting over the bottom of shoes. Penny – Parentshaped - Matches because we always need them for candles, cookers and barbecues etc. Emma – Bavarian Sojourn - I always carry pistachios, a little protein hit for my veggie kids if all else fails. Becky – Eat Simply - Lots of different colored plastic bags to sort everyone’s clothes and dirty washing. Maggy – Red Ted Art So there’s our Travelpack 101. What advice would you add? Do leave us a comment. Also, don’t forget to check out my tips for making car journeys with kids fun.

Trixie also makes the acquaintance of Dex (Mulroney), a raffish ladies' man who quickly works his way into her heart. After meeting a garrulous talking bug named Ted, Fone Bone makes the acquaintance of two humans, the beautiful Thorn (our heroine) and her grandmother, Grandma Ben. By apparent chance, he also makes the acquaintance of a hairdresser who shows signs of the wounds of Christ - the Stigmata. Photo: Tom Everett Scott plays a tourist who makes the acquaintance of a scary young woman (Julie Delpy) in Disney's ``An American Werewolf in Paris. Morgan makes the acquaintance of Allen Porter, a former counselor to President Eisenhower, who met him through Seamas Concannon, an eccentric Irish fellow passenger who teaches at Beresford and can gulp down double martinis before breakfast.

The warmth of family, friends and loved ones are brought to memory through Thomas Kinkade’s The Christmas Lodge. Based on his painting, this made for TV movie is rich with the nostalgia and charm of the artwork that inspired it. The story is about Mary (Erin Karpluk) who finds herself at the run-down lodge in the mountains where, as a child, she spent the holidays with her family. Inspired by her grandfather, she determines to restore the building to its former glory, and during the process finds herself drawn to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. With a history of unbalanced relationships, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. Karpluk (Being Erica – Leo Award for Best Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series) does a great job carrying the show and emotionally charging several scenes with heartfelt warmth. Shanks (Stargate, Smallville, Burn Notice) played the man every woman seems to want with his masculinity intact. Together they explore the treasures behind true love, faith and family. The Canadian produced film is rated G and has all the charm of a movie of the week for the Hallmark Channel. Its short length (just under 90 minutes) is ideal for the family with young kids who would like a nice family film to watch together for kicking off the holidays. The movie is available on DVD from Wal-Mart and Amazon.com.

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A Good Woman: Set in the 1930’s on the beautiful Italian Riviera, this film is an elegant, witty, romantic comedy based on Oscar Wilde’s “Lady Windermere’s Fan”. The White Masai: At once a captivating romance and a breath-taking travelogue into the Kenyan outback, The White Masai is an epic journey based on the autobiography of Corinne Hofmann. It tells the unbelievable - yet true - tale of a white European woman who becomes the wife of a Masai warrior. The exotic African landscapes provide a backdrop to a tale that is nothing short of extraordinary. Acclaimed actor, Richard E Grant’s Wah-Wah is a semi-autobiographical “coming of age at the end of an age” story told through the eyes of young Ralph Compton.

The summer is close here in Miami and the sun is shining, the ocean is so refreshing! WifeBucket takes you on a trip around the world, visiting famous nudist beaches and showing you all the hot beach sex which happens there! Amateur nudists and beach sex pics from WifeBucket This hot blonde wife went on the nudist beach and let the inner cuckoldress take control. When the hormones started raging under the hot sun, she started looking for a cure and found it right next two her – two guys salivating at her sweaty body. It wouldn’t take long before they moved closer and got their cocks handled in a double handjob-blowjob which ended with them spraying cum all over her tits and face. This is what happens when your shameless mature wife goes to the nudist beach with her equally-slutty girlfriends. She may get really drunk on the hot sun and the rum cocktails and decide to tease all the strangers by fingering her wet pussy so that everyone has a 1st-row view. Get more of this mature slut’s beach sex pics at WifeBucket! This blog shows some of the best beach voyeur photos available on the internet. No posed shots, just people caught nude from all over the world. Mary-Jane’s first nudist beach was a memorable experience. She got a bit of sunburn (look how pale she is!), felt really, really horny, and had probably the best sex in her life. Just look at this photo and see how horny the wife is and how much she wants to fuck on this secluded nudist beach. Get more if this wife’s outdoor sex pics at WifeBucket! Here’s another proof that once you take your hot wife to the nudist beach, the least you are guaranteed is a nice handjob. Your cock will get so much sun and salt that you’ll be sporting a semi in no time – and the more your look at your hot amateur wife, the harder your member will become. At some point, she won’t be able to watch you suffering like this and will offer a helping hand – until you shoot your cum all over the hot sand. Amateur nudists and beach sex pics from WifeBucket And here we have one of the most popular views on any nudist beach ever – a horny amateur wife masturbating right there, not caring how many strangers are watching her in awe. I get it, sometimes the pussy becomes so swollen and craving from all the sun and the salt, that you simply must rub it, and finger it, and slap it until the sweet relief comes and you even spray some hot squirt on the sand below. Take a look at more user-submitted beach sex pics and videos at WifeBucket! Today seems to be the official handjob-on-the-nudist-beach day because here we have another hot MILF wife (duh!) suffocating the one-eyed snake in public. You see, the nudist beach liberates not just your body but also your mind – you feel wild and uninhibited from society’s stupid rules – so, when you feel like fucking, you do it right there. This lucky guy is not only getting a blowjob on the nudist beach but, fuck, look at the view! He can switch between enjoying the scenery and looking his hot wife in the eyes while she slurps on his fat cock. It all ended pretty quickly and with a nice mouthful but the video (albeit short) is very sexy and exciting. MILF Orgy Amateur Porn Videos There are some secluded nudist beaches where not having sex is considered to be bad manners. Fortunately, this young couple (newly-weds, too) is very polite and well-behaved and it didn’t take long for this hottie to start riding her well-hung groom like a real cowgirl. Come to WifeBucket for more amateur couples having sex on beaches! Watch Real Amateur nudists and beach sex pics from WifeBucket – It’s not just the youngsters having sexy times on nudist beaches, the older ones are at it too. This mature couple couldn’t wait until they returned to the hotel room and decided that the wind screen gives them enough privacy. But they still setup a camera to film everything and sent it to us – go figure. Visit WifeBucket for more user-submitted beach sex pics and videos. But, wait, there’s more – check this amateur video of a hot wife giving a blowjob on the nudist beach – you gotta love how worried she becomes that someone might see them

If you consider an artist’s works in chronological sequence (bibliography as well as discography) certain landmarks blot out their neighbors. In the case of Coleman Hawkins, there’s BODY AND SOUL, then the Hampton Victor date, then his big band — leading up to the small-group sessions of 1943-44 for Signature, Keynote, Savoy, and more. The Varsity Seven sides — full of delights — recorded in December 1939 and January 1940 — haven’t received the admiration they deserve. Hawkins’ admiring biographer, the diligent John Chilton, calls them “a pastiche of Dixieland.” I disagree. The Varsity label (please note the transparent pseudonyms for Hawkins and Carter) was run by Eli Oberstein, and it never seems to have been entirely out in the open. I don’t know that Oberstein was the equal of Herman Lubinsky of Savoy, but Eli seems to have been ingenious in his dealings. I believe the masters of these and other sessions were bought by Savoy, and thus the trail to licit reissues is complex. Were they Victor sessions, they would have been available straightforwardly for decades now, including “official” CD issue. Another side-note is that the session — one or both? — was co-produced by Leonard Feather and Warren Scholl, which may account for a Feather composition being there. I knew two sides from this date because my Long Island friend Tom Piazza played them for me, forty-plus years ago: SHAKE IT AND BREAK IT and A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY. I don’t know where each of the musicians was working in 1939-40, whether Fifty-Second Street or Cafe Society or uptown, but they come together to create great jazz. Cheerful Jeanne Burns (known for work with Adrian Rollini and Wingy Manone) is a liability, but we’ve all heard less polished singers. Here’s the information for the first session. Benny Carter, trumpet, alto saxophone; Danny Polo, clarinet; Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophone; Joe Sullivan, piano; Ulysses Livingston, guitar, vocal; Artie Bernstein, string bass; George Wettling, drums; Jeanne Burns, vocal. New York, December 14, 1939. IT’S TIGHT LIKE THAT (Burns, vocal). The first two choruses — bless Sullivan and Wettling, who are bringing Jimmy Ryan’s to a record date or doing the Commodore? — are flawless. Ms. Burns has pitch trouble, but I concentrate on Sullivan behind her. Polo and Livingston (the latter sounding much like a sweet Teddy Bunn) aren’t derailed by the young lady, and then Hawkins charges in, “I’m back from Europe, and let me remind you who is still King!” My idea of perfection is of course subjective, but the instrumental portions of this recording stand up with any other of this period: EASY RIDER (Burns, Livingston, vocal). Hawkins starts off rhapsodically, and is then relieved by Polo, whose sound in itself is an aural landscape, no matter how simple his phrases. (In this, he reminds me of poets Joe Marsala, Raymond Burke, and Edmond Hall.) Ms. Burns Is much more at ease at this tempo and in this range, and her unusual mixture of Mae West and Mildred Bailey is her most successful vocal. Livingston’s vaudeville couplets are harmlessly archaic counterpoint, leading in to an ensemble where Carter and Polo take up most of the space, leaving Hawkins little to do. One must admire the lovely drumming of Wettling — and how beautifully Artie Shapiro’s bass comes through — before the consciously “old-timey” ending: SCRATCH MY BACK is the one Leonard Feather composition, and a charming one, revisited by Dan Barrett a few years ago. I can’t figure out the changes beneath the melody — an experienced friend / musician says the first strain is similar to YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME. I love the opening ensemble, and Shapiro’s deep notes behind Polo, then Sullivan’s rollicking solo chorus, where Wettling is having a wonderful time — and the passage where Sullivan abstracts the melody for great dramatic effect. Then — what’s this? — a glorious alto solo by “Billy Carton” (heir to the cardboard box fortune) punctuated by a Livingston blues-pastoral. Everyone steps aside for Hawkins, and a recap of the theme with Livingston adding sweet arpeggiated chords. No complaints here: SAVE IT PRETTY MAMA (Burns, vocal). Aside from the ending, I don’t think of this as “Dixieland”: rather a series of splendid improvisations from Carter, Sullivan, and two choruses from Hawkins — over a gently propulsive and balanced rhythm section. I find Burns’ version of Mildred Bailey’s upper-register-vibrato jarring, but I was listening to Polo, murmuring sweet limpid asides, and the rhythm section while she sang: Fast forward to January 15, 1940: the same personnel except Big Joe Turner replaces Burns, an improvement. And in his honor, they began with HOW LONG, HOW LONG BLUES. In the opening ensemble, Hawkins is nearly submerged (could this have been what irritated Chilton?) which leads into a lovely chorus by Polo — with plain-spoken rhythm section work. Then, Big Joe, in glowing voice, supported by a very powerful Sullivan, with lovely ensemble encouragements. It almost seems as if Hawkins has been waiting his chance, and he takes it eloquently, before Big Joe and the band return. At 2:23, apparently Turner has momentarily forgotten the lyric couplet or has gotten distracted. A fine improvised ensemble closes off the record, with a Wettling accent. This side seems slightly under-rehearsed, but the looseness adds to its charm: SHAKE IT AND BREAK IT has always been a favorite, and this vocal version is a prize. If there’s a sound more engaging than this rhythm section following Sullivan, I have yet to hear it. Big Joe sounds positively exuberant (in touch with the lyrics); Polo and Livingston keep the forward motion going , and everyone is even more gleeful for Joe’s second chorus (“rub it all over the wall”) before particularly hot choruses by Carter and Hawkins follow, leading to jamming (with Wettling happily prominent) to end the record. If this is “Dixieland,” I want many more sides: A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY was not a song much utilized for jam session recordings, but to have it here is a pleasure. I wonder if Oberstein said, “No more blues, fellows! Let’s have a hot one!” as Big Joe left the studio. Or it just seemed like a melodic yet under-played Berlin song, taken a little quicker than I imagine it was done in the Ziegfeld Follies. A very simple — even cliched — vamp led by Livingston starts things off before Polo takes the lead — which surprisingly turns into an ensemble passage, then a wonderfully quirky Sullivan solo AND Hawkins leaping into his chorus with the zeal of a great athlete (powerful playing from Shapiro, Livingston, and Wettling) — then a magnificent Carter solo and a romping ensemble close. This is one of the most successful sides of the eight: And, finally, POM POM, a Carter original which might be a phrase from one of his solos scored for small band, with a particularly light scoring: I would have thought the opening 16 was scored for alto, clarinet, and tenor, but for the speed with which Carter plays trumpet on the bridge. Polo’s chorus is so tenderly levitating that if you, hearing his work on this session, don’t want to hear more, then I have failed. Hawkins is energized in his two-chorus solo, reminding me of the trio records he made in 1937, especially in his powerful second chorus — but Carter is as elegant a mountain-climber as I can imagine (with a distinct similarity to Joe Thomas or Bill Coleman of this period); another piece of swing lace-weaving from Livingston, and the record gracefully winds down — simultaneously hot and gentle. Is that a recording engineer’s “fade” or simply everyone getting softer? I don’t know, but it’s very sweet: These aren’t flawless records. Some of them might have benefited from a second take. But they are uplifting examples of the stars willing to come in and play two dates for what I imagine was scale. All in a day’s work — and how glorious the results are. May your happiness increase!

2006 doesn’t seem to long ago to me. But maybe that’s just my age. We were peaking out then with home prices escalating so fast and loans so easy to get that EVERYONE were buying homes. Some buying several homes. Over the next few years we did several hundred short sales for people. Now, ten years later prices are up again. I can’t believe my last tax assessment. So are we head for another crash? I don’t think so. Here are some reasons why: 1. Ten years ago builders were building spec houses like nuts. They are not now and haven’t been. 2. Home prices over the past 50 years have appreciated about 3% per year. Obviously not in a straight line. Like all markets there are ups and downs. But the 10 years since the crash has allowed for a more normal appreciation level to return. 3. While 10 years ago many buyers were over leveraged. They borrowed too much and had little equity. That has changed. 4. There are not a lot of existing homes on the market. 5. Young adults have become renters. They continue to be very slow to buy. Home ownership is one of the most important wealth builders. Buying a home more than you can afford is not a good idea. But buying a home that you live in for years is going to bring you many benefits that will help you attain wealth. If you are a young family with a stable job that you expect to have for years this might be the time to start looking. Log in and set up a search. Let’s start looking at some homes.

This very large eagle catches fish or sea birds with a low, slow approach, dropping its feet into the water to snatch the prey and then taking it to shore. These eagles were persecuted to extinction by 1918, but in 1975 a release programme was started on Rùm in Scotland. The population in Scotland is now around 60 breeding pairs, with over 200 adult birds. Since eagles readily feed on carrion, they get blamed for killing animals they are unlikely to kill. The financial benefit to Scotland from tourists coming to photograph these stunning birds is approximately £5 million a year. The merlin, which belongs to the falcon family, is the smallest UK raptor and can be found during the spring and summer on the uplands, nesting on the ground underneath heather. A specialist bird-catcher, it feeds its young on larks and meadow pipits in the summer. Females are brown, as are juveniles, while adult males have a blue-grey back. Once the autumn arrives, these birds move to lowlands, in a partial migration, for the winter. Since merlins are fast, agile and small, they are not commonly seen, but energetic young make a spectacular ringing flight after larks. Larger than the merlin, this little falcon migrates to the UK from Africa in the spring to breed. With its long, sickle-shaped wings, it resembles a giant swift and is incredibly nimble in flight. Feeding on dragonflies and other insects, the hobby is often seen near large bodies of water. It nests using abandoned crows’ nests, and during the breeding season it hunts for swallows and swifts to feed its young. Once the young are able to fly and can hunt for themselves, hobbies migrate with the swallows back to Africa. By the 1970s, the common (or Eurasian) buzzard was rare in the UK other than in the far west. Since then, however, there has been a huge increase thanks to more nesting areas and to rabbits surviving myxomatosis, and buzzards are now breeding in every county. Buzzards are usually seen on fi ne days soaring and calling, with a mewing cry, or sitting on poles, on fences by roads or on the ground, particularly when ploughed in the winter. They scavenge roadkill, which can cause them traffic injuries, or feed on insects on the ground. There is enormous colour variation in this species, from almost all cream to very dark brown. The golden eagle prefers remote moorlands and mountains in Scotland, usually nesting on cliff ledges. It soars over the Highlands, catching rabbits, hares and birds with its very powerful feet. It also consumes carrion, in some areas being reliant on dead animals during the winter. Golden eagles pair for life. Of the two eggs that the female lays, one chick rarely survives, the other fl edging at about three-and-a-half months. Juveniles have a mottled white and brown tail with a black band, which turns brown over the years. The golden feathers that give this eagle its name are on the head and the neck. Once the UK’s most common raptor, observed hovering by roads and motorways, this falcon has seen a decrease of 40 per cent over the past two decades. A key reason for the decline is the lack of sufficient nest sites and suitable grasslands for hunting. Kestrels are characterised by a beautiful chestnut-red colour over their bodies. The female has a red tail with bars, while the adult male has a grey head and grey tail with a black band at its tip. These birds are best known for hunting mice and voles by hovering, often descending in stages to drop on their prey. This aggressive, forest-dwelling hunter was probably extinct as a breeder until the middle of the 20th century. Its wing shape allows it to twist and turn through trees, and its long legs and powerful feet are well suited to hunting birds and mammals up to the size of a hare, with a short, often surprise attack. Adults are grey and white, with fi ne horizontal bars on the breast, while juveniles are brown, with vertical brown stripes. Goshawks build large stick nests and lay up to four eggs. The parents are vocal in the spring, when they can sometimes be seen soaring high in good weather. This little hawk is most commonly seen in gardens catching small birds. Its defining features are very long, thin legs and yellow eyes. Males are tiny in comparison to females. Both hunt birds, but females can take birds up to the size of a pigeon. The sparrowhawk is often blamed, wrongly, for the demise of small birds, while in fact it is cats, cars, windows and pesticides that are responsible. Sparrowhawks build a stick nest and rear up to five young. The young grow swiftly and become independent by the age of 14 weeks, although onlyabout a third survive their first year. By 1903, red kites had been persecuted close to extinction, with the last few remaining in the mountains of Wales, when a farmer started to feed them. Now, with four feeding stations, there are 900 pairs in Wales. There have been very successful translocation programmes in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so kites are now seen soaring together in many places. Long wings, a long, forked tail and red colour make the red kite easy to identify. These birds are mainly scavengers, feeding on roadkill and animal remains. They have small feet for their body size, which limits the prey they can catch. Brought to low numbers by pesticides in the middle of the 20th century, the peregrine has recovered dramatically. Many peregrines are now urban birds, nesting on cathedrals, other tall buildings and bridges. Probably the fastest living creature, the peregrine hunts birds up to the size of large gulls, almost always on the wing. It has a short tail and long, pointed wings. The juveniles are brown, while the adults have a grey-blue back. In the UK, these birds are sedentary, but peregrines in other areas can be migratory, and they are the most widely spread raptors worldwide.

Unnao to Barabanki – two opposite desires are struggling for dominion in our society Today the Supreme Court has transferred all cases related to the Unnao rape out of Uttar Pradesh. This is a damning indictment, but only the latest one, of the way in which the law and order machinery has failed the young woman who was only a minor in 2017 when she says she was gang raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates. Last year her father died in police custody. On Sunday a truck with its license plate suspiciously blackened crashed into her car, her two aunts were killed, her lawyer was seriously injured, she is battling for life on a ventilator – it is reported that her police escort had not got into the car conveniently saying it had no space for them. The stringent POCSO and anti-rape laws notwithstanding trial has not begun even one year after CBI charged Sengar and others of rape and murder. If BJP has expelled Sengar today it is too little too late. Every rape survivor out there thinking about pursuing justice would be thinking twice, having seen how police and political power have brutally and systematically subverted it in the Unnao case. Meanwhile, over in Barabanki, about 90km away from Unnao, a teenager asked the police visiting her school and advising the schoolchildren to always reach for the law: “What is the guarantee that if I protest against some influential political leader then I will be safe and nothing will happen to me?” She did this with great clarity and to the applause of her schoolmates. Her summary of the Unnao case was chilling. But bottom line is that fully cognizant of the scandals of law and society, she is still standing straight and resolute for the cause of women’s safety. And this is the juxtaposition emblematic of our times. Surely the bright consciousness of this Barabanki schoolgirl and the extraordinary fighting spirit of the Unnao survivor speak to the current state of Uttar Pradesh as much as the political-police-judicial resistance to their struggles and demands. Even as the latter presses one into hopelessness, the former suggests there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Youth of Barabanki and elsewhere could help build a better tomorrow. Or could themselves sink into a mire of apathy as they cross over into adulthood. On good days I believe they will prevail. DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author’s own.

Glen Lake School The Goffstown School District’s new stand-alone kindergarten / preschool building houses ten large classrooms, an administrative area, and mechanical spaces. The classrooms are designed with the youngest students in mind, from shortened casework to low windows, and plenty of space for games and activities. Each classroom also has an adjacent toilet and storage room. The main office was designed to accommodate a growing school, and can easily be converted into additional classrooms as the district needs more space. The beautiful but challenging site chosen for the school required three driveway stream crossings, and the inclusion of open-bottom box culverts. The intertwining of building with nature has provided the young students with the opportunity to learn about forest, stream, and wetland habitats first hand, and to witness how they change with the seasons.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, (born June 28, 1712, Geneva, Switzerland—died July 2, 1778, Ermenonville, France), Swiss-born philosopher, writer, and political theorist whose treatises and novels inspired the leaders of the French Revolution and the Romantic generation. Rousseau was the least academic of modern philosophers and in many ways was the most influential. His thought marked the end of the Age of Reason. He propelled political and ethical thinking into new channels. His reforms revolutionized taste, first in music, then in the other arts. He had a profound impact on people’s way of life; he taught parents to take a new interest in their children and to educate them differently; he furthered the expression of emotion rather than polite restraint in friendship and love. He introduced the cult of religious sentiment among people who had discarded religious dogma. He opened people’s eyes to the beauties of nature, and he made liberty an object of almost universal aspiration. Rousseau’s mother died in childbirth, and he was brought up by his father, who taught him to believe that the city of his birth was a republic as splendid as Sparta or ancient Rome. Rousseau senior had an equally glorious image of his own importance; after marrying above his modest station as a watchmaker, he got into trouble with the civil authorities by brandishing the sword that his upper-class pretentions prompted him to wear, and he had to leave Geneva to avoid imprisonment. Rousseau, the son, then lived for six years as a poor relation in his mother’s family, patronized and humiliated, until he, too, at the age of 16, fled from Geneva to live the life of an adventurer and a Roman Catholic convert in the kingdoms of Sardinia and France. Rousseau was fortunate in finding in the province of Savoy a benefactor, the baroness de Warens, who provided him with a refuge in her home and employed him as her steward. She also furthered his education to such a degree that the boy who had arrived on her doorstep as a stammering apprentice who had never been to school developed into a philosopher, a man of letters, and a musician. Mme de Warens, who thus transformed the adventurer into a philosopher, was herself an adventuress—a Swiss convert to Catholicism who had stripped her husband of his money before fleeing to Savoy with the gardener’s son to set herself up as a Catholic missionary specializing in the conversion of young male Protestants. Her morals distressed Rousseau, even when he became her lover. But she was a woman of taste, intelligence, and energy, who brought out in Rousseau just the talents that were needed to conquer Paris at a time when Voltaire had made radical ideas fashionable. Rousseau reached Paris when he was 30 and was lucky enough to meet another young man from the provinces seeking literary fame in the capital, Denis Diderot. The two soon became immensely successful as the centre of a group of intellectuals—or philosophes—who gathered round the great French Encyclopédie, of which Diderot was appointed editor. The Encyclopédie was an important organ of radical and anticlerical opinion, and its contributors were as much reforming and even iconoclastic pamphleteers as they were philosophers. Rousseau, the most original of them all in his thinking and the most forceful and eloquent in his style of writing, was soon also the most conspicuous. He wrote music as well as prose, and one of his operas, Le Devin du village (1752; “The Village Soothsayer”), attracted so much admiration from the king (Louis XV) and the court that he might have enjoyed an easy life as a fashionable composer, but something in his Calvinist blood rejected that type of worldly glory. Indeed, at the age of 37 Rousseau had what he called an “illumination” while walking to Vincennes to visit Diderot, who had been imprisoned there because of his irreligious writings. In the Confessions (1782–89), which he wrote late in life, Rousseau says that it came to him then in a “terrible flash” that modern progress had corrupted people instead of improving them. He went on to write his first important work, a prize essay for the Academy of Dijon entitled Discours sur les sciences et les arts (1750; A Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts), in which he argues that the history of human life on earth has been a history of decay. That work is by no means Rousseau’s best piece of writing, but its central theme was to inform almost everything else he wrote. Throughout his life he kept returning to the thought that people are good by nature but have been corrupted by society and civilization. He did not mean to suggest that society and civilization are inherently bad but rather that both had taken a wrong direction and become more harmful as they became more sophisticated. That idea in itself was not unfamiliar in Rousseau’s time. Many Roman Catholic writers, for example, deplored the direction that European culture had taken since the Middle Ages. They shared the hostility toward progress that Rousseau had expressed. What they did not share was his belief that people are naturally good. It was, however, just that belief that Rousseau made the cornerstone of his argument. Rousseau may well have received the inspiration for that belief from Mme de Warens; for although she had become a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church, she retained—and transmitted to Rousseau—much of the sentimental optimism about human purity that she had herself absorbed as a child from the mystical Protestant Pietists who were her teachers in the canton of Bern. At all events, the idea of human goodness, as Rousseau developed it, set him apart from both conservatives and radicals. Even so, for several years after the publication of his first Discourse, he remained a close collaborator in Diderot’s essentially progressive enterprise, the Encyclopédie, and an active contributor to its pages. His speciality there was music, and it was in this sphere that he first established his influence as a reformer. Controversy With Rameau The arrival of an Italian opera company in Paris in 1752 to perform works of opera buffa (comic opera) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Alessandro Scarlatti, Leonardo Vinci, and other such composers suddenly divided the French music-loving public into two excited camps, supporters of the new Italian opera and supporters of the traditional French opera. The philosophes of the Encyclopédie—Jean Le Rond d’Alembert, Diderot, and Paul-Henri Dietrich, baron d’Holbach among them—entered the fray as champions of Italian music, but Rousseau, who had arranged for the publication of Pergolesi’s music in Paris and who knew more about the subject than most Frenchmen after the months he had spent visiting the opera houses of Venice during his time as secretary to the French ambassador to the doge in 1743–44, emerged as the most-forceful and effective combatant. He was the only one to direct his fire squarely at the leading living exponent of French operatic music, Jean-Philippe Rameau. Rousseau and Rameau must at that time have seemed unevenly matched in a controversy about music. Rameau, already in his 70th year, was not only a prolific and successful composer but was also, as the author of the celebrated Traité de l’harmonie (1722; Treatise on Harmony) and other technical works, Europe’s leading musicologist. Rousseau, by contrast, was 30 years younger, a newcomer to music, with no professional training and only one successful opera to his credit. His scheme for a new notation for music had been rejected by the Academy of Sciences, and most of his musical entries for Diderot’s Encyclopédie were as yet unpublished. Yet the dispute was not only musical but also philosophical, and Rameau was confronted with a more-formidable adversary than he had realized. Rousseau built his case for the superiority of Italian music over French on the principle that melody must have priority over harmony, whereas Rameau based his on the assertion that harmony must have priority over melody. By pleading for melody, Rousseau introduced what later came to be recognized as a characteristic idea of Romanticism, namely, that in art the free expression of the creative spirit is more important than strict adherence to formal rules and traditional procedures. By pleading for harmony, Rameau reaffirmed the first principle of French Classicism, namely, that conformity to rationally intelligible rules is a necessary condition of art, the aim of which is to impose order on the chaos of human experience. In music, Rousseau was a liberator. He argued for freedom in music, and he pointed to the Italian composers as models to be followed. In doing so he had more success than Rameau; he changed people’s attitudes. Christoph Willibald Gluck, who succeeded Rameau as the most-important operatic composer in France, acknowledged his debt to Rousseau’s teaching, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart based the text for his one-act operetta Bastien und Bastienne (Bastien and Bastienne) on Rousseau’s Le Devin du village. European music had taken a new direction. But Rousseau himself composed no more operas. Despite the success of Le Devin du village, or rather because of its success, Rousseau felt that, as a moralist who had decided to make a break with worldly values, he could not allow himself to go on working for the theatre. He decided to devote his energies henceforth to literature and philosophy. Major Works Of Political Philosophy As part of what Rousseau called his “reform,” or improvement of his own character, he began to look back at some of the austere principles that he had learned as a child in the Calvinist republic of Geneva. Indeed, he decided to return to that city, repudiate his Catholicism, and seek readmission to the Protestant church. He had in the meantime acquired a mistress, an illiterate laundry maid named Thérèse Levasseur. To the surprise of his friends, he took her with him to Geneva, presenting her as a nurse. Although her presence caused some murmurings, Rousseau was readmitted easily to the Calvinist communion, his literary fame having made him very welcome to a city that prided itself as much on its culture as on its morals. Rousseau had by that time completed a second Discourse in response to a question set by the Academy of Dijon: “What is the origin of the inequality among men and is it justified by natural law?” In response to that challenge he produced a masterpiece of speculative anthropology. The argument follows on that of his first Discourse by developing the proposition that people are naturally good and then tracing the successive stages by which they have descended from primitive innocence to corrupt sophistication. Rousseau begins his Discours sur l’origine de l’inegalité (1755; Discourse on the Origin of Inequality) by distinguishing two kinds of inequality, natural and artificial, the first arising from differences in strength, intelligence, and so forth, the second from the conventions that govern societies. It is the inequalities of the latter sort that he set out to explain. Adopting what he thought the properly “scientific” method of investigating origins, he attempts to reconstruct the earliest phases of human life on earth. He suggests that original humans were not social beings but entirely solitary, and to that extent he agrees with Thomas Hobbes’s account of the state of nature. But in contrast to the English pessimist’s view that human life in such a condition must have been “poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” Rousseau claims that original humans, although admittedly solitary, were healthy, happy, good, and free. Human vices, he argued, date from the time when societies were formed. Rousseau thus exonerates nature and blames society. He says that passions that generate vices hardly existed in the state of nature but began to develop as soon as people formed societies. He goes on to suggest that societies started when people built their first huts, a development that facilitated cohabitation of males and females; that in turn produced the habit of living as a family and associating with neighbours. That “nascent society,” as Rousseau calls it, was good while it lasted; it was indeed the “golden age” of human history. Only it did not endure. With the tender passion of love there was also born the destructive passion of jealousy. Neighbours started to compare their abilities and achievements with one another, and that “marked the first step towards inequality and at the same time towards vice.” People started to demand consideration and respect. Their innocent self-love turned into culpable pride, as each person wanted to be better than everyone else. The introduction of property marked a further step toward inequality, since it made law and government necessary as a means of protecting it. Rousseau laments the “fatal” concept of property in one of his more-eloquent passages, describing the “horrors” that have resulted from the departure from a condition in which the earth belonged to no one. Those passages in his second Discourse excited later revolutionaries such as Karl Marx and Vladimir Ilich Lenin, but Rousseau himself did not think that the past could be undone in any way. There was no point in dreaming of a return to the golden age. Civil society, as Rousseau describes it, comes into being to serve two purposes: to provide peace for everyone and to ensure the right to property for anyone lucky enough to have possessions. It is thus of some advantage to everyone, but mostly to the advantage of the rich, since it transforms their de facto ownership into rightful ownership and keeps the poor dispossessed. It is a somewhat fraudulent social contract that introduces government, since the poor get so much less out of it than do the rich. Even so, the rich are no happier in civil society than are the poor because people in society are never satisfied. Society leads people to hate one another to the extent that their interests conflict, and the best they are able to do is to hide their hostility behind a mask of courtesy. Thus, Rousseau regards inequality not as a separate problem but as one of the features of the long process by which men become alienated from nature and from innocence. In the dedication Rousseau wrote for the second Discourse, in order to present it to the republic of Geneva, he nevertheless praised that city-state for having achieved the ideal balance between “the equality which nature established among men and the inequality which they have instituted among themselves.” The arrangement he discerned in Geneva was one in which the best persons were chosen by the citizens and put in the highest positions of authority. Like Plato, Rousseau always believed that a just society was one in which everyone was in his proper place. And having written the second Discourse to explain how people had lost their liberty in the past, he went on to write another book, Du Contrat social (1762; The Social Contract), to suggest how they might recover their liberty in the future. Again Geneva was the model: not Geneva as it had become in 1754 when Rousseau returned there to recover his rights as a citizen, but Geneva as it had once been—i.e., Geneva as Calvin had designed it. The Social Contract begins with the sensational opening sentence: “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains,” and proceeds to argue that men need not be in chains. If a civil society, or state, could be based on a genuine social contract, as opposed to the fraudulent social contract depicted in the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, people would receive in exchange for their independence a better kind of freedom, namely true political, or republican, liberty. Such liberty is to be found in obedience to a self-imposed law. Rousseau’s definition of political liberty raises an obvious problem. For while it can be readily agreed that an individual is free if he obeys only rules he prescribes for himself, this is so because an individual is a person with a single will. A society, by contrast, is a set of persons with a set of individual wills, and conflict between separate wills is a fact of universal experience. Rousseau’s response to the problem is to define civil society as an artificial person united by a general will, or volonté générale. The social contract that brings society into being is a pledge, and the society remains in being as a pledged group. Rousseau’s republic is a creation of the general will—of a will that never falters in each and every member to further the public, common, or national interest—even though it may conflict at times with personal interest. Rousseau sounds very much like Hobbes when he says that under the pact by which people enter civil society everyone totally alienates himself and all his rights to the whole community. Rousseau, however, represents this act as a form of exchange of rights whereby people give up natural rights in return for civil rights. The bargain is a good one, because what is surrendered are rights of dubious value, whose realization depends solely on an individual’s own might, and what is obtained in return are rights that are both legitimate and enforced by the collective force of the community. There is no more haunting paragraph in The Social Contract than that in which Rousseau speaks of “forcing a man to be free.” But it would be wrong to interpret these words in the manner of those critics who see Rousseau as a prophet of modern totalitarianism. He does not claim that a whole society can be forced to be free but only that an occasional individual, who is enslaved by his passions to the extent of disobeying the law, can be restored by force to obedience to the voice of the general will that exists inside of him. The person who is coerced by society for a breach of the law is, in Rousseau’s view, being brought back to an awareness of his own true interests. For Rousseau there is a radical dichotomy between true law and actual law. Actual law, which he described in the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, simply protects the status quo. True law, as described in The Social Contract, is just law, and what ensures its being just is that it is made by the people in their collective capacity as sovereign and obeyed by the same people in their individual capacities as subjects. Rousseau is confident that such laws could not be unjust because it is inconceivable that any people would make unjust laws for itself. Rousseau is, however, troubled by the fact that the majority of a people does not necessarily represent its most-intelligent citizens. Indeed, he agrees with Plato that most people are stupid. Thus, the general will, while always morally sound, is sometimes mistaken. Hence Rousseau suggests the people need a lawgiver—a great mind like Solon or Lycurgus or Calvin—to draw up a constitution and system of laws. He even suggests that such lawgivers need to claim divine inspiration in order to persuade the dim-witted multitude to accept and endorse the laws it is offered. That suggestion echoes a similar proposal by Niccolò Machiavelli, a political theorist whom Rousseau greatly admired and whose love of republican government he shared. An even more conspicuously Machiavellian influence can be discerned in Rousseau’s chapter on civil religion, where he argues that Christianity, despite its truth, is useless as a republican religion on the grounds that it is directed to the unseen world and does nothing to teach citizens the virtues that are needed in the service of the state, namely, courage, virility, and patriotism. Rousseau does not go so far as Machiavelli in proposing a revival of pagan cults, but he does propose a civil religion with minimal theological content designed to fortify and not impede (as Christianity impedes) the cultivation of martial virtues. It is understandable that the authorities of Geneva, profoundly convinced that the national church of their little republic was at the same time a truly Christian church and a nursery of patriotism, reacted angrily against that chapter in Rousseau’s Social Contract. By the year 1762, however, when The Social Contract was published, Rousseau had given up any thought of settling in Geneva. After recovering his citizen’s rights in 1754, he had returned to Paris and the company of his friends around the Encyclopédie. But he became increasingly ill at ease in such worldly society and began to quarrel with his fellow philosophes. An article for the Encyclopédie on the subject of Geneva, written by d’Alembert at Voltaire’s instigation, upset Rousseau partly by suggesting that the pastors of the city had lapsed from Calvinist severity into unitarian laxity and partly by proposing that a theatre should be erected there. Rousseau hastened into print with a defense of the Calvinist orthodoxy of the pastors and with an elaborate attack on the theatre as an institution that could only do harm to an innocent community such as Geneva. Years Of Seclusion And Exile By the time his Lettre à d’Alembert sur les spectacles (1758; Letter to Monsieur d’Alembert on the Theatre) appeared in print, Rousseau had already left Paris to pursue a life closer to nature on the country estate of his friend Mme d’Épinay near Montmorency. When the hospitality of Mme d’Épinay proved to entail much the same social round as that of Paris, Rousseau retreated to a nearby cottage, called Montlouis, under the protection of the Maréchal de Luxembourg. But even that highly placed friend could not save him in 1762 when his treatise Émile; ou, de l’education (Emile; or, On Education), was published and scandalized the pious Jansenists of the French Parlements even as The Social Contract scandalized the Calvinists of Geneva. In Paris, as in Geneva, they ordered the book to be burned and the author arrested; all the Maréchal de Luxembourg could do was to provide a carriage for Rousseau to escape from France. After formally renouncing his Genevan citizenship in 1763, Rousseau became a fugitive, spending the rest of his life moving from one refuge to another. The years at Montmorency had been the most productive of his literary career; The Social Contract, Émile, and Julie; ou, la nouvelle Héloïse (1761; Julie; or, The New Eloise) came out within 12 months, all three works of seminal importance. The New Eloise, being a novel, escaped the censorship to which the other two works were subject; indeed, of all his books it proved to be the most widely read and the most universally praised in his lifetime. It develops the Romanticism that had already informed his writings on music and perhaps did more than any other single work of literature to influence the spirit of its age. It made the author at least as many friends among the reading public—and especially among educated women—as The Social Contract and Émile made enemies among magistrates and priests. If it did not exempt him from persecution, at least it ensured that his persecution was observed, and admiring femmes du monde intervened from time to time to help him so that Rousseau was never, unlike Voltaire and Diderot, actually imprisoned. The theme of The New Eloise provides a striking contrast to that of The Social Contract. It is about people finding happiness in domestic as distinct from public life, in the family as opposed to the state. The central character, Saint-Preux, is a middle-class preceptor who falls in love with his upper-class pupil, Julie. She returns his love and yields to his advances, but the difference between their classes makes marriage between them impossible. Baron d’Étange, Julie’s father, has indeed promised her to a fellow nobleman named Wolmar. As a dutiful daughter, Julie marries Wolmar and Saint-Preux goes off on a voyage around the world with an English aristocrat, Bomston, from whom he acquires a certain stoicism. Julie succeeds in forgetting her feelings for Saint-Preux and finds happiness as wife, mother, and chatelaine. Some six years later Saint-Preux returns from his travels and is engaged as tutor to the Wolmar children. All live together in harmony, and there are only faint echoes of the old affair between Saint-Preux and Julie. The little community, dominated by Julie, illustrates one of Rousseau’s political principles: that while men should rule the world in public life, women should rule men in private life. At the end of The New Eloise, when Julie has made herself ill in an attempt to rescue one of her children from drowning, she comes face-to-face with a truth about herself: that her love for Saint-Preux has never died. The novel was clearly inspired by Rousseau’s own curious relationship—at once passionate and platonic—with Sophie d’Houdetot, a noblewoman who lived near him at Montmorency. He himself asserted in the Confessions that he was led to write the book by “a desire for loving, which I had never been able to satisfy and by which I felt myself devoured.” Saint-Preux’s experience of love forbidden by the laws of class reflects Rousseau’s own experience; and yet it cannot be said that The New Eloise is an attack on those laws, which seem, on the contrary, to be given the status almost of laws of nature. The members of the Wolmar household are depicted as finding happiness in living according to an aristocratic ideal. They appreciate the routines of country life and enjoy the beauties of the Swiss and Savoyard Alps. But despite such an endorsement of the social order, the novel was revolutionary; its very free expression of emotions and its extreme sensibility deeply moved its large readership and profoundly influenced literary developments. Émile is a book that seems to appeal alternately to the republican ethic of The Social Contract and the aristocratic ethic of The New Eloise. It is also halfway between a novel and a didactic essay. Described by the author as a treatise on education, it is not about schooling but about the upbringing of a rich man’s son by a tutor who is given unlimited authority over him. At the same time the book sets out to explore the possibilities of an education for republican citizenship. The basic argument of the book, as Rousseau himself expressed it, is that vice and error, which are alien to a child’s original nature, are introduced by external agencies, so that the work of a tutor must always be directed to counteracting those forces by manipulating pressures that will work with nature and not against it. Rousseau devotes many pages to explaining the methods the tutor must use. Those methods involve a noticeable measure of deceit, and although corporal punishment is forbidden, mental cruelty is not. Whereas The Social Contract is concerned with the problems of achieving freedom, Émile is concerned with achieving happiness and wisdom. In this different context religion plays a different role. Instead of a civil religion, Rousseau here outlines a personal religion, which proves to be a kind of simplified Christianity, involving neither revelation nor the familiar dogmas of the church. In the guise of La Profession de foi du vicaire savoyard (1765; The Profession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar) Rousseau sets out what may fairly be regarded as his own religious views, since that book confirms what he says on the subject in his private correspondence. Rousseau could never entertain doubts about God’s existence or about the immortality of the soul. He felt, moreover, a strong emotional drive toward the worship of God, whose presence he felt most forcefully in nature, especially in mountains and forests untouched by the hand of man. He also attached great importance to conscience, the “divine voice of the soul in man,” opposing this both to the bloodless categories of rationalistic ethics and to the cold tablets of biblical authority. That minimal creed put Rousseau at odds with the orthodox adherents of the churches and with the openly atheistic philosophes of Paris, so that despite the enthusiasm that some of his writings, and especially The New Eloise, excited in the reading public, he felt himself increasingly isolated, tormented, and pursued. After he had been expelled from France, he was chased from canton to canton in Switzerland. He reacted to the suppression of The Social Contract in Geneva by indicting the regime of that city-state in a pamphlet entitled Lettres écrites de la montagne (1764; Letters Written from the Mountain). No longer, as in the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, was Geneva depicted as a model republic but as one that had been taken over by “twenty-five despots”; the subjects of the king of England were said to be free by comparison with the victims of Genevan tyranny. It was in England that Rousseau found refuge after he had been banished from the canton of Bern. The Scottish philosopher David Hume took him there and secured the offer of a pension from King George III; but once in England, Rousseau became aware that certain British intellectuals were making fun of him, and he suspected Hume of participating in the mockery. Various symptoms of paranoia began to manifest themselves in Rousseau, and he returned to France incognito. Believing that Thérèse was the only person he could rely on, he finally married her in 1768, when he was 56 years old. The Last Decade In the remaining 10 years of his life Rousseau produced primarily autobiographical writings, mostly intended to justify himself against the accusations of his adversaries. The most important was his Confessions, modeled on the work of the same title by St. Augustine and achieving something of the same classic status. He also wrote Rousseau juge de Jean-Jacques (1780; Rousseau, Judge of Jean-Jacques) to reply to specific charges by his enemies and Les Rêveries du promeneur solitaire (1782; Reveries of the Solitary Walker), one of the most moving of his books, in which the intense passion of his earlier writings gives way to a gentle lyricism and serenity. And indeed, Rousseau does seem to have recovered his peace of mind in his last years, when he was once again afforded refuge on the estates of great French noblemen, first the Prince de Conti and then the Marquis de Girardin, in whose park at Ermenonville he died. Duignan, B., & Cranston, M. (2018, October 15). Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Jacques-Rousseau

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Aged Town is an additional name for the historic centre of Alexandria positioned in Virginia. If you are fine eating places, theatres, retailers as well as traditional shops should you be visiting Alexandria. People with been to California D.D. know that bordering Alexandria neighborhoods are the same with each other. You will enjoy jogging through the local neighborhoods if you therefore choose. Steer clear of big box merchants as they can charge too much for goods. If you know you'll need a large quantity of an item, like lumber as well as stone, discover a bulk retailer to purchase your content from as well as save. They are able to give you greater pricing upon material as it would be in bulk, vs . purchasing established quantities in the big box store, which can help ones bottom line. Remains are also the best way to save money. Nearly all retailers will offer remnants at lower prices simply because they take up room and they are unable to use these pieces. 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The companies offering Rent a 10 Yard Dumpster in Haddonfield, NJ and garbage trash can rental services get rid the garbage inside an eco friendly approach. They even consider the garbage and delete it. And that means you get rid of the junk in an eco-friendly way. Trash is the major problem that's drawing a person's eye of the entire world. Proper disposal of this generated trash is one more disguised . problem that's putting the project entrepreneurs at fantastic hurdle. Massive tons of cat litter piled up incorporate varied large items and poses difficult to the venture owner. You have to handle a lot of issues such as choosing the right disposal bin, dumping the numerous trash carefully,(demands manual help), spending some time to dispose in the landfills, undertake the problems while using local authority, proper disposal of junk by recycling where possible. All these concerns require a considerable amount of time and purchase of terms of profit addition to the risk. Ocean dumping is one much more method then most of the people to get rid their junk. This is not an advisable method as the trash disposed in the ocean will cause hurt to existence of a lot of species in the water. Does that appear like a squander to anyone else? If you're going to currently have to haul away your own squander and trash anyway, you could as well stay away from the trouble! You can rent a dumpster to complete your business renovation. Whether you are tearing apart a workplace or other kind of company building, you may need a Rent a 10 Yard Dumpster in Haddonfield, NJ. With roofing as well you will need to rent a dumpster. With respect to the size of your small business or office will determine the size of dumpster you will need to rent. If the roof or even business renovation is under 2 tons of squander than you are able to rent a small dumpster. If the amount of squander is about several pickup truck a lot than you may need a 15 cubic backyard dumpster to rent. Five pickup truck loads or even 3 tons or even less of trash can be carted with the channel size dumpster. Pertaining to very large renovation projects inside Arlington, VA, you will need to rent the large dumpster. It is perfect if you're getting rid of very big items for instance mattresses, agents, dressers, units, etc. The big dumpster is 30 cubic yards and holds about 10 pickup truck a lot or 4 numerous debris. Please use the form below to contact us. We look forward to working with you and will get back to you as soon as possible. All fields are required

Challenger Sports is a proud supporter of this incredible global soccer outreach program. Program Founder Stephen Schirra explains exactly what Around the Worlds, Around the World does for children across the globe. "Around the Worlds, Around the World is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects children from extreme circumstances all over the world to the game of soccer, using it as a platform to instill positive change while fostering joy and hope. We work with children from orphanages, schools, churches, refugee homes, halfway houses, youth shelters, earthquake relief centers, etc. all over the world. In the past two years, I've had the opportunity to teach the game to about 3,650 youth from 75 organizations in 22 countries. Throughout this time, we've been able to go beyond organized instruction to also provide our young beneficiaries with the necessary tools to play the game - including, but not limited to, cleats, goal sets, jerseys, goalkeeper gloves, and more. We have also been fortunate to hand-deliver over 1,200 soccer balls during this timeframe. We're also proud to have started a scholarship for local high school students using sports to make a difference within the community, and currently have a permanent scholarship fund that will pay out a $1000 scholarship per year, on a perpetual basis." Challenger Sports has donated balls and shirts to Around the Worlds on behalf of families who have supported our British Soccer, TetraBrazil and SoccerPlus programs. Challenger's Co-Founder Peter Arch: "We are so happy to help Stephen bring smiles to the faces of so many children and are delighted that the sport of soccer can be used to provide such an uplifting experience to communities in need. Challenger is looking forward to providing, even more, support for Stephen and "Around the Worlds, Around the World" in the future." To find out more and to donate to this wonderful charity, please visit AroundtheWorlds.org

Life Of A Vagabond Theresa Kaindl on her seasonal Happy Place Twelve flights, two continents, four languages: Berlin, Milan, Paris, New York, Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and a roadtrip through Scotland – all in just a month. Freelance photographer Theresa Kaindl (see her Instagram here) used to live in New York, serving clients ranging from Montblanc to Puma and Corona, and moved to Berlin in September. The Austrian-born photographer is a true vagabond and has collected many stories along the way in her young 23 years. She sits down with us to tell us about her personal happy place and traditions for the holidays. Theresa, where is your personal happy place? To be honest, nothing makes me happier than standing atop a mountain and soaking up the nature I’m surrounded by. I think it’s the Austrian in me. My road trip through Scotland was one of the greatest trips I’ve ever taken. Do you have a special Christmas tradition? I’m pretty old fashioned. I have to spend Christmas with my family – preferably in the mountains! A white Christmas is a must for me. We attend church together, like we did when I was a child. And we always eat this special noodle soup with sausage – a real Austrian specialty. It wouldn’t be Christmas without it! For some, it’s a special hot beverage, for some a certain song. What puts you in the mood for Christmas? This year, I think it will be the time I take for myself during the holidays. Especially now, considering I’m constantly on the go. I haven’t planned anything for Christmas and am looking forward to doing nothing! I’m going to my family in Austria and will just spend some quality time with them. That’s the greatest thing in the world for me. Do you celebrate Christmas in the same place every year? Yes. I spent Christmas without my family once while I was living in New York. It was definitely an unforgettable holiday, but my mum wasn’t very happy about it! Is there someplace that you would like to celebrate Christmas if you could? Snow is a must. I don’t think I would enjoy Christmas in a place like Miami, chilling on the beach. Maybe an isolated cabin on a snowcapped mountain in the middle of nature – that would be my happy place! It doesn’t really matter if the cabin is in Austria or Canada – as long as there's snow and I can spend time with the people who are most important to me.

David Lotton is a second generation American glassblower. The oldest son of Charles Lotton he was introduced to the world of glassblowing at a very young age. In 1970 Charles started building a furnace and began blowing pieces of glass from melted down pop bottles in a shed behind their house. David was there in this infancy and he was Charles first assistant at the age of ten. David has vivid memories of his childhood working in the shop with his father. When most children were playing childhood games he was spending time after school and on the weekends helping dad blow glass. By the age of 14 he learned how to do finishing work, polishing the bottom of the glass flat. David eventually followed in his fathers' footsteps and by the age of 15 began making paperweights. That ignited a passion to begin glass blowing. David has been creating his one of a kind vessels since 1978. His unique handcrafted works are designed with precise attention to detail. Developing his own glass formulas, David has created a complex palette of colors, giving him the ability to create his multi-layering and sculpting style. Each year David continues to study and refine the techniques he uses in creating his art.

Girls Help Bolton to School Games Medals’ Haul Monday, 16 April 2018 A swimming relay team comprised of Year 4 and 5 girls from Bolton School Girls’ Division Junior School won bronze at the recent Greater Manchester Winter School Games. Lucy Pickett, Amelia Crompton, Lily-Grace Greer and Georgia Ainscough helped the borough of Bolton to a successful medals' haul; they were part of 92 athletes competing from 13 different schools from across the town. Four other teams from Bolton won medals. Two thousand pupils from across Greater Manchester took part in the Games, now in its eighth year, participating in 24 competitions across 13 different sports. The School Games is a programme designed to motivate and enthuse young people to participate in high quality, meaningful competition and support them in achieving their own personal best in sport and in life. All competitors epitomised and embodied the 'spirit' of the School Games, demonstrating the six School Games values - Passion, Self-Belief, Respect, Honesty, Determination and Teamwork. The Summer Games will take place on Friday 6th July. Share or bookmark with:

Try the “super-logoff.” Performing the trick doesn’t take superhuman powers. Instead of just closing a browser window or clicking the “log off” button at the top right of the Facebook homepage, some young, privacy-concerned users are simply deactivating their Facebook accounts each time they leave the site. Then they reactivate their accounts to log back on. Why go to all this trouble? Well, for one, it’s not hard. Facebook makes it notoriously difficult to fully “delete” an account. But “deactivating” an account is easy — it only takes a single click, and deactivated Facebook users maintain all of their friend connections, wall posts, photos and the like. The upside, for the privacy paranoid, is that when a “deactivated” user isn’t on Facebook, no one else can see their profile, post on their wall or tag them in photos. For privacy-minded people, it’s a soothing alternative. It gives them ultimate control. Microsoft researcher and social media expert danah boyd (she doesn’t capitalize her name), who identified the trend this week on her blog, believes young people may have good reasons for deactivating and reactivating their accounts frequently. “In many ways, deactivation is a way of not letting the digital body stick around when the person is not present,” boyd writes in a November 8 post. “This is a great risk reduction strategy if you’re worried about people who might look and misinterpret. Or people who might post something that would get you into trouble.” She credits Michael Ducker, a program manager at Microsoft, with inventing the “super-logoff” term. As part of her field work, boyd has spoken with kids who use the technique to maintain control of their pages. One person she mentions on her blog, Mikalah, “wants to be a part of Facebook when it makes sense and not risk the possibility that people will be snooping when she’s not around.” The blog All Facebook adds that this practice is fundamentally different, and in some ways simpler, than changing your privacy settings on the site: “Notice that, while you or I might think that spending five minutes setting your privacy settings correctly might solve the hassle of having to deactivate your account when you log out, in reality these are two actions that accomplish different things,” Jorge Cino writes on that Facebook-focused blog. “Mikalah and others like her want their friends to post stuff on their wall or tag them in a photo, but they don’t want them doing it when they’re not there to make sure it’s okay. Most importantly, someone like Mikalah doesn’t want any friends of friends digging up her profile when she’s not ‘around.’ Deactivating her age literally erases her from Facebook. She becomes untraceable.” Others don’t go quite as far, says boyd. Instead of deactivating her account, Shamika engages in practice known as “whitewalling,” boyd says. She deletes every “like,” comment and photo almost immediately after it’s posted. “When I asked her why she was deleting this content, she looked at me incredulously and told me ‘too much drama,’ ” boyd writes. “Pushing further, she talked about how people were nosy and it was too easy to get into trouble for the things you wrote a while back that you couldn’t even remember posting let alone remember what it was all about. It was better to keep everything clean and in the moment. If it’s relevant now, it belongs on Facebook, but the old stuff is no longer relevant so it doesn’t belong on Facebook. “Her narrative has nothing to do with adults or with Facebook as a data retention agent. She’s concerned about how her postings will get her into unexpected trouble with her peers in an environment where saying the wrong thing always results in a fight.” These stories add interesting nuance to the debate over young people and privacy on the Internet. The general line of thinking — which is backed up by some surveys — is that young people care less about online privacy than older people. But there appears to be more going on. A Pew Internet report, released on May 26, found young people are more likely than their older counterparts to alter their Facebook settings and to actively manage their online identities. From that report: “Young adults are the most active online reputation managers in several dimensions. When compared with older users, they more often customize what they share and whom they share it with.” This suggests younger people do care about their privacy and reputation online and will take steps — sometimes big ones, as boyd’s blog post shows — to manage these increasingly important digital identities. What do you think of these practices? If you use the “super-logoff,” or plan to try it, let us know in the comments section below…

The first medical article on the hazards of asbestos dust appeared in the British Medical Journal in 1924. Following inquiries by Edward Merewether and Charles Price, the British government introduced regulations to control dangerous dust emissions in UK asbestos factories. Until the 1960s these appeared to have addressed the problem effectively. Only then, with the discoveries that mesothelioma was an asbestos related disease and that workers other than those employed in the dustiest parts of asbestos factories were at risk, were the nature and scale of the hazard reassessed. In Britain, America, and elsewhere new and increasingly strict regulations were enacted. Statistics from Altmetric.com Asbestos is the generic term for a number of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Commercially, the most important of these are the white, blue, and brown varieties, otherwise known as chrysotile (a serpentine asbestos), crocidolite, and amosite (both amphiboles). Asbestos is widely distributed, but the largest deposits are found in Canada and Russia. It possesses amazing characteristics. Uniquely among minerals, it can be spun into a thread and then woven into a cloth. Clothes and soft furnishings can be made from asbestos—even though it is literally a rock. But why make such products out of a mineral except as a curiosity? The answer lies mainly in the material’s unparalleled fireproofing and insulating capabilities. However, asbestos possesses other attractive qualities: it is relatively lightweight (an important consideration when fireproofing naval vessels), abundant, cheap to mine and process, resistant to water and acids (and hence corrosion), durable to the point of indestructibility, electrically non-conductive, and unattractive to vermin. Finally, it can be put to an enormous number of uses (usually when blended with resins, plastics, or other materials). In many respects, therefore, asbestos is the perfect material for an industrialising and electrifying world of heat, combustion, and high speed locomotion. Not surprisingly, it came to be viewed, for the first two thirds of the 20th century, as the “indispensable” and even the “magic” mineral. By the mid-20th century asbestos was an ingredient in all manner of things, including motor cars (as an ingredient of brakes, clutch linings, and gaskets), buildings (for insulation and fireproofing), warships (also for insulation and fireproofing), domestic products (such as ironing boards), and electrical distribution systems. The product ranges of the largest asbestos companies, such as Johns–Manville, the American giant that dominated the industry for many years, ran to scores of pages. So asbestos had many “upsides”. Unfortunately, it also has a very significant “downside” in that exposure to its dust can cause three fatal diseases: asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum. It has long been known that asbestos dust constitutes a danger to health; however, some issues, including the relative hazards of different types of asbestos and whether there is a safe level of exposure to any of them, remain in scientific dispute.1,2 Since the 1960s crocidolite has been regarded as a particular hazard, chiefly because of its strong association with mesothelioma. Amosite is widely regarded as scarcely less dangerous. In contrast, some have argued that pure chrysotile “may present little or no carcinogenic hazard” if uncontaminated by amphiboles. As recently as 2000, pure chrysotile was termed “a remarkably safe and valuable natural resource”, which could be used to substantial public health advantage in the Third World.3,4 Others dismiss such views and demand an international ban on all forms of asbestos.5 Such scientific disputes and policy uncertainties conform to a long standing pattern whereby medical knowledge about the health hazards of asbestos dust has emerged slowly and sometimes falteringly since the early 20th century. As Irving J Selikoff, one of the foremost authorities on asbestos related disease in late 20th century America, once said, nature long held “some secrets ... rather close to its vest”.6 DISCOVERY OF A LINK BETWEEN ASBESTOS AND DISEASE The sequence of developing knowledge about asbestos and disease has generated historical controversy.7–13 Some even maintain that the health hazards of asbestos dust were appreciated in the ancient world; such claims have been convincingly refuted.14 Those doyens of occupational medicine, Thomas Arlidge and Thomas Oliver, ignored the hazards of asbestos in the late-Victorian and Edwardian periods (though Oliver addressed them subsequently).15,16 The first medical paper on the subject appeared in the British Medical Journal in 1924.17 Written by William Cooke of Wigan Infirmary’s department of pathology, it briefly dealt with the illness and death from fibrosis of the lungs and tuberculosis of Nellie Kershaw, who had worked in the spinning room of a Rochdale asbestos factory. Following this case report, other papers soon appeared. These included articles by Oliver, who coined the word “asbestosis”, though most observers have mistakenly attributed the term to Cooke, who used it in a 1927 paper that further explored the Kershaw case.18,19 In 1928, following the discovery of a case of pulmonary fibrosis affecting a Glasgow asbestos worker, Britain’s factory inspectorate took up the issue. Edward Merewether, a medical inspector based in Glasgow, was instructed to ascertain “whether the occurrence of this disease in an asbestos worker was merely a coincidence, or evidence of a definite health risk in the [asbestos] industry”.20 At 36 years of age, Merewether was comparatively young when he embarked upon this task. He was also a newcomer to the inspectorate, having taken up his appointment only in 1927. Merewether’s initial survey was soon followed by a full scale investigation, which he completed in October 1929. He found that occupational exposure to asbestos dust, particularly for prolonged periods at high concentrations, constituted a “definite occupational risk among asbestos workers as a class”.21 The fibrosis of the lungs that could result might lead to “complete disablement” and death.21 His report endorsed a view expressed a few months earlier that a “new” disease, pulmonary asbestosis, had been discovered.22 Merewether had confirmed the existence of a new fatal disease, but he also believed that this disease was preventable. Dust control, he anticipated, “will cause, firstly, a great increase in the length of time before workers develop a disabling fibrosis, and secondly, the almost total disappearance of the disease, as the measures for the suppression of dust are perfected”.21 At this point, Merewether’s colleague, the engineering inspector of factories, Charles Price, investigated and recommended practical measures to control dust. Following negotiations between representatives of the asbestos industry, the Trades Union Congress (largely in the person of its eminent medical adviser, Dr Thomas Legge, the first ever medical inspector of factories), individual unions, the factory inspectorate, and senior Home Office officials, the government enacted the Asbestos Industry Regulations, 1931. Implemented in full in 1933, these required the suppression of dust in the dustiest, and hence, apparently, the hazardous, areas of asbestos factories.23 With these measures in place, and for decades to come, it was widely agreed that the 1931 regulations had solved the problem of asbestosis in British asbestos factories. Thus, in 1955, Richard Doll referred to the infrequency of asbestosis and attributed its rarity to the “great reduction in the amount of dust in asbestos works” since the early 1930s.24 In the same year, Donald Hunter, then one of the leading authorities on occupational health, observed that the legislation had been “effective in controlling the disease” of asbestosis.25 Other distinguished figures, including Georgiana Bonser of Leeds University and Andrew Meiklejohn of Glasgow University, expressed similar views.26,27 All of these opinions referred to the British experience; for years Britain’s efforts to prevent asbestos related disease were not replicated elsewhere. In the USA, asbestos was mined, manufactured, and used in large quantities (table 1), but, apart from the patchy industrial hygiene measures established by some states beginning in the 1930s, little regulation pre-dated the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. By this time scientific and regulatory attitudes towards asbestos disease had been transformed in several ways. Most significantly, it had been ascertained that asbestosis was not the only disease associated with exposure to asbestos dust. LINK WITH LUNG CANCER Suspicion that asbestosis might be linked with lung cancer began to emerge in the 1930s.28,29 This link became more persuasive in the 1940s, even though doubts remained.30–34 Then, in 1955, Doll established to the satisfaction of most informed observers that a causal association existed between asbestosis and lung cancer.24 He believed, however, that the Asbestos Industry Regulations had greatly reduced the risk of lung cancer for those who worked in Britain’s asbestos factories. As he wrote in 1960, “It seems likely that the risk may now be largely eliminated”.35 At this time, notwithstanding the discovery of a second asbestos related disease, there was every reason to suppose that the asbestos industry could continue to produce the fireproofing, insulation, and friction materials widely regarded as indispensable to modern life, provided that workers were protected from the heavy and prolonged exposures associated with asbestosis and lung cancer. In 1956, Meiklejohn dismissed the notion of a ban as “completely futile and absurd”.27 Such views remained prevalent during the 1970s and even the 1980s. Irving Selikoff, along with the editorial pages of the Lancet, BMJ, and JAMA and other commentators, emphasised precautions over proscription of the mineral.36–39 The 1960s saw several important developments in the story of asbestos and disease. First, a third asbestos related disease, mesothelioma, was discovered. Second, it was shown that the hazards of asbestos dust were not confined to heavily exposed workers in asbestos factories but extended to insulation workers, other users of products containing asbestos, and people who lived close to asbestos factories.40–44 There were even suggestions that urban dwellers, even in towns and cities remote from asbestos mines or factories, might face a hazard simply because they lived among buildings and cars containing asbestos.45 Third, even in Britain, with its well established and relatively high degree of regulation, some evidence suggested that asbestos related disease had ceased to decline and was possibly increasing.12 Fourth, in Britain and America at least, asbestos hazards began to attract increased media attention. Between 1964 and 1967, stories about the health hazards of asbestos appeared in such national newspapers as The Times, Sunday Times, Daily Herald, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Morning Star, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, as well as in local and regional papers. In January 1967, the BBC broadcast a film on the subject in its early evening news programme 24 Hours. Thereafter, asbestos health hazards regularly featured in newspaper and television reports. Fifth, in 1969, the first third party products liability suit claiming personal injury from asbestos was launched in the USA, thereby initiating the process that led to the demise of many large, well established, and successful companies. LINK WITH MESOTHELIOMA Cases of pleural mesothelioma were apparently detected in the nineteenth century, but the term itself had not appeared, and its occurrence was “so rare that some pathologists doubted its existence”.46 However, during the 1950s, South African researchers J C Wagner, Christopher Sleggs, and Paul Marchand began to identify cases of mesothelioma in the crocidolite mining district of Griqualand West. Curiously, they found no such cases in the vicinity of the Transvaal asbestos mines, even though the asbestos there was the same as in Griqualand West. This discrepancy initially suggested that the mesotheliomas in the Griqualand West district could have had an origin unrelated to asbestos exposure. Wagner, Sleggs, and Marchand first presented their findings at a conference in Johannesburg in 1959. Papers they published between 1960 and 1962 established a “possible association between the development of mesotheliomas of the pleura and exposure to asbestos dust in people living in the Cape asbestos fields”.47–53 As this quotation indicates, the researchers had not established a clear causal association between exposure to crocidolite dust (let alone other forms of asbestos dust) and cases of mesothelioma among people who had never visited the northwest Cape. There was not long to wait. Papers published in 1964 and 1965 resulted in the general medical recognition of mesothelioma as an asbestos related disease.40–44,54–60 Scepticism remained in some quarters, but, as a leading article in the BMJ later put it, by “the end of 1965 it was clear that asbestos workers are at special risk of developing ... mesothelioma”.61,62 Though other causal agents have been identified, for years asbestos dust (at least certain types of it) has been widely considered to be the principal or even the only cause of mesothelioma.63 Recently, however, the longstanding assumption that mesothelioma is solely caused by asbestos exposure has been called into question by the recognition that there are “many cases (>20%) of mesothelioma for which there is little or no known exposure to asbestos”.64 A causal association between asbestos and mesothelioma is not in dispute, but it has been widely proposed that the disease may also be causally linked with poliomyelitis vaccine contaminated with simian virus 40 (SV40), which was administered to millions of people in Europe and the USA between 1955 and 1963. Mayall et al have suggested a “synergistic interaction between asbestos and SV40 in human mesotheliomas”.65 However, much remains in doubt. Carbone et al have warned against premature “conclusions about the possible role of SV40 in mesothelioma development in the general population”.66 Likewise, Jasani et al have observed that the “causal link between SV40 and mesothelioma ... still needs to be examined further”.67 More recently, Gazdar et al have pointed to “considerable evidence that SV40 has a causative role in the pathogenesis of mesothelioma”, but caution that “the evidence is still insufficient to distinguish between association and causation”.68 At present, therefore, it remains unclear whether a causal association exists between SV40 and elevated rates of mesothelioma.64–69 EXTENT OF THE RISKS POSED BY ASBESTOS Recognition that asbestos related disease was not confined to unprotected workers in the dustiest locations dates from the 1960s and had much to do with the discovery of mesothelioma and the appreciation that relatively brief and light dust exposure could cause the disease years before its manifestation. A few isolated cases of asbestosis in insulation workers were reported in medical journals as early as the 1930s.70–72 Furthermore, as we now know, the US Navy and Maritime Commission appreciated the need to protect heavily exposed shipyard insulation workers in the early 1940s.73 This knowledge was not disseminated to a wider audience, however, and Asbestos Worker, the magazine of the US insulation workers’ union, accurately noted in 1966 that “probably more attention has been focused on these particular health hazards in the last 3 or 4 years, than in the previous 30 or 40 years”.74 The key figure in identifying the dangers of insulation work involving materials containing asbestos and exposure to even intermittent and light dust concentrations was Irving J Selikoff of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Beginning in the early 1960s, with financial support from sources as diverse as the insulation workers’ union and (from 1968) the Johns–Manville Corporation, Selikoff and his colleagues produced a stream of publications indicating, among other things, that insulators who worked with asbestos material in the USA faced an “important risk” of contracting asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma, and possibly also gastrointestinal cancer.40–42,75,76 In Britain the emergence of knowledge about mesothelioma and the hazards of insulation work coincided with the first doubts about the 1931 regulations. As a result, the factory inspectorate began revising these regulations in 1964. Five years later, following extensive consultation with business, scientists, and trades unionists, the Asbestos Regulations, 1969 were established. These allowed the continued use of asbestos only if maximum allowable concentrations of dust were not exceeded and if other precautions were observed. The regulations applied to all work sites and not, as previously, to asbestos factories alone. The maximum allowable concentration for crocidolite was set so low that its use was virtually eliminated. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s further restrictions, both voluntary and statutory, were placed on the importation and use of asbestos. At their peak, in 1973, UK asbestos imports stood at some 190 000 tonnes per annum; by 1997, the amount had fallen to 4820 tonnes of chrysotile, by then the only form allowed.12 Then, in July 1999, with one minor exception, the European Commission announced a European Union ban on all remaining chrysotile use by 1 January 2005. Britain implemented the ban some five years ahead of schedule in October 1999. Other European Union members have also beaten the deadline, and other countries have introduced their own bans.77 Elsewhere, including many parts of Africa, Asia, and South America, asbestos use remains widespread. In the early 1970s, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) identified asbestos as one of its first regulatory targets and introduced a range of controls. The OSHA reduced permitted exposure limits from 5 ff/ml (time weighted average) in 1972 to 2 ff/ml (time weighted average) in 1976.78–80 As in Britain, stricter measures on the manufacture, importation, and processing of asbestos and products containing asbestos followed in the 1980s and 1990s. A permitted exposure limit of 0.1 ff/ml (fibres per millilitre) was introduced in 1994.81 Many of the companies that mined, manufactured, and used asbestos have gone out of business since the early 1980s under the burden of litigation. At present, asbestos use is heavily regulated and banned in most circumstances in the USA. A “comprehensive ban on asbestos in America” is envisaged. However, since exceptions are apparently anticipated if no alternative materials are available and it can be demonstrated that no damage to health or the environment will ensue, it remains to be seen how “comprehensive” this “ban” will be.82 A chronology of medical discovery 1924: W E Cooke publishes the first paper on asbestos related disease. 1925: Thomas Oliver coins the term “asbestosis”. 1930: Edward Merewether confirms that inhalation of asbestos dust can cause a fatal disease. 1935: Kenneth Lynch and W Atmar Smith identify a “possible relationship” between pulmonary asbestosis and carcinoma of the lung. 1955: Richard Doll finds that certain asbestos workers face a “notably higher risk” of contracting lung cancer than the rest of the population. 1960: Wagner, Sleggs, and Marchand publish their first paper indicating a relationship between pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. 1964: Selikoff, Churg, and Hammond demonstrate that insulation contract workers face a health hazard resulting from asbestos exposure. FUTURE OF ASBESTOS RELATED DISEASE Even if a worldwide ban on asbestos were to be introduced forthwith, past exposures will ensure that death and disease related to asbestos continue for the foreseeable future. Epidemiologists have predicted that the incidence of male mesothelioma in the USA should peak at about 2300 cases per year at the end of the 20th century and will decline to some 500 cases per year by about 2055.83 In 1995, Julian Peto et al predicted that male deaths from mesothelioma in Britain will peak at between 2700 and 3300 per year around the year 2020.84 A few years later, Peto et al forecast some 250 000 male deaths from mesothelioma in Western Europe as a whole by about 2035. Most of these deaths are expected to occur among roofers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, gas fitters, and others employed in the building trades.85 Others anticipate figures as high as 10 000 per year among British males alone by 2020.86,87 It appears that the history of asbestos related disease still has some distance to travel. If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

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9 April 2019 - "Here I am, send me": "The Year of Youth in Pakistan will be a time to nourish our future, to take care of young people, to listen to them and to accompany them on their journey of faith and to grow in holiness": as Agenzia Fides learns, this is what Bishop Samson Shukardin said during a meeting of the Youth Commission of the Pakistani Bishops' Conference held yesterday 4 April in St. Patrick's Cathedral, in Karachi. The meeting of the Commission was held a week after Pakistan's Catholic Bishops Conference announced 2020 as the "Year of Youth" for the Catholic Church in Pakistan. Bishop Samson Shukardin, who took part in the Synod of Youth held at the Vatican last autumn, explained: "Our mission is to help young people grow in their faith and live a happy life in society. We are inspired by Jesus who walked , shared and accompanied the disciples of Emmaus". An ad hoc Committee has been formed to plan and follow the various initiatives of the Year of Youth which will begin with the feast of Christ the King in 2019 and will close on the same feast holiday in 2020. The chosen theme is the biblical verse "Here I am, send me!" (Isaiah 6: 8), chosen precisely in the light of the Synod on young people of 2018. Speaking to Fides, Mgr. Samson Shukardin declares: "The theme set for the Year of Youth wants to help young people recognize, discern and live their missionary vocation, to serve the Church as priests, religious and laity". The Bishop observes: "Young people need a spiritual father, as well as Pastors and lay leaders are needed to work with young people, who can accompany them and help them overcome the challenges they face in their daily lives". The Bishop concludes: "We must empower and involve young people in the Church by giving them responsibility, trusting them and forming them to spread the Word of God and Christian values also through media, music, arts, games and sport". The Committee will organize events in all the dioceses of Pakistan, including seminars on the final document of the Synod "Christus Vivit". (AG) (Agenzia Fides, 5/4/2019)

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Do it here. - I’m going to call the budget deal a win, while some may disagree for a variety of reasons, it does not include money for a wall, increases federal spending on medical research, green energy programs, saves PBS and the arts, and other areas the WH pegged for reductions. While it does include $1.5 billion for border security, the money is for technology and infrastructure repairs, not more detention facilities or deportation officers. The legislation is also free of policy riders intended to restrict abortion access or loosen financial regulations, it prevents the DOJ from using any funds to prevent implementation of state medical marijuana laws, or serve other Republican priorities. - The Boston Red Sox permanently banned a fan from attending for making racial slurs against the Kenyan singing the National Anthem, after his comment was reported to them by another white fan. Trayvon Martin’s parents will accept a posthumous bachelor of science degree in aeronautical science conferred on him by Florida Memorial University “in honor of the steps he took during his young life toward becoming a pilot” before he was killed. In other University good news, Butler College in Pence’s home state is now offering a course entitled “Trumpism and US Democracy” The course describes 45 as perpetuator of “sexism, white supremacy, xenophobia, nationalism, nativism and imperialism” and explains that students will discuss and possibly engage in strategies for resistance. Since I don’t know of any resistors who were actually paid for protesting, contrary to republican claims, I guess college credit will have to do. - The CEO of KeraVada, a black hair care product company, removed his hair products from an Asian owned Beauty Supply company after learning the company mistreated black women at the store. An international group defiantly opposed to the Roman Catholic Church’s ban on women priests, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, ordained its first woman Catholic priest in the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte NC. - The major television networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CNN have all refused to run twittler’s 100 days of accomplishment propaganda ad. CNN said “the advertiser must remove the false graphic that the mainstream media is ‘fake news”. As the mainstream media is not fake news, and therefore the ad is false and per policy will be accepted only if that graphic is deleted.” - The second nominee for Army Secretary, Mark Green, withdrew his nomination after weeks of withering criticism over his past extremist statements against LGBTQ and Muslims communities. The first nominee withdrew because of financial entanglements. Another Republican Congressperson has announced they will not run for re-election in 2018. The decision by Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen not to run gives Democrats a chance to pick up a seat in the 2018, as her district went for Clinton in 2016. - New Yorkers gave 45 an appropriate welcome home by coming out in thousands to boo him and unfurl anti-trump banners. He was so afraid of the protestors that he ran away to his home in NJ rather than stay in NYC. Feel free to comment on anything I missed. The fight to save the Affordable Care Act is not over. It is more important now more than ever to write, call, fax, text, tweet, email, and show up at your Senator’s office or town hall meeting to demand they vote against repealing the ACA.

Down The Rabbit Hole w/ Popeye (01-07-2013) Alex Jones vs. Piers Morgan, Rape, Society, Guns & Way More (FEDERALJACK) On this edition of DTRH Popeye starts off the episode by covering the elephant in the room that is the Alex Jones vs. Piers Morgan “debate”. Moving on he gets into: Rape, the Brady Campaign and self defense; Society’s morals are so low that the young males of today laugh as one of their female peers is raped in the next room; The new free download section on FederalJack.com Popeye is working on; The ongoing war in Syria; American citizens are being told they don’t need semi-automatic rifles for protection by the same government handing fully-automatic weapons over to al Qaeda in Syria to fight and topple the democratically elected government there; William Cooper and more. Popeye’s Archive Page: http://www.federaljack.com/?page_id=98027 Listen Live Page: http://www.federaljack.com/?page_id=11598

Hi there everyone! I have been less active lately on my blog and I’m really sorry for that! I’m currently working on getting a bunch of reviews up and ready to go, hopefully I’ll get those finished! Even though school just started, I already have several things to complete, so I’m kind of behind on things. Anyway, I’m back with another tag for you guys: the TBR book tag, in which the lovely Josie from Josie’s Book Corner has tagged me, (in the comments)! TBR means, in case you didn’t know, ‘to-be-read’. My TBR is over the moon honestly, I have waaaay to many books that I have yet to read. So this tag is great! Anywho, let’s get on with the tag! How do you keep track of your TBR pile? Goodreads!!! I don’t know what I’d do without Goodreads. I have tons of books on my TBR and I usually just keep track of everything from there! However, there are times where I hear of a book, write it down somewhere, telling myself I’ll add it to my Goodreads shelf, but end up forgetting to. This happens more times than I care to admit, (and as a result I’m sure I have a lot of books on my TBR written on paper that I have yet to add to Goodreads) but for the most part Goodreads is my best friend when it comes to my TBR. Is your TBR mostly print or eBook? Both, I think. In past years it probably would’ve been ebook, but as I’ve been increasing my physical book buying (wonderful for my shelves, terrible for my wallet) it’s kind of evened out now and I have a lot of print and ebooks waiting to be read. How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next? It’s a pretty spontaneous decision, really! Sometimes I choose books I have recently hauled, sometimes books that have been really hyped, and sometimes it’s just really up to my mood! Feeling down about something? Cheesy contemporary it is! Wanting some action? A thriller or fantasy! You get the idea. If I have review copies I usually try to give those priority as well. A book that’s been on your TBR list the longest? Huh. This is a hard one! I have no idea, but I would say Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. It’s one of the only Jane Austen books I haven’t read, and I have been meaning to for a while! A book you recently added to your TBR? Will you just look at this book! The Legend of Me by Rebekah L. Purdy is slated to be released on Februaray 2016, and I will surely be keeping my eye out for this one! A book on your TBR strictly because of it’s beautiful cover? The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy has such a beautiful cover! It looks so magical and has a very fairytail-istic look to it that I just love. I don’t know much about the story, but this book is definitely on my TBR. (LOL quite superficial of me, but you can’t just look at this cover and resist it! Not if you’re like me, at least. <3) A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading? Possession by Elana Johnson seems like an interesting novel, but I just don’t think I’ll ever be reading this one! Mostly just due to time priorities, and just lack of interest compared to other books. There IS still a chance I will read this one day, but I have no plans of that in the near future. Though if you read and liked this book, maybe one of you guys will change my mind! An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for? ALL THE UNBUBLISHED BOOKSSSS. Kidding. Not really. There are so many awesome-seeming unpublished books that I am dying to have in my hands right now! Winter by Marissa Meyer, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski, Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray, First & Then by Emma Mills are just few of the books that I can’t wait to get my hands on! I love how 4/5 of these are sci-fi, fantasy and all that, and I only have one book that is contemporary… there are a bunch more that I wish I could put in here, but if I do we’ll be here until Christmas. 😉 A book on your TBR that everyone has read but you? Honestly, I feel as if every single bookworm has read Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. It’s like some kind of unspoken rule or something! It’s everywhere. Don’t know when I’ll be getting around to this, but I will give it a try for sure. A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you? Maybe not everyone because everyone hasn’t read this book, but a lot of people has recommended The Young Elites by Marie Lu and I really want to read it! Especially since I’ve also read and loved Marie Lu’s Legend trilogy. A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read? The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen seems soooo good and I honestly am dying to read it. And if I’m not mistaken, this book is even slated for a movie (not much planned yet though) and Emma Watson has shown interest in it! Ahhhhhhh!!!! Although I haven’t heard much on this news lately, you can check out this link for more details. Everyone and their mother has seemed to like this book, so I can’t wait to read it sometime. How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf? More than I’ll ever be able to read, I’m sure, since I have 1095 books (last time I checked, at least) on my Goodreads TBR shelf!! I just never seem to be able to stop adding books to my TBR. Not to mention that this 1095 isn’t even the whole thing; I have a bunch of other books I need to add to my Goodreads shelf that I haven’t done yet. So, yes! Clearly I am unable to comprehend that I already have more books than I will ever need since I keep adding even more all the time. XD I know I tagged a lot of people in my Summer Reader Book Tag, so I will try to tag other people this time, but feel free to do this tag if you want to! I’ll even add your name to the post if you want to do it—just let me know in the comments below and consider it done! ❤ This was a super fun tag so it would be great if you wanted to do it as well. - Aentee @ Read at Midnight - Alicia @ The Cyborg Knight - Alyssa @ Alyssa is Reading - Anette @ Anette Reads - Anne @ Anne-thology of Books - Arianna @ The Daydreaming Bookworm - Bhramori @ The Crazy Perfectionist - Bree @ The Literary Hellion - Charis @ Bookmarked Ponderings - Dee @ The Bookish Khaleesi - Jane @ Greenish Bookshelf - Kendra @ Reads and Treats - Nicolette @ A Little Bookish, A Little Writerly - Olivia @ Bibliomad - Qui @ Qui Reads - Samantha @ Bookish Library - Sara @ Freadom Library - Sumaya @ Sue’s Reading Corner - Victoria @ Addlepates and Book Nerds - Yvo @ It’s All About Books - Zezee @ Zezee with Books No one is obligated to do this tag, but if you do, great! ❤ Just link back so I can come check it out. What did you think of my choices? Let me know in the comments!

Rebecca Roberts questions the use of language in criminal justice and introduces comments from Frances Crook, Jonathan Simon, Mike Nellis, Lizzie Seal, Simon Pemberton and Nils Christie The proliferation of ‘criminal justice talk’ – the number of words that are spoken and written about ‘crime’ and ‘criminal justice’ – in politics, media outlets, academia, and public policy is ever increasing and ever more widely accessible. This ‘debating’ section attempts to kick off a discussion about the use of criminal justice language which we can hopefully continue within the pages of cjm as well as through our Works for Freedom website. The idea for this came from discussions at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies about the language we use in our day-to-day work. Whether it is drafting a strategic plan or funding application, writing up research or, indeed, editing cjm , we have to think carefully about language in the communication of ideas and engaging in public debate. At one level, it should be easy – just say what you see and do it in simple and easily understood terms. However, this is more challenging when attempting to foster critical thinking about issues relating to crime and justice. In an arena so dominated by stereotypes, prejudices, and mystification about how the system operates and who or what it targets, it seemed relevant to open up a discussion on this. So, we approached a number of writers to ask for their views. Frances Crook, Jonathan Simon, and Mike Nellis look at the uses and abuses of the term ‘offender’. Crook argues that the label is demeaning and counterproductive and calls on the voluntary sector to lead the way in challenging the use of language about people caught up in the criminal justice system. Jonathan Simon is also critical of the term ‘offender’ and takes issue with describing people by one aspect of their behaviour and discusses some alternatives. Mike Nellis defends the use of ‘offender’ in probation practice and highlights its popularisation in the 1960s as an alternative to terms such as ‘criminal’ and ‘delinquent’. Nellis argues that ‘treating people with respect and dignity regardless of what they have done, and finding words to match, is always important, but not necessarily straightforward’. Lizzie Seal looks at representations of women accused of murder and how they are often framed in terms of ‘perverse’ sexuality in a bid to emphasise their apparent deviation from the ‘norm’. Nils Christie and Simon Pemberton look at crime and harm. Christie highlights the increasing number of acts that are defined as criminal and the negative impact of social isolation and distance in terms of framing behaviour and actions, and how they are subsequently interpreted and dealt with. Simon Pemberton argues that we should look beyond individual acts and ‘offences’ and use a social harm approach to interpret and interrogate social structures and how they create and reproduce harm. It would be difficult to institute timeless and unchanging rules about what language can and cannot be used. New terms that may seem value free can soon become coopted and value laden. The popularity of words and phrases will shift over time – for good and bad. In reflecting on the discussion in the debating section, the message that comes through is the importance of being searching and reflective in our use of language. In conclusion, I offer three possible things to consider when engaging in discussion and debate about criminal justice. The first is the human aspect – remembering at all times that when we talk about offenders, victims, deviants, criminals, or research subjects – all are human beings first. Secondly, it is important to encourage accuracy in defining our terms of reference. For example, there is a strong tendency towards talking about crime and criminal justice in very loose terms. Are we talking about all illegal acts? If not, which ones are we particularly interested in, and why? Those that come to the attention of the police? Are we talking about shoplifting or sexual assault or widespread harmful and illegal practices of the banking sector? When we talk about ‘offenders’, who and what are we talking about? The final point is about how best to foster and encourage critical understanding – thinking critically about the implications of using certain terms and the assumptions underlying them. Viewing certain social ‘problems’ through a ‘crime’ lens tends to imply the criminal justice system as the primary mechanism through which certain social ‘problems’ are viewed and dealt with. Exploring and debating definitions is more than a merely ‘academic’ exercise. From an early age we are given words and labels to describe the world around us. They are important tools to help interpret and explain our surroundings and feelings – the concrete and abstract. At one level, a common sense approach of using language that those around us understand needs no explanation. But, the words and phrases we use contain signals about gender, class, power, and the nature of social relations. If we want to understand criminal justice it is also important to understand the way in which the public discourse about it is constructed – and to encourage reflective and critical discussion. This is not a call for stripping away meaning from words. As emphasised by Stan Cohen (1985) in studying the professional discourse around social control, he calls for an exploration of what he describes as ‘Controltalk’ – and warns against overly sanitising the language we use. Making coercive interventions sound non-coercive and ‘nice’, it can help to obscure the harsh realities of confinement and control. But ultimately, the point is to be careful in our use of language, because as Cohen argues, ‘such a project of self awareness might help to clarify the moral, tactical and political choices in working out a policy… I would always prefer a form of justice in which values, conflicts and injustices become open and visible’ (Cohen, 1985). It's not so much the words themselves that are good or bad. It is their meaning and associations that matter. Social problems exist as do the people that experience them – how we name and frame these problems and the people involved is important and should be at the forefront of our thinking when engaging in research, policy, and public debate. Labelling people as offenders is demeaning and counter-productive by Frances Crook A summer article in The Guardian reported on recent research from the UK Drugs Policy Commission that the use of stigmatising terms such as ‘junkie’ was a major obstacle to recovery for problem drug users. This can hardly be a surprise to anyone who has worked with people with any sort of health, mental health, or social problem, however, it may be a revelation to politicians. For too long it is has been easy for politicians to treat certain sections of the population as ‘other’, implying that they are less than human. Insulting labels that define the action or illness as if it defines the whole person inhibit that individual from confronting the problem and moving on; just as importantly, the label prevents us from understanding as it becomes all we see. The Howard League conducted in-depth interviews with young adults in prison a few years ago, and they told us clearly that the first step towards a crime-free life was no longer to be labelled an offender. They had to see themselves as something different, and other people had to help them make that transition. Someone who commits an offence is not an offender; they are someone who has done something. The action does not define the whole person. They may also do good things and they will certainly fit into other categories that can offer a different definition like parent or friend. By insisting that the offence overcomes all other parts of the person we are condemning them to a sub-human category for whom there is no hope. The last government created a whole industry of services for offenders. There are skills for offenders, education for offenders, and work for offenders. Huge numbers of people are employed to deliver services at these unfortunate people. Of course, it was part of the scheme of things that offenders are not deserving of having any say in the quality or style of services, as they have had their citizenship diluted to the point of abstraction. It is time to move away from this so that the criminal justice system itself and its terminology are circumscribed. People who have committed offences have just the same right to education and employment as anyone else, and whilst they do face additional and sometimes extraordinary challenges, redressing that should simply be built into all mainstream provision. Just as the language about disability has been transformed and services have been adapted to include people with disabilities, so our language about people who have committed offences must change. It is up to the voluntary sector to lead the way. A strategy for writing in criminology and law and society work by Jonathan Simon Anyone writing in criminology or law and society scholarship in the post labelling/Foucault generations is generally haunted by the problem of what to call the subjects of criminal justice processing and punishment (as you can see I'm fighting myself to delay the moment when it becomes incumbent). We know that when we move from an adjective for conduct to using that adjective for the name of the subjects we are associating with that conduct (whether by legal or scientific procedure) we are producing a potentially consequential ‘truth effect’ that we are, however modestly involved in what Ian Hacking memorably called ‘making people up’. The two most famous/infamous are criminal and homosexual. To take the latter first, the move from describing sexual conduct as ‘homosexual’, meaning between two people of the same sex, to talking about ‘homosexuals’ involves the assumption that the conduct defines a constitutive characteristic of the subject involved such that whether that person is an out Gay man engaged in full and open life within a big city Gay community, or a married Tory minister involved in an occasional and discrete liaison with a handsome young protégé, there is a continuity of character strong enough to be the defining identity of that person. When we move from describing conduct as ‘criminal’ to speaking of a person as a ‘criminal’, we are likewise assuming a sovereign character trait that can be traced into the subject's developmental past, and used to predict their future behaviour. The fact that many and probably most contemporary social scientists would feel uncomfortable making this kind of transfer of meaning is a dramatic shift from the early and even mid-twentieth century forms of social science. It divides us from our ancestors who felt their job was making people up correctly (think about Lombroso as well as his competitors) and it is a tremendous legacy for the generation of scholars that included Michel Foucault, David Matza, Howard Becker, and Jeffrey Weeks just to name a few. Yet, many of us do it in language. The solution, promoted for years now by activists and lawyers is to talk about ‘people engaged in homosexual conduct’ or ‘people engaged in criminal conduct’. This works fine enough conceptually, but it leaves us with a writing problem. Using the formulation, ‘people engaged in criminal conduct’ over and over again, in an article about people who commit crimes, is wearying. Since I do not see a good conceptual way out of this problem, I prefer to adopt some writing strategies. Since ‘people’ or ‘men’ or ‘women’ etc. ‘engaged in criminal conduct’ deconstructs the very idea of a ‘criminal type’, it buys us some freedom to use other words for literary benefit, so long as we are careful not to choose words that affirmatively mystify but reinvesting in the made up subject of crime. Thus it seems fine to me to refer to ‘defendants’, ‘convicts’, or ‘prisoners’, when those more or less legal terms appropriately apply (throw in arrestee, detainee). Unlike the dreaded ‘al’ terms, terms ending in ‘ts’ or ‘rs’ are a well know and comfortable way of referring to people by their ‘occupations’. We talk about lawyers, doctors, dentists, and bankers at will, without fear we are making subjects up. Our culture retains the sense that one's occupation is an important but not defining source of identity. The productive sociological notion of a ‘career’ once again recommends this. We can think of someone's time in prison, or time engaged in criminal behaviour, as a part of a career in the sense of a body of experience that helps to structure their future but does not determine it. Using language in practice by Mike Nellis When the term ‘offender’ was popularised by Nacro (the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) in the 1960s it was talked up on the understanding that it was less moralistic and less stigmatising than ‘criminal’ or ‘delinquent’, less portentous than ‘lawbreaker’ and less condescending than ‘probationer’. It wasn't new, but of the limited range of words around, it was relatively neutral in its connotations. It has remained surprisingly serviceable in this respect, relatively immune to the infusions of loathing and contempt that can indeed poison our penal vocabularies. The tabloids rarely use it; except when prefaced by ‘sex’, it's not a term that's easily freighted with outrage or hate. Like ‘prisoner’ (which has never been fully displaced by the euphemism ‘inmate’) ‘offender’ has retained a simple literal meaning – someone who has committed an offence. As such, it provides minimal linguistic justification for the formal, court-ordered involvement of a probation officer in a person's life, in a way that both the old term ‘client’ and the newer term ‘service user’ shy away from. From a probation standpoint, no one is ever an ‘offender’ and nothing more. It denotes what people are, not just what they do, but it's not a totalising identity. Other facets of their lives and personalities can remain in play around and alongside it – father, daughter, partner, comedian, mate, cook, dancer, builder, whatever – all as much if not more important than the often temporary status of ‘offender’. To consider, or even call, someone an ‘offender’ does not intrinsically preclude thinking of them as a complex and vulnerable person or feeling warmly or respectful towards them. It does not necessarily impede empathy or limit one's capacity to imagine what it might be like to be them, or even to imagine doing what they have done – though that does depend somewhat on what the offence was. It need not mean that someone who has offended may not also be, or have been, a victim or survivor. Treating people with respect and dignity regardless of what they have done, and finding words to match, is always important, but not necessarily straightforward. Sentimentality and the anodyne, sanitising language that goes with it is as much to be avoided as the moralism which insidiously humiliates and imprisons people in roles and identities from which they need to distance themselves if they are to live good lives. There are probably no words that are entirely immune from debasement in some form or context – and some words that probation has toyed with, like ‘perpetrator’, were doomed from the start – but for now ‘offender’ retains its utility in the complex ‘identity work’ that probation officers do with people who have committed crimes. Different people need different responses. Some who come the way of probation shamelessly disavow criminal identities – rapist, for example – and need pressing to accept that aspect of who they are, as a precursor to taking responsibility for harm done. Others spend lifetimes sombrely regretting that they once committed murder, indelibly stained in their own eyes. Yet others may never have had – or had and rejected – conventional familial or occupational identities, and actually draw strength and purpose from an overriding criminal, sometimes violent, identity, preferring to be more feared than loved. They may resent and disdain the efforts of well-meaning probation officers to get them to think differently about themselves, and even if they do desist, may never fully repudiate what they have been in the past – anymore than the rest of us can. One can be an ‘ex-offender’ (or even an ‘ex-con’) without losing self-respect. Women, murder and narratives of femininity by Lizzie Seal The language used to portray women accused of murder is frequently lurid and stereotypical. It can be especially shocking when women stand accused of such crimes as it violates idealised notions of femininity as conformist and nurturing. A recent example is the fascination sparked by the trial and conviction of Amanda Knox, a young American woman, for the sexual assault and murder of British exchange student, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia, Italy. Meredith was killed in 2007, although the convictions of Amanda and her Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were not secured until 2009. A story about Amanda Knox posted on the Daily Mail's website describes her as having a ‘wild, raunchy past’, which included drinking and soft drug use, and quotes university acquaintances who label her a ‘man-eater’. Amanda's supposed sexual insatiability was also central to the Italian prosecution's argument that she stabbed Meredith to death after Meredith refused to participate in a sex game with Raffaele and another man, Rudy Guede. The perceived link between abnormal or excessive sexuality in women and a capacity for violence is an enduring one. Martha Beck and her boyfriend, Raymond Fernandez, were executed in New York in 1951 for murdering two women and a child. They were known as the ‘Lonely Hearts Killers’ because they found their victims through the personal ads. Important to the trial was Martha's argued sexual perversity, evidenced by her enjoyment of oral sex. The 1958 English case of Yvonne Jennion, who was found guilty of murdering her aunt, revolved around discussion of her sexuality and whether as a ‘female homosexual’ she could be regarded as a psychopathic personality (Seal, 2010). The recurrence of sexual deviance as an explanation for violence by women means that it can be understood as a ‘stock story’ that perpetuates restrictive views of acceptable female sexuality. Although doubts surround the safety of Amanda Knox's conviction, the use of stereotypical narratives of femininity in the media and criminal justice system is not troubling solely because it may contribute to a wrongful conviction. In the case of Yvonne Jennion it was the defence that sought to prove she was a psychopathic personality in order to win a verdict of manslaughter instead of murder (it did not succeed). The stories told during and about cases of murder communicate the values and assumptions of the era in which they take place – in the 1950s, ‘homosexuality’ was considered abnormal. The language used in the cases of Amanda Knox, Martha Beck, and Yvonne Jennion provides us with information about norms of femininity – what is perceived as the correct and appropriate behaviour for women. What counts as acceptable or deviant does, of course, change according to place and time. It would be unlikely that a woman's enjoyment of oral sex would be offered as an example of her ‘perversity’ in a murder trial in the present-day United States. Disagreement over the language employed to describe the gender of women accused of murder also highlights the shifting boundaries of appropriateness. The portrayal of Amanda Knox as sexually ‘promiscuous’ has been contested, with many arguing that her supposedly ‘wild’ lifestyle was neither shocking nor unusual, but normal behaviour for a 20 year old university student. Stories of women accused of murder are a cultural barometer of assumptions and arguments about the meanings of gender. Social harm and the politics of capitalist crisis by Simon Pemberton Language is fundamental to how we reach an understanding of the harms we face in our daily lives. Indeed powerful ideologies, such as crime, exist to tell us exactly what and whom we should fear, with these discourses focused disproportionately on the least powerful groups in our society. Such discourses serve to draw our attention from the very serious harms produced by the state and corporate organisations and the damaging behaviours of the powerful. Yet, as the current recession highlights, the very organisation of our society in accordance with specific vested interests, can also produce serious and widespread harms, such as poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. The language of responsibility constructed in relation to structural harms is crucial to our understanding of their causes and how we should best respond to them. Such discussions, in the wake of the credit crunch have been inevitably highly politicised, as they necessarily entail subjecting the very organisation of our societies to scrutiny. The terms of this debate have shifted dramatically. Thus, whilst critiques surfaced following the credit crunch in relation to ‘casino capitalism’ these soon passed and were replaced by calls to reform a ‘bloated and costly’ public sector. Ironically, what began as a critique of neo-liberal forms of capitalist organisation, have been turned full circle to re-affirm the central tenets of this ideology providing the basis on which the social state may be dismantled – the very structures that could serve to ameliorate the impact of the harms detailed above. Underpinning the prevailing neo-liberal language of responsibility is a set of assumptions about intentionality drawn from the liberal philosopher, Friedrich Hayek. For Hayek, market outcomes could not be considered unjust as the harms that result from them are unintended; for example, poor business decisions that result in unemployment. Furthermore, Hayek argued, as no consensus could ever be reached over the reallocation of social resources to ameliorate the consequences of harmful market consequences, there remains no just basis for a state to interfere in such outcomes. Whilst, Hayek's logic has not been followed to its ultimate conclusion in this instance, it clearly influences the current ‘common sense’ position toward the role of the state. An important critique of these ideas can be found in the work of Raymond Plant, which asserts that structural harms should be considered to be unjust, exactly because they are foreseeable and, therefore, preventable. To illustrate this point, in anticipation of the public sector cuts to be announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review, a number of analyses have demonstrated the harms that will result, alongside those communities that will bear the brunt of these cuts (see, for example, the Institute for Fiscal Studies Briefing Note BN108 and the TUC report Where the Money Goes). Given the awareness of these analyses, these potential structural harms are entirely foreseeable and, indeed, avoidable. They are avoidable exactly because alternative policy options are available to the coalition. Rather, it would appear that these harms are considered the ‘price worth paying’ to satisfy the demands of the international credit rating agencies. However, we should remind ourselves that other nations are running larger public debts than our own and have not felt the need to acquiesce to such demands. Alternative policy options exist, however, the construction of the current crisis serves to promote the interests of the financial markets at the expense of the vulnerable. …powerful ideologies, such as crime, exist to tell us exactly what and whom we should fear, with these discourses focused disproportionately on the least powerful groups in our society. Crime does not exist by Nils Christie Words can create bridges between people: beautiful and useful bridges that bring ideas, emotions, and understanding back and forth. But words can also function as barriers. Some words are so big that they contain everything, and therefore nothing. We do not understand more when such concepts are used; we understand less and give thereby free room for manoeuvre to all sorts of political or professional authorities. ‘Crime’ is one of these words. We do not understand more by using this concept, we understand less. If we want to create a type of society where citizens participate, we need to describe deplorable acts in minute detail and with small words from the daily vocabulary. Acts do not simply exist, they become. For all acts, including those seen by most people as unwanted, there are dozens of possible alternative ways of understanding them – bad, mad, evil, misplaced honour, youth bravado, political heroism – or crime. The ‘same’ acts can thus be met within several parallel systems as judicial, psychiatric, pedagogical, theological – or simply by understandings valid among family and friends. Social and/or physical distance is of particular importance in how we attach meaning to particular acts. Persons close to me are mostly not seen as criminals. I see them too well; understand the reasons for their acts. But family life is only one of several examples of social conditions of a sort that creates resistance against perceiving acts as crimes and persons as criminals. To refrain from the use of big abstract terms is more important in our time than ever before. We have created types of social life where we know each other less and less as whole human beings. Where we earlier could evaluate and react towards unwanted acts, we must now in our ignorance call in state power in the form of police. Back in the 1950s, some 30,000 cases were officially handled as ‘crimes’ in Norway. Now it is close to 300,000. This does not necessarily mean that the amount of unwanted acts have increased in this period. But it means that we now live under social conditions where most of us have lost close contact with the acts and actors, and thereby also lose the possibility to create our own interpretations of what happens. In such a situation it is particularly important to be presented with simple concrete terms in the description of the occurrences. We need detailed storytelling, not references to empty categories as ‘crime’. ‘Crime’ and ‘criminals’ are strong terms with large abilities to stick to persons. They etch other understandings of the acts and the humans behind the labels. They hide other understandings for interpretation of the acts and the humans behind the label. I have never met people – when I come close to them – who are only criminals. They are, as most of us, a mixture of good and bad. Some, maybe all, are walking mysteries. But some might have committed and are serving sentences for something terrible, and then all other aspects are overshadowed by the concept of that act or for the personality type he or she is found to be. Destructive words will often blossom among the many professionals so central in defining how humans are to be understood and governed: The psychopath, the paedophile, the manicdepressive … Destructive words will often blossom among the many professionals so central in defining how humans are to be understood and governed: The psychopath, the paedophile, the manic-depressive, the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-child; the diagnostic manuals are filled to the brim. My alternative would be to tell the whole story. And how would I like to have the supposed behavioural expert to describe those they work with? As whole persons, described in old-fashioned, pre-professional terms. Described so thoroughly that they became unsuitable for categorisation. I want to know something, concretely, on what occurred, and about the persons. Small words put together in small stories are particularly well suited to give us such knowledge. The big words from the toolbox of various professionals will often close both for insight in what happened and for informed social participation. But without their language, experts would lose both authority and efficiency! 1. Cohen , S. 1985 , Visions of Social Control , Cambridge : Polity Press 2. Seal , L. 2010 , Women, Murder and Femininity: Gender Representations of Women Who Kill , Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan . [CrossRef]

Monday, September 14, 2020 – World Youth Alliance Africa opens a new Chapter in Nairobi. The chapter will be led by passionate and committed WYA certified members, Wangeci Mwaniki and Andrew Mwangi, who are also Certified CTP Trainers and will grow the chapter by training more WYA members in Nairobi. The WYAA Nairobi chapter will serve the youth in Nairobi by providing training opportunities to enable them to understand and protect human dignity in their different careers and areas of influence. The Africa Regional office will work together with the WYA Nairobi chapter to implement WYA’s key programs such as the Certified Training Program, The Human dignity Curriculum, and Fertility Education and Medical Management. They look forward to working with all young people in high schools, colleges, and universities around Nairobi to promote WYA’s mission and vision.

Another false, inflated, misleading statistic.We should be used to them by now. The most infamous, of course, is the “frightening and high” recidivism risk assigned to those on the registry every time a politician opens his mouth to justify a new law or restriction targeting registrants. RSOL has dealt with that one in re-printing Steve Yoder’s excellent piece on the subject not long ago. With “rape culture” proponents coming out of the woodwork, this statistic continues to show up: one in five women in college will be raped during her time there. This too has been debunked for the nonsense that it is, but it, like “frightening and high,” continues to be repeated and is often “rounded down” to one in four. What parent would send a daughter off to college if she stood a 20 – 25% chance of being raped while there? Every time the Super Bowl rolls around, or any other venue drawing a large national audience, we are inundated by announcements of vast numbers of “trafficked sex workers” converging on the city where the event is being hosted. The numbers generally hover somewhere around the 50,000 mark, give or take a few thousand. That also has been exposed as massively over inflated, to the point of being called a myth, but it hasn’t slowed the funds being apportioned to law enforcement and anti-trafficking agencies to fight this scourge. Now the number-inflators have managed to converge two high-interest topics – sex and children – into one guaranteed to terrify every parent in Ohio and, by extension, every other state as well. U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio has just announced that, each year in that state, 1000 children are sold into sex slavery and over 3000 more are “at risk.” A very thorough explanation of the faulty calculations and reasoning that produced these numbers is given here and here. The disparity between these numbers, which appear on many Ohio government websites, and the reality is startling. The most recent report of the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force shows “181 potential victims of trafficking were identified statewide in 2014 after almost 100 stings to bust sex traffickers — and this tally is not limited just to children.” Whether it be the percentage of young women assaulted in college, the true re-offense risk of registrants living in the community, or the actual degree to which sex trafficking poses a threat to our children or our football games, inflating numbers for political, sensational, or financial gain is not in the public’s interest. These tactics divert focus and resources away from measures and strategies that would actually serve public safety and better protect children and all citizens. We need truth in facts, and when something is presented as a fact, we need to be able to trust it is true. This should not be too much to ask.

A full-time waitress, part-time entrepreneur with a desire to solve some of the world’s injustices will use the Miss BC Pageant this weekend in Fort Langley as her proverbial soapbox. The Langley City woman is one of 27 contenders vying for the Miss BC crown during the Miss, Miss Teen, Jr. Miss, and Mrs BC Pageant happening Monday, July 2 at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley. “I entered this pageant for many reasons. However, the main reason, is so that I can use my voice. I want to share my thoughts,” said the Kelowna-born woman. “By participating in Miss BC, I hope to meet new people, share my passions, obtain leadership skills, inspire people and in turn, be inspired,” she said. “I believe with all my heart that I have something unique to share with the world, and I am ready to do so.” Describing herself as a individualist and a passionate environmentalist, she’s looking for a chance to step out of her comfort zone and speak to the need to care for the planet. “I absolutely love earth. Since a young age I’ve been taught to appreciate the environment and all of its beauty. I truly believe it is our duty to nurture our nature just as she has done for us. This is why I chose to go to school for environmental studies,” Scott said. Moreover, however, she hopes to use the pageant as a platform to speak out about social justice – or lack there of, in her view. Her mother was a recent victim of domestic abuse. “Educating people about the impacts of domestic abuse is a very important to me. Even though it didn’t happen to me directly, I almost lost my mom to it, so it is very real to me,” explained Scott. “Seeing her go through what she did has taught me how important it is to use our voices. I want to share my story in hopes that it will inspire strength in other women.” In fact, believing in the power of speaking out, she wants people to feel comfortable enough to talk about the hardships they are facing, and hopes to inspire such. “Everything happens for a reason. I’d like to believe that is why I’ve stumbled upon this amazing opportunity,” she said of the competition. As one of the late entries, this 25-year-old wilderness lover admitted she never entered the Miss BC pageant to win. “I’m entering to gain experience and prospective. All I can say is that I hope my individuality will be embraced,” she said. The Miss BC pageant also marks what she calls the beginning of her involvement with the community. She settled into Langley City three years ago, after growing up nearby in the Clayton Heights area, and has just recently begun contributing and volunteering. For instance, Scott said, she gives $5 a month to the It Works! Gives Back Foundation and sponsoring a little boy in Africa. But this “adventure” is really her launching pad for engaging in her community. “This is just the beginning of my humanitarian dream,” she said. Each year, the contestants in Miss BC must fundraise for the Cops for Cancer, and in the past decade that has translated to more than $350,000 for the cause. This weekend’s events Scott is looking forward to fostering new friendships with some of the other contestants. There are actually 45 contestants competing this year, including six in the Mrs. category, 12 in the Miss Teen classification, and the 27 (including Scott and fellow Langleyites Alice Kim and Natasha Chadney) vying for the Miss BC crown. Training and workshops run June 30 to July 2, with the crowning ceremonies on Monday evening. It’s not a beauty contest, organizers clarify. It’s a program offering training and workshops aimed at enhancing each contender’s self-esteem and personal development while recognizing their strengths, talents, and accomplishments. “This year, I believe I will bring something different to the stage. Not only as an individual, but as a signal for progressive change,” Scott said. Proudly representing her sponsor, Hempyz, she encouraged others to seek out and participate in this event in future: “This opportunity would be great for any female… I’d say if you feel you have a positive opinion to share then definitely apply next year’s pageant.” For more information, visit their website. Is there more to this story?

I’m participating in Excerpt Monday, organized by the lovely Bria Quinlan and Mel Berthier from Romance Divas. Today’s excerpt comes from Chapter One of my fantasy/paranormal romance Deeper Than Bone. Boyd Harbor, New Jersey, Earth: Catherine Lecuyer jolted awake, her hand reaching for the baseball bat leaning against the night stand. Wait— She was home. She was safe. That was the past. Heart pounding, she sagged back against the down pillows and focused on the television blaring with a careening car chase and the sharp crack and bang of gunfire. Some cop drama had replaced the cheerful romantic comedy she’d found to keep her insomnia company. She had finally drifted off and missed the last fifteen minutes and the happily ever after. It figured. She clicked the remote. The picture tube’s grey light faded, leaving her bedroom cloaked in shadow. Dark. Quiet. She took a sharp breath. Exhaled slowly. She could do this. She tossed to her side. The clock’s red glow glared. 2:13. 2:14. 2:15. 2:16. All quiet. Too quiet. The baseboard heat ticked and gurgled with the deeper hum of the furnace in the basement. Her ears strained for each tiny noise in the old house. Stop it. You’ve absolutely nothing to be anxious over. She lived next door to a cop. How much safer could she get? She was tired of being afraid. Tired of being tired. “So get over it.” She turned on the lamp, punched her pillows into shape and crawled back under the covers. A revving car engine followed by a screech of tires jarred her off the pillow. A firecracker banged. Darn it, hadn’t those teens down the street learned their lesson? She untangled herself from the bedding. Tires squealed again and the car sped past her house. By the time she peeked through the front window blinds, the noisy-makers were long gone. Her frost-hazed neighborhood slept peacefully in the moonless November night. Stray snow flakes idled through the pools of street lights. John Morris, her police officer neighbor, was finally home from work. Everyone was sleeping. So should she. Letting the blinds fall closed, she eyed her rumpled bed. Maybe some tea first. She pulled on her fleece bathrobe and slid into her slippers. Tires shrieked, ending with a odd bang. She pushed aside the blinds. A red sedan perched askew over the curb, front bumper creased against her old maple tree. Officer Morris must have heard the crash. She glanced next door. Porch light spilled over his tidy front lawn. He was still up. He’d be outside any second. The driver shoved open the car door and stumbled out. He held onto the car door. Oh, come on, Morris. Where are you? You had to have heard it. She grabbed her phone and dialed Morris’s number as she hurried downstairs. His answering machine picked up. Good. He must already be out the door. She fumbled the two locks and the safety chain. She peered out the door. Ignoring the damage to his car, the man walked away in long, jerky strides, his attention fixed on the stretch of dark roadway near Morris’s Jeep. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. Let Officer Morris handle this. You can’t. It’s not your job. Cat hesitated on the threshold, unable to let go of the doorknob. Her breath fogged in the icy air. Don’t go. You know what’s out there in the dark. I’m supposed to help. “Hey, are you okay?” She pried her fingers from the doorknob. “Oh, God!” The driver’s voice broke. His knees hit the wet pavement beside a dark crumpled form lying just outside the pool of amber street light. “Call 911!” Cat punched the numbers and took unsteady steps along the slippery front walk. A man, face down. Her stomach tied in a hot knot. Her Sight fought to open, drew her on. She fought the Seeing back. The driver, his young face chalky, pressed his fingers to the man’s throat. “Shit! No pulse. I can’t find a pulse. Shit. He’s not breathing. Oh, God, please.” The white of t-shirt showed through a rip in his dark blue long-sleeved shirt. One black shoe was missing. Disbelief stole her breath. It couldn’t be– The driver eased the man over onto his back revealing the bloody, slack face. “Oh, God, a cop.” Choking back a sob, he launched into CPR. Not just any cop. John Morris. Blood blackened his military-short sandy brown hair and glossed his uniform shirt. Light gleamed on the grim puddle beneath him. Too much blood. This couldn’t be. A calm voice in the phone reached Cat and tugged her back. “An accident. There’s been an accident.” The voice in the phone asked so many questions. A black gun gleamed in the leaf-clotted, ice-scummed puddle by the Jeep’s rear tire. “Please, tell them I didn’t hit him! One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six . . .” He chanted the count with each forceful chest thrust. He breathed into Officer Morris. “Hit the tree. One. Two. Three. . . Saw something. Thought a deer, a dog. Hit the brakes. Hit the tree. Not him. Oh, breathe, please. One. Two. Three. . .” John Morris had waved to her in his brusk no-nonsense manner on his way to work, just hours ago. He’d flashed her one of his far too rare smiles that ignited his ice blue eyes and brightened the bad-boy sensuality of his lean rugged face, transforming him from uptight defender of the law and major anal-retentive neighbor to out-and-out temptation. The first thin siren rose wailing in the distance. Too late. Officer Morris was dead. Her unwelcome Sight knew. He was dead. The driver’s diligent CPR efforts were hopeless. Officer Morris was gone. Not a wisp of his aura remained. This couldn’t be. Just hours ago, he’d smiled, and she’d thanked God she was immune to fickle alpha-male charm. She shuddered, forced the Seeing away. Gone. A cry choked in her throat. No more lectures on her leaves in his yard. No more rare flashing smiles. No more newspapers neatly lined up on her porch. “. . . Six. Shit, oh man, oh shit. Oh, come on, breathe, man. One. Two . . .” Everyone wants to play along with Excerpt Monday! If you’d like to join in, visit the Guidelines page for more details. Excerpt Monday links: Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site. For all Excerpt Monday links, go HERE A random sampling of the many wonderful writers from varied genres to explore are: Bryn Donovan, Paranormal (PG) Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13) Adelle Laundan, Contemporary Romance (PG 13) Jeannie Lin, Historical Romance (PG 13) Crista McHugh, Paranormal (PG 13) Aithne Jarretta, Paranormal (R) Inez Kelley, Contemporary Romantic Comedy (R) Photo: Karoly Mezei

Prof. AAA. Atayero B.Sc|M.Sc|Ph.D Moscow, Russia Head, IoT-enabled Smart and Connected Communities (IESCC) Research Cluster Awards & Honours - Fellow, Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA), “having met the educational and practical experience requirements prescribed by Chartered Institute of Administration Act No. 103 of 1992.” Nov.27, 2018.. - Recipient, CEO of The Year #IAMBRANDNIGERIA Award, In Collaboration with Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). “In recognition and celebration of the scholastic work of as an individual, whose work has significantly advanced Nigeria and its educational system, placing the Nigeria brand on the global news for such accomplishment(s)”. - Recipient, IEOM Society Distinguished Leadership Award ‘In recognition of Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Education and Exceptional Contributions to Engineering and Technology”, St. George Hotel, Pretoria, SA, Oct. 31, 2018. - Recipient, IEOM Society Outstanding Educator Award ‘In recognition and appreciation of lifelong service and dedication to education and exceptional contributions to academia”. University of the District Columbia (UDC), Sep.27-29, 2018. - Fellow, The Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC), “In recognition of outstanding, and demonstrated commitment to creating, maintaining, extending and promoting the highest world standards of management consulting practice, ethics, competence and client service.” Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 2017. - Recipient, African Entrepreneurs Merit Award 2017: Award for Excellence and Leadership, by African Entrepreneurs Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria, Sep 2017. - Senior Research Fellow, (Certified Advisory Member in Communication Engineering), International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators (IARSA), July, 2017 - Fellow, The Science Association of Nigeria (FSAN), Jul 2017 - Recipient, Nigerian Society of Engineers’ (NSE, Ikeja) Award for Excellence, 2016 - Host Professor, Carnegie - IIE African Diaspora Fellowship (ADF) programme, Jan - Mar 2015. - Recipient, Ford Foundation Teaching Innovation Award, 2009/2010: “For demonstrated innovative approach to teaching, research, and mentoring of junior academics.” - Recipient, International Center for Theoretical Physics (Trieste, Italy) Grant for Workshop on Low-Cost Wireless Networking, AUST, Abuja, October 2010. - Recipient, International Center for Theoretical Physics (Trieste, Italy) Grant for FPGA and VHDL Workshop, Kumasi Ghana, 2005 - Recipient, Federal Government of Nigeria Scholarship: Bureau for External Aide, 1988–1994. - Recipient, Russian Government Stipend: 1988–1994. Undergraduate: Information Theory & Coding Techniques. Digital Systems Design with VHDL. Satellite Communications. Digital Speech Processing. History and Philosophy of Science. Cryptography Principles & Application. Internet Technology & Programming. Digital Electronics. Electric Circuit Theory. Use of Engineering Software Packages. Physical Electronics. Analogue Electronics. Postgraduate: Modelling of Information and Communication Systems and Networks | Satellite Communications | Transmission of Information | Digital Communication & Network Management. Current Postgraduate Supervision • mmWave Massive MIMO 5G Network Optimal Path Loss Determination In a Smart City using ELM • mmWave Massive MIMO Channel Characterization and Performance Analysis for 5G Networks • Development of a Graphene Field Effect Transistor for Saliva-Based Micronutrient Quantification • Cervical dilation assessment using image processing and machine learning techniques • M.Eng. Thesis: , Department of Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE), College of Engineering (CoE), Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria (Defended: Jun.2018). • Development of FIGA: A Novel Trust-Based Algorithm for Securing Autonomous Interactions in WSN, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE), School of Applied Engineering (SoE), College of Engineering (CoE), Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria (Defended: Feb.2015). • PhD. Thesis: Development of Robust Pre-processing Algorithm for Low-Contrast Human Iris, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, SAE, CoE, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (Defended: 15.07.2015). • PhD Thesis: Wind Power Integration Into Nigeria Distribution Grid, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (2011 – 2014). • PhD Thesis: Development of a Framework for Intelligent Self-Service Voice-Enabled Systems, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, School of Natural and Applied Sciences (SNAS), College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (Defended 2012.02.17). • PhD Thesis: End-to-End Delay Determination of Switched Ethernet Tree Local Area Networks, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (Defended 2011.06.07 | Published 2012.04.18 Available at: http://qr.net/end2end1 ). • M.Eng. Thesis: Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System Models for Dynamic Load Balancing in 3GPP LTE Network, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria (‘A’ Defended 2012.06.13 | Published 2012.07.26, Available at http://qr.net/anfis2 ). • M.Eng. Thesis: Modelling and Simulation of the Physical Layer of PRIME PLC, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (Defended 2012.06.13). • M.Eng. Thesis: Development of a Framework for the Implementation of Voice over IP on an IP PBX for Corporate Enterprises, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (Defended 2012.06.13). • M.Eng. Thesis: Development of a FOS Web-Based Dark-Skinned/Brown-Eyed Iris Corpora, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (Defended 2012.07 | Published 2012.08.26 | Available http://qr.net/cuiris2 ). • M.Eng. Thesis: Design and Implementation of a Multi-channel Application for Customer Care Service Delivery, Department of EIE, SET, CST, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, October, (2006). Selected Publications (3) 51. Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies Summit, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, Jan 14–16, 2019. 50. The 1st African International Conference on Industrial Engineering & Operations Mgt. (IEOM) Society, Pretoria/Johannesburg, South Africa, Oct 30-Nov 1, 2018. 49. The 3rd Industrial Engineering & Operations Mgt. (IEOM) Society Conference, The University of The District of Columbia, Sep. 27-29, 2018 48. Times Higher Education World Academic Summit, National University of Singapore, Sep. 25-27, 2018 47. AWARD Leadership Course, Sep.3-5 2018, Covenant University, Ota 46. AWARD Grant Proposal Writing Course, Sep. 5-8 2018, Covenant University, Ota 45. IEEE Comsoc Continuing Education for Communication Professionals Course, Title: Millimeter Wave Wireless Communications for Fifth Generation(5G), by T. Rappaport, (CEUs = 0.3), Download, 2018.07.01-05. 44. Panelist, The African Society of Cambridge University 5th Africa Together Conference: Pathways to a New Africa, Cambridege Union, University of Cambridge, 15th–16th June 2018, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 43. Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging economies Summit, Mohammed The 5th University, 8th–10th May, 2018, Rabat, Morocco 42. King Baudouin Foundation US, Art and Science of Fundraising, Rockefeller Center, 29th Apr–2nd May, 2018, Greater New York, NY, USA 41. Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Gender Workshop 2018, Theme: Mainstreaming Gender in Higher Education: Implications for National Growth and Development, 27-30 Mar. 2018, Covenant University, Nigeria. 40. MIT J-WEL, Group of global leaders in education for World Education Lab, themed “Learning Communities of the future”, 19-22 Mar. 2018, MIT, Boston, Massachussetts, USA 39. International Association of Engineers (IAENG), World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science WCECS 2017, October 25-27, 2017, San Francisco, USA. 38. Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit, King’s College – IET Savoy Place, 2nd–5th Sep. 2017, London, U.K. 37. International Association of Engineers (IAENG) World Congress on Engineering (WCE2017), University of Cambridge, 5th – 7th July, 2017, London, U.K. 36. 1st Times Higher Education (THE) Innovation Summit, Hong Kong Poly. University, 31 May–2 Jun, 2017. Hong Kong. 35. Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Round Table on: “The role of faith-based universities in promoting respect”, Liverpool Hope University, 30 Jan-1Feb 2017, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 34. Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies Summit, Dec 2016, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. 33. 3rd Covenant University International Conference on African Development Issues CU-ICADI 2016, 9th -11th May 2016, Ota, Nigeria. 32. NIST-USIgnite Global City Teams Challenge/IoT-Enabled Smart City Framework, NIST Campus, 22d-25th Mar. 2016, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. 31. Future Technologies Conference (FTC 2016),6-7 December 2016, San Francisco, CA, United States 30. Times Higher Education BRICS & EE Summit, 30Nov.-2Dec. 2016, University of Johannesburg, RSA. 29. Huawei Cloud Connect: Shape The Cloud, Aug.31-Sep.2 2016, Expo Center, Shanghai, China. 28. IEEE Technically Sponsored SAI Computing Conference 2016, 13-15 Jul. 2016 London, United Kingdom 27. 3rd Covenant University International Conference on African Development Issues CU-ICADI 2016, 9th-11th May 2016, Ota, Nigeria. 26. IoT-Enabled Smart City Framework, NIST Campus, 24th-25th Mar. 2016, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. 25. NIST-USIgnite Global City Teams Challenge, NIST Campus, 22nd-23rd Mar. 2016, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. 24. International Conference on Circuits and Systems (ICCS), IAENG WCECS 2015, 21st~23rd Oct. 2015, San Fransisco (USA). 23. International Conference on Communication Systems and Technologies (ICCST), IAENG WCECS 2015, 21st~23rd Oct. 2015, San Fransisco (USA). 22. International Conference on Computer Science and Applications (ICCSA), IAENG WCECS 2015, 21st~23rd Oct. 2015, San Fransisco (USA). 21. 3rd Int’l. Conference on Advances in Computing, Electronics & Communication ACEC 2015, 10-11 Oct 2015, Zurich, Switzerland 20. Inaugural Times Higher Education™ Africa Universities Summit, 30th–31st July 2015, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. 19. 7th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies EDULEARN 2015, 6th–8th July 2015, Barcelona (Spain). 18. The International Conference on Web & Open Access to Learning (ICWOAL'2014), Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, UAE, Nov. 25-‐27, 2014 17. 7th International Conference on Education, Research and Innovation ICERI 2014, 17th-19th Nov 2014, Seville, Spain 16. 6th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies Edulearn 2014, 7th-9th July 2014, Barcelona, Spain 15. British Council Going Global Conference 'Global Education: Knowledge-based economies for 21st Century Nations', 29th April - 1 May 2014, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Florida USA. 14. 1st. Times Higher Education Young Universities' Summit, 28th April 2014, Fontainebleau, Miami Florida USA. 13. 20th Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NES#20): Transforming Education Through Partnership for Global Competitiveness, Resource Person, Design Workshop IV: Tertiary Education – Competitiveness and Employability, 18–20 Mar, 2014, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria. 12. 8th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2014), 10–12 Mar. 2014, Valencia, Spain. 11. ICMCS National Conference on Teaching & Research Innovation in Nigerian Universities, 17-19 April, 2012. Redeemers' University, Mowe, Nigeria. 10. International Conference on Computer Science and Applications 2011, World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science 2011, October 19-21, 2011, San Francisco, USA. 9. International Conference on Signal Processing and Imaging Engineering 2011, World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science 2011, October 19-21, 2011, San Francisco, USA. 8. International Conference on Communications Systems and Technologies 2011, World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science 2011, October 19-21, 2011, San Francisco, USA. 7. IEEE 2nd International Workshop on Recent Advances in Broadband Access Networks RABAN 2011, co-located with IEEE 11th International Conference on ITS Telecommunication, August 23-25, 2011, St. Petersburg, Russia. 6. IEEE Region 8 EUROCON 2009 Conference, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. 5. The 2nd IEEE International Conference on Adaptive Science & Technology (ICAST), December 14~16, 2009, Accra, Ghana. 4. IEEE Communication Society 16th Telecommunication Forum, Belgrade, Serbia, Nov. 25–27 2008. 3. Southern African Telecommunications and Applications Conference (SATNAC2007), Sugar Beach Resort, Mauritius, 9-13 Sep. 2007. 2. International Conference and Workshop on 3G GSM and Mobile Computing: An Emerging Growth Engine for National Development, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, 2007. 1. International Conference on New Trends in Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, 2006. SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS: 11. COREN-NSE Workshop on Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERM) to Sensitise the Chief Executives of Engineering-based Companies, Corporations, Agencies, and Institutions, NSE Abeokuta Branch Head Quarters, Ogun State, 3 May 2012. 10. International Center for Theoretical Physics (Italy)–African University of Science and Technology–NUC Workshop on Low-Cost Wireless Networking, AUST, Abuja, October 2010. 8. Nigerian Institute of Elelctrical and Electronic Engineering Workshop, Abuja, 2009. 7. NUC Workshop for Deans and HODs of Electrical Engineering, Abuja, 2008. 6. International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA), 4th International Exhibition of Young Inventors, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 2007. 5. International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA), 2007 World Cup of Computer Implemented Inventions (CII) 27-30, Sept. 2007, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Nigeria Association of Inventors’ 2nd National Young Inventors & Innovators Summit, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, (2006). 3. International Center for Theoretical Physics (Italy)–Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology ICTP-KNUST Regional Microelectronic Workshop on FPGA and VHDL for research and Training in Africa, Kumasi, Ghana, 2005. 2. Harris Communications Microwave Engineering Workshop, Eko Hotel, Lagos, 2001. 1. Crosna Scientific Industrial Center, Workshop on Satellite Communications, Moscow, Russia, 1994. Summary of Profile The University also ranked as #151 Globally in THE Emerging Economies Rankings and ranked 301+ in the inaugural THE Impact Rankings for 2019. She is likewise ranked in the 151-200 range among universities under 50 years old globally in THE Young University Rankings 2019. In the recently released WUR 2020, Covenant was ranked in the 401-500 bracket globally, as the best of four institutions in Nigeria. The University emerged as #7 globally by improvement over last year's performance. Covenant won African Development Bank Center of Excellence in ICT slot and became one of the World Bank Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE-Impact) host Institutions with the Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication (ACE-ApIC). His dynamic and innovative leadership has created the necessary impetus for winning several international grants and awards from reputable organisations like the World Bank, UNESCO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Institute of Health, DAAD, to mention but a few. Engineer (Prof.) Atayero has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Satellite Communication Systems in 1992 and 1994 respectively. He earned his PhD from the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation (MSTUCA) in 2000. A professor of communication engineering, Atayero is a Fellow of the Science Association of Nigeria (FSAN), Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA); Chartered Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC); as well as a Senior Research Fellow of the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators. Atayero is a COREN Registered Engineer and member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other professional bodies. He has published over a hundred scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals and proceedings. He is on the editorial board of several international scientific and engineering Journals. Atayero is a recipient of various awards and scholarships including NIEEE Distinguished Communications Engineer’s Award of Excellence; APCON-#IAMBRANDNIGERIA CEO of The Year Award, IEOM Distinguished Leadership and Outstanding Educator Awards; Award for Excellence and Leadership, by African Entrepreneurs Foundation; the 'Ford Foundation Teaching Innovation Award' to name a few. His current research interests are in various aspects of Communication Engineering, including (but not limited to): Wireless Sensor Networks, Wireless (Mobile) Communications, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities, and Cyber-Physical Systems.

An extended cold front has moved through the Winnebago land area, bringing cooler temperatures, rain and some wind into the general area. This was a huge departure from the previous record setting heat seen during the month of July. Lake Winnebago has seen a huge reduction in the top water algae, along with a serious and drastic water temperature change. Water temps have plummeted to around 70 degrees, falling from peaks of 91 degrees several weeks ago. Water clarity is variable around the lake, but generally allows visibility to about 12 Inches (very stained). Another large fly hatch occurred over large stretches of the lake this past week. Fishermen have suffered through the weather changes. Many of the sport species of fish are in negative feeding moods, making for many frustrated anglers during the extended cold front. However, there are days of solid activity, especially with perch. The perch bite continues to be best on the southern third of the lake. Large groups of anglers can be found on the east shore from Pipe down to Fond du Lac. To a lesser extent the same can be said for the west shore starting a t Kalibus Reef , following the weed lines down to Fond du Lac. In Fond du Lac, there have been solid schools of perch working along the front of Lakeside Park, working all the way out to the Third Reef. This is one of the better bites on the lake currently. Fisherman’s Road launch is parked shut nearly daily, as schools of perch can be found throughout this general area. The number of fish being reported has been declining in the area, partially due to the heavy pressure by fishermen. It is not unusual to find packs of boats in the 20-40 boat range in a tight area. The walleye bite has been shut down. It is the “dog days of August” so that is not unexpected. Earlier this week an active school of mid-sized eyes were present just south of Columbia Park. These fish were concentrated in 10-13 feet of water, and liked the wobble of the Salmo Hornets behind Off Shore Planner Boards. By Sunday, these fish had disappeared or had lock jaw. We trolled this area and found large schools of fish on the graph that were unwilling to consume any presentation. Reduced water clarity may be a contributing factor also. Unfortunately, walleyes have ample food source currently. The large fly hatch provides food 24/7. The young of the year are now ready for consumption, and a mainstay of the walleye’s diet. These walleyes have food available constantly, so there is no need to chase a meal. Reaction strikes are your best bet right now. White Bass continue to be active in the deeper water. Try trolling crank baits at 2.2 to 3.0 mph to target these fish in the upper levels of the water column. Black Bass (Small and Large) were very scarce for us this week as we made several attempts to attract these fish. The same was true for Northern Pike. And there are the sheepheads…..and more sheepheads…and more sheepheads….and more sheepheads. I wish I had more to report, but that is the reality of Lake Winnebago right now. River Haus is in the process of adding a new parking lot to the property, which will give some added parking to the sport shop in Fond du Lac. Don has brought in some specialty “perch worms” for the perch jerkers. Be sure to stop by on Brooke Street to check out a great selection of live and artificial baits. Get on the water soon. It will be hunting season in less than a month, so better stock up that freezer full of filets for the Fall fish fries. firstname.lastname@example.org is my email. Have a great week!

Interview with Celia Matthews 3M recently hosted the SPARKS electrical apprentice of the year final in the Customer Innovation Centre in Bracknell. Grace Hinton, industrial placement student for electrical markets division, caught up with Celia Matthews, the Managing Director of SNG Publishing, to discuss how this year’s competition has been. 3M recently hosted the SPARKS electrical apprentice of the year final in the Customer Innovation Centre in Bracknell. I caught up with Celia Matthews, the Managing Director of SNG Publishing, to discuss how this year’s competition has been. GH: Tell me a little about the company, your role and how it has evolved over time. CM: I founded SNG Publishing in 2006, with the aim to support electrical apprentices through college and help prepare them for the real world. I felt there was a real lack of support from the colleges at that time and I wanted to do something to help. I’ve been involved throughout the journey and it’s been very rewarding seeing so many thousands of students benefit from our learning resources and take pride in their career choice. The competitions give them confidence and that’s what it’s all about. They should be proud to be an electrician! GH: Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the SPARKS Apprentice of the year competition! How has the competition developed over the past 10 years? CM: The first competition was very small, we only had a handful of students compete but now we have almost 80 colleges competing. The competition had been running in England and Wales for 8 years and we then launched the competition in Northern Ireland two years ago and next year we will be in Scotland. It’s very exciting! GH: Because it was the 10th anniversary, there were some added surprises at the final! How do you feel the 2019 competition went? CM: This year’s final has been the most challenging competition for the finalists, with much more involved in the test. They should all be extremely proud to have got this far at such an early part of their careers. It was a real celebration and the lecturers also got involved in some of the fun and games and made animals with the Wago connectors they were given! Sometimes I wonder who the learners are! GH: As an industrial placement student, I have found hosting the final very interesting. It will help me develop my career, whilst being involved in an event that develops the apprentice’s future careers. Why is it important to connect with the next generation of electrical engineers? CM: It’s essential that we, as an industry, support and engagement with the next generation as they start their careers. They are the future of the industry and it’s important that we give them all they need to make sure they start off well. There’s a Proverb that says, ‘Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it.’ I believe that to be true in life. If we start kids off with the right tools and with confidence in their abilities, then they will succeed and be a credit to our industry. GH: I have also found it interesting to see the different route young people take through after school and how that can impact their careers. What advice would you give to school leavers when considering apprenticeships? CM: Personally, I’ve experienced both routes. When I left school, we all went into Higher Education and went to university to get our degrees. That’s just what you did. Then years later, I went into Further Education to gain my plumbing qualifications. I think greater awareness should be given at schools for apprenticeships just as much as the university route, an apprenticeship should be seen as an extremely valued qualification and career choice. GH: There was a special guest at the 2019 final – Chris Randall, SPARKS Apprentice of the year winner in 2011. How do you feel knowing winning the competition still helps him with his career? CM: It’s absolutely fantastic. I have heard similar stories from other winners of the SPARKS competitions so it’s very exciting to see that the rewards for all their hard work are still paying dividends to them. GH: Why is it beneficial for manufacturers in this industry to participate in events like these? CM: It’s in their interest to support the youth of the industry and train them on new technologies. In turn, the students are far more likely to be brand loyal to products that they train on at the beginning of their careers and go on using them. GH: How has 3M’s support helped you to run this competition? CM: 3M’s support has been invaluable to the SPARKS finals. All the work that goes on behind the scenes is incredible and both the electrical lecturers and the contestants hugely benefit from all the hospitality, and from such a renowned name in the industry! It’s a real treat for all of us to come to 3M, not only is the 3M headquarters state-of-the-art but perhaps most importantly, for students to see the Innovation Centre first hand is a massive inspiration for them. The quality of all the different designs and development is second to none and maybe a career path that some of these young engineers might embark on in some way in the future. Massive thanks go to our hosts, Gemma Brown and to Grace Hinton for making the event such a success for all involved.

2020 has been crazy… to say the least. But in many ways, 2020 has thrust a huge spotlight on something we’ve known for quite some time – – mobile threats are real and mobile devices and apps need protection. It truly is crazy how many stories we’ve seen – and the year isn’t over yet – where the need for mobile security is front and center. Recently, Scott King and I hosted a webinar on the Top Five Mobile Security Stories of a Crazy 2020. For those who may not know, Scott – among many other things – has authored many of our threat reports related to mobile apps, including a recent series on security and privacy risks on financial apps from around the world. To watch the webinar on-demand, please click here. We each developed a list of the top five mobile security stories independently, and tried to refrain from any COVID-specific stories. With that in mind, here are Scott’s top five: A tip from a young girl on TikTok who found three TikTok users, one of whom had more than 300,000 followers, promoting what appeared to be an abusive app. The girl reported it to Be Safe Online, a project in the Czech Republic that educates children about online safety. The tip led to the discovery of aggressive adware and exorbitant prices lurking in iOS and Android smartphone apps with a combined 2.4 million downloads from the App Store and Google Play. In 2020, we not only received confirmation that popular apps like WhatsApp are vulnerable, we saw that vulnerable apps are being used as a way to install spyware. Roger Torrent and Ernest Maragell – two Catalonia politicians – and Jeff Bezos were all victims of targeted spear phishing campaigns where attackers took advantage of the vulnerabilities of an app as a means to their end. The simple fact is, no platform is 100 percent bulletproof and no app is 100 percent bulletproof. That’s why in the mobile world, just like in the traditional endpoint world, we constantly have to be looking for, finding and patching vulnerabilities, as well as providing protection behind vulnerabilities when something goes and exploits it – – like what happened here with WhatsApp. This is related to the iOS 14 beta when it first came out, and people installed it. Users noticed that some apps had access to their pasteboard or their keyboard and the operating system would warn you – ‘Reddit is monitoring what you’re typing right now in LinkedIn or Twitter or some other app.’ There were a lot of videos on Twitter on how this works. The privacy aspect of that is going to change the way we really think about our private information. Unfortunately throughout 2020, we’ve seen the continuing evolution of remote access banking Trojans. Anubis…BlackRock…Cerberus…Alien. One is released; does its damage by grabbing our banking credentials; signature is created; here comes the slightly tweaked next one….and so on….and so on. It’s clear we must monitor this as the Trojans continue to evolve and evade detection. Okay, so at first blush this may seem self-serving, and we are very proud that the Department of Defense (DoD) selected Zimperium Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) to deliver comprehensive Mobile Endpoint Protection (MEP) to the unclassified government furnished (GFE) devices of servicemen and women around the world. The fact that we will protect DoD mobile users and endpoints against phishing, malicious/risky apps, OS exploits and network attacks, points to the real story: The DoD saw a proliferation of threats and attacks on mobile devices – as we’ve described above and will continue to do so below – and recognized the need for protection. Now. Scott had a great list. Here’s mine which again, I developed separate from Scott: Back in January, the Associated Press (and the world) reported that two U.N. experts called for the U.S. to investigate a likely hack of Jeff Bezos’ phone. A commissioned forensic report found with “medium to high confidence” that Bezos’ iPhone X was compromised by a video MP4 file he received in May 2018. The Bezos hack was the highest profile mobile breach to date, bringing into focus the need to protect mobile devices. Much like the Bezos hack, so much has been written about TikTok. One aspect not receiving the attention it deserves is the idea that the TikTok app is the exception when it comes to mobile app privacy and security is false. It is the rule – – almost every mobile app has privacy and security risks. The degrees obviously vary, but the results are indisputable – – mobile apps are fraught with privacy and security risks. For example, in the last year, we’ve researched the top banking apps in 2020 and 2019, leading travel apps, shopping apps and dating apps. The overwhelming majority of the apps have privacy and security concerns. Another example of a vulnerability occurred in April, when Apple acknowledged that every iPhone released in the last eight years was vulnerable to remote attacks through the iOS Mail app. Apple did patch the vulnerability in the iOS 13.4.5 beta. This further demonstrates the fact that every platform and app can be vulnerable. This is not an iOS thing; this is a reality of all platforms and apps thing. To reiterate Scott’s points, the big takeaway for me is that – thanks to the DoD – the spotlight is brightly on two things: 1) mobile devices are the major, if not only, endpoint for many users going forward and 2) that mobile endpoints are under attack and need protecting. COVID-19 created a situation unlike anything many of us have ever seen; yet one that will likely leave permanent changes in remote working and learning. With the overnight shift towards entire workforces working remotely from home, on all variety of corporate and personal (bring your own) devices, IT and security teams have been in triage mode from a security and risk perspective. We saw, and continue to see increases in COVID-related phishing and malware attacks as businesses scramble to provide protection to its employees. It’s not just remote working. Faced with uncertainty in an ever-evolving climate, school districts and higher learning institutions are struggling to do what is best for students and teachers alike. For schools relying on Chromebooks for remote education, students, teachers and administrators face the same privacy and security threats associated with laptops and mobile devices, without the same security measures. Top 5 Mobile Security Stories of a Crazy 2020

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As I said previously, in March (in New York Timeline (1913)), I’m totally fascinated by Rudolph Valentino’s first years in the USA; particularly those spent in and around New York from 1913 to 1917. Forty two or so months crammed with incident; six months of which are, apparently, an impenetrable void. This month, June, I look in some detail at 1914 — one of his most difficult years. Anyway, here is: New York Timeline (1914). For Marchese Guglielmi the first few months of 1914 are, for-want-of-a-better-phrase, a Social Whirl. Determined to put behind him his miserable Festive Period, he plunges into the dance-mad city of New York. His accommodation, Giolito’s, at 108-110 W. 49th St., is situated just east of Broadway, ten blocks south of Central Park, ten or so more north west, of the gleaming and glistening, newly-opened Grand Central Station, and a quick walk away from several exciting afternoon and evening establishments. At which, by all accounts, he becomes a regular. He calls on his fellow S. S. Cleveland passenger, Miss Eleanor Post, and they go riding in Central Park at least once. He also pays a visit and introduces himself (with a letter of introduction), to Social Butterfly, Schuyler L. Parsons Jr.; who invites him to remain for dinner and then join the various guests, when they go out to dance until the early hours. Miss Post had, along with Marion Herrion, been the young woman who’d enjoyed many hours dancing the latest dances, with Rodolfo Guglielmi, in the Second Class dining room. (Their friendship didn’t last.) Mr. Parsons, meanwhile, was a person whose name appeared in the press with alarming regularity, as an attendee, of dinner and theatre parties, dance parties and other exclusive society events. It’s interesting that he featured in an amateur film, The Flame of Kapur (1916), as a villain, not dissimilar to the sort played by Valentino a few years later. (He was to be a friend of Rudy’s right to the end.) Rodolfo continues to socialise hopeful it’ll lead to something. He reacquaints himself with three Paris friends: brothers Count Otto and Count Alex. von Salm-Hoogstraeten, and their friend, Georges/George T. Aranyi. The trio are in the US to play tennis, and Rodolfo no doubt watches them, at the National Indoor Championship Tournament, at the Seventh Regiment Armoury, 643 Park Avenue, in mid. February. Afterwards, in the evenings, the quartet enjoy nights out. Austrians, Otto and Alex., and Frenchman George, too, were seemingly all a little older than their Italian playmate. (Otto was born in 1886 and Alex. (who would perish during WW1) in 1890.) So being in their company would’ve been something of an education for someone not yet 19. I personally don’t believe that the Salms taught Valentino to tango at the Central Park Zoo, as his female fellow passengers on the Cleveland said he already knew it. However, there’s no doubt they taught him other things, and that he was a willing Pupil. The addiction of New Yorkers at this time to dancing is clear when we peruse the city’s newspapers and see how often it’s mentioned. At the start of the month a report states that the Pope has neither banned the Tango nor endorsed La Furlana. A review, days later, of The Laughing Husband, an operetta at the Knickerbocker Theatre, reveals how “Graceful Steps [Of] A New Sort” had been added to the U. S. adaptation, and that the chorus did “The Tango”. (You can listen to a medley here.) On the 9th, we see a story about 2,000 waiters, trotting, tangoing, dipping, maxixeing, and hesitating, at the Manhattan Waiters’ Association Annual Ball. (In many instances with each other.) On the 14th, we view fourteen recent or expected social gatherings, of which seven included dancing. The 17th saw the Castles, Vernon and Irene, explaining to Marguerite Mooers Marshall, a columnist, how to dance the Half and Half. And at the close of February, we learn that the Arabian Nights Ball, on the 26th, at the Folies Marigny, had begun at midnight, and had been: “… JUST ONE DANCE AFTER ANOTHER.” Thanks to high living and nightly shenanigans, with the Salms, Aranyi, and with others, Rodolfo’s funds are dwindling; and as he commences the month, he begins to appreciate he’s unable to continue in the same fashion as in January and February. In order to save money he quits his quarters at Giolito’s, and moves to less expensive, unknown, Uptown rooms. Knowing he’ll soon have to find employment, he’s also eager to seriously improve his basic English. He understands that what he learned at Nervi won’t be sufficient for him to be able to work, and he’ll be unable to improve it, while he’s surrounded by fellow Italians. His departure from Giolito’s isn’t fixed in stone and it could easily have occurred in February. The reason being, that the position he secured as a Gardener (thanks to a letter of introduction (from his older brother Alberto), to outgoing Commissioner of Immigration, William Williams), commenced after the snow had melted. As I only saw bad snow reported locally in early March, and not later, we have to accept the possibility he was out of his initial accommodation earlier than was previously thought. Maybe even by the middle of February. After some work, which included planting rhododendrons (which are still there and are referred to as ‘Rudy’s Rhodos’), his employment with Mr. Bliss, at his estate, at Brookville, outside the city on Long Island, abruptly ends, after he crashes a borrowed motorcycle. It’s also an issue that the return of Mrs. Bliss, from Europe, has ended plans for an Italian garden. Rodolfo himself isn’t enjoying being so far from Manhattan. And isn’t too pleased to be eating his meals with the other servants. Cornelius N. Bliss Jr., a kind-hearted type, then President of the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, provides him with a letter of introduction, to the New York City Parks Commissioner, Louis F. La Roche. He also, amazingly, provides him with a small weekly allowance so that he can manage in the short term. Rudy returns to Manhattan, able, just about, to manage on his recent earnings, and his allowance from Bliss. Despite his worsening situation, it seems, from time-to-time, that he’s still able to enjoy the cafes and restaurants. Rodolfo Guglielmi doesn’t grasp that Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are two people who, in time, could’ve seriously helped him with a career as a Landscape Gardener. However, he did understand he was a million miles from entering, or being accepted in, Society. Painfully aware. And this was something of a problem for him. After resettling back in the city, sometime in May, Rodolfo secures a less pleasant position as an Apprentice Park Gardener. He works the majority of the month. But eventually discovers that he’s unable to continue working, as the apprenticeship exam is open only to American citizens. By now Cornelius N. Bliss Jr.’s small allowance has probably ceased. The little he’s earned in May is disappearing. And he searches for some other kind of employment. It’s probably in May and June that he goes to the Waldorf-Astoria, one of the great New York hotels, to write on the their fine stationery to his mother (to reassure her that he’s alright and is doing well). That he eventually revealed this to his family, is known, thanks to his older brother, Alberto, mentioning it in a lengthy interview in 1977. He manages to secure a position as a Bank Teller. However, due to poor English, or an inability to calculate quickly enough, or both, he loses this job. And is once again forced to look for another vacancy. It’s now, in mid. June, that he catches the eye of ‘Dickie’ Warner – true name Richard H. Warner – a blonde, blue-eyed man in his late twenties, who’s as much of a Social Moth as Schuyler L. Parsons Jr.. Apparently, Dickie sees him: “… seated at the opposite side of the dancing space in company of several friends.” After a formal introduction they converse. And days later he invites him to dinner on the roof of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. On that warm evening, they afterwards sit drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes, and Rodolfo opens his heart to the near stranger. Telling him he’s a foreigner in a foreign land. Isn’t getting anywhere in his profession. And is: “… too proud to seek aid from his family.” Dickie’s sympathetic and tells Rudy he can move into his apartment with him until things improve. Which, the very next day, he does. Warner helping him to pack his possessions at his “anything but cheerful” lodgings. Thus commences a quite lengthy and comfortable stay, at Dickie Warner’s gorgeously decorated two room studio, at 78 West 55th Street. Rudy wakes late each day; lounges about in pyjamas in Warner’s tulip wood bed; plays with the cat, Prunella; and talks on the telephone to his girlfriends. His host is irritated by his poor English but doesn’t mind his singing. (The song that he sings most often is Mamma Mia.) Warner’s detailed – too detailed to be fabricated – account, which was published in the early Twenties, in a piece entitled, Before They Were Famous, in SCREENLAND, reveals much about Rudy half way through 1914. He continues to frequent some of the places he enjoyed earlier that year as and when he can. Has friends. And is still able to dress and present himself well. Warner remembered: “… distinctly, his dress suit, also the handiwork of a tailor in Taranto.” This pretty much proves false, the claim that Frank A. Mennillo took him to his New York tailor, to kit him out in more suitable, American garb. He was in May and June still wearing all of the garments he’d carried with him at the end of the previous year. So far he’s moved from Giolitos, to Uptown, then out to Long Island, then back to Manhattan. (He also appears to have been in Brooklyn at some point in order to be able to save money.) Living with Dickie facilitates indolence. For the time being, at least, he seems in no hurry to do anything, except laze, pet Prunella, and speak for hours on the telephone. According to his host a stay of a few days stretches to many weeks. In my estimation at least a month to six weeks. Rudy continues to live with Dickie. At some point the pair enjoy a trip to Long Beach; for so long, that Warner is forced to wire a friend in the city, and get them to climb through a window, in order to feed the cat. At the end of the month World War One breaks out in Europe. However, as neither Italy nor America are initially involved, it doesn’t yet affect Rodolfo Guglielmi, or, his family. After six or so weeks his stay with Warner ends. Where he goes next isn’t too clear. Yet it’s certain about now is when things begin to get very tough. For the next eight weeks he goes from poorly-paid job to poorly-paid job. He washes dishes, cleans automobiles, and polishes brass; anything that will give him enough money to be able to eat and pay for a place to sleep. This is a period where he’ll move about even more frequently, staying a week here, then a week there. Always moving. He’s forced to pawn his belongings. What’s left is kept by a Landlady that he’d been unable to pay. In later years, he told Norma Talmadge a story about walking five miles to City Hall, in order to find work, and, after failing to, how he’d bought a “bologna sandwich” with his very last ten cents, before walking the five miles back. The fact Norma recalled such a story, in 1938, again shows he couldn’t possibly have had a Godfather during this time. Nineteen-year-old Rodolfo continues to suffer. He eats at one, perhaps all, of the Horn & Hardart Co. Automats, on Broadway, Sixth Avenue and West 42nd St. And he sleeps at the downbeat, Mills Hotel, which charges 12 cents per night. When he can’t even afford that he doesn’t eat and sleeps on a bench in Central Park. (He also sleeps under the shrubbery and in all-night cinemas.) There’s absolutely no evidence nineteen-year-old Rudolph Valentino was forced to commit any crime in order to survive; but we must consider the possibility he may have had no choice. It’s interesting, that in a letter home, he feels that any work is better than a life of crime. And it’s in this letter, according to the family, that he reveals he’d come very close to compromising his honour. So if he didn’t commit a crime it was certainly on his mind. The disappearance of the contents of his police file, decades ago, doesn’t allow us to be sure one way or the other. In a report, in The New-York Tribune, in 1910, vagrants were only arrested if they were considered to be a ‘Cadet’ — in-other-words, a person learning to be a street criminal. If they were, they were discharged, sent to a work house, or, fined. If Rudy slept on a park bench, he would simply be moved along; as Anthony Dexter was, as Valentino, in Valentino (1951). (A rare instance of accuracy in an otherwise largely inaccurate film.) Broke and homeless things are so bleak that Rudy contemplates suicide. Then a Mystery Man he meets changes his luck. The person, apparently an Italian, takes him under his wing, shares his food and his bed, talks to him, gives him advice, and perhaps allows his guest to get a wash and to shave. The next day, or soon afterwards, after the suggestion, Rodolfo heads to Maxim’s/Cafe Maxim to speak to the piano player (who’s from Taranto). The piano player suggests talking to the Head Waiter there. When he does, The Head Waiter recalls him from earlier in the year, and offers him work as a dance partner for hire. (To dance with females who aren’t already accompanied by a male.) He accepts and commences that month. There’s no pay, but he can eat for free, keep any tips, and use an upper room, with a Victrola, to give dance instructions on the side. A different version of Rodolfo’s spell as a dancer, at Cafe Maxim, is found in the owner, Julius Keller’s, 1939 memoir, Inns and Outs. Keller claims that he himself hired him. And that Rudy had been washing cars at a nearby garage. Keller says that he found the young man to be “dark and romantic in appearance”. Whether it was Keller’s or another proprietor’s innovation isn’t clear. But dance partners for hire were far from unique to Maxim’s. They were very much looked down upon at the time as it was considered to be an unsuitable profession for a Real Man. Maxim’s was, along with Sherry’s, Delmonico’s, Luchow’s, Churchill’s, Rectors, Murray’s, and a few other venues, a restaurant that allowed patrons to dance. Their adverts in September declared that it was the “COOLEST and BEST VENTILATED DINING ROOM in TOWN”. That luncheon was just 60c. That dancing was from noon to close. And the cabaret was after 6:30 p. m. Dark, romantic Rodolfo Guglielmi swiftly enhances his natural ability, and is an instant success with patrons. He returns to being a Marchese; but, perhaps due to the French atmosphere of the establishment, tells customers he’s a Marquis. By now he has many regular female dance partners. And these varied ladies generously tip him and shower him with small gifts. In the third or fourth week of the month, Bonnie Glass (“the most original young person in the [dancing] profession”), and her former dance partner, Clifton Webb, arrive at Cafe Maxim and take a table. Glass has asked Webb to assist her in searching for a talented new partner, and they soon notice: “… a remarkably handsome, dark young man named Rudolph.” Bonnie is impressed by his tango and, on the spot, offers him the job. He tells her frankly that he doesn’t have the money to pay for the clothing required. And she tells him that she’ll cover the cost. In Clifton Webb’s posthumously published autobiography, Sitting Pretty: the Life and Times of Clifton Webb, 2011, the then very notable Bonnie Glass had recently returned from Chicago. Checking her engagements in late 1914 I saw this to be the case. (She’d danced in Chicago recently with Al. Davis.) And so I trust both Clifton Webb’s memory and his story. It seems Bonnie had a partner – George Richmond – but he was temporary. And, as she had plans for 1915, that included re-opening the grille of Cafe Boulevard, at Broadway and 41st Street, as Cafe Montmartre, she required somebody reliable who’d be available nightly. (For me this settles once and for all the question of how they met and came to be a successful Act.) It’s easy to imagine Rudy’s delight in being singled out by Bonnie and Clifton after they’d left and it all began to sink in. In no-time-at-all he would be able to quit the establishment and leave behind him, perhaps forever, the life of a Taxi Dancer — a life he found more than a little distasteful. During the first two weeks of the month Rodolfo rehearses with Bonnie in the mornings and continues to work as a hired dancer, at Maxim’s, in the afternoons and evenings. He likewise continues to be the favourite of several ladies (as mentioned by Keller in Inns and Outs). And utilises the upper room, with the Victrola, to provide private instruction for a fee. Mid. December, he dances for the first time with Glass, at Rector’s, in front of their “stage setting”, for an elegant New York audience seated amidst “fronded palms”. He’ll continue to do so for the rest of the month. And, though he fails to be credited at this point in any adverts, he’s buoyed by the realisation that bigger things lie ahead of him in 1915. In only a matter of months he’s turned his life completely around. This year, the Festive Period will not be the lonely, upsetting affair it was twelve months before. Thank you so much for reading this post. As always, the sources are available to anyone who contacts me, if they’re not already embedded into the text, or added as an image. This latest timeline will be followed by others looking at the years 1915 to 1917. And I’ve planned standalone posts for his 1916 arrest and also the missing half year. See you all in July!

Dymock Belated news of a sighting of a HOOPOE on the 27th April 11am at Brooms Green, Dymock, just in Gloucestershire. It was heard only the day before in an adjacent wood just in Herefordshire (Andrew and Janet Perry per Charles Martell). Frampton A Grasshopper Warbler still in Splatt Bridge N reedbed at 6:35am. (MK/Dave Pinner). A Greenshank heard going over at 7am and seen over the Sailing Lake by Mark Coller. Later a Common Sandpiper, six Jays flew N and four Swifts. (MK). A Common Tern and four Common Sandpipers on the Sailing Lake early morning. (Mark Coller). A Swift through at 8am. (MK/Dave Pinner). The Common Tern still present this afternoon, a Hobby over Court Lake, a Black Swan and the Ross’s Goose. (MK). Hobby by Nigel Young Purton VisMig this morning two Great White Egrets, 12 Yellow Wagtails, 23 Jays, a White Wagtail, a Fieldfare, a Siskin, two Whimbrels, two Common Sandpipers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Curlews, 45 Swallows, 16 Sand Martins, 14 House Martins and 38 Goldfinches. (Francis Steuck). Sharpness Over the high tide a Hobby and nine Whimbrels flew up river. (Paul Rich). Saul Warth From Hock Ditch at high tide 11 Whimbrels, two Common Sandpipers, an Oystercatcher, Shelducks, a Whitethroat and a few Swallows. (Mike Davis). Coombe Hill Meadows Early morning birds included a Greenshank, six Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper, plenty of Sand and House Martins, three Swallows, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a Greenfinch and a Little Owl. (Dave Stone). This evening two Whimbrels, four Curlews, nine Yellow Wagtails and a Green Sandpiper. (Jeremy Squire). Forest of Dean At Nagshead two Willow Warblers, three Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, three Song Thrushes, a Garden Warbler , a pair of Redstarts, a pair of Pied Flycatchers, a Siskin and a Mistle Thrush. (Roy Kinchin). Halmore A Hobby this morning, at least two Cuckoos calling for the fourth day running, seven Whitethroats, four Swallows, and a group of House Martins very high overhead. Also a group of Roe Deer, a doe and two fawns from last year. (Chris Newton). Cotswold Water Park East At Whelford Pools two Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, four Swallows, seven Sand Martins, three Reed Buntings, four Gadwalls, six Great Crested Grebes and 150+ Black-headed Gulls in the colony on Pit 127. (John Fletcher). A Common Sandpiper and two Common Terns on Pit 127. (John Durell). Cotswold Water Park West A Hobby on Pit 41 today. (David Creber). Horton A Cuckoo heard in woods above Horton Court today. (David Luddington). Hilcot Several Tree Pipits displaying this morning, two Garden Warblers, a Raven, two Red Kites and seven Swallow flying N. (Harvey Sherwood). Nailsworth 39 Swallows, 35+ House Martins and four Sand Martins flew N between 2:05-2:40pm. (Terry Grant). Two Grey Partridges at Tipputs Inn lay-by on the A46 at Tiltups End. (Paul Rich). Three Swifts at Windsoredge. (Roy Bircher). Chavenage Lane 75+ Swallows N between 3:20-4:55 pm, also a Red Kite circling, and at nearby Barton End, another seven Swallows, a female Wheatear and a Red Kite. (Terry Grant). Whittington A Garden Warbler singing in a small valley N of the village. (Rob Crofton). Little Farmcote, near Hailes This afternoon 4+ Buzzards circling together, two Red Kites, Chiffchaffs singing, a Skylark, a Green Woodpecker and 5+ House Martins. (Andrew & Gill Worthington).

The past year has presented the medical industry with new challenges that humanity has hardly faced before. The situation in the world has accelerated the rapid pace of software development for medical devices and made people realize the irreplaceable role of high technology in their lives. Moreover, the interest of healthcare organizations in the Internet of Things has grown to keep pace with the era of telemedicine services. The Internet of Things is a network of physical objects that receive information from the environment using sensors and software and transmit it to other devices or systems via the Internet. For healthcare, this means the integration of medical device software with clinic systems, which allows patient data to be transferred to the doctor without personal interaction, and much more. Below are a few key IoT perspectives that the medical world is taking advantage of today. Diagnostics and Monitoring of Patients’ Condition The use of the Internet of Things in healthcare makes accurate diagnosis and continuous monitoring of vital signs available to those who need it most: - for cancer patients with immunodeficiency; - for elderly people with limited mobility; - for those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, or even Perthes disease. Such technologies contribute to the development of personalized medicine when patient data is sent to doctors who carry out accurate diagnostics and select individual treatment. After all, gadgets using the capabilities of the Internet of Things can measure the vital functions of each patient: - heart rate; - electrodermal activity; - blood flow; - The electrical activity of the muscles. Among the outstanding solutions that use the Internet of Things, we should mention the development of the Israeli company EarlySense. A sensor under the patient’s mattress monitors heart rate, movement, and breathing. In case of any deviations, the medical staff sees them on their device. This continuous non-contact monitoring allows early detection of urgent cases, reduces the number of admissions to intensive care units and emergencies with the resuscitation of patients, and prevents injury to patients if they accidentally fall out of bed. The device is also being used in some clinics to monitor COVID-19 patients isolated in hospital wards. Another successful example is the SeizeIT kit, developed by the young Belgian-American company Byteflies in cooperation with UCB for measuring brain, heart, and muscle activity, respiration rate, and movement. It consists of a patch that is discreetly attached to the patient’s body and a magnet that is placed on the patch. The system detects seizures and improves the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. The Internet of Things in telemedicine is a whole separate topic. In recent months, the medical industry has more than ever recognized the need for remote consultation and diagnosis. Telemedicine already today makes life much easier for patients with limited mobility and those who are in remote areas without access to clinics. The Internet of Things is being implemented in telemedicine in the form of rapid analysis kits, such as tests developed by the American company Cue Health. Such kits allow patients to independently diagnose flu, inflammation, determine the level of vitamin D, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone and send these results to the doctor via a mobile application. Another solution that the Internet of Things offers telemedicine is a tablet with built-in sensors, developed by Proteus Digital Health in the USA to monitor timely medication intake. Once in the body, such a pill sends data about the patient’s condition to a mobile device and allows doctors to track and correct the process of taking medications. Benefits for Healthcare Facilities IoT systems, using medical device software, not only collect vital data from patients. Such technologies can: - monitor the condition of medical equipment; - regulate the temperature in the rooms; - delimit access to laboratories; - monitor the availability of medicines in hospitals; - to record the speed of response of the medical staff to alerts in case of a deterioration of the patient’s condition. Systems such as EarlySense, among other things, send regular reports to facility administrators on bed rest and response times of healthcare providers. All this not only reduces the risk for patients but also increases the efficiency and quality of treatment, strengthens the reputation of the clinic, and helps the manager to better control the work of the institution. Thanks to IoT technology, patient complications, and mortality rates are reduced, and their hospital stay is shortened. This significantly saves hospitals money and leads to a return on investment in self-sustaining Internet development. The Future of IoT in Healthcare With 5G networking infrastructure just around the corner, IoT technology offers humanity never-before-seen possibilities. The 5G Internet, with its ultra-low network response time and near-limitless bandwidth, will enable the sharing of heavy files such as MRI images at lightning speed. But not only that. The fifth generation of the Internet opens up unprecedented opportunities for innovative treatments such as remote robotic surgery. In 2017, Ericsson, one of Sweden’s leading ICT companies, showcased its Haptic Glove at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This “magic hand”, thanks to a robot with sensors and a virtual reality helmet, allows the surgeon to operate in real-time, being thousands of kilometers away from his patient. This technology opens access to quality treatment for millions of people around the world. Modern technologies in healthcare, despite all their ambiguity and issues related to the security of the Internet of Things in medicine, insurance compliance, or equipment failures, are already on the doorstep. They are shaping reality step by step, changing the understanding of what is advanced diagnostics, treatment, and healthcare.

- AAA grade freshwater pearls - Natural white colour - Hand soldered fittings for extra security - 5mm - 5.5mm size This baby's first white rice pearl bracelet is handmade from AAA grade natural white freshwater pearls in an evenly matched 5 - 5.5mm size. Each pearl has been hand picked for its excellent surface quality and superior lustre and the bracelet is finished with a sterling silver heart clasp, 1" extension chain, silver beads and bullion. All fittings have been hand soldered for extra security and to provide a longer lasting fit. Safety Note: Sugarpuss London baby bracelets are designed for birth, christening, or heirloom gifts only. Like most jewellery pieces designed for children, this bracelet contains small parts that could present a choking hazard,so adult supervision is required at all items. Jewellery pieces are NOT toys and should NOT be given to babies or very young children to play with.

The city council is considering a pilot scheme where pest control officers would provide a “free denesting service” during the main breeding season for the lesser black-backed gull, which is said to terrorise some Edinburgh neighbourhoods. Merchiston Community Council collected 418 signatures for a petition that called for the council to introduce the service in affected streets. Now officers have been asked to investigate scope for the service, which has been piloted by other UK councils including Dumfries and Galloway, to be introduced in Merchiston. If successful, it could then be rolled out to other parts of the Capital that are plagued by noisy and aggressive gulls. Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city’s environment leader, said: “It is a problem in a number of parts of the city, and we have been trying to find a means to resolve it over a number of years. “We have looked at the pilot in Dumfries and Galloway and other councils and will get a report back in November on how effective they have been.” Councils have no statutory duty to take action against gulls. However, the gull population has become so large in some areas that many are now investing time and resources in dealing with the problem. Officials at Merchiston have said that they would identify the places where nests are a problem and get consent for action to be taken from the residents. The work would then mean that the council would only have to provide pest control staff on two separate days – one day in April and one day in May. Cllr Aldridge added: “We have had particular problems in tenements where the council, if it is denesting, has to get permission from all workers before it does anything on the roof; that is bureaucratic and expensive. The proposals from Merchiston Community Council are very interesting in that the community takes some control of that.” Dumfries and Galloway Council offers a free nest and egg removal service during the main breeding period of May-July. It is reported that the service has led to an 87 per cent reduction in the young gull population. Mairianna Clyde, chair of Merchiston Community Council, said many residents suffer from a “routine loss of sleep” because of the gulls, while she has heard reports of “people and pets being attacked and intimidated” by the birds. “At some stage, some kind of control of numbers has to be considered but that is not what we are asking at this stage,” she said. Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart councillor Gordon Buchan said: “It is a particular issue in my ward, and I would imagine it is an issue in other wards as well. It is a real and pressing issue for many of our residents.”

There are 5 campground loops at Johnson Shut-Ins, a Missouri state park. We stayed in Loop 2, the loop with full hook up sites. The sites were very spacious and level. There are a number of pull through sites; although, we didn’t have one. There is a gravel trail which runs all through the campground which is great for walking and provides an easy access to the campground’s facilities. There is no wi-fi or over the air tv channels available, so we brought some DVDs for nightly entertainment. There is a campground store which was open only on weekends during our fall stay. Next to the store is a very nice laundry facility. This is a most pleasant place to camp. 2. Visit the Shut-Ins The main draw of the park is the shut-ins area. There is a concrete path from the campground to the shut-ins. However, it is 3.74 miles to the “entrance” to the shut-ins area, and then it is a small hike to the shut-ins. We felt it too far to walk, so we drove to the shut-ins area parking lot and walked in from there. There is a second store located here, and in front is a beautiful stone mural depicting nature in the Ozarks. We enjoyed the fall colors during our visit, a time when the park is a bit more peaceful. In the summer, this state park can become very crowded as people love playing in, what is commonly called, nature’s water park. Water shoes are a must along with a ton of caution. We saw two people slip on the rocks while walking just a bit into the water. Good thing they didn’t hit their heads! My pictures don’t do the justice to the beauty of the area, but here are just a few to give you an idea. 3. Visit the Black River Visitor Center One day, we walked the concrete path from the campground to the Visitor Center. It took us a good 45 minutes one way. The nice thing is the path goes under the state highway, so no worries about crossing the sometimes busy road. We enjoyed the walk immensely. We also enjoyed looking at the displays in the Visitor Center, including some short videos. The Visitor Center is on the bottom floor of the building. There are also some nice displays out front. 4. Visit Elephant Rocks State Park This day-use state park is about 14 miles from Johnson Shut-Ins, and we visited there on our best weather day. We visited this Missouri state park on a Wednesday, and we were surprised at the number of cars in the parking lot. However, we were able to practice social distancing without any issues. The walk through the elephant rocks is a paved trail which is about one mile long. There are a couple of alternate paths which ensures the path is wheelchair accessible. Right off the parking lot, there are a number of picnic tables among the boulders. After our hike, we enjoyed this area to eat lunch and to play some Scrabble. While sitting here, we saw a young girl with her grandmother walk in, both carrying sketchbooks. Later, they showed us their drawings which were excellent. What a nice activity to enjoy together and connect the generations. 5. Visit Battle of Pilot Knob – State Historic Site This state historic site is in Pilot Knob, about 15 miles away. It is a smaller museum which offers a number of displays as well as 2 movies to watch. This site preserves an important civil war battle. There is an outside walking trail; however, it was a very cold and windy day. So, we hope to do the outside activities on a future visit. Pilot Knob is in the area known as “Arcadia Valley”, and it is a beautiful area in Missouri. I can’t help but remember how my grandmother, who was born in 1898, talked about how she visited Pilot Knob as a young girl. She told me many times, she “hiked those hills morning through night.” She also said she was with some lady, maybe Mrs. Bogart, who carried a gun on those hikes. For what, I don’t know. Maybe because of snakes – or bears? My grandma lived in St. Louis, so I wonder how she got to Pilot Knob – horse or train? I will have to ask family members if they recall any more to the story. 6. Go out to Eat For dinner one night, we drove back to Pilot Knob. We ate at Baylee Jo’s BBQ, and it was delicious. It was recommended to us by a fellow camper, and it was a great recommendation. There is also a Save-A-Lot right across the street which we popped into for some groceries. My post describes just a few things to do in and around Johnson Shut-Ins. However, there are many other activities and places to visit. With such a nice campground and it being so close to home, we hope to visit and enjoy Johnson Shut-Ins and the Arcadia Valley area again and again.