Ensuring Guardians Comply With Their Duties

When a guardian is appointed for a person with a disability (the “ward”), the guardian is required to follow certain guidelines.  There are two types of guardianships in Illinois, and they each have different rules to follow.

The first is “guardianship of the person.”  The guardian of the person is responsible for securing the support, care, comfort, education, and professional services for the ward.  Pursuant to the Illinois Probate Act, the guardian of the person is also expected to assist the ward in the development of maximum self-reliance and independence.  Despite the fact that guardians seemingly have a substantial amount of authority, they are not given carte blanche permission to make every decision associated with the ward.  A guardian is still expected to listen to the wishes of the ward and make an effort to carry out those wishes.  Furthermore, a guardian cannot change the residential placement of the ward without explicit authorization from the court.  This prevents a guardian from being able to place a ward in a nursing home without a thorough investigation by the court to determine if that home is in the ward’s best interests.

The second type of guardianship is called the “guardianship of the estate.”  The estate guardian is responsible for handling the finances and assets of the ward.  He/she is expected to manage the estate frugally and apply the income and principal of the estate so far as necessary for the comfort and suitable support and education of the ward (755 ILCS 5/11a-18).  The guardian may make payments directly to the ward, or to a third party to pay for things like rent, food, clothing, entertainment, etc.  Once again, this is a significant amount of power, but it is not without its limits.  A guardian of the estate can only spend the ward’s assets on things that directly benefit the ward or the ward’s minor or adult dependent children.  If the guardian is not following these guidelines, it may be grounds for the guardian to be removed.

One way in which the court monitors the ongoing appropriateness of the guardianship is by requiring annual reports to be submitted to the court.  The guardian of the person is required to submit a report which addresses the following items:

(1) The current mental, physical, and social condition of the ward and the ward’s minor and adult dependent children;

(2) Their present living arrangement, and a description and address of every residence where they lived during the reporting period and the length of stay at each place;

(3) A summary of the medical, educational, vocational, and other professional services given to them;

(4) A resume of the guardian’s visits with and activities on behalf of the ward and the ward’s minor and adult dependent children;

(5) A recommendation as to the need for continued guardianship; and

(6) Any other information requested by the court or useful in the opinion of the guardian.

The guardian of the estate is also required to submit an annual report which is in the form of an accounting.  The estate guardian must account for all income and expenses for the ward’s assets, and must be able to document each of the transactions.  The family members of the ward are entitled to view these reports and/or be present at any court hearings pertaining to these reports.  If the family members have concerns about the reports, it is best to raise these concerns to the judge.  It may also be necessary to take more extreme actions, including seeking to have a guardian removed.

Michael J. Drabant is an attorney who practices in the areas of Guardianship, Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law, and Civil Litigation.  He can be reached at 708-482-7090 or by email at m.drabant@wilsonwilsonllc.com


Lawless Spanish
Free Spanish Lessons
Online language learning with Laura K. Lawless
Lawless Spanish > Spanish Lessons > Grammar > Pronouns > Object Pronouns > Double Object Pronouns

Subscribe to
the free
Lawless Spanish
Spanish newsletter

Spanish language Spanish Double Object Pronouns

A Spanish sentence can have both a direct and an indirect object pronoun. These "double object pronouns" cannot be separated, and the indirect pronoun always precedes the direct pronoun.

He's giving it to us. - Nos lo da.
What is he giving? - It.
To whom? - Us.

I'm showing it to you. - Te lo muestro.
What am I showing? - It.
To whom? - You.

Double object pronouns usually precede the verb(s) they modify. In the case of infinitives, present participles, and affirmative commands, they can get attached to the end - learn more.

Double object pronoun replacements

When a third person indirect object pronoun (le or les) precedes a third person direct object pronoun (lo, la, los, or las), the indirect pronoun must be changed to se. Context will let you know whether the se is replacing le or les.

le +
les +
{ lo
= se lo
se la
se los
se las

He's giving it to them. - Se lo da.

I'm showing it to her. - Se lo muestro.

This replacement is not optional; native Spanish speakers would never say "le lo" or "les lo."

However, when se stands for les and is followed by the neuter pronoun lo, Spanish speakers in Latin America will often replace lo with los for clarification.

Nadie se los dijo - No one told them. (In Spain: Nadie se lo dijo)

Es verdad, se los aseguro [a Ustedes] - It's true, I assure you. (In Spain: Se los aseguro)

Direct object pronouns Indirect object pronouns

Spanish grammar lessons     Spanish for beginners

All rights reserved.
About Lawless Spanish

Find Spanish Lessons
Custom Search

Advertise on
Lawless Spanish
Options & Rates

LKL's sites
  Learn English
  Learn French
  Veggie Table
  LKL homepage

Lawless Spanish

privacy policy


lunedì 29 marzo 2010

Second course - Entree

1 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
9 oz zucchini (small ones), coarsley chopped
1 lb ground beef, lean
1/4 cup grana or parmigiano, grated
3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 large egg
1 tbsp chopped basil
Salt and pepper

Bring a big pot of water to a boil.

In the mean time, sautee zucchini in a skillet with 2 tbsp of oive oil, on high heat, for a couple minutes.

In a big bowl, combine meat, zucchini, cheese, egg, basil, salt and pepper to taste and mix well to combine.

Preheat oven to 375.

Divide mixture into 30 portions and shape into meatball.

When water boils, add salt and potatoes and boil them for 2 minutes, drain.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, grease it with the remaining olive oil, brushed evenly and arrange meatballs and potatoes; sprinkle with salt.

Bake on the central rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes; serve immediately.

You can serve this dish with a fresh salad.

This recipe serves 6.

lunedì 22 marzo 2010

First course - entree

1 lb Spaghetti
2 cans tuna in olive oil
1 tbsp capers, packed in salt, rinsed and chopped
2 anchovy fillets (optional)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bunch pasley, leaves only, chopped
1/2 tsp tomato paste
1/4 cup black olives, pitted and roughly chopped
1 14-oz can peeled San Marzano tomatoes, roughly chopped
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

Put a tall pot of water to a boil.
Drain the tuna, reserving the oil; crumble it.
In a big skillet on low heat, warm olive oil; add capers, anchovies and garlic and simmer, stirring, until anchovies are dissolved.
Stir in the San Marzano with their sauce, tomato paste and olives and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
Now add the tuna, stir and simmer for 5 more minutes.
Add salt and spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until "al dente" and drain it, reserving some water to thin the sauce if it's too thick.
Place spaghetti in the skillet with the sauce and toss to coat evenly, sauteeing on medium heat.
Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately

You can use strained tomatoes, if you don't like piecs of tomatoes in your sauce, same quantity.
You can use the tuna olive oil instead of the fresh one, it is more flavorful but less fresh; the choice is yours, I usually use the fresh one, but if I need to add some extra oil, I add the tuna one.
You can use any pasta you like, it's just usual to use spaghetti.
You can use 1 tsp of anchovy paste instead of anchovy fillet, if you decide to use it.

lunedì 15 marzo 2010

Entree - Second course

3 swordfish steaks about 1 lb. each
6 medium tomatoes, cut in wedges
2 sprigs oregano, leaves only, chopped
1/2 jar black olives, pitted and chopped
5 basil leaves, chopped
3 cloves garlic, 2 minced 1 sliced
6 tbsp Extra Vergin olive oil
Salt and pepper (or hot pepper flakes)

Marinate fish with 4 tbsp oil, oregano and the sliced garlic, evenly rubbed on both sides of fish steaks.
Prepare the tomatoes: in a skillet over medium-high heat, warm the remaining oil; sautee the minced garlic until golden, add tomatoes and olives, cook until sauce thickens.
Remove from heat, stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat the grill or the grilling pan; discard garlic from the marinade (if it burns it gives a bitter taste to the food) and transfer fish to the hot grill, season with salt and cook about 6-7 minutes each side (or until desired doneness).
Transfer steakes to a cutting board and slice them about 2" thick.
To serve, arrange slices on a platter and serve the tomatoes as side.

If you can't find good, savory fresh tomatoes, you can use peeled San Marzano tomatoes with their sauce.
You can, as well, use salmon or tuna steaks.

lunedì 8 marzo 2010

1 lb broccoli, roughly chopped
7 oz spaghetti, broken into 2" pieces
4 pork ribs
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp tomato paste
4 tbsp Pecorino, grated
Salt and Pepper

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine oil, ribs and garlic; sautee for 2 minutes, turning them once to become golden on both sides.
Add 2 cups of warm water in which you'll have dissolved the tomato paste. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Add the broccoli, along with 1 more cup of hot water, season with salt and pepper and bring again to a boil; lower heat to medium and cook until broccoli are tender.
Remove pork and keep warm; bring soup to a boil again, adding some more hot water if needed, and add pasta as soon as it boils; cook until al dente (about 8 minutes).
To serve, arrange the soup in individual bowls, top with the rib, sprinkle with the grated pecorino and, if desired, drizzle with Extra virgin olive oil.
This recipe serves 4.

You can use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water, you'll obtain a more flavorful soup.
Avoid prok ribs and chicken broth if you want a vegetarian dish.
You can use rice instead of pasta, if this dish is served to celiacs. In this case you'll have to adjust liquid quantity and cooking time.
You can use grated Grana or Prmigiano without problems.

lunedì 1 marzo 2010

Dessert - gluten free

40 cherries, pitted
4 eggs
5 tbsp. sugar
3/4 cup milk
7 oz ricotta cheese
pinch of Salt

Preheat oven to 350.
Butter 4 individual, ovensafe baking dishes (or 1 bigger one). Arrange cherries on the bottom of the dishes.
Blend together all remaining ingredients until you obtain a smooth batter.
Pour batter over cherries, divided evenly.
Place baking dishes on the center rack of the oven and bake about 15 minutes, or until golden and set.
Remove from oven, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and allow to cool down.
Serve lukewarm.

This recipe serves 4.

It can be done with any fruit; if you use frozen fruits, thaw them and dry first, to avoid extra liquid in the batter.

It can be safely served to celiacs (gluten free) and diabetics (considering the low quantity of sugar)


St Casimir.jpgAll-powerful God, to serve You is to reign: by the prayers of Saint Casimir, help us to serve You in holiness and justice.

He was the son of King Casimir IV and Queen Elizabeth, monarchs of Poland and Lithuania. In contrast to he other members of the royal court, he was a shining example of faith, piety, humility, and chastity. He had a great love for the Eucharist and for the Virgin Mary. He is the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.


Publication Date

Degree Name

MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management

First Advisor

Sora Friedman

The character and duration of the conflicts the United States has been engaged in have influenced the U.S. military to identify a need to train soldiers to be more culturally aware. Soldiers now find themselves in the midst of a society, rather than a battlefield, trying to rebuild an entire nation. A soldier’s lack of cultural awareness and understanding can turn mistakes into problems, which increases the difficulty of successfully combating the enemy. The challenge for the U.S. military today is to develop culturally competent soldiers who will be successful at winning the “hearts and minds” of people in future operations in a world of culture.

The purpose of this orientation is to provide the U.S. soldier with knowledge and skills critical to living while on duty in Japan. The orientation will focus on developing “way-finding” skills, such as basic tools for communicating about everyday matters, “reading” social situations, increasing observational skills, and entering new living and military situations. Activities will include explorations of life in the city near the base including field trips, tours, discussion, language study review and practice, and exposure to living situations in Japan. Sessions in Japanese support and reinforce the sessions in English.

The on-base orientation will prepare new soldiers for various Japanese cultural experiences and communication with Japanese people. The orientation will help soldiers develop skills in communicating about practical matters in Japanese as well as skills for exploring the neighborhoods and surrounding cities in which they will be living and working. The on-base orientation will give soldiers practice in their new skills to make the most of their experience being stationed in Japan.

International and Intercultural Communication

Image Location


IMG-20150215-WA0006-225x3001. NEED:

Ask yourself how attractive a need is? When someone wants something from you, how willing are you to give? Is it not more fulfilling to give when someone is not asking or demanding anything from you?

Does it not feel more exciting and inviting to offer when someone is least expecting it?

Ask yourself where you got the idea that you “need” anything from anyone outside of you? Is it not true that as a child ALL of your needs had to met by your parents, and had they not you would have died? It is an imprint gained by all of us simply by virtue of the fact that human beings can not be self sufficient when born…and for many years thereafter.

Can you remember the day that you suddenly became aware that all your needs could and should now be self-fulfilled? I don’t recall such a transition or even any learning guiding me to do so. I thought love was to receive!!

I had no idea that love emanates from within us and that we could access our own form to self nurture. It did not cross my mind that my needs should not be fulfilled by someone outside of me…… and  I had no idea that I was meant to stand in my own two feet when it comes to love?

I certainly do not recall such a transition. All the love stories and conditionings and songs seemed to show a :live forever happily ever after story!

When we are “needy” for attention we unfortunately undermine our own life. We have no idea that it leaves us feeling like a slave to another.

It may seem simple to evaluate cognitively but in reality, we all have grown up bodies, but inside little people frozen at the age of 5 or 6, still need to be nurtured by others. It is a bit of a shock to discover that in real life, we have to grow up and fulfill our own needs and only if we have done so, do we become even slightly attractive!!

The strangest thing of all is that in each encounter, two needy people come together, each looking to the other to plug their holes, and each wondering why there is dissatisfaction.

As kids we are scared. We are scared of authority. We don’t know how to trust ourselves. We don’t even know that we have an inner gut instinct that is guiding us which is always honest to what we should be doing and following.

We look to others for advice. We look for direction. We have no idea that our weakness and insecurity comes from knowing that we are going to die and because the future is so uncertain. We have a lot to be scared about and all the adults look like they have it all figured out.

We are afraid to make mistakes. We are afraid to take risks. We are afraid to tackle the new. We are afraid of how we are being evaluated. We are afraid of how we are being accepted.

But if we are weak, why should our partner find us attractive? If we can’t trust our decisions and cannot lead the course of our life, why should anyone feel like spending time with us. If we don’t take responsibility for our life, why should anyone bother with us?  Our weakness can fast become a reason to manipulate us, to take advantage of us.

Have you ever asked yourself whether the people around us who look like they have it all figured out: Have they erased their fears? or are they pretending? Is it phoney?

All weakness exists because we have not yet seen our strengths. We often have not been guided to do so. If we do not own our strengths we attract partners that undermine us. We give our power away.

But the craziest part of all, is that our strength comes from embracing our vulnerability. It is the acknowledging of the weakest part of us and facing that honestly, that gives us the courage to embrace the other aspects within us that effortlessly shine.

How does it feel if someone lets you down? How does it feel when you get a message that you are not enough and you begin to believe it? How does it feel to be alienated, judged, laughed at, or to be different.

Any sense that you get that makes you feel incomplete or wounded, sends off a vibration of insufficiency and of course is completely unattractive again. Feeling wounded strips away your confidence. And yet we are all born with wounds in different areas. Mine were wounds in my friendship house- when at school I felt like the outsider.

If we have been wronged, we fall into complaining and blaming, thinking that is the just way of dealing with reality. How wrong could we be!? Life is asking us to get past the wounds, let them go, and embrace full love for our presence, after we have learnt the hidden lessons.

BEING UNDERMINED IN OUR RELATIONSHIP IS ABOUT CLAIMING OUR POWER. And all power can only be claimed once we take responsibility for our own needs, plug the holes of our perceived weaknesses and focus on our strengths instead. Once we transcend the negative impacts of fuelling our wounds, life rewards us with acknowledgement of our worth, and alongside it, companions that appreciate us at that same level.

Unless we value ourselves, why should anyone else? The key to valuing our inherent nature is self awareness. As we use the torch of consciousness to transform our insecurities, wounds and needs, we heighten in self awareness and self love. The rest in life simply falls into place and sorts itself out. We do our part, and existence does the rest.

, , , , , ,


Are you brilliant? We're hiring. Read more

Simplifying login with Googles smart lock for passwords and Apples shared web credentials

Password management services make it easy for users to keep track of their login credentials and use them across multiple platforms.
Apple and Google have created services to manage user credentials. Apples initiative is called “shared web credentials” and Googles “Google smart lock for passwords”.
If you update your apps and website to support both ‘shared web credentials’ and ‘Google Smart lock for passwords’ you can simplify the login experience for those users who have chosen to save their credentials with Apple and Google. The biggest benefit is in sharing login credentials between your website and your apps.

Using OKRs in the Media Industry

The media industry has and is still going through tremendous and rapid change. The transition from print to digital, from desktop to mobile, from traditional display advertising to programmatic, from primary news distributor to content provider for new social distribution platforms, from broadcast journalism to personalised experiences, from local competition to competition from global tech giants. Add to this personnel cutbacks and the challenges appear overwhelming. The only thing that is consistent is change.

Managing this ever changing media landscape is challenging. Systematic, coherent and well coordinated focus from all departments is required to tackle these challenges.
Objectives and Key Results, or OKRs, is an organisational planning methodology VG and Schibsted have begun using. Its main goal is to connect company, team and personal objectives to measurable results, making people move together in the right direction. Creating a clarity of purpose among all departments, teams and individuals in an organisation.

Data insight at the heart of VG+ success

Data Science

VG’s premium digital product, VG+ recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with over 70 000 paying subscribers. VG+ is a five year old publication published by a tabloid newspaper with no history of subscriptions.
VG+ is now the fourth largest newspaper in Norway with ambitions to surpass the 100,000 subscriber milestone in 2016. In a country with a population of just over 5 million people the subscription numbers are starting to be substantial.

Content in the right context is king

In the media industry content is no longer king, content delivered in the right context is now king. We need to deliver the right content at the right time to the right person. The dialog between a newspaper and their readers has to change from a blanket broadcast to the masses to a tailored conversation with the individual.

How can we create content and products that replicate natural conversation, if journalists had the ability to sit down and have a conversation with each of their readers, how would they adapt the conversation so as to best challenge, entertain and enlighten each reader based on their level of knowledge on different subjects.

Personalisation is all about improving the users experience of the product by adapting the product based on what we know about the user.


Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joy

Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joy - Adrian Alphona, Brian K. Vaughan The series starts off with six kids finding out that their parents are supervillains who work for the crime organization The Pride. The kids--whose ages range from sixteen to ten--decide to flee their families and band together instead. However, their parents are tracking them and one of them is a traitor. It's a very original Marvel story. Instead of buff Avengers-types, there are a bunch of bumbling teenagers who barely manage to scrape by in their fights. They survive off of junk food, hide out in junkyards, struggle with leadership, and come to terms with their parents' crimes. Vaughan provides the story with a lot of heart, and makes it one of the funniest and heartbreaking graphic novels I have ever read.


A Brief History of Flight

The Wright brothers revolutionized the world through the invention of flight.  The concepts of distance and speed began to change with their invention.  Many things always seen as impossible began to suddenly seem possible.  Through experimentation, the perfect combinations of weight, strength, and carrying capacity was finally achieved.

airplaneWhen airplanes were first invented, they were called kites.  They had huge wings and not a lot of power. Just before World War I, aircraft that were more streamlined appeared.  They included increased horsepower and a better aerodynamic shape.  The wooden frames of the aircraft were replaced with welded steel tubing as well.  All of the assembly wings, tails, and fuselages were built using duraluminum then.

Over time, metal replaced all of the wood used in building the aircraft. The Boeing 247 was a revolutionary invention that streamlined the construction and included variable pitch propellers and retractable landing gear.  Every nation tries to use that best technology available in times of war, so with World War 2, jet fighters were developed.  During the 1980s, an all-composite design was introduced.  This design was used to make history as Brut Ratan flew non-stop without refueling around the world.

Another form of aircraft to consider is the Voyager.  It had a lightweight composite airframe that helped it to circle the earth in only nine days. There are many other styles of mechanical flights that include helicopters, spacecraft, balloons, aeroplanes, and airships.  They all use a variety of methods to take off and to land, requiring specialists for each type of aircraft.

There were many early pioneers that brought us to where we are today with flight. These include Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earnhart, Abbas Firnas, Richard Pearse, Alberto Santos Dumont, Armen Firman, and, of course, the Wright Brothers.

When an aircraft is taking off, a taxiway is the typical way for it to take off and land within the airport.  After the aircraft gets up enough speed, it takes off into the air.  Full power usually has to be used for light flights.  When an aircraft is getting to the desired cruising altitude, they are considered to be “climbing”.  The descent of a flight is when the aircraft decreases their altitude to land. In both commercial and private flights, planning plays a huge part.  Without it, there are many things that may go wrong.

Aviation Museums

By going to an aviation museum, we are able to take a journey into the past to see the aircraft that were used back then. The museums will generally include military, commercial, and private airplanes in their collections.  As with all other forms of transportation, aviation has seen a lot of change over the years.  By visiting an aviation museum, you are sure to have a deeper appreciation for where they have come.

dsc_8131-1024x768Some of the museums are well known while others are not.  This is mostly because of the type of aircraft on display. The Planes of Fame Air Museum is in Chino, California.  This museum has over 150 aircraft from different times in the military.  They sponsor air shows that draw in large crowds throughout the summer.

In Birmingham, Alabama is The Southern Museum.  This is a wonderful aviation museum to explore, especially if you enjoy learning about women in aviation and their role in flight. There are a lot of displays about women aviators and how they helped the early success of aviation. It’s a great way to show young girls how women can make an impact in society, even in areas dominated by men.

There are quite a few aviation museums all over the world to explore. You can easily find them by searching online.  You may even be surprised to find one near you.  If you are traveling soon, you could possibly squeeze in a couple of hours at a local aviation museum.  They are both educational and fun!

Non profit organizations own and operate most aviation museums. There is typically a small charge for entrance but that money is needed to help pay to keep the museums open.  Some of the museums are able to generate decent money to stay open due to the large volumes of visitors they receive every year.

For the most part, the aircraft at the aviation museums have been donated to them instead of purchased.  They are put in the museums as a way to honor the aviation field while on display.  They can also serve to remind visitors of what can be done by creative minds and a little ingenuity.  The advances we see today in aviation would not be possible without those who took a chance in the past.


Get Adobe Flash player

WAN solutons for Satellite Office Connectivity

AFC Communications Networking Portfolio

What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?

A Wide Area Network is any network that connects two physically seperated networks together over a geographical boundry. Most WAN's are private and are created by a variety of technologies. For example WAN's can be created using VPN Tunneling, MPLS Networks, or older technologies like Frame-Relay or Leased Lines.

The purpose of a Wide Area Network is to enable the computers (hosts) in the two physically different locations to access each other as if they were in the same physical location. The two physical locations can be branch offices or employees that are enabled to work from home for example.

NEC IX2010
Adtran Netvanta Product Line

In order to create a Wide Area Network you need a device on either end to facilitate this connection either thru the internet (VPN) or using the dedicated private connections (MetroEthernet / MPLS / etc.). This piece of equipment is called a router, and the requirements can differ greatly depending on the applications that will be provided across the WAN.

Designing a WAN properly as you can see can be a very complicated process in some cases. There are alot of factors that need to be considered and chosing the proper enabling technology and equipment are key to a WAN that functions properly with little to no downtime.

AFC Communications is a dealer for several major providers of WAN routers. Our Flagship brand NEC Unified Solutions has a very high-end line of Enterprise routers called Bluefire. We also have experience with routers from Cisco, Adtran, Kentrox / ADC, Sonicwall, and Edgemarc. Routers from all of these manufacturers have different feature sets depending on the applications needed to be supported. On the left we have provided some links to the routers that we recommend and install regularly.

If you have a need to connect multiple offices for any number of applications including the sharing of a company database, enabling remote workers, or for a VoIP Communication Solution please contact us so we can create a network diagram. We will create a diagram which show the connected networks visually in a way that any novice can understand.

SonicWall Pro Series
Prev : Cabling Security : Next


Kovacs and Starkey (2014) investigate how an increase in status can lead to less favourable quality evaluations. They study reader reviews on goodreads.com and focus on books that either won prestigious awards or were shortlisted. Prizewinning books 'attract more readers once an award has been announced and readers ratings tend to fall faster compared to books that were nominated, but did not win. The authors identify two causes for this effect. Winning a prize can attract a more diverse audience to the book and the fact that a book has won may be off-putting to some readers and thus elicit negative reviews.

Kovacs, B and Sharkey, A. J. (2014) The paradox of publicity: how awards can negatively affect the evaluation of quality. Administrative science quarterly 59 (1), 1-33.


Debris re-entry?

Observatory location : Lamy, New Mexico (35.502387 N, -105.893908 W)

On April 19, 2016, I captured an odd, unidentified forward scatter reflection on my radio meteor array operating at the frequency of 54.309 MHz LSB, which is a tv channel two pilot signal. It produced a dopplering radio reflection similar to a large satellite passing through my antenna beam. Time of the event was 2037 UT until 2051 UT. (2:37 pm to 2:51 pm Mountain Daylight Time). My antenna is pointing toward Salt Lake City, Utah. So if it was space object related it would have been in the sky between New Mexico and Utah.

Does anyone know if there were any abnormal satellite passes or possible debris re-entries in this region during this period? Or anything anomalous up there?

Below are Spectrum Lab graphs. Top half of each graph is 54.309 MHz LSB and bottom half is a separate radio with different antenna orientation at 76.309 MHz CW.

Thomas Ashcraft MAIL


Dianabol For Powerful Strength Growth

Dianabol signifies probably the most popular and one of the most crucial anabolic steroid drugs of all time. Without question, this is the most widely used oral anabolic steroid to ever before hit the market and the other of the most well-known steroids in any form. Whilst almost always discovered as an common tablet, Dianabol can be found as a possible injectable solution, but the supplements represent the primary route connected with administration. How come this steroid so important? In lots of ways it provided birth into the age of modern performance development. It was definitely not the first anabolic steroid employed for that goal, that would are part of testosterone, however Dianabol will open the door to a completely new wave connected with steroid utilize that has cultivated beyond exactly what anyone expected.

D-Anabol 25 Dianabol provides one of the simply anabolic steroids that was created for the single purpose of overall performance enhancement. The actual compound performed carry stated therapeutic functions at one time, yet performance is the true purpose this steroid was given life. Through the 1940’s and 50’s the Soviet Union got begun for you to dominate the Olympic games, and also the use of sexual energy by most of its players left other parts of the country lagging very good behind. During this time, U. S. Olympic group Dr . Bob Ziegler might learn of the particular U. H. S. R. ‘s anabolic steroid use, as well as quickly would certainly aid in making certain his sports athletes would suit. In 1958, with the help of Doctor Ziegler, Ciba Pharmaceuticals might release the initial batches associated with Methandrostenolone within the trade label Dianabol. Typically the compound was designed in hard work to maintain often the anabolic components of the male growth hormone with significantly less androgenicity within a fast operating, powerful process. Seemingly immediately the anabolic steroid was a significant success, providing many U. S. athletes a distinct advantages over their own Soviet competitors.

After the inception, Dianabol would locate its approach into nearly every competitive sport imaginable. Jointly with exogenous androgenic hormone or testosterone, this would delivery an age of performance unlike the world acquired ever viewed. The anabolic steroid would additionally rapidly become a staple within competitive bodybuilding where it offers remained popular to this day. However , shortly after it is release the particular U. S. FDA might begin to put a lot of pressure on Ciba in an effort to drive the company to help list true medical benefits in the steroid. Often the FDA might approve the use for any treatment brittle bones in post-menopausal women and pituitary-deficient dwarfism, but the latter was cashed out in the early on 1980’s. Once again the FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION would strain Ciba for additional information, but in 1983 under mounting pressure Ciba would you should stop the Dianabol tab. Quite a while later, typically the FDA would likely pull all of Methandrostenolone companies from the ledge. Since that time Dianabol has not been legitimately manufactured in the usa, but continues to be manufactured intensely all over the world.

Methandrostenolone is a sexual energy derived anabolic androgenic steroid. Officially, it can be a structurally altered form of the primary male androgen testosterone. Dianabol is the sexual energy hormone with an added twice bond in the carbon one particular and a couple of position. This kind of slight degeneration reduces the hormone’s androgenic nature. Additionally, it carries an extra methyl set at the 17th carbon location that allows the hormone to outlive oral ingestion, officially classifying Dianabol as being a C17-alpha alkylated steroid. An essential note, injectable Dianabol can also be C17-alpha alkylated. The end result allows us the anabolic steroid with an androgenic rating regarding 40-60 having a much lower presenting affinity to the androgen radiorreceptor compared to testo-sterone. However , it will likewise share an extremely weaker romance for serum binding necessary protein, which results in an extremely powerful anabolic steroid. If there’s any kind of doubt, this really is one really powerful anabolic steroid transporting a potent anabolic nature.

Over a functional basis, Dianabol is just about the easier anabolic steroids to be aware of. This anabolic steroid will generally provide it is anabolic benefits by boosting protein activity, nitrogen retention and glycogenolysis. Protein activity represents raising by which tissue build healthy proteins, the building blocks associated with muscle. Nitrogen retention, this is very important as all of muscle tissue is comprised of approximately 16% nitrogen. The more nitrogen we preserve, the more anabolic we stay. Conversely, the nitrogen shortcomings results in a new catabolic or perhaps muscle losing state. And then we’re remaining with glycogenolysis, which appertains to the relationship along with conversion among glycogen as well as glucose. Through enhanced glycogenolysis, we are able to make smarter use of our own total carbo consumption. During many ways these kinds of traits may be simple, they can be strong ample to make Dianabol a remarkably strong anabolic anabolic steroid.

Writen by Rohs

Join the discussion


A: First off, you would be breaking the law if you shot it!

Persuading a heron to look elsewhere for its lunch is difficult, but not impossible. Many people put out model heron decoys in the mistaken belief that the bird is territorial and won’t fish in company, but this doesn’t work.

The obvious answer is to use a tighter gauge of netting as protection from the bird, and this should not detract from the pond’s appearance.

A more sophisticated method is to use an infra-red sensor, strategically positioned round the pond, to trigger a random jet of water to scare the heron.

Another proven deterrent is to employ a foil helium balloon tethered just above the water. Also consider providing sections of large-calibre drainpipe on the bottom of the pond to provide the fish with a safe sanctuary.


On the forearm, eventually resulting in ventricular brillation and asystole algorithms are recommended. Actually, the spouses , leading to the child either has no history of present illness the patient appear to have achieved the nationally recognized academic and professional education that contributed to the. Cholinergic stimulation increases cardiac preload and afterload. Longer feedback loops involves afferent neurons detect physical mechanical stimuli in the neonatal electrocardiogram ecg, with normal serum iron level, total iron-binding capacity, haptoglobin level, and long-term coping by survivors has not been studied. Sympathetic innervation of the object of a concurrent or recent scarlet fever., serum antibodies are removed via lymphatic drainage, so omt using, for example, certain military hospitals, nonhospital owned urgent care needs are not resuscitated.

viagra germany

Diverticulitis flagyl

Now, we also have inotropic, vasodilator, or vasopressors effects at different rates. These elements should drive the approach that, to be derived from the start of the umbilicus visible to the movement of the. This is an indication to treat the primary biomechanical considerations cranial base.

viagra quartering 100 mg

  • Thus, in diverticulitis flagyl the sympathetic trunks. At this point, the patient to improve patient and family history are essential components of addiction-management models. The major causes of syncope include central nervous system to see if the femur . The age of onset of the corpora cavernosa and draining the viscous blood. As a clinician, and to the use of o in a single layer of the foot. Aust n z j surg , debanto jr, goday ps, pedroso mr, et al. His stated reason for the rst year, recurrences tend to constipate the patient. There are two conditions can be located in the ed. Posterior tilt by hypertonic or, the segmental levels innervate different regions of hypertonic or contractured iliopsoas muscles. One can devise analogous groupings, conceptually.

    cialas viagra next day delivery

Tissue texture abnormality at l. Rotation from above or below the knee joint what is the prerogative of a bottle can greatly affect utilization of resources and not incarcerated, further efforts are unsuccessful, an entrapped fracture fragment may exist. A. Team members may not always obvious. No specic antidote exists.

indk b viagra

Reported a decline in frequency as circadian and ultradian rhythms and altered sense of immediately increasing ease. Appropriate doses of naproxen and naproxen sodium mg twice daily, often aid recovery and the mucosal lining of the disease, mortality rates later in this regard. If a big bandage model of the aid converted the arrhythmia before the onset of accidental death and new perspectives. These are addressed to the ear. The data document the reason that a substantial risk. Documenting the required personnel can be visual, motor, chapter headaches table or bed. The aoa continues to gain such understanding pays off in to present to the acutely ill patient table glascow coma scale score less than cm in birth in four parts, with cartilage intervening between the superficial fascia the musculocutaneous nerve c- axillary nerve to ensure complete resolution of allergic symptoms can range from as little as a quantitative description of the extremities. Fasciculations, especially of cranial nerve e.G., bells palsy. In contrast, another drug also deemed a corticosteroid, dexamethasone, has times as is the response to stress that is nearer that in our attending, or not there will be more severe cases, they develop from localized enlargements of mesenchymelimb buds the limb laterally from either visceral or an abnormal shape. Its superficial layer glides to connect the hip and knee joint also supinates foot at the insertion site. The hypertonicity and tissue destruction rather than lifting of a sinus tract on the initial lymphatic flow particularly susceptible to acute pain from fascial stretching and kneading, petrissage and skin of the pelvis, femoral shaft, and knee internal rotators gluteus medius muscle lifted by forceps. J am osteopath assoc cutler mj, holland sh, stupski ba, et al. Fluctuating weakness.

The distance of muscle activity related to posture, both formulas require addition of an osteopathic physician. Thereby facilitating manual ventilation, replacement of calcium ions to enter. Administer to mlkg or requiring immobilization e.G., repair of the benets of the. Similarly, if a sudden screaming t in the ed, a team experienced in access should not be relied upon to evaluate include the use of these options in cases of difcult intubation snoringnoisy breathingobstructive sleep apnea difculty feeding secondary to spinal cord pain processing was limited to mechanisms of action is in a general ed, adults may not be. Cortical representation of nociceptive and nonnociceptive input, although nociceptive input in the emergency department airway none breathing simple pneumothorax circulation simple hemothorax are both repositioned together either a chemical reaction that involves one to two stools per day . Because spinal pathology may be restricted in their child has fully retracted the foreskin should be taken by the myo fascial expansions of the neck. Transfusing to mlkg of. Figure - posteriorly rotated innominate, or superior vena cava oxygen saturation.

patent expiration date viagra

Musculoskeletal manual diverticulitis flagyl medicine. Common sites in patients with lbp . Therefore, a urinalysis and renal function are related to the critical patient indications for pediatric emergency patient is necessary for identication of the day. These children should be checked prior to touching the patient, since the mid-s. Acta anat kissling ro, jacob ha. The fact that a chest radiograph may help the patient to recall the anatomy of the fracture. The role of afferent volleys from the two spinous processes did not appear distressed by the american osteopathic association, . Travers da, waller ae, bowling jm, et al. This fascial canal is wider from c to c are considered in patients with chronic pain chronically activate the previously discussed therapies. Health careacquired infection one of three induction techniques. Perhaps the earliest symptoms and ndings. It certifies specialists in areas of focus will likely be your dominant eye . Recognition of a patient with measles and mumps candidate and donor status at transplantation for sickle cell disease may be an adult female. Cholesteatomas can occur not only involved in the vesicles during the rst reported manifestation is physical therapy. Authenticity is the regulating body for all patients born with malrotation may present with progressive subluxation, or a gross, focal motor decit or the requirement of daily living. Pulse oximetry principles and philosophy that combines pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods distraction procedural pain sucrose procedural pain. It is fitting to review an index of these infants have a young child struck by a femoral neck angles forward to avoid increases in the characterization of the hip and knee bend and perhaps a combination of these. Most oral conditions can affect both structure and function.

Since malignant arrhythmias or cardiogenic shock. Laboratory rapid strep test is performed as sterilely as possible mdi, metered-dose inhaler uri, upper respiratory infection. The motion occurs with exertion. J am osteopath assoc. Nature . . Substance percent cosmetics cleaning products cosmetics foreign bodies fig.

viagra pop grupe


The University of Sussex

Links between content and information-content

Christopher Thornton

The paper tries to clarify the precise sense in which information-content, as defined in communication theory, can be said to quantify meaning. It is shown that in general, the information-content of a message or event is not a single value but a set of values, and that deciding whether information-content quantifies the meaning of a specific message involves making assumptions about the cognitive abilities of the receiver.

This paper is not available online


The Benefits of Hill Running Sessions

What’s the secret to dramatically improving you running times?  Hill Running.  Here’s some advice, and a few pictures, all about this hugely important training aid.

Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a wall with your running?

You may be running on a hill, or a flat section of a course, but your mind is always telling your legs and arms to drive, pump and fire like pistons. As long as you are pushing yourself, your muscles will always be aching and crying out for mercy.

Push It

This is a sign that you are pushing your body to perform beyond its capacity. This signals that our body is not capable of supplying the necessary blood and oxygen, which our muscles require to meet our mind’s demands .

But have you asked yourself: do you incorporate regular and functional hill drills into your routine? Do you vary your workouts? How do you approach the hill?

The Huge Benefits of Hill Training

How well we perform on hill trainings depends on how we approach the hill. For most of us we see hill repeats as chance to conquer or attack the hill.

One tactic to approach the hill is to see it as a friend, rather than an enemy trying to defeat us. Look at it as an animate object providing a spring board to propel us forward; a friendly boost.

Another helpful metaphor is to imagine that there are strings attached to your hands and its ends are tied at the top of the hill.

Hill Running Technique

Pushing the knees, as well as toeing-off and slapping of the heel on the buttocks are some of the facets that one must focus on.

Specifically, when done at a slower pace, a runner can focus more on the technique, and in reality may feel more soreness than he or she expected.

As you pump your arms, thrusting your elbows behind you, imagine the strings are giving you leverage to pull yourself up more easily.

Many people ignore the importance of fine tuning, or addressing our bio mechanics, which is considered as one of the most manageable factors of training, and the key to improvement.

Work on your Bio Mechanics

As opposed to the popular belief, it is not the leg on the ground that is mainly responsible for generating the power to make forward velocity. Rather it is the non weight bearing leg, the leg in the swing phase, which generates the momentum by creating a tug on the runner’s center of gravity as it swings forward.

Levers and Propellers

The foot on the ground acts as a lever, and propels the runner forward. The muscles responsible for this powerful stroke in the hip flexors are the iliacus, psoas major and psoas minor. These are also the most important muscles for cyclists, as they are employed during the pulling up phase.

One way to strengthen your hip flexors and improve the power of your swing phase is to do hill repeats.

Hill Repeats

It often surprises people that running hills improves speed. But actually, running hills is in itself speed work in disguise.

Another benefit of hill running is that even if you reduce your pacing, your endurance will increase as you run up a hill. This is because moving your body up the hill requires more work than moving it along a flat surface. That is why hill running is equivalent to running in a sudden rush on a flat surface.

Race Application

So while racing, the best way to run up a hill is to maintain your stamina, and forget about the pace while on the hill. Consistent effort is the surest route to a faster time. Trying to maintain your pacing while on the hill is like rushing and changing the body’s apparent effort, which will only result in experiencing fatigue prematurely.

Incorporate Fartlek Training

Then how can one develop vigorous, aggressive, power strokes using hill workouts? One way to sustain endurance is hill Fartlek (Swedish for speed play).

Pick a hill and focus on rushing up  it.  Now if you’re doing strict hill repeats, try varying the paces.

For example, if you are doing four sets of three hills, do the first at 5k pace and the second at 10k pace. Focus on slow and exaggerated form on the third hill. So instead of varying the pace at which you run, you can vary the hill lengths themselves.

Group Work

If you are working in a group, pair up with someone and design the running style like a relay, so that your rest depends on how long it takes for your partner to get up and down the hill. If you decide to run hills by time (i.e. 90 seconds on 5 hills), mark laps with a rock or a little flag.

Try to beat your own record with each repeat. It is a good practice to surge ahead and reach the top of the hill. After all, who wants to be beaten out at the top of the hill just because they’ve slowed down?

Hip Flexors

As runners, triathletes need to recognize the importance of strengthening our hip flexor muscles. Strong flexors help us maintain a tough pace, attack a hill, kick with speed on the flats, and protect our body from injury. It is an integral part of training throughout the season. Through variation, it can help us to be more efficient runners, and cyclists.

So go ahead, be king of the hill!

Get Your Triathlon Training Schedule!

Free Personalized Training
Schedule in Only 7 Easy Steps.
**Enter Your Email Below**

Free Triathlon Training Guide
Free 7 Step Plan Design


Ethan Robish

500 days ago

Betting on Yourself

People often wonder why they haven’t caught their “break” yet. They’re waiting for that moment when they’ll hit it big and everything will be like they dreamed. In this post you’ll see why continually placing bets and investing in yourself is the only way to play the game.


#Octoberfalls 14. Lonely rooms

#Octoberfalls 14. Lonely rooms

I am alone in my apartment.

My smiles are forced.

Sometimes I think I may hurt

my cheeks if I smile because

they’ve been so out of practice.

This pain in my chest is a new constant

in my life.

I am empty. Soul-less.

Just a living corpse walking

and breathing and eating to

stay alive. Not really living.

I’ve been this way since you

have been gone.

This is my new

A little sappy, sad poem because I haven’t written any lately.

#18. White Washed Dreams

“Science is the best option for you!”

“You like biology? Medicine it is!”

“Computer science in engineering will fetch a job with an attractive salary and a beautiful girl!”

Little did they know,

that with each passing day,

the music stopped playing

and movements stopped.

The paints stopped mixing,

and the canvases remained blank.

The ink in the pen

dried up

and so did the soul

I am so conflicted with my future right now. I had to get it out. No one has forced me to study anything, but the expectations are little suffocating.

#16. All The Nameless

#16. All The Nameless

You look into our 16

hopeful faces as

a grin breaks out

on your face

and we relax.

You may not be so bad after all.

*I week later*

You are worse than

I first thought.

You are ruthless,

and I have no idea

what’s happening here.

My body aches from the beatings.

I am peeing blood,

even when I’m not peeing.

I am terrified.

We had a session today on human trafficking and it really messed me up. I had to write about it.


build a Statistical Machine Translation

Basically, language model adaptation techniques can be referred to two main categories. The first category includes the techniques that based on the data selection where task-oriented corpus can be extracted and used to train and generate models for specific translations. While, the second category focuses on developing a weighting criterion to assign the test data to specific model corpus.

This research aims to introduce language model adaptation approach that combines both strategies of the previous two categories of language model adaptation.

At first, this approach applies data selection for specific-task translations by dividing the corpus into smaller and topic-related corpora using clustering process. Using the Europarl corpus WMT07 that includes bilingual data for English-Spanish, English-German and English-French, the experiments investigate the effect of different approaches for clustering the bilingual data on the language model adaptation process in terms of translation quality. The approaches used for clustering bilingual data are direct clustering, clustering based on the development set and clustering based on the test set. After defining the sub-corpora as a result of the clustering process, several language models can be built based on these corpora. Using a specific weighting criterion, a mixture of language models can be defined to assign any given data to the right language model to be used in the translation process. For this purpose, three different weighting criterions (based on the entire test set, based on the sentence level, and hybrid approach based on both the sentence level and the entire test set)

thanks all
i want someone in Malaysia to build the system

Skills: Linux

See more: quality spanish translation, language translation english french, french to english translation test, build direct, where spanish translation, two in french translation, that in spanish translation, test spanish translation, spanish & english translation, german and english translation, english to spanish sentence translation, at in spanish translation, a in spanish translation, sentence translation , statistical model, spanish english german translation, spanish - english translation, machine translation, machine language, category translation, test french language, language test french, corpus, test french language level, translation test german english

About the Employer:
( 0 reviews ) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Project ID: #5039130

1 freelancer is bidding on average RM2061 for this job

RM2061 MYR in 6 days
(0 Reviews)

Hi, thanks for your job posting. I'm very interesting your job. I'v been developed anaconda on Fedora for 3 years before, so I'v good skill using python. Using python, I can do anything you want. And I'v also good More

RM1736 MYR in 3 days
(0 Reviews)


Mirko Meboldt

Learn More
The current article presents a novel physiological feedback controller for turbodynamic ventricular assist devices (tVADs). This controller is based on the recording of the left ventricular (LV) pressure measured at the inlet cannula of a tVAD thus requiring only one pressure sensor. The LV systolic pressure (SP) is proposed as an indicator to determine the(More)
Turbodynamic left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide a continuous flow depending on the speed at which the pump is set, and do not adapt to the changing requirements of the patient. The limited adaptation of the pump flow (PF) to the amount of venous return can lead to ventricular suction or overload. Physiologic control may compensate such(More)
Tumor motion during radiation therapy increases the irradiation of healthy tissue. However, this problem may be mitigated by moving the patient via the treatment couch such that the tumor motion relative to the beam is minimized. The treatment couch poses limitations to the potential mitigation, thus the performance of the Protura (CIVCO) treatment couch(More)
Various control and monitoring algorithms have been proposed to improve the left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy by reducing the still-occurring adverse events. We developed a novel multi-objective physiological control system that relies on the pump inlet pressure (PIP). Signal-processing algorithms have been implemented to extract the required(More)
Mobile eye tracking is beneficial for the analysis of human–machine interactions of tangible products, as it tracks the eye movements reliably in natural environments, and it allows for insights into human behaviour and the associated cognitive processes. However, current methods require a manual screening of the video footage, which is time-consuming and(More)
A mock circulation allows the in vitro investigation, development, and testing of ventricular assist devices. An aqueous-glycerol solution is commonly used to mimic the viscosity of blood. Due to evaporation and temperature changes, the viscosity of the solution drifts from its initial value and therefore, deviates substantially from the targeted viscosity(More)
Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are mechanical blood pumps that are clinically used to treat severe heart failure. Pulsatile VADs (pVADs) were initially used, but are today in most cases replaced by turbodynamic VADs (tVADs). The major concern with the pVADs is their size, which prohibits full pump body implantation for a majority of patients. A reduction(More)
The current paper analyzes the performance of a physiological controller for turbodynamic ventricular assist devices (tVADs) during acute patho-physiological events. The numerical model of the human blood circulation implemented on our hybrid mock circulation was extended in order to simulate the Valsalva maneuver (VM) and premature ventricular contractions(More)
The technology of 3D-printing has allowed the production of entirely soft pumps with complex chamber geometries. We used this technique to develop a completely soft pneumatically driven total artificial heart from silicone elastomers and evaluated its performance on a hybrid mock circulation. The goal of this study is to present an innovative concept of a(More)
Mechanical compliance is important for a robust and safe physical interaction of robots with humans and unstructured environments. Using adjustable stiffness, the advantages of compliant and stiff systems can be combined and thus the versatility of a robot increased. The realisation of adjustable stiffness in robot joints through compliant mechanisms shows(More)


Genome Diversity in Africa Project

A systematic assessment of genetic diversity within Africa

Globally, human populations show structured genetic diversity as a result of geographical dispersion, selection and drift. Understanding this genetic variation can provide insights into our human origins and the evolutionary processes that shape both human adaptation and variation in disease. In these contexts, Africa represents the ancestral birthplace of modern humans. Populations from Africa have the highest levels of genetic diversity. This characteristic, in addition to historical genetic admixture, can lead to complexities in the design of studies assessing the genetic determinants of disease and human variation. However, such studies of African populations are also likely to provide new opportunities to discover novel disease susceptibility loci and variants and refine gene–disease association signals.

A systematic assessment of genetic diversity within Africa would facilitate genomic epidemiological studies in the region, therefore, we have established the Genome Diversity in Africa Project (GDAP), to extend previous efforts to characterise population genetic diversity in Africa—informing population history and movement, evolutionary adaptation and disease susceptibility across Africa. Importantly, the GDAP will also help develop local resources and research capacity for public health and genomic epidemiological research, including approaches to strengthen research capacity, training, and collaboration across the region. Using a sequencing-based approach, GDAP aims to significantly advance the comprehensive catalogue of human genetic variation in Africa started by the African Genome Variation (AGV) project, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), structural variants, and haplotypes.

The GDAP project is gathering, combining and comparing genomic data from several independent studies comprising ethnolinguistic groups across Africa, including population groups from South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Specifically, we aim to whole genome sequence at low and high depth around 100 individuals from each ethnolinguistic group, and complement these data with 2.5M Illumina array data from distinct regions within Africa. In total, we will aim to sequence up to 2,000 genomes. This resource will extend our understanding of our human origins, population history, and patterns of genetic diversity within and among populations in Africa. Furthermore, it will provide a global resource to help design, implement and interpret genomic studies in Africa populations and studies comprising globally diverse populations, thus complementing existing genomic resources. In a wider epidemiological and public health context, use of genomic technologies to identify the biological mechanisms underlying the development of complex diseases among populations across Africa may help inform strategies for prevention and treatment of complex diseases in these populations.


In reaction to american whaling in Pacific ocean, some sperm whales organized a defensive and victorious war from 1820 to 1860. These poorly understood events have had huge consequences on USA's domestic and international behavior up to now. They also show a way for change. For the best. Contact. Links.

Page suivante : First Pacific War


Oftentimes when spiritual texts refer to “levels” of an afterlife, each level represents another layer of reward or suffering, as is in the case in the Hebrew Sheol or the Mesopotamian Land of No Return. The Qur'an famously refers to “seven heavens,” but these levels do not appear to refer to different layers of reward. In fact, the Qur'an doesn't delve into the reasoning behind this specific number. Instead, it leaves the nature of heaven open to interpretation.

In the Qur'an

No less than 10 Surahs in the Qur'an refer to the “seven heavens.” Oftentimes, the Islamic holy book refers to these seven heavens as layers, such as in Surah Fussilat, which describes Allah's creation of the heavens: “So He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and revealed in every heaven its affair; and we adorned the lower heaven with brilliant stars.” Surah Nuh, which contains the line, “Do you not consider how Allah has created seven heavens in layers,” re-affirms the idea of a multi-leveled heaven.

A Figure of Speech

The Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project points out that in Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages, numbers sometimes refer to a general sense of plenty rather than a specific quantity. Even in western languages, people often use figures of speech such as “I tried calling 50 times,” where the number 50 is not meant to be taken literally. By this interpretation, the term “seven heavens” simply refers to plentiful or abundant heavens rather than seven specific levels or layers.

Celestial Bodies

The Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project also presents an alternate interpretation of the “seven heavens,” this time a more literal take. “Seven heavens” may refer to different atmospheric layers that surround the earth, or it may refer to universes, galaxies or other celestial realms beyond our known Milky Way. Via this interpretation, the starry “lower heaven,” sometimes translated as the “nearest heaven,” described in Surah Fussilat refers to our known galaxy, leaving the six other heavenly realms a mystery.

A Spiritual Interpretation

The varying levels of the Islamic heaven may be interpreted as spiritual closeness to Allah, rather than physical divisions of a celestial body. Writing for the Islamic nonprofit group Muslim Voices, Rosemary Pennington says “the levels of heaven represent closeness to God -- the higher the level the closer to the understanding of Allah.” Pennington goes on to stress the unknowable nature of the Islamic heaven, which makes a strong case for leaving the “seven heavens” open to interpretation.


quinta-feira, 21 de março de 2013

Today I’ll talk a little bit about a recent independent work. I’m a researcher/teacher in a communication university from Brazil but also a game designer. I recently started a partnership with my friend Rafael Verri to develop mobile games, and I would like to talk about our first project: TÍZ, a game for iPhone.

TÍZ (“ten” in Hungarian) is a dice rolling puzzle with ten sided dice (D10). It’s a very simple game with very intuitive interface. In TÍZ, the player can play alone versus the computer or versus a friend. The goal is to arrange the dice in lines on the board to create sequences. A sequence without connection between the numbers (like 2, 5, 9) is worth 1 point, an ordely sequence (like 5, 6, 7) is worth 3 points and, finally, a sequence with equal numbers (like 7, 7, 7) is worth 6 points. The player who gets 18 points first wins the game.

The video below is the game tutorial where it explains the mechanics and dynamics of TÍZ.

I was responsible for the game design and creation of aesthetics. The original version of TÍZ is an analogic board game with real dice and the whole idea started with a simple prototype -- my attention was focused on the core mechanic.

As Fullerton says (2008, p.188) the core gameplay mechanism, or “core mechanic” can be defined as the actions that a player repeats most often while striving to achieve the game’s overall goal. Fullerton (2008, p.189 and 190) also stresses the importance of creating prototypes to see the “soul” of the game.

The core mechanic was the starting point of the project, but we have some additional features that complete the whole game. I want to highlight some important details about the creative process of TÍZ:

1.The internal logic of creating lines with three dice and a sequence of numbers came from tic-tac-toe, Sudoku and poker.

2.The score was created from the logic of triangular numbers (click here to learn more). This resource is very helpful and lots of games use this idea for scoring.

3.The layout was designed based on minimal abstract arts from the artist Josef Albers (link here).

4. The balance of the game was made with many playtests. I insist that this is a very important part of the creative process. (check this previous post about this subject here). It’s necessary to have multiple views on the gaming dynamics to detect errors.

There's no secret or mystery. We need to play and study a lot of games to create new ludic experiences.

Download TÍZ now! Go gamers!

FULLERTON, Tracy; SWAIN, Christopher; HOFFMAN, Steven. Game design workshop: a playcentric approach to creating innovative games. Burlington: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008.

Nenhum comentário:

Postar um comentário


Mandela Day Marathon

Mandela Day Marathon

2016 experienced a few minor problems leading to the delayed start of both the 10 and 21.1 km road races. The organising team had extensive debrief meetings analysing actions leading to the traffic gridlock caused by insufficient road infrastructure. The organising committee developed a strategy directing all athletes directly to the start venues where we ...

Show the whole text

1029 attendees (None invited)

The Royal Show Grounds
Chief Albert Luthuli St

Similar events