Sunday, 10 April 2011

Unsuk Chin Total Immersion Day

Total Immersion: Unsuk Chin
BBC SO, Barbican, London 9.4.11

My first thought when I heard about this day dedicated to the music of Unsuk Chin was that it is about time British audiences got a chance to hear the music of a composer that the Germans have been raving about for years. But on consulting the programme, it seems I am out of the loop; every piece bar one had been played in the UK before. There was one London première and one 'London public première' suggesting that I have just been mixing in the wrong circles and if you know the right people, Chin's music is easily accessible.
The London Sinfonietta gave a lunchtime concert that consisted of Gougalon, Acrostic Wordplay and the Double Concerto (only the name borrowed from Ligeti in this case). Gougalon relates to Chin's first and recent visit to China and is almost narrative in its structure and tone painting. Acrostic Wordplay is the piece that made her famous, a song cycle for soprano and ensemble. I think the comparison with Ligeti's Aventures is fair, but this is much gentler music, and perhaps the composer's oriental background shows through in her reluctance to push contrasts or extremes. The Double Concerto for piano and percussion shows this even more clearly. Chin said in the talk later on that she is not very interested in the standard orchestra (when she was asked what standard orchestration was she replied 'Brahms') which was why she always adds so much percussion. Yet she is commissioned to write orchestral music so that is what happens. Similarly, I think, with her many concertos, written at the behest of willing and able collaborators, and not out of any loyalty to the genre. So the relationship between the soloists and the ensemble is not her starting point when it comes to concertos, basically they are all in it together. In the Double Concerto, there is a percussion soloist and a percussionist in the ensemble, but both seem to do about the same amount. All excellently played under Unsuk Chin specialist Stefan Asbury, and with competent soloists. I couldn’t help wondering, though, what is in it for them, all of whom are expected to play exceptionally difficult solo parts, but without any bravura or show.
Like the lunchtime concert, the evening event by the BBC SO succeeded largely because of the excellent choice of conductor, the incomparable Ilan Volkov. I had despaired of every seeing him on the London stage again after the news broke of his move to Iceland. But he to is a Chin specialist and is a conductor who really cares about new music, ensuring that any performance under his command is well rehearsed and coordinated.
The first piece, Kala is essentially a cantata. The music is interesting and never overly complicated. As much as anything else, the score shows the composer's facility not only with writing for large orchestra, but also choir and soloists. It was a good performance, although neither of the solo singers excelled, probably because the bass was a last minute stand in (sorry, didn't catch the name) and the soprano, Sarah Tynan, is pregnant.
The next piece was Chin's Violin Concerto, for which she won the Grawemeyer Prize. To be honest, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. It is slightly closer to the traditional concerto model than most of her other works in the genre, it is in movements for example. But it is yet another example of a concertante work where the soloist sweats buckets but to no appreciable effect. There are some interesting orchestral effects, but that's not what a violin concerto should be about.
Rocana is Chin's first work for orchestra without soloist, giving a much better excuse for her to explore the potential of the large orchestra. She gave herself (or perhaps her commission gave her) a good twenty minutes to explore all her various ideas around, in this case, the idea of light. The expansive format really works for Chin's music, and it also avoids the frustration of watching a soloist who you can't really hear.


Compatible aquarium fish
Making the decision to start an aquarium, remember that fish are living creatures, like other Pets. They need to create a comfortable environment, and they need care and be sure…

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Diplostomum fish and their importance for pond culture
Advanced technology: fish Farming Diplostomum fish and their importance for pond culture Fish farming Diplomacy ( Diplostomoses ) is a widely common disease of freshwater fish caused by metacercariae of…

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Calories fish: life-giving gifts of the sea!

Caloric content of fish is much lower calorie meat. Which fish is the least calorie, and what are the beneficial properties inherent in this product, we learn from the table of caloric content of fish .

To begin with, that any fish – sea, river, caught in the lake or in the ocean, this stunning gift of nature. Because of their rich chemical composition, fish dishes are part of a variety of therapeutic, prophylactic, dietetic and children’s menu, and take a prominent place among other foods .

Being one of the most mysterious and unique chemical entities on the Earth, the water gives us really a great source of essential vitamins and minerals. Judge for yourself: fish is an important source of vitamin b, it contains vitamins A, D, E, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and even sea fish are rich in iodine and fluorine, and contains almost the entire periodic table!

Fish is the richest source of high quality protein, containing all amino acids required by the human. In this case, due to the low content in fish protein of connective tissue, represented mainly by easily soluble collagen, fish is digested and absorbed in the body much easier than meat .

But that the most valuable fish is the fact that it assetselection source of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. Unlike fats meat and poultry, fish oils are really “life-giving”. They reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the formation of cancer cells and stimulate the growth and strengthening of bones, teeth and gums, and improve the condition of skin and hair.

What is the caloric value of fish ?

The caloric value of freshwater fish are much lower caloric content of the diet of meat – beef. It can be compared with fruits and vegetables. However, it should be understood that as the amount of protein and the caloric content of fish varies depending on its type. So, freshwater river and lake fish is much less fatty and calories, and contain less valuable nutrients than their marine and oceanic counterparts. Well, the caloric content of marine fish is comparable to chicken meat, or meat with no fatty beef. While the nutritional value for salmon or Steelhead almost 1.5 times more than chicken legs.

Therefore, on the one hand, fish is an essential product for those who are struggling with excess weight, on the other hand fatty fish is better not to get involved, and to periodically include in your diet in small quantities.

It turns out that contrary to popular opinion that fish can replace meat. this has to be handled competently. Include in your diet fresh (not frozen) fish, boiled or steamed (not smoked, salted, or canned) vegetables. and you will get a balanced and harmless for the body menu, not lost in the cooking process its beneficial properties.


Jacopo Alighieri

Jacopo Alighieri (1289–1348) was an Italian poet, the son of Dante Alighieri, whom he followed in his exile. Jacopo`s most famous work is his sixty-chapter Dottrinale. ==Biography== Born in 1289 in Florence, Jacopo was the son of Dante Alighieri and his wife, Gemma di Manetto Donati. He was exiled from Florence with his father and brothers Giov....
Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacopo_Alighieri
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Gene therapy

Due to the very efficient nuclear entry mechanism of adenovirus and its low pathogenicity for humans, adenovirus-based vectors have become gene delivery vehicles that we are using to infect primary cell culture of neurons, for example. The adenoviral vectors system (AdEASY), used in our lab, allows the production of recombinant adenoviruses with high titers, including a reporter gene for monitoring the infection efficacy.
Lentiviral vectors provide attractive gene delivery vehicles in the context of non-dividing cells. The vectors also have proved to be highly efficient for in vivo gene delivery and achieve stable long-term expression of transgene in serveral target tissues, such as the brain.
A third-generation lentivirus vector was designed to improve their biosafety.

AdV infected dorsal root ganglia neurons expressing eGFP.


Learning Calligraphy: 5 Things You Need to Know as a Beginner

Sunday, October 29, 2017

One of the things I really wanted to do on my 30 by 30 list was to Learn Calligraphy. I've heard from a few of you that learning calligraphy was on the top of your to do list too. After all, pretty lettering is everywhere these days!

My motivating reasons to learn? I wanted my bullet journal to look prettier, and wanted to have calligraphy for my wedding invitations but didn't want to pay someone to do it. I think overall, my year in learning calligraphy definitely paid off!

As you can see in the picture above, I used my newfound calligraphy skill to write the name cards for my wedding display. It's may not be perfect, but it was good enough to impress my guests, my wedding planner and most importantly, myself. What a sense of accomplishment, 30x30 to do? Check ✓!

So do you want to learn calligraphy but don't know where to start? Here's answers to the 5 questions that I asked myself when I was first starting on my calligraphy journey. Note: I'm going to be talking about "calligraphy" and "hand lettering" interchangeably because to me, my main goal was to learn how to write prettier.

1. What do I need to buy to get started in calligraphy?

The idea of learning calligraphy seemed so overwhelming to me. Partly because it feels so formal and serious. When I was writing my wedding invitations while listening to the Hamilton Soundtrack (I must have looped the entire album at least 15 times lol), I felt like I was a founding father writing the Declaration of Independence.

So to get over the mental hump, I started off with a medium I'm most familiar with: pens! The calligraphy pens that I used to get myself comfortable were the Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens. There's two kinds of tips: hard and soft. I found the hard tip easier to use because it gave me more control as a beginner. However, the soft tip was great for thicker downstrokes as you write since it gives you more bend and therefore taking up more space (more on that later).

Nib. Nib Holder. Ink.
Alright, now that you've decided you'er going to be serious about learning about calligraphy, let's talk about nibs, nib holder and ink. I found the The Postmans Knock blog insanely helpful as I was learning about the different tools. I tried a few things before settling down on my favorites:

  • Brause 361 Steno Blue Pumpkin Calligraphy Pen Nib - This is the second nib that I tried. Originally I had the Zebra Comic G nib which supposedly is good for beginners because it's sturdier. Similar to the brush pens, nibs that allow more flex will be harder for a beginner to control. However, a few days into my calligraphy practice, I found myself gravitating towards the Blue Pumpkin because it really allowed me to be able to make better thin and thick strokes - and made me feel like I was actually writing prettier looking letters.
  • Oblique Nib Holder - I know that this pen looks intimidating for beginners. It's why I avoided it for my first pen and bought a straight pen to start. However, what I didn't realize was that this Oblique Nib Holder is a 2 in 1. You can either put your nib in the flange (the metal thing on the side of the pen), or straight nib holder (tip of the pen like a regular pen). So, you don't have to choose - just buy this one and try it both ways! I liked having the flange to rest my thumb on, which is why I liked using an oblique nib holder. An oblique pen also helps you write better at an angle, something that's characteristically "calligraphy".
  • Dr. Ph. Martin's Gold Ink - If you're getting into calligraphy for the "wow" factor, then you have to get gold ink. I love this ink because as it dries, it rises on the paper - giving your calligraphy an embossed effect on your paper. I used this ink on a dark colored envelope for my wedding invites - OBSESSED.
  • Black Ink - Can't be fancy and use gold ink all the time - so I ended up getting India Ink by Speedball to practice. I liked because it came in a container that I could use directly to dip my pen in.

"Nice to Have"
  • Nib Cleaner - You can either wash your nibs in water after you're done and be sure to clean it with a paper towel, or just toss them into this solution. I found it easier to just dump it in here and let it soak until the next time I used my nib. Also really helped during my long calligraphy wedding envelope writing sessions where ink started to build up on my nibs.
  • 32 lb Inkjet Paper - This was recommended by The Postmans Knock to use since the paper is heavier than the average 20 lb paper. I used it to print all my practice sheets, and it gave me confidence to write more since the ink went on so smoothly - it really did prevent ink feathering/bleeding.

2. Which resources did you use to learn calligraphy?

There's quite a few in person workshop where you can go to learn calligraphy from someone with legit calligraphy experience. But it often cost hundreds of dollars. I'm trying to learn calligraphy to save money, not spend it. So these super cheap internet resources saved me while I was learning.

The first worksheet that I ever practiced with was this FREE brush pen worksheet from Lindsey (seriously, I love this site). It really helped me learn the fundamentals of brush lettering, concepts that I applied as I was practicing calligraphy. I used a TomBow Dual Tip Brush Pen to do these drills - if you're looking to go down this route, TomBow actually sells this Hand Lettering Kit that has the two Fudenosuke Brush Pens that I mentioned, as well as the softer brush pen for larger strokes.

So what makes calligraphy different than cursive? It really looks the same, however I learned that it's how you write your heavy thick downstrokes and light thin upstrokes that makes the different. It's practicing all the strokes which helps you write prettier and better calligraphy.

I did a TON of hand letting drills before getting into my calligraphy mainly because it was an easy way for me to practice my hand writing. I felt like I was back in elementary school practicing my cursive. This also gave me a chance to start flexing my writing muscles again. Since I never write anymore, I found my hand getting tired super fast. I promise the more you write, the stronger your hand muscles get, just like any other muscle that you exercise.

After I felt like I mastered my hand lettering, I started practicing my calligraphy with my nibs and pen. I did similar drills as the brush pen worksheet and wrote random words on a page. I watched a ton of instagrammers and tried to imitate their work. However, I still wasn't in love with my writing, so I decided to make the plunge and bought this Premium Calligraphy Worksheet Set {Kaitlin Style}. It's $5 well spent!

I found myself referencing this sheet a lot as I was addressing all my envelopes, and I felt like it taught me to incorporate a writing style that I wouldn't have been able to do myself.

3. How do you get the ink on the calligraphy nib?

Okay, now that I got some of the fundamentals out of the way. Time for some "dumb questions". The answer for these questions seem obvious now that I've been doing this for a while, but they are questions I asked myself when I first started (without many answers on the internet!). So, let's cover all the bases here for you since people rarely talk about these things.

There are a few ways to get the ink on your nib. The most common way is to dip your nib into the ink. Yes, I know, it's called "dip pen", so it seems obvious that you're supposed to dip your nib into the ink. Yet, I found myself wondering - most videos I watched, people already had their ink on their nib! So, if you're wondering as well, the answer is yes, you literally dip your nib into the bottle of ink. If your bottle of ink is too big, some people pour their ink into a container (like this).

Other ways that people get the ink onto their nib is by dropping it with an eye dropper. You'll see the gold ink that I'm obsessed with comes with a dropper. I've also seen people use a brush to drip watercolor to fill their nib with ink.

No matter what, you just make sure the ink fills up the vent hole in the nib. By having the ink cover that vent hole at all times, you're keeping a decent amount of ink on your nib so that you can write for at least 1-2 words without having to re-dip.

And yes, it actually is a bit tedious to have to re-dip your pen so often. You can try to put more ink on your nib, but when you have too much ink on your nib, you end up having a huge blob of ink go on your paper. It's a fine balance of having just the right amount of ink, and it does get better with practice.

4. How should I angle my nib while writing?

Once again, obvious now that I know how it works - but super confusing without someone saying it to me explicitly. So here goes. The way that you get super thick strokes on your down stroke, is by the action of your nib splitting apart. When your nib splits apart, the stroke looks bigger since the nib is wider.

So, the best way to angle your nib is to make sure that whenever you're making a down stroke and adding additional pressure to your pen, your nib is able to split apart. Here's an animation that I hope helps illustrate this:

Besides this, I would advise that you allow your pen to lightly glaze over your paper and not apply too much pressure. That way, you get a light flow of ink for thin strokes that makes calligraphy look so delicate and light.

5. The nib is scratching my paper, am I doing this wrong?

Putting a nib to paper is counter intuitive to what we've known by using pens all our lives. But using a nib to write is supposed to be a bit "scratchy" feeling. Like you're scratching a piece of paper with a piece of metal.

That said, there are a few things I found that helps make this feel a bit more natural. The first is make sure you burn the tip of your nibs when you first receive it. When a nib is made in a factory, there's some natural oils that's applied to keep it from rusting. So, by burning the tip with fire, you're removing that oil, helping your ink flow a bit more smoothly on your paper. This helps make your nib feel less "scratchy".

Also, when using different nibs (even if it's the exact same brand, etc), I did notice that some nibs felt more smooth than others. I feel like it's simply a result of how smooth the tip of the nib is. Sometimes a nib can feel extra scratchy if the tip splits unevenly. If you're really hating the way your nib feels after practicing, maybe switch to a new one to see if it's any better. I've found one nib that feels extra buttery soft as I write with it - and I keep gravitating to using it.

Speaking of switching nibs, I think you can keep using the same nib for a long time. I used mine to write at least 300+ wedding envelopes and found no issue of having to replace it yet.

By now, I think it's clear that I am by no means an expert and I still have a ton to learn. But, I did want to document all the dumb thoughts I had in my mind when I first started practicing calligraphy, but couldn't really find any answers to. Hope you found this information helpful!

Do you have any other tips that you think I should add here? Let me know and I'll add to this post!

, ,

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Here we go a’wassailing!

1003_1_wassail-pictureHot Wassail…awesome!

Well wassailing is an old southern English tradition from somerset and roundabouts. Originally it was a ritual performed with the intention of ensuring a good crop of cider apples for the next year’s harvest…not of Christian origin at all but has left us with a tasty warming Christmas drink.

Wassail Punch
(Serves 4-6 people)

6 small apples, washed, cores removed

1 litre/1 pint 15¼fl oz beer or cider

2 cinnamon sticks, crushed using a mortar and pestle

2 pinches ground cloves

freshly grated nutmeg, to taste

1 lemon, sliced

To sweeten the wassail punch, add 500g/1lb 2oz of sugar to the beer or cider before heating it.

and here are the steps:

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

Score each apple around the middle using a sharp knife. Place the apples into an ovenproof dish and roast in the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the apples have softened and the skins are beginning to split.

Step 2
Meanwhile, heat the beer or cider in a saucepan over a low heat. Add the spices, stir well, and continue to heat through until the surface of the liquid starts to foam.

Step 3
Add the lemon slices and roasted apples, then serve whilst hot.

Enjoy…in festo Nativitatis Domini Nostri, Iesu Christi


Jobs Bills Could Sweeten Tax Breaks for Employers

"This is the most difficult session to watch in my 35 years," Idaho's Labor Department Director Roger Madsen told lawmakers this morning.

Madsen was testifying in support of a jobs bill crafted by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. Simply put, if employers create jobs sooner than later they could enjoy significant tax benefits.

The measure could kick back anywhere from 2 to 6 percent of a new employee's gross wages as a tax benefit to the employer.

"What we're trying to do here is to show some confidence in our economy," said Don Dietrich, director of Idaho's Department of Commerce. "And maybe more importantly confidence in our employers."

The benefit would impact any employer that creates a new job. The new position would need to pay at least $12 an hour in any county with an average unemployment rate over 10 percent (that's currently 18 counties) and $15 an hour in any other county. If the employer is given a "positive" rating, meaning they've contributed more to the unemployment trust fund than their employees have drawn out, the employer could receive 6 percent of the employee's gross wages as a tax credit. A standard rating would generate a 4 percent credit. A lower rating would generate a 2 percent credit. The state tax commission would be the arbiter of the employer's rating.

"I'll give you an example," said Deitrich. "I know of a Treasure Valley construction firm with 15 employees. If they added a new worker at their average salary of $42,000, they would receive at $2,520 credit."

The bottom line to the state could cost Idaho's general fund $7.9 million but sponsors said the measure could generate $25.3 million in new tax revenue. The bill was sent with a unanimous "do pass" to the full House.


Book info

A Visit From The Goon Squad (2010)

A Visit from the Goon Squad (2010)
3.63 of 5 Votes: 3
0307592839 (ISBN13: 9780307592835)
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A Visit From The Goon Squad (2010)
A Visit From The Goon Squad (2010)

About book: Call it William S. Burrough's cut-up technique, call it post-modernism, call it post-structuralism--whatever you call it, it worked for me. In most chapters of this novel, one visits a character at one point in time, and in the next chapter, a minor character becomes the major character. But one swings back and forth from the late 70s until ~2035. And the author revels in varying her technique--some chapters are close third person, some first person, one in second person, one is even a series of power point slides made by a child who expresses her feelings in that manner. The most innovative structure is in the third chapter, entitled Safari: one travels from head to head of people on a Safari in successive close third person points of view, but one traverses from one head to another via an author omniscient perspective offering the most shocking details of the character's future, then focusing on another characters view of these events, then settling down into the original time period in close third person in the second character's head. It worked brilliantly.And seeing the characters over time allows Egan to tell her tale of searches for authenticity in life and art, struggles and failures. Benny is a punk rocker in 1979 who meets his mentor, Lou, a producer. Bennie starts a successful production company. Bennie and his wife experience child raising and selling out, living in a wealthy enclave and socializing with those who would have abhorred the young punk rocker. Bennie tanks his company. Benny starts again. Bennie uses the world's corruption to offer the world an authentic musical voice. But the narrative is spread out through those of others and presented out of time sequence. And there are ten or so other characters into whose head the reader peaks. Never the same time period with the same character. I read this on being pointed from a review of John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar--a book I loved--as a modern example of fiction influenced by Brunner. But Brunner was science fiction. My one critique of Egan is that the chapters set in the future would have benefitted from consulting with a science fiction writer. Does she really think we'll still be using power point in exactly the way it's used in 2010 (and a child using it at that) in 2035? Sure the cell phone/Internet thingies she invents are neat. But the world building is pretty curt. Okay, I can see how in 2009 when this was being written, post-GW Bush and one year into Obama's gun-ho ramping up in Afghanistan and refusal to investigate Bush's war crimes, that she'd envision two decades of perpetual war and a security state followed by a turning away from both. This was written pre-Snowden. But she dashed that off in one short paragraph. But that's because this is at heart literary fiction: the characters are the story. And oh are they compelling. And this is post-modern fiction. The reader gets a view of a whole life at once, and the lives with which it is entangled, and finishes with more questions than answers. Is authenticity possible? Is it desirable? Is there such a thing as selling out? Can anyone other than the "seller" judge?Strongly recommended. Perfection. Writing more engaging than maybe any I've read before? You benefit from reading it quickly as it jumps around a lot, but you get to revisit characters in unpredictable ways. Her vision of the future was the cherry on top at the end, a casual glimpse at not-quite-dystopian Manhattan. I came to care about every single person she created and miss them as I continued reading. Somehow, it was just perfectly moving.
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The first book I've read in a long time that I would recommend without reservation. I loved it!
Well written book, very unique style of storytelling.
Marvelous disjointed whirl.
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Statistical Methods for Astronomy Research Paper Help

Statistical Methods for Astronomy What I need is a chapter about the statistical methods in Astronomy, so what that entails is for each method you need to discuss the model, the theory behind it and how it links to astronomy. Here are the list of Statistical Methods: ? Univariate and Multivariate regression ? Statistical Inference ? Estimation of Error ? Poisson distribution ? Box and Jenkins (ARIMA) Modelling + Time Series Analysis ? Kolmogorov-Smirnov Statistic ? Bayesian methods + Occums razor Must include Introduction, Conclusion and referencing Ru Essay writing Help

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What is the difference between literal translation and word for word translation?

Expert Answers
Lorraine Caplan eNotes educator| Certified Educator

"Literal translation" and "word-for-word translation" are synonymous terms: they mean the same thing. These are both "direct translations." When we translate literally, we are translating one word at a time, hence, word-for-word translation.  We are not concerning ourselves with the intended meaning, the connotation, the idiomatic meaning as much as we are with the literal meaning of the words, the denotation.  A good translator does not do this because that sort of translation interferes with the reader or listener's language.

A good translator must consider many different factors. One is word order, which differs from one language to the next.  Another is the use of idiomatic language. In English, for example, one might say it is raining cats and dogs, and that idiom is not familiar to the speaker of another language, so the translator might very well simply say it is raining hard.  Still another factor is cultural context, since the author of a text written for a "native" audience might assume an understanding on the part of the reader that will not exist for a foreign audience.  Sometimes a translator must provide that cultural context.  One of the most challenging tasks a translator faces is in the translation of poetry that rhymes.  The translator wants to preserve the author's rhyming scheme, but of course, this is nearly impossible in another language.  Translators must know a great deal more than the two languages they are working with.


Volcanic eruptions halfway around the world may have contributed to revolt in ancient Egypt

Atmospheric changes suppressing the Nile’s summer flooding likely contributed to societal revolt.

In a new study, researchers show a connection between volcanic eruptions and Nile flood suppression, which may have contributed to the demise of Ptolemaic Egypt (305–30 BCE). Ptolemaic Egypt relied heavily on the Nile’s annual summer flooding for its agriculture, so any disruptions could have contributed to societal unrest. We spoke with two of the study’s authors Francis Ludlow and Joseph Manning about the work.

ResearchGate: What originally motivated this study?

Francis Ludlow: I’m a climate historian, and I concentrate on how we can extract information on past climate conditions from both natural archives like tree-rings or ice-cores, as well as written records and archaeological evidence. As part of this, I am always trying to act as a bridge between natural scientists and historians.

I had moved to Yale in 2014 to pursue this type of work and met Joe Manning, an international expert on Ancient Egypt. Joe was speaking about the dates of major events in Ptolemaic Egypt, particularly the dates of major revolts against the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt, and how the motivations behind these are not very well understood. I realized that many of them were also the dates of major volcanic eruptions based upon work I’d done with Michael Sigl creating a record of volcanism from polar ice cores. So Michael and I started collaborating with Joe, and more and more of the dates he independently provided us for big historical and social events in Egypt seemed to line up with the dates of volcanic eruptions.

We already knew that Egyptian agriculture was almost wholly dependent on the summer flood of the Nile. So it seems logical to hypothesize that very poor flooding of the Nile driven by volcanism could lead to poor harvests and increased social tension in Egypt. When other social and economic conditions were right, including high levels of taxation and other pressures, this could be enough to trigger a revolt.

“I realized that many of them were also the dates of major volcanic eruptions.”

RG: Can you briefly explain the importance of the Nile’s annual flooding to the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Ludlow: The Nile was absolutely critical for Egyptian agriculture. Once you go inland from the Mediterranean, the average precipitation levels fall to effectively zero, so all water comes from the Nile. And in years in which the summer floodwaters did not overflow the Nile's banks, the soil would stay dry and the crops would most likely fail.

Manning: The Ptolemies were established in Egypt after Alexander the Great’s conquest. The dynasty established a new political regime and new economic institutions like coinage and banking. Another major change for them was their apparent shift to greater free-threshing wheat production. This was the preferred grain for bread among Greeks. But it may have been a bad idea in the light of frequent Nile flood failures, since it is less resilient in drought conditions.

RG: Where did the eruptions occur, and how did they affect the Nile?

Manning: The eruptions could have occurred anywhere globally, but it appears that high latitude northern eruptions—volcanoes in Iceland and Alaska for example—had stronger impacts on the African monsoon, which was the driver of the annual flood of the Nile.

Ludlow: One reason for reduced precipitation from a volcanic eruption is the surface cooling that occurs when large quantities of sulfurous gases are injected into the stratosphere. The gasses oxidize and form tiny particles, or sulfate aerosols. These aerosols reflect incoming sunlight back to space, meaning less energy reaches the earth's surface. So we have cooling, and where we have cooling, we also have less evaporation and less potential for rainfall.

“The twentieth and twenty first centuries have been relatively quiet in terms of major explosive eruptions. But that could change at any time.”

RG: How did these disruptions to the Nile affect the Ptolemaic dynasty?

Manning: Over time, the eruptions may have played a role in weakening the political system. We don't always know if Nile flood failures led to food crises. In many cases though, a Nile failure may have caused widespread panic.

Ludlow: The empire ended in 30 BCE, with the death of Cleopatra, the last Pharaoh and Ptolemaic king, through her suicide shortly after losing to the Romans led by Octavian at the naval battle of Actium in 31 BCE. It seems conspicuous, however, that the third largest eruption of the past 2,500 years occurred in the preceding decade, in 44 BCE, compounding the impact of an earlier event in 46 BCE. We also know of many troubles experienced by Egyptian society in the 40s BCE, including famine, disease, and land abandonment. Cleopatra did take, it seems, effective relief efforts with the opening of royal granaries and other measures, and unlike many of her predecessors did not experience revolt against her rule at this time. But it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the impacts of the 40s BCE did not weaken her position against Rome.

We are not claiming that the volcanic impacts on the Nile simply caused revolts. Environmental pressures don't act in a vacuum. Instead, what is likely to have happened is that the pressures from poor flooding coalesced at certain points of time with political and economic factors that included ethnic tensions and high levels of taxation levied by the state to trigger revolt. And in fact, you could see Ptolemaic Egypt as a success story. Certainly, they were hit by these eruptions, and political instability did follow. But they also managed to survive many big eruptions for a long period of time.

RG: Is there anything today’s governments can learn from the fate of Ptolemaic dynasty?

Ludlow: It's worth noting that the twentieth and twenty first centuries have been relatively quiet in terms of major explosive eruptions on the scale experienced in past ages. But that could change at any time, not only with another big eruption, but with closely recurring sequences of big eruptions. With around 70 percent of global population now in monsoon or monsoon-dependent agricultural regions, it's likely that eruptions will cause agricultural strain. For the Nile in particular, with tensions already high regarding the sharing of water from the Blue Nile between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, the possibility of diminished supplies following the next big eruption needs to be included in any water sharing agreements.

Featured image: "The Battle of Actium, 2 September 31 BC" by Lorenzo A. Castro.


Drinking Addiction Dependency Can Be Treated Successfully in Columbus City Iowa 52737

Therapy and Recovery can addiction be treated successfully in Columbus City IA.

Drinking Addiction is a treatable disease. Research study in the science of addiction and also the treatment important usage conditions has led to the growth of evidence-based treatments that help people quit abusing medications as well as resume effective lives.

Can addiction be treated in Columbus City?

Not constantly– however like various other persistent conditions, dependency could be handled effectively. Treatment allows individuals to neutralize addiction’s effective turbulent results on their brain and behavior and reclaim control of their lives.

Does regression to drug abuse mean treatment has stopped working?

No. The chronic nature of the disease indicates that relapsing to drug abuse eventually is not just possible, but likely. Regression rates (i.e., exactly how usually symptoms repeat) for individuals with addiction and also other material usage disorders resemble regression prices for other well-understood persistent medical diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bronchial asthma, which likewise have both physical and behavior elements. Therapy of chronic conditions entails altering deeply imbedded habits, as well as relapse does not mean therapy has fallen short. For an individual recouping from dependency, expiring back to substance abuse shows that therapy should be renewed or adjusted or that one more treatment ought to be tried

In Iowa, What are the principles of reliable meth use disorder therapy?

Study shows that incorporating treatment medications (where readily available) with behavioral therapy is the very best method to make sure success for a lot of individuals. Therapy techniques have to be tailored to deal with each person’s drug use patterns and also drug-related medical, psychiatric, and social troubles.

Just how can medications help deal with medication addiction at a rehab in IA?

Various kinds of medicines might work at various stages of treatment to assist an individual stop abusing medicines, remain in treatment, and also avoid regression.

Rehabs in Columbus City Iowa Treating Withdrawal of meth

When people first stop using drugs, they could experience a range of physical and psychological signs and symptoms, consisting of clinical depression, anxiety, and various other mood disorders, in addition to uneasyness or sleeplessness. Specific treatment medications are developed to reduce these symptoms, that makes it much easier to quit the substance abuse.

Remaining in Therapy in Columbus City Iowa.

Some therapy medications are used in order to help the brain adapt slowly to the lack of the abused drug. These medications act slowly to stave off drug yearnings and also have a calming impact on body systems. They could assist patients focus on counseling and other psychotherapies associated with their drug treatment.

Stopping Relapse.

Scientific research has actually instructed us that anxiety, signs connected to the drug experience (such as individuals, places, things, as well as moods), as well as exposure to medications are one of the most common triggers for regression. Drugs are being created to hinder these triggers in order to help people sustain healing

Exactly how do behavior modifications treat methamphetamine addiction?

Behavioral therapies help engage people in substance use disorder therapy, changing their perspectives as well as habits associated with substance abuse and also boosting their life skills to take care of stressful scenarios as well as environmental cues that might cause intense yearning for drugs and prompt another cycle of uncontrollable usage. Behavior modifications could likewise improve the efficiency of drugs and also assist individuals remain in therapy longer.

Just how do the most effective treatment programs assist individuals recover from the prevalent results of dependency?

When individuals go into therapy for a material usage disorder, addiction has frequently taken control of their lives. The obsession to obtain drugs, take medications, and also experience the results of drugs has controlled their every waking minute, and also abusing drugs has actually replaced all things they utilized to enjoy doing. It has actually interfered with exactly how they operate in their family members lives, at work, and in the community, and has actually made them more likely to struggle with other significant diseases. Due to the fact that addiction can impact a lot of facets of a person’s life, therapy needs to resolve the demands of the entire individual to be effective. This is why the very best programs integrate a selection of corrective solutions right into their extensive therapy programs.

Gaining the ability to quit abusing methamphetamine is simply one component of a lengthy and complicated healing procedure.

Treatment counselors could select from a food selection of services for satisfying the specific medical, psychological, social, employment, and lawful needs of their people to promote their healing from dependency.|When people enter therapy for a substance use problem, addiction has commonly taken over their lives.

Since dependency can influence so numerous facets of an individual’s life, therapy needs to attend to the requirements of the entire individual to be successful. Therapy therapists might select from a menu of services for satisfying the certain clinical, mental, social, vocational, and also lawful needs of their individuals to promote their recovery from addiction.


Aram Main Principles

Aram Society is an independent, non-political, inter-religious, non-ptofit-making society concerned with all aspects of Syro-Mesopotamian cultures.
Aram draws its name from Aramaic, which was the focal point of ancient SyroMesopotamian cultures. However, Aram does not confine itself solely to the Aramaic culture, but attempts to deal with all cultures of the geographical area influenced by the Aramaic culture, i.e. the Syro-Mesopotamian cultures, from the beginning of history up until the present time.
The Aram Society has laid the foundation for the study of continuity between the Aram civilisation and other Syro-Mesopotamian civilisations. Aram conferences, however, show how closely intertwined they are, and that Aramaic civilisation would not have flourished without an intellectual cross-fertilisation.
Aram work clearly shows that the different civilisations of the Syro-Mesopotamian area have been strongly connected to each other throughout the ages. Therefore, Aram will continue to explore the connections between the different civilisations, in order to demonstrate that the Syro-Mesopotamian man is born out of a process of cultural continuity uninterrupted since the beginning of history.
The academic work of the Aram Society is a multidisciplinary one for it combines many different scholarly fields such as archaeology, history, arts, religions, philosophy, literatures and linguistics.
Aram’s cultural mission for the Syro-Mesopotamian area is also a mission of peace and brotherhood among its people, with their different social and spiritual beliefs. It is a Society for everyone who shares an interest in its identity, irrespective of race, religion or status.


Joel Kilty and Alex McAllister

Mathematics professors Joel Kilty and Alex McAllister have spent the better part of two years planning and refining their Mathematics Modeling and Applied Calculus (MAT 145) course. They dedicated two summers working with students to develop their own textbook for this course; and with the help of a technology mini-grant obtained from the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Kilty and McAllister set out to incorporate a variety of new teaching tools to supplement the design of the new course.

To provide students with the best possible learning opportunities, they knew they wanted to include supplemental video instruction with the use of screen casting tools to serve in a variety of capacities including flipped instruction, Just-In-Time teaching (JiTT), and post-instruction review.

They began creating mini-lectures with software such as Doceri, Screencast-O-Matic, and Playback Pro with the intent to make the material as interactive and class-like as possible, matching the content with the textbook, and providing students the necessary tools needed to navigate the course. Designing pre-class examples of mathematical concepts helps students prepare for class and in turn makes classroom conversations and learning experiences richer and deeper. The question they always ask when creating this content is, “is it beneficial to them?” McAllister stated that an important piece of creating these supplemental videos is trying to “broaden the opportunities for a different set of learners, being respectful and intentional about trying to reach out to them.” Meeting learners where they are by providing them multiple modes of learning helps narrow the gap and creates a sense of balance to the course material.

Prior to a class, quiz, or exam, students in MAT 145 now have additional material from which to study, or brush up on a specific process they may have missed. Many students learn well this way. Though both Kilty and McAllister will admit that this style of learning is not for every student, they are quick to say that those students who were already seeking out alternative methods of instruction are the first to view the videos and find them beneficial. Kilty states that several students have come to him after class indicating how thankful they are for these videos and how much they helped the learning process.

Kilty and McAllister both mentioned their deep desire to meet students where they are – to give them another opportunity to reach students through methods that ultimately have a fairly low impact on them as instructors, yet dramatically impacts students.

The goal is to put the responsibility for learning into the hands of the students. Both Kilty and McAllister are intentional about providing interactive material that pushes students to learn how they learn best. Anecdotal evidence suggests that students who have utilized the supplemental videos in this class have been more prepared for other Math courses because they have really grasped the diverse set of ideas combined into this MAT 145 course.

Their advice for other faculty interested in pursuing the creation of this type of instructional material is to “just do it.” Both Kilty and McAllister talked about the importance of overcoming the initial apprehension of trying something new by mapping out where you want to create these materials in the course and being intentional about the content. Getting started is often the hardest part, but making that decision to move forward with the project is sometimes all you need; you can always modify the content as needed along the way. They also talked about the benefit of gaining accountability by working with or being mentored by another faculty member who has previously created this type of content in their courses.

Ultimately, the goal is to impact students in different ways. Adding interactive video instruction to a course is a great supplemental tool that can benefit many students. Students who learn well through specific conceptual explanation contained in the videos are most likely already seeking out this type of instruction; and the familiarity of their instructor’s voice in these videos can help solidify additional topics learned in the classroom.


Monday, December 21, 2015

Is empirical testing of string theory possible?

Conference at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich

String theory considers particles as energy vibrations, occurring within microdimensional space, so small that empirical testing is a technical impossibility. Since the experimental testing of ideas is considered an essential requirement in science, string theory, the elegant and promising idea in theoretical physics is in a serous limbo. String theory and other, highly philosophical proposals became hotly debated in physics, because their wildly speculative nature is reminiscent of pseudoscience. But are they pseudoscience? String theory's proponents are fully convinced by its beauty or logically compelling nature. Einstein probably would approve of such a mathematically elegant theory. As he said in 1933, “I hold it true that pure thought can grasp reality, as the ancients dreamed.” However, such speculative ideas can easily spiral out of control into truly bizarre notions, such as the possibility of multiverses, or wormhole travel.

If the characteristics of string theory was true for the mind, then string theory could be easily tested. A hypothesis detailed in Eva Deli's book, The Science of Consciousness, considers the mind a symmetric structure to material fermions, complete with a microdimensional space of string theory. All aspects of elementary particles thus plays out in the mental complexity formed by the neuronal connections of a biological system. Some of these phenomena includes the Pauli exclusion principle, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, emotional fluorescence, emotional hysteresis, and emotional fever. Surprisingly, several aspects of mental operation, such as semantics, obeys the laws of quantum mechanics. For example, in quantum entanglement observation on one part of the system instantaneously affects the state in another part of the system, even if the respective systems are separated by space-like distances. In emotional fermions the same phenomenon transpires over conceptual distance, or over time. Entanglement entails a common wave function, which cannot be decomposed as separate subsystems. For example, in word association experiments entanglement activates associative target words simultaneously and the semantics of concept combinations can be modeled by quantum theory. The contextual nature of cognition leads to unintuitive word associations (analogue to ‘spooky action at a distance’ during entanglement), or conceptual resistance of ambiguous situations (such as the Necker cube).

This new physical world view explains psychological phenomena, mental problems and normal mental operation based on physical foundation, is detailed in the book, 'The Science of Consciousness.' Find your copy on  Amazon
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Website: The Science of Consciousness

Copyright © 2017 by Eva Deli


Southeastern Zimbabwe

Southeastern Zimbabwe is an area of rugged and beautiful landscapes. Whilst the northern part is mainly an industrial mineral-rich area, the southern part is home to the red hills of Gonarezhou National Park and The Great Zimbabwe Ruins.

Where To Go

The home of the architectural magnificence of the Great Zimbabwe, The national monument from which the country takes its name. It is the oldest colonial settlement in Zimbabwe, and grew up around the encampment established in 1890 by the Pioneer Column. Even the very first cricket match in Zimbabwe is said to have taken place in Masvingo. more
Gonarezhou National Park
"Gonarezhou" meaning "Place of many Elephants" is an extremely scenic Park full of rugged and beautiful landscapes. Three major rivers - The Save, Runde and Mwenezi - cut their courses through the Park, forming pools and natural oases from which hundreds of species of birds, wildlife and fish gather to feed and drink. more
Gweru (formerly Gwelo until 1982) is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe. It has a population of about 150,000, making it the fifth largest city in the nation. more

What To Do

Antelope Park
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is set on 124 000 acres of wilderness in the southern corner of Zimbabwe, bordering the Gonarezhou National Park. It is a spectacularly diverse and beautiful piece of Africa, boasting geological diversity, habitat variability and a wide variety of plant and animal species. more
Great Zimbabwe Ruins


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-Each class is a maximum of 1 hour long, includes warm-up time, at least one workout, and sometimes an additional strength or skill training portion.

-Our schedule ranges from 5:30am to 9pm on weekdays, and 8:30am to 12:30pm on Saturdays.

-Upon request, coaches are more than happy to help with nutritional advise, food planning, etc., to ensure maximum results.

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Hospital Negligence Archives

How do you know you have a good doctor?

Indiana House approves increase to medical malpractice damage cap

Deadlines and facts are important in a medical malpractice case

During a personal injury lawsuit, there is typically a complaint and a response. After those documents are filed with the court, a party can file a motion for summary judgment. This motion says that even if everything in the complaint is 100 percent true, there is no valid claim and the lawsuit should be dismissed against the defendant.

Medical malpractice damage cap reform has died in legislature

The tyranny of medical malpractice damage caps


ipdlogo Publikation 'High-level Multicore Programming with XJava'
Achtung: Es gibt eine neue Webseite des Lehrstuhls
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Frank Otto, Victor Pankratius, Walter F. Tichy, High-level Multicore Programming with XJava, 31st International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), IEEE, May 2009.

Multicore chips are becoming mainstream, but programming them is difficult because the prevalent thread-based programming model is error-prone and does not scale well. To address this problem, we designed XJava, an extension of Java that permits the direct expression of producer/consumer, pipeline, master/slave, and data parallelism. The central concept of the extension is the task, a parallel activity similar to a filter in Unix. Tasks can be combined with new operators to create arbitrary nestings of parallel activities. Preliminary experience with XJava and its compiler suggests that the extensions lead to code savings and reduce the potential for synchronization defects, while preserving the advantages of object-orientation and type-safety. The proposed extensions provide intuitive "what you see is what you get" parallelism. They also enable other software tools, such as autotuning and accurate static analysis for race detection.

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Institutsinterne Autoren

Prof. Tichy, Walter F.
Dr. Otto, Frank

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Magnetic effects of Current: Field, force, induction

2) The following table (*see attachment) gives the number of turns per unit length, n, and the current, I, through six ideal solenoids of different radii. You want to combine them concentrically to produce a net magnetic field of zero along the central axis. Can this be done with (a) two of them, (b) three of them, (c) four of them, (d) five of them, (e) six of them? If so answer by listing which solenoids are to be used and indicate the direction of the currents.

3) Two long parallel wires which are separated by a distance of 18 cm, carry currents of 7A and 8A. (a) Where is the net magnetic field zero? (i.e. how many cm from the midpoint between the two wires is the magnetic field=zero?) (b) what is the B-field at a point 5cm to the left of wire 1 and 5cm below both wires?

4) In the figure (*see attached), E = 100 V, R1 = 20 ohms, R3 = 30 ohms and L = 2 H. Find the values of I1 and I2 (a) immediately after closing the switch S, (b) a long time after switch S is closed, (c) immediately after switch S is opened and (d) a long time after switch S is opened.

Solution Preview

Solution 1:
The radius of the circular path traced by a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field is given by (magnitude) R = mv/bq and the direction of rotation can be determined by using Fleming's left hand rule. The direction will be opposite if the either the charge is negative or the direction of the velocity is reversed.
Let the radius in this problem mv/Bq = r then the radii of the paths of different particles are given as

Radius 2r ; r/2 ; r ; 8r ; 4r ; (-)2r ; (-)r/4; (-)r ; (-8)r ; (-4)r ; inf.

The smallest radius is r/4 for the charge no. 7 (which is for path d in fig.) which is having a negative charge and the direction ...

Solution Summary

Force problems related to magnetic effect of electric current are solved

-------1. Path of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
------- 2. Field due to number of solenoids.
------- 3. field due to two long parallel wires carrying current.
--------4. growth of current in an inductor


Education Scotland
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Thematic review

Thematic review is a new approach to inspection which involves a cross-sectoral team of inspectors, working across a local authority area, focussed on answering the question, 'How well are learning pathways through the senior phase leading to positive destinations?

Reports currently available:

PDF file: Report of a thematic review in the Moray area, May 2016 (3.2 MB)


Galactic Imperium, The

The Galactic Imperium:

FleetMoves.jpgSpanning hundreds of thousands of light years, the Galactic Imperium rules over much of the galaxy. Much like the Byzantine Empire from Earth’s history, they are primarily interested in rekindling a long fallen, yet vast empire, after a long period of medievalisim. The empire is defined by it’s primary religion’s belief that technology is sinful, and only through atonement and religious church dispensation (the church is called The Sectus) can Nobles (known as the Prolimetri or Noble Houses) take on the burden of technology use. Most travel by the Imperium is done via Jump Gates, which require special Ingress Keys to operate, keys which are guarded by a Guild of freemen known as the Shofar, who represents one of the many merchant Shoqëri Guilds.

From a territory perspective Galactic Imperium are a collection of 42 human inhabited planetary systems. These systems were once the center of the Second Republic and are now all that remains of that pinnacle of posthuman civilization. They are considered, mainly by its inhabitants, to be the center of human civilization in the galaxy.

All these planets officially owe allegiance to the Star Throne, currently held by Emperor Chryselios Dodekatheon. The truth however is much more nuanced: the central government is relatively weak and local rulers may chose to ignore edicts issued by the government. Further complicating things is the fact that the worlds of the Imperium are divided into several factions.

SectusInquisition.jpgEach world possess a mix of technological levels going from near First Earth Dark Ages to Second Republic. Their inhabitants are only vaguely aware of where they are in relation to other inhabited worlds in real space, despite the re-emergent science of astronomy.

The most important characteristic is the lack of any form of faster-than-light communication. News often travels by word of mouth and the Town Criers.

The orders of the central government, located in Capital Secundus, have therefore to be carried by a courier ship. This takes a considerable amount of time, and local rulers and officials simply don’t have the time to inform the capital and then to wait for instructions and orders. As a consequence they have to investigate, evaluate, judge and decide all pressing matters by themselves. This gives them a considerable amount of leeway, personal power and autonomy.

Imperial fiefs

Capital Secundus, capital of the Imperium
Odium, a garrison world

Sectus fiefs

Holy Ersetu, political and religious center

Shoqëri Guild worlds

Guildheim, political center

House Dodekatheon

Omphalos, political center

House al-Yazata

House Bogovi

House Amatsukami

Ekka (Ka’Hadan)

House Atzlánti

House Beni Chorfa

Shared planets

Scarab – Jith
Ashamoneto – Jith

Beyond the borders of the Imperium are the feared Barbarians, alien empires and lost worlds.

The Prolimetri (Noble Houses):

The Noble Prolimetri (or Major or Royal) houses of the Galactic Imperium.

Barbarians (Fallen Worlds and Alien Trade Confederations):

Cut off for centuries by the fall of the great galactic civilizations past, the Barbarians lost much of the use of their technology, and what they have they often barely understand, which makes them incredibly dangerous.

What the Imperium considers barbarians sometimes stretches the definition, however, as it includes the Zon-Gra Protectorate, a faction made up of a detailed and interconnected confederation of aligned trade worlds, mostly alien races and the Aesir, children of the Norse Posthumans and savage warriors.

The Sectus (Universal Sectus of the All-Maker)

The Universal Sectus of the All-Maker is largest religious organization in galactic history with over 2000 years of history. It was formed after the death of the prophet Zeth by Phaedrus Synon. Within the church are five main groups who vie for power with each other. Beneath them are many minor sects. In some forms the Sectus is authoritarian and uncompromising in others it is charitable and compassionate.

The Shoqëri Guilds: (The Merchants)

The major merchants guilds combine the central core of the Shoqëri, they are the few, the proud the powerful. Whether through blackmail, monopolies or political and bureaucratic expertise they are capable of holding their own as part of the triumvirate that orders the Galactic Imperium.

The Imperium:

In GD 4993 Chryselios Dodekatheon was crowned Emperor of the Galactic Imperium. Three years later all ‘civilized worlds’ in the Milky Way bowed before him, recognizing his claim. In the years since his ascension Chryselios I has instigated many potent reforms to both consolidate his power and revive an Empire crushed by decades of war.

Other topics:

Banking - Where citizens of the Imperium keep their currency
Computers - Computational devices and programming languages
Currency - The value of the coin and coinage of the Imperium
Goods - Trade goods and costs for common commodities
High Tech Substances – Substances created through high tech processes.
Passage Costs – Costs of travelling throughout the Galactic Imperium.
Vehicles – Common vehicles and costs throughout the Galactic Imperium

Galactic Imperium, The

Silver Age Beyond brightwyrm


Depositions in a Criminal Case in Florida

Criminal trial lawyers in Jacksonville take depositions. Depositions are sworn out-of-court statements taken before a trial. If you are arrested for a felony in Florida, your criminal defense attorney should conduct depositions of all the witnesses listed in your case.

Conducting an effective deposition is key to any criminal case. Our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorneys go into each deposition like we are going into trial. Depositions are taken well before any trial and an good deposition can lead to the case being dropped or resolved short of trial. A criminal lawyer can ask the witnesses almost anything, even if the answers would not be admissible in a trial. The questions can reveal witness’ possible bias and motivation to lie in a case.

If you are arrested for a misdemeanor in Florida, you are not automatically entitled to depositions. If good cause is shown, like a witness refusing to speak to the criminal lawyer or an investigator, depositions may be conducted in a misdemeanor case, such as a DUI.


North Korea has been working on solid fuel, which means missiles are ready to fire and don’t need loading with propellant like its previous liquid-fueled missiles, as a way to fire missiles quickly and without detection by satellites.

Analysts were working to identify all the missiles that were shown off on Saturday, many of which appeared to have new paint jobs or be variants on known missiles.

One of the missiles looked similar to the KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile that North Korea had included in previous parades. This missile has a theoretical range of about 7,500 miles, which is enough to reach all of the United States from North Korea, said Joshua Pollack, editor of the Nonproliferation Review.

It also put two ICBM canisters, which protect solid-fueled missiles from the effects of the environment, on the trucks that had carried the ICBMs previously. One may have been a KN-14, another missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, although it has a slightly shorter range.

The trucks that carried the missile canisters were Chinese ones that had been exported to North Korea’s forestry ministry but have shown up in military parades like this one.

(White House)

Saturday’s display was worrying, Hanham said.

“They have an indigenous tank system now so they have more launchers, and they have solid fuel, which means they can launch a lot more of these things in quick succession without having to refuel,” she said.

The overall message to the world was that North Korea was pressing ahead with its missiles and making technological progress.

The United States has sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean Peninsula region, and President Trump has repeatedly tweeted that if China will not use its leverage to rein in North Korea, the United States will act.

Vice President Pence arrives in Seoul on Sunday on the first leg of an Asia tour, and he will underscore Washington’s strong alliances with South Korea and Japan and their determination to stop North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

“The United States and South Korea and North Korea are engaging in tit for tat, with swords drawn and bows bent,” Wang said at a news conference. “We urge all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements or deeds to prevent irreversible damage to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.”

Later Friday, Wang called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and said it was in both countries’ interests to prevent an outbreak of war. “China welcomes close collaboration with Russia to cool down the Korean Peninsula situation as quickly as possible and encourage the involved parties to resume dialogue,” he said, according to China’s Foreign Ministry.

North Korea’s vice foreign minister said that Trump was “becoming more vicious and more aggressive” than previous presidents and that this was only making matters worse.

Some in Beijing are noticing the shift, too.

But North Korea could prove different if it ignores Trump’s warning and conducts another nuclear test, the paper said. “Trump just took the office; if he loses to Pyongyang, he would feel like he had lost some prestige.”

“He might say: ‘If you want one less battleship in the region, what are you going to give me?’ ” he said — a reversal of the usual situation, in which North Korea asks what it can get from its adversaries in return for changing its behavior.


Cellfood and pH Balance

Published: 07th May 2010
Views: N/A

No research over the last decade has been more debatable, misunderstood, and inconclusive than that related to balancing our body pH. This area of study is more typically called the acid/alkaline balance. PH is a way of saying'power of hydrogen' and is measured on a range of zero - 14, with zero at the acidic end, 7 neutral, and fourteen at the most alkaline end.

The scale and measurement CELLFOOD : advanced information 31 represent the relative concentration of hydrogen ions ( H+ ) and hydroxyl ions ( OH- ). All fluids in the human body operate at a particularly particular and optimal pH level. Our bodies continuously work to keep the pH at the right balanced level. When cells are alkaline they are described as'anabolic' which involves a building process. When cells are acidic they are called'catabolic' which involves breaking down molecules.

lots of the contemporary research has focused on our bodies becoming'too acidic' resulting in acidosis. Some of the research even means that cellular anaerobisis and tissue acidosis, each of which are cellular environments without oxygen, spur the breeding of fungus, molds, and bacteria in our bodies, potentially leading to illness. So how do our bodies get to this acidic state?

Mostly thru poor nutritive habits. Foods are separated into two classes : acid forming foods and alkaline forming foods. When our diet consists of too many acid forming foods, the acid load increases andcauses an unattractive effect on enzymatic activity and metabolism. Ultimately, our bodies end up having to use the calcium in our bones to help neutralise the acid and normalize pH. In the near term, this doesn't seem to be a serious problem. Over the passage of time nevertheless most researchers are extraordinarily worried about calcium depletion and changes in bone density.

I should mention here that there's an important difference between acid foods and acid forming foods. That same difference can be found between alkaline foods and alkaline forming foods. In the case of acid and/or alkaline foods, we are talking about the explicit pH of the food itself. When we discuss acid and/or alkaline forming foods, we are making reference to the condition in the body made by the food when correctly digested. Let's take a look at an example : lemons are very acidic with a food pH of about 2. Nevertheless when a
lemon is properly digested it leaves an alkaline ash residue.

When oxidized ( burned up ) in the body, the organic acids become CO2 and water while the alkaline minerals remain in the body as alkaline residue helping to neutralize body acids. Cellfood can be thought of in the same context : although it is more acidic in the bottle- like a lemon- it also leaves an alkaline ash residue in our body, helping to normalize an acidic pH.

looking for cellfood discounts? Go to Cellfood Coupons to get cellfood discount.

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Monday, September 7, 2009

My Year of Hopefulness - Unwitting Angels

I believe in guardian angels, divine moments of intervention, and the continuous play between the world we see and the world just beyond our vision. While I do believe that angels walk among us, I also believe that we have the ability, at every moment, to be angels to one another.

In the aftermath of the fire in my apartment building, there is a lot of chaos. I am now dealing with adjusters from my renter's insurance. (Thank God I have renter's insurance. If you don't, please stop reading this post and by it immediately through Liberty Mutual at A $181 annual premium buys you $25,000 worth of coverage with a $500 deductible.) I also have buyer's protection on my charge card so I need to make an inventory for them so I can be reimbursed for damaged items. I have to find a new place to live. I'll have to rebuild a stock of personal items.

And you know what? It's all okay. I am monumentally lucky to be alive and physically unscathed. Much of that is due to the amazing love and support and concern of my friends and family, from people who read my online writing and follow my usually fun antics on Twitter. This is the power of community. This is the power of unwitting angels - people who show up as little rays of light just when we need that light most. It's always there, it sometimes just takes a different lens of experience to see it.

My friend, Amber, one of my unwitting angels in this situation, has graciously offered me her apartment for the week while she's out of town. I came to pick up the keys from her, and we got to talking about how incidents like my apartment building fire change our perspective. She thinks I will quickly adopt the policy of "omeletitgo" - I'm just gonna let it all go. From this point forward, all those little frustrations and annoyances that build up in our day to day lives just don't matter. The physical stuff we accumulate just doesn't matter. If all goes up in smoke, it doesn't matter.

All that does matter is kindness. How do we support and love and care for one another in good times and bad? How can we help those in crisis? How can we serve one another to make all of our days a bit easier? How can we all be a part of the global brigade of unwitting angels?

The image above is not my own and can be found here.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wacana Menuju Malaysia Sejahtera (Towards a Prosperous Malaysia)

Last Sunday, 24th of July, I had attended a discourse entitled "Wacana Menuju Malaysia Sejahtera: Dilema Survival Politik Melayu-Islam dan Perpaduan Bangsa (Towards a Prosperous Malaysia: Malay-Islam Dilemma in Political Survival and Race Solidarity)" at Goodhope Hotel, Skudai, Johor. It was organized by Persatuan Professional Islam Anak Johor (PPIAJ) and Persatuan Amal Perubatan Ibnu Sina Malaysia (PAPISMA). The panelists were Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, Prof Madya Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah, Lokman Nor Adam (UMNO youth EXCO), YB Dato' Kamaruddin Jaafar and YB Dato' Paduka Haji Husam Musa. However, Dato' Paduka Haji Husam Musa was not able to attend. Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and Prof Madya Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah had both presented their paper works.

I will only write about what Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and Prof Madya Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah had explained during their speech and their paper works. I will try my very best in summarizing it concisely. The reason that I won't write about Lokman Nor Adam and YB Dato' Kamaruddin Jaafar is because I didn't really understand, sorry :( and they were speaking about lots of controversial content without presenting any evidence in hand.

Paperwork 1:
The Malays Privilege: A Discussion from the Perspective of Maqasid al-Syari'ah by Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

First off, we should understand that politics in Islam is not a specific form of ibadah(worship) like solat, fasting and etc that cannot be changed. Politics is something that moves and changes based on the well being of human beings. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w did not leave any details about politics, instead, he had only imparted the general principals.

Malays Privilege

Article 153 states the details of the Malays Privilege. This allocation can be seen from 3 aspects:
1) It can be seen as a form of racism
2) It can be seen as a way to respect or be courteous to the original indigenous of Malaysia. This is similar to affirmative action. The basis of affirmative action is not to oppress but to promote equal opportunity.
However, questions now arise. Does this privilege brings justice to the community or vice versa? Does the necessity in tackling social imbalance relates to the race or economy background?

Islam and Race

1) No one can determine his/her race before he/she is born. Therefore, we cannot blame or despise anyone because of his/her race.
"...No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning)." (Al-Isra':15)

2) No matter what form of fight we want to uphold, we must judge a person based on his/her akhlaq(character), not his/her race.
"O people, your Lord is One. Know that there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab or of non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white over a black or of a black over a white, except through consciousness of Allah (taqwa)." (Reported by Ahmad and al-Baihaqi)

3) The reason ALLAH creates humans of diverse races and tribes is for human beings to know each other.
As you can see from the above verse, ALLAH has called every human being regardless of race and tribe as 'mankind.' It is an equal name.

4) There are no race that can assume themselves as 'the most rightful owner' in terms of racial supremacy
"If a slave is appointed over you and he conducts your affairs according to the Book of Allah, you should listen to him and obey (his orders)." (Hadith Muslim)

5) We must understand that every mukmins are brothers and sisters regardless of their race

Thus, helping someone because of religion gives a much wider scope than helping someone because of race.

Helping One's own Race According to Islam

It is not wrong if we at the same time help develop our own race or descent; in the condition that we do not do wrong or insult the other races.
However, we cannot practice ‘asabiyyah. 'Asabiyyah means racism or sectarianism that leads to oppression.
“Whoever goes to a battle because of rayah ‘immiyyah (banner of blindness) and calls for ‘asabiyyah or gets angry because of ‘asabiyyah then his death is of jahiliyyah (state of ignorance)." (Reported by Muslim)
Banner of blindness is a metaphor for a group of people who get together for a cause that is not known whether it is worthy or evil but merely on the basis of fanaticism. Therefore, not only a racial political struggle can be 'asabiyyah, but a struggle in the name of Islam if it is fanatic and denies the truth only because of the decision of the party, can also be named as 'asabiyyah.

Issues about the Malays Privilege

After understanding the above discussions, the below questions must be answered:
1) Has the Malays Privilege brings benefit; or loss?
2) Has the Malays Privilege brings justice; or tyranny?

Where is the Institution of Zakat and Wakaf?

We have collected zakat that might reach 1 billion a year or more. Same goes to wakaf and the likes. Why won't Muslims use this advantage of zakat and wakaf in developing our economy?

This paper work does not decide whether the Malays Privilege is against syarak or not; instead, it concludes that a provision fund is allowed in order to ensure the stabilization of races and religions in this country. However, the provisions must be checked from time to time so that the provisions do not defy any main principals of the maqasid in Islam that is justice and well being.

Paperwork 2:
The Solidarity of Malay-Islam in Malaysia: Malay-Islam Dilemma in Political Survival from the Perspective Perception and Media, its Future Lies on the Youths? by Prof Madya Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah

It's not wrong to say that the Malays-Islam of today are becoming ultra-materialism and ultra-hedonism. Patriotism too has been lost. This is because today's youths are reluctant to understand and contemplate about national issues.

One of the reason behind the lost of patriotism is because Malays-Islam are irked by the extreme nationalism that has always been propagated by the politicians. They are also unable to see any figure that can contribute towards brilliance, equality and leadership in order to improve the conditions of the Malays. There is no trust between Malays-Islam in transferring knowledge, experience and authority. Apart from that, Malay-Islam still holds on an outdated believe; that is fanaticism to a certain political party or idealism up to the point that they ignore acts such as corruption, chronism, misuse of power and the likes. The Malays-Islam still have the attitude of jahiliah: slander, hate, sedition and etc.

According to the study performed by Zentrum Future Studies Malaysia on "The Trust of Comparative Media Content" among respondent 21-40 years old during the research period of 2008-2010, traditional media (conventional medias such as The New Straits Time, Utusan Melayu, etc) and television (TV3 news, RTM news, etc) shows high content in accusation, incitement and slander in comparison to new medias (internet, non conventional medias) that shows a higher content in truth, fairness and openness. Therefore you can conclude that the result of this study is definitely worrisome. [I'm sorry, I can't scan and put on the chart tha states these facts because the chart in the paperwork given is not clear. However, you can view a similar study done by Prof Abu Hassan on 2008 at this link. View page 58]

In thinking of the generation of today, the youths, they are the ones who are able to study from the many confusions and mistakes made by the past generations. Therefore, they should feel compelled to not again fall into the same trap. It is from this context that a Malay-Islam movement by youths specifically must be uphold and strengthen. In short, the youths are the prime candidate in building a better nation filled with the wonders of innovation and a true way of life.

In order to achieve this ambition, this paper work presents a number of strategic planning that can be applied:
1) Rekindled the youths movement that has long been in stagnation.
2) Reorder back the disorientation in the youths' association in the process of organization at the level of development and empowerment.
3) Foster again the youths' and Islamic spirit in race and nation.
4) Spread collective consciousness about the meaning of struggle(perjuangan)

After all, the youths are the ones who understand the most about this era. They are the ones who are growing up in it.


Community Research and Development Information Service - CORDIS

SM-IMPORT Report Summary

Project ID: 638536
Funded under: H2020-EU.1.1.

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SM-IMPORT (Substrate import at work: single-molecule studies of ABC transporters)

Reporting period: 2017-03-01 to 2017-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

ABC (ATP Binding Cassette) transporters represent the most abundant and diverse family of transport proteins known that play crucial roles in numerous cellular processes. Despite their importance, all proposed molecular models for transport are based on indirect evidence due to the inability of classical biophysical and biochemical techniques to directly visualize dynamic structural changes. To solve this problem, the SM-IMPORT team will decipher the molecular mechanisms of transport using novel single-molecule methodology with the ultimate goal to use this knowledge against pathogenic bacteria, for treatment of ABC-related diseases or multi-drug resistance of cancer cells. The team uses single-molecule fluorescence microscopy for the study of conformational states of an ABC model system in vitro, and thus to observe directly how elementary transport steps are coordinated. This will open up a virtually unexplored biophysical research area and provide a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ABC transporters.

The overall objectives this proposal are: (i) What is the mechanism of substrate binding in ABC transporters? The conformational equilibrium of ABC-associated substrate-binding proteins will be studied to understand the molecular mechanism of binding. (ii) What are relevant conformational states and changes for substrate translocation? The time- and length-scales of conformational changes in transmembrane and nucleotide binding domains as well as interactions with other domains will be characterized. (iii) How are substrate binding, energy utilization and translocation coordinated in ABC transporters? Finally, a complete model of transport will be developed to decipher the coordination of transport events, i.e., how substrate binding and ATP-hydrolysis are coupled and transferred into conformational changes that drive substrate transport.

Work during the first 18 months (period I):
(aim i): Seven different SBDs (SBD1, SBD2, OpuAC, CynR, MalE, FeuA, OppA) were analysed with smFRET in solution and dynamically on the surface. The results showed their binding mechanisms to be induced fit (except for new protein CynR). The SM-IMPORT team also used the quenching properties of the FeuA-ligand ferri-bacilibactin to understand that the ligand binds the open state of the protein. The team published results on improved fluorophores usable in smFRET experiments using an ABC-importer SBD as a model system in Nature Communications. The team is currently preparing publications related to aim 1/2 of the action on (i) structural evolution of ligand-binding mechanisms, (ii) impact of conformational states dynamics on transport in ABC importers, (iii) characterization and relevance of intrinsic conformational changes in SBDs.

(aim ii): The team generated an improved homology model of the OpuA structure to allow design of the smFRET experiments. Subsequently, 27 OpuA-TMD cysteine mutants were designed and made for smFRET analysis. The mutants were screened for ATPase activity and their fluorophore labelling efficiency; mutants with high efficiency and activity were selected for further analysis. The team currently uses wildtype OpuA and a periplasmic (internal plasmid name p178) and cytoplasmic mutant (internal plasmid name p163) for smFRET experiments and functional assays. Overall many fundamental hurdles have been taken, including the labelling of reconstituted OpuA in nanodiscus, but the quality of the data from OpuA in smFRET experiments has to be improved to generate publishable data. The team further studied the ligand-dependence of conformational dynamics of various proteins (SBD1/2, OpuAC, MalE) and the relevance of the specific conformational states for ABC importers; these results reveal novel mechanisms in SBD-TMD interactions for ABC importers; a paper is in preparation. Cordes and two team members have further established a collaborative project and realized a smFRET study of protein with nucleotide binding domains similar to the ones in ABC importers; the results of this model system ABCE1, a ribosome-splitting factor, are currently summarized and prepared for publication.

(aim iii): In this project part, mostly technical advances have been made and most tasks in the aim are planned for upcoming periods.

Especially in (aim i) the group has made substantial progress beyond planned activities and succeeded in understanding protein structure-function relationships and the evoluationary aspects of how proteins diversify their function. The results are currently prepared for publication. The generality of the found results will likely allow to transform the basic principles established here into guidelines for drug design in the direction of antibiotics.


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How Italian Picture Frames Can Enhance Your Artwork

Roma MouldingSince the Medieval period, Italian artisans have been producing elaborate frames with distinctively decorated borders. To this day, these frames are inspired by current trends derived from classic Greco-Roman architecture. In fact, Italy’s extraordinary frame design is often considered equal to the work of art itself.

One of the most exquisite blueprints for this kind of detailed border is called the Tabernacle frame. It was used in early times to provide additional ornamentation to altarpieces and other types of religious images. With incredible detail, this category of Italian frames was customarily hand-carved to the degree that could be found within embellished building interiors and other architectural settings.

For a more simplistic, streamlined version of this beloved approach, the Casetta frame offers subtler gildings and carvings meant to spotlight the featured art without distracting from it. This type of frame became prevalent during the Renaissance, where portraits and other secular works rose in popularity.

As the years passed, the Baroque period helped to direct the fashion of Italian frame production. Therefore, linear designs with straightforward mouldings started to replace ornate designs. However, the grandiose feel that had become associated with Italian frames still remained, even during the Baroque era, only adding to the wide appeal.

Choosing the Right Italian Frame

Throughout history, Italian frames have distinguished themselves to a great extent due to their painstaking detail and intricately engraved layouts. Even today, this singular frame is beautifully differentiated from other border constructions available in the marketplace.

Because of the many attractive styles that can be selected, there is an extensive variety of Italian frames for any kind of artwork. Whether you want a simple arrangement or a composition that offers increased ornamentation, Italian frames have the versatility to please customers of every taste. The resonant history that these unique frames represent offers a lovely touch to whatever picture or keepsake item you wish to put on display.


Vision Defines Purpose (Vision 5 of 6)

If Vision is our sense of destiny; a sacred understanding of where we are going, then purpose is its more meaningful partner. Like yen and yang, these two ideas are each other’s greatest compliment. Neither can stand alone very well without the benefit of the other. Of course, you can have “vision” with no purpose, but there won’t be meaningful results. We need to have a compelling reason to engage in any change of behavior. “Purpose” is most often defined as the anticipated result that guides decision making. That’s right when you are moving with purpose; you are simultaneously anticipating an outcome. You’re thinking about your end game with some reasonable expectation. Your results can be either positive or negative but the results are inevitable.

Purpose quite often has two characteristics: it provides meaning and simultaneously answers the question “why”. It’s easy to decide on a destination that you want to reach in life. The hard part is providing a sense of contextual meaning or reason to that destination. Without a good compelling reason, it’s harder to accomplish anything. Yes, often we find ourselves engaging in thoughtless activity simply because someone in whom we have a great amount of respect for, asked that we do so. I would submit that keeping up with this course of action, never having a clue as to why your mother, for example, wanted you to bath five times a day would be difficult. Eventually, you’ll have an understanding of how other people behave and begin to question why they can get away with only one or two cleanings a day! You may even begin to resent your mother as you use up more and more body soap in your quest for absolute germ-free cleanliness. Anger and disappointment will soon give way to rage and disgust until you simply cease to comply. [Read more…]

Vision Creates and Sustains Motivation (Vision 4 of 6)

We’ve said a lot about vision and its importance to human beings and achieving their potential as individuals as well as within organizations. Nothing, however, is more important to people than motivation. It just so happens that when done well, vision represents the very soul of motivation without which, our efforts would be hollow and lifeless. Let’s take a look at motivation first.

Motivation is a complex labyrinth of stimuli then response. In some cases, the response itself is the very motivation to provide continuous stimulus and then yet again, an additional response. This cycle continues for most of our lives and is, in fact, the fundamental building block of all human behavior. When we accidentally touch something extremely hot we immediately snatch our hand away to protect ourselves. This is the classic stimulus-response example that behavioral scientists have studied for years. [Read more…]

Vision Clarifies Decision Making (Vision Part 3 of 6)

About decision-making

Decision making is the most critical cognitive skill that we all have. Our ability to reason and make informed conclusions help us decide how, if and when we are to act on anything. In fact, decision making by definition contains the ability for us to make purposeful selections from and amidst a set of alternatives. We have to constantly negotiate mental objects and concepts to arrive at our process of living. Our ability to do this and do it well affects us on every level; personally, within our relationships and as leaders of organizations. Without well-honed decision-making skills, there is no accurate planning or coordinating, no ability to control situations as we experience them. It’s like being adrift on a stormy sea with no sail or rudder. [Read more…]

Vision helps others to buy-in and creates true understanding (Vision Part 2 of 6)

Personally speaking, there is nothing worse than reaching for opportunities that don’t really exist or striving to work hard on strategies and concepts that have no real chance of ever being implemented. Nothing really happens when you don’t know where you are going. Actually, a lot happens. The vision of other people happens to you.

Finding your real vision can be extremely easy or painfully difficult. The choice is yours. Creating your own vision gives you the gift of inspired change. This gift is a continuous source of motivation and encouragement. You never have to worry about where you should aim your career or personal life. You’ll understand without a doubt where you are going and why you believe you should get there. Your vision is at once an effort of destiny that has to be found and simultaneously an exercise of creation that emerges only with real focus and practice. [Read more…]


Her Morning Elegance

After a few hours apart, Matthew and I often have mental share-lists.  And usually they are all bookmarked Internet links.  They’re usually just tidbits, funny things, lovely things, thought-provoking…all bits of beauty.  Because loving someone (at least to him and I) is all about holding up beautiful things for the other to see.   Even if that beauty is simply a reflection of who they are.

Here’s what I’ll be sharing with him next: