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The Climate Change Experiment

March 28, 2016

After reading the extra credit dilemma that went viral online, I decided to try it on my class of 35 Geography students to teach the topic of climate change.

climate change rules

The results: A third of the class voted for 6 points in Round 1. Half the class voted for 6 points in Round 2. Unfortunately for the students, none of these points were real.

Read more…

Sustainability Reporting: A Conversation with Mr Sadashiv of Ernst & Young

March 14, 2016

Starting from Financial Year 2017, firms listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) will be expected to publish sustainability reports. The Climate Fellows had the opportunity to meet and chat with Mr. Sadashiv of Ernst & Young (E&Y Singapore), who heads the Climate Change and Sustainability Services Department (CCaSS ‘see-cass’). We talked about what sustainability reporting means for companies as well as other environmental issues in the Singapore context.

CCaSS works with companies on their climate change and sustainability strategies, with a range of services including advisory, verification of carbon emissions and the carbon footprint of companies. They help companies create a sustainability framework, advise companies on their risk management systems and implement programs. These help a company with sustainability reporting.

The hope is that compulsory sustainability reporting will drive companies to start, or continue to improve on their business’s sustainability. However, companies may feel that sustainability reports are just one more overhead for the company to bear, making it a burden instead. Mr Sadashiv rebuts this perspective, saying that sustainability is part and parcel of running the business. He gives the example of General Electric’s Ecomagination, which produces cars, and products with green technology that are higher priced than their regular products. Innovation will breed competitiveness, which is a good thing. Companies can show their customers they are environmentally conscious while also making profits.

Singapore could take cues from the Scandinavian countries that are driving the trend towards exhibiting responsible behavior, whether toward climate change or other environmental issues. Mr Sadashiv believes ASEAN is at the starting block as there is evidence of positive commitments happening at the governmental level (such as the INDCs), but the speed at which these regulations are implemented is much slower. With compulsory sustainability reporting it will happen in fits and starts, depending on whether companies see it as a reporting burden or an asset.

Ideally, there should be a push toward sustainable behavior before pushing sustainability reports. Singapore is a society which over consumes. For example, a handphone contains rare Earth material that constitutes tons of earth dug up to make it, yet the pricing system for handphones is designed to drive the consumer to replace it every 18 months. Many people don’t recycle their handphones and have 3-4 in a drawer somewhere that they don’t use. Other problems Singapore faces:

  • Waste Separation is an issue for us due to the way HDBs have been built.
  • We are addicted to air conditioning. How do we encourage people to convert to fans, which are actually healthier for us?
  • Prices for repairing dryers (and other household appliances) make buying a brand new model more worthwhile than repairing it, and this is done on purpose because that’s the company’s strategy.
  • Pulau Semakau may run out of space to put our waste but no one seems to be worried about this.

So what exactly is lacking in Singapore culture?

Mr Sadashiv says, “An appreciation of how what we do in everyday existence links to the wider world or bigger problem of waste.”

This sounds very much like what companies should consider when it comes to climate change and sustainability: “What, due to my operations, are the externalities I should consider? What is the impact I’m having?”

What should SGX sustainability reporting include?

  1. Material matters/issues–expecting the company to declare the framework they’re using for reporting their energy, waste, water, etc.
  2. Stakeholder engagement (verified by the stakeholders). Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines stakeholders as those who have an impact on the company, and vice versa.
  3. Need to have policies and procedures in place.
  4. Set targets for the material matters that have been identified.
  5. Most importantly, the board of directors sign off to endorse the sustainability report.

Setting targets is tricky because companies worry about whether it is practical to have an annual target to meet. From a sustainability perspective, a long-term ambitious target makes more sense than a short-term target, as you may have to wait for technology to catch up.

Overall, it seems to boil down to people and companies living in a way that involves taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Sustainability reporting is one measure to motivate companies, but there needs to be a fundamental push on the individual in society to practice sustainable behavior as well.

Further Reading:

E&Y Analysis of the Top 50 SGX companies and their state of sustainability reporting at present

Climate Change and Hollywood – What’s the link?

March 3, 2016

The Revenant

It’s Oscars week in Hollywood! The main issue the Oscars grappled with this year is race and the lack of diversity in Oscar nominations, thus the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag (and well-founded). However, another issue lurked beneath the glossy post-produced films. Six-times nominated and first-time Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio (finally!) gave a shoutout to climate change in his Oscar acceptance speech:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar Acceptance Speech

The Revenant (2015), a film about the legendary fur trapper Hugh Glass, features snowy landscapes and takes place, for the most part, out in nature. The decision to shoot only in natural lighting meant the cast and crew would be surrounded by the elements throughout the production. And while it seems the wonders of CGI today knows no bounds, the crew instead shot on-location surrounded by snow. But snow itself proved elusive, with weather predictions turning… well, unpredictable. The cast and crew had to shift from Canada to Argentina just to be where the snow was, even resorting to snowmakers (machines which churn out manmade snow). They had to compete with Tarantino’s latest film The Hateful Eight (2015) for the snowmakers, as it also features snowy landscapes, except it one-upped them by including a blizzard (although The Revenant does have a vicious bear… we’ll call it even).

The Hateful Eight

Since its inception, film has had a close relationship with realism. For what is the camera but a means of recording reality (and existence)? This is what some film theorists (ahem, Siegfried Kracauer) would say. Italian neorealist films such as De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief (1948) took realism as a gold standard, shooting on-location on busy streets, often with curious passers-by gazing into the lens of the camera.

That is to say, film production crews are in a unique position. Many times, they will see and feel the first-hand effects of climate change as they travel around to scout locations. By necessity of the script, a lot of film production depends on weather and climate. Judging from the problems encountered by The Revenant and The Hateful Eight’s crew, scriptwriters will likely have to be more discerning when choosing to include snowy landscapes in the future.

For more details and further reading, check out Vanity Fair’s article on ‘How Extreme Weather is Melting Hollywood’s Winter Shoots‘.

Ice Watch Paris – The Clock is Ticking

January 27, 2016

From my visit to the Arctic last year I have a very lively memory of the horrifying noise and sight of huge ice blocks cracking and breaking away from the pack. The Arctic is indeed the gatekeeper of climate disorder: for years, this region has been sending us signals that we cannot neglect anymore. The international community must hear them and turn them into acts.

- Laurent Fabius, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, President of COP21

They said that an image is worth a thousand words. This might be the easiest 3,000 words that I might ever write.

imagesPhoto Credits:

Denizens of affluent cities (like Singapore) lament the warmer weather and compensate by the extended use of air-conditioners indoors and Ray-ban shades when we step out. There are many others for whom such substitutes or adaptation measures don’t exist. In fact warmer temperatures impact their livelihoods and their very existence in extreme cases. We adapt to thrive whilst they struggle to adapt, even to survive.

ice watch

Photo Credits:

Ice melts when heated. Every 10 year old knows that. When glacial ice melts in the Artic, the sea-levels rise and if all this ice melts, sea-levels will rise by 7 meters. While this might be a little far-sighted, let’s assume the scenario of a modest 2 meter rise in sea-levels.  High-rise buildings and a mandate to raise the minimum reclamation levels by an additional 1 meter on top of the previous level of 1.25 meters above the highest recorded tide level observed should keep the inhabitants of Singapore safe. We’ll Survive.

  Photo Credits:

Without food, we will die. Agriculture represents one of the most climate-sensitive industries. A small variation in rainfall will impact crop cultivation and yield. Adverse weather patterns and an uplift on global sea levels will destroy crops, cattle and our food supplies as a result. Most of what we eat in Singapore is imported from the very countries that are threatened by adverse climate impacts. What happened to surviving?

These problems and consequences specified above are just the tip of the iceberg. There is still time for us to do something about this crisis. Everyone one of us. The melting icebergs in the Artic are not that far off after all.

Deploying Resources of the Green Climate Fund: “What makes a good project?”

January 11, 2016

Picture source: The Green Climate Fund

On a side event organized by The Green Climate Fund on 2 December, speakers explained how GCF will go about identifying and prioritising investment opportunities and set out the criteria that the Board will use in making funding decisions.

The Green Climate Fund has approved its first 8 projects in the Fund Board’s first round of investment decisions in November and gives a good flavour of what the fund can do. The projects approved varies from a good mix of purposes like adaptation, mitigation, government, private etc.

The Board has developed criteria to prioritise investment decisions so that it can match its ‘paradigm shitfting’ level of ambitions.

Alberto Paniagua, CEO of PROFONANPE, the Peruvian Trust Fund for National Parks and Protected Areas suggested that good GCF projects should balance resource conservation with mitigation and adaptation measures. In order for projects to be more effective, he stressed the importance of building up experience.

Having been recently accredited by the Fund, Rwanda’s Minister of Natural Resources Vincent Biruta credited this significant achievement to the Ministry’s focus on environment and climate change at the heart of Rwanda’s development. The accreditation was also possible because Rwanda had identified its challenges, set specific goals, and put in place the frameworks.

Some panellists also spoke about the potential and importance of the GCF to reach their goals.

As a means of building resilience in face of threats to groundwater as a result of rising sea levels, Ambassador Amjad Abdullah of the Maldives explained how GCF-funded water management projects would provide safe and secure freshwater to the people in the northern atolls of Maldives.

Mexico’s first projects approved by the fund, elaborated by the Vice Minister of Environmental Policy and Planning Rudolfo Lacy Tamayo, through its pilot role within the Latin American and Caribbean energy efficiency green bond programme will go towards funds for small-scale energy efficiency projects for a wider range of investors.

The Fund, moving forward, will need to scale up its investments. It also stands ready to support the implementation of the INDCs and welcomes developing countries’ ambitious and effective projects to the Fund for the Board’s considerations.

Adapted from:

Migration Woes

January 9, 2016

“We are living in an era of forced mobility.”

– William Lacy Swing, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration

As Yilin rightly pointed out in a previous post, migration, or “human mobility”, has become the new buzzword in climate change negotiations. More people, in particular in developing regions of the world, are getting displaced by the day due to climate-induced changes such as droughts and conflicts. There is an urgent need for better research, data and capacity building to address issues related to human migration in the coming years.

I attended a side event in Paris that consisted of two consecutive panels, each with 5 high-profile speakers who discussed the drivers of the problem, its impacts, and the measures urgently needed to address it. But exactly how serious is the issue?

Consider Bangladesh. According to the 5th Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the country has been losing 6% of its Gross Domestic Product per annum due to storms alone, while a one-meter rise in sea level would likely result in the covering of 1/6 of its total land mass. Worldwide, up to 2.5 billion people will be living in areas subjected to intense drought by 2025. These all mean serious business that would have consequences beyond the national level; the displaced will find their way elsewhere, as the current case of the conflict in Syria has already shown.

People displaced from their homes after a storm in Bangladesh. (Source:

On this basis, United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees Volker Türk emphasized that global environmental challenges have become “breeding grounds” for social tensions. The issues also tend to be highly politicized amidst calls for compassion in dealing with any refugees.

What is needed? The experts are optimistic that we can increase opportunities for land-based investments to develop resilient communities. According to Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Kang Kyung-Wha, this means investing in education of the people to increase capacity and to empower the most vulnerable to more effectively respond to crises. This also means shifting towards crisis risk management away from crisis response, to focus on minimizing the unforeseeable risks by preparing well ahead and to manage risks already known to us. Thus development planning has to ensure that all possible scenarios are considered, and to ensure that people have the means to obtain assistance to avoid displacement.

Overall, the issue on climate migration is complicated and multi-faceted. For one, a direct causation between climate change and the migration of people is difficult to establish. Many factors ultimately determine an individual’s movement beyond his or her homeland. This is nonetheless an emerging research field to explore in further detail at future COPs.

Understanding Climate Change induced Migration

January 6, 2016

At COP21, I attended a side event on the importance of social science research on climate induced migration. Having had a vague understanding of it prior to that, I learnt alot from the speakers and it sparked an interest inside me to know more about this area. This post will briefly highlight some areas of climate change induced migration.

Natural disasters alone have caused about 19.3 million people worldwide to be displaced from their homes in 2014 and 90% of it are weather-related events. The extreme weather- intense rains, typhoons and climate variability (affecting agriculture) have forced people to move elsewhere, mostly within their own countries, with some, though rarely, crossing international borders. There is a multi-causal relationship explaining climate induced migration; while there is a connection between the movement of people and natural disasters, climate change is one of the several factors causing it, rather than it being a direct cause.

Migration as a form of Adaptation

The term ‘migration’ has been viewed as a negative phenomenon, with deep historical and colonial ties, and caused as a reactionary response after a disaster.

The two main responses to climate change are mitigation and adaptation. Traditional forms of adaptation are ‘hard’ measures like building defences to protect against sea-level rise and developing drought-resistant crops.

Picture source:

With displacement occurring due to natural disasters and environmental related factors, climate change could increase the frequency and need for migration. Thus scholars feel that it is important to recognise migration as a form of adaptation strategy.

The issue with migration

Climate Change Image

Picture source:

The term ‘refugee’ is used for people forced to leave their homes because of war, persecution or other violence. A person seeking refuge from an environmental disaster cannot apply for the refugee status and lacks protection under the U.N. High Convention for Refugees.

Migration is a complicated issue as it also involves border politics and arouses patriotic and xenophobic feelings.

Picture source:

In October 2015, the poor and developing nations known as the Group of 77 and China submitted a proposal for the Paris talks to deliver a plan for climate migrants. However, industrialised countries are wary about talks of migration or having to compensate those affected by climate change.

‘Displacement’ in the Paris Agreement

Before Paris, there was no mention of displacement or migration linked to climate change. Now, there is an agreement for countries to address displacement linked to climate change impacts.

The outcome to the Paris negotiations creates a “task force” whose job will be to “develop recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change”

Though not as ambitious as some would have hoped, it is a start to a process that would address these climate change induced migration.

  1. “Migration as adaptation: exploring mobility as a coping strategy for climate change” report; Kayly Ober;

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Author: Maria Morais

Maria Morais

A digital commerce consultant with over 7 years of experience in Digital Marketing and 10 years in Market Research and Analytics. Maria’s experience spans multiple industries; including retail, fashion, technology, financial services, human resources and gaming.

She is able to reflect her extensive background in a variety of sectors, both client and agency side, with a focus on innovation and technology that enables businesses to develop and achieve greater results.

Maria is a regular contributor to various industry publications and blogs.
Twitter: @CeuMorais

Why should fashion brands improve their multichannel offerings?

How shopping centres can innovate and save the high street

I have realised over the years that most people are no longer satisfied with simply buying goods and services. They expect engaging experiences and want shopping to be fun.


El San Juan Hotel & Casino

Av. Isla Verde 6063
00979 San Juan, Puerto Rico

This exquisitely decorated hotel is the main and most prestigious venue in Puerto Rico. Its interior is pure bliss, with antique inspired details decoding decades past. Its 389 rooms are all spacious and elegant with some featuring breathtaking views of the Atlantic ocean. The hotel's two outdoors swimming pools accentuate the stunning beach that's right in front. Guests have direct access to Isla Verde beach, a two-mile sandy beach perfect for sunbathing. Infinite amenities including spas, world-class restaurants, bars, lounges, a high-end club (Brava is the number one club in San Juan) and designer boutiques are all part of the hotel's dazzling world.


"Images" from the edge of a black hole

EDIT: This post originally went up with the wrong images. Sorry about that.

This is not a photograph.

But it's still amazing.

An important thing to remember about science is that some of the stuff we talk about in the general public as "fact" — like, say, black holes — haven't actually been seen by anybody. Instead, black holes exist on paper, as part of theoretical astrophysics. They also exist in indirect evidence — we can look for things in the universe that should exist in a certain way, in a certain place, if our theoretical astrophysics is correct. So far, that lines up, too.

And then there's this thing. Like I say, it's not a photo. It's more like a model. Telescopes — the kind we point at deep space — don't collect images, they collect information. This is a digital rendering made based on information collected when researchers pointed four different telescopes at a galaxy called (poetically) galaxy M87. What you're looking at is a series of simulations, over time, showing massive ribbons of gas undulating and spinning around the something at the galaxy's center. If the theoretical astrophysics is right, this is the closest we've ever gotten to seeing a black hole. Read the rest


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  • apostate_001 apostate_001 Dec 31, 2008 2:09 PM Flag

    why the rise?

    During the last 2 days of this year, approximately a quarter of a million homes in the homebuilder's previously stagnant inventory were placed under contract in 'all cash' transactions. Yeah, right. That would be the only legitimate explanation for upward movement in homebuilder stock prices.

    A similar question: why would a herd of sheep suddenly migrate in its pasture from the west toward the east. Possible answer: a few edgy sheep believe they hear bushes rustling on the west perimeter and therefore take a few steps eastward. Other sheep see this eastward movement of their peers and move likewise -- either from habit or believing there must be a reason. This phenomena multiplies. Much of the herd is simply pushed eastward by the rest, whether they want to go or not--without any reason.


For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ

Cedarville's Student Life Philosophy

We exist to help Cedarville University fulfill its mission to be a Christ-centered learning community by exhibiting the spirit of Jesus Christ and recognizing the values of God's kingdom. We seek to equip students for lives marked by academic success, spiritual vitality, physical and mental health, relational accountability, personal integrity, and meaningful service.

Core Outcomes

To achieve its purpose, the Student Life Division seeks to accomplish the following core outcomes in our graduates:

  1. Cedarville graduates will understand the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, distinguish it from common misconceptions, and live out its implications for all of their lives.
  2. Cedarville graduates will identify their spiritual giftedness and strengths and actively participate in the community and mission of their local church.
  3. Cedarville graduates will recognize the Bible as the revelation of God about Himself, demonstrate knowledge of the biblical text, and apply it to all facets of life.
  4. Cedarville graduates will desire to see the Gospel communicated to all peoples and participate by praying, giving, going, and mobilizing.
  5. Cedarville graduates will know their strengths and weaknesses and will be servant-leaders by living consistent lives, demonstrating competence, and earning an audience that produces influence in the lives of others.
  6. Cedarville graduates will develop disciplines that produce spiritual, emotional, physical, mental, and relational health.


Growth Strategies

How Business Travel Can Be a Danger to Your Health

Those who frequently travel for business are no strangers to the stressors of being on the road. While we all know the health dangers of stress (high blood pressure, weight gain and difficulty concentrating among others), did you know traveling carries its own set of health risks? A study from Columbia University showed people who never traveled for business reported being healthier than those whose jobs frequently required them to be on the road (or in the air).

Here are the five most common ways travel can wreak havoc on your health:

1. Jet Lag. Travel across time zones interferes with the body's circadian rhythm (our biological clock). This, in turn, negatively affects our quality of sleep, creating the feeling we know as "jet lag". Washington-based physican William Kimbrough of One Medical Group says chronically sleep-deprived individuals perform similarly to those who are intoxicated, with decreased alertness and poor mental performance on complicated tasks. To avoid jet lag and regulate your body's circadian rhythm, Kimbrough recommends continuity in morning routines. "If you exercise first thing in the morning you can really help your body adjust to a new time zone quickly," if you continue that habit while travelling, says Kimbrough. Since the body's internal clock is driven by a small gland in the brain that monitors daylight, exposing yourself to natural light first thing in the morning triggers the body to know its daytime, allowing you adjust to your new time zone faster.

Related: Tips for Handling Non-Stop Travel

2. Increased risk of illness. Exposure to individuals from various geographic areas carrying different germs can increase frequent traveler's risk of contracting illness. Fatigue and sleep deprivation during travel can also weaken the immune system, making you even more susceptible. Frequent hand washing and wiping down airplane tray tables and arm rests with an anti-bacterial wipe can also help. Kimbrough says staying hydrated during travel is also key to preventing illness. "The dry air on airplanes causes the mucous in your nose to dry up, making it more vulnerable to picking up germs," says Kimbrough. Fluids keep nasal passages moist and less prone to picking up germs.

3. Musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Chad Laurence, a chiropractor based in Hockessin, Del., says poor ergonomics and cramped airplane seats can, in the long term, cause musculoskeletal conditions to develop. "The seats have no lumbar support and [they] force the neck and head forward, creating anterior head syndrome," says Laurence, who recommends placing a blanket or pillow behind your upper back and into the curve of your lower back. "This position allows your head to stay on the seat's headrest and pushes your shoulders forward while promoting the natural curves of your neck and lower back, reducing the likelihood of pain and stiffness."

Related: Whom to Tip, and How Much

4. Muscle stiffness, spasms and pain. Sitting in a cramped position for hours can cause muscle stiffness, spasms, and pain. Laurence recommends doing some simple stretches to help offset the physical consequences on inactivity. Some stretches include making circular motions with each ankle clockwise and counter-clockwise or standing up in the aisle and bending at the waist to reach for your toes to stretch hamstrings or standing on one leg bending the opposite knee to bring the heel to your buttock and holding for 15 seconds while grabbing onto a seat for balance support.

5. Blood Clots. A 2003 study in New Zealand indicated people who travel for four or more hours have three times the risk of developing blood clots in their limbs than those who do not travel. Laurence says risks of blood clots increases with longer durations and frequencies of flights, obesity, genetic predispositions for blood clots and individuals taking birth control pills or hormone therapies. He recommends standing and taking a walk down the airplane aisle every 30 to 45 minutes, especially on long flights.

Related: Travel Trends We Loved in 2013


NASA Launches New MAVEN Spacecraft, Begins Journey to Mars

PHOTO: The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASAs MAVEN, spacecraft.PlayKim Shiflett/NASA
WATCH New MAVEN Launch to Mars Hopes to Reveal Earth's Future

Mars is becoming a hot travel destination this month. Less than two weeks after India's space agency, ISRO, launched a spacecraft to the red planet, NASA is ready to launch one of its own.

Maven, short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, is scheduled to launch at 1:28 p.m. ET this afternoon from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Paul Mahaffy, a NASA research scientist involved with both Maven and the Curiosity Rover, is optimistic that the new spacecraft's launch will go as planned.

"As far as I know, all the testing leading up to the point has been going swimmingly," he told ABC News. "My expectation is that if there is a launch delay, it'll have more to do with cloudiness and weather."

Maven will hover around the upper layers of Mars' atmosphere. While it won't be joining Curiosity for joyrides on the Martian surface, it will help out the rover in one of its research objectives: analyzing how Mars' atmosphere has changed in billions of years.

"We want to better understand how the atmosphere is escaping from Mars," Mahaffy said. "Then, we can extrapolate back in time and ask, 'Was Mars' climate substantially different than it is today?'"

But even though Maven is airborne while Curiosity treads along the ground, the two might be able to talk with one another. "Every time we send an orbiter, we put in telecommunications capability," Mahaffy said. "It can talk to the surface rover, whether we need it to or not."


sábado, 6 de agosto de 2011

The Market

I think I have an obsession with the local market.  I have been there over 7 times. Specifically, there is a market in Quito called, “Mercado Artesenal” and I have become pretty accustomed to bargaining for decent prices. Although foreigners rarely get the same price as Ecuadorians, it is good to know a ballpark range for the items you want so that they do not charge you too much more.  For instance, the other day I bought a pair of pants for $5, then walked by a few minutes later to hear a woman buying the same pair for $25.

Some examples of good prices for items:
·         Earrings are $1 - $2.  This is unless you buy the real silver earrings, which vary depending on the gem/stone used.
·         Tie-dye pants:  $6
·         Hand-stitched purse: $8
·         Bracelets vary depending on style. The cheapest are $1 all the way to $50
·         Scarf: $2 - $8
·         Coasters: $6-$10 depending on the style and material
·         Shot glasses: $1.50

NOTE: Many prices depend on the style and size. Coasters might cost $6, but coasters made from leather will cost more.

Advice: Prices lower if you buy higher quantities. One shirt will cost $10, or you can get 2 for $16.

If you have any questions about the price of an item not mentioned, just ask!

miércoles, 27 de julio de 2011

Baños, Ecuador: Another Exciting Weekend Excursion

Today I got back from Baños, Ecuador. We left Friday around 3:00 and arrived in time to walk to streets and visit a discoteca.  I have never seen so many good dancers!  The men and women alike were fantastic at salsa and it was a lot of fun learning a new style of dance.  We also made sure to teach them some of our U.S. moves!  In general, Ecuadorians don’t raise their hands in the air when dancing. It is mainly about the feet and hips.   I found it funny though because the DJ would play American songs, but no one knew the concurring dance.  Anyone ever heard a song that says, “put your hands in the air” (there are quite a few)?  Well, when these were played, no one was putting their hands in the air.  This is except for those few Americans scattered throughout the bar.  Haha.
The next morning was raining so we spent some time in the market.  When it cleared, we took a bus up the mountain and had a tour of 5 different waterfalls, including the largest waterfall in Ecuador.  The girls at the school also bungee jumped (I am afraid of heights so this is the one activity I passed up)!  From there, we were dropped off at some swimming pools that have water from the volcano!  The theory is that swimming in the volcanic water is very therapeutic.  After the pool, we went back to the Hostel, changed, and found a nice place to eat.  There was a very nice Italian restaurant where the food and service was great, and also cost about $6.  If you are on a budget, there are other places for even less.  Later that night a party bus brought us up the mountain to where we were supposed to be able to see the city and the volcanic fire at the top of the volcano! BUT, since the weather was bad and it was raining, the clouds were too thick to see anything L  We were still able to try a traditional Ecuadorian drink, “Canelazo.” It is a warm drink that contains orange juice, cinnamon, and some kind of tart alcohol that I’m not a big fan of.  Either way, it was nice to try the drink that the Ecuadorians love so much.  They also had a bonfire with a comical act.  Then, after the skit was over, we went back down the mountain in a party bus for some more discotecas.  Overall, I spent $8 total for the bus tours of magnificent some scenery and entry into the bars.  Not too shabby!

ADVICE: If you are a germ-a-phob, then go to the pools in the morning. There are early bird openings at 4:00 a.m.  The pool only uses natural water so by the evening it is pretty dirty.

miércoles, 6 de julio de 2011

Do I really know where I am?

Studying my map and learning where exactly Quito is located, where other popular cities are, where I live, where my friends live, where the school is located and some major streets was one of best ideas I could have had!

martes, 5 de julio de 2011

July 4th, but no United States

It actually was not as hard to miss the 4th of July as I thought it would be.  Four students from Academia de Espanol (and from the U.S.) found a karaoke bar with American songs and we sang Queen and Elvis for the night.  Although no one was in red, white, and blue, it was still a good time!  If you are away during a holiday, make plans with an American friend or a friend willing to participate in the American traditions!  This will keep your mind off of missing the holiday back home. Who knows, you may even have more fun than if you were in the states!

domingo, 26 de junio de 2011

A Weekend Excursion

Yesterday I traveled with Jolyn Rekasis, an SIUE student, Lucy, a student from California, and JoLyn’s host brother, Carlos, to Mindo, Ecuador.  It is a city known for its beautiful scenery.  Although we did not have time to visit the butterfly house (an attraction Mindo is known for), we did get to hike the mountainside.  This mountain is VERY different from the Andes.  It is full of life, including palm trees and over 120 species of birds.  We hiked for about 4 hours and were able to see 5 different cascading waterfalls.  It was a stunning sight.  After that, we ate impanadas with cheese (a regular appetizer here) and traveled back to our homes in Quito.

Advice: If you plan on traveling to Mindo make it a two or three day trip. There is SO much to do! We didn’t even make it to the butterfly house, the horse rides through the mountains, the bike trails, the large lagoon, the famous dish ceviche de palmito, and much more. Also, plan on getting wet if you travel to the waterfalls (you might want a swimsuit, change of clothes, etc.). J

domingo, 19 de junio de 2011

Is it possible to be higher than life?

Yesterday JoLyn, Cal, and I scaled the Andes Mountains.  It was AMAZING.  The Andes are the third highest mountain chain in the world! The views from pictures are better than those you see in postcards, not even taking into consideration how much better they are in person.  We walked around for awhile and decided to take a break for some photos when Cal noticed a section of barbed wire that had been cut off by someone.  So, JoLyn and I followed him into the “forbidden” section of the Andes.  There really isn’t regulation in the mountains and there were actually a lot of others that followed us.  Good work Cal :-).  From there, we walked for about 4 more hours. Cal brought a chocolate brownie which was another very good idea.  When you are 4.5 thousand meters above sea level, you start to get very dizzy and weak.  Chocolate combats the effects of such high altitude (dizziness, nausea, light-headedness, etc.).  In fact, we refused to stop climbing and ended up walking pretty much as far as you can without having gear for the snow.  I can’t explain how spectacular it is to be standing inside of a cloud.  It is so peaceful.  Not very many people make it that high and it is definitely too far away for cars, or other devices, so noise feels practically non-existent.  Also, because there are such low oxygen levels, much life (trees, animals, etc.) does not exist either.  When we reached our highest point we stopped for awhile to soak it all in.  As I looked around I realized: I was higher than the tallest buildings, higher than planes, higher than the clouds, and yes, even higher than life.

PLEASE, if you are in Ecuador, DO NOT miss the Andes Mountains.  If you are not the hiking type, then take the “teleferico” (cable cars) to the 4.0 meter mark.  It is an experience too beautiful to miss.

ADVICE:  Wear layers and bring very warm clothes if you are planning to hike the Andes.  At first it was very hot, but by the end it was so cold we could see our breath.  Also bring something salty (chips, etc.) and chocolate.  This will help with the effects of the altitude. Further, don’t forget a bottle of water—drink it even if you do not feel thirsty!!  It is a good idea to stop midway when there are steep inclines and rest until you catch your breath again.  Definitely stop and rest if you are feeling any dizziness.  Also, if you are fatigued, stretching and a few jumping jacks will cause more oxygen to reach your bloodstream, which in turn lessens the fatigue.

sábado, 18 de junio de 2011

Pollution and Bugs

There is so much pollution in Quito that I'm not sure I will make it out alive.  That is if the palm-sized mosquitoes don't get to me first.


reproductive health

Question by  Jaanu (51)

What does it mean if atypical squamous cells show up in my PAP?

Answer by  CleoHathor (81)

Atypical squamous cells are a precancerous condition. Your doctor may recommend that you have a LEEP or similar procedure to remove the cells. Yop probably will not require any other treatment, but if these cells are not removed, they may become cancer over time. There are many possible reasons for atypical cells, so check with your doctor for other tests.

Answer by  MattK (1713)

Atypical squamous cells in your PAP smear simply mean the cells do not look like picture perfect, textbook examples of cells. Infections are the most common reason. Just follow up.

Answer by  rbiales (3441)

Atypical means that they don't look the way that they would be expected to and will require further study. There are a number of possiblities, the most serious being having cervical changes, which can be treated before they become cancer and this can saver your fertility and save your life, so it's a good idea to follow up.

Answer by  KatDay (104)

It means that there may be at increased risk for developing cervical cancer and there is need to be closely monitored. Atypical cells may or may not become malignant. It also depends on the degree of change in these cells.

Answer by  djb228 (510)

Atypical squamous cells is the most common kind of abnormality on a PAP test. ASC has a number of causes, many of which are not pre-cancerous. Your doctor will follow up to find the reason for the abnormal cells and recommend treatment. DO follow through: it's worth it.

Answer by  carol20 (55)

Your doctor will give you advice on how to deal with these cells showing up in a pap smear. I think that they indicate cells that have the potential to develop into cancerous cells (I think these cell are also known as "precancerous").

Answer by  Jakecutter (1819)

This could very well be a warning sign to Cancer. These cells are precancerous symptoms. The cells would need to be removed but that may be about all.

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APS News

This Month in Physics History

January 10, 1919: Death of Wallace Sabine, pioneer of architectural acoustics

sabine image web

Wallace Clement Sabine

Composers have always recognized the importance of the acoustics of a given performance space, and many tailored the music they composed to fit those spaces. For instance, Gregorian chants fare well in medieval cathedrals, known for long-reverberation times; ditto for organ music, such as Bach’s “Toccata in D Minor.” In contrast, Mozart and Haydn composed music to be played in highly furnished chambers, for smaller, intimate audiences. Such pieces lose their clarity when played in highly reverberant spaces.

But no one really thought about how to design a concert hall or opera house to achieve optimal acoustics until the end of the 19th century. It was done through trial and error, with little acoustical theory to provide much of a framework to centuries of experiment.

The father of modern architectural acoustics is an American physicist named Wallace Clement Sabine. Born in 1868, Sabine graduated from Ohio State University in 1886 and pursued graduate study at Harvard University. By 1895, he was a young assistant physics professor in Harvard’s physics department. His lack of seniority is one reason he was handed the knotty problem of improving the infamously bad acoustics of the university’s Fogg Lecture Hall, part of the recently constructed Fogg Art Museum.

Sabine didn’t have any particular expertise with sound–he didn’t even hold a PhD, although he was an excellent instructor and researcher–but he doggedly tackled the challenge as he would any other physics experiment. He chose to characterize sound in a room as a diffuse body of energy, rather than adopting the more typical 19th century geometric approach that focused on manipulating the propagation of sound waves. He focused his investigations on the sound-absorbing properties of various materials and their effect on reverberation times.

To that end, he spent several years studying the acoustical qualities of both the museum’s lecture hall, and the Sanders Theater, widely considered to have excellent acoustics, in order to determine what might be causing the difference in sound quality.  Specifically, he was attempting to find some objective formula or standard by which to measure and assess the acoustics of performance space designs.

It wasn’t an easy task because so many variables had to be taken into consideration. He and his assistants tested each space repeatedly under varying conditions, moving materials back and forth between the two halls and making careful measurements armed only with an organ pipe and a stop watch. He timed how long it took for different frequencies of sounds to decay to inaudibility under those varying conditions: with and without Oriental rugs, seat cushions, various numbers of people occupying the seats, and so forth. He found that the body of the average person decreased reverberation time by as much as six seat cushions.

Based on these experiments, Sabine was able to determine that there was a definitive relationship between the quality of a room’s acoustics, the size of the chamber, and the amount of absorption surfaces that were present. He devised a formula for calculating reverberation time, defined as the number of seconds required for the intensity of the sound to drop from the starting level by 60 decibels. It is still the critical factor for gauging a space’s acoustical quality: RT60 = 0.49 V/SA, where V is the room volume (expressed in cubic feet) and SA is the total absorption (expressed in square feet), where A is the average absorption coefficient of the room, and S is the surface area. The modern unit of sound absorption, the sabin, is named after him, and is considered the most important quantitative tool in architectural acoustics today.

Sabine concluded that the Fogg Lecture Hall’s reverberation time was too long–a spoken word would remain audible for 5.5 seconds, as opposed to the optimal reverberation time of 2.25 seconds–so there was too much resonance and echo. He solved the problem by outfitting the space with sound-absorbent materials to reduce the “echo effect.”

His success cemented his reputation and he went on to serve as acoustical consultant for the design of Boston’s Symphony Hall. For that design, Sabine suggested the shoebox configuration favored in European concert halls, instead of the wider fan shape more typical of the halls built in America at that time, along with narrowed balconies to keep the sound from being trapped, and banking the stage walls inward to focus the sound. The materials used were brick, steel and plaster–all hard reverberant surfaces–with wood flooring to add a touch of “softness.” At Sabine’s suggestion, the architects topped the hall with a coffered ceiling to provide the best possible acoustical experience to every seat in the house.

Symphony Hall made its debut in 1900, with a gala preceded by a benefit concert conducted by Maestro Wilhelm Gericke. It is still considered one of the best halls in the world in terms of sound quality. One decorative detail was not among Sabine’s recommendations. The arch above the proscenium is ringed with plaques, but only one is inscribed, with the name of the great composer Ludwig von Beethoven. The original intention was to inscribe each plaque with the name of a composer but in the end, the directors deemed Beethoven the only one deserving of such an honor.

Eventually Sabine became dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Applied Science from 1906 through 1915, when the school was dissolved. He served on the Rockefeller War Relief Commission during World War I, and was a member of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as well. The strain of all his wartime activities took a toll on his already fragile health, however, and he died on January 10, 1919, from complications following surgery for a kidney infection–just before he was slated to move into a new laboratory outside of Chicago, built for him by philanthropist Colonel George Fabyan. Architectural acoustics has developed into a prestigious field of expertise since his death, and Sabine is widely recognized as the founder of the profession.

Wallace C. Sabine, Collected Papers on Acoustics. Los Altos, US: Peninsula Publishing, 1993.

Physics History

This Month in Physics History
APS News Archives

Historic Sites Initiative
Locations and details of historic physics events

Editor: Alan Chodos


Upcoming Events

Current Sermon Series

For We Do Not Wrestle…

Islam, the second largest world religion, has had a significant impact for the last fourteen centuries. Wissam Al-Aethawi, a former Muslim and now a minister of the Lord’s church, will describe his faith journey. Born a Sunni Muslim in Baghdad, he rejected the Islam faith and became an Atheist. However, after investigating the Bible, he become a Christian. Sadly, Wissam had to leave his family and homeland behind in the process. Wissam will also discuss what Islam says about itself, and what the Christian response should be.


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Why is this purple bat hanging around. Greg the ghost looks a little annoyed by the intruder. But George doesn't seem to care, he looks real happy with his carved pumpkin. They are all anxious for the spooking season.
The 2 ghosts glow in the dark and are hand sculpted with glow in the dark clay. The goofy bat is sculpted with glitter purple polymer clay. I added artificial fall leaves to the bench. The bench measures 5" X 2 1/2" and is 5" tall. Cute little fall decoration for any table or desk top.
To view more of my spooks and ghost for Halloween click on the link below for my seasonal section.

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Peggy Reichenbach

Clearance Why is he hanging around: Glowing ghost decoration.


Membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase IV is expressed in the luminal plasma membrane of the human gallbladder epithelium

Alkaline hepatic bile is acidified in the gallbladder to prevent calcium precipitation and gallstone formation. Because membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzyme IV participates with cytoplasmic CA II in the acidification of urine in the kidney, we studied its expression in different regions of the human biliary tract using immunohistochemical techniques. The enzyme was expressed in the apical plasma membrane of the gallbladder epithelial cells and in the endothelium of the subepithelial capillaries. In the liver, some epithelial cells of the large bile ducts showed positive staining. Its presence in the gallbladder epithelium could be confirmed by Western blotting, which showed a single 35-kd polypeptide band, corresponding in molecular weight to the intact enzyme. The majority of the enzyme was phased to Triton X-114 detergent phase. A small amount of 35-kd polypeptide was also seen in the water phase. Smaller proteolytic fragments of the enzyme were not seen, suggesting that the tissue sample was well preserved. The results show that CA IV is expressed in abundance in the human gallbladder epithelium, where it may participate together with cytoplasmic CA II and ion transporters in acidification of the gallbladder bile via bicarbonate reabsorption.


The Significance of Support and Resistance

What is support? Support is a level or area on the chart under the market where buying interest is sufficiently strong to overcome selling pressure. as a result, a decline is halted and prices turn back up again. Usually a support level is identified beforehand band a previous reaction low.

What is resistance? Resistance represents a price level or area over the market where selling pressure overcomes buying pressure and a prce advance is turned back. Usually a resistance level is identifed by a previous peak.

In an uptrend, the resistance levels represent pauses in that uptrend and are usually exceeded at some point. In a downtrend, support levels are not sufficient to stop the decline permamently, but are able to check it at least temporarily.

The amount of trading in a given support or resistance area can be determined in three ways: the amount of time spent there, volume, and how recently the trading took place.

The longer the period of time that prices trade in a support or resistance area, the more significant that area becomes. For example, if prices trade sideways for three weeks in a congetion area befor moving higher, that support area would be more important than if only three days of tading has occurred.

Volume is another way to measure the significance of support and resistance. If a support level is formed on heavy volume, this would mark that support level as more important than if very little trading had taken place.

A third way to determine the significance of a support or resistance area is how recently the trading took place. The more recent the activity, the more potent it becomes.

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..., is vested in the President with no limitations whatever any way dependent on State authority, and all judicial power in a judiciary, in and over every variety of case involving the authority of the United States , or the individual rights of person and property, and obligations of the United States intended to be secured or imposed by the Constitution, and finally these powers are all to be enforced, not on t...

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How To Give A Christian Wedding Toast

Wedding Toast Glasses

When a groom or bride asks you to toast them at their wedding, they ask you not only to honor them, but also to honor God. That is a big responsibility! Thankfully, I’ve done this a few times so I have a few tips that will help you write your own toast. Now it’s time to set your eyes on Christ and craft that speech!

Take Time to Prepare

Getting up to give your speech and holding up a piece of toast and looking confused sounds more hilarious than it actually is. Be prepared and don’t wing it. Put some thought and effort into preparing a short 2-4 min speech.

As soon as you know you’re going to give a toast, take the time to brainstorm a bunch of memories about the groom and his bride. Write it a notepad or type it up. When you have some more free time revisit what you wrote, add, and look for consistent themes and stories. Try to find funny ones, but don't worry if they don't appear that way at first. With effort and some right phrasing, you can make almost anything funny.

Get started now! This may sound like a lot of work, but I promise it’ll pay off. I always try and write the first drafts of toasts I give several months in advance. It takes time, but you only get to do it once, so make it worthwhile.

But what if I don’t have much time left? Never fear! Take about ten to fifteen minutes to succinctly list all of your best memories of the couple. Now go back through and look for themes. Here are a few questions that might help different memories or stories pop out:
  • Who introduced you to the bride and groom? Who is involved in your stories?
  • Where did your memories form? Personalities change? Adventures happen? Life-lessons take place? Did the bride and groom meet?
  • When did your stories happen? In your childhood? In your teens? Elementary-school? High-school? College? Business trip? Last year?
  • When did the couple meet? Were you involved with the process? The confirmation of feelings? Did you realize they were serious?
  • What do you remember the most from spending time with the bride or groom or both of them?
  • What were they like when nobody was looking? First impressions?
  • Why do you like them? Love them? Want to be like them? Think they’re crazy? Think they’re lovely? Feel happy around them? Think God will use this marriage for good?
  • How has the bride or groom influenced your life? Dreams? Aspirations? Life-insurance policy? Humor? Worldview?

    Purpose & Point

    Ask yourself what you want the couple and audience to hear from this toast. What is its goal or objective? Take all your themes and stories and form them into a concise purpose statement. Your purpose could be something like this: “I want the couple to realize that they should hold onto God the same way they hold onto each other. Tightly!” or “I want them to have an attitude of mutual submission to each other and this funny story really illustrates how deferring to the other made us better friends” or “I want them to realize that God will use their marriage to make them more like Jesus.”

    Once you have your purpose, write out a single sentence that summarizes your lesson or point. Make sure it has a subject, very, and direct object (i.e., Jesus loves marriage). One of the ones I used recently was, “God uses all of live, especially marriage, to make us more like Christ.” It could also be something like, “I will always remember how your love was one of inclusion instead of exclusion” or “God always knows what you need even when you don’t, so trust in him.”

    Once you have a purpose and point and some stories and themes running through your head, make an outline.

    4 Steps to Outline Success

    Introduction: Spark their interest and create a desire in them to keep listening!

    Funny Story: Here’s your time to shine with some funny historically based tidbits. Although you may just be the best man, try and say something positive about the bride as well. Make it about both of them!

    Connect To Christ: This is the part where you turn the funny story into a lesson about God’s work in your life through the individual. Introduce your main point here!

    End With Encouragement: Finish with an exhortation to continue honoring God with their new marriage and repeat the main point if it sounds right (repetition will help them remember).

    1. Attention-Grabbing Introduction

    Set the scene, but grab your audience’s attention. Start with something that will get their attention but also won’t be too difficult for you to remember off the top of your head. Something like this could work: “I remember when…” or “The first time I ever saw…” or “I can’t believe…” or “You wouldn’t recognize…” or “Why did he…”

    Then give some background information, but just enough for us to understand the story or your relationship to the bride, groom, or couple. The best books jump right into the action and paint us a picture. Show, don’t tell!

    Feel free to address the couple directly or to address the audience. However, remember that the wedding is about them and God! So if you address them throughout the speech everyone else will naturally listen in and learn something along the way.

    2. Humorous Tales

    There are several things you want to keep in mind as you come up with funny stories to tell about the bride, groom, or spouse. Keep it appropriate. Insert punch lines. Keep it light-hearted.

    Awkward can be funny or just plain awkward. Try to balance the toast between funny humor and slightly embarrassing humor. Now, you’re going to know the bride or groom better than I will, so it’s very important you don’t overstep your bounds. But we also want to let everyone know that these are just two humans getting married, and what better way to reveal that than showing us the bloopers and deleted scenes you personally experienced with one or both of them. Just don’t talk about the first time you two did something illegal, immoral, or that will make your aunt squirm.

    Punch-lines: A punch line is when your audience is thinking you’re taking them one direction and you suddenly show up in a different more ironic location. I wrote a book I wanted to subtitle “Stories about faith, God, and unicorns.” Admittedly, some people don’t think unicorns are funny, but the subtitle illustrates how I was taking you one direction and we ended up in some other place.

    Phrasing examples: “I remember the first time Johnny and I ever made something really manly… mud pies” or “I would like to take personal responsibility for helping these two get back up after they fell for each other” or “If I had a dollar for every time Jack and I did something unwise I would only have about five bucks because we were perfect angels” or “I always loved getting coffee with Jessica because of our deeply spiritual conversations about boys.”

    Light hearted humor is the best because this is a wedding, and nobody really wants to hear about the time you and Jack broke your arms doing something really stupid. Instead, take the opportunity to tell a fun story that has elements of the ridiculous in it.

    Humor Generators: How does the groom describe his love? Did the bride ever say something embarrassing about the groom? How did their love progress? What do you all laugh about the most when talking about the “good times?” What makes both you and them smile?

    3. Connect To Christ

    Now where is your story leading? Does it point to a specific moment where you realized something about yourself, your friend, or the couple? Reflecting on it further, how does that moment point you back to Christ? How does it point you back to the Scripture? If you don’t have a main point about Christ quite yet, here are some more ideas to help you narrow your lesson.
    • What part of the story you just told reveals God’s love inside of them? How about a godly character quality? God’s sanctifying work? Could you see a reflection of Jesus in their lives?
    • How did your friend teach you about God? Did it change your perspective for good?
    • Does your story remind you of a specific Bible passage? (Scripture Blessings and Benedictions or Wedding Ceremony Bible Verses)
    Now what did all your themes hint at? Are they about the couple learning a specific lesson? What was the nature of their love? Was it a surprise or long waiting? Was it inclusive and giving? Did God speak into your life through watching them grow in the relationship? Is there something specific they need to know, a lesson you feel they should hear?

    Phrasing Examples: “It was really clear in that moment how God was using Tom to grow my character” or “Just as God used this life experience to transform me I pray that God will use your marriage to make you more like Christ” or “I’ve found that the more I think about your love, the more I realize your love is only complete as it rests in God’s love.”

    This is arguably the most important part of the toast. You want to take the audience’s eyes and the couple’s eyes and even your own eyes and lift them to Christ. What better way to do this than through Scripture. Make the lesson count, but be creative. If you want to be funny, try to teach your lesson in the most ridiculous way you can think of just as long as it’s respectful of our Lord.

    4. End With Encouragement

    Finally, it’s time to end the toast. If your main point fits again, say it again, and then encourage the bride and groom to honor God with their new marriage. Bless them. Ask them to love God, each other, and complete strangers. Stay consistent with the theme and main lesson as you speak your heart. They want your blessing. It’s time to give it to them.

    Phrasing Examples: "May God bless you both in your marriage as much as you've blessed me" or if you want to be funny, “I pray that God gives you lots of laughter and love and a spare room so that I can come and visit you often.”

    If you haven’t already used a Bible passage, you can use one now as long as it doesn’t bring up a whole new topic. Make sure it’s a passage that you can quote a blessing from. The idea is to send them on their way well. And what better way to do this than with a Scriptural Blessing?

    Toast them! And don’t forget to toast them! “Now raise your glasses with me and let’s toast the new bride and groom.”

    Need Examples?

    Here are two wedding toasts I’ve given. If I could redo the first Christian Marriage Toast, I would make it more about Christ. Although I included Godly principles, I needed to make it more about the good news the Bible has to offer. The other toast I’ve given is more of a Christian Wedding Toast since I refer to God and quote an actual Bible verse. But like the last one, I think I could have used a little more emphasis on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

    Need more? Try these wedding toast guides for the Best Man and Maid of Honor (aff links).

    Speech Tips

    If you have time, write out your toast beforehand and don’t use any notes to deliver it. Just try not to memorize it because that will sound fake. Rather, try to own it and really feel it. Practice multiple times on the days leading up to the wedding, but not to much the day of because you want it to be fresh. However, feel free to read and re-read as many times as you need. A toast can be anywhere from 250-600 words long and should take 2-4 minutes to deliver. Don’t speak too fast but also don’t take up too much time. Make sure you pause leading up to and after important points you want the bride and groom to remember. Modulate your voice. It’s ok for you to sound passionate. This is a wedding after all.

    What if this is really last minute? Then write down a general outline using complete sentences on a notecard and take it up with you. Just try and make as much eye contact with the bride, groom, and audience as possible.

    Now Enjoy!

    Wedding toasts are all different and so are the people who give them. Remember that this is not your day or even the bride and groom’s day. This day is God’s day and we should celebrate that in a way that engages people and points them to the Lord. When you give the toast, try to enjoy the moment! It’s not everyday you get to toast one of your best friends and their new marriage. Remember, God’s enjoying this moment with you. He is all about marriage, especially when it’s done right and glorifies him. Help the new couple start our right with their eyes set on God.

    Photo By: Tristanf


A question about how some functionality is implemented.  It looks like several functions (actually all functions other than the aggregate functions) are implemented along with their data types.  For example hour/day extractors seem to be part of SQLTime/SQLTimestamp/etc. data types.  LENGTH/RTRIM/LTRIM seem to be part of the string datatype.  Isn't there a disconnect...while the aggregate functions are laid out in a hierarchichal, scalar functions are not.

If I wanted a new datatype varcharx, will I have to reimplement all the string related scalar functions?

What if I wanted to build a bridge to use an existing library of (scalar) functions, won't this setup make that more difficult (think various regex libraries)?

Regarding aggregators, it looks like they are implemented by operating on two values at a time (looking at SumAggregator): a value to be added and a value which was populated previously (presumably containing aggregate result of column already traversed).

Again, if I wanted to build a bridge to existing libraries which might operate on vectors rather than a scalar value, I would not be able to do that since most such libraries expect to receive a whole set of values at once (in an array or List form).  I'm specifically thinking of the scientific COLT library.

How would I implement a typical 'approximating' function: an AVG which doesn't sum up everything but SUMs x% of the values (randomly selected) and divides by x% of rows?  In other words, now I have to pass around another parameter or some sort of context object which contains some extra information. (just an example of a possible problem)

Just trying to make sure the mental model of the code I've studied so far is an accurate one.  Thanks.