Learning about Muslim Contributions to Civilization

The Medieval period that directly preceded the Renaissance is often regarded as a primitive age of thought for civilizations at this time but as the Western world struggled to develop, the Islamic world flourished from the development in sciences and advancing their culture. The time of Islamic enrichment is often misrepresented and under-appreciated to common historical accounts of this era, therefore it is important to appreciate all contributions that come from various regions in order to create a global understanding of different cultures.

On Tuesday, March 4th Go Eat Give partnered with The Atlantic Institute to host a lunch and learn event to educate the Atlanta community about Muslim contributions to society presented on contributions that the Islamic world had brought into society during the European middle ages. Georgia State University Political Science Professor Rashid Naim and Fairyal Halim  from the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta shed light on the Islamic Golden Age, depicting it as a spread of humanism from Arab states to Europe which was the underlying philosophical movement that led to the era of the Renaissance.

muslim contributions

The presentation weighed heavily on the impact Muslims had on public education. Halim spoke about the Islamic civilization as the first that placed importance on educating the masses by democratizing education. Arabic was the “language of civilizations” and attracted scholars from all over the world. The city of Cairo in Egypt houses the oldest university that has been continuously open till date. Many educational awards used today come from the Islamic culture, such as the concept of achieving a diploma, and wearing a graduation cap. Have you ever wondered why the graduation cap is flat? Traditionally, scholars would balance the Qur’an on their heads so it was designed to be flat.

muslim contributions

With the growth of educational programs, the Arabic world also advanced health care at the time. Cairo became home to the Ahmad ibn Tulun hospital that opened it doors citizens of all faiths and backgrounds and is considered to be one of the first institutions to offer assistance for the mentally ill. Throughout the Arabic world, other hospitals were opened, mimicking the secular structure of Tulun Hospital. Another great invention that society has probably taken for granted was soap. These fundamental necessities that we rely on everyday for health safety and overall cleanliness are all due to the advancements made by the Arabic world during the Medieval era.

muslim contributions

The mission of Go Eat Give’s speaker series is to educate the public of the cultural contributions of Islam in society, an often overlooked segment of the population in the west. The programs are funded by the One Region Atlanta grant, dedicated to building a more inclusive region by providing civic engagement and community building opportunities that connect metro Atlanta residents of all cultural and faith backgrounds.

~ By guest blogger, Lilly Iijima. Lilly is a student at Oglethorpe University pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Japanese. Growing up in a multi-cultural household, she has seen first-hand the power of personally experiencing a different culture to eliminate previous misconceptions. Through this work, Lilly is committed to educating others about different countries and regions while learning about them herself.


Hatha Slow Yoga

Find Your Bliss

The Yamas were laid out by the sage Patangali over 2000 years ago. They were intended to provide guidance for the ethical life or restraints of a yogic practitioner.There are five Yamas or ethical principles to follow:

Ahimsa - Do no harm

This is perhaps the most commonly referred to Yama. Himsa comes from the Sanskrit and it means harm or injury. The A in front is the opposite or no harm. In Hinduism, this is often taken to mean to do no harm in thought, word or deed and is taken as the highest virtue. We find the concept of ahimsa in most of the eastern philosophies including Buddhism and Jainism.

The concept of Ahimsa has evolved to mean many different levels of not doing harm. This includes doing no harm to any being and often includes not harming or eating animals or taking their products.

Ahimsa starts with non-harming to ourselves. When you look in the mirror are you critical of your image? Are you hard on yourself because you missed a yoga class? Do you harshly judge yourself because you are not good enough, fast enough, smart enough or whatever you don’t meet up to a self-imposed standard? Begin with self-acceptance and love who you are. We can always strive for something different, but let’s start with what we have and where we are now!

On your mat you can practice ahimsa by not harming your body. Finding your edge to experience a great stretch and damaging your body are very different approaches to an asana. Back off when it is no longer appropriate for your body. Take that same attitude off the mat to everything you experience in life!

Satya - Truth

The direct translation of satya is truth. Like ahimsa, this is the embodiment of truth through word, thought and deed. Not just about avoidance of telling a lie but also resisting the distortion of reality is a part of keeping satya.

But satya really goes way beyond this. After all where is the line between reality and truth, fact and observation, illusion and scientific observation? So in a way, taking the time to craft what we think and say to find closest proximity to satya is important.

Is there such a thing as the absolute truth? Probably, but can we always know the absolute truth? Probably not, but it is an unending to strive for what we can honestly feel in our hearts and minds be the closest to the truth.

Another way to look at truth is from its opposite. When we exaggerate, knowingly say something we know is false or simply spread a rumor, we stray from satya.

In our yoga practice we can exercise the practice of satya inside ourselves every time we come to our mat. Start with the simple idea of being truthful that you intend to practice. If you only go through the motions of your yoga practice because you want others to see you practice or daydream while doing meditation or asanas, you have not been true to yourself. And when you are not truthful to your self, it becomes more challenging to be truthful to others.

Many scholars take the line that ahimsa and satya should come together and that in truth we also should do no harm. One must take time to construct truth around doing no harm. Taken care to separate your opinion from an observation is a great starting point. After all, who knows the ultimate truth?
We have an intimate connection with truth and feel akin to and connected to those who live and speak it. It is our yogic duty to find satya as a virtue in all our life’s activity.

Asteya - Non-Stealing

Third of the five Yamas, also known as virtues of self-restraints or ethical values, is Asteya. Asteya is essentially non-stealing.

Drilling down a bit further, we find more depth to this practice. It is like the other Yamas in that we must consider non-stealing in thought, word and action. While we may think of ourselves as full practitioners of Asteya because we did not take something that did not belong to us, have we considered our words and our thoughts?

Examples of other forms of failure to practices Asteya include cheating, manipulation and deception. Did we not report all our income on our taxes? Did we fail to report getting too much change at the grocery store? Did we misconstrue events to the insurance company to get more money?

Even if we think about taking what belongs to another is counter to the practice of Asteya. If we think about situations that benefit ourselves at the expense of others, we fail to practice Asteya.

Most of us would consider ourselves good practitioners of Asteya. But there is a subtle level that may need work. How often are we in such a hurry that we "steal" time from ourselves and our friends because we did not pay attention to the moment. How often did we steal someone's opportunity by getting ahead of them in line or take a portion of food without thinking about someone who may go hungry?

Let's take our Asteya to the next level and meditate on how we can truly practice this Yama.

Brahmacharya - Right Action

Brahmacharya is one of the most "interpreted" of all the Yamas, or ethical principles of yoga. At the most literal level it means actions which lead to Brahaman or the creator.

In many religions, Brahmacharya is taken to mean celibacy for the individual or fidelity in marriage. As a result many feel that this Yama is irrelevant today.

But if we go back to the literal translation and see how it could get construed in its religious context, then perhaps it is more relevant than ever! So let's cut to the chase. If we are spending our time having sex with anyone we please, are we really making our lives better? What about if we are just thinking about it? What if we are talking about it? While the concept of celibacy is extreme for many, it hones in on the idea that the focus of non-celibacy is not unifying us with our creator. This is not to be confused with procreation and lovemaking which can be important parts of our Brahmacharya.

So taking this to the next step, we can see that the concept of non-celibacy may just be equated the with the concept of self-indulgence and that does not equate to leading us to the creator-like existence.

So why "Right Action"?

If we become more cognizant of each action we take and how it is more purposeful in life, we can stop filling our time with exhausting busy stuff and find more time for happiness and bliss. Every moment, with every breath, we can take a step that finds us making a choice of action that can feel right on our path to unity with creation or we can choose actions that take us away from that intention.

Right Action leads to choices that bring us peace and inner harmony. We can feel connected to everything without attachment. Right Action helps us find our bliss. Like all the Yamas, Right Action is practiced in thought, word and deed.

Aparigraha - Non-Possessiveness

The fifth yama of the yoga restraints is called Aparigraha. This restraint pertains to non-possessiveness. Similarly it can be taken to mean non-greed or non-grasping. This is a particularly challenging in a culture where material gain has such a great importance.

One of the lessons from many Native American tribes is the idea that you only take what you need from the land. This too is Aparigraha in practice, and the idea that you only take what is necessary to live is the core of its practice.

Twice in my life, I have shed everything material except for a couple changes of clothes. This has served me well to redefine my life and remove the attachments to material things that bog down my life. This may not be for everyone, but even a milder version may be helpful. For example, you could give away all the things you have not worn or used in a year. Or at least sell them so that you can purchase what you really need now.

In the yoga sutras, non-possessiveness also extends to accepting gifts inappropriately or the idea that you would do good in exchange for a gift. Good should be done for its own sake only.

But at the same time I don't think that Aparigraha means a life of monk-hood either. I have had many times when I have been the caretaker of a lot stuff. But that stuff served many people and when no longer necessary it went away. For everyone it will be different. You will not need a winter jacket if you live on the beach in Mexico and you will not need extra pairs of shorts if you work in Antarctica.

Like the other yamas, Aparigraha should be practiced in thought, word and action. Even the desire to have more is not in line with this restraint.

Because our lives are so materially oriented, it is easy to begin to practice. Make it a point shed one item a week you do not need. Clear the clutter. And very soon Aparigraha is just a part of our lives.


The Easy Way to Start a Vegetable Garden (hint: just do it!)

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
— Lao Tzu

Early this spring, I decided that I wanted to start a vegetable garden. I had no prior experience with gardening, except the few herbs I have grown on the windowsill.

I didn't read any books on vegetable gardening, figure out what crops grow best together, study the pattern of sun in our backyard. Nope, I didn't do a lick of research. I just jumped right in! A lot of times, it's important to do your research before making a decision. However, sometimes you need to JUST.DO.IT. And that my friends, is exactly what I did. How did I do it? Read on...

Step 1) Determine where you are going to put your garden/dig it up

For us, there was a patch of flowers alongside the west side of our house that I dug up but left the pavers in. You could also put in a boxed garden, although you'd have to take the extra step to build the box.

Step 2) Get some dirt/compost

After your dig up your garden patch, you may have to add some dirt. I recommend adding a few inches of compost (you can buy at a local garden/hardware store or maybe get free through your city/county) to bring added nutrients to your soil.

Step 3) Buy your seeds/seedlings

Rather than starting with seeds, I bought a few seedlings from the farmer's market and an urban garden store. Zucchini, yellow squash, strawberries, butternut squash, cauliflower, broccolini, onions, hot peppers, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, two types of kale, cucumbers and asparagus.

Step 4) Plant your seedlings (after the possibility of a frost disappears)

Again, not a lot of rhyme or reason to where I planted things. I ran out of room in my garden so decided to grow my zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers vertically in pots (it was a fail, as I forgot to punch out the drainage holes in the bottom, and completely flooded my plants - I also think you need to have large enough pots which I did not) and the butternut squash went in a different spot where we tore out an old fire pit. It is recommended that your plants that grow taller are not going to shadow your smaller plants, but again, I just read the directions of how far they should be spaced, grabbed a measuring tape, and went to work.

Step 5) Protect your plants

I put up a small fence around my garden to try and keep the rabbits out. Also - did you know that squirrels LOVE strawberry plants? I surely did not. We got about five strawberries out of the plants before the squirrels took over. Next year I will plan on covering the plants so the squirrels can't dig them up!

My very first strawberry!

My very first strawberry!

Step 5) Weed and water

In the early weeks, it's important to keep your garden weed-free and watered (I've heard of some people putting down mulch for weed protection, or newspaper on top of the grass works for boxed gardens). I made sure to swing out there every day or every other, to pick a few weeds, and give it a good water (5 minutes or so - depending on how much rain we had recently gotten). The weeding will really pile up if you aren't consistent!

My vegetable garden. In all its glory.

My vegetable garden. In all its glory.

Step 6) Reap what you sow, and then let the rest go

I had a TON of success with the broccolini (if you tip them over, the side shoots activate all summer long) kale and hot peppers (the asparagus is looking good for next year too!), but only got one cauliflower (out of 6 planted), zero sweet potatoes (that I can find), and the Brussels sprouts are struggling. The point? It's your first year. Enjoy what worked, and let go of what didn't! Also - Google is great for determining what to harvest when. :)

Kale and peppers and broccolini - oh my!

Kale and peppers and broccolini - oh my!

And that's how you start a vegetable garden. Until next time, I'll be trying to cool my mouth from all those hot peppers.

And next year, I'll be making a bigger garden.


Define Regions Among Overlaps

DefineRegions(overlaps.all, sample = NULL, regions = NULL)

Output from VennPeaks with return.overlaps.all set to TRUE provides matrix with columns Sample, PeakID, and matrix of intersections

Primary sample of interest, used as the reference; must match one of the column names from overlaps.all

vector of present/absent for columns, e.g. for 3 cols: assuming first column is passed as sample parameter: c(0, 1, 1) = three-way intersection (your sample is set to 0 in matrix) c(0, 1, 0) = two-way intersection with your sample + column 2 c(0, 0, 0) = unique to your sample This returns only the STRICT intersection (does not consider all cases); so to get all relevant peakIDs you may need to do several DefineRegions runs

PeakID for your reference sample of given overlaps, as denoted by regions

## Run VennPeaks to retrieve overlaps.all matrix
vpo.t <- VennPeaks(rp.e, return.overlaps.all = TRUE)
## returns three-way intersect assuming column 1 is k27ac.TE
DefineRegions(vpo.t, "k27ac.TE", c(0, 1, 1))


How do you prefer to consume your books? by VantaFount in books

[–]Dragusha 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

treeboks, but on how to "consume them"

In my experience to properly understand any dense book you should go at it twice, the first time should be a very broad general overview of it sort of like skimming with list of questions or general thoughts. Second time around go through it with a comb and find out everything you didn't understand and try to work out its meaning

I find that's the best way to truly "consume" a book


Dignified, Detriment, Exalted, Fall: Some Planets do better in certain signs than in others...

The Moon is in Cancer

The Moon is in Cancer

The Moon just entered one of her favorite signs, tonight: Cancer. The Moon is right at home in Cancer. When the moon is in Cancer, some of her best qualities are enhanced. Emotional, intuitive, nurturing, comfortable. When the Moon is in Cancer, she is “dignified”. In fact, whenever a planet falls in the sign they rule, the planet it considered “in its dignity”. This means, the best qualities of the moon are being expressed tonight. People may be feeling more nurturing and caring than usual.

The sign which is both physically opposite and energetically opposite Cancer is Capricorn. Capricorn is not touchy feely or emotional or nurturing. Capricorn rules hard structures, discipline, and the willingness to put yourself into an uncomfortable situation in order to achieve success. The Moon doesn’t do as well in Capricorn as she does in Cancer.

Whenever a planet falls in the sign OPPOSITE it’s ruler, that planet is considered to be in it’s “detriment”. It means the best qualities of that planet are weakened and not exhibiting their best.

If you had a bad day and were crying, the Cancer moon wants to wrap you up in a blanket, give you a hug, and buy you some cupcakes. Conversely, the Capricorn moon would tell you to “get over it”. The Capricorn moon says, “Don’t cry! Lose yourself in hard work, instead!”

This concept is taken one step further. Sometimes a planet leaves their home sign, and finds a sign that takes them to the next level, helping to manifest the highest vibration and best possible manifestation of their energy. When this happens, a planet is considered “Exalted”.

The Moon is exalted in Taurus. She has all the nurturing qualities of the moon in Cancer, only better because she is less caught up in her emotions, and is truly grounded and emotionally solid. She can be both a rock of emotional strength, and empathetic at the same time.

Just the way that Dignified planets and planets in Detriment are in opposite signs, when a planet falls in the sign opposite of the one it is exalted in, it is considered in its “Fall”.

The moon is in its fall in Scorpio. Instead of being emotionally solid, she is paranoid and distrustful. She is ungrounded and frightened.

Here is how the other planets manifest in their dignity, in their detriment, and in their exaltation, and in their fall:

The Sun. Dignified in Leo: Courageous, big-hearted, brave, attractive. Detriment in Aquarius: Detached, heady, feels estranged from humanity at times. Exalted in Aries: Pioneer, individualist. In Fall in Libra: Identity crisis, codependent.

Jupiter is in Sagittarius

Jupiter is in Sagittarius

Mercury. Dignified in Gemini and Virgo: Smart, organized, communicator, detail oriented. Detriment in Sagittarius and Pisces: Sweeping generalizations, lack of substance, sarcasm, exaggerations, lies, confusion. Exalted in Aquarius: Flashes of genius, the greater good of humanity, truth. Fall in Leo: Thoughts and words blocked by ego, tyrannical words.

Venus. Dignified in Taurus and Libra: Values, Diplomatic, Peaceful, Gracious. Detriment in Scorpio and Aries: Jealous, insecure, selfish. Exalted in Pisces: Unconditional love. Fall in Virgo: “Not perfect enough”.

Mars: Dignified in Aries: Independent, pioneering, strong, inspired. Detriment in Libra: Co-dependent, follower, identity crisis, sacrifice. Exalted in Capricorn: Focused, hard work, driven by success. Fall in Cancer: Unfocused energy, driven by emotions.

Jupiter: Dignified in Sagitarius and Pisces: Lucky, Abundance, protected by Angels. Detriment in Gemini and Virgo: Hyperverbal, racing mind, inability to see the big picture, gossip, micromanaging. Exalted in Cancer: Nurturing, empathy, compassion, abundant. Fall in Capricorn: Starving, contracting, cold, lacking.

Saturn: Dignified in Capricorn and Aquarius: Discipline equals freedom. Detriment in Cancer and Leo: “Not allowed” to express emotions, be creative, or have fun. Exalted in Libra: Favors marriage, contracts, fair politics. Fall in Aries: “Not allowed” to be my individual self, bottled anger.

Some Astrologers say the outer planets cannot be Exalted or in Fall. However, Uranus is about to go into Taurus, where it hasn’t been since the late 1930’s to mid-1940s, during the time of the Great Depression, the dust bowl, WWII, and the Holocaust. Some consider Uranus in Scorpio to be exalted, making Uranus in Taurus in its fall. History may support this!

Uranus: Dignified in Aquarius (Freedom, genius, enlightenment, technology). Detriment in Leo (Tyrannical Kings). Exalted in Scorpio (detachment to solve crises), fall in Taurus (Holding onto traditions which have become unethical).

Neptune is in Pisces

Neptune is in Pisces

Neptune: Dignified in Pisces (Spirituality, art, music, compassion). Detriment in Virgo (inability to connect with spirituality, escaping from reality in the mundane).

Pluto: Dignified in Scorpio (transforming the old into something new). Detriment in Taurus (bombs, violence towards women, destroying the material world).

Where would you say Neptune and Pluto are in exaltation and fall? Some astrologers say Neptune is exalted in Leo (giving up the ego for true love) and in its fall in Aquarius (using technology to escape from reality).

I wonder if Pluto would be dignified in Capricorn (destroying old structures and institutions that no longer work) and in its fall in Cancer (destroying the home).

Do you have any planets in their dignity, detriment, exaltation or fall in your chart?


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We are a group of parents from Dawson, Jefferson Academy and
Monarch High Schools banned together by what we feel is an injustice
forced upon our families by CHSAA.
Like most high school athletes,
it's not only about the love of the game, but more importantly, it's
about your team and the relationships formed from training together,
winning together and loosing together.
When our boys entered into
high school, Adams 12 did not have an opportunity to participate in
lacrosse, so our only option was to seek an alternative school outside
of our home district.
To say the least, this has been a sacrifice for 3
It is not easy to participate in a sport when it is not your home
Some issues that arise are, transportation to and from
practices and games, forming friendships and gelling as a team.
the less, these young men and families decided to proceed and accept
the challenges that would arise.
Now, accommodations have been
made, friendships have been formed and teams have gelled.
Here are
the issues that we face... This past fall/winter we received news that
three things happened that would affect us all.
#1...Adams twelve
approved a new lacrosse team for the district, #2...a new
commissioner was hired to take over CHSAA and #3...CHSAA has
decided to enforce a rule that has been on the books for years.
Basically, this rule states that if an activity/sport becomes available in
your district YOU HAVE to play for that new team.
In the past, CHSAA
has been lenient with this rule, allowing upperclassmen continue with
their existing team.
This has been a great way to handle a new sport
being introduced into a district because it allowed players who had
already formed friendships and an allegiance for their teams to
continue with that team until they graduated.
Any NEW player to the
sport would have to start with the team in their home district.
are our issues... CHSAA is forcing boys whom have played together for
up to 3 years to leave their teams and be forced to play for a brand
new team.
This is especially concerning if you are a Junior or Senior.
Your are being forced to leave a team that your have been working to
build for 2-3 years to participate on a team that is brand new.
This is a
HUGE problem since it takes at least 3 years to build a quality team
and you are being forced to leave a team that is already established
and in some cases THRIVING. Another issue is that in some cases,
enforcing this rule will dismantle teams.
One instance is the Jefferson
Academy Jaguars.
This is a team that started 3 years ago and is made
up of boys from 8 different schools.
Should this rule be enacted, over
half of the team will have to leave to play for the Adams 12 team.
stated above, it takes at least 3 years to build a team and
these boys
have worked very hard to build a quality team.
It was rough for the
first two years, but this year, because of hard work and dedication to
building this team, they almost clinched a spot in the play offs.
these boys are being forced to start over.
As you can imagine, that is
not an appealing prospect for a Senior.
Our suggestion to CHSAA
would be to continue as you have done in the past.
Allow the boys to
stay where they are if they choose.
Mandate that any new player to
the sport play for the new district team.
Adams 12 already has enough
boys to field both a Variety and Junior Varsity team without the boys

that are already committed to an existing team.
Although this is not
the end of their world, it is important that you allow these teams to
stay together.
Forcing them to move and leave their current team and
teammates serves no purpose


Understanding bonds

Bonds can offer an attractive investment if you are looking for a regular income stream, while bringing an important element of diversification to your portfolio.

What is a bond?

Bonds are an investment in which the bond holder extends a loan to the bond issuer for a specified period of time. In return for the loan, the issuer will make regular interest payments – known as coupons – to the holder of a bond. Bonds can be issued by governments as well as companies.

How do bonds work?

The terms of a bond are stated at outset, including:

Bond issuers with a high credit rating - and so considered less likely to default - will typically pay a lower coupon than other issuers with a lower credit rating, who compensate the bond holder for the higher level of risk through higher coupon payments.

What affects a bond’s value?

Bonds, like shares, can also be bought and sold on the secondary market, where the market value will fluctuate. The price of a bond on the secondary market is primarily influenced by:

Important information:

Any advice is general advice only. It was prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on this advice you should consider if it's appropriate for your particular circumstances. You should also obtain and consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and terms and conditions before you make a decision about any financial product, and consider if it’s suitable for your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Investors are advised to obtain independent legal, financial, and taxation advice prior to investing.

Investors investing in funds denominated in non-local currency should be aware of the risk of exchange rate fluctuations that may cause a loss of principal. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. Investment products are not available to US people and may not be available in all jurisdictions. All investments are subject to risks and can change in value. Citibank provides access to investment grade bonds. However, bonds can vary in risk depending on the credit worthiness of the issuer. The capital value of a bond can rise or fall depending on interest rate movements or the interest rate outlook. A bond's capital value can increase or decrease before maturity based on current interest rates. Generally speaking a bond’s capital value drifts back towards par as it approaches maturity.


  • magnifying glass magnifying glass x

    What FMs Can Do To Create Teamwork Within Their Workforce

    Elizabeth Dukes

    Have you ever watched a winning football team put their skills to the test? While there may be individual players that stand out, there can be no team without all of the parts in place. The team’s success is defined by the talents of the individuals and, more importantly, how the players come together to work as a team. In addition, every great team has to have a great coach. Someone must be able to manage all of the talent. This form of management requires assessing the abilities of the team members, understanding the opposition and how to overcome it and being able to equip the team with the right tools to ensure success with proper communication being one of the most important tools.

    A vast majority of successful companies today have grown by making teamwork and collaboration a top priority. “Teams are made up of individuals, but the synergy that a team can generate to become far greater than the sum of its parts is what makes great teams”-John Bowen, Chair of BIFM's Procurement Sig. Much like the Companies success is reliant on teamwork.football team’s leader, it is the facilities manager’s job to ensure all players have the tools they need to help lead their teams to success. An organization is comprised of many moving parts and it’s success is reliant on each member’s ability to work together fluidly. What can you, as the FM, do to ensure your team is set up for success?

    Transparent Leadership

    As the workplace manager, the FMs role is a unique one. Facilities leaders play a pivotal role in inspiring their teams to achieve both personal and organizational goals. With communication as the number one tool, these managers must exhibit transparency, outlining clear-cut goals and expectations. Connect with your team members personally through honesty and give your team the confidence they need to be creative, share their ideas and work together to turn those ideas into action.

    The transparent leader is multi-faceted, with each characteristic as important as the next. Focus on investigative problem solving and learning from mistakes and triumphs is critical. While playing the “blame game” is never effective, workplace managers must work to determine where mistakes (and successes) were made and help their team learn from each. Speaking openly with the members of your team and seeing issues through to completion builds a solid foundation, while glossing over a setback only chips away at this foundation. “This prematurely shuts down the kind of honest discourse that challenges assumptions and reveals root causes and future opportunities.  Respectful dialogue and relationships are key to creating an environment where candid talk, direct talk about important issues, is viewed as non-threatening” FM&Beyond.

    Facilities managers can feel confident in their leadership by surrounding themselves with a solid team of individuals. Sometimes being a leader means making difficult decisions, such as letting a weak link go and hiring those you feel are better suited for the job. The members of your “dream team” may not always be those with the most experience, but rather those you can trust are committed to the cause. You can learn more about how to attract the best, brightest and most trusted in my blog Top 10 Ways to Make the Workplace Attractive for Top Talent.

    Team-Building Technological Tools

    FMs are often tasked with overseeing multiple projects at once. For many projects, collaboration must span every department, guaranteeing fluidity. This means ensuring there is a consistent flow of intelligible information at all times. Fortunately, today’s workplace managers have access to technological tools that not only enhance, but inspire collaboration and teamwork. Successful facilities leaders must leverage such technology to empower their employees and colleagues.

    Through the implementation of tools such as facilities management software (like ours), companies encourage a steady flow of current information, setting their employees up for maximized productivity. Facilities maintenance software enables team members to create work orders, dispatching relevant technicians with ease. Technicians are provided details regarding the issue at hand, with contact information in case there are additional questions. Work order updates are in real-time, so your employees can follow progress as it happens. This tool sets each department up for success, allowing for communication both ways, ensuring each member is going their part. Your maintenance software also enables the facility’s assets to be set up for routine maintenance. If yours is a mobile company, this means many of your tangible assets are on the move. Asset tracking software provides the necessary information to determine the location of devices when it is time for routine maintenance.

    Proper space management is just as important as your facility’s tangible assets. Through the use of software modules such as space management and room reservation, workplace managers have the tools they need to ensure space utilization is maximized at all times. HR can determine where the new-hire should sit and collaborate with the FM and IT to ensure the space is properly set up for the new team member’s first day. The module’s metrics provide leaders the information needed to guarantee every inch of space is being fully utilized, and plan future moves accordingly. Armed with a move management module, facility managers have the tools they need to plan any necessary moves. And since employees spanning every department can access the most relevant data at any time, moves of every size are executed efficiently.

    Mobility is a Must

    It is no secret that we are a mobile society. With our lives always on-the-go, many of us feel naked without our Mobility is a must in the workplacesmartphones, tablets and/or laptops. This is not only true of our personal lives, but of our professional ones as well.

    How often have you answered emails while stopped by the train or waiting for your flight? Professional mobility is not limited simply to our mobile devices; employees must have the ability to access necessary information regardless of where they are. Whether your colleague is setting up a conference room for a client meeting or sending off a work order for their printer, they must have the confidence of knowing they are making their decisions based on current information. Mobile devices, coupled with the proper software modules and mobile apps provide your employees the assurance they need.

    Whether yours is an international company or a small independent firm, your job as the workplace manager is to ensure the entire team is set up for success. Leading your organization to prosperity means making bold moves and sound investments. Communication across the entire company plays an integral role in this process.

    Top 16 Technical Terms Every Facility Manager Should Know

    Elizabeth Dukes

    Elizabeth Dukes

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AN ATHLETE has been banned from an all-you-can-eat sushi eatery after he ate almost 100 plates of fish.

Alexandra Deabler
Fox NewsSeptember 18, 20182:04am

A man was kicked out of a restaurant for eating 100 plates of sushi. Picture: Patrina MaloneSource:News Corp Australia

A GERMAN triathlete was banned from an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant after eating nearly 100 dishes.

Jaroslav Bobrowski, an Ironman competitor, visited Running Sushi in Landshut, Bavaria last weekend for a never-ending meal.

According to The Local, Mr Bobrowski went to the restaurant and paid his €15.90 ($26) for the buffet.

“When I went to the checkout, I wanted to tip, but the waiter did not want to accept that,” Mr Bobrowski said to The Local.

The former bodybuilder sat down at a table and started eating — and did not stop until he had consumed nearly 100 servings of sushi.

“He eats for five people. That is not normal,” the restaurant owner told the Passauer Neue Presse.

Mr Bobrowski, who works as a software engineer by day, follows an extreme diet where he does not eat for 20 hours and then eats “until I’m full,” The Local reports.

The “until I’m full” part is apparently what drove the restaurant to ban the athlete.

The owner told Mr Bobrowski personally that he was no longer allowed to eat there because of his costly habits.

“I’m banned from now on because I’m eating too much,” Mr Bobrowski told The Local.

“I was stunned,” he added, saying he had been a regular at the sushi restaurant.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and is reproduced with permission.

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Wednesday May 22, 2019
Home Uncategorized Valkyrie: NAS...

Valkyrie: NASA humanoid robot dances to techno music

New Delhi: US Space agency NASA released a new video of a humanoid robot R5 on Thursday, popularly known as Valkyrie. The video shows the robot dancing and waving hands on techno music.

According to a newspaper, NASA has plans to send the humanoid robot to Mars and further into deeper space locations.

Although, it is needed to be understood that why is this dancing robot important for humans and the most probable reason is that it can very soon lead to a technology of robots living in tune with the human environment. The major reason of the video being published and awareness being created is so that people can soon expect a human-technology interphase.

The R5 is expected to be a stepping stone at finding a convenient way to achieve a safe expedition for humans working in a nuclear or any high explosive place. The aim of developing the robot was to make it function in an environment designed for humans. The developers of the R5, Darpa Robotics claims that Valkyrie, if sent into securing a nuclear reactor, can navigate walkways, doorways, and control rooms and be able to manipulate everything from buttons to valves.

Likewise, if the robot is sent into space, it would be helpful as it can effortlessly ride in a spacecraft designed for a human crew and also help astronauts explore the surface of Mars.

That is one of the major reasons for NASA being interested in a working humanoid. Though, for the humanoid to be useful as assistants on space missions, a navigational sense of the terrain along with dexterous and swift reactions as a human are yet to be installed. If the humanoid can’t lunge over a crater, it will of less importance as compared to humans.

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Trump Increases NASA Spending by $1.6 Billion With Goal of Returning to Moon

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine talks to employees about the agency's progress toward sending astronauts to the moon and on to Mars during a televised event, Monday, March 11, 2019. VOA

The Trump administration asked Congress on Monday to increase NASA spending next year by an extra $1.6 billion to accommodate the accelerated goal of returning Americans to the surface of the moon by 2024.

The increased funding request, announced by President Donald Trump on Twitter, comes nearly two months after Vice President Mike Pence declared the objective of shortening by four years NASA’s timeline for putting astronauts back on the moon for the first time since 1972.

The proposed increase would bring NASA’s total spending level for the 2020 fiscal year to $22.6 billion. The bulk of the increase is earmarked for research and development for a human lunar landing system, according to a summary provided by NASA.

“I am updating my budget to include an additional $1.6 billion so that we can return to Space in a BIG WAY!”, says Trump. Pixabay

“Under my Administration, we are restoring @NASA to greatness and we are going back to the Moon, then Mars,” Trump tweeted late on Monday. “I am updating my budget to include an additional $1.6 billion so that we can return to Space in a BIG WAY!” NASA had previously aimed to return crewed spacecraft to the lunar surface by the year 2028, after first putting a “Gateway” station into orbit around the moon by 2024.

ALSO READ: World Cup Winner Prediction – Who will be the World Champions?

The U.S. Apollo program, NASA’s forerunner to the effort at returning humans to Earth’s natural satellite, tallied six manned missions to the moon from 1969 to 1972. So far, only two other nations have conducted controlled “soft” landings on the moon – the former Soviet Union and China. But those were with unmanned robot vehicles. (VOA)


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Opinion In the continuing ‘math wars,’ both sides have a point

Brent Davis is currently a Werklund Research Professor at the University of Calgary.

John Mighton is a writer and mathematician and is the founder of Jump Math, a charity dedicated to helping children learn math.

On Wednesday, math scores for Ontario students in Grades 3, 6 and 9 were released by the Education Quality and Accountability Office; they revealed that the percentage of students who met the provincial standard has dropped for students in Grades 3 and 6, and remained relatively stable for Grade 9 students. There is a risk that this will add more fuel to the province’s math wars, which flared up again during this year’s provincial election campaign. We think there is a better way forward. Here’s why.

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The phrase “math wars” was coined several decades ago to refer to accelerating disagreements around school mathematics. Today, the clash in opinion is most often expressed as a divide between “back-to-basics” and “reform math,” which is also described as “discovery math.” Advocates of back-to-basics tend to think of math as a traditional subject that is fact-focused, teacher-centred and test-heavy. Precisely opposite descriptions – understanding-driven, learner-centred and problem-rich – are associated with “reform” math. In popular accounts, the math wars are usually traced to the 1980s, but the debate actually reaches back at least four centuries, associated with conflicting philosophies of education and divergent conceptions of mathematics.

There have been similar debates in other school subjects. For example, reading education once focused primarily on helping students learn skills for deciphering symbols and rules for structuring written text. It was assumed that students who could decode sentences would also understand them. But now educators recognize that decoding and comprehension are both necessary elements in a “balanced” approach to teaching reading.

Unfortunately, the idea of balancing doesn’t work to resolve the math wars, and the reason might be a little surprising. It may appear that one side asserts that schools should focus on teaching technical skills in math while the other believes they should focus on teaching for deep understanding. However, the sides really aren’t that far apart on this issue. Few traditionalists would now say that learning math is just a matter of memorizing facts and rules, just as most reformists now recognize that mastery of basic facts and rules is necessary for higher-order thinking. On this count, for the most part, both sides have compatible intentions. However, challenges arise when discussions shift from what to teach to how to teach. This is where the debate between “direct instruction” and “inquiry learning” continues. Educators are often asked to choose between teacher-driven explanations of isolated topics and learner-driven explorations of whole concepts in rich settings.

Each side seems to have a compelling argument for its view. Proponents of direct instruction assert that mathematics is well-defined and unambiguous, and so it should be delivered efficiently and with fidelity. They argue that it’s ridiculous to expect high school students to “discover” concepts that eluded all but the best-prepared minds until quite recently. Advocates of reform counter by noting that learning is not about “acquiring” objects of knowledge. No thing passes from teachers’ instructions to learners’ minds. Rather, learning is about building understandings from personal experiences. For instance, when asked for a quick definition of “number,” most people respond in terms of counting. That interpretation is limiting, and learners who haven’t incorporated additional meanings (for example, size, distance, location) are disadvantaged as early as upper elementary. The raw material for enriched understandings are found in personal action and interpretation. That’s why reform advocates contend that presenting mathematics as a purified or standardized form of knowledge risks making it meaningless while suppressing curiosity and motivation.

To move forward in the debate, it helps to look at how mathematics is framed for students. Mathematical knowledge is not an “object” or collection of facts that a teacher can simply hand off to students, but neither is it a web of concepts that are self-evident or embedded in experience; mathematics is a complex, evolving combination of what we might call “principles” and “logics.” Principles are regularities, patterns and common features, such as the idea that numbers can be used to describe and compare collections of separate things, or that the shortest distance between two points in normal space is a straight line. In learning math, we combine basic principles into more abstract and more powerful principles using various logics – for example by reasoning logically through sequenced chains of argument (such as one is less than two and two is less than three; so one must be less than three) or by reasoning analogically (such as noticing that different physical processes, such as movement in a straight line, elapsed time and growth can all be interpreted in terms of addition). If we see mathematics in this way, we can better understand what the teaching of mathematics entails. A good teacher will offer exercises and activities that channel learners’ attentions to relevant principles and encourage appropriate use of different logics by systematically juxtaposing clusters of such experiences.

An analogy might be drawn from research into how people learn to play chess at competitive levels. Intuition might suggest that playing game after game is key, but cognitive scientists have found players advance more quickly by doing exercises that offer incremental challenges but that don’t overwhelm working memory. Both automaticity and strategy can be effectively developed through, for instance, playing a mini-game with just a few pieces, analyzing a single position in-depth and studying sequences of moves by master players. Such conclusions aren’t specific to chess. Research on expert performance across domains consistently reveals that people learn best when they are engaged in a way that doesn’t exceed the limits of their working memories.

Such research highlights that each side of the math wars is correct about something. Traditionalists are right to argue for carefully structured learning situations and ample practice. And reformists are right to insist that powerful learning is more likely when practice is embedded in rich and personally meaningful situations. Together, these insights point to the need for fine-grained analyses of mathematical concepts, skilled design of learning situations to help learners notice and make connections, constant awareness of students' evolving understanding and flexibility to adapt teaching approaches depending on how students are progressing.

This work is complicated and difficult, and it’s unreasonable to expect teachers to manage every aspect. For that reason, we prefer to think of mathematics teaching as a partnership of classroom teachers, educational researchers, resource developers and others. Partners outside the classroom have a responsibility to support teachers by drawing on insights that are grounded in cognitive science, guided by evidence and inspired by the knowledge that students can become not just competent, but proficient in mathematics.

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Court Information

Court Agendas

Cases usually will be heard in this order:
  1. Application of adjournments
  2. Guilty pleas
  3. Contested matters with an attorney
  4. Other contested matters

Day of Court Information

If you come to court for a traffic offense and if you have not previously notified the court of your intention to plead not guilty, speak to the court clerk immediately. If the officer or others involved can be contacted to testify, your case may be heard. If they cannot be reached, you will have to make another court appearance at a later date.

ADA Coordinator - Ashley Fritz, Court Administrator

If you need the services of an interpreter, please notify the Municipal Court Administrator PRIOR to your court appearance.

Please advise the Court IN ADVANCE if you need an ADA accommodation.

Guilty Plea

If you plead guilty, it is not necessary to have a trial. You have admitted that you have violated the law. However, you may then explain to the Judge any extenuating circumstances. The Judge will then impose sentence.

Not Guilty Plea

If you plead not guilty, you and the witnesses will be placed under oath to speak the truth. It is necessary for the prosecution to prove the charges against you. Your attorney has the right to ask the prosecution's witnesses any questions pertaining to the charges. If you do not have an attorney, present your questions for the witness to the Judge.

For some violations, the required proof is by a preponderance of the credible evidence as, for example, in Penalty Enforcement Actions, Fish and Game, filiation proceedings, breathalyzer refusal violations, etc.

When the prosecution has finished, you may then present your own witnesses or testify on your own behalf. You are not forced to testify against yourself, but you may testify if you desire. Any evidence you give may be used by either side. If you do testify, the prosecution has the right to ask you any questions pertaining to the charges.

If the court finds you guilty and you feel the judgment or the sentence was in error, you have 20 days within which to appeal. Appeals in practically all instances will be heard by the Superior Court, Law Division.

Damages resulting from a collision cannot be tried by this court. This court is only concerned with violations of the state statutes and municipal ordinances.


About Us

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Creating Change in your business or your life is about creating the choices to grow. Performance is an outcome of our values, beliefs and our strategies for excellence.

With progress, growth and results as your outcome, you need active and invested support from a creative change initiative that looks to give you all the tools and resources you need to optimise your performance and increase your result.

We are focused and driven towards supporting our clients with the best of our resources, the breadth of our expertise and the depth of our passion. This is our purpose, and with an energetic approach of empowerment and innovation, we create results, and we help build the choices to grow. But it is you that must take them.

headerimage2Trainer of NLP, Communication Consultant, Performance Strategist and Coach

With a firm belief that a fulfilling life is a balance between science and art, Amu Chandra has carved an eventful career as a coach, mentor and entrepreneur, and enjoyed a variety of versatile experiences, with an approach to life that sees him creating a nuanced method of being both scientist and artist. Engineering systematic models and formulae to drive and accelerate progress and yield effective results, whilst simultaneously embracing the immersion into the pursuit of cultural, artistic and human experience, that revels in opening the boundless unconscious into bountiful streams of creativity and celebration, he consistently demonstrates the intricate masterpiece that is life, and explores the bounds of experience.

To Amu, consciousness is a fruitful ocean of beauty and opportunity, and human enjoyment and success comes from bravely embracing this captivating experience, and immersing in it’s wonder, opening the unconscious realm to limitless opportunities, whilst sharpening the conscious intelligence, bettering scientific and systematic understanding of life, to create an organised, effective and empowered life, that is both manageable and fun.

An NLP Trainer and Hypnotist, trained by maestros in the field, he is a skilled and charismatic master of his craft, creating change and empowerment through precise methodologies and an expansive, innovative approach to powerful underpinnings of tradition. With sharpened intuition and deep understanding, he passionately pursues the desire to assist and train others to transform results and expand performance.

Driven by the pursuit to analyse, understand and structure communication models, he consults and coaches in communication strategies for individuals, teams, businesses and leaders.

With a focus on health and wellbeing, he passionately concentrates and coaches on personal enhancement through an impressive range of methods and techniques, and a vast and versatile underpinning of knowledge, weaved in philosophical guidance. Being a performing musician since adolescence inspired him to understand the importance of inner creativity, exploring the realms of creativity and expression, further fuelling his belief in the innate human ability for personal enhancement.

His beliefs in the intrinsic links between neuromuscular composition and anatomical health with psychological wellbeing, mental states and life progression underscore the essence of his wide-ranging approach that provides an entire solution to cater to the individual on a multitude of levels, dealing with communication, intellectual potential, learning power, health and wellbeing, posture, state of mind, personal relationships, breathing techniques, mindfulness techniques, nutritional habits, career progression, intellectual life and spiritual growth.

As an entrepreneur he runs businesses, trades stocks, and consults. He has a proactive approach to management and leadership, and generously seeks to help his clients and colleagues to the best of his ability, arduously seeking to give.

An avid an experienced Yoga practitioner, Amu has been a keen follower of the path of Yoga for some years, and aligns his entire personal experience within his yogic path.

With a busy schedule, he carefully picks his clients, and those he seeks to help or mentor, wanting to give his full attention and guidance to those keen to progress, and those with an inherent passion that stands out.


Tag: Brain-Computer Interfaces

Brain network activity can improve in epilepsy patients after surgery

Older adults expect to lose brain power, but most don’t ask doctors how to prevent dementia: Many in their 50s and early 60s buy supplements or do puzzles in hopes of protecting brain health, but may miss out on effective strategies

Many Americans in their 50s and early 60s are worried about declining brain health, especially if they have loved ones with memory loss and dementia, a new national poll finds. But while the majority of those polled say they take supplements or do puzzles in an effort to stave off brain decline, very few of

Artificial intelligence tool vastly scales up Alzheimer’s research: Machine learning tool automates pathologists’ work to identify disease markers

Researchers at UC Davis and UC San Francisco have found a way to teach a computer to precisely detect one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease in human brain tissue, delivering a proof of concept for a machine-learning approach to distinguishing critical markers of the disease. Amyloid plaques are clumps of protein fragments in the

Detecting dementia’s damaging effects before it’s too late

Why creative experts may be better at imagining the future

Connecting neurons in the brain

The brain consists of a large collection of interconnected neurons. How complex patterns of neuronal cells grow into functioning circuits during development has fascinated researchers for decades. A team of scientists at VIB and KU Leuven has now uncovered a new signaling mechanism in fruit flies that specifies the formation of neuronal circuits in the

Early lipids boost brain growth for vulnerable micro-preemies

AI-generated profiles? Airbnb users prefer a human touch

In an online marketplace like Airbnb, host profiles can mean the difference between a booked room and a vacant one. Too peppy, too long, too many exclamation points? Language is critical in a user’s search for trust and authenticity, crucial factors in any online exchange. With so much at stake, should Airbnb hosts rely on

Hidden control architecture of brain networks unveiled

EEG helps scientists predict epileptic seizures minutes in advance: Prevention: Edible acid can stabilize misfiring neurons

Elizabeth Delacruz can’t crawl or toddle around like most youngsters nearing their second birthday. A rare metabolic disorder that decimated her mobility has also led to cortical blindness — her brain is unable to process images received from an otherwise healthy set of brown eyes. And multiple times a day Elizabeth suffers seizures that continually

Technique boosts omega 3 fatty acid levels in brain 100 fold

Different brain areas linked to smoking and drinking

Academics at the University of Warwick have found that low functional connectivity of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex that is associated with the tendency to smoke is associated with increased impulsiveness — which may contribute to the tendency to smoke. The high connectivity of the reward-related medial orbitofrontal cortex in drinkers may increase the tendency to


Paththar (1985) hit song lyrics collection. This movie stars Om Puri, Deepika, Huma Khan, Anupam Kher.Its songs are Kaun Hain Jo Mere, Aaj Ki Taza Khabar, Main Tere Saath Hoon, Mujhe Pyar Mila Dildar Mila, Khol Mera Taala.
Cast: Om Puri, Deepika, Huma Khan, Anupam Kher

Private Resham Singh is employed by the Indian Armed Forces and sent to the battle-front under the command of Major Balwant Rai. They find themselves outnumbered and are ordered to retreat at all costs. But Balwant refuses to obey, and both put up a successful resistance. During this, Balwant is mortally wounded, and Resham carries him to safety. Thereafter Balwant is Court-martial-ed for disobeying orders and dishonorably discharged from the army. He returns home to his wife, Nirmala Rai, an

Genre: Crime
Producer: Deepak Bahry
Music Director(s): Raamlaxman (Vijay Patil)
Lyricist(s): Pandit Sudarshan
Year: 1985


Nasa site locations

Student research

FPQ6 Radar crew

Rockets and Balloons

Corrosion Control

Bird tracking

Mysterious Tracking

A day in the control room

A day on a Super Connie

The Vanguard Experience

21st Century Activity

Role of Bermuda Tracking Station

As an integral part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Manned Space Flight Network (MSFN), the Bermuda station played a vital role in the United States' Apollo lunar program and other flight missions. The Cooper's Island station was located on the southeastern tip of Bermuda about 600 miles out in the Atlantic from the U.S. east coast. Radar dishes and helical antennae were used to track anything from spacecraft to sparrows. Because of its location in relation to Cape Kennedy Florida, the Bermuda station had a dual purpose role for the Manned Space Flight Network (MSFN). At the time of launch, the primary mission of the station was to provide trajectory data to the computing facilities at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Computations based on data obtained during the final portion of powered flight was used to confirm the orbital "Go-No Go" decision.  Bermuda normally acquired the spacecraft at approximately T + 3 minutes.

The station was usually able to supply a minimum of 60 seconds of valid radar data prior to engine cutoff and orbital insertion. For subsequent passes of the space craft, Bermuda served as a normal tracking station with command capabilities.In addition to supporting manned missions, the Bermuda station commanded, tracked and acquired valuable data from a host of unmanned scientific and application satellites launched from Cape Kennedy and NASA'sWallops Island launch facility in Virginia.In between flight missions, the Bermuda station's sophisticated instrumentation was employed by scientists to conduct research ranging from the migratory habits of birds to astronomy.

As a host to the United Kingdom, NASA began construction of the Bermuda station in the early 1960's. The station became operational by September 1961

Sources: Bendix Field Engineering Web Page, Royal Gazette 01/30/71, 'Tracking man in space Nasa Bermuda'


Constitutional Recognition vs Treaty: a valuable NAIDOC week discussion

Ruby Langton-Batty, Office Administrator, Corporate Citizenship
Ruby Langton-Batty, Intern, Corporate Citizenship

At the heart of the debate around ‘Constitutional recognition vs treaty’ there exists two fundamentally different conceptions of the place of Indigenous people in the nation.

On the one hand, those who propose a treaty with Indigenous Australians often believe that Constitutional recognition and a treaty are mutually exclusive propositions, and that one precludes that other. They also deem the status of First Peoples to be at odds with the Australian nation and ‘Australian-ness’. This is because of the way that history has brutally and, in their view, irreparably excluded us from Australian nationhood.

On the other hand, there are those who accept that despite our history we have no choice but to be a part of the national identity, even though the dominant conception of it represents us as a necessarily oppressed counterpart to ‘true’ Australians.

Many Indigenous people who rally against recognition in favour of a treaty deny the legitimacy of the Australian Constitution. However, it is simply a fact that the document governs the laws and institutions of this country, and therefore influences the lives of all Australian citizens.

What unites the First Peoples in this debate is a drive towards self-determination and self-governance. I believe that for these aims to be achieved, we need both treaties and recognition as the First Peoples in Australia’s highest legal document.

As a young Aboriginal woman, I am forced to come to terms with the ‘tide of history’ piece-by-piece. Many parts of my culture and identity that have been damaged by colonisation have been suppressed and usurped by notions of race that belittle, deride and oppress. For example, Bruce Pascoe’s book Dark Emu (recent joint winner of the Indigenous Writing Prize at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards) argues that the myth of the First Peoples as nomadic hunter-gatherers has been perpetuated since British invasion to enable dispossession. In fact, he reasons we were sophisticated agriculturalists with national and international trade routes. His evidence is drawn from records that even the most conservative historian couldn’t argue with: the journals and diaries of explorers such as Sir Thomas Mitchell and Charles Sturt.

Many Aboriginal people subscribe to the hunter-gatherer myth. It’s what we were told. Even the very word ‘dreamtime’ is a degraded version of the vast worldview of our ancestors, first coined by ethnographers Spencer and Gillen. The term is an inadequate attempt to describe our deeply held spiritual beliefs, our song-lines and our connection to land. How do I reconcile my own identity knowing our history, and that at every conceivable stage my ancestors were intentionally and systematically excluded from Australian nationhood, and still are today?

In 1901, those who wrote the Australian Constitution aimed to ensure the peaceful creation of our Federation and conceive the new nation. Of course, it reflected their views and as the ultimate embodiment of the ‘colonial project’ the Constitution actively excluded the First People because they saw us as a ‘dying race’. This was changed in the 1967 referendum, but to this day there is still no mention whatsoever of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

Furthermore, it still entertains outdated notions of race.  Section 51(xxvi) allows the Federal Parliament to create laws based on race. The only group that has been subject to legislation made under this section are Aboriginal people. In Kartinyeri v Commonwealth the High Court ruled that there is no limit to the scope of the race power conferred on the Federal Parliament. It is clear that the Constitution no longer reflects who we are as Australians and it must be amended. Constitutional recognition is an opportunity that will allow us to mature as a Nation, face our true history and acknowledge our shared history. But it is not the only step on the long road to reconciliation.

The national process around Constitutional recognition thus far has seen an Expert Panel, a Joint Select Committee and now the Referendum Council.  There have been hundreds of proposals for reform ranging from ‘minimalist’, which would essentially leave us in the same position we are now in, to a ‘rights-based’ change that would ensure strong legal protection against racial discrimination. Each of these models has received opposition from those who advocate for reform.

There is however, an innovative model that would restore the First People’s rightful place, and deliver a platform for our voices to be heard in the national politic. Noel Pearson, Anne Twomey, Greg Craven, and others proposed the creation of a constitutionally embedded Indigenous parliamentary body to advise and consult on matters relating to our mob. Treaties provide the terms by which external parties negotiate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, and create a framework for much-needed reparation. These instruments would not oppose or weaken one another; rather, working in partnership, Indigenous aspirations would gain in strength and momentum. The key to successful outcomes on both fronts is robust leadership from the First Peoples and the Australian Government.

Ruby Langton-Batty is of Yiman decent (QLD), and has lived in many different places across the country including Darwin and Melbourne. Currently based in Sydney, she is an intern with Corporate Citizenship at KPMG and is completing a Juris Doctor (Law) at UNSW.

4 thoughts on “Constitutional Recognition vs Treaty: a valuable NAIDOC week discussion

  1. Good contribution Ruby and will no doubt help inform the position of readers. One point of clarification before I give my two bobs worth on Recognition … we aren’t the First Peoples – we are the only Peoples of this country. The rest of the population are descendants of the invaders and immigrants.

    Now, I’ve read most of what others have said on this subject and encourage you to do likewise. What I keep coming back to though is the following fundamental truth.

    The Australian Constitution is a construct of racism, of invasion, of contempt for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and of crimes against humanity that have gone unpunished and unreparated. It legitimises, in the view of the neo-colonial state, the illegal seizure of our lands and the dismissal of Aboriginal law. I appreciate that this may be difficult for some to understand, but the reality is that as long as the Constitution is operative as the “supreme law of the Commonwealth of Australia (neo-colonial Australian state)”, it enables the continued denial of our rights. Tinkering around the edges is not going to change that, i.e., constitutional recognition of us won’t lessen its servility to the continued denial or suppression of our culturally inherent rights.

    For me then, “Recognise” is a distraction from the real issues of the restoration of our culturally inherent rights and the elimination of inequalities that still exist.

  2. What a great insight into your informed perspective Ruby. It is contributions like this that contribute to productive change that we, as a nation, so badly require.

  3. Marjorie Johnston

    - Edit

    ‘Terra nullius’ and ‘smooth the dying pillow’ were negative colonial ideas and policies – and the thinking and language that went with them still have impacts seen in Australia today.
    It would be great to see the innovative leadership model you describe become a reality to the benefit of all.
    Thank you for this insightful and thought-provoking discussion.

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Naughty Dog returns with the riskiest Uncharted Release to date. After the success of The Nathan Drake series, the first spin-off finally sees the light featuring fan-favourite character Chloe Frazer seeking The Tusk, a mythical Indian artifact, before it falls into the hands of a warlord.

Chloe Teams up with an unlikely partner that every Uncharted fan knows well: mercenary Nadine Ross. Together, they’ll face various treats, puzzles while exploring the deepest corners of the Indian mountains.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is another triumph for the series, the cinematic style of the game’s story is superb and ties up a lot of events from the Drake story all together.

The gameplay is simple to master and very instinctive, especially when you need to either drive a jeep through the Indian jungle or use stealth mode to take down mercenaries.

Graphics are great, maybe not as realistic as the last Drake game, but still amusing enough to keep you stuck to your controller for a solid 8 or 9 hours.

Overall, a good game that could easily be part of its own franchise…Bring on a Chloe series!

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy – In stores Today, exclusive for PS4


Chiropractic is a form of health care that concentrates on the finding and removing a severe form of spine and nerve problem, which is a condition that puts pressure on your bodies nerves, unbalances your body, lowers your resistance to disease, and weakens you.  This condition is called the vertebral subluxation complex.

A chiropractor uses gentle forces to return malpositioned bones (the vertebral subluxation) to their proper motion and position.  This procedure is called an adjustment.  Adjustments can be performed at any age and regardless of any medical condition.   Dr. Allie Day Goodwin practices using a mixture of prone specific chiropractic technique and the Thompson technique; it is a very gentle, effective, and pain free adjustment.


Diploma in Theology (Pastoral Ministry)

pastoral grey

This diploma provides a proven path for individuals who are preparing for vocational ministry, allowing them to receive credentials with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.  As with the Bachelor of Arts in Theology (Pastoral Ministry), we are equipping individuals to ‘shepherd the flock of God.’  We seek to instil a deep commitment to being apprentices of Christ Himself, marked by a deep humility that reflects His heart and mind.  Students embark on a journey of discovery, accompanied by practitioners who both model and instruct them how to lead, feed and care for God’s people, with both skill and passion.

From your first week retreat until the good byes of grad day, your pastoral ministry experience will be full of numerous life and ministry highlights. Over the course of 3 years there are multiple ministry assignments where we are allowed the privilege of leading Sunday morning services across Alberta. This provides some significant relationships to be developed. Other highlights include the third year we participate in the Minister’s Gathering of the PAOC in Banff where they are able to participate and engage with pastors from across the ABNWT Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada district.

Classes over the course of the diploma provide an extensive approach to learning and ministry development.  Creative, engaging and interactive would be words that describe the environment that is created by the professors. More than just dispensing information, the Pastoral Leadership program attempts to help students develop critical thinking, wrestling through the scriptures and establishing an approach that reflects those biblical values.  As one alumni stated, Vanguard cannot not teach you everything you need to know but it will teach you the questions that need to be asked.

PLEASE NOTE: This program is under development and will be updated soon

Pastoral Ministry: Diploma in Theology

Pastoral Leadership students shall be equipped to identify God’s calling on their life, develophealthy self-awareness and relate that calling to current ministry needs.

Pastoral Leadership students shall be engaged in developing Spirit-filled character, supported by a solid foundation of spiritual formation.

Pastoral Leadership students, building on a strong biblical and theological foundation, shall be innovatively trained with skills for effective pastoral leadership and provided with opportunity to practice those skills.


The Lorenzi family

The Lorenzi family is a guarantee in terms of hospitality

For three generations it has managed the “Rifugio Scoiattoli”, an alpine hut built by Lorenzo Lorenzi back in 1969. Born as a classic mountain hut with an incredible panorama, today the “Rifugio Scoiattoli” is known for live music concerts, events and excellent cuisine thanks to the initiative of his sons Claudia and Guido and their nephews Alessandro and Gaia.

The natural evolution of this passion for their profession led the family to accept this new challenge: a family-run hotel in the center of Cortina with its own restaurant.

You can breathe fresh air, enthusiasm and tradition in the restaurant and in the renovated bar. The logo itself is chosen to identify the hotel has a deep meaning that links Ciasa Lorenzi to the customs and tradictions practices of Cortina d'Ampezzo. It is the ancient "sign of home": each head of the family had his own sign engraved on work tools as well as on the ridge beam of his home. The sign used to be transmitted to the heirs, who had to modify it to make it their own. The strong bond with the territory is perceived by the choice of typical mountain wood furnishings and by the hotel's own name, "ciasa" that means "house" in the Ladin language of the Ampezzo valley.

Tradition and innovation, professionalism and warmth: these are the reasons why a stay at Ciasa Lorenzi will leave a "sign" in the heart and memories of its guests.


9 cooking tips from professional chefs that you can follow at home

baking ingredients

Throughout their careers, most chefs learn quite a few cooking tips and tricks that can make preparing tasty dishes easier and more efficient. And even the most dedicated and well-practiced home cooks can learn a few things from the pros.

INSIDER asked a group of professional chefs for the most useful cooking techniques and shortcuts they’ve discovered at work. Here are some of their best tips that you can follow in your own kitchen.

Keep an eye on the shelf-life of your spicesand use fresh versions whenever possible

Keeping an assortment of dried herbs in your pantry can be useful, but it’s important to know when to replace your spices. Although spices don’t technically spoil, they can lose potency. Some signs your spices are no longer as strong as they should be is if their color has faded or their aroma is very faint, according to McCormick.

Chef Kelly Fields of Willa Jean in New Orleans, Louisiana said one of the most basic cooking tips you can follow is to keep your spices fresh and well-sourced. “It really creates a powerhouse of flavor when you put in the extra effort to intentionally source the best available,” she added.

For a nicely cooked protein, sear it on the stove and finish it in the oven

If you’re trying to achieve a nice sear while evenly cooking your meat, you might want to utilize your stove-top and oven.

“Finish your protein in the oven after starting on the stovetop. [That way,] you can get a nice sear on your meat or poultry and then cook [it] to just the right temperature in the oven,” Candace Conley, the Oklahoma-based professional chef behind The Girl Can Cook! said.

The key to making a juicy steak is starting with room temperature meat and letting the meat rest after you cook it

steak cooking in a pan
Be sure to let your steak sit before you begin slicing it.
Oleksandr Briagin/Shutterstock

Chef Ashley Eddie of Santina in New York City said she advises bringing your steaks to room temperature before you put them on a hot pan or grill. She said that doing so allows the fat in the meat to relax, which can help you to achieve a nice, even sear.

Once you remove your steak from the heat, be sure to give it time to rest before you slice it. “That means cooking it to right under your desired temperature, then letting it cool at room temperature to allow all the juices to settle,” Seamus Rozycki, executive chef of Geist in Nashville, Tennessee told INSIDER.

“I would recommend letting the steak sit for at least five minutes and up to 10 to 15 minutes, max. At that point, it should be nice and evenly cooked without spilling all the delicious juices out when you slice it,” he added.

Prepare your ingredients in advance and organize your pantry to streamline the cooking process

Because many professional chefs must juggle numerous orders at once, keeping their kitchens organized is essential. One of the key tricks to doing this is “mise en place,” a French term that literally translates to “everything in its place.” Many chefs use this phrase to describe their method of organizing ingredients and equipment before they start cooking.

According to Jacob Verstegen, executive chef of LH Rooftop in Chicago, Illinois, a mise en place can help you to stay organized.

“When cooking something, prepare all your ingredients before you actually start cooking them. When it’s all laid out in front of you, it becomes a lot more enjoyable to actually cook, instead of rushing around your kitchen and pulling together the ingredients while trying not to burn the first step of the process,” he told INSIDER.

Jose Guerrero, the executive chef of ViewHouse in Denver, Colorado, said he also suggests you organize your pantry because it can help you to save time when you’re preparing your ingredients.

“Not only does an organized and fully-stocked pantry make life easier, but it leads to more streamlined cooking,” he told INSIDER. “I like to build my pantry based off of categories including spices and pastas or grains. Then, I alphabetize each component from ground turmeric to nutmeg — I know exactly where each ingredient lives.”

For perfectly-buttered toast, melt your butter and apply it with a brush

butter toast
You can use a pastry brush to spread butter onto your toast.

Most of us know how frustrating it can be when you go to spread fresh-out-of-the-fridge butter on toasted bread and you end up with a messy, unevenly buttered slice. Chef Jessica Koslow of Sqirl in Los Angeles, California said you can avoid this by melting butter and then using a brush to evenly distribute it onto both sides of your toast.

Warm your plates before serving food on them to achieve a restaurant-level dining experience

“Keep your plates warm in the oven before serving to keep the food warm,” Chef Judy Joo of Jinjuu in London, England told INSIDER. According to Eatwell 101, you’ll want to warm a stack of plates at a low temperature for no longer than 15 minutes. Be sure to use oven mitts when removing the plates from the oven and to check that the plates you’re using are oven-safe.

To serve everything in a timely manner, plan out when to make your dishes before you start cooking

carmelized onions cooking
Some dishes can become even more flavorful if you let them sit and marinate.

Figuring out the most efficient order to cook your dishes in can help you make multiple things at a time while still being able to serve them all at once.

“Time out your dishes. This is important at [a] restaurant and can be at home as well, especially [if your] kitchen only has one oven and one stovetop,” Chef Andy Little of Josephine in Nashville, Tennessee told INSIDER.

This tip is especially handy if you’re serving a meal with multiple components to a large group of people. Little also said that some side dishes can become even more flavorful over time, so you might want to cook those first. “A lot of my favorite sides, like greens and chili, get better the longer they sit because that lets those flavors marinate together,” he added.

Save your vegetable scraps and use them to make stock

Amateur chefs frequently toss their unused veggie scraps in the trash or the compost pile, but most pros know that these discarded bits can actually be worth keeping. Executive chef Kevin Templeton of barleymash and The Smoking Gun in San Diego, California told INSIDER that vegetable scraps can be perfect for making a stock.

“Onion ends, carrot butts, celery ends and leaves, and parsley stems all make for a great stock,” he said. “I also love to use the base of cauliflower and broccoli. Just stay away from seeds and some herbs when making a stock, as they can make it bitter.”

To make stock, he said you need to add enough water to your veggie scraps in order to completely cover them, simmer the mixture for 45 minutes, and then strain it. Templeton said that the finished stock can be great to use when making soups and sauces.

Halfway through their time in the oven, rotate your baked goods to ensure they are cooked evenly

“Rotate whatever you’re baking halfway through the process, even if you’re working with a convection oven,” Jessica Craig, executive pastry chef of L’Artusi in New York City, told INSIDER. She said doing so can help your baked goods to cook evenly.

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Help someone with useful health advice.

Sore Tip of Tongue

A sore tongue tip may be attributed to an underlying health problem that a person may be suffering from. Read on to know what causes a sore tongue.
Aastha Dogra
Last Updated: Mar 12, 2018
It can be really frustrating if one experiences soreness and pain in the tongue tip. Due to this a person may have difficulty in tasting, swallowing and masticating food. A healthy tongue is pink in color and the papillae are very small. However, when the tongue becomes sore, there is tongue discoloration, i.e. it can become red or white and there might also be some bumps on its surface. Many doctors rely on the appearance of the tongue to diagnose a health problem that a person may be suffering from. It results from a variety of reasons and underlying conditions, some of which are mentioned below.
Lack of Nutrition
One of the most common causes is having a diet that lacks in essential nutrients required to keep the body healthy. If the body lacks certain vitamins or minerals, especially vitamin B6, iron or niacin, the condition may present itself in the form of a sore tongue.
Injury to the Tongue
It may be due to some kind of external injury to the tongue. This usually happens if a person has accidentally bitten his tongue while eating or talking, or has eaten something very hot or cold, resulting in the papillae becoming inflamed, thus causing a sore and painful tongue tip.
Rubbing Against Teeth
The tip of tongue may become red and sore if the tongue is constantly rubbing against the teeth. This usually happens when the teeth are irregular or there is accumulation of plaque behind the teeth. Sometimes, kissing someone passionately can result in the tongue getting rubbed against someone else's teeth, resulting in a sore tongue tip!
Dental Problems
Ill-fitting dentures, dental plaque or lack of good oral hygiene can be the other reasons.
Atrophic Glossitis
This condition occurs in the elderly. When a person who suffers from this condition eats sharp-tasting foods, he experiences a burning sensation on the tip of his tongue. The appearance of the tongue tip changes too. It becomes red in color and somewhat beefy.
Acidic Food
If it is accompanied by small red-colored bumps, the reason could be intake of food which are spicy and acidic in nature.
It could be due to an infection such as oral thrush caused by bacteria, viruses or yeast. An infection in the mouth not only causes soreness but produces a burning sensation on the tongue as well. In most of the cases of mouth infection, it is seen that people who have a compromised immune system, are more prone to getting this infection than others.
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores, also known as canker sores, can develop due to a number of reasons such as lack of nutrition, eating acidic food, underlying inflammatory diseases, dental problems, etc. If a person has canker sores, the tip of his tongue can become swollen and sore. Sometimes, more than one canker sore can develop, producing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, inflammation of the lymph nodes and extreme pain in the entire mouth.
The treatment for this condition depends upon the cause and the severity of the symptoms. Given below are some of the common remedies to get relief from the pain and soreness in your tongue tip.
  1. Eat a balanced diet comprising essential nutrients if a sore tongue is due to lack of proper nutrition.
  2. Refrain from eating acidic foods.
  3. Maintain proper oral hygiene.
  4. Increase daily intake of water.
A red sore tongue, in most cases, is not a serious condition and usually resolves on its own, within one or two weeks. However, if it doesn't resolve and appears again, seek the advice of your doctor.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is meant for informative purposes only. The information provided here is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner.