 J_J_Foren_Sci_1_2_006
Шаблоны LeoTheme для Joomla.
GavickPro Joomla шаблоны

Review Article

The Paradigm of Fingerprint Age Determination

Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul*1 Ph.D, Carme Barrot Feixat*1Ph.D, Katherine A. Roberts2 Ph.D

1University of Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine, Legal Medicine Department, Forensic Genetics Laboratory, C/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
2California State University - Los Angeles, School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA

*Corresponding author: Dr. Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul, Faculty of Medicine, Legal Medicine, University of Barcelona, C/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Tel: +34934035289; Fax: +34934035290;
Email: joe.fossoul@gmail.com

Submitted08-11-2015 Accepted: 08-27-2015 Published: 09-05-2015

PDF Button

Forensic sciences have gained wide public awareness in recent years owing to television programs and films that depict the exciting and high-tech glamour of technology available to practitioners in identifying and prosecuting criminals. The core of this discipline, however, is still the gathering and analysis of fingerprints, which remain the basic tool for identification of suspects at crime scenes. What is not widely known – and a fact that has far-reaching implications for forensic professionals, law enforcement, courts of law, and justice systems worldwide – is that no reliable method presently exists for determining the age of a latent fingerprint. That is, while fingerprints can be identified and associated with suspects potentially guilty perpetrators are released and innocent victims unnecessarily implicated because investigators lack a robust method of assessing the time the trace was deposited at a scene. We have compiled data showing the present socio-economic burden that criminal justice systems pose on government budgets, to conclude that dating crime evidence will be a useful measure to reduce the pressure on public expenditures, to increase the efficiency of criminal justice systems, and to collaterally improve public security and citizen’s confidence in forensic sciences.

Keywords: Fingerprint; Age; Time; in situ testing

The field of forensic science utilizes scientific principles for the analysis of crime scene evidence and the identification of donors. The main goal is to obtain and provide valid proof with maximum objectivity and reliability for the judicial process. On this ground, since the inception of fingerprint analysis in the 19th century, forensic scientists have focused on improving technical and methodological developments for the application and understanding of the characteristics of fingerprints as a tool for consistent human identification [1] [2].

Despite all the advances in the science of fingerprinting, errors in the identification of fingerprints are a subject of grave concern in countries worldwide. Although there are no official figures published, the release of guilty individuals and conviction of innocent persons based on wrongly interpreted evidence occurs (e.g. Mayfield case). Many of these errors in identification are caused by the examiner’s subjective conclusions during the process of “matching” the unknown fingerprint at the scene to the alleged donor tenprint, rather than due to the absence of identification value of the trace itself. The United States National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council Report [3] noted: “The simple reality is that the interpretation of forensic evidence is not always based on scientific studies to determine its validity”; stressing the lack of strong scientific methods in some forensic disciplines that lead to biased, intentional or unintentional, incorrect attributions.

In addition, issues of reliability of fingerprints as a means for human identification frequently arise in court when the criminal trace cannot be directly correlated to the moment a crime was committed. In this context, the most common situation occurs when a suspect has legitimate access to a scene before or after the actual crime. The inability to date the moment the fingerprint was deposited often nullifies otherwise strong items of evidence or implicates innocent persons. Although safeguards have been put in place to minimize misattributions [2][4][5], including detailed protocols, quality assurance measures, proficiency tests, and specific training for fingerprint examiners, no scientific method or standard has been implemented to address chronological mismatches between a criminal event and the deposition of traces.

We anticipate and discuss in the present article that the next “natural” step forward in forensic science research, and fingerprinting, will be, and needs to be, the investigation of methods for dating criminal traces. The data gathered from different institutions are examples showing the convenience of increasing and diversifying government funding and human resources to this yet unsolved subject, which has relevant repercussions to criminal justice systems, public security and people’s lives.

Several database tools were used in order to compile the data presented. National and international databases were searched, besides the traditional literature review included and referenced in the current report. In the absence of European figures on several matters that relate to the criminal justice system, some of the cost estimates summarized in the tables were extrapolated from US dollars to European euros from year 2010.

The Catalonia region information was gathered from the Government’s “idescat” website, which includes numerous sources of statistical data that relate the public administration from 2012. Similarly, the annual report by the Ministry of Interior of Spain was used, as well as the website from the Spanish Statistical Office “INE” with information from 2012. For the European statistics, the Eurostat yearbook was utilized as reference document. Finally, the tables shown include data based on the British Home Office from year 2000.

Results and Discussion

Fingerprint evidence plays a central role in the European criminal justice systems in the resolution of crimes. According to a Eurostat report (Eurostat yearbook report 2011, the European Commission, ISSN 1681-4789. Accessed December 24, 2014), there were over 28 million serious criminal offences in the EU-27 in 2011, with an estimated 75 million direct victims (As mentioned on page 141 of the REGULATION (EU) _o .../2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of the Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020). Overall, and depending on regional statistics and year, approximately 30 % of all criminal cases, not including misdemeanors, were solved based on any sort of criminal evidence. From these data, a realistic assumption is that fingerprints were recovered from approximately 30% of crimes (ANZPAA (Australian New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency) report “End-to-end forensic identification process project”, in 2012; and personal communication from the Catalonia Police Force.), of which 25% would be positively matched to a donor. Altogether, a potential 2.1 million offenders are identified by fingerprints yearly in Europe (66,319 in Spain and 21,407 in Catalonia). The cost of obtaining identifications by fingerprints for law enforcement, from first activation of experts to the crime scene to the examination process and court reporting, is practically impossible to estimate. This is due to the absence of national and international records on the degree of complexity of each crime scene and the amount of hours and manpower employed for the examination process. However, based on the total number of court cases in Europe, we would assume that the cost of court prosecutions in which fingerprint evidence are involved would be 477 M€ per year.

It is difficult to estimate how many of the total inmate population of 637,929 imprisoned in the continent have been incarcerated based solely, or primarily, on fingerprint evidence. This is because the relevance (or “weight”) of this type of evidence is unknown at the time of sentencing as each surrounding circumstance is unique. In addition, there is a total fragmentation or absence of official (public) data sources, and no international databases are currently available that could elucidate, to a certain degree, this matter. However, it is worth noting, based on US estimates, that the cost of maintaining the prison population is over 14 M€ per year. Table 1 and Table 2 illustrate the magnitude of the population impacted directly or indirectly by fingerprint evidence, from a regional to a continental scale.

The current economic situation has increased the pressure placed on law enforcement agencies and justice systems that are already operating with limited budgets, including pressure from taxpayers concerned with public expenditure. Accordingly, this is a key moment to propose new methods to increase the speed and reduce economic costs of producing scientific results without diminishing the reliability of criminal evidence. Given the significance of the figures above, it is critical that the methods of interpreting fingerprint evidence be as thorough as possible. As mentioned, the missing element in the current investigative protocols that could drastically reduce the costs of prosecutions is the determination of time [6]. Lacking this key element, the large amount of traces to be processed along with examination errors can have a negative effect across many dimensions, from unnecessary expenses for police and court systems, to unjust incarceration of individuals, wasted spending by cash-strapped regional and local governments, and more.

Forensic table 6.1

Forensic table 6.2

Eventually, time will become the center of criminal investigations beyond the identification of the criminal trace. In the context of this hypothesis, we would like to distinguish two concepts: misattribution and misidentification. The former denotes cases where a fingerprint is correctly associated to a suspect but is inconsistent with the timeframe of the crime. The latter refers to cases where an incorrect match is made between the trace and donor because not enough identifiers are present (i.e. poor quality and quantity of necessary detail), an error in interpretation has been made, or a clerical error has led to an improper identification. Despite standardization of the fingerprint identification process (The standard process includes: attendance to crime scene, evidence collection/ transport, evidence submission and ACE-V process (analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification ) in crime laboratories, errors still occur. For example, in a report [7] based on proficiency tests performed by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint examiners in the USA, it is estimated that a false positive (As S.A. Cole describes: In the context of fingerprint identification, a false positive would consist of reporting that an individual is the source of an impression when in fact he is not. On the other hand, a false negative would consist of reporting that an individual is not the source of an impression when in fact he is.) result is recorded by a forensic examiner on 0.8% of occasions. Although reliable data on false positive rates by country do not exist, based on the figures in Table 1, it could be extrapolated that in up to 16,800 cases examiners could have reported a false positive, which would in turn, result in a significant percentage of innocent citizens being incriminated and possibly incarcerated based on an “erroneous” fingerprint identification.

If the factor time were to be used in 50% of criminal cases where a suspect was identified by fingerprints, an estimated 1,050,000 criminal cases would benefit from these potential errors. Consequently, the number of court trials would decrease, with a corresponding impact on erroneous convictions and overall reduction of economic costs to public administrations (see Table 2). For example, in EU-27 the implementation of age estimation of fingerprints could represent an estimated 2.3 billion Euro savings to the overall EU Public administration. An additional benefit of the inclusion of the proposed aging factor is that it could be performed on-site, at no additional cost, unlike current expensive laboratory techniques that are not portable to the scene.

Although there are a few laboratories in the world investigating this unsolved time issue[8][9][10][11]each with substantially different approaches, currently there are no scientific methods or standards to estimate the age of fingerprints. There are two main reasons that account for this deficiency:

1. Scientific challenges: there are numerous variables, and interactions among them, that can affect the degradation process of fingerprints, which up to now have made age determination complex, challenging, and controversial. We could classify these as intrinsic (i.e. from the donor) and extrinsic (i.e. external to the donor) factors can affect the aging patterns and interpretation of the age of latent fingerprints, making aging studies very difficult to generalize. Many environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, and insolation) are known to cause a significant differentiating effect on the degradation and evolution of latent fingerprints [8][12][13]. The quality (chemical composition) of the donor´s sweat can be influenced by gender, age, health conditions, diet, and medication intake, even within the same individual at different times of the day and/or under specific psychological conditions [14]. Therefore, it is necessary to design a robust technique that can overcome some or most of the variability caused by these factors.

2. Financial resources: it has long been recognized [3] that trends in innovation and economic resources are more favorable to other branches of science, such as biology, physics or chemistry, while forensic science as a field of study has fallen behind, due in large part to fragmented institutional networks with limited funds for scientific research [15].

Despite the aforementioned difficulties, the inclusion of time in the examination process would include a very important new step in the current standardized protocols for crime scene analysis. We hypothesize that in addition to addressing the what and how aspects of evidence collection, the potential ability to add the when could strengthen the probative value of evidence in investigations worldwide (Figure 1), introducing a new foundational step in the standard identification pathway of fingerprints.

Forensic fig 6.1

In our perspective, fingerprint research conducted by De Alcaraz-Fossoul, J. et al. 2013 [8]; Barros, R.M. et al. 2013 [13]; Bailey, M. et al. 2013 [16]; Francese, S. et al. 2013 [9]; and Attard- Montalto, N. et al., 2014 [11]; are some excellent examples of studies that contribute to the inclusion of more science into fingerprinting. The singular scientific approach of every of the aforementioned investigators emphasizes the array of multiple directions for research in this field; from chemical profiling of the components of the print to visual imaging examinations.

The main goal of forensic science practitioners is to obtain valid evidence with maximum objectivity and reliability to provide for the judicial process. It is time to move beyond negative thoughts that fingerprint age determination is beyond the reach of the scientists, especially in the beginning of the 21st century.

We believe that the ability to estimate the time of deposition of fingerprints, or any type of evidence, will certainly help investigators in solving crimes and increase public security. We predict, for the specific field of fingerprinting, that the age estimation will have an impact in several aspects: 1) strengthen the probative value of latent fingerprints as criminal evidence by including a new step in the examination process; 2) speed-up and ease judicial processes that involve fingerprint evidence, which in turn will improve the quality of criminal justice system services to citizens (e.g. quicker exoneration of innocent suspects or the release of individuals wrongly incarcerated) ; 3) reduce the amount of evidence types necessary to secure or overturn a conviction; 4) decrease the annoyance to victims and all those indirectly involved by not requiring them to testify during a police investigation or in court; 5) reduce public administration expenditures that in turn will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public resources devoted to criminal investigations. Most importantly, it will 6) minimize errors in the identification of suspects (Issues also noted by the Scottish Report “The Fingerprint Inquiry”; APS Group Scotland. 2011. ISBN: 978-0-85759-002-2.) [7][4][17] by placing them outside the timeframe the crime was committed.

It is well acknowledged that funding resources for research in the forensic sciences are very limited. We would like to emphasize that investing economic resources towards evaluating the age of crime evidence will have an enormous socio-economic impact. Forensic research should focus on resolving this matter because it is inevitable that there will be an increasing relevance of the factor time for the objective resolution of crimes and court proceedings. At the same time, the inclusion of this factor in the (fingerprint) examination process will reduce government expenditures and will dramatically increase the citizen’s confidence in the criminal justice system. Therefore, efforts should be devoted in finding a global solution to this still unsolved matter.

1.D. R. Ashbaugh, Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis: An Introduction to Basic and Advanced Ridgeology. CRC Press, 1999.

2.E. H. Holder, L. O. Robinson, J. H. Laub, The Fingerprint Sourcebook. Washington DC: U . S . Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, 2011.

3.National Research Council, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward. Washinton DC: Library of Congress, 2009.

4.I. E. Dror, D. Charlton, A. E. Péron. Contextual information renders experts vulnerable to making erroneous identifications. Forensic Sci Int. 2006,156(1): 74-78.

5.NIST and NIJ, “Latent Print Examination and Human Factors : Improving the Practice through a Systems Approach,” no. February, 2012.

6.C. Weyermann, O. Ribaux. Situating forensic traces in time. Sci Justice. 2012, 52(2): 68-75.

7.S. A. Cole. More than zero: accounting for error in latent fingerprint identification. J. Crim. Law Criminol. 2005, 95(3).

8.J. De Alcaraz-Fossoul, C. Mestres Patris, A. Balaciart Muntaner, C. Barrot Feixat, M. Gené Badia, Determination of latent fingerprint degradation patterns-a real fieldwork study. Int. J. Legal Med. 2013, 127( 4): 857-870.

9.S. Francese, R. Bradshaw, L. S. Ferguson, R. Wolstenholme, M. R. Clench, et al. Beyond the ridge pattern: multi-informative analysis of latent fingermarks by MALDI mass spectrometry. Analyst. 2013, 138(15): 4215-4228.

10.R. Bradshaw, S. Bleay, R. Wolstenholme, M. R. Clench, S. Francese. Towards the integration of matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry imaging into the current fingermark examination workflow. Forensic Sci. Int. 2013, 232( 1-3): 111-124.

11.N. Attard-Montalto, J. J. Ojeda, A. Reynolds, M. Ismail, M. Bailey, et al. Determining the chronology of deposition of natural fingermarks and inks on paper using secondary ion mass spectrometry. Analyst. 2014, 139(18): 4641-4653.

12.B. Gonzalez Amoros ,M. de Puit. A model study into the effects of light and temperature on the degradation of fingerprint constituents. Sci. Justice. 2014, 54(5): 346-350.

13.R. M. Barros, B. E. F. Faria, S. A. Kuckelhaus. Morphometry of latent palmprints as a function of time. Sci. Justice. 2013, 53(4): 402-408.

14.C. Weyermann, C. Roux, C. Champod. Initial results on the composition of fingerprints and its evolution as a function of time by GC/MS analysis. J. Forensic Sci. 2011, 56(1): 102-108.

15.B. Silverman. Research and Development in Forensic Science : a Review, no. June. Crown, 2011.

16.M. J. Bailey, M. Ismail, S. Bleay, N. Bright, M. Levin Elad, et al. Enhanced imaging of developed fingerprints using mass spectrometry imaging. Analyst. 2013, 138(21): 6246-6250.

17.P. C. Giannelli, Wrongful Convictions and Forensic Science : The Need to Regulate Crime Labs Case Research Paper Series in Legal Studies. Case West. Reserv. Univ. Sch. Law. 2008.

Cite this article: Alcaraz-Fossoul J D. The Paradigm of Fingerprint Age Determination. J J Foren Sci. 2015, 1(2): 006.

Contact Us:
TRAIL # 150 W
E-mail : info@jacobspublishers.com
Phone : 512-400-0398


Parenting Time / Parenting Plans

The term “parenting time” denotes how much time each parent spends with the child. If either parent requests, the court is required to grant parenting time rights to the noncustodial parent to enable the parent and child to maintain a relationship that will be in the best interests of the child. However, if the parenting time is likely to endanger the child’s physical or emotional health the court may limit or eliminate parenting time.

The court is required to establish a specific parenting time schedule if requested by either parent. The schedule must address the frequency and duration of parenting time and establish a holiday and vacation schedule. Among the factors to consider in establishing a parenting time schedule, the court must consider whether there is a history of domestic abuse, the age of the child, and the child’s relationship with the noncustodial parent.

As a child gets older, a parenting time schedule may need to be modified to adjust to the child’s changing needs. Therefore, parenting time can be an area that is frequently revisited. In order to avoid lengthy and expensive court appearances, mediation is commonly used. A parenting time expeditor may also be appointed to resolve any on-going disputes over parenting time. The parenting time expeditor has the authority to interpret the parenting time order and mediate to resolve disputes. If the parties so agree, the parenting time expeditor may be given broader authority to adjust the parenting time schedule. By agreement, the parenting time expeditor may be given broader authorities such as the authority to order minor adjustments to the parenting time schedule to address the changing needs of the children or special circumstances. If the parties are unable to come to a resolution through an alternative form of dispute resolution, then a party may file a motion with the Court to modify the parenting time schedule.

In reaching a final determination regarding child custody and parenting time, parties may settle the issues by using a “Parenting Plan” as opposed to using traditional custody labels and a parenting time schedules.

Parenting plans are required to include only three elements:
  • Schedule of the time that each parent spends with the child;
  • Designation of decision-making responsibilities regarding the child;
  • Method of dispute resolution.

Some parents prefer using a Parenting Plan because it allows them to be creative in coming up with a plan that will best meet their children's needs. Nevertheless, the Parenting Plan must include a designation of custody because of provisions of federal law that require such a designation.


Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy

A highly active and negatively charged Streptococcus pyogenes lysin with a rare D-alanyl-L-alanine endopeptidase activity protects mice against streptococcal bacteremia.

PMID 24637688

Bacteriophage endolysins have shown great efficacy in killing Gram-positive bacteria. PlyC, a group C streptococcal phage lysin, represents the most efficient lysin characterized to date, with a remarkably high specificity against different streptococcal species, including the important pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. However, PlyC is a unique lysin, in terms of both its high activity and structure (two distinct subunits). We sought to discover and characterize a phage lysin active against S. pyogenes with an endolysin architecture distinct from that of PlyC to determine if it relies on the same mechanism of action as PlyC. In this study, we identified and characterized an endolysin, termed PlyPy (phage lysin from S. pyogenes), from a prophage infecting S. pyogenes. By in silico analysis, PlyPy was found to have a molecular mass of 27.8 kDa and a pI of 4.16. It was active against a majority of group A streptococci and displayed high levels of activity as well as binding specificity against group B and C streptococci, while it was less efficient against other streptococcal species. PlyPy showed the highest activity at neutral pH in the presence of calcium and NaCl. Surprisingly, its activity was not affected by the presence of the group A-specific carbohydrate, while the activity of PlyC was partly inhibited. Additionally, PlyPy was active in vivo and could rescue mice from systemic bacteremia. Finally, we developed a novel method to determine the peptidoglycan bond cleaved by lysins and concluded that PlyPy exhibits a rare d-alanyl-l-alanine endopeptidase activity. PlyPy thus represents the first lysin characterized from Streptococcus pyogenes and has a mechanism of action distinct from that of PlyC.


Actress Sarah Paulson, who has bought actress Emma Roberts's house, says the latter could have charged so much more for the property.

Paulson bought the three-bedroom abode situated in the Hollywood Hills from her American Horror Story co-star for $1.65 million.

However, Roberts was left disappointed with the final figure after Paulson carried out renovations and uncovered a hidden luxury swimming pool buried in the garden, reports

"It turns out there is a pool already underneath the ground! I just saw (Roberts) the other day and I'm like, 'Did you know you had a pool under there?' She was like, 'What! I would have charged you so much more money'," Paulson told Architectural Digest.


The need to be healthy continues to make a deeper mark on our private life-style. Depending on individual objectives and preferences there are lots of dietary ideas obtainable. Cell devices and functions make it possible to built-in appropriate train units into everyday life. ACLS for medical professionals is the next level of training that builds on the participants’ prior certification in CPR/AED and Primary Life Assist expertise. ACLS coaching expands on the medical professional’s present information of cardiac-event preparedness by teaching superior expertise such as defibrillation, administering IV drugs and drug protocols, intubation and EKG and ECG analysis.

So, as we now have mentioned earlier than…. The persevering with egregiousness of the revolving door in health care reveals how health care leadership can play mutually beneficial video games, whatever the their results on patients’ and the public’s health. Once again, true health care reform would cut the ties between authorities and company leaders and their cronies which have lead to authorities of, for and by company executives moderately than the individuals at massive.

A standard body requires a median of seven-8 hours of sleep if you’re not fulfilling it its harmful to your health, a poor sleep and despair are carefully related, the mental stress is causing you not to sleep at nights. The amount of hours you sleep may be defined by how healthy way of life you have got, if you’re being lazy you’ll sleep more than common sleep which is 7-eight hours.

In line with Schyve (2007) low health literacy , cultural barriers, and restricted English proficiency have been coined the triple threat” to effective health communication by the Joint Commission (as cited in Singleton & Krause, 2009). New media tools have supplied many alternatives to enhancing communication throughout cultural obstacles. Suppliers and individuals alike can entry data in multiple languages, discover support teams specific to target populations, and use literacy level assets to affectively present schooling. Patient schooling is only one space harboring technological instruments to bridge the hole between cultures.

Following World Conflict II, America became the worldwide hegemony, whose imperial impetus was supplied by the strategic concept of containment” in containing the spread of Communism. Thus, America’s imperial adventures in Korea, the Center East, Africa, Asia and South America grew to become defined by the need to roll back” the influence of the Soviet Union and Communism. It was, not surprisingly, the Council on International Relations that originated the idea of containment” as a central characteristic of overseas policy.


UK population to pass the 70 million in less than a decade

The UK's population will pass the 70 million mark in less than a decade, according to official projections.

Demographers expect the landmark to be reached by 2026 as the number of people living in the country increases "steadily".

Natural growth - more births than deaths - and net migration helped push the estimated UK population to a record 65.1 million in 2015, a rise of more than half a million on the previous year.

Experts also say the growth in the size of the population is partly because it is ageing - with one in five expected to be aged 65 or over by the middle of the next decade.

In an overview of the latest trends published on Friday, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said growth slowed during the 1970s after the "baby boom" of the previous decade, before picking up again in the late 1980s.

Recent uplifts have "generally coincided with an increase in the number of countries holding EU membership", the report added.

A growing proportion of UK inhabitants are aged at least 65, with the percentage in this age group rising from 14.1% in 1975 to 17.8% in 2015.

Over the same period, the proportion of children aged 15 and younger has declined from over 24% to less than 20%.

It is forecast that a fifth (20.2%) of the population will be aged 65 and over in 2025, rising to a quarter (24.6%) in 2045.

Natural change has had an impact on the number of occupants. Since 1955, the number of births in the UK has been higher than the number of deaths in every year bar 1976.

The rise in the population since the 1990s has also been attributed to the growth of net migration - the number of people arriving to live in the UK minus the number departing.

Statisticians said the direct effect of net migration increased the population by more than 250,000 people per year on average from 2004 to 2015. This is about 50,000 more people per year than natural change for the same period.

Current and past international migration also has "indirect effects" on the size of the population as it changes the numbers of births and deaths in the UK, the report added.

Immigration has been higher than emigration since the early 1990s. In 2015, the inflow was 631,500 - more than double emigration at 299,200.

The report said rises in immigration "have tended to coincide with the expansion of the EU, allowing more people to freely migrate to the UK".

In 2004, eight central and eastern European countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - joined the bloc, while Romania and Bulgaria became member states in 2007.

The UK is currently estimated to have the third largest population out of the EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

But it is projected the surpass Germany and France to become the most populous of the 32 nations at 77 million by 2050.

On the consequences of the population changes, the ONS report said: "While living longer is a cause for celebration, an ageing population may result in fewer people of working age to support those of pension age.


I will be traveling to Africa. My goal is to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro at over 19,000 feet. I am a female that weighs 160 lbs. I have been training for almost a year to be able to withstand the physical task.
I have prescription for the medication but one says to take 250 - 3 times a day and the other 750 - 3 times a day?. This is the same doctor that prescribed this medication.
How much in advance can I take this drug to achieve best results.
I'm leaving in June '13.
Can I take magnesium with this drug?
Are there any other supplements that I shouldn't take with this drug?


Dairy foods and osteoporosis: an example of assessing the health-economic impact of food productsReport as inadecuate

Dairy foods and osteoporosis: an example of assessing the health-economic impact of food products - Download this document for free, or read online. Document in PDF available to download.

Osteoporosis International

, Volume 24, Issue 1, pp 139–150

First Online: 16 June 2012Received: 29 January 2012Accepted: 03 April 2012

SummaryOsteoporosis has become a major health concern, carrying a substantial burden in terms of health outcomes and costs. We constructed a model to quantify the potential effect of an additional intake of calcium from dairy foods on the risk of osteoporotic fracture, taking a health economics perspective.

IntroductionThis study seeks, first, to estimate the impact of an increased dairy consumption on reducing the burden of osteoporosis in terms of health outcomes and costs, and, second, to contribute to a generic methodology for assessing the health-economic outcomes of food products.

MethodsWe constructed a model that generated the number of hip fractures that potentially can be prevented with dairy foods intakes, and then calculated costs avoided, considering the healthcare costs of hip fractures and the costs of additional dairy foods, as well as the number of disability-adjusted life years DALYs lost due to hip fractures associated with low nutritional calcium intake. Separate analyses were done for The Netherlands, France, and Sweden, three countries with different levels of dairy products consumption.

ResultsThe number of hip fractures that may potentially be prevented each year with additional dairy products was highest in France 2,023, followed by Sweden 455 and The Netherlands 132. The yearly number of DALYs lost was 6,263 for France, 1,246 for Sweden, and 374 for The Netherlands. The corresponding total costs that might potentially be avoided are about 129 million, 34 million, and 6 million Euros, in these countries, respectively.

ConclusionsThis study quantified the potential nutrition economic impact of increased dairy consumption on osteoporotic fractures, building connections between the fields of nutrition and health economics. Future research should further collect longitudinal population data for documenting the net benefits of increasing dairy consumption on bone health and on the related utilization of healthcare resources.

KeywordsCalcium Dairy products Hip fractures Nutrition economics Osteoporosis  Download fulltext PDF

Author: F. J. B. Lötters - I. Lenoir-Wijnkoop - P. Fardellone - R. Rizzoli - E. Rocher - M. J. Poley

Source: https://link.springer.com/

Related documents


Top 10 Most Believable And Noticeable Mandela Effects

The Mandela Effect is a term for where a group of people all remembers the same detail, event or physicality that has changed in their own reality. It is named after the instance in which a large group of people all shared the same memory that Nelson Mandela died prior to his actual 2013 death, usually some time in the 1980’s. Below are 10 of the most believable accounts of this effect or proof that parallel universes really do exist.

9Berenstein Bears Or Berenstain Bears?

Some people believe that the name of the books were actually The Berenstein Bears at one point, but we’ve shifted into a parallel universe — an alternative timeline, if you will — where the title of the books is The Berenstain Bears.


Negative Thoughts And Alzheimer’s Risk

People who regard the prospect of aging negatively are more likely to develop brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease than those who have a more positive outlook. On the plus side, changing those downbeat views may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. The findings that views of aging can influence Alzheimer’s come from a Yale study that looked at healthy individuals enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The researchers elicited the participants’ views on aging and followed up years later with MRIs - and in some cases brain autopsies - to see if a person’s outlook on aging correlated with brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s. The MRIs showed a greater decline in the volume of the hippocampus, the brain area that is key to memory, among people whose views of aging were negative than among others in the study. The brain autopsies showed a significantly greater number of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles - both brain changes indicating Alzheimer’s - in participants with negative views of aging. In some cases these views were expressed 28 years before the plaques and tangles were seen. Study leader Becca Levy, Ph.D., associate professor of public health and psychology, suggested that stress generated by negative views on aging might be responsible for the brain changes. Replacing negative beliefs with positive ones might help head off the impact of the pessimistic views, Dr. Levy said.

My Take? This is an interesting study. What it found about the outcome of negative views of aging squares with earlier findings about the health risks associated with pessimism. We know that pessimism has been linked to a higher risk of dying before age 65, while positive emotions - such as optimism - are associated with lowered production of the stress hormone cortisol, better immune function, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. We also know that optimism is at least partially learned, which suggests that Dr. Levy is right - it is possible to replace negative views with positive ones.

3 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer’s

Want to keep your brain healthy and ward off dementia? Try adding these three, simple steps to your daily routine.

To help preserve mental function and protect against age-related cognitive decline including dementia and Alzheimer's disease, consider implementing these healthy lifestyle strategies:

  1. Get 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Regular physical exercise, specifically aerobic exercise such as walking at a quick pace, can help slow memory loss and improve mental function.
  2. Develop healthy habits in all aspects of life. Not smoking, drinking only in moderation, staying socially involved, managing stress, getting adequate rest, and cultivating a positive attitude and outlook have all been associated with a lowered risk of Alzheimer's.
  3. Keep an active mind. "Use it or lose it" applies to mental as well as physical health. Enjoy crossword puzzles, mind games, challenging reading, and take educational classes.

5 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging to diagnose, especially in its early stages. Learn about five common signs that distinguish it from common forgetfulness.

Over 30 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's disease. Use this list to help to distinguish between the normal memory loss that accompanies aging and early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Talk with your physician if you or a family member is displaying any of these symptoms:

  1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. This common sign of Alzheimer's includes forgetting important dates, events and recently learned information, as well as repeatedly asking for the same information and relying on others for completion of previously routine tasks.
  2. Planning and problem solving challenges. Common examples are taking a long time to complete familiar, simple tasks such as developing a plan, working with numbers, following directions (such as a recipe) or keeping track of monthly bills.
  3. Familiar tasks become unfamiliar. It may be difficult to complete daily, routine tasks such as driving to a familiar location, reciting much-used phone numbers, or remembering the rules of favorite games.
  4. Confusion about time or place. Losing track of dates, where you are or how you got there, and the general passage of time without recognition is a sign of Alzheimer's.
  5. Trouble understanding visual images, difficulty reading, judging distance, determining color or contrast, and confusion as to what is reflected in a mirror may affect some people with Alzheimer's.

Gout and Alzheimer’s Disease

Walnuts to Slow Alzheimer’s

Eating a few walnuts a day may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and even slow the progression of the disease, at least in mice. A new study from the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities found that adding walnuts to the diets of mice with the mouse version of Alzheimer's boosted the animals' learning skills, memory, reduced anxiety and improved motor development. The amount of walnuts added to the mouse diet was the equivalent of a human portion of one ounce to one and a half ounces per day. The researchers performed this study following laboratory findings that walnut extracts showed activity against the oxidative damage caused by amyloid protein, the major component of amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. The investigators said that the high antioxidant content of walnuts may have helped protect the mouse brain from the degeneration seen with Alzheimer's. The study also suggested that adding walnuts to their diet delayed the onset or prevented Alzheimer's in the mice.


1. Home
  2. India
  3. Check Out! What 7 great leaders

Check Out! What 7 great leaders of their time think of Mahatma Gandhi

India TV News Desk 30 Jan 2016, 14:23:10 IST
India TV News Desk

Today is Mahatma Gandhi's 68th death anniversary. On this day January 30, 1948 sixty-eight years ago he was assassinated at the Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti) in New Delhi .

Mahatma Gandhi was a karma yogi of the modern age. His life was an open book. He himself documented his journey in an autobiography titled 'My experiments with Truth'

His writings, his speeches and conversations are all useful in gaining an insight into the man.

But Mahatma Gandhi still lives both in the hearts and minds of not only Indians but also across the people globally.

There is not even a single country in the whole world where the name ''Mahatma Gandhi' is not known. He dedicated his whole life to the service of India and humanity.

Not only Indians but also the Britishers, against whom Mahatma fought for India's freedom also, respected him for his leadership skills and humanitarian ideas.

So here is the list of world's greatest leaders and thinkers who were motivated by Mahatma Gandhi.

1. Barack Obama (US President)

I am president because of Mahatma Gandhi: Obama

An incident showing how much Obama was influenced was Mahatma Gandhi goes like this.  In 2009, when Barack Obama visited Wakefield High School in the US, a ninth class student asked the would-be President:

 “If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?” Obama chuckled and answered: “Well, dead or alive, that's a pretty big list. You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine.”

Barack Obama sees Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration and has a portrait of the apostle of peace in his office.

2) Aung San Suu Kyi (President of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar)

Nobel Peace Prize winner and prominent Burmese freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi, while addressing students at Columbia University in New York in 2012, said Gandhi had been one of the major influences in her life.

She told the students how Mahatma Gandhi influence her life and  urged the students to read his works.

3) Nelson Mandela (President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999)

A great leader of the South African people and another giant of the 20th century anti-colonial struggle often mentioned Mahatma Gandhi as one of his greatest teachers:

He once quoted “Gandhi's ideas have played a vital role in South Africa's transformation and with the help of Gandhi's teaching, apartheid has been overcome.”

4) Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights leader)

Martin Luther King Jr. was only 39 when he killed, but in his short life he had gained the rare distinction of making his dream a reality.

He once said “Christ gave us the goals and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics.”

He was the beloved civil rights leader in the United States of America, who adopted non-violence as the weapon of choice to help millions of African Americans fight for their rights.

5)  Albert Einstein (Theoretical Physicist)

To mention, both Gandhi and Einstein were big admirers of each other and exchanged letters frequently.

Einstein called Gandhi “a role model for the generations to come” in a letter, writing about him. “I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time,” he said.

6)  Steve Jobs (Co- Founder Apple )

When Steve Jobs started his second innings at Apple in the year 1997, he stood before a giant portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and said these words before a packed audience:

 “Here's to the crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers…because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

He was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's  words.

7)  George Bernard Shaw (Nobel Prize and Oscar-winning Irish playwright, critic and socialist)

Nobel-prize-winning Irish playwright and passionate socialist, George Bernard Shaw quoted about Mahatma Gandhi :

“Impressions of Gandhi? You might well ask for someone's impression of the Himalayas.”


I2. Capitalism and the Renaissance

Prior to the Renaissance, European economies were predominantly separated into small, manorial enclaves, left to the devices of ordained lords who were, in turn, accountable to the King, divined, of course, by God. This theological premise very clearly worked its way down through that hierarchical route, holding the social fabric together like a skein, a spider’s web of authority and power at the center of which sat the Church. Given the nature of this theologically derived system that manifested a solitary divine "truth", it proved impossible to separate the public and the private, specifically in the economic sense that we know today. "A public sphere in the sense of a separate realm distinguished from the private sphere cannot be shown to have existed in the feudal society of the High Middle Ages. In itself the status of manorial lord, on whatever level, was neutral in relation to the criteria of ‘public’ and private’; but its incumbent represented it publicly. He displayed himself, presented himself as an embodiment of some sort of ‘higher’ power" (Habermas, 1992; 7). However, this idea was to rapidly change in fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy. The concept of democratic politics, and simultaneously a new meaning of the word "public", emerged in Europe during the Florentine Renaissance; Machiavelli’s The Prince (1513) is a notable exposition that reveals this emergence. Also appearing at that time was Martin Luther, who reformulated the institution of the Church with respect to its position on the rising tide of a new public/private conceptualization. "According to Weber, it is Luther who (particularly in his German version of the Bible) shapes the modern concept of ‘calling’ (Beruf), and places it at the ethical center of the individual’s worldly existence. [Luther appealed] to the ‘internal forum’ of one’s private conscience as the ultimate seat of one’s awareness of God" (Poggi, 1983: 60).

It is important to recognize that "a new form of the representative publicness, whose source was the culture of the nobility of early capitalist northern Italy, emerged first in Florence and then in Paris and London. It demonstrated its vigor in its assimilation of bourgeois culture, whose early manifestation was humanism" (Habermas, 1992: 9). The first vestiges of the private/public split are seen here as being revealed in the actions of the early capitalists. Capitalism, here in its early form, can be seen as intrinsically linked to the issues of the public and private sociological spheres. Interestingly, it was only after the Renaissance that the common man fully realized the potential of seizing upon this democratic notion and brought it to full political awareness. As Wallerstein says, this realization fully "crystallized" in the French Revolution. Meanwhile, in the time between the establishment of the early Italian capitalists and the French Revolution,

the aristocratic ‘society’ that emerged from that Renaissance society no longer had to represent its own lordliness (i.e., its manorial authority). Only after national and territorial power states had arisen on the basis of the early capitalist commercial economy and shattered the feudal foundations of power could this court nobility develop the framework of a sociability - highly individuated, in spite of its comprehensive etiquette - into that peculiarly free-floating but clearly demarcated sphere of ‘good society’ in the eighteenth century. Now for the first time private and public spheres became separate in a specifically modern sense. The major tendencies that prevailed by the end of the eighteenth century are well-known. The feudal powers, the Church, the prince, and the nobility, who were the carriers of the representative publicness, disintegrated in a process of polarization; in the end they split into private elements, on the one hand and public ones, on the other (Habermas, 1992: 11).

This split is the same separation that has brought our original attention to the paradox regarding the balance between the private good and the public good. What was revolutionary about this alteration in the nature of social existence was the change in the maintenance of this conceptual balance by which a "public" institution (in the medieval sense) that legitimated political, economic and (most importantly) moral power (i.e. the Church), was "polarized" to allow for such legitimation to occur by a consensus of private individuals acting on an individual level. This polarization sponsored a modern economic mentality based on private concerns that was to become highly relevant in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a mentality that is particularly evident in the classical liberalism of David Hume, Adam Smith and other economists of the period.

Next Section - Enamoring Individuality: The Free Trade Argument

Back to Title Page

Back to Cyberstudies


Thursday, July 24, 2014

Look out the window and imagine!

Image above: Plane Finder map the day after the 18 July Malaysian Airline tragedy. Ukraine is given a wide berth, but not by all! That day changed the geographic imaginings for many of us for ever about that art of the world.

Related links to Spatialworlds
Spatialworlds website

Australian Geography Teachers' Association website

Where am I??

Looking out the window: near and far

"Humans conjure up powerful images of places--that is, the geographical imagination."
                                                                                Yi-Fu Tuan (1976)

Geography students should be looking out the window and imagining! In workshops and the classroom I use the great website called Plane finder to travel around the world and challenge the geographical imagination of individuals.  I ask participants to imagine they are on one of the planes shown on the Plane Finder screen and to then imagine the landscapes, settlements and cultures they are flying over and imagine the nature of these at their destination. These are questions we should be asking students all the time about the world to stimulate their geographical imagination.

Here are some writings to help us get our head around the concept of geographical imagination. It can be confusing because the term “geographical imagination” is a popular catchphrase in the geographical literature with multiple interpretations, often unclear and highly intellectualised. In this posting I have distilled the concept to being a way of thinking about the world, considering the nature of places, their relative importance and the relationships between “our” places and “other” places.

Derek Gregory believes that the concept involves:

"...mental images and socially produced discourses about cultures, spaces, and differences. How people see the world is influenced by many factors, including social class, education, and personal and political philosophies. The particular moments in history in which people live also play a major role in how they view the world around them. Derek Gregory explains that the geographical imagination plays a significant role in shaping much of the world's social and spatial thought. Through the geographical imagination, people (both individually and collectively) develop a sense of boundaries, which separate “our” spaces and places from other spaces and places. Geographical imaginations are thus central to the social and spatial constructions of identity."

Mark Twain wrote the following, as far back as 1878 on geographical imagination (although he did not call it that) and travel:

"The human imagination is much more capable than it gets credit for.  This is why Niagara is always a disappointment when one sees it for the first time.  One's imagination has long ago built a Niagara to which this one is a poor dribbling thing.  The ocean "with its waves running mountain high" is always a disappointment at first sight; the imagination has constructed real mountains, whereas these with swelling at their very biggest and highest are not imposing.  The Taj is a disappointment though people are ashamed to confess it.  God will be a disappointment to most of us, at first.  I wish I could see the Niagara’s and Taj’s which the human imagination has constructed, why then, bless you, I should see Atlantics pouring down out of the sky over cloud ranges, and I should see Taj’s of a form so gracious and a spiritual expression so divine and altogether so sublime and so lovely and worshipful that—well—St. Peter's, Vesuvius, Heaven, Hell, everything that is much described is bound to be a disappointment at first."                                                            —Mark Twain's Notebook

Mark Twain in these writings is challenging the accuracy and veracity of our geographical imaginings – that rarely do they match reality. Alan Marcus considers that geographical imagination is just a "part of the common experience of man” and defines it as "the spatial knowledge--real or abstract--that allows individuals to imagine place,"

It is as a significant, and mainly non-economic, component propelling migrants to leave places like Brazil for the United States and the English for Australia and also prompting some to return. Geographic Imaginings’ constitute an important aspect in geographic research, enriching our understanding of places and societies as well as the contested meanings people have towards spaces. No matter how accurate or fallacious our geographical imaginings are, they are real to us and influence our attitudes and behaviours to a great extent as we look out the window of our small part of the world and contemplate places far and near. The development of such imagining’s are influenced by our readings, what we watch, discussions with others and just our imagination based on an impression we gather about a place – often based on information we have no idea where it came from. Several concrete examples of the influence our geographical imaginations can be found in migration studies and tourism marketing:

Geographic Imagination and migration
In the late 1980s more than 1 million Brazilians left Brazil without returning. Today an estimated 2 million Brazilians live abroad, 1.2 million of them in the United States. Brazilians migrate for a variety of reasons, including the geographical imagination, as do many English migrants come to Australia because their geographic imagination of Australian has been developed through the TV shows Neighbours and Home and Away!

Geographic imagination and tourism
The marketing and development of tourist destinations offers a fertile ground for the exercise of geographic imagination. Tourism marketing distils the essence of a place, and imagines an identity that is attractive to tourists and residents alike. Such spatial identities, however, are seldom hegemonic and are often highly contested.

The Geographical Association in the UK has recognised the importance of geographical imagination in the teaching of geography for many years.

Doreen Massey on geographical imagination:

'It is probably now well accepted, though it is still important to argue, that a lot of our "geography" is in the mind. That is to say we carry around with us mental images of the world, of the country in which we live (all those image of the North/South divide), of the street next door. The New Yorker's mental map of the USA, Ronald Regan's imagination of the world, became popular posters.
All of us carry such images, they may sometimes be in conflict or even be the cause of conflict, and digging these things up and talking about them is one good way in to beginning to examine what it means to think geographically'

Massey, D. (2006) 'The geographical mind' in Balderston, D. (ed) Secondary Geography Handbook, Sheffield: Geographical Association

Here are some activities which aim to stimulate the student’s geographic imagination.
* The Valuing places section of the GA site is a very useful summary and resource on geographical imagination
* Where will we live GA activities: examples of activities related to 'Geographical Imaginations?'

The Australian Geography Teachers' Association's (AGTA) GeogSpace website to support the Australian Curriculum: Geography also explores the concept of geographical thinking in its Thinking Geographically Support Unit. Nick Hutchinson, the writer of the unit created an excellent Illustration of Practice called; The Child as a Geographer which further developed the thinking on the concept of geographical imagination.

In conclusion, many go as far as to say that at the core of modern geographical thinking is the concept of geographical imagination and the associate concept of place (attachment and sense of).

No comments:


Find a hearing clinic in Washington

We have listed 89 cities from our database of 67 hearing aid centers located in Washington. The 5 largest cities in Washington are:


An Argument Against Pure Subjectivity

By , Sidney, NE

With beliefs that are only justifiable through subjective arguments, there is a great possibility that conflict will arise from them. Beliefs that are justifiable by objective arguments are able to give a demonstration of verifiable proof, and they can eliminate conflict; however, this is only if both arguing parties are willing to come to a conclusion which is based upon empirical evidence. People who oppose objective thinkers do this out of their own subjective desires and their unwillingness to listen to rational argument. This can create massive conflicts which are nearly impossible to stop.

It is important to note that it is impossible for a person to think with pure subjectivity or pure objectivity, although there can be some methods of restraint. Some people who are relativists will completely hold subjective experience over objective proof, and this is the exact place where the issue occurs. When a person allows subjective experience and emotion to cloud their ability to think rationally, it can lead to incorrect conclusions and conflict with people who do not think the same way. If a person gives evidence which they have obtained through rational thought, it allows other people to examine the thought process. Subjective thought should only be the driving force by which we obtain evidence through objective thought.

Three scenarios can be given to demonstrate the argumentation of a pure subjective thinker and a pure objective thinker.

If two people are both thinking subjectively, and one of them opposes the argument of the other, then there is no basis for an objective discussion. So, the only option for either person is to get along or fight as a result of subjective impulse. Of course, the latter can lead to very serious issues.

If two people are both thinking objectively about a claim, then they would reach a conclusion through a discussion based upon available evidence to find the validity of the claim. As long as subjective though does not get in the way of civility, unnecessary conflict can be avoided

If one person is thinking objectively and the other subjectively, then a problem arises. The objective thinker would be able to prove their argument through evidence, but the subjective thinker would only act upon impulse. Again, this can lead to issues caused by the action of the subjective thinker.

In reality, we cannot escape either system of thought, and we should not expect to do so. It is not the goal of a human being to become a robot or to escape from the boundaries of reality. We should be emotionally touched by truth, and we should be intellectually driven by emotion.

Post a Comment

Be the first to comment on this article!

bRealTime banner ad on the left side
Site Feedback


If you were to ask me for a list of my favourite roses, I’d be hard pressed to keep it to five or even ten roses.  But one rose sure to make the list would be Sedona.

I first encountered Sedona in one of my local garden nurseries.  This nursery always stocked an amazing selection of roses in two large greenhouses.  I found Sedona by way of my nose….”what is that amazing fruity fragrance?”  And there was Sedona, a hybrid tea rose in a small pot, with a single large bloom pumping out the most incredible fragrance.  I bought it without a second thought.
My Sedona is an own root rose, planted in a large pot on my patio right outside my back door.  The foliage is a dark matte green, remarkable simply because it is completely disease resistant in my no spray garden.  The colour of the bloom defies easy description, a mix of coral, pink and orange. Sedona does not seem to resent living in a pot at all.  Given a foliar spray of kelp this spring, it promptly grew several new canes.  The first flush of bloom tends to occur a little bit later than most of my other roses, but is worth the wait. The canes are long but easily able to support the large blooms.  There is a short break between flushes.  The fragrance is consistently strong.

The nursery where I bought Sedona was unique, in that every year it put all the unsold roses at the back of the nursery, all clumped together in a disorganized jumble.  I always used to poke through these rejects.  Last year I found a pot with a single cane of Sedona in it.  I seriously thought about buying  it, but in the end I didn’t.  The nursery has since closed, having sold their property to developers for millions of dollars.  I really regret not buying that rather sad pot of Sedona, as it is now impossible to find it in any of the garden centres in my area. Jackson and Perkins still list this rose on their website, but don’t ship to Canada.  I would hate to lose this rose.  Next year I will attempt to root some cuttings from my plant.


image via bon appetempt

I made this pie last week. My husband, who is a Banana Cream Pie connoisseur, said it was the best Banana Cream Pie ever.

I watched an episode of Mind of a Chef recently. It was the episode titled “Rotten”. What could possibly be more frugal than rotten food? True, in a way. What’s considered rot to someone might be someone else’s kimchi. Anyway, it was on this episode that I watched Christina Tosi make this delicious looking Banana Cream Pie from entirely way too ripe bananas.  Mesmerizing and oh-so-gross to watch her open the blackened bananas at one end and squeeze out the banana-shaped moosh.

So,of course…the next time I had entirely way-too-ripe bananas , I decided I had to make this pie. It uses way more butter than I would ever use unless I had my own cow but otherwise, I had all the ingredients on hand, so I don’t know cost breakdown. Probably not super frugal if you didn’t have ingredients on hand in your pantry and had to go out and buy all the ingredients at once  but um…if you’re able to be a little indulgent and have rotten bananas, this pie beats banana bread any day.

There’s a whole fabulous picture tutorial here: Bon AppÃ©tempt: Banana Cream Pie.
This is the recipe:

Banana Cream Pie via Momofuku Milk Bar by Christina Tosi
Chocolate Crumb

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup good-quality cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Heat the oven to 300 degrees.
Spread the crumbs on a parchment or silicone mat-lined sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Let the crumbs cool completely before using or eating. [This latter part about not eating it until it cooled made me curious. So curious that I ate a few crumbs before they had completely cooled. AND they were delicious. Go figure?]

Chocolate Crust (makes 1 10-inch pie crust)
3/4 of the chocolate crumb recipe above
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 to 2 tablespoons of melted butter

Break up the chocolate crumbs into a bowl. Add sugar and 1 tablespoon of the melted butter to start. With your hands, knead until it is moist enough to form a ball. If it isn’t moist enough, add another tablespoon of melted butter. Press the crust firmly into the pie plate, making sure the bottom and sides are evenly covered.

Banana Cream
2 very ripe bananas. [We are talking about black/brown bananas here. Tosi says this makes all the difference in the world.]
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup whole milk

1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 egg yolks

2 gelatin sheets (or 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin)

3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring

3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup powdered sugar

1 just-ripe (yellow) banana, sliced

Combine the ripe bananas, 1/3 cup heavy cream, and 1/4 cup milk in a blender & puree until totally smooth. Add the next section of ingredients–the sugar, cornstarch, salt, & egg yolks and blend. Pour into a medium saucepan. Clean out the blender.

Bloom the gelatin. (To bloom sheet gelatin, soak it in a small bowl of cold water for 2 minutes. Gently squeeze to remove any excess water before using. To bloom powdered gelatin, sprinkle it evenly onto the surface of 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small dish or cup. Allow to soften for 3-5 minutes.)

Whisk the contents of the pan and heat over medium-low heat. As the banana mixture heats up, it will thicken. Bring to a boil and then continue to whisk vigorously for 2 minutes to fully cook out the starch. The mixture will resemble thick glue, bordering on cement, with a color to match. [I really like Tosi’s description here. It was so helpful as this is exactly what happens. She left out one thing, though. At this point, you will definitely have broken a sweat.]

Dump the contents of the pan into the blender. Add the bloomed gelatin and butter and blend until smooth and even. Color the mixture with yellow food coloring until it is bright yellow. Tosi realizes that this is a lot of coloring, but says, “banana creams don’t get that brilliant yellow color on their own. Womp,” which I think is a good enough argument for food coloring as any.

Transfer the mixture to a heatsafe container & chill in refrigerator for 30-60 minutes or until completely cooled.

Using a whisk or a mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cream and powdered sugar to medium-soft peaks. Add the cold banana mixture to the whipped cream and slowly whisk until evenly colored and homogenous. (Stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, this will stay fresh for up to 5 days.)

Pour half the banana cream into the chocolate pie shell. Cover with a layer of sliced banana and then cover that with the remaining filling.


Philosophy Lexicon of Arguments

Author Item Excerpt Meta data

Books on Amazon
I 209
Causal theory / content / Stalnaker: punch line: the facts about my connection to Cicero do not belong to the content - the causal theory here is no theory that the speaker has about himself - but that a statement has a specific content, is a function of facts about how the world is - if the world had been different, the sentence about Cicero would have been about another person. ((s) > counterfactual conditional) - This does not commit us to a causal theory. - Then we can explain errors more easily.

Sta I
R. Stalnaker
Ways a World may be Oxford New York 2003

> Counter arguments against Stalnaker
> Counter arguments in relation to Causal Theory of Reference

Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2017-09-24


5.4  Cladistics

big ninja

Essential Idea:

The ancestry of groups of species can be deduced

by comparing their base or amino acid sequences

  • A clade is a group of organisms that have evolved from a common ancestor
  • Cladograms are tree diagrams that show the most probable sequence of divergence in clades
  • Evidence for which species are part of a clade can be obtained from the base sequence of a gene or the corresponding amino acid sequence of a protein
  • Sequence differences accumulate gradually so there is a positive correlation between the number of differences between two species and the time since they diverged from a common ancestor
  • Traits can be analogous or homologous
  • Evidence from cladistics has shown that classification of some groups based on structure did not correspond with the evolutionary origins of a group or species

  • Cladograms including humans and other primates
  • Reclassification of the figwort family using evidence from cladistics

  • Analysis of cladograms to deduce evolutionary relationships


I worked on this project while living in Kulusuk, a small village of the east coast of Greenland, in summer 2015. I worked with chalk, ice, oil drums and the tides in an effort to process the beauty and fragility of this rapidly melting country.  For more information about the project, feel free to read the following article published by Grist Magazine:


Ontario Water News

How New Changes in U.S. Policy May Affect Ontario’s Water Sector

The new Trump administration in the United States has made formal and informal announcements that indicate coming changes likely to affect Canadian businesses. If your Ontario water sector company is currently doing (or planning to do) business in the United States, we recommend watching for developments in the following areas.

President Trump has signed two Executive Orders that aim to nullify regulations. Executive Orders are written orders issued by the President to the federal government and while they allow the President to bypass congressional approval, they must work within the confines of existing law.

The Presidential Order on Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs states that for every new federal regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination. The Presidential Order on Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda appoints Regulatory Reform Officers (RROs) in each federal agency that are responsible for reporting regularly on progress related to the identification of regulations for repeal, replacement, or modification. Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is subject to these Orders, the regulatory landscape may soon change for water and the environment.

Environmental Protection Agency

Scott Pruitt has been appointed as the new Administrator of the EPA. In his February 21 speech to EPA staff, Pruitt highlighted the importance of federalism. This approach may lead to less centralized regulation by the EPA in many instances. Pruitt’s federalist approach is similar to Canada’s, wherein the provinces and territories are responsible for developing and enforcing their own water regulations, with some exception. The 2018 budget proposal is reported to feature a 25% decrease in the EPA’s budget with a 20% reduction in staff, reinforcing a leaner, decentralized approach to environmental regulation.

Depending on how Pruitt proceeds, this could make things either more or less difficult for Ontario water technology companies looking to implement their technologies in the United States. On one hand, with less staff, less regulatory pressure may come from the EPA; on the other, states may choose to fill this gap, leading to patchy regulatory requirements across the country and an increased regulatory burden on companies working in multiple states. Due to this uncertain outcome, a best practice will be to pay close attention to the evolution of the EPA as Pruitt sets his plan in motion, the budget is solidified, and regulatory reform comes into play.

Buy American

According to the Buy American Act, 1933, all goods purchased by U.S. federal government agencies over a specified threshold must be produced in the United States, and manufactured items must be manufactured in the United States from American materials. Since the Act’s implementation, many states have adopted the requirement in their purchasing policies, although many have also made exceptions for Canadian goods.

The proposed $1-trillion infrastructure plan stresses the Buy American policy. This approach is not unique to the Trump administration. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009 provided infrastructure stimulus and required funded public works projects to use U.S. steel and iron. After its enactment, Canada negotiated with the United States, which agreed to certain exceptions in the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement.

Trump may be stressing Buy American in the new infrastructure plan, but he will have to consider trade deals, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The United States, Canada, and Mexico are gearing up for a renegotiation of NAFTA, while Trump’s Trade Policy Agenda mentions some WTO limitations in enforcing American compliance. Water technology companies should pay close attention to legislation related to the proposed U.S. infrastructure plan and Canadian trade developments with the United States, especially in the context of the WTO and NAFTA.

It pays to stay informed

To sum it up, there may be a great deal of change on the horizon for your Ontario company. Some of these changes may be advantageous, while others may require mitigation strategies. In any case, it pays to stay informed so that you can be prepared. WaterTAP will continue to update the sector on the U.S. policy, program, and regulatory landscape.

WaterTAP will provide water sector-specific feedback to the Province on U.S. trade issues. We are interested hearing from companies about their experiences and concerns. Please contact us if you would like to provide your insight.

Recommended Reading

Presidential executive orders: What are they? How can they be repealed? Where are the limits? The Independent

What Donald Trump and ‘buy American’ means for Canada Maclean’s

The Buy American Act and Buy America Provisions The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service


Laren Karnakchi

King of Termoli

Laren Karnakchi was a king of Termoli a forgotten kingdom of the underdark.
In the remote epoch of the Astromundi Wars frictions between the elemental plane of fire and earth created fluctuations on the magical veil, many effect took place within several eras and thus his race was born, creatures of steel and great power. But with all their amazing gifts they were victims of the powers of chaos and so none two of this creatures will ever exist within their own sight, battle ting to extinction until only one remains.

Long after that, Laren was born from the remains of this great collisions and by chance was send throughout the astral plane and fell to the material universe. Destiny took him to the infernal fires of the devilish city of Ruljasyth, he was greet with torture and pain to this world. After years of suffering he escaped the pit prisons deep within the Ohador mountains. His first steps within the world took him to travel the North Continents, facing his kind for the first time. Born in hell on earth, he battle his foe with madly strength, beating his enemy to death and beyond. He leap forward to the roads but cities were hostile places to him so he march to the north, following the steps of the great mountains.

Chaos once again surprised Laren for he encounter a group of small but organized people, dedicated to perfection and peace of mind from the first light of the sun. Facinated by the arts of combat and their discipline, Laren learned from the wises masters, in the temples of the Kai-Lim order, the art of becoming a living weapon and his faith for ever bound to Kusanagi, god of Rain and Swordfighting. Peace was brought to his mind and he met joy but it was no long that he was bound to leave this place and explore the world with his new faith and perspective. Travels took him to the middle contintens and met, in the Goran forests, his kind once again. Training prevent him to fall pray to chaos and war but his opponent, mad and wild by its craving for war, charge to him proving one simple truth…his kind was not ment to be in this plane, too dangerous for others and to themselves.

In a hard choice of live, he sworn an oath to exterminate his kind in order to preserve the balance and lifes of this foreign world. A long hunt to battle his peers took him in a journey of several hundred years proving his weapons skills and will of mind to be superior. After fulfilling his destiny he return to the Kai-Lim temples and was order to guard one of 188 paths of the Underdark, to prevent a different darkness that long ago came to this world but remain dormant within the deep cores of this earth.

Loyal to his order and faith, he knew that his masters will direct his power to balance. Reaching his ultimate path deep within caves in the desert, he found ancient portals back from the Astromundi-War ages, unpowered but still strong…indestructible by mortal or magical means and with the potential to travel to other worlds within the material universe. Fearing the worst Laren build up a city stone by stone to cover the portal and to remain vigilant of the dormant enemy that will eventually clain its power. Prosper and just, Laren became King and a beacon of fairness in the dark shadows of the Underdark, and thus the Great City of Termoril known to its paths.

But darkness rises and chaos always finds a way of his own, invincible in hand to hand combat…betrayal was the one weapon Laren was not prepared to. The dormant power arose from the deep in the form of dark surreal creatures of great mental and psychic power, a fearless enemy … The Mindflayers. But his army was one trained in the arts of the ancient masters of the Kai-Lim, and resisted the corruption of their minds. But the dark tentacles of the enemy reach one of Larens commanders, the young drider-sorcerer named Talure, seduced by the great illusions of power and foreign magic she betray Laren teaching the enemy the weak spots of his teachings and army.

Destruction came and soon others fall prey to the power the enemy; alone, with his city in ruins
and with a handfull of warriors Laren marched in a final charge against his own people,dominated by the army of the mindflayers. Defeat was imminent, and the great king Laren was inprisoned by the power of Talure’s goddess Anannis, forever in ice to dream of his defeat…..until now.

Laren Karnakchi

WillingDeformityWorld WillingDeformity


Posted on

Growing Orchids: The Basics

So, you bought an orchid, or received one as a gift. What now?

Orchid roots are thick and fleshy to store water
Orchid roots are thick and fleshy to store water

What are orchids?

If you purchased an orchid in a store, chances are it’s an epiphytic
orchid. This type of plant grows on other plants or objects, such as large trees, rather than in soil. Their roots absorb nutrients from the air, rain, and material surrounding them.

Okay, so how do I grow it?

The trick to growing plants indoors is to try and replicate the environment the plant is accustomed to in the wild. This is why orchids are generally sold growing in moss or bark. Always plant this type of orchid in a loose, fast-draining potting mix with lots of bark. Research the type of orchid that you have, but most prefer a medium amount of light — a few hours morning sun rather than a hot south-facing window.

Water well, once per week, allowing the water to drain through the bottom of the pot. (If your pot has no drainage holes, you’ll have to re-pot the plant or drain the water yourself). Fertilise once per month with a general purpose orchid fertiliser, such as this one.

Keep your plants in humid, well-lit area that’s not too hot, away from air conditioners and radiators, and not directly next to a window, and your plant should be happy as can be!

Source: Bloom-Again Orchids

Bloom-Again Orchids
Bloom-Again Orchids: A great beginner’s guide


gene-sharp“I think you get rid of violence only if people see that you have a different way of acting, a different way of struggle”—Gene Sharp

I first read The Politics of Nonviolent Action in 1989 as the uprisings in China’s Tiananmen Square were unfolding.  Sharp’s analysis highlighted both the power of the student’s actions and the false steps along the way that made the movement toward democracy vulnerable to the government’s crackdown.  Sharp’s analysis helped me to turn unfolding history into a learning laboratory.  Since then, I’ve used Sharp’s work in much of my teaching and have carried his resources, often in translated versions, into many countries.

Gene Sharp has been called the “Machiavelli of nonviolence” and the “Clausewitz of nonviolent warfare.” He has been the leading academic theoretician about nonviolent struggle with an activist heart. Unlike Gandhi or King who developed their theories in the middle of specific struggles, Sharp has steeped himself in the history of conflict and examined in great detail nonviolent methods of engagement. Then from the analysis he has become a counselor about the effective use of nonviolent strategies and methods.

Raised in Ohio, Sharp participated in early sit-ins to desegregate a lunch-counter in Columbus. He engaged in civil disobedience protesting military conscription during the Korean War and spent 9 months in prison as a result. Then he left the U.S. for ten years of work, study and teaching in England and Norway. Upon returning Sharp became a researcher at Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs and was later Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

gene-sharp-1In 1983 Sharp founded the Albert Einstein Institution to advance “the study and use of strategic nonviolent action in conflicts throughout the world.” The Institution was “committed to the defense of freedom, democracy, and the reduction of political violence through the use of nonviolent action.” The Albert Einstein Institution has given him a vehicle to move beyond classrooms and books to consult with leaders in various struggles around the world. The works of Sharp on nonviolent action have been translated into well over forty-five languages, primarily without the Institution’s initiative and financial aid. Many of these works are available for free by downloading from the Institution’s website. Books that used to be smuggled into various countries for freedom movements can now be accessed directly via the internet.

Perhaps Sharp’s deepest impact in regional struggles has been in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Republics. When the Soviet Union was breaking up, the Baltic nations knew they could never resist a Russian invasion through violent means. So Sharp and his assistant at the Albert Einstein Institution worked with the defense ministers of the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to explore and put in place plans for “civilian-based defense.” Civilian-based defense applies coordinated and pre-planned strategies of non-cooperation to make a small occupied country ungovernable by a bigger power, the kind of resistance that had been used successfully by the Danes and Norwegians against Nazi occupiers in World War II. The three Baltic republics became independent nations with relatively little loss of life.

Young democracy activists also turned to Sharp for direction. His book From Democracy to Dictatorship became “the Bible” for Pora activists in Ukraine who led the Orange Revolution in 2004. The young Otpor activists in Serbia who brought down Slobodan Milosovic also had studied Sharp’s writings. The Albert Einstein Institution provided thousands of copies of his works for free to stimulate the conceptual shaping of these nonviolent democratic freedom movements. He also met with activists in many countries and offered them understanding of nonviolent struggle.

The centerpiece to Sharp’s understanding of nonviolence is that all power is derived from the consent of the governed. That consent may be gained through legitimate or illegitimate ways, but it is given nonetheless. This is an empowering insight, for if an oppressed people realize that they give their consent, they can then recognize that they have the power to withdraw that consent. They don’t have to obey. As Sharp says, “Nonviolent action is possible, and is capable of wielding great power even against ruthless rules and military regimes, because it attacks the most vulnerable characteristic of all hierarchical institutions and governments: Dependence on the governed.”

gene-sharp-3To give shape to the withdrawal of consent and resistance to oppression, Sharp outlined 198 different methods of nonviolent action with specific historical examples to illustrate. Power is not monolithic, so part of strategizing in a nonviolent struggle is to break power into its constituent parts: What are the pillars that hold up the power structure? If the supports for oppressive power are properly analyzed, then specific and varying strategies can be developed to undermine those pillars and even turn what were once parties or dynamics that supported the oppressive powers into allies for the movement for freedom and justice.

When Sharp first published his landmark three-volume The Politics of Nonviolent Action in 1973 the giant lights for nonviolent struggle were Gandhi and King. There had been various peace movements related to the nuclear arms race and the war in Vietnam. There were also historic struggles forgotten by most people, such as the nonviolent defense against a military coup in Germany in 1920 and the nonviolent overthrow of both the brutal Martinez dictatorship in El Salvador and the Ubico dictatorship in Guatemala in 1944. Sharp pulled all these lessons together in a coherent way, spelling out the dynamics of power and struggle as well as the tactics and methodologies that could be employed. With the explosion of the People Power movement in the Philippines, movements in Latin America, South Africa, Burma, China and Eastern Europe Sharp’s theories became a key for activists to interpret what was happening and plan further engagements.

For Sharp, commitment to nonviolent alternatives is not necessarily a moral or religious matter. Rather it can be very pragmatic. People who believe that violence is moral may still act nonviolently because nonviolent action provides the most effective form to act in conflict situations and reduces the horrendous damage resulting from violence. Nonviolent struggle offers a better option to oppressed people than does violence. “I don’t think you get rid of violence by protesting against it,” Sharp says. “I think you get rid of violence only if people see that you have a different way of acting, a different way of struggle…. Part of my analysis is that if you don’t like violence, you have to develop a substitute. Then people have a choice.” Sharp’s life work has been to give incredible depth, breadth, historical examples, strategic guidance and methodological specificity to that choice. People power movements around the world have been drawing extensively from his analysis and changing history in the process.

To access the Albert Einstein Institution’s resources click here.


Vidal Blanc

One of the most acclaimed French-American hybrids in Virginia, Vidal Blanc’s popularity comes from the beauty of the long amber clusters of vibrant grapes and the zesty flavor of the wine that it makes. Ours is a fruity, off-dry wine with grapefruit and peach characteristics and a nuanced finish. Refreshing by itself or with spicy foods.


The social impairment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can have a profound impact on quality of life.

As part of their research, Eastern Virginia Medical School scientists say they have verified that a specific mouse strain, known as the BALB/c mouse, is a valid animal model of the limited sociability seen in persons with Autism.   In the presence of another mouse, BALB/c mice move as far away as possible and do not interact as normal mice do,  they say in much the same way people with autism often avoid making social contact with other people.

This finding gave them a way to test whether an existing medication can alter the function of certain receptors in the brain known to affect sociability and help the animals be more at ease around others. The medication used was D-Cycloserine, originally developed to treat tuberculosis, but previous studies showed that it also might change social behavior. In preliminary studies at Eastern Virginia Medical School, the medication appeared to resolve the Balb/c mouse's deficits of sociability - BALB/c mice treated with the medication behaved as a normal mouse would when placed near another.

"Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders are either disinterested in social interactions or find them unpleasant. They often don't understand what other people are thinking or feeling and misinterpret social cues," said Stephen I. Deutsch, MD, PhD, the Ann Robinson Chair and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. "Sadly, persons with autism spectrum disorders are often painfully aware of their limited sociability, which can lead to profound feelings of sadness and frustration."

Deutsch will discuss the research at Eastern Virginia Medical School's Quarterly Autism Education Series at noon, Dec. 14, in the school's Hofheimer Hall auditorium.


Sometimes, admitting you are unable to help someone actually helps them.  It forces them to realize they have been butting their head against a brick wall and that brick wall has no intention of moving. Sometimes, knowing you cannot give someone what they need, and having the guts to tell them that serves as a catalyst. Instead of them continuing to look to you for solutions, they know you have none, and can move on to find their solutions elsewhere.

Here’s where I’m going with this…..

My son is 12 years old and has diagnosed GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). This disorder caused him (and me!) years of great distress while we attempted to successfully navigate him through the public school system. There were teachers who didn’t understand GAD, children who taunted him mercilessly for being sensitive and worrisome, and even teachers who flat out refused to assist him when he was finally able to find his voice and communicate what he needed. The phrase, “I don’t have time for your issues right now,” was actually uttered by a teacher to my son. I can almost feel my blood start to boil again just thinking about it!

But this post is not about the negative experiences we had, it is about the positive outcome that came from those negative experiences. Throughout his 5 years in the public school system we did encounter plenty of negatives, but we also encountered some wonderful people who went above and beyond to do what was best for him. Child and Youth Workers who met with him weekly to check in and help him develop tools and strategies to help alleviate the school anxiety, the amazing “Mama Bear”-type receptionist who was always available for a hug if he needed one, and the school principal, who should get a first-class ticket to heaven, in my opinion, who did everything in her power to ensure my son’s success in her school.

Unfortunately, her much-appreciated and tireless efforts were not enough for him. The school system he was in was failing him. Miserably. And she knew it. I cannot imagine what it must have felt like for her to realize that she could not help my son. That the school system could not help him. And yet, her coming to that realization and sharing it with me was the best thing that has ever happened to us. It was our catalyst. It was the realization we needed to force us to move in another direction. Away from that brick wall that had my forehead permanently implanted in it!

She called me. She told me that my son was a kind, caring, wonderful soul, who was not flourishing in his current environment, despite her best efforts.  She suggested the possibility of a private, specialized education for him, in a smaller, more supportive environment.

As is my nature, I was on the internet within minutes, researching such schools in our area. I spoke with school directors, I attended school expos and open houses, I spoke with other parents, and I researched until there was nothing more to research. And when I had the schools narrowed down, I took my then 11-year-old son to an Open House. And my child, who had been so fearful of school and what it entailed for him that he had literally been unable to attend for 6 months in the previous year, and who would regularly be physically ill in the parking lot before school, that child…SKIPPED out of the Open House asking when he could start! I quite honestly cried with joy.

The new school has been a game changer for him. The anxiety still exists and he works hard every day to manage it. But the kind, caring, supportive environment has made all the difference for him. He can speak to a teacher when he feels anxious, his school friends understand his challenges and support him, he even has little cues he gives his teacher (like leaving his water bottle in a certain spot on his desk) that cues her to know that he has left the classroom for a walk to settle himself and will be back in 5 minutes. Simple, simple things. And yet they have made all the difference.

And so I am very thankful to the school principal who felt she could not help my son. Not because she couldn’t help him, but because she was not afraid to admit it. She pushed us in the right direction and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being strong enough to admit you couldn’t help us. It has been a most wonderful gift.

About LazyGourmetBlog

LazyGourmetBlog is a Grimsby, Ontario mom, navigating the daily struggles of a personal PTSD diagnosis, and the challenges of raising an almost-teenager with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. As a former professional ballroom dancer, her personal struggles with anxiety and PTSD have very often been hidden in plain sight, presenting their own unique challenges in this very public former profession. One of her favourite quotes is, "The journey is the goal," and that motto carries her through each day, learning, supporting, and carrying on.

Connect with us


Puzzle Room

Team building

Escaping from a locked room within a certain time limit produces the precise circumstances that give rise to one of the greatest team building exercises ever created!

Our scripts have been crafted to be both difficult and challenging but are possible to achieve success when all members of a team work together and demonstrate group spirit!

Our challenges are suitable for adults and older teenagers. We customise the scripts for unique scenarios.

We can come to your place of work or we can set up the challenge in an accessible and convenient hotel, function room, community hall or similar venue.

Our highly popular team building sessions create laughter, fun and a unique experience that will be remembered throughout the workplace for a long time afterwards while giving organisations the opportunity to practice and analyse their skills in communication, organization, critical thinking, logic and creative genius in a high pressure scenario.

At the end of your session, your team will be debriefed, during which we will analyse your moves, decisions, how well you communicated and what you could have done to escape or possibly the reasons why you escaped so quickly.

Prices start from £145 per hour. Additional costs apply for third party venue hire.

To find the key and escape, teams must:

You won't escape unless you share information with other team players. It isn't simply good enough to just yell out something you found. That won't help you find the key! There is so much going on in the room that you must make sure that your idea is being heard and followed (unless it is the wrong idea).
Groups that do not escape (around 22% of all groups to date) do not have enough leaders to suggest concepts, decide on paths to follow or stir the group toward an outcome. It will take more than one strong leader to put everything together as there are multiple tasks that need to be completed simultaneously. Teams without leadership fail almost every time!
If there are too many loud voices in a group it is highly likely that no sensible decisions will be made. Listen to what others in your team have to contribute.
Your creative genius and speed by which you unleash it will reveal what is hidden to others. This is where that part of your brain that is known for suggesting absurd ideas is set free to break boundaries which may yield rewards.
With the time dwindling on the clock and what appear to be dead end clues; it will seem as if your fate is sealed. Those that do escape have to practice positive thinking and never give up no matter how much time is left. The majority of groups that escape do so with seconds on the clock in a tense scenario that yields ample amounts of adrenaline!
There may be multiple solutions for various puzzles in the room. If you are dead set on a solution simply because someone who you believed was “clever” gave you the answer, yet the answer doesn’t lead you to finding more clues then clearly the “clever clogs” person was wrong.

Tips to escape:

Get involved and find the clues; move, pull, twist, turn and open as many things as you can to find the clues.
Keep each other informed, make notes and gather clues together in one place and work as a team to come up with solutions.
The puzzles are obvious to some players but appear impossible to others. Let everyone have a chance to solve a particular puzzle. A wacky idea may just give rise to the correct answer.
Never give up regardless of the time remaining on the clock. Keep searching for clues, try different ways of solving a puzzle and keep active. Never give up!

Previous corporate clients

Previous player quote

"Incredible fun, well organised and an afternoon of activities which we all thoroughly enjoyed." - Bea, Challs of Hadleigh