Groups miss out on top nature awards

Three organisations in Bourne have narrowly missed out on winning environmental awards for their work improving natural habitats.

The Len Pick Trust and Bourne United Charities put in a joint entry to the Best

Community Award of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards and Bourne Abbey Primary Academy’s nature club were entered in the Young Environmentalist Award.

Both entries were named in a final shortlist but feel just short of the top prize, being named runners up at the final judging on July 3.

The finalists in the Lincolnshire Environmental Award made presentations to the panel of judges, including renowned environmentalist Professor David Bellamy, at the Bentley Hotel in Lincoln.

Bourne United Charities and The Len Pick Trust entered the competition having carried out environmental enhancements on their land in Bourne. These include restoring hedgerows and a pond, planting trees and constructing an owl tower, restoring and improving parts of the bank of the Bourne Eau and eradicating the invasive plant Japanese knotweed.

Chairman of Bourne United Charities Estates Committee Trevor Hollinshead, said: “Whilst our joint submission did not win, we were judged as runners up and we were pleased that our two organisation’s efforts were highly commended.

“The competition was very strong and it was good that our respective programmes were recognised as innovative. The awards are for environmental excellence and designed to recognise and celebrate the activities that are helping to improve the environment and encourage sustainability.”

Nettleham Woodland Trust, which planted tens of thousands of trees in new woodlands near Nettleham, took first prize.

Bourne Abbey Primary Academy’s nature club was entered into the youth section of the awards after pupils researched and implemented ways of increasing the number and types of birds in the school grounds.

A group of children called The Eco-Friendlies, from Caistor, won for their work increasing recycling efforts.


Wanting to own everything you love and desire is by all means a known psychological phenomenon. In relationships, such behaviorical signs can at times be spotted in both, men and women.

As for the non-social objects, it has been suggested that in the postmodern era, men pose stronger, oftentimes excessive materialistic needs and desires. Cultural reasons and classic family upbringing may be to blame for that (even if really not, they do act as a viable and smart-sounding excuse, for that matter).

To take this on the mandatory end-human level, take an example of computer games. How many games did you ever really delete? Did you ever consider owning or storing any games more important than actually playing them?

If you ever found a really nice book, did you just have to get it yourself? Perhaps to make sure it would always be there in your bookshelf? Even if it was obvious you would not be going to read it again any time soon, and you knew you always could find a copy at your local library? Or at a friend's bookshelf, for that matter?

Perhaps downloaded yourself a copy of all the files you knew really would always be there on the Net and never expected them to disappear? Or read all your messages at home and preserved an off-line copy, not because you would need them, but because you wanted to make sure you would always own all the beautiful words and amusing stories ever sent to you or the mailing-lists?

If that is so, would you really not like to also put Everything into a drawer?

Well, I would, really.

But, I can't.


Mp3Treat Pro

MP3Treat is a music downloading client.

MP3Treat is a music downloading client.

MP3Treat is a very easy-to-work-with music downloading program that offers advanced searching capabilities, turbo-charged downloads. The software connects to one of the largest music network on the Web and can be used by anyone regardless of their previous experience.

Users can choose to upgrade in exchange for a one-time fee that automatically makes them a member of the MP3Treat community with full benefits and guarantees.

MP3Treat is a top music downloading client that answers the most exigent needs being at the same time the perfect downloading tool for all types of users It can download movies, music (even rare songs), software, eBooks, etc with great speed and efficiency.

The program's functionality extends to dynamic querying, highly developed system for finding rare files - users can search by artist, title, genre and other metadata.


Is It Normal?

In many abusive relationships, the abuser is a fabulous person. They can be: fun to be with hard workers great parents supportive friends always helpful volunteer or work at church active in the community publicly affectionate verbally supportive quick with jokes eager to always be with their partner Right up until the moment they aren't.…Read more Is It Normal?

I Don’t Have to be Alone

I'm great at building walls. I've become very good at keeping everybody at arms length. I feel very alone. I'm learning to include people in my life again. Abuse victims/survivors have many steps to healing. Sometimes those steps include trusting too easily, which leads to being hurt. Then, they swing the other way to not trust…Read more I Don’t Have to be Alone

The Subtlety of Abuse

Abuse starts quietly. Hidden. So subtle you miss it. A couple years ago, one of my best friends started dating a man who she thought was amazing. She was a few years out of her abusive marriage and this new man courted her diligently... except... he badmouthed her family, unfortunately for some legitimate reasons. Instead…Read more The Subtlety of Abuse

Choose Friends Wisely

I have recently been contemplating the state of friendship. We yearn for friendship, we seek it out, we need it in our lives. It is an integral part of our emotional well-being ... provided it's healthy relationships. I was, somewhat recently, introduced to a new lady. We have shared some similar life experiences that can…Read more Choose Friends Wisely


international peace

Image via Reuters/Max Rossi

Pope Francis urged the United Nations on March 28 to seek the "total elimination" of nuclear weapons, speaking as the United States and some other major powers boycotted a conference considering a global ban.

In a message to the conference that started in New York on March 27, Francis called on nations to "go beyond nuclear deterrence" and have the courage to overcome the "fear and isolationism" he said was prevalent in many countries today.

David Cortright 11-03-2011

Afghanistan Girl

peace fire 2I say a ceasefire can and also ought to mean that we will hold our peace, hold our tongues, intentionally muzzle ourselves, become mute in a discussion that can much too easily descend into verbal warfare. Often, when we are quiet in the face of verbal attack, the argument does not escalate into something that all parties involved will regret.

David Cortright 5-03-2011
David Cortright 5-18-2010
The nuclear fuel swap deal signed between Iran and Turkey and Brazil is a positive development that deserves U.S. support.
Andrew Wilkes 4-16-2010
This semester at Princeton Seminary, I am taking a course on War and Christian Conscience.


Stocks Finish Modestly Higher

The Dow was led higher by Altria and the Nasdaq eked out a small gain despite cautious comments from leading technology names

Stocks finished with modest gains on Thursday. The Dow was led by strength in cigarette maker Altria (MO ), while the Nasdaq shrugging off cautious comments from Internet search engine Google (GOOG ) and chipmaker Applied Materials (AMAT ). A fall in oil prices below $46 a barrel bolstered equities.


On 18 November 2014, an ICSID Tribunal in Flughafen Zürich A.G. and Gestión e Ingenería IDC S.A. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/19, held Venezuela liable for breaching its BITs with Chile and Switzerland on the ground of expropriation and denial of justice. In doing so, the Tribunal considered and rejected a number of jurisdictional challenges by Venezuela. In this post, we will discuss one of them – Venezuela’s objection that Flughafen was a government instrumentality of the Swiss State and, as such, Flughafen was prevented from bringing claims under the ICSID Convention.

The tribunal’s decision is of interest because it provides a useful test to ascertain whether an entity may be considered a “governmental instrumentality” under article 25 of the ICSID Convention.

The arbitral proceedings were brought by Flughafen Zürich A.G. (“Flughafen”), a company incorporated under the laws of Switzerland, and Gestión e Ingenería IDC S.A. (“IDC”), a Chilean corporation. The Claimants had formed a consortium to administer, manage and operate the Isla Margarita airport under a contract with the state of Nueva Esparta.

Flughafen’s status

Venezuela contended that the arbitral Tribunal lacked jurisdiction ratione personae because Flughafen was not a “national of another contracting state” as required by Article 25 of the ICSID Convention but a governmental instrumentality of the Swiss state. Venezuela argued that the public nature of Flughafen was supported by two key facts: first, the Canton of Zurich was one of the shareholders in Flughafen and, second, Flughafen was engaged in essentially governmental activities, namely the control of the air space in Switzerland.

The Tribunal confirmed that article 25 of the ICSID Convection envisages an investor bringing a claim against a host state. States are not allowed to bring claims against one another under the ICSID Convention. The Tribunal observed that doubts may come up where the investor is not the State itself but an entity belonging to or controlled by a State.

Both parties relied in their submission on a passage written by Aaron Broches, former ICSID’s Secretary-General and one of the architects of the ICSID Convention, in his 1972 General Course at The Hague Academy of International Law.

“[I]n today’s world, the classical distinction between private and public investment, based on the source of the capital, is no longer meaningful, if not outdated. There are many companies which combine capital from private and governmental sources and corporations all of whose shares are owned by the government, but who are practically indistinguishable from the completely privately owned enterprise both in their legal characteristics and in their activities. It would seem, therefore, that for purposes of the Convention a mixed economy company or government-owned corporation should not be disqualified as “a national of another Contracting State” unless it is acting as an agent for the government or is discharging an essentially governmental function.”

The Tribunal adopted Broches’ analyses. It first noted that Flughafen was a corporation incorporated in Switzerland and therefore it had to be considered prima facie a national of another contracting state. But Flughafen was also a “mixed economy company” because the Canton of Switzerland, a subdivision of that State, was a shareholder. Therefore, the Tribunal considered that the issue to be decided was whether Flughafen was acting as an agent of the Swiss state and/or was performing essentially governmental functions.

The Tribunal held that Flughafen was not an agent because it did not act on behalf or for the benefit of Switzerland; more than 60% of Flughafen was owned by private shareholders and the Canton did not have control over the board of directors; Flughafen was listed in the SIX Swiss Exchange and Flughafen’s corporate purpose was to create value rather than defending the public interests of Switzerland.

The Tribunal then concluded that Flughafen’s activities could not be considered as governmental. Contrary to Venezuela’s assertions, the Tribunal found that Flughafen was not engaged in the control of Switzerland’s airspace. Its business was rather the management and operation of airports around the world. This is not an “essentially governmental function” because it does not falls within what the Tribunal described as a State’s “core non-delegable public activities”. Rather, the management of an airport is something that can be committed to private parties. That was what had happened when the state of Nueva Esparta decided to engage the Consortium in the administration of the Isla Margarita airport.

The tribunal’s reasoning provides a useful test to consider whether an entity owned or controlled by a state qualifies as a governmental instrumentality and therefore does not qualify as a “national of another contracting State” able to bring a claim under Article 25 of the ICSID Convention. This decision is likely to have an impact on future cases brought by state-related entities.


A major challenge facing adiabatic quantum computing is that algorithm design and error correction can be difficult for adiabatic quantum computing. Recent work has considered addressing his challenge by using coherently controlled adiabatic evolutions in the place of classically controlled evolution. An important question remains: what is the relative power of controlled adiabatic evolution to traditional adiabatic evolutions? We address this by showing that coherent control and measurement provides a way to average different adiabatic evolutions in ways that cause their diabatic errors to cancel, allowing for adiabatic evolutions to combine the best characteristics of existing adiabatic optimizations strategies that are mutually exclusive in conventional adiabatic QIP. This result shows that coherent control and measurement can provide advantages for adiabatic state preparation. We also provide upper bounds on the complexity of simulating such evolutions on a circuit based quantum computer and provide sufficiency conditions for the equivalence of controlled adiabatic evolutions to adiabatic quantum computing.


Sasquatch Returns: EXISTS (Eduardo Sanchez / 2013) Released 2014.

EXISTS follows a group of twenty-somethings who take a trip to a cabin deep in the wooded wilderness and are methodically hunted by a Bigfoot-like beast.

Remeniscent of the thrall of Bigfoot creature features that hit cinemas throughout the 1970’s, EXISTS is heavily influenced by those hairy glory days.SASQUATCH, LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, SNOW BEAST and NIGHT OF THE DEMON will hang heavy in the air.


Cohort analysisretention, and churn are some of the key metrics in company building.

Introduction to Cohort Analysis

This anonymous quote about Silicon Valley highlights the importance of performing meaningful cohort analysis.

Cohorts, retention, and churn analysis

In this retention analysis of example cohorts, an impossible 100% retention is depicted.

This time the cohort analysis software depicts 10% churn in each cohort.

Growing growth

Now, you might be thinking: “But Alejandro, wait! If every company has a churn rate, and churn rates limit growth, how do some companies achieve hockey stick growth?”

To which I would respond: “Because their growth is growing.”

There are several ways to increase growth: increasing the marketing budget, optimizing conversions, and creating referral programs can all contribute to viral growth. Let’s analyze the case of viral grow, in which the number of new customers is affected by the company’s total number of active customers. In other words: more customers on the system equals more people referring new customers equals more new customers.

Let’s say that the company is growing virally with a constant (K) factor of 0.20 and that the formula we have applied to calculate the number of new customers is:

New customers (month) = k * Total number of Customers (month-1)

Now, let’s visualize the same example as before (1000 new users per month @ 90% retention), but this time, we’ll throw in some viral grow (with K = 0.20).

This cohort analysis depicts viral growth of 20% along with a 10% churn rate.

From this cohort analysis graph, there are two key takeaways: firstly, a constant factor of 0.20 has caused a 1000% increase in the total number of active customers (~90,000) after 24 months; and secondly, the system is still growing after 24 months–it didn’t reach a saturation point.

So, to compensate for our 90% retention rate, we need to create mechanisms to grow our growth every month.

Now, at this point, you might be saying: “Wow, Alejandro: viral growth is clearly more important than retention. Look at how it’s affected our customer base!”

To which I would respond: “Not so fast.”

Let’s analyze one more case. Our good ol’ cloud computing startup, but with a 50% retention rate. We’ll stick with 1,000 new users per month and a viral growth rate K = 0.20. But regardless of the virality, our company is performing really badly, losing 50% of our customers on every cohort, every month.

This retention analysis depicts a company doing poorly.

After 24 months, our company only has 3,000 active customers instead of 90,000–that’s a 30x difference! Retention truly is key.

But why does retention have such a powerful effect? In short: Because viral growth depends on the number of active customers, so if we keep our users for longer, we’ll have more referrals.

To recap:

  • Generally speaking, churn limits growth.
  • Retention increases viral growth.
  • Good retention and viral growth are prerequisites for scaling a company to millions, or even billions of users.

A final word on churn rate analysis

It’s pretty common to see more customers cancel a service during the first month of use than later on. That’s why in the following simulation, I provide you with two retention rates: the First Month Retention Rate and the Long term Retention Rate. Using these parameters in our calculations will lead to more precise results.

The purpose of this cohort analysis tutorial wasn’t to give you a detailed class about metrics and cohort analytics; in fact, others discussed the complexity of these statistics in far more depth. Instead, I want to awaken you to the importance of this type of analysis and, more importantly, to show readers their own revenue cohort analysis examples and churn rates with my open source cohort analysis software solution.

If there is just one question to wake you up, it’s the following:

How much of your actual revenue comes from users that started working with you a year ago?

How to do your own cohort analysis

Now it’s your turn! There are two ways to analyze your own business’s retention and churn:

  1. Upload your PayPal Data to the tool I’ve deployed. For full disclosure, please note that by using this tool, your log file will temporarily be placed on a server for processing (deleted as soon as the data is displayed). However, if you prefer, you can always…
  2. Download the open source code and deploy the tool yourself. The README contains detailed instructions for how to do so. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can hack the code easily to analyze other types of accounts.

Alternatively, you can play around with our simulator and visualize startup growth based on all the parameters discussed above. You may also benefit from another tutorial on data conversion and mapping.

Thanks for reading!

This post originally appeared on the Toptal Engineering Blog

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group around

group someone or something around someone or something

to gather people or things around people or things. The photographer grouped the wedding party around the bride for the picture. The photographer then grouped them around the cake.
See also: around, group
References in classic literature ?
The instant that Mohegan observed himself to be noticed by the group around the young stranger, he dropped the blanket which covered the upper part of his frame, from his shoulders, suffering it to fall over his leggins of untanned deer-skin, where it was retained by a belt of bark that confined it to his waist.
There was laughter in the group around her, and Lebedeff stood before her gesticulating wildly.
The two girls and seven boys, aged between 17 and 18, were escorted off the moor by members of the Dartmoor Rescue Group around 3am.
During this period, the group around Breton experimented with hypnotic sleep, or trance.
The new AICPA, NEFE and Ad Council partnership will be a three-year effort addressing women across a wide demographic group around the country about taking responsibility for their financial well being and therefore improving their lives.
Since TAPPI Virtual Seminars are priced per telephone connection and not per person, participants can gather a large group around a speakerphone and participate together for one low fee.
In Febru ary, we took our church walking group around Moreton and Leasowe (andgot some stares going around the housing estate
The first thing I do is immediately form a support group around them,'' Thomas said.
With a certain scale, port group around Bohai bay, Yangtze River delta and Pearl River delta has started developing in a more professional way.


Taming the unconventional

Unconventional oil such as heavy oil and bitumen found in Alberta’s oilsands is more difficult to coax from the ground because it is has a thick consistency—and sometimes even forms rock. Oil companies in Alberta and around the world are trying to get the most out of these challenging reservoirs.

The steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) method commonly employed to pump this oil from the ground involves injecting steam or solvents into the ground, causing heavy oil to flow more freely and making it easier to bring to the surface. Tayfun Babadagli, who holds the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Unconventional Oil Recovery, is researching ways to improve this technique, enabling oil companies to recover as much oil in as efficient a manner as possible.

SAGD can be “a very difficult technology,” says Babadagli. Heat (in the form of steam, air or electrical heating) or solvents are used to get the thick, heavy oil to flow more freely.

“Our job is to optimize these techniques to minimize the costs and maximize recovery,” says Babadagli, a professor in the U of A Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering. “You want to find ways to use the least amount of steam or the least amount of solvents. Our main goal is to find ways to reduce the reservoir oil that gets left behind.”

Another challenge for the industry is the fact that up to 25 per cent of Alberta’s heavy oil is trapped in carbonate minerals—no one has yet devised a way to flush the oil from these tightly packed rock formations. It’s another challenge Babadagli and his team are investigating.

Babadagli has patented a recovery technique that alternates the use of steam and solvents to make bitumen more easily accessible. Variables, such as the temperatures and length of time spent heating the oil and the strength of a solvent, can be experimented with.

“Injection times and waiting times and the strength of the solvent are all critical elements. Sometimes you might be heating for two weeks but maybe one week is enough.”


"Who Stole My Wedding Gown?" Pic Credit: Unsplash

Pictures of billboards and fliers of church events with titles like “This Beautiful Sister Must Marry” or “Lord, Give Me A Wife Or I Die” have often gone viral on the Internet and generated a good laugh. “Who Stole My Wedding Gown?” was a particularly humorous one. Whether these events actually took place or what the content of those programs were is anyone’s guess. Once upon a time, churches would establish youth events to address the needs of younger members and create avenues through which their energies could be expressed. Initially, these fellowships provided a forum where basic Christian principles of life, marriage and courtship were taught. They grew out of a legitimate need to address the complex issues of relationship, marriage and family. Strangely, over the years, many of these meetings mutated to the point where they began to run as clinics to deliver their members from “the curse of singlehood” and obsess over marriage. It was marriage at any cost. Preparing people for marriage is a great thing, but an overemphasis on marriage as the sole objective of every single person is questionable and ultimately detrimental. This approach is not consistent with the biblical understanding of singlehood, or even marriage for that matter.

The idea that single adults are somehow incomplete or less whole than their married peers is false and has no basis in Christian thought. That unmarried persons have to attend night program to be ‘restored’ or delivered from enemy attacks is preposterous. Jesus Christ the founder of Christianity was a single man; Paul the Apostle, Christianity’s greatest proponent was also single. Paul’s assessment was that both singlehood and married life were good conditions to be in. He said being single was actually better in some circumstances than being married. In any case, whether single or married, only Christ can satisfy the longing in the soul for higher purpose and meaning.

We must beware the idolatry of marriage, which is the perception of marriage as the pinnacle of the Christian life and the answer to all of life’s problems. Not only does the propagation of this dangerous myth devalue singlehood, it also creates a false impression of marriage as a state of eternal fairytale bliss. Having spent their single years waiting for marriage, many then enter in entertaining delusions of ease, hoping to live with Prince or Princess Charming happily ever after. They are completely unprepared and ill equipped for the rude shock that the journey of marriage represents.

The best marriage on earth cannot fill the God-shaped vacuum in the human heart; only Christ can do that. We must therefore keep our priorities in perspective, seeking wholeness and completion first in a relationship with the Creator before building relationships with others.

We were not created for marriage; marriage was created for us. It was designed to enhance our purpose with God on earth, purpose that exists whether we are married or single.

Singleness is not a limitation or a negative thing. Marriage is good but singles should enjoy life and live it to the fullest on their way to the altar instead of bemoaning their single years.

Young people who spend their youthful days mourning over being single end up living below their potential. In fact, they unwittingly undermine the high purpose of their existence. Rather than put their lives in a state of suspended animation ‘believing God’ for this suppose ‘ultimate goal’ in life, single people should spend their time pursuing their divine purpose. This is the time to live with a sense of mission. A time to be equipped with spiritual strength. A time to acquire skills, hone gifts and discover purpose. This is the time to prepare young people to charge into various sectors of society and unleash change. We should be priming the vocational and entrepreneurial instincts of our youths for a life of excellence and maximum achievement. The season of youth is the time to clarify faith and values and deepen principles. Single years are a time to prepare for the great days that lie ahead.


Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Established in 1929, the park is named after the intrepid explorer, Jedediah Strong Smith, who was the first non-native man to explore the interior of northern California in 1826.

Official Visitor Guide

The park protects 10,000 acres of primeval redwood groves and is bisected by the last major free flowing river in California, the Smith River (also named after the explorer). Almost all of the park land is water shed for the Smith River and Mill Creek, a major tributary and spawning ground for King salmon and Steelhead trout in the fall and winter. With 20 miles of hiking and nature trails, river access, campground, day use area, and a visitor center with exhibits (open May-September), Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a true gem. Wildlife of the park is both abundant and varied, including such animals as black bear, deer, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, skunks, fox, beaver, river otter, squirrels, chipmunks, and many others. Some of the rare or uncommon examples of bird life identified include the Bald Eagle, Spotted Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, and Marbled Murrelet.

Here is a great video of Howland Hill Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods:

Tour the Parks


.images 2

Politics & Religion

SAFECITY- A unique mapping platform

“UN Women states that 1 in 3 women face some kind of sexual assault at least once in their lifetime. But in our experience, the statistic in India seems to be extremely high. A rape occurs every 20 mins in India.Yet most women and girls do not talk about this abuse for a multiple of reasons – fear of society, culture, victim blaming, fear of police, tedious formal procedures etc. As a result women keep silent and this data is not captured anywhere but the perpetrator gets bolder over time and we accept it as part of our daily routine. This leads to under communication and under reporting of the issue”speaks Elsa D’Silva,founder of SafeCity when asked about the role of this mapping site.

SAFECITY is a a platform that crowdsources personal stories of sexual harassment and abuse in public spaces and the data which is anonymous, gets aggregated as hot spots on a map indicating trends at a local level. The idea is to make this data useful for individuals, local communities and local administration to identify factors that causes behaviour that leads to violence and work on strategies for solutions.Since its launch on 26 Dec 2012 it has collected close to 10,000 stories from over 50 cities in India, Kenya, Cameroon and Nepal.

It is known that women aren’t safe when they are moving, traveling, commuting or sometimes even near their own houses due to various factors of harassment. There hasn’t been any such kind of initiative in India which led to an united platform to act against this kind of behaviour.

Read about the whole report on

For any kind of emergency ,contact the helpline links

Twitter for discussion – @pinthecreep

Twitter for reporting sexual violence – @SafecityIndia  #SafecityIndia

Facebook –

Instagram – pinthecreep

Missed call (India) – +91 9015 510 510

Through the hourglass

If the body is dead, then does the soul die?

Whatsoever the logical reasoning behind this, the fact remains:

teri rahmat mein chipi hai meri zindagi

naa karo qubool toh koi gila nahi

bas nazre inaayat karna, mujh par

ae khuda….

yahi iltazaa hai … har pal, har ghadi”.

Peace is the most precious word which every individual,society, country, nation, continent, religion wishes to talk about, but do we really make any sincere efforts in eradicating the seed of hatred to disseminate peace ? Our words, speech, thoughts and action make this impossible. Lets strive to make this world a better place to live in by changing our perception.

Not less than a realm of chaos and disarray is today’s world. Through centuries, human race has evolved and moved a step forward according to the “Origin of Species”. Physically, mentally, intellectually humans have excelled far more ahead than expected and at a much faster pace.

But wait for a second,think ! Is this the true progress in terms of evolution of mankind? We boast of technological advances and economic empowerment of nations, yet we have fallen back years and years behind in the girths of insensitivity and hatred.

Look around and you can see, hundreds of incidents which crumble the world peace in pieces. #BokoHaram episode, # Syria #Gaza, continuous ongoing conflicts which are still unnamed and yet unknown even in our country. What have we achieved so far by such progress and evolution? Are we really moving ahead or losing our ground?

Intolerance is the word that defines each one of us in today’s world. The constant echo of the suppressed and destitute, silent cries of hunger and bloodshed from the gory of wars, the continuous conflicts between different faiths and the forever greed of power has saturated the atmosphere of this planet. Every individual wishes to speak about the need of peace in this hour, yet the words remain obsolete and fruitless.

Nations organize summits, countries hold peace seminars, authoritative of religious sects announce the importance of peace, yet “PEACE” merely remains as a word throughout. What does it lack? It lacks the enthusiasm, the urge and the will to go forth in this state of bedlam by removing all the inner fears, jealousies, hatred behind and embrace each other with respect and love.

Money and power cannot suffice the need for such a kind of dialogue that is needed to be done amongst people, faiths, societies and nations.

“One needs to respect and accept everyone else’s existence, irrespective of his caste, gender, creed, faith and status”.

We all on this planet have an equal right to sustain and survive, then why crush the identity of another by force or influence? When each person starts thinking on these terms and removes the pre conceived notions of his mind, his efforts begin to show results and the amicable bond starts developing from the grassroots level.

We need to cleanse our hearts and mind first from the fallacies of insecurity, money, greed and power to work in unity towards building a peaceful surrounding and an atmosphere in harmony. When we consider every other person as a human being and not recognize by any labels or tags, we have respected humanity.

“For thousands who died in the unnamed conflicts

and proxy wars,

on the border of countries … which demarcate

and divide

but cannot human hearts

sheds a tear every mother ,

in which place is my child born?

Will the echo of explosions and fumes of hatred

silence the

gaps between societies and faiths

or castes for long?

then why doth not one exude peace in emotions

through eyes and love

for every soul

residing on earth

and embrace with respect

every person?”

Nothing else can change or save this world except the bond of humanity. Our humaneness shall revive the flame to bring peace and spread the compassionate voice to every corner of the world.
—–Martin Luther King Jr.

Give me back, my love!

Last summer it hadn’t been that difficult, even though the weather cycle has shifted and now seasons no longer arrive on time. Obviously seasons hardly proclaim their arrival,it’s the nature which speaks on the behalf of its beloved.

The frost covered ivy leaves and the white sheet of luminous pearls on vast expanse announces the winter days. Even though the chilled breeze cuts through the veins , its tingling sensation brings pleasure.

Aman never noticed how seasons change . Oh! but neither he noticed any change in Ria.

So what? Thought she! She couldn’t possibly make all the efforts and take the stress of not being closer to him. She got attention from the rest of the world, so did she really cared for this?

Somewhere inside,she did. It wasn’t that easy to let life slip off so easily from her hands.Yet she couldn’t force or change anything. “What was wrong in me”? often Ria thought.Even though they were classmates and sat next to each other, he seldom glanced on her. They hardly spoke to one another and when in a group, he usually avoided talking to her.

This irritated Ria more and she tried to find out the real reason behind the coldness.

That evening was a memorable one when graduation day neared and juniors had planned for a farewell party. Winter had arrived, unnoticed.

It was snowy all around and the valley was lit with intermittent fireplaces at many places. The fir trees had on their tips the whiteness of love.

Yet love was missing in the hearts and was frozen.

In a white satin dress which kissed her toes ,Ria had let her hair loose.The tresses followed her till her waist and swayed gently as she moved. The red rose tucked in her hair near the ears was smiling vibrantly at every onlooker. As she entered the hall where the party was at its peak, eyes followed her everywhere,but her eyes searched for someone else.

She couldn’t see Aman anywhere and got desperate. For hours she waited ,yet he was nowhere to be seen. Her heart sank and she at last realized, he had never loved her. It was her misunderstanding or her premature thoughts which made her feel that someday he would confess.

Last year when the college students went for trekking camp, things were different. Aman was still aloof even though around,but she had discovered his stolen glances on her. Out of any pretext, he had tried to touch her several times and her eyes blushed. That fateful night while the camp was asleep, in the mid of night, she heard a rustle nearby. Apprehending it to be an animal, she was going to scream when a palm slid onto her mouth.She gasped.

“ Shh. Do not speak” , signaled the shadow.

She could feel his warm fingers over her neck and around her lips. It was a moment that melted her for ages.

“What is it?” the trainer shouted from outside.

“Who’s there?”

“Nothing Sir”, replied Ria.She was confused over the appearance of a stranger in her tent at this hour of night,but something resisted her to speak about it in front of everyone.

Today it was the last day of college and she would be leaving this place forever,how could Aman not be here? Her sixth sense had deceived her. Aman had never loved her.

She left the celebration hall quickly and started walking through the thick layer of snow. Her feet were getting numb and the cold had frozen her fingers. Her eyes cried in sadness over the indifference and tears rolled down.

Within few minutes , she became unconscious and fell down.

Hours later , when she opened her eyes, Ria was confused to find herself in a new place. Her head was still reeling and she was wrapped inside a thick fur blanket. The wooden walls were strangers and the only lamp hung on the corner of the room was lighting the cosy place.

“Where am I?”

Suddenly she saw a silhouette coming near. In awe, she became speechless.

The silhouette sat near her and directed her hair-locks from her face behind her ears.The caress of the touch was warm and the same. She had known this touch very vividly. Her heart pounded faster as the shadow bent and pressed on her lips.For a moment , he withdrew, but Ria realized.

It was love which had been relived by the touch. She whispered in his ears, “#Bring back the touch.Give me back my love”.

This post is written in context to the campaign.

Being Humane


Zen Gardner - AV7

 Rise like Lions after slumber;

In unvanquishable number;

Shake your chains to earth like dew;

Which in sleep had fallen on you;

Ye are many; They are few

Zen Gardner

What is this current seeming "tectonic shift” humanity is experiencing on so many levels? What are the causes and symptoms and how best do we handle them?

All around us are opportunities for empowerment, but we must steer clear of being backed into a falsely imposed defensive position by remaining consciously aware, on the offensive, and taking the initiative.

Zen Gardner likes to distill, synthesize and pull up the big picture - then reveal how all of this affects the individual and the motivating realities that lie beneath. What is our role? What do we do or not do now that we know we’ve been scammed, in conjunction with an attitude of conscious awareness?

The awakening is an amazing phenomenon that even so-called alternatives and activists are often cynical about. This is because many haven’t yet seen or felt the shift fully for themselves. Moving into that next dimension of understanding - intuition, heart knowledge or whatever people want to call it - is the final frontier for humanity and our true source of power. Once we fully awaken the playing field morphs into a whole new paradigm with much greater means of effectiveness becoming available.
Using geopolitical events and the manipulated media montage in a conscious manner we can see the real plan laid before us in plain sight. Fully knowing these realities in a conscious perspective eventually leads us to a profound realization of our infinite potential to reform, in fact replace, the very reality that appears around us, leaving each of us free to choose our targets for full on activation and a lifestyle of meaning and purpose.

Zen Gardner began his online writing and blogging 8 years ago after a lifelong quest for truth having gone through several major life changes. His focus is empowering humanity to reach its full potential in conscious awareness and its resultant activation in the expression of our lives. He writes on a variety of subjects from human origins and our manipulated historical narrative, to current political and social trends. His passion is to help dismantle old mind sets in order to encourage the awakening and activation of the empowering realization of human conscious awareness that is readily available to us all.

Website: www.zengardner.com


betternovembers: (Default)
2011-12-21 02:56 pm

And the great migration (part seventeen) begins?

 Wow, so LiveJournal, amirite?

I barely post as it is, but it does appear that unless things revert back to pre-R88 days, I'll be moving myself over here.

The real question is: where are all the custom layouts for this site hiding?


Exam Place and Time: Tuesday, December 11, 1:30 pm.  Morton 343 (our regular classroom).

Exam Format:

There will be 6 parts to the exam: 1) 2) 3)  4) and 5) will consist of passages for identification and commentary and will be worth 50% of your grade. Section 6 will be a post-midterm essay worth 20%; Section 7 will be a comprehensive essay worth 30%.

Passages for identification and comment in each section will be drawn from the following areas. Two to four passages will be offered in each section. You will be asked to write on one passage per section. Identify (where appropriate) the author, the work, where in the work the passage occurs; comment on features of style and on the relevance of the passage to important themes in the work, in the author's work as a whole, or in Greek literature as a whole.  Each is worth 10%.

Section 1: Sophocles

Section 2: Euripides

Section 3: Aristophanes

Section 4: History and Rhetoric

Section 5: Plato & Post-classical

Essay Topics: These are general topics from which the essay questions on the exam will be drawn. The actual wording of the questions will differ on the exam, and you will be graded on your ability to answer the question as worded on the exam. Additional factors that will go into determining your grade:

a) clear writing and clear organization

b) citation of specific examples from the texts read to support all assertions

c) ability to cite the best examples to support your assertions

d) accuracy in matters of fact

The highest grades will be reserved for essays which (in addition to the above criteria) show some originality of thought (i.e. do not simply regurgitate lectures and class discussion).

FIVE of the following topics will appear on the exam. You will write on TWO; in at least one of the two essays that you write you should draw on material from the entire course.  This will be your COMPREHENSIVE essay.  You will be free to choose which topic you wish to cover comprehensively, but you should write "COMPREHENSIVE" in front of the one you want to be graded as a comprehensive essay.  In the questions that follow, parts of the questions that are enclosed (in parenthesis marks) are ones that only need to be addressed if you are answering that question as your comprehensive question.

1. How does Athenian literature of the classical period reflect the wars, social trends, political developments and other historical circumstances of the period in which it was produced (how does the literature of classical Athens compare in this respect to Greek literature of other eras)?

2. Which of the Athenian tragedies, other than Oedipus the King  most closely follows Aristotle's guidelines for the ideal tragedy?  Could the characteristics that Aristotle ascribes to the ideal tragedy also be found in works of other genres of the Classical (and non-Classical) period(s)?

3. What are the distinctive features of the various genres of Greek literature we have read since the midterm (this semester). To what extent are not just form and meter and occasion, but also topics, themes and outlooks genre-specific?

4. Throughout this half of the semester (whole semester), we have seen types of literature that were intended for performance or reading before a large and diverse audience and other types that were intended for private reading or performance among a limited elite/educated group.   What comparisons and constrasts can be drawn between these two types of literature?

5.  The classical period saw the emergence of literature in the form of prose.  To what sorts of purposes was this new way of writing put, and what similarities and differences did it have with poetry of the classical period (and other periods)?

6. How do classical (and non-classical) Greek authors approach the subject of the gods, the relationship between gods and humans, and the related notions of fate and justice? Does the answer to this question change from period to period, from genre to genre, or from author to author?

7. Hesiod quotes the Muses as claiming that they, the goddesses of poetry, have the power to tell the truth as well as to tell lies that seem like the truth.  This self-referential statement is one of the earliest examples of what will be an important trend in Greek literature:  a marked self-consciousness concerning the power and the importance of the literary arts.  How is this trend manifested in the literature of the classical periods (and other periods)?

8.  Hesiod quotes the Muses as claiming that they, the goddesses of poetry, have the power to tell the truth as well as to tell lies that seem like the truth (yes, this is a different question from number 7).  Discuss truth-telling as a theme in literature of the classical period (and other periods).  You may address examples where truth-telling, or its opposite,  is an important element in stories that the literature relates; and you may also discuss the extent to which particular authors viewed truth-telling as the purpose of their literary efforts.


Enjoy the Holidays – Stress-Free!

Wouldn’t it be great to joyously flow through the Holidays stress-free? Might this be possible for you? “Well, sure, anything’s possible,” you might say. How about extending the no stress experience through March? Might that be possible? “Sure, but are you OK Koehneke? Or have you been dipping into the fruit cake a bit early?”

If you have read or heard anything about stress (who hasn’t these days) you know that some good practices like meditation, physical exercise, yoga and “tapping” are great to have in your toolbox. And while I will say some about meditation, (and you know about exercise and yoga, and can google tapping or EFT), I will also cover Three Key Principles and Seven Techniques you can add in throughout the day without taking time out of your schedule.

I suspect that a Zen Monk who has meditated three hours a day for 25 years might have a pretty easy time with little or no stress throughout the Holiday season, but you and me? Not so easy. The reason for this is that the monk has trained his or her mind in such a way that repeated focus on some object has caused the brain to actually become focused and “harmonized” by physically decreasing the size of the brain’s amygdala, or the unmanaged fight or flight response. While the monk has gained freedom from the negative impact of miscellaneous thoughts, you or I might “latch on” to an anxious thought, expand it into a mind movie about how the future might not turn out so well, and as a result feel quite stressful as a dose of cortisol is dumped from the adrenal glands into the amygdala to put us in an unmanaged flight or fight response. Which causes all sorts of problems over time.

If you meditate (which is a great stress reducer), you probably have been taught to focus on your breath as the object of attention, which causes the brain to restructure itself to make concentration easier. But you might also add in some other ways to focus your attention. Researchers have found that when practicing calm acceptance during meditation, you will develop a brain that is more resilient to stress. And if you meditate while cultivating feelings of love and compassion, your brain will develop in such a way that you spontaneously feel more connected to others. (Excerpted from Your Brain on Meditation, by Kelly McGonigal, www.mindful.org)

While many of us don’t have an hour or two a day to meditate, even a short practice of 10 minutes can be very helpful for reducing stress. (I urge you, however, to take at least 15 minutes in the morning before driving to the in-laws on Christmas day!) But there are also other things you can do to remain in sync with your well-being — without extensive periods of daily meditation. In my view these Principles and Techniques strengthen the ability of the brain’s pre-frontal cortex to regulate emotional responses from the brain’s amygdala, and thereby better manage the fear response and avoid unwanted stress.

Before covering the Seven Techniques I suggest you keep in mind these Three Principles for living stress-free described below. In addition, I urge you to check out my eBook I recently posted on Amazon entitled WellBeing.

Here are the Three Key Principles for Reducing Stress:

  1. Accept. Whatever the present moment brings allow it to be OK. Simply stated, stress is caused by resisting what is occurring or what shows up. So instead of “fighting” with reality, be curious about it and see what you can learn from it. (“If you argue with current reality you will only be wrong 100% of the time!” —  Byron Katie)
  2. Claim Your Uniqueness. Consider life a process that is unfolding only as it can for you alone. You are unique, so no need to compare yourself with anyone else, because they are unique as well. With this unfolding nature of your life consider and affirm that “everything is working out in perfect timing.”
  3. Take One Step at a Time. We call life a journey for good reason. On any journey there is a next step to take. As life is unfolding in perfect timing, be sure to remember that what you want — and will ultimately achieve — happens one step at a time. If you find yourself racing around and trying to achieve too much too fast, say to yourself “stepping stones” as a way to remember to slow down and remain mindfully in the present moment.

Now on to the Seven Techniques for Defeating Stress:

  1. Gain Awareness. If you find yourself getting anxious (which for me was trying to make things “perfect”), interrupt the thought-feeling response by taking three slow breaths. Next, give yourself a pat on the back for being able to do this! Then ask “what is going on? Is it really so important?” The more you are able to check out and acknowledge what’s going on, the more you are able to take charge of your mind and manage your thoughts.
  2. Be ContentIf you are always wanting something different than what you have, you are also typically thinking about what you don’t have, which creates even more stress. Try allowing whatever you have to be OK and see how your contentment leads to gratitude. Appreciation is energy that actually opens the door for more good to come your way. So if you catch yourself complaining about what is, flip it upside down and be content with what is. And as you feel more and more grateful your stress will diminish.
  3. Be Yourself. Use your new-found technique of Awareness to catch yourself comparing yourself with anyone else. There is no one like you in the Universe. You have a special assignment, which may be as simple to make flower arrangements (because you love it and are good at it) that make people smile and feel happy. Your current situation is perfect for you right now, albeit one that is unfolding to your greater good. It’s easy to say “love yourself” and harder to do, so just give yourself a pat on the back a few times each day and let that put a smile on your face and contentment in your heart.
  4. Rise Above Your Problem. Look directly at whatever is bothering you squarely in the eye, then whatever image it produces place it on the ground beneath your feet. “Say what?” Yes, beneath your feet so that you are walking on top of it! You are now “top dog” and are walking all over your problem and can handle anything that comes your way!
  5. Ask for Help. Honor the energy that created you, the world, and the universe as one of Wholeness. In fact, you cannot be anything other than connected with this all-powerful loving energy, and are free to tap into it and ask for assistance at any time — knowing it will be given — and typically provided in the form of inspired ideas to resolve whatever anxiety or concern you may have.
  6. Flip Your Limiting Beliefs! We all have beliefs — some that serve us and some that are based on confused interpretations from the past. Check out which ones seem to run you most of the time, or which ones stop you from taking action in the face of an unknown. Whatever the belief, know that you can never “fail” at doing anything. Yes you can make mistakes, learn from the experience, and gain new knowledge . . . but never fail. So if you come across a belief that keeps hammering you, or a critical voice saying you are unworthy, not good enough, or a failure, look sternly at the message and turn it upside down.  Recognize its opposite. Then think it, feel it, and say it out loud. You are the master of your ship, so take hold of the steering wheel and turn it in the direction of your power and goodness.
  7. Claim How You Want To BE, and Trust That It Will Occur. This is maybe the most important of the keys. When you wake up every morning say to yourself ten “I am’s” — slowly and with feeling. Like, “I am wonderful, I am wise, I am worthy, I am stress-free, I am powerful, I am happy, I am abundant, I am healthy, I am content, I am skillful, I am loved.” As these qualities begin to take hold and you gain the faith to believe them as true, you will see the “fruits of your labor” appear to a greater and greater extent.

If you are seriously interested in defeating stress and enjoying a stress-free December, I suggest you try doing one or two of these Principles and Techniques every day. Then watch how your life begins to change and your stress disappears. And when you’re walking down the street and hear someone say they feel “stressed-out,” you’ll wonder what the heck that even means!

About Jim


The Sword Bear Chronicles

A teddy bear must save his owner from the boogie man and fight a gang of evil toys.

Book 1 – Festival of Shadows

A teddy bear with a hero complex. A nightmare world filled evil toys. A race until midnight–or death. Theodorus Ursabrand’s sole purpose as a teddy bear is to protect his owner, Grant. But when Stratus, a spirit of smoke and fog, kidnaps Grant, Theo must travel to the Stratusphere, a nightmare world filled with abandoned toys where nothing is what it seems.

Just when all is lost, he meets a traveling caravan of wandering toys who have gathered for a festival. Among them is Lucinda, another teddy bear with magical powers who agrees to help Theo sneak into Stratus’s castle to save Grant.

But there’s a catch: first Theo must engage a group of evil toys who have stolen the festival’s key attractions. The quest sounds easy enough, but Theo quickly finds himself fighting for his life against formidable and unpredictable foes. Worst of all, if Theo doesn’t rescue Grant by sunrise, they will both be trapped in the Stratusphere forever.

Toy Story meets David Bowie’s Labyrinth meets Choose Your Own Adventures in this exciting dark fantasy adventure!

Be the force behind the story, not just a reader.
Festival of Shadows is a Decision Select Novel where YOU, the reader, chooses what happens. You’ll control Theo as he fights his way through the Stratusphere.

Help a brother out and spread the word


This Made In Chelsea couple have split for good!

Its official Binky Felstead and her boyfriend, Alex Mytton, have split up for good.

Binky’s sister A-L, who also stars in the MIC New York spin-off, said that both Binky and Alex have both called it quits on their relationship.

"They’re not together now. I didn’t actually see any of those scenes but all I know is that they’ve gone their separate ways now. I know it hasn’t been easy for her but she’s trying to move on and build up her confidence again."

Binky faced a lot of criticism for staying with Alex, despite all the cheating allegations surrounding him. A-L said it was difficult for her to see Binky in that relationship.

"Although it was blatantly obvious to me and mum what she was doing wasn’t right, her argument was that she had to learn these lessons herself. It was difficult but it seems that she’s come through it now."

But A-L says Binky has finally moved on and has even met some new people in New York.

"Well Binky certainly met people out in New York– they were off to the Hamptons and doing lots of things so I think she met a lot of new people. So yeah, I think she had a nice time when she was out there.”


Amyloid ß-derived switch-peptides as tool to study conformational changes relevant in degenerative diseases

The rapid growing number of patients diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease and more particularly with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has stimulated intensive research in determining and understanding biological phenomena causing such devastating diseases and hence allowing for the elaboration of adapted therapeutic treatments. These diseases are also commonly called "conformational" diseases because they result from the misfolding of a protein leading to the formation of self-associated β-sheets, which in turn give rise to the formation of oligomers, protofibrils as well as insoluble fibrils characterizing the plaques found in the brain of affected patients. Consequently, the investigation of such proteins, in particular of Amyloid β (Aβ) in the case of AD, is a limited and difficult task to achieve, which often leads to contradictory results. To overcome these difficulties and to be able to study the key steps of conformational transitions and misfolding of such peptides and proteins, our research group has developed a new tool, called switch-peptides, enabling to block (Soff state) and trigger (Son state) peptide folding at will (Figure). The introduction of a switch element S built from Ser, Thr or Cys residues disrupts the regular polypeptide chain by the insertion of an ester and a flexible C-C bond resulting in a conformational disconnection of P1 and P2 (Figure), i.e. in an unordered (random coil), non-folded conformation. Each S element is protected by a protecting group Y (Soff state) that can be cleaved independently by adding a base, an enzyme or by light, depending on the chemical nature of Y. The cleavage of the different protecting groups Y triggers a spontaneous O to N acyl migration, re-establishing the regular amide backbone of the peptide chain, hence enabling the peptide to fold "in statu nascendi" and to adopt a well-defined secondary structure. The present thesis explores the potential of this novel concept for the example of conformational transitions relevant in amyloid β misfolding. In the first part we investigate the chemical stability of the S element in aqueous media, exposing a number of switch-peptides to various experimental conditions. Most notably, the ester bond proved to be stable at acidic as well as physiological conditions for several hours, opening a broad range of biological applications. The second part of the work is dedicated to the study of conformational transitions of switch-peptides derived from Aβ(1-42). By incorporating one or several switch elements disposing orthogonal protecting groups Y, the impact of different fragments of the peptide as nucleation site for the process of β-sheet formation, self-assembly and aggregation has been revealed as monitored by CD, TEM studies and ThT (pathway B, Figure). For the first time, the orthogonal triggering of the two switch elements, i.e. S26 and S37 allowed to delineate the important role of the C-terminal part of Aβ in the early step of misfolding. Subsequently, one of the nucleation sites for aggregation, i.e. segment Aβ(14-24) was excised from the native sequence and transformed to a switch-peptide applying the host-guest technique. Detailed CD studies were applied for investigating conformational transitions of type random-coil (Soff) to β-sheet structure (Son), serving as proof of concept for the use of Aβ-derived nucleation sites as guest sequence in combination with β-sheet promoting host peptides for the screening of potential inhibitors of fibril formation as early molecular event in the context of AD. This has been demonstrated in applying the elaborated host-guest peptides to evaluate the β-sheet breaking potential of pseudo-proline (ψPro)-containing switch-peptides derived from Aβ (pathway C, Figure). Preliminary results indicate that the in situ formation of kink-conformations may exert a β-sheet destabilizing effect, confirming previous observations from the Soto group. Finally, the use of switch-peptides as β-sheet and fibril breaking molecules by in situ α-helix nucleation (pathway A, Figure) has been explored. To this end, the potentially β-sheet forming segment Aβ(14-24) was linked via S element to a helix nucleating peptidomimetic ("N-Cap"). In the Soff state (pH ≤ 4), CD and TEM studies point to the onset of a β-sheet, fibril forming structure. In triggering O,N-acyl migration (pH ≈ 7), a so far unprecedented transition of type β-sheet to α-helix is observed, paralleled by a drastic increase in solubility and a complete disappearance of fibrils. The reversibility of β-sheet and fibril formation by α-helix nucleation in situ represents a most interesting observation and deserves further exploration as potential tool in the study of folding processes. In conclusion, the concept of "switch-peptides" has been successfully applied to biologically relevant molecular events of utmost therapeutic interest.

Related material


Participants in the 'Day without a Woman' are privileged. So what?

Source: AP
Source: AP

Today, millions of women and their allies in cities around the world will participate in A Day Without A Woman, a strike for "equity, justice, and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people." Held on International Women's Day and organized by the leaders of the Jan. 21 Women's March on Washington — a motley crew of immigrants, women of color, lesbians and trans women from a variety of class backgrounds — it has been described as a "mobilization of the 99%."

But reading the recent spate of editorials about the the strike, you'd think it was the brainchild of Meryl Streep and Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg.

"Make no mistake," wrote Meghan Daum in the Los Angeles Times, "March 8 will mostly be a day without women who can afford to skip work" and "shuffle childcare and household duties to someone else." Maureen Shaw joined the choir of concern-trolling in a recent essay, asking, "As a mother whose husband works long hours away from home, how am I supposed to stop taking care of my very young children?"

It's certainly true that it will be easier for privileged women to join in the strike, and nerve-wracking for those who need their jobs to risk losing them. The organizers of the March 8 strike have acknowledged as much, writing, "Many women in our most vulnerable communities will not have the ability to join the strike, due to economic insecurity. We strike for them."

You can't help being privileged; you can help what you do with it.

But even if it's true that only privileged women could afford to participate, so what? That is precisely how strikes work: Individuals who stand to lose take calculated risks in hopes of securing long-term gains for the group at large. The more participation from others — including those who, for whatever reason, can afford to take time off of work — the better the result.

It's great to be aware of privilege — who has it, who doesn't, and how we can use different forms of it to expand social justice for everyone. But the fact that some actions are easier for privileged people to undertake is not a sufficient basis for discrediting or dismissing them. You can't help being privileged; you can help what you do with it.

It's telling that those on the right are as enamored of the "you're too privileged to protest" argument as the left. Conservative blogger Erick Erickson wrote, "What we are going to witness with this strike is an overwhelming show of privilege."

It's not clear what these critics want. For the strike to be canceled? For its organizers to destroy capitalism so that everyone is free to participate without fear of economic reprisal? Without offering solutions — in fairness, Shaw did suggest handing out fact sheets instead — these critiques do little but undermine and discredit the legitimacy of protest.

The most successful protests are led by the targets of certain policies and strengthened by others (aka, those with more privilege). In 1969, a group of poor, black, female hospital workers in Charleston, South Carolina, went on strike. As Coretta Scott King noted when she came to support them, female hospital workers tended to be "the main supporters of their families." Those women needed their jobs. But they decided they needed their dignity more. They succeeded in getting 12 fired workers reinstated; raising their pay to the federal level; and establishing a credit union and a formal grievance procedure.

Much of the Charleston strike's success was due to solidarity. Union organizers and members traveled from as far away as New York City to join the fight. National civil rights leaders like King showed up to march. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference sent student organizers. It was a powerful show of unity, the opposite of the demobilizing cynicism and sanctimonious contempt essays like Daum's, Shaw's and Erickson's breed.

I don't know exactly what the March 8 strike will achieve. I am joining the strike out of solidarity and to affirm my commitment to social and economic justice. Visibility matters. History shows us that women-led strikes and marches have yielded important gains for the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the peace movement and the women's movement. Rather than wagging fingers at privilege, I hope many will join us in using theirs.


Targeting mitochondrial biogenesis and function in Parkinson’s disease

Please note now WEDNESDAY July 19th

Dr. Deleidi group’s research aims to identify key molecular pathways in the pathogenesis of sporadic and familial Parkinson’s using human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Michela Deleidi is studying human ageing processes and age-related neurological disorders with a particular focus on Parkinson’s. She wants to employ stem cells from people affected by the condition and investigate how the immune system and mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, interact with each other. This should give more information about how inflammation in Parkinson’s plays a role in the development of the condition.


Learn More
Quality degradation and computational complexity are the major challenges for image interpolation algorithms. Advanced interpolation techniques achieve to preserve fine image details but typically suffer from lower computational efficiency, while simpler interpolation techniques lead to lower quality images. In this paper, we propose an edge preserving(More)
In this paper a wavelet transform based optimum subband thresholding algorithm is proposed. This algorithm is used for denoising of heart sound signals that are highly corrupted by noise. The proposed algorithm applies signal dependent optimum thresholding to all the subbands of the signal. The algorithm is tested against different noise densities of the(More)
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This paper presents a new generic algorithm for image interpolation as well as lossless image coding. Main motivation behind the work is to reduce computational complexity involved in using Least Square Error Minimization (LS). The proposed method down samples the given image to its quarter size and then to its (1/16)th size. For each downsampled image, the(More)
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This paper proposes an efficient procedure for removal of salt and pepper noises from the noisy images on the basis of their local edge preserving filters. This algorithm consists of two major stages. In the first stage, the maximum and minimum pixel value in the the corrupted image is used to select noisy pixels or noise free pixels and then in second(More)
In view of high data embedding capacity and many real time applications, we have proposed a reversible invisible watermarking algorithm. The technique is used to embed a set of watermark data in an image using a one pass embedding process and later recovering the original image without any loss, after the extraction of watermark. Main motivation behind this(More)
Segmentation and exact timing information of PCG(Phonocardiographic) Signals and its components S1, Systolic period, S2 and Diastolic period in order with time of great importance for accurate diagnosis. In this work, we propose a novel algorithm for the segmentation of Phonocardiographic Signals into its constituent components having both normal and(More)
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HowTo: Remount /etc/fstab Without Reboot in Linux

Run the following command as root:

# mount -a

This simple command causes all filesystems mentioned in /etc/fstab to be remounted, except the partitions with noauto option.


Nobu Events offers guests an exclusive opportunity for award-winning Nobu to cater for special events both inside and outside the restaurant- private dinners, wedding receptions, birthday celebrations and parties around the globe whether it be at home, on a yacht or a country farm. And if you’d like to learn from some of the best sushi chefs in the country our events team will be delighted to organise a Sushi masterclass experience.

Nobu events team can curate every aspect of the occasion, from the dishes to the décor, to create a truly exceptional experience.


Monday, October 22, 2012

Palliative Care: Looking After People in Pain

The following article was written by Lily McCann who is an author of many articles dealing with natural health care, pain control and healthy living. Her previous article published on this blog was entitled: Hydrotherapy: A Natural Form of Pain Relief. Lily is not a palliative care expert but she is advocating for the effective pain control.

By Lily McCann

Palliative care is a traditional form of healthcare that focuses on preventing the suffering of people that have serious illnesses. It is commonly thought of as being a type of healthcare for people that are likely to die from their illness, but in fact it does not matter what the prognosis is, the goal is simply to improve the patient’s quality of life.

A Short History
Over the centuries doctors learnt much about palliative care, mainly because there were many illnesses and diseases that they simply could not cure, so treating symptoms and making the last days of a patient’s life as comfortable was the most they could do. In the last hundred years medical advances have changed all this, and aggressively treating a disease right up to the last moment has become much more common. However, often this method can be costly and the end result is sometimes the same. Some doctors are now turning back towards palliative care, especially when terminal illnesses are diagnosed, so that a patient has the best quality of life before they die.

The Aims of Palliative Care
Palliative care focuses on pain management, in an effort to make people suffering from a disease or condition more comfortable. For instance, in the case of someone suffering from lung cancer, all contributing factors to developing this type of cancer would be cut out for a start. The patient would be asked to stop smoking if they are a smoker, and everything possible would be done to relieve them of the pain they are experiencing. The aim is to make life as comfortable as possible for the patient, provide psychological care to ease stress, and provide support so that the patient can enjoy life as much as possible. Unlike other forms of medical care, where everything possible is done to save a patient’s life, palliative care focuses on quality of life. It treats death as a normal part of life, and tries to prepare the patient for this eventually as it approaches.

Guidelines for What to Expect
If you or a family member is suffering from a serious, life-threatening illness, then it is worth knowing a bit more about what palliative care aims to do, and the guidelines it follows. Palliative care works in conjunction with other forms of treatment, so in the case of cancer, palliative care will be combined with therapies like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other forms of cancer treatment. Palliative care is quite separate from treatments that aim to cure a disease, and focuses more on reliving pain and improving quality of life. It regards death as a normal process, and does not intend to speed up or delay the death of a patient. In addition to treating pain and distressing symptoms, palliative care also concentrates on providing support for patients and their families. Support for patients to live life as actively as possible, and support for the patients family to being able to cope with an ill family member. It takes into consideration the psychological effect a debilitating illness can have on an individual and their family, and tries to help all affected persons come to terms with the fact that death could be approaching.

Euthanasia or Not?
Some doctors and patients have questioned practitioners and advocates of palliative care, and say it amounts to euthanasia. Advances in medical care have made many diseases treatable, but in some cases, especially with older patients, there is no getting around the fact that a patient is reaching the end of their life. When a patient is diagnosed with an incurable disease, palliative care intends purely to make the end of a patient’s life as comfortable as possible. The grief and distress caused by the death of a loved one can be so great that doctors who administer palliative care are not supported by the patient’s family, even though there is nothing the doctor can do. It is important to remember that palliative care does not assume that a patient will die, but accepts that as death is nearing that it is important to improve the quality of life of a patient when they are in pain.

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Precast concrete

Precast concrete units are increasingly used as a form of basement construction and provide an excellent support for waterproof membranes, either as a tanked membrane system or as the outer wall of a drained cavity or even as proprietary Type B system. Precast sections can be fabricated to specific design requirements for just-in-time delivery, providing rapid on-site construction, integrated water bars, low site waste and high quality finishes. They are particularly appropriate for developments potentially benefitting from a high number of repeated standardised elements and the use of a crane on-site. The waterproofing detail should be designed to suit the manufacturer’s established method of joining panels.

Precast Concrete being inserted


The Nitecore R40 is the latest rechargeable flashlight from Nitecore with brighter, farther throw and longer running time than the previous Nitecore R25. This powerful flashlight offers a maximum output of 1000 lumens with 5 brightness levels, plus 3 special modes all from a CREE XP-L HI V3 LED.


The number of workshops, retreats and certification courses will be limited
for the coming years since Conrad wants to reserve more time for his own training and
So we highly encourage you to sign up for an event when there is an opportunity for it.

The best way to stay informed about upcoming events is through the Greater Human Potential newsletter.

11-18 May 2017
Bali, Indonesia
Chakra & Kundalini Activation Retreat


Equity Release & Lifetime Mortgages

It is a common problem that many people in retirement are asset rich, but cash poor, and many find that the majority of their wealth is tied up in their home.

There are several options available to people in this situation, one such option would be to simply downsize, thereby allowing the funds left over to be used to spend on other things, go on holiday, or supplement their income.

However, this isn’t always the desirable option. For example, if someone has lived in the same property for many years, they may not want to move!

So, what other options are there? well another option could be to look at equity release, also known as lifetime mortgages.

A lifetime mortgage is a loan that is usually based on a percentage of the value of your property, typically between 10% and 50% but unlike a ‘normal’ mortgage the loan doesn’t usually need to be repaid until your death (or death of the last survivor on a joint loan) or sale of the house whichever happens soonest.

- You can choose a lump sum or regular payments
- Payments are tax free
- You retain ownership of the property
- No payments need to be made until your death or if you sell the property
- Mortgages can be transferred to a new property in the event of you moving house

- The amount you leave your beneficiaries after your death could be significantly reduced over time
- Compounding interest rates can result in the loan amount increasing significantly when not making interest payments as you would on a conventional mortgage.
- Paying off the loan early usually results in early repayment charges being payable.

There are several types of lifetime mortgages, all different in their own way, and I would strongly recommend you talk to us to discuss the various types available as well as talking to your family before pursuing this as an option.

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‘New Rs 500 note available’ message goes viral on WhatsApp: Is the revamped currency indeed available?
The new Rs 500 denomination currency noteIANS

In the wake of the new Rs 2000 notes being disbursed by even ATMs across Bengaluru, a message on WhatsApp hinting at the availability and release of the new Rs 500 notes is going viral. This message also contains an image that resembles the new Rs 500 denomination.

"New Rs 500 note being disbursed by banks," states the message. However, in a bid to verify the authenticity of this message, we checked out a reputed government bank in Bengaluru where officials stated that disbursement of the new notes would start from next week.

The new Rs 500 currency is important considering the fact that it would potentially lead to hassle-free transactions and also a significant reduction in crowds outside banks and ATM centres. Also, frustration among people would reduce considering the fact that the Rs 100 notes are now highly being sought for transactions.

Nonetheless, some people have reported that they received the new Rs 500 notes from ATMs, and as per these reports, the new notes are being given out from the last two days in the city.

At this point in time, what you can do is, check out an ATM of your bank for Rs 500; along with exploring even the physical bank branches, and let us know if you managed to procure the new Rs 500 note. As far as the overall demonetisation scenario is concerned, another campaign on social media titled #IAmWithModi has been finding increased supporters who have expressed their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "surgical strike against black money".

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Related: aura - Walter Benjamin - copy - information - internet - mass production - media - meme - printing - printmaking - recording - sexual reproduction - technology - The Painter of Modern Life - The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

It is perhaps most commonly used in the context of biological reproduction and sex.

For the purpose of this site, it is used most often in the sense of mechanical or digital reproductive technologies, especially in mass media and mass production.

--See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproduction [Oct 2004]

Charles Baudelaire and Walter Benjamin were the earliest essayists to write about the effects of mass production and mass media.

your Amazon recommendations - Jahsonic - early adopter products

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Integrative Healing Services for your Mind, Spirit and Body

Concert and New CD Release Event

Join Us for a Transformative Journey

with Shamanic Sound Group 'Entangled Circles'

We invite you to join us for a Healing and Blissful Journey into the Sacred Space of Sound.  In this deeply meditative and rejuvenating concert experience, you will be guided into a deep state of relaxation as you allow the healing vibrations of Himalayan singing bowls, bells and gongs to gently wash over your body, mind and spirit, creating a sense of balance and peace within.

Singing bowls and gongs are a unique and powerful tool for transformation on all levels. They bathe the entire body in powerful sound vibrations, or tones, which can affect you at a cellular level and help with stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and blocked energy.  The vibrations and sound frequencies of singing bowls, gongs and other instruments can help balance and cleanse the energies of your body. These sonic vibrations can also release blockages at the Chakras and other energy points within the body.

These physical sound vibrations provide an extraordinarily harmonizing and powerful vehicle for meditation and transformation that is primarily experiential in nature. Gongs and Himalayan singing bowls provide psycho-acoustic gateways to heightened states of awareness and consciousness.  Samuel and Nicole use a variety of Sacred Instruments, Singing Bowls, Gongs and Bells to create a therapeutic wave of sound merged with frequencies of organic electronics to further deepen and enhance the journey experience.

For this inner and outer journey you are invited to sit or lie on the floor during the meditation concert, please bring a yoga mat or blanket for your comfort (a limited number of yoga mats and meditation cushions will be available on a first come first serve basis);  Chairs will be available if you wish to sit.  Space is limited to 20 participants, please call or email to reserve your spot. The event will last approximately 2 hours. Event cost is $40 per person.

We invite you to let go, do nothing, become mindful and be nurtured into a meditative state relaxing the body, mind, and nervous system leaving you stress free and refreshed. You may even develop insights and answers, engage in deep contemplations, or simply remain fluid and allow the waves of sound to carry you on a journey.....

We look forward to experiencing this transformational concert with you!

In peace and light,

Unity Barn

~ Doors open at 6:00pm.  Seating is limited, please call, purchase online below, or email us to reserve your place. This event will be Sold Out prior to opening night~

ENTANGLED CIRCLES is founded by Samuel Steward for the purpose of integrating ancient and personal technologies of healing. After several years of dedicated practice to his own unique path towards completion, Samuel felt the need to share what he had learned and continue his practice amongst the community in the spirit of togetherness. Inspired by the magical and expansive energy that supports creative expression, ENTANGLED CIRCLES continues to refine their offerings to the public out of a deep desire to elevate the health and consciousness of all. They draw from traditions such as the shamanic practices of Bon from Tibet, Ashtanga Yoga and Hinduism from India, and more. Some of Samuel's services include group Sacred Sounds, Cacao, and Journey Dance ceremonies, private one-on-one yoga instruction, therapeutic massage, private Harmonic Sound Therapy, and Reiki. Samuel aims to create conducive environments for direct experience and exploration of vibration through frequencies of sound, breath, action, and visualization. To learn more about Samuel please visit: http://entangledcircles.com


Japan’s Exclusionary Nationalism: A Striking Essay

Eight clouds arise. The eightfold fence of Idzumo makes an eightfold fence for the spouses to retire [within]. Oh! that eightfold fence.

Auslin then proceeds via a historical account of Japan’s sense of nationhood to some remarks comparing present-day Japan’s “exclusionary nationalism” with the rising ethnic chaos of the West.

Unlike in modern Europe—where ethnic groups compete not only for geographic, but also for political space—in Japan, a powerful sense of group identity serves to unify politics and society, particularly after World War II. Resistance against the state has come largely from workers’ unions and leftist parties during the first half of the twentieth century, along with a brief spasm of student-led rebellion in the 1960s, but there has been little after that. Instead, most Japanese appear to welcome both a stable political system and the physical security brought about by Japan’s exclusionary nationalism, even as they choose how and when to integrate with the surrounding world.

. . . . .

It is an almost heretical thought, but maybe Japan has made better national choices since the 1990s than we have given it credit for. It has succeeded in providing a stable and secure life for its people, despite significant economic challenges and statistical stagnation. It has done so in part by maintaining cohesion at home and certain barriers against the world. By comparison, America and Europe appear increasingly confounded by their failures to ensure sociocultural integration, keep their economies growing equally for all, and provide security in the heart of their great cities. When historians look back on global history from the 1990s into the first decades of the twenty-first century, how will they judge which nations were successful, and which failed to provide a good life for their people?

Some negatives are duly noted:

Socially, Japanese youth are widely reported to be dissatisfied with their future prospects, and the scope for individualism in the workplace remains tightly constricted. Foreigners are tolerated but not particularly welcomed, and Japanese of Korean descent still face discrimination. Immigration is all but absent. Moreover, Japan has faced its own homegrown terrorists, like the millennial Aum Shinrikyo cult back in the 1990s. Above all, the country faces a debilitating demographic collapse, one that no modern democracy has ever encountered and that poses the single greatest threat to Japan’s future.

Compared with the problems that both the West and many of its neighbors face, Japan’s relative strength and stability should at least cause us to rethink our assumptions about social and economic policy.

And reports of Japan’s economic demise have been greatly exaggerated:

Japan remains a high-income country by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards. Its GDP per capita at purchasing power parity rates increased from $35,779 in 2011 to $40,763 in 2015, while the cost of living in Tokyo and other major cities declined, due in part to moderate deflationary trends. Japan’s Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, stood at 0.32 in 2008 (the latest year available), according to the World Bank. Though higher than many European nations, it likely remains lower than America’s 2013 measure of 0.41.

Whether Japan might have done better for itself economically by embracing globalism, there can’t be much doubt that “exclusionary nationalism” has proved a winner socially.

Economic data tell only part of the national story. Other measures show a picture of social strength. To give just a few examples, Americans are five times as likely to be murdered as their Japanese counterparts, according to the United Nations. Japan, with approximately 40 percent of the population of the United States, recorded just 442 cases of intentional homicide in 2011, a rate of 0.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Meanwhile, in America, 14,661 persons were murdered intentionally, a rate of 4.7 per 100,000. While gun control advocates point out that Japan has far more stringent gun laws than the United States, crimes of all kinds, especially violent crimes, occur far less frequently in Japan than in America. Japan is a more peaceful society because of factors other than regulation of guns. There are few debates over what it means to be “Japanese,” and different segments of society rarely seem to be at one another’s throats.

Not much worry about Islamist terrorism, either.

Unlike the West, consumed by the threat of terrorism for half a generation, Japan is a modernized and liberal society not directly at risk from the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and homegrown Islamist radicals. Like any nation, it offers a plethora of soft targets, but the reality is that Japan is in comparatively little danger. Its people live in a reality entirely different from that of the West, spared from a seemingly endless fight against an implacable enemy who now lives among them.

A still-strong sense of being a country apart, a desire to maintain domestic social and political stability, and a wariness of draining national wealth on overseas interventions will continue to demarcate the limits of Japan’s engagement with the world. As it has from time immemorial, the eightfold fence continues to ring, and to protect, the islands of Japan.

Long may it continue to do so, to preserve at least one of the world’s nations (“the wealth of mankind; its collective personalities”—Solzhenitsyn) from the evils of totalitarian globalism.

Footnote:  Concerning that “debilitating demographic collapse” that “poses the single greatest threat to Japan’s future,” I said the following thing in Chapter 11 of We Are Doomed: