Essay Title:

Media Effects

March 16, 2016 | Author: | Posted in communications and media, journalism

2005 Media Effects

Information is the root of actions and becomes more important in this information age . The importance of information has even doubled tripled , or even infinite as people in this age understand the necessities to learn about incidences in other part of the world and become more knowledgeable to use appropriate information for their advantages

As the sense of knowing give reasons and confidence to act towards issues , information , if delivered truthfully , can be the instruments of great deeds . In contrast if the information [banner_entry_middle]

is manipulated it will lead people to disastrous wrongful acts . Televisions , newss , magazines radios and the internet are public sources of information in which we can find out what happened in the world . The media , therefore , have been trustworthy sources of information , which is now seriously questioned since most of them do not truly inform readers about the truth , but tend to create public opinion that the sources want , driven by their political concerns

This is true since nowadays , politic , in its nature is capable to influence and control everyone ‘s life and lifestyles , and has always in the spotlight . As society gets wiser , attention on politics has never been this scrutiny . With very powerful people or party played their hands in it , politics has been one of the strongest reasons why the role of media as a trustworthy messenger is questioned . In line with the idea , Lynden Johnson says that ‘reporters are puppet , they simply respond to the pull of the most powerful strings

How Powerful Is Media

Mc Combs and Shaw in their book the Emergence of American Political Issue , state that today ‘s media have the powerful function to organize how the world looks for us . They might not successfully control our minds , but they are undeniably capable to direct ‘ our everyday thoughts

In similar tone , Shanto Iyengar and Donald Kinder in his book News That Matters , says that by paying attention to one issue and neglecting others , television is able to decide what American believed to be the most important issue to think about

For instance , Israel – Palestinian lifetime conflict has been America ‘s most important concerns in 2003 , and judging from the nature of the issue (e .g . atrocities , suicide bombing , etc , it is newsworthy , but as the media turn their focus to the Iraq war , Schwarzenegger ‘s governor election and the California Wildfires , the Israel-Palestinian issue is somehow diminished , although the debacle is not even approaching a win-win solution ( Anti Propaganda Watch

Framing , Priming and Agenda Setting

Framing is the process of making a meaning ‘ out of incidents or stories . In the effort of building a line of comprehension between journalists and the readers , the frames are often drawn from . It is said to often chosen unintentionally . As an example , when a journalist is making a story about the high rising rate of poverty in a state , he or she will have to do what is called thematic framing , which means that eventually , a connection… [banner_entry_footer]

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CPL - Chalmers Publication Library

Influence of lipid-bilayer-associated molecules on lipid-vesicle adsorption

Kristian Dimitrievski (Institutionen för teknisk fysik, Kemisk fysik)
Langmuir (0743-7463). Vol. 26 (2010), 8, p. 5706-5714.
[Artikel, refereegranskad vetenskaplig]

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) containing, different types of bilayer-associated molecules (membrane-hound molecules) where one part of the molecule resides inside the lipid bilayer and another part of the molecule sticks out of the hi layer (e.g.. membrane proteins) are important biophysical model systems. SLBs are commonly formed via lipid vesicle adsorption on certain surfaces (e.g., SiO(2)). However, vesicles doped with different types of (bio)molecules often do not form an SLII on the surface, and the reasons for this are not clear. Using a newly developed model of a lipid bilayer, simulations were performed to clarify the influence of the bilayer-associated molecules on vesicle adsorption and rupture. It is shown that by increasing the concentration of membrane-bound molecules in the vesicles the tendency for vesicle rupture decreases markedly and for a certain concentration rupture does not happen. The reason for this is that vesicles containing significant concentrations of such molecules tend to deform less on the surface (lower vesicle strain), especially for a significantly corrugated bilayer surface potential. After vesicle rupture, membrane-bound molecules face either the surface or the solution in the resulting bilayer patch on the surface, depending on whether the molecules point outward or inward in the original vesicle, respectively. Vesicle surface diffusion is also studied for weak and strong surface corrugation; where vesicles are found to be almost immobile in the latter case.

Nyckelord: Supported lipid bilayer, bilayer model, lipid vesicle, vesicle adsorption, membrane-bound molecules, vesicle rupture, bilayer-substrate interaction, Monte Carlo simulation

Denna post skapades 2010-01-19. Senast ändrad 2014-03-24.
CPL Pubid: 109105

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Institutioner (Chalmers)

Institutionen för teknisk fysik, Kemisk fysik (1900-2015)

Kemisk fysik

Chalmers infrastruktur


401k vs student loans

Should I raid my 401(k) to pay off my student loans?

Michael Lux Blog, Student Loans 0 Comments

The temptation is definitely there.  You have thousands of dollars set aside for retirement.  Even when the stock market does well, it barely keeps pace with the interest rates on your student loans.  Why not empty the 401(k), pay off the student loans, and start with a fresh slate?

Where you are staring down the barrel of massive student debt, such a desperate act might seem like the smart move.  The math tells a different story.

The Consequences of using 401(k) funds to pay down debt

The nice thing about a 401(k) is that you can put money in the account without being taxed.  This allows savers the opportunity to more quickly accumulate wealth.  However, the flip side of this coin is that when you pull money out, it is taxed.  That means that 30k in your retirement account will not pay off 30k in student debt.

Making the decision not to touch the money even easier is the fact that there is a huge penalty for dipping into the 401(k) before you reach retirement age.  Before turning 59 and half, withdrawals from the 401(k) are taxed at an additional 10%.  This is the early withdrawal penalty.  While there are a couple exceptions, student loans are not one of them.

Should I put less in my 401(k) and more towards my student loans?

If you have made the decision not to touch your 401(k), it is tempting to just save a little less and use the diverted funds towards paying down student debt.

The analysis here is not a clear cut.

The first part of your investigation into this decision should be to determine if your employer is matching your contributions.  If you are lucky enough to have matching contributions in any form, you will come out ahead financially if you maximize the employer match.

When your employer isn’t matching your contributions, you have to weigh the short-term and long-term budget issues as well as the tax consequences of your decision.  We have discussed this analysis in prior articles.

Finally, the math gets especially complicated for federal borrowers on income driven repayment plans.  If you are making contributions to your 401(k), your adjusted gross income is lowered at tax time.  The lower AGI means lower payments on plans such as IBR, PAYE, and REPAYE.  Thus, the more you save for retirement, the lower your federal student loan payments will be.

Late Fees

The one item that can really alter your analysis will be late fees and the costs associated with defaulting on your loan.  If you cannot make minimum payments on your loans, it might make sense to place a lower priority on your retirement account and focus on the immediate crisis.

Bottom Line

Desperation to pay off student debt is usually a good thing.  It encourages responsible budgeting and helps you prioritize your spending.  Where desperation gets dangerous is when it leads to ill-advised decisions.  Don’t let your desperation to eliminate student debt force you into a dumb 401(k) decision.


Category Archives: certified translators

American Language Services goes High-Tech

This month American Language Services had the honor of working with two of the World Wide Web’s mega-brands: Twitter and Google.

You might think a company that’s famous for transmitting short, 140-character messages, or tweets, wouldn’t have a lot to say. But Twitter, the real-time information network giant, does — and it needs to say it in a variety of languages.

Twitter was founded in San Francisco, but it’s used by people in nearly every country in the world. The service is available in more than 20 languages, and more continue to be added. With all those languages, Twitter developers needed a company with the resources and drive to get a number of jobs done quickly and accurately. They called on us because we are well known for our massive database of qualified translators and interpreters and for our high quality of operational and customer service. American Language Service immediately went to work to provide Twitter with a level of service and professionalism that exceeded their already lofty expectations. In September alone we provided translators and interpreters for Korean, Japanese, Spanish and German. But Twitter isn’t the only Silicon Valley heavyweight that uses our service.

Google, the search engine that’s so ubiquitous that the phrase “google it” has entered the mainstream English lexicon, wants to be just as ubiquitous in other languages. Based in California, Google’s mission is to facilitate access to information for the entire world, and in every language. They’ve already got a good start. Today Google serves more than half of its results to people living outside the United States, and they already offer their search interface in more than 130 languages. In June we helped people “google it” in Arabic, Spanish, Indonesian, Korean and Japanese.

With so many operational languages, Google turned to us. Just like Twitter, they needed a company with the resources and know-how to handle large and diverse interpretation and translation projects and who could deliver on its promise of both operational and customer service excellence.

We are proud of our ever-growing customer base in the high tech industry and look forward to serving the needs of organizations in this exciting and truly global industry. More and more, Google, Twitter, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle and others like them are choosing American Language Services because we speak their language.

Call Us Now: 1-800-951-5020
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AML-Global Gives Voice to Staar Surgical Multimedia Projects

Voice Media Another Important Facet of the Overall AML-Global Service Package

Staar Surgical, producer of minimally invasive ophthalmic vision enhancement and technology, frequently employs American Language Services as it provided of language services and multimedia services.

American Language Services has been renowned for its expertise in document translation and language interpretation as well as providing American Sign Language services to the deaf and hard of hearing. Not only does AML-Global provide excellent services in all of those, but we also go into the recording studio and make Staar Surgical’s messages available in audio form for targeted non-English speakers.

Among the services that AML-Global provides to Staar Surgical are voiceover services, subtitling, studio recording services and audio engineering services. AML-Global provides a full range of media services that can accommodate the most detailed, highly complex material, and make it readily understandable to targeted non-English speaking audiences.

A firm dealing in such technically complex information obviously needs to contract with a language services provider that can perform above the level of most of its peers when it comes to dealing with technically demanding texts that are being written for experts in the field and contain many subtle details that must be completely understood and expressed in the target foreign language.

The Nidau, Switzerland, office of the Monrovia, Calif., based firm, frequently calls on AML-Global to perform a variety of language services, including Arabic translation, Bengali translation, Farsi translation, German translation, Gujarati translation, Hindi translation, Italian translation, Kannada translation, Korean translation, Marathi translation, Malayalam translation, Portuguese translation, Punjabi translation, Spanish translation and Telugu translation.

Founded in 1985, United States based American Language Services (AML-Global) evolved from an intimate language school into the leading interpreting and translating agency it is today. AML-Global provides a full range of international multi-language communication services and offers its unique services worldwide. Our language professionals are available 24 hours/ 7 days a week.

In addition to text translation, American Language Services also produces voiceover media for the firm in a variety of languages, including Hindi, Farsi, Arabic, Telugu, Kannada, Portuguese, and German. American Language service recruits the voiceover talent from its large database of linguists who are experienced voice talent performers.

Business has become increasingly global in recent years. Gone are the days when a firm in just about any given field could simply focus on customers and business ties merely in its own country, but instead must now rely on and cultivate relationships with potential customers, investors, suppliers, business partners and others who are dispersed around the world. The entire planet seems like a much smaller place, and because of that you are most likely going to find the need to communicate with others who do not speak English, and whose native languages you do not understand.

For more than 26 years AML-Global has worked with pharmaceutical, biotech and medical companies on a wide variety of documents and website projects. We have completed excellent quality work and have worked with numerous medical organizations on multiple translation projects, as well as interpreting assignments around the U.S. and internationally for many industries. We have also worked on projects that are large and complex and involve multiple language accommodations, highly technical terminology and complex desktop publishing, and we have worked with clients on simple straightforward translations in one language pair. We have worked on numerous projects with extremely fast turnaround times required. We have done cultural localization to ensure that their text, scripts, written, and audio materials were appropriate for local audiences.

Some of the different kinds of projects that we regularly translate include user guides, user manuals, training, quality assurance, compliance/regulatory, legal documents, quality control, clinical tests, marketing, clinical modules, surveys, studies, benefits announcements, newsletters, websites, standard operating procedures (SOP’s), directions for use (DFU’s), pharmaceutical engineering guides, ISPE certifications, manufacturing practices (CGMP’s), clinical trial documents (IND’s/NDA’s), enhanced documentation, MSDS date sheets.

On the technical side, we have worked with companies who have proprietary software programs imbedded in their website. This requires a high degree of technical skill to be able to convert languages in technical software, such as back-end applications, software strings and front-end user interface applications. We have utilized our desktop publishing (DTP) expertise to ensure that the websites have the desired look and feel after the language conversion takes place. This is a very important element because language expands and contracts, and is formatted in many ways. This needs to be accounted for to properly fit into the required website layout.

Hewlett-Packard’s Discover Draws International Audience

ALS Was On Hand to Provide Interpretation Services for a Top Technology Industry Event in Las Vegas Attended by Thousands

Members of just about every industry group in the world are likely to attend conferences and other kinds of industry meetings to stay in touch with current business trends, and also to meet new people in their industries and to strengthen ties with those who they are already acquainted. When top technology firms look for conference interpreters, they come to American Language Services to provide the best in language services.

AML-Global was brought on board to provide language interpretation at Hewlett-Packard’s recent conference that was attended by thousands from all over the world. At HP Discover 2012 at the Venetian in Las Vegas, attendees learned how Converged Cloud, Information Optimization, Security, and Risk Management will shape the next decade of IT. Obviously, the level of discussion was quite technical in nature, and those attending the event were all highly knowledgeable about the subject matter, such as cloud computing, that was being discussed.

So, it was of the greatest importance that the interpreters charged with channeling the vast quantities of complex information to attendees in their native languages would be expert in their linguistic skills, and also highly familiar with the technology being discussed. After all, without a good sense of the topics being discussed it would be easy to misunderstand the information being conveyed, and in turn the interpreter might communicate an inaccurate or unclear representation of what the speaker using English were saying.

During the course of the conference, American Language Services provided two Korean interpreters, two Japanese interpreters and two Mandarin interpreters. Interpreters typically work in pairs when assignments are longer than two hours in duration because that allows the interpreters to switch off and rest between demanding sessions of language interpretation. The AML-Global interpreters came through for the conference goers and provided flawless interpretation services.

Sometimes interpretation work requires more than just the skilled linguists who can ably communicate the thoughts and ideas being expressed in the source language and communicate the content and tone of the speech. In conference-type settings interpreters may need specialized equipment in order to provide the optimal experience for conference attendees who are in need of language interpretation, and also for those who do not require those services. That means isolating the translator from the conference attendees AML-Global was on hand to provide interpretation services for a top technology industry so that spectators will not be distracted by the interpreter’s speech while speakers are addressing the audience.

In conference-type meeting the interpreter will sit in an isolation booth, which prevents the sound of the translator’s voice from leaking into the audience and distracting audience members who are listening to the onstage speaker. The interpreter can hear the speaker’s words, but the interpreted language is transmitted to foreign language speaking audience members via radio signals, and the signal is picked up by specialized headsets that receive the message and allow those audience members to hear the interpreter’s words without interrupting the flow of the speaker’s presentation.

To help facilitate the interpretation services, American Language Services provided three encapsulated sound booths capable of isolating the interpreters from the audience, yet allowing them to hear the speaker. Along with the sound booths, AML-Global also provided 25 HED 021 – Deluxe Folding Headsets & 8-Channel WB 3V Receiver, as well as a technician to ensure that all of the equipment functioned properly at all times.

AML-Global maintains its own supply of highly professional transmission equipment, which is stored in locations around the country, which allows us to provide fully equipped, on-the-spot interpretations services. Our strategically located storehouses of equipment also help cut down delivery time and shipping costs.

American Language Services, in addition to performing language and American Sign Language interpreting, also performs language translation services, transcription services, dubbing services, voiceover services and graphic design services. The principal mission of American Language Services is to provide the highest quality language expertise to our valued clients around the world. We believe that by helping bridge the communication gap between individuals, companies, governments, cultures, races and religions around the globe, we can help make the world a little smaller and enhance the overall quality of life.

Korean Translator Survey

American Language Services has worked with some of the same language professionals for 10+ years and beyond. Our Project Managers know the strengths of each linguist and place projects with our language experts according to the project’s specifications. Although we know our translators and interpreters very well, we realize that our clients may not. Because of this, we’ve decided to share some of our linguist’s insight with our clients periodically via a short survey they’ve filled out including their background and overall view of the language industry. Contact our customer service team for any questions you’d like to see answered in the future.

Survey # 2 – Korean <> English Translator
Q: How long have you been a professional translator?
A: 10 years

Q: What language pairings do you work with?
A: Korean and English

Q: What type of translation project do you enjoy working on the most and why?
A: Social science related, history, political science because I majored in history. History is something that I know very well.

Q: Do you prefer working alone or with other translators?
A: Mostly I do my own work all the time but when I need someone because of time constraints, I have to collaborate with others.

Q: In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being a translator?
A: Meeting deadlines and taking care of all the work coming in all at the same time. I wish work comes in an evenly flow so that I don’t have to work long hours into the night to meet the deadlines.

Q: What aspects of translating do you find most rewarding?
A: Helping others understand a language they don’t read.

Q: Many people would say translation is an art form. Would you agree? Why or why not?
A: It can be. Technical texts like work manuals can’t really be said as an art form, but poetry and literary works would surely be in the level of being an art form when trying to translate them.

Q: How would you go about translating creative text like a poem or a song?
A: I would read it several times to get the deep feeling of the language it was written. You need to think in the language you are trying to translate in order to clearly get the feeling of it, what the author is intending to say, you need to know that in order to properly convey it to another language.

Q: If you come across a word or phrase during translation that you are not familiar with, how do you handle those obstacles?
A: I look for it in a dictionary first, of course, and then I search the Internet or call someone to find out more about it.

Q: What attracted you to working with languages?
A: I was a history major and always liked to read and write, so I guess it kind of came to me naturally, also being a bilingual person surely pointed me to this way too.

Q: Any other thoughts you’d like to share?
A: Translating is great a very nice way to be productive and help others.

Keep reading for additional translator surveys to come!

Native Speakers

Generally speaking, a native speaker is classified as a speaker of a particular language who has spoken that language since earliest childhood. A native speaker of a particular language should understand the subtle and the not so subtle nuances of that language and culture. In order to provide our clients with the best possible translation, a translator who is a native speaker in the target language (or the language the document is being translated into) is vital to producing a fully comprehensive translation.

As we’ve discussed previously, a good translator must have a keen understanding of grammar, context, writing conventions, cultural diversity, and language style of the two languages. People often believe that there is always a simple exact match between different languages, but that is almost never the case. A good translator must determine proper terminology based on his or her comprehension of the languages, subject matter, and cultural/colloquial meanings. Native speaking translators can provide just that because the knowledge of their language is inherent.

The purpose of a translation is to relay a message in a smooth and effective manner and a native speaker can project the intent of the message, address cultural awareness of their audience, as well as understand specific nuances in various language combinations.

A translator who was born and nurtured (or possibly just immersed for many years) in a culture as they learned their language skills,will have an unconscious advantage over a non-native speaker. They will have more phrases to draw from in their vast vocabulary and be better at picking the right word, phrase or attitude depending on the message, tone or situation. A native speaker will have a much better grasp on the basics of the language as well as the nuances that will really help drive your message home.

A translator who has a firm grasp on both the culture and the language of the source and target languages has an even greater ability to provide a spot-on translation. A truly bilingual individual should understand the way to phrase things appropriately for each language. For instance, using English and Spanish as an example, if an English script uses colloquialisms or slang, you want someone who can replicate that in Spanish by using appropriate and corresponding phrases. The key is to use someone who effectively translates the message in context, not just the words, verbatim.

Many different locations have different slang and mannerisms. That is why we have translators all across America in many metropolitan areas including Washington D.C, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego and many other cities with diverse language populations. We provide translation services to to a wide variety of cities including San Francisco, Las Vegas and also cities like Irvine, San Jose and New Jersey. Our superior resource of translators located across the United States and all over the Globe make us the most efficient and reliable translation services.

Successful Business Translation

You need translations that communicate as accurately and effectively as your original documents. American Language Services translates your documents into the native tongue of your clients and business partners not only shows respect, but it also helps to improve the decision making process. Poor communication is responsible for a multitude of problems from system failures to bankruptcies. You simply cannot afford to convey the wrong message if you want to maintain strong international business relations.

At American Language Services, we believe accurate translation requires attention to detail in combination with an acute understanding of cultural differences. You’ve probably heard translation horror stories from the world of advertising, where one false move can lead to a major miscommunication. Take for example a hotel in Mexico where a sign was translated into English to read, “We are pleased to announce that the manager has personally passed all the water served here.”

This blunder may be humorous, but mistakes like these can lead to lost business, broken partnerships, and even lawsuits. At American Language Services, we believe in respecting cultural differences by translating and localizing your text on a case by case basis. Even if you need last minute translation services, our native speaking translators are just a phone call away. Call us at 1-800-951-5020.

We provide Translation, Interpreting, Transcription Services to all cities in the United States including major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Irvine.

Translation is Vital for Life Sciences

Life science materials are translated for clients around the world because regulations differ in many countries. Life sciences translation is governed by strict industry regulations. The key to accurate life sciences translation is using the correct translators..

There are additional benefits emerging to translating life sciences materials besides meeting regulatory demands. Branding and your consumers perspective is also something to take into consideration. American Language Services® translation solutions for life sciences specialize in biochemistry, biomedicine, genetics and marine biology. Companies must follow a series of privacy guidelines to ensure that every translation is treated with the strictest confidence . We often are required to engage in strict confidentiality agreements with our clients showing.

The need to bridge language barriers is critical in the Life Sciences arena and in some cases significant global consequences are at stake. Our immense database of expert linguists provides top quality local service in all areas of the country and the world. Corporations and medical institutions alike have discovered that outsourcing challenging language issues to competent professionals is both cost effective and time efficient.

Imprecise translations of life sciences can greatly affect the information you are trying to disseminate and any altering of your message can potentially prevent your business from complying with industry regulations. Providing correct information is an integral part of your service. Only the most accurate translations will safeguard the health of your clients as well as your business.

Should You Be Providing A Corporate Glossary?
A company can have all its employees speak English but may not be most comfortable and effective working in that language.

Developing training materials to be distributed throughout international facilities provide the training in the languages of the people we’d be training.  Companies have plants all over the world, so people speak Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and several regional dialects that must be considered.

Such translation may even require a corporate glossary for everyone to follow. That’s because the project may have several levels of executives reviewing the material. They may all speak Spanish, but what happens when they each speak a different dialect? A corporate glossary can help avoid confusion.

Components Of Translation Service Providers
American Language Services® do careful screening of the linguists they hire. They have a large collection of expert linguists provides top quality local service in all areas of the country and the world. American Language Services ® believes in providing real value to our clients. It is essential that all of our work is performed consistently and with the highest quality. Our expertly trained staff and extensive resources give us the ability to provide our clients with outstanding value through superior quality and service. Over many years, AML-Global has accumulated and developed some of the most impressive linguistic talent in the world. Our language experts are located in hundreds of countries across every continent, covering every time zone. These highly skilled professionals are recruited, screened and tested to ensure the quality of our work is at the highest level.

In health communications, the client needs to consider how specialized a translation service it needs. It’s not just a matter of in-country regional language variations or the “company dialect.” You may need a translator even more specialized.  For example,  someone who understands neurology versus cardiology, or even stroke versus Parkinson’s disease.

More and more, technology is playing a role in helping speed the translation process up to 50% faster than it used to be.

Think Hard About Self-Translation
There are still a number of life sciences companies that think they can handle their own translation needs. While do-it-yourself is a great cost-containment idea, there are times it can cost more than it saves.

There are liability issues if the material confuses the target audience. For instance, trials may have to be interrupted and restarted if instructions aren’t clear. Getting it right the first time is well worth the time and money and it is better to leave the translation to the highly skilled professionals to ensure the quality of our work is at the highest level.

A Loose Interpretation

Though often mistaken for its written counterpart: Translation…Interpreting is an art unto itself. As we previously discussed, Interpreting is the verbal relaying of information from one language to another. Interpreters are utilized to relay information between interested parties for all of the spoken languages of the world, including American Sign Language, which is “spoken” by the hearing impaired community.

Interpreters are utilized by all facets and walks of life, so to speak, and therefore must have an inherent, colloquial understanding of language and its dialects; and the keen ability to decipher meaning as opposed to the verbatim relaying of information. Common vernacular phrases, jokes, jargon and the like, are often very difficult to relay in different languages or dialects because of cultural differences and status quo norms; so interpreters must, in a split second, understand and convey the essence of what is being said as opposed to exactly what is said.

For instance, the English phrase, pulling your leg means that someone is teasing or attempting a sarcastic or facetious joke. If one were to interpret this phrase into Spanish, one would not use the same terminology. In Spanish the phrase, tomando tu pelo would be used, which literally means taking your hair. Neither of these phrases involves the direct action that they reference, but rather, imply a colloquialism that has come to mean playing a facetious or sarcastic joke. Because spoken language is often less formal than written language, and is riddled with jargon, slang, and cultural colloquialisms, interpreting requires keen vernacular understanding of such phrases, regardless of the type of assignment.

Interpreting is used in a variety of fields, including recreation, business, and for legal proceedings. Interpreters escort families and dignitaries on trips for business and leisure; they interpret for multilingual business conferences, negotiations, and meetings; and they interpret for legal proceedings such as depositions, mediations, and trials. They are also used by schools to relay student information for non-English speaking, or hearing impaired parents. For each of these fields, an interpreter must carefully listen to, retain, process, and relay information between parties attempting to communicate, and must discern the attempted meaning of the information relayed.

While information may be scripted and or rehearsed for business conferences, most other fields of interpreting involve in the moment assessment that can prove rather challenging. This is especially true for Simultaneous Interpreting, which is spoken with only a split second delay after the originating language is spoken. This type of Interpreting is more difficult and often more costly than the other two types of Interpreting: Consecutive Interpreting and Chutocage Interpreting.

Consecutive Interpreting is interpretation which contains a pronounced delay after the originating language is spoken. This gives the interpreter a brief moment to assess and relay what was said. However, this is challenging as well, as the interpreter must accurately retain the information, and must, often, take copious notes to maintain the integrity of the interpretation.

The third type of Interpreting is Chutocage Interpreting or Whispered or Huddled Interpreting. This type, though more rare than the other two, can be utilized for gaming, leisure, and court Interpreting; or any event where an audible interpretation would disturb those nearby in a proceeding or event. Interpreter booths, microphones, and headsets can also be used to ensure that interpretation can be relayed without disturbing those who do not need it.

Besides vernacular understanding and information-retention complications, legal and medical matters provide yet another set of complications. Many states require certification of interpreters who interpret for court, legal, or medical related matters. This is to ensure that the interpreter is not only familiar with conversational jargon and vernacular word usage, but also with legal and/or medical terminology. In California, for instance, the twelve most-requested languages require certification for court related matters: Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Armenian (Eastern and Western), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Arabic, Vietnamese and American Sign Language. Many states also require certification of medical interpreters as well so that pertinent health information is properly relayed. Certification processes, whether state or federal, medical or legal, ensure the ability and knowledge of an interpreter, and provide a standard for their respective industries.

Interpreting, with its multifaceted usage, enables the world to communicate both personally and professionally. Interpreting provides for, and ensures multicultural diversity for the inhabitants of the entire speaking world—whether they speak the little known African dialect of Wolof; the world’s most abundantly spoken (per capita) language, Mandarin Chinese; or the most universally spoken…English.

“Translation guarantees the survival of our civilization a globalized world.” – Center for Translation Studies, University of Texas at Dallas

Interpreting, Translating & Transcription Services for Today’s Market

For nearly a quarter of a Century, American Language Services (ALS) has been a premier provider of languages services. We provide top quality services for a significant number of Major Corporations, Law Firms and Governmental Agencies in the domestic US market and abroad. We work around the world in all languages for written translations, transcriptions and verbal interpreting. We have built an outstanding reputation for providing timely and cost effective translation, transcription and interpreting services. ALS bridges the communication gap between unique languages and distinct cultures by paying meticulous attention to the details. We know that succeeding globally in today’s business world requires paying attention to many subtle language nuances. Our continuous dedication to the details and meeting our clients’ goals have made AML-Global a worldwide leader in the translation and interpreting industry for both written & verbal communication projects.
AML-Global has thousands of highly qualified language experts on call 24 hours, 7 days a week. Located on every continent in nearly every country around the world, our interpreters and translators are experienced and proficient in speaking and writing hundreds of languages within an extensive range of specific industries.

Successful Communication Requires More Than Written Translations and Verbal Interpretations

Whether it is in written form through the translation process or through verbal interpreting, AML-Global pays particular attention to the subtle differences in language that are critical in conveying your message to your target audience. In many cases, a simple verbatim translation is not enough. Communicating effectively requires projecting the intent of the message, addressing cultural awareness of your audience, as well as understanding specific nuances in various language combinations. AML-Global provides effective language solutions needed to make a positive impact on your target audience.

It’s no surprise that the word ‘translation’ is often misinterpreted. By looking up the word in any dictionary source, you may stumble across up to fifteen different definitions. According to the online Latin dictionary, the word for translation, translatio, is derived from words meaning to carry or to bring across—a fitting etymology as translation brings the world together and bridges cultural divides. Although the Latin definition of the word appears to be the most fitting explanation, there are many misconceptions surrounding the word. Let’s start with the basics.

Translation is often confused with interpreting or transcription, but its differences are inherent. Interpreting is the relaying of verbal information in one language to verbal communication in another. Interpreting is utilized for legal proceedings, conferences, trade shows, meetings and social gatherings of all kinds. Transcription is the transformation of verbal communication into a written form of communication, where information is transcribed from CDs, DVDs, cassettes, and various other digital and media sources. Translation is a written communication which originates in one written language and changed into another; the source language and the target language, respectively. Translation is used for software programming, legal documents, and various corporate communications.

Additionally, there are several things to consider with translation, besides the basic comprehension of language. It is an extremely common misconception that anyone who is bilingual can be a good translator. This is certainly not the case. A good translator goes through rigorous testing and hones his/her craft for many years to become an expert translator.

For instance, the word tortilla is also tortilla in American English, but called a pancake in British English and one would not want to confuse the two! This is an important colloquial and cultural difference that a successful translator would need to know in order to properly convey an idea from English to Spanish or vice versa.
Translation has been Making the World a Little Smaller since the beginning of written literature, and is the glue that holds the world together today, Bridging Communication Gaps on a daily basis in advertising, legal documentation, literature, and even film. Here at AML-Global we’ve proudly provided that “glue” for nearly a quarter of a century, and will continue our dedication to Making the World a Little Smaller with translation for years to come.


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    Please read through the guideline

    Provide students with clear job tasks and goals for the project, and due dates-try to be specific about what you would like them to do.
    Faculty is responsible for assigning work to the STM for the time the students is scheduled to work with him/her.
    Faculty is responsible for the hours assigned to work with the student based on faculty's request.
    Faculty is responsible for signing STM timesheets. Please note that students do not get paid for the hours they do not work.
    If a faculty member is unable to meet with the student as schedule, faculty should make other arrangement to insure the productive use of STM time.
    Share information about your course (i.e. goals, assignments).
    STM are no permitted to supervise a class for a teacher--the teacher must be present in the room with the students during class and/or lab periods.
    Faculty will provide feedback on STM performance to Associate Director.

    Assist faculty in designing, creating and maintaining technology enhanced tools and resources for the classrooms, such as:

      PowerPoint presentations.
      Creating web pages with Dreamweaver.
      Managing courses in Blackboard and Ektron.
      Creating documents.
      Incorporating images and sound into learning resources.
      Assist in the development of ePortfolios.
      Develop multimedia projects.
      Assist with library database and Internet searches.
      Mentors provide assistance to students and faculty in the use of various technology tools for research, web development, and document production.
      Mentors assist computer lab users, both students and faculty, in the use of hardware and software.
      Mentors assist in the ePortfolio studio, helping students to develop their ePortfolios.
      Assist ePortfolio Consultants and IDAs.
      Use available resources to get help in solving technology related problems/questions.
      (i.e., textbooks, help menus, tutorials, Internet, other STMs, technology experts, instructors, CTL staff).
      Create learning tutorials as needed.
      Troubleshoot application problems and Internet search problems.
      Provide one-on-one training to faculty and students in various technology tools.
      Develop new knowledge and skills using technology.
      Assist professors with technology related surveys.
      Mentor faculty and students through providing technology based information.
      Make suggestions when appropriate.

      STMs may not work more than 15 hours per week unless they are completing a full time Internship of 25 hours per week.
      STMs may not run personal errands for students, faculty or staff.
      May not perform clerical tasks that are not directly related to technology-based projects.
      May not do physical inventories.
      May not move equipment.
      May not alter schedules without consulting with the Associate Director.
      May not supervise a class for a teacher. The teacher must be present in the room with students during class and/or lab periods.
      May not work with students on content.

      Assist faculty and students with developing Multimedia projects.
      Conduct advanced training workshops for STMs and other IDAs.
      Provide classroom instructional assistance and tutorials.
      Assist ePortfolio team, students, and faculty with ePortfolio development.
      Supervise the ePortfolio Studio Lab, Room B121 and provide assistance to faculty and students.
      Supervise and provide guidance to STMs in ePortfolio Studio and sign the STM sign-in sheets.
      Design and develop faculty and institutional web pages.
      Provide one-on-one consultation in the use of instructional technologies and web page design.
      Assist faculty and students with the design and development of web pages.
      Troubleshoot hardware and software problems as is appropriate to individual's knowledge.Assist in Professional Development workshops.


There is a perception in some tech circles that older programmers aren’t able to keep pace with rapidly changing technology, and that they are discriminated against in the software field. But a new study from North Carolina State University indicates that the knowledge and skills of programmers actually improve over time—and that older programmers know as much (or more) than their younger peers when it comes to recent software platforms.

“We wanted to explore these perceptions of veteran programmers as being out of step with emerging technologies and see if we could determine whether older programmers are actually keeping up with changes in the field,” says Emerson Murphy-Hill, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State and co-author of a paper on the research. “And we found that, in some cases, veteran programmers even have a slight edge.”

The researchers looked at the profiles of more than 80,000 programmers on a site called StackOverflow, which is an online community that allows users to ask and answer programming questions. The site also allows users to rate the usefulness of other users’ questions and answers. Users who are rated as asking good questions and providing good answers receive points that are reflected in their “reputation score.” The higher an individual’s reputation score, the more likely it is that the user has a robust understanding of programming issues.

For the first part of the study, the researchers compared the age of users with their reputation scores. They found that an individual’s reputation increases with age, at least into a user’s 40s. There wasn’t enough data to draw meaningful conclusions for older programmers.

The researchers then looked at the number of different subjects that users asked and answered questions about, which reflects the breadth of their programming interests. The researchers found that there is a sharp decline in the number of subjects users weighed in on between the ages of 15 and 30—but that the range of subjects increased steadily through the programmers’ 30s and into their early 50s.

Finally, the researchers evaluated the knowledge of older programmers (ages 37 and older) compared to younger programmers (younger than 37) in regard to relatively recent technologies—meaning technologies that have been around for less than 10 years.

For two smartphone operating systems, iOS and Windows Phone 7, the veteran programmers had a significant edge in knowledge over their younger counterparts. For every other technology, from Django to Silverlight, there was no statistically significant difference between older and younger programmers.

“The data doesn’t support the bias against older programmers—if anything, just the opposite,” Murphy-Hill says.

Source: North Carolina State University


GS_Games1sKnowsy is a simple game that tests how well the players know each other. One of the players picks a topic, such as movies, and then secretly arranges, in order of his or her preference, the items presented (to continue the example, Citizen Kane, Big, Star Wars, etc.).  Other players then guess at the order in which he or she has arranged them.

Knowsy has many applications, such as market research (for example, what do customers really want?) management offsites (for example,how well do managers understand company priorities?), and corporate training (for example,who are the top competitors for our products?). The game provides a springboard to further discussion (for example, why do customers prefer product A over product B?), as well as to other games that build on the information that Knowsy can provide. There are versions of Knowsy currently in development for couples in therapeutic counseling.

Knowsy is playable with pen and paper; both online and iPad versions exist as well.

For more information…
Innovation Games description of Knowsy.
Scrum Alliance use of Knowsy for training.

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What is TaoWay?

The name TaoWay is a coinage abbreviation of Taoist way (method). Taoists have over a 5000 year history of observing nature and devising healing arts. These include acupuncture, herbalism, Tai Chi, Qi Gong harmonising exercises and meditation techniques for enhancing physical well being, mental tranquillity and spiritual fulfilment. Taoists believe in the doctrine non action (Wu Wei). The concept of Taoist non-action does not refer to doing nothing. It means to follow the flow of natural forces and not to consciously try to overcome it or to control it. Instead, one should allow the forces of nature to work in their own way and their own time.

Qi (Chi) is the universal energy, the fundamental building block and manifestation of natural forces for all beings in the universe. Taoist Qi exercises and meditation techniques are widely practised in China and many Asian Countries. These techniques are well known for their gentle healing and calming effects as well as their effectiveness of promoting good health, virility and longevity.

Taoists treat body, mind and spirit as an integral entirety. By practising the appropriate meditation techniques, Tai Chi or Qi Gong exercises, as well as adopting a carefree philosophy and to live a holistic life style, one can activate the transformation of energy within one's physical, psychical and spiritual spheres. The transformation of energy will rejuvenate and strengthen the physical body, widen the perception of the mind for greater creative potentials and enrich the spiritual self for higher inspirations and more noble purposes.


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Exponential Functions

From compound interest to bubonic plague, things that grow or spread really fast are often modeled by exponential functions. Learn about these powerful functions (pun intended?).

Exponential Functions - Growth and Decay

The population of a certain culture of bacteria at time \(t\) is given by \(P(t) = P_0 \times 10^{yt} \), where \(P_0\) is the initial amount of bacteria, \(y\) is the growth constant, and \(t\) is the time (in seconds). A scientist measures that the number of bacteria at time \(t=4\) is \(10^ {56}\) times the number of bacteria at time \(t=0\). Given this information, what is the growth constant \(y\) of this group of bacteria?

\(pH\) measures the concentration of hydrogen ions \(H^+\) in a solution. Let \(pH=m\) if the number of gram ions of \(H^+\) in a \(1\)-liter solution is \(10^{-m}\).

Then the ratio of the number of gram ions of \(H^+\) for \(pH=6.5\) and the number of gram ions of \(H^+\) for \(pH=7.9\) can be expressed as \(10^a.\) What is the value of \(100a?\)

The brightness of light is reduced by half when it penetrates a glass screen with \(11\) cm width. If the brightness of light has been reduced to \(12.50\) % of the initial brightness, how many glass screens with the same width did the light penetrate?

If you invest \(1200\) dollars in savings account that pays \(4\) percents compound interest, then how long does it take to double your money?

The number of particles in a given location after time \(t\) is modeled by the equation \(N(t) = N_0e^{-\frac{t}{21}}\). At what time \(t\) will the number of particles be equal to \(\frac{1}{e^3}\) of the initial number (when \(t=0\))?

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Brian Eno - Reflection

  • Brian Eno - Reflection

Brian Eno - Reflection

InfoCD & LP1st January 2017

New years day brings us a new album from Brian Eno and continues his fertile realtionship with Warp.

Brian Eno discusses Reflection -

Reflection is the latest work in a long series. It started (as far as record releases are concerned) with Discreet Music in 1975 ( - or did it start with the first Fripp and Eno album in 1973? Or did it start with the first original piece of music I ever made, at Ipswich Art School in 1965 - recordings of a metal lampshade slowed down to half and quarter speed, all overlaid?)

Anyway, it’s the music that I later called ‘Ambient’. I don’t think I understand what that term stands for anymore - it seems to have swollen to accommodate some quite unexpected bedfellows - but I still use it to distinguish it from pieces of music that have fixed duration and rhythmically connected, locked together elements.

The pedigree of this piece includes Thursday Afternoon, Neroli (whose subtitle is Thinking Music IV) and LUX. I’ve made a lot of thinking music, but most of it I’ve kept for myself. Now I notice that people are using some of those earlier records in the way that I use them - as provocative spaces for thinking - so I feel more inclined to make them public.

Pieces like this have another name: they’re GENERATIVE. By that I mean they make themselves. My job as a composer is to set in place a group of sounds and phrases, and then some rules which decide what happens to them. I then set the whole system playing and see what it does, adjusting the sounds and the phrases and the rules until I get something I’m happy with. Because those rules are probabilistic ( - often taking the form ‘perform operation x, y percent of the time’) the piece unfolds differently every time it is activated. What you have here is a recording of one of those unfoldings.

Reflection is so called because I find it makes me think back. It makes me think things over. It seems to create a psychological space that encourages internal conversation. And external ones actually - people seem to enjoy it as the background to their conversations. When I make a piece like this most of my time is spent listening to it for long periods - sometimes several whole days - observing what it does to different situations, seeing how it makes me feel. I make my observations and then tweak the rules. Because everything in the pieces is probabilistic and because the probabilities pile up it can take a very long time to get an idea of all the variations that might occur in the piece. One rule might say ‘raise 1 out of every 100 notes by 5 semitones’ and another might say ‘raise one out of every 50 notes by 7 semitones’. If those two instructions are operating on the same data stream, sometimes - very rarely - they will both operate on the same note…so something like 1 in every 5000 notes will be raised by 12 semitones. You won’t know which of those 5000 notes it’s going to be. Since there are a lot of these types of operations going on together, on different but parallel data streams, the end result is a complex and unpredictable web.

A. Reflection I
B. Reflection II
C. Reflection III
D. Reflection IV

+ CD in case bound sleeve with 6 page booklet
+ 2LP in printed inners, in printed outer sleeve with download card

Artist Brian Eno


241 Things

Studium Generale 1000things lectures, The Hague

241 Things

Alessandro Gualtieri, known also as ‘The Nose’, was educated in the art of perfumery in Germany and has been involved in various types of projects cooperating with artists, niche brands and fashion designers such as Versace, Valentino, Fendi and Diesel.

The idea for Orto Parisi took root from the fact that he who partially inspired me, my grandfather Vincenzo Parisi, would use buckets to collect both his needs that ultimately ended up fertilising the garden.

In his garden hovered an air of the infinite.

I was struck by repulsion as well as attraction.

This project is my garden I have planted, fertilised, cultivated, and harvested.

Orto Parisi is for those that seize the time in experiencing and diffusing the perfume of life.

‘Bergamot is a very fresh citrus fruit.

‘Mask’ to capture the musky odour expelled by a fresh kill.

Viride comes from Latin meaning ‘green’.

From latin meaning ‘feces’.

In reference to the Roman senator Marcus Junius Brutus, who was known for his lack of eloquence.

Boccanera means ‘dark mouth’ in Italian.

Nature offers dark holes that express sensuality in an erotic dark way.


search > Austin jobs > Austin management/professional

Posted: Sunday, March 12, 2017 11:23 PM

Seeking candidates for a Project Coordinator position in the telecommunications industry. Position will focus on reporting and analyzing data at a high level for projects running currently in New York City and Brooklyn directly to managementAnalyzes and interprets performance metrics on an ongoing basis then effectively communicates findings to decision makersAbility to manipulate large volumes of operational data into meaningful analyses of telecommunication projects Ability to understand and navigate various software packages to generate accurate and timely reportsAssist in development of reports to show trends and forecastsKnowledge: BA/BS in business, finance, or related analytical fieldExpert level skills with MS Excel for performing data analysis and developing reportingStrong quantitative analytical skillset with ability to identify and solve problemsSkills:5+ years of progressive analyst or consulting experienceData Analytics experienceExperience in multi:unit environment strongly preferredAdvanced experience with Microsoft Office, including Excel, and related reporting toolsAptitudes/Ability:Unique ability to interpret data and effectively communicate to a non:technical audienceGreat attention to detail while understanding big:picture objectives and strategyAbility to work in a fast:paced environment ; prioritize multiple projects simultaneously ; adapt to changes in project scopeAbility to build and foster cross:departmental partnerships to achieve common objectivesSelf:directed and highly driven with strong business sense and professional presence Pay Rate: 24:28 per hour + benefits

• Location: Austin


Eidetic Geocentrism

While electrostatic charges and magnetic effects are each possessed of defined polarities, crystals are not. Crystals are electromagnetically neutral in their rest state. Quantitative analysts are at a total loss to explain the physiological response of test subjects to quartz or amethyst crystals. Neurology alone cannot not play a part in these responses since no neural sensors can be isolated and identified with the stimulus. Nerves do not respond to externally applied “neutral” influences.

The analysts can neither explain the response or isolate the stimulus, and deny the possibility of its existence altogether. Academicians can neither explain the obvious physiological reactions to crystals, nor affirm the existence of the phenomenon. In academia what cannot be measured or explained “does not exist”.

Various celestial light sources produce distinct effects on physiology (Reichenbach, White). These effects may be elicited when blindfolded subjects are exposed to pin-sized rays of specific light sources. Lunar light gives warm irritations. Solar light produces cool vitalizations. These effects defy academic reason completely when celestial lights are applied to metal plates and conducting wires.

It is possible, in a completely darkened room, to elicit these phenomenal responses. When hand-held, each celestial light source reproduces its physiological sensations though long conductive wires. In some experimental arrangements, these energies were conducted along silk threads, and again persisted in identically reproducing their effects (Reichenbach).

Analysts do not begin giving neurological explanation for these latter sensitivities. Powerfully experienced by test subjects, these light effects through the hands or skin defy current models.

Academicians and popularity seeking writers maintain that all such unexplained influences are effects of one’s “belief system”, a suggestive state induced by expectation alone. The sharply cutting sensation felt when passing specific quartz crystals over test subjects surpasses our understanding, and guides our vision of us into the study of a far deeper anatomy.

The visceral sensations noted by credible researchers were also accompanied by visual sensations. In completely darkened rooms it is possible to visually detect the presence of magnets, crystals, plants, grounded metals, chemicals, and other humans (Reichenbach). Examinations of the human aura were conducted in sunlit chambers and utilized special chemical dyes (dicyanin) or filter glasses (Crookes glass). Auric anatomy was studied under various conditions, mapped, and used in diagnosing states of disease (Kilner).

aura magicAuric anatomy interpermeates physiology (Kilner). Auric anatomy rules physiology (Abrams, Hieronymus, Drown). Auric anatomy generates and sustains physiology (Pixley). The auric anatomy is exceedingly sensitive, and precedes neurological response (White, Abrams).

The aura interpermeates physiological matter. Organismic integrity derives from the thready enlivening energies which suffuse, permeate, and surpass physiology. Examination of the auric anatomy reveals a complexly threaded interaction whose fundamental supply emerges directly from the ground (White).

Elemental, mineral, and crystalline masses visibly influence the aura (Reichenbach, Kilner, White). The aura responds to solar, lunar, planetary, and stellar influences with greatest sensitivity (Reichenbach). The aura does not evidence any predominating motion through space.

The aura is the living articulate manifestation, manifesting a very definite respiration. The auric diastole is a discharge process which expands articulate threads outward and upward into space. The auric articulation is the most expansive, projective, and space permeating thing known. Its upward space-permeating expansion is a natural process which permits it to systematically traverse deep space. It excels as the organismic sensor.

Elaborate and sublime, these auric radiances and their phenomena excited Victorian researchers with the gradual awareness that they had indeed re-discovered some fraction of the “living” presence.

There is a vaporous auric layer (Reichenbach). Auric vapors rise languidly toward space in specific directions. Auric vapors were called “ectoplasm” by early Victorian researchers. Ectoplasmic vapors were extraordinarily sensitive and responsive to external influences. Ectoplasm was observed for sustained time periods in special black rooms and never exhibited drift in any specified compass direction (Reichenbach). Ectoplasm gradually rises to room ceilings and permeates through.

Ectoplasm is not influenced in any way by wind; wind passes through ectoplasm and leaves it unruffled. Quantitative analysis of such behavior leads to false conclusions concerning ectoplasmic zero-density and super-tensile strength.

Auric discharges reach outward into space (Kilner, Pixley). The auric structure is patterned, detailed, and organized (Kilner). Fine auric patterning is discovered when auric structure interacts with sensitive bioelectric sensors, revealing patterned order (Bradford).

The tools of radionics enable calibrated aura examinations (Drown).

Sensitivity among researchers differs and evidences pre-dispositions toward examining specific portions of the total auric anatomy. The difficulty and confusion of terms among aurographers is eliminated by the employment of instrumental consortium. Rate atlases of different examiners differed only because of the components and configurations utilized. Radionically entuned aura studies permit greater experiential magnifications.

Kircher geocentrismThrough radionic examination certain deep auric thread cores were discovered and studied in great detail. The deepest identifiable auric structure is called Vril, the glowing black radiant auric core.

Rocks evidence certain radiant emissions which probe through their surrounding space in a semi-intelligent manner. The auric structure of trees is more anatomically defined than those of rocks. Each naturally rooted organization partakes more of the whole Vril process operating deep in the earth. Mobile organisms evidence the most elaborate and detailed auric anatomies, with human auric anatomy exceeding all others.

Radionic aura examination focus into specific layers of auric anatomy.

Vril is the glowing, thready, presence which permeates all of Nature in a complexly oiga- nized structure. Vril is the noumenous space within the luminous manifestation. Vril is the directive generative process from which consciousness emerges. Vril organization is evidenced in the ground, in organisms, and in space.

Vril is the deepest auric anatomical layer of our being. Vril interconnects us with everything we experience. The Vril perceptive process envelopes both percipient and perceived in a connective embrace, through which perception is conducted and made complete.

Sensitive ground examination reveals a spaceward procession of black radiant threads: Vril waves. These have been observed by many credible individuals and appear in rare photographs (Devereaux, Corliss). These observations occur in extreme conditions. Their magnified presence appears during lightning storms, and is termed “black lightning”, although no electricity has been associated with their appearance.


Belyi and Chernyi Iius

Iius, Belyi and Chernyi

(White and Black Iius), two rivers in Khakass Autonomous Oblast, Krasnoiarsk Krai, RSFSR. The Belyi Iius (Pikhterek) is 224 km long and has abasin area of 5, 370 sq km, and the Chernyi Iius is 178 km longand has a basin area of 4, 290 sq km. Both rivers originate on theeastern slopes of the Kuznetsk Alatau. On their upper reaches, both are swift mountain rivers; lower down, they flow across thehilly steppes on the western edge of the Chulym-Enisei basin.They are fed chiefly by melting snow. The average annual rateof flow on the Belyi Iius, 55 km from its mouth, is 41 cu m persec. Both rivers are used to float logs. The two rivers eventuallyflow together to form the Chulym River, a right tributary of theOb’.


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Women, autism and intimacy

Hannah Hayward
Challenging misconceptions about autism and empathy: two women with Autism Spectrum Disorder share their experiences

“Does sex matter?” asks Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge. While this brings a smile, it’s a question that relates to one of the hottest and relatively unknown topics of this decade. Is there a difference between female and male autism, and does this difference matter?

The quick answer is yes there is and yes it does. According to current research, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects one in 100 people (or one in 88 if you are in the USA), but what about the male to female ratio? There’s no definitive answer to date, and the reason for this is the burning question on many clinician and researcher’s lips, and broadly the topic of my PhD.

Varying studies place the male to female ratio in the diagnosis of ASD at anything from 2:1 to 16:1. Whatever the true ratio is, there’s been a steady increase in female referrals to diagnostic clinics across the UK in the last 10 years – and yet because of the male bias in both the definition and the diagnostic criteria of ASD, girls are less like to be identified as ASD, even when their symptoms are equally as severe if not as easily identifiable.

Parents, lovers and friends

How does this subject relate to our understanding of intimacy and empathy? Well, autism is characterised as a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people” (The National Autistic Society). When we hear ‘autism’, most are hard-pushed to not draw up memories of watching Dustin Hoffman counting toothpicks in Rainman. While his performance was Oscar worthy, in many ways his portrayal did a disservice to people with ASD. When we visualise autism, we think ‘aloof’, ‘absent-minded Professors’ or people with intense specialist skills involving numbers. Not many would automatically think of parents, mothers, lovers or friends.

During the years I’ve spent in the clinic, the number of autistic people I’ve met who desire friendships far outweigh those who choose loneliness. One step towards understanding this is accepting that people with autism can be empathetic – it’s just that they might show it in a way us ‘neurotypicals’ don’t recognise. One woman, Helen, described to me how sometimes it can be easier to remain detached from a situation and be thought of as distant or aloof than to try to respond correctly and get it wrong with hideous consequences, for example hugging someone at the wrong time or for slightly too long.

Rules and freedom

We, as the general public, take for granted that we understand ‘the rules’, that set of social regulations that help us monitor our behaviour and tell us what to do, and when. Monica (not her real name) explained that autistic women ‘see’ one another through shared experiences and bonds develop fast. She describes her “need to be alone, but not lonely”. “There’s a freedom to being more authentic, to being less focussed on projecting an image of coping and being more open to who we are. It’s liberating. And that’s held together by humans relating and understanding each other,” she says.

It’s a subject I could write about for days, but I feel it’s best to handover to the true experts: two women I’ve had the good fortune to come into contact with through my work. Both Arwen and Robyn are women diagnosed with ASD who have kindly agreed to share their thoughts on intimacy and empathy.

Robyn Steward

I’m a 28 year old woman and I’m on the autism spectrum. I’ve been asked to talk to you about intimacy and empathy. These topics don’t bring a literal lump to my throat, but they make me feel like my heart is breaking.

When I was 20 I was raped. I’ve since found sexual intimacy near impossible, as if part of the man who raped me is still inside me, like an itch you can’t reach.

Being intimate emotionally can be equally difficult. I might seem very open, but I suffer a great deal with mental torment, some of which comes from bullying and people not really understanding me.

Challenging preconceptions

In an NAS (national autistic society) survey last year, 41% of adults on the autism spectrum said they often feel lonely. This is in comparison to 11% of the general population.

Some of the issues people face are due to others’ perception of autism, something which I am actively trying to change by speaking internationally to educate people. I often speak in the media too. It’s a source of information for many, but sometimes this information can prove misleading. When crimes are reported, particularly shootings, Asperger’s syndrome is often brought up. People in the autism community feel that Asperger’s is being blamed, or that the media is saying that people on the autism spectrum are more likely to go around killing people.

Science tells us something different. Professor Simon Baron Cohen gives a great lecture about empathy (see below) and why people on the autism spectrum are mostly the opposite to psychopaths. Psychopathy is a personality type, and it’s often cited as a reason why someone would be able to kill a group of innocent people without caring (however, not all psychopaths are killers). There’s no scientific evidence to suggest that people with autism are more likely to be psychopaths than the general population.

Theory of mind

There are many loving partners, parents, teachers and others who are on the autism spectrum and have to use empathy to be successful in their roles, and do so effectively.

A problem that many people on the autism spectrum have is with something called theory of mind. This means understanding someone else’s perspective. It’s something you have to work at, but it’s not impossible to learn. Having difficulties with theory of mind can make someone more vulnerable, and it’s likely that it’s a contributory factor to the 49% of adults on the autism spectrum who report that they’ve experienced abuse by someone who they thought of as a friend.

People with autism who can speak are often left with no support, as people often assume they’re fine. This is common with women, who tend to be better at masking their autism through speech to the point that they are less likely to be diagnosed. Some people are starting to address the way that assessments are conducted, such as Dr Judith Gould, who works at The Lorna Wing Centre in London. But once again, awareness is key.

People on the autistic spectrum can be caring, sensitive individuals. But sometimes their behaviour can be misinterpreted. When I make my Weetabix, I have to line them up side by side and pour semi-skimmed milk just over the top, then warm them at 650 watts for one minute and mush them up. Some people might describe this as “very OCD.”  First of all, this is disrespectful to people who actually have OCD, but it’s also inaccurate. I do this because my brain processes sensory input differently and certain textures make me gag and throw up.

I don’t feel that autism is a sad part of me or that it leaves me unable to understand others, although it can be hard work. I wish I hadn’t had some of the negative experiences I’ve had, but if I didn’t have autism I’m sure the bullies would just find some other reason to bully and hurt. And that happens to lots of people without autism.

Everyone on the autism spectrum is different. Some don’t want friends, many do. People with ASD sit across the whole spectrum of sexuality, including asexuality.

Arwen Bird

Intimacy is essentially personal. So when you ask, “how does a woman with autism manage intimacy?”, what you’re really asking is, is my boyfriend intimate with me, or with my autism? Does it get in the way? Does it help?

It’s tempting to generalise personal experience, particularly when it gives a sense of shared ground to people too often defined by their isolation. I can’t know how much of my relationships are typical for women with autism, and how much is just me. My intense mix of impulse, adoration and loyalty, for example. Or how I love to look at people I love, and paw at their face. Or how I hate to feel seen by anybody else.

For me autism feels, at its worst, like profound alienation, existential discord. Sweet words from my aspergic boyfriend sometimes seem to have travelled a great distance; no wonder the warmth has drained out of them.

There seem to be two models of experiencing autism: alienation and intensity. Intimacy for me is a place to rest from both of these. Finding someone with whom you can rest in closeness, from alienation and from the intrusion of everyone’s terrible presence, is a rare blessing. Sympatico is hard to discover, which is perhaps why we tend to be so loyal. On the other hand, I know some women with autism find casual intimacy to be the opposite: exhausting.

Navigating social norms

I know a couple who’ve been friends for five or six years and lovers for one. They’re polyamorous and they’re deeply in love, and they couldn’t care less about society’s interpretation of their relationship. I think part of that freedom comes from her autism; from not being intuitively invested in social convention.

But there’s also the couple who’ve been happily married for more than 30 years, who are deeply in love and have always put a lot of effort into ‘being normal’. Their discomfort with anything ‘weird’, from same-sex relationships to simply calling oneself ‘Ms’ instead of ‘Mrs’, always struck me as quite autistic.

If being on the higher-functioning end of the autism spectrum adds anything to quality of life, I’d say it’s a freedom from restrictive social expectations, such as how a relationship ‘should’ work or what gender necessarily entails. I certainly know a higher proportion of autistic people in non-heteronormative relationships than in the general population. Perhaps as autistics we feel freer to exercise our queerness or polyamory, or whatever suits us.

But then there’s the married couple, who seem to feel safest with a clearly prescribed relationship model.

Empathy in excess?

I struggle to strike a balance between intimacy and distance. On the one hand, I feel distanced and at odds with the world, but on the other, I find it hard to remember that I’m emotionally separate from others. Sometimes I empathise so strongly, so instinctively, I experience intimacy where there is none. I’ve seen a man crying on a train, and started to cry for him. Then I went up and hugged him. He didn’t hug back. Of course – it was inappropriate.

But at the time, there was nothing else I could do. I immediately enact everything I feel. It’s taken a lot of training to stop doing this. Sometimes I forget to remember how other people feel, and afterwards feel ashamed to have been so inconsiderate; sometimes I seem to have magnified, rather than reflected, others’ anguish. It’s hit and miss. It’s certainly not a lack of empathy that I experience.

Love drugs

I’m generalising here, but with autism often comes a deep inhibitedness. Ask the ex-wife of the man who flinched whenever she touched him, and didn’t tell her he loved her until she left him. Or there’s my ex, who loved me – but autism is like a thick membrane. Sometimes you can’t reach through it until it’s too late.

The first few times, connection feels like a eureka moment transcending alienation. Once you’ve started, I think intimacy gets easier. But it can be very hard. Sometimes people need help, and I don’t think drugs should be overlooked. How important in life is it to be able to be close?

Much research has been conducted into the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin to assist emotional intimacy in people with autism. MDMA has also been discussed in treating autism, for obvious reasons. Research into LSD is currently being undertaken by Dr Robin Carhartt-Harris at Imperial College to treat some mental illnesses, with strikingly positive results. In a recent lecture I attended, he explained the effects of the chemical on the brain, which include a profound sense of connection and unity.

I believe LSD has helped me immeasurably to connect intimately. Autism carries a kind of mental rigidity, an inhibited ability to commune, a kind of stuck-in-self-ness. These are precisely the feelings LSD is spectacularly good at breaking down, though I can’t explain chemically how because I’m not a neuroscientist. Since the 1960s finished, LSD has become just a sitcom writer’s synonym for ‘wacky’, but I credit it with the beautiful, intimate beginning of my last relationship – both of us autistics, though our identification with the label varies. If we’re able to get over the stigma and take it seriously, I truly believe it has vast potential to help other autistic people.

The same for everyone

So what can be said about intimacy, women and autism? Categorically, nothing. If it was possible for me to generalise my experience to other women, this is what I’d expect:

  • Loyalty.
  • Communication problems, which can happen in any relationship. But when autistics misunderstand, it tends to go deep. Communication skills can, however, be improved.
  • Balance. We struggle with it.

Ultimately intimacy is much the same for women with autism as it is for anybody else – everyone has to work it out for themselves.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Autism can’t tell you.

Robyn Steward is author of ‘The Independent Woman’s Handbook for Super Safe Living on the Autistic Spectrum‘. She’s also a visiting research associate at University College London, an international autism trainer and has previously worked as a mentor with people on the autism spectrum.

Arwen Bird is a British copywriter and head editor of She lives in Prague with her dog, Gandalf.

Hannah Hayward lives, breathes, writes autism research and advocates for increasing the publics’ understanding of women on the spectrum, and indeed the greater well-being of all women. She is a PhD Candidate at the Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London.

Image credit: CC Alyson Hurt

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How The City Is Prepared

How the City is Prepared
Emergencies and disasters, either natural or man-made, can happen in any community at any time. Sometimes prior warning is provided, but many times this is not the case. The result can cause disruptions to services such as electricity, gas and water, impact how we communicate, and may deplete local resources for response and recovery.

Emergency planning is a continuous process of assessment, preparation, exercising, response and evaluation. Every municipality in British Columbia is responsible to develop and maintain emergency plans to mitigate and prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster. The Emergency Management Program Bylaw establishes the legislative framework for these municipal plans.

Maple Ridge shares similar risks with Pitt Meadows and as a result, the Emergency Management Office also works to develop emergency plans and maintain an emergency response structure under a joint operating agreement between the two municipalities.

Guided by an appointed Emergency Planning Committee, these plans aim to ensure the safety of citizens, the protection of property, the environment and the local economy when a disaster strikes.

To prevent or lessen the impact of disasters

The first step to preventing or lessening the damaging effects of natural and man-made disasters on the community
is to identify local hazards and determine the potential impact to our residents, infrastructure, city operations, environment and businesses. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows have identified the following as the
key threats to our communities:

An analysis of these hazards has also been conducted to develop a better understanding of their potential effects. This is commonly referred to as a hazard risk vulnerability analysis. This is what the City uses to develop mitigation strategies and response plans in an effort to prevent or lessen the impact.

PLAN for AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE through education, communication and practice

Priorities of preparedness include identifying and training key personnel in their response and recovery roles, building relationships and agreements with government and non-governmental agencies, maintaining equipment and valuable resources, conducting exercises to test and improve plans, and the development and delivery of educational programs to inform residents and business owners on the risks of disaster, and what they can do to be better prepared. Read more about Maple Ridge’s Emergency Planning.

We all have a role in preparing for emergencies. Ensuring that you, your family, your pets, and your business are ready for a disaster makes the community more resilient. Being individually prepared lessens the chance of personal suffering, economic loss and psychological impacts caused by major disasters. In a major emergency, residents may be on their own for a minimum of 72 hours. To help residents understand the risks, develop their emergency plans, and take action, we aim to deliver key emergency preparedness messages to the public by:

  • delivering Preparedness Workshops;
  • providing information to inform residents of local risks, how to prepare and the related mitigation
    and preparedness activities;
  • hosting special events and attending community events to raise community awareness.

Actions in direct relation to an imminent threat, developing emergency, or immediately following a disaster with the goal to save lives, reduce economic loss and prevent suffering. Included in a response may be the activation of the Emergency Operations Centre, evacuating a neighourhood, declaring a local state of emergency to preserve order, assessing damage, establishing shelters for evacuees through Emergency Support Services, enforcing Disaster Response Routes and delivering emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance.

To restore community life services to normal levels and reduce future vulnerability through improved planning processes. Recovery involves restoring basic services, removing debris, repairing damaged infrastructure, and caring for those who have been displaced. Planning for recovery also includes promoting and encouraging the business community to develop business continuity plans.


Stargate SG-1
Type: Live Action   Origin: Canada/USA   Release Date: 1997

  Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a Canadian-American military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich. The television series was filmed in and around the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. In the United States, Showtime broadcast the first five seasons beginning in 1997 before the series moved to the Sci Fi Channel for its last five seasons. The final episode premiered on Sky1 in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2007, three months before its United States premiere. With 10 seasons and 214 episodes Stargate SG-1 surpassed The X-Files in 2007 as the longest-running North American science fiction
series on television, although Stargate SG-1 itself is expected to be surpassed in this record by Smallville in April 2011, as that series finishes its long run.

The story of Stargate SG-1 begins two years after the events of the feature film. A network of ancient alien devices called Stargates connects a vast multitude of planets within our Milky Way galaxy for interstellar travel. Later episodes reveal that this network is capable of spanning not just planets within the Milky Way, but with sufficient power, can provide intergalactic travel as well. Stargate SG-1 chronicles the adventures of SG-1, the flagship team of over two dozen teams from Earth who explore the galaxy and defend Earth against alien threats such as the Goa'uld, Replicators and later the Ori. The composition of the SG-1 team is stable in the show's first five seasons but changes several times in the remaining seasons. The series expands upon many Ancient Earth mythologies such as Egyptian mythology, Norse mythology, and Arthurian legend. The 2008 direct-to-DVD films Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum continue the adventures of SG-1; the third direct-to-DVD film, titled Stargate: Revolution, was confirmed in April 2009, but has been put on hold.

The series was a ratings success for Showtime and the Sci Fi Channel, and was particularly popular in Europe and Australia. Although it received little critical response, Stargate SG-1 was honored with numerous awards and award nominations in its ten-season run. It also spawned the animated television series Stargate Infinity in 2002, the live-action spin-off TV series Stargate Atlantis in 2004, and the live-action TV series Stargate Universe in 2009. Merchandise for Stargate SG-1 includes games and toys, print media and an original audio series.

  [SOURCES: Wikipedia ]

Available on DVD:


Warfare and Violence in the Iron Age of Southern France

Mags McCartney

This study aims to identify patterns of warfare in the southern French Iron Age through examination of the documentary, settlement, iconographic and osteological evidence for warfare in this region, each within its chronological context and in tandem with one another. The Iron Age of southern France remains relatively unknown in the English-speaking archaeological world. The best known aspects of the archaeological material suggest a society in which warfare was an overriding preoccupation. Major, fortified centres, such as Entremont and Saint-Blaise, and the tradition of 'warrior statues' like those from Entremont and Roquepertuse, suggest that conflict was a recurrent theme. Literary sources, such as Poseidonius have described the indigenous populations of this area as a volatile and warlike people who took the heads of their enemies from the battlefield and displayed or preserved them in their settlements. Finds of skulls, some with nails still embedded in the bone, appear to verify such reports. The pattern of warfare which emerges from this analysis is then discussed within some of the more prominent models of social-anthropological study. This case study offers a more nuanced and contextual interpretation of warfare in the southern French Iron Age and demonstrates how, if treated as a form of social interaction, rather than a breakdown in social norms, might be integrated into wider archaeological interpretations of social and political change.


Read a sample of The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

Reader reviews

from America

It is a beautiful book that tells all the insides and outsides of life and it is in a zombie apocalypse which makes the book even better.

from England

I found this novel thoroughly enjoyable. At first, I was sceptical about the reading, as the narrative is so unique, but after a while, I found myself truly immersed in this beautiful novel. The storyline was truly breathtaking, and it did make me truly consider what would happen to the world if anything like this ever happened. The characters were believable, and Temple seemed so much older than she actually is (which is, of course, how it's supposed to be) - it made one realise that an event like this would truly age people. One criticism I have is the interesting punctuation and grammar. At some points, the sentences were a little disjointed, but it made for a more personal touch to the trauma that the speaker is suffering from. I found the lack of speech marks in my copy (I don't know whether this is universal or not) a little confusing at times, particularly when there were multiple people talking. Other than those small criticisms, I found this novel thoroughly enjoyable and recommend it for anyone who enjoys reading post-apocalyptic fantasy.(Lovely review Zoe. The lack of speech marks threw me at first and I mentioned it to the author. He said it was commonly found in Southern Gothic books. Cormac McCarthy's The Road is written without speech marks - now there's a book I would recommend! Thanks, Lee @ Fantasy Book Review.)

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