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A ship belonging to the Dutch East India Company, the Batavia shipwrecked on her maiden voyage, hitting a reef near Beacon Island in 1629. A subsequent mutiny resulted in a massacre of the survivors. While the Captain and a few crew went for help the survivors were stranded on the rocky atoll with Jeronimous Cornelisz in charge. Cornelisz had been involved with a group of would be mutineers prior to the wreck and fearing they would be rescued and his part in the plot revealed he made a plan to overwhelm the rescuers and steal the boats. He then set about coercing his few faithful followers into murdering the survivors. They killed 110 people but a group of soldiers survived and escaped. When the Captain and the rescue boats arrived Cornelisz and his men failed in their bid to take over the rescue ships and were subsequently tried for their crimes.
Cornelisz and the main mutineers had their hands chopped off and were hung. Two younger accomplices were marooned on mainland Australia, this being prior to European settlement. They were never heard of again. This is just one of many shipwreck stories that have played out along the huge, reefed coastline of Western Australia
It only seemed natural that a shipwreck should feature in the First Peron Cove Mystery, The Lighthouse Keeper. The shipwreck in the story is that of a three masted barque called the Ellinor. Like happened so many times in such cases it was impossible to save the passengers and crew. I wanted the shipwreck to be a catalyst for the events that would unfurl. The remoteness of many shipwrecks also made rescues difficult in the past.
Western Australia has an amazing Shipwrecks Gallery and inside it you can see the slow and fastidious reconstruction of the reclaimed artefacts of the Batavia. You can walk above it and under its looming edifice. There are also the skeletons of some of the victims, painstakingly preserved in glass cases. It's a somber exhibition but what is overwhelming is remembering that The Dutch East India Company was one of the first multinational companies and its ships bravely charted unknown seas in search of spices.

domain: history


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Cambridge, UK – 28 July 2020 – Directed Systems Ltd today announced that it had received a COVID-19 Continuity Grant from Innovate UK to ensure the continuity and completion of its Innovate UK project so its vitally needed clinical decision support technology, Hypotension Decision Assist (HDA)™ can be brought to operating theatres in hospitals as soon as possible.
Hypotension Decision Assist (HDA)™, is a uniquely designed clinical decision support Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) that is installed upon a medically-rated touch-screen computer that supports anaesthetists by providing intuitive visualisation on a single display of at-a-glance time critical information about emerging critical cardiovascular situations to help better manage hypotension during surgery in the operating theatre.
The operating theatre is a high pressurised environment for anaesthetists whose constant vigilance and speedy reactions are needed to perform their job well with appropriate interventions used to keep patients stable and avoid inter-operative hypotension (IOH). IOH can cause poor outcomes, even death – especially in high-risk patients undergoing surgery. Currently operating room multi-parameter patient monitors monitor blood pressure and associated trends but do not provide the clinical decision support information to the anaesthetist that HDA provides. Even short periods of IOH during surgery, where it falls below certain patient specific critical thresholds, may increase the risks of organ injury and other adverse outcomes for the patient.¹ A 2014 study of almost 17,000 anaesthetic records revealed that 26% of the surgical patients involved had a peri-operative systolic blood pressure of < 80 mmHg for > 5 minutes². The threshold for myocardial injury is an operative Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) < 65mmHg. The threshold for renal injury may be higher, possibly nearer 75 mmHg. A few minutes of a MAP < 55mmHg is associated with Acute Kidney Injury and Myocardial Injury and has been demonstrated to increase markedly with prolonged intra-operative hypotension¹.
HDA is indicated to acquire, process and display arterial pressure and other key cardiovascular characteristics of adult patients who are at least eighteen years of age that are undergoing surgery where their invasive arterial pressure is being continuously monitored by a multi-parameter operating room patient monitor . It is indicated for use to assist anesthesia healthcare professionals manage the blood pressure, hemodynamic stability and the cardiovascular system during such surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of a US version of Hypotension Decision Assist (HDA)™ was received in November 2019. Preparations for a US launch are well underway.
About Innovate UK and its COVID-19 grant
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. Innovate UK has made £90 million available as additional COVID-19 Continuity Grants to currently funded project participants to ensure their continuity in and completion of those existing projects.
The funding has been made available to enable SMEs or third sector organisations already supported by Innovate UK to continue and where necessary, complete their projects during the disruption caused by COVID-19. Grants have been made available between £25,000 and £250,000. Any cumulative state aid awarded under the temporary framework cannot exceed €800,000.
To date, the company has been discussing its HDA technology with more than 20 US based hospitals over the last 18 months. The first US hospitals are now beginning to implement the use of HDA within their operating rooms, post the COVID-19 delays. As some hospitals are getting back to normal services, that includes the more routine use of elective surgery.
“We at Directed Systems Limited are delighted that Innovate UK, supported by the UK government, has awarded us with a COVID-19 continuity grant for the launch of our Hypotension Decision Assist (HDA)™” explained Mark Leaning PhD, CEO and Founder of Directed Systems Limited. “The grant underscores the value of our HDA technology and recognises the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had in frustrating our Innovate UK project and the knock-on effect on our launch plans in the US, especially given that access to hospitals has been severely restricted until now. Thankfully, routine elective surgery is now beginning to return. This grant now gives us a shot in the arm to continue to support our project and business plans in a more realistic timeframe in this interpandemic period.”
The company has already been recognised with significant grants made available by Innovate UK. Total funding to date is £1.5 million (including equity and grants) and it has been operating as a very capital efficient business to date. It is now looking to raise further capital to support its expansion plans into the USA and to underpin the work to secure a CE Mark, the regulatory requirement, enabling access to the European market.
1. Walsh M. Kurz A. Turan A. et al. Relationship between Interoperative Mean Arterial Pressure and Clinical Outcomes after Noncardiac Surgery. Anesthesiology 2013; 119 (3);507-505. Doi:10.1097/ALN.0b013e3182a10e26.
2. Nair et al. “Anesthesia information management system-based near real-time decision support to manage intraoperative hypotension and hypertension.” Anesth Analg 2014; 118: 206–214

domain: medical


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Reps. Schrader and Yoho
Reps. Schrader and Yoho
Introduce bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve Public Health Preparedness
For Immediate Release
July 16, 2019
Contact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711
Reps. Schrader and Yoho Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve Public Health Preparedness
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Ted Yoho (R-FL) introduced the bipartisan Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act. This legislation would improve public health preparedness in the event of an emergency by helping federal agencies implement a “One Health” approach. The One Health concept recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment.
“As veterinarians, we are uniquely able to recognize the connections between animal and human health, “said Rep. Kurt Schrader, one of three veterinarians currently serving in the United States Congress. “Diseases like rabies, salmonella, West Nile Virus, and avian flu are all examples of diseases that are seen in animals before humans and can be fatal in both. Improving coordination and communication between veterinarians who work with animals every day and federal agencies who can respond to health outbreaks would no doubt have lifesaving consequences.”
“Coordination between government agencies is essential to address, analyze, and eliminate zoonotic outbreaks. As one of three veterinarians in the Congress, I am honored to join Rep. Kurt Schrader in the bipartisan effort to better prepare and prevent human and animal health emergencies,” said Rep. Ted Yoho, one of three veterinarians currently serving in the United States Congress. “The Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act is a commonsense, bicameral effort to safeguard against the potentially devastating disease outbreaks between animals and humans.”
Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that six out of ten infectious diseases were seen in animals before humans. This legislation would significantly improve coordination between veterinarians and doctors by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a One Health model.
"The Infectious Diseases Society of America is pleased to endorse the Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act, said Dr. Cindy Sears, President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “Humans, animals, and the environment interact more than ever before, and a One Health approach is necessary to develop effective solutions to many infectious disease threats. IDSA greatly appreciates that this bill aims to ensure our nation has the necessary workforce, coordination, and expertise to address disease threats in human or animal populations."
“Veterinarians work on the front lines of disease outbreaks and know firsthand the importance of One Health, and how animal health, public health, and the environment are all connected. We’re grateful to Representatives Schrader and Yoho for their work to advance our capabilities in this area and help us better prepare for and prevent disease outbreaks that can affect humans and animals alike,” said Dr. John de Jong, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
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Every semester, in my junior-level college class of soon-to-be teachers, I run an experiment that consistently yields fascinating but tragic results. On one day of class, usually mid-semester, I instruct the students to leave our classroom in order to conduct a spontaneous research project.
The mission? Find five people anywhere on campus, and ask each a simple question: What is a place from your past that has special significance for you?
After about 25 minutes, students arrive back to class, and I ask them to list all of the places that were named by their research participants on the white board at the front of the class.
The result is a sprawling list of somewhere in the vicinity of 100 places — including a number of repeats. The most common: the house I grew up in, a mountain/beach/other nature-oriented spot, a state (such as Iowa or California), or a room in the house they grew up in (e.g. my kitchen, my basement).
After running this experiment with six separate classes, which includes “special places” from approximately 600 different research participants, what is most shocking is what never makes the list.
The word “school,” any classroom, or any education-related response, is never on the list. None of the spontaneous research participants lists any school-oriented place as having special significance for them.
When my teachers-in-training first become aware of what’s missing, their mouths drop open. After all, they know as well as anyone that we spend the majority of our days growing up in school. At eight hours a day, from kindergarten through 12th grade, we spend more time at school than we do with parents or guardians, playing sports, being in the kitchen, visiting Iowa or California (unless, of course, we live there!), hiking in the mountains, or going to the beach.
So the tragic question is this: Why does school never make the list as a special place? Why don’t we remember our fifth-grade classroom as fondly as we remember our kitchen, or any other place we have spent a lot of our time?
After their shock wears off, my soon-to-be-teachers are ready with an array of ideas: school made us feel less curious; school made us feel scared; school made us feel judged; we didn’t get to show who we really were; we had to be quiet all the time; we had to sit all the time; we had to deal with immense pressure to get as many points as we could to get the highest grades we could. In other words, for many students growing up through our American school system, obedience was crucial. Creativity and experience? Not so much.
How can we change this? What can we do to help K-12 students everywhere learn to love their schools?
Here are a few practical possibilities for us to honestly consider implementing:
* Smaller class sizes. Key question: Is it easier to have a close, meaningful and knowledgeable relationship with more people or fewer people? If we want to create classrooms focused on making meaning for and with students, we need to allow teachers fewer students per class so they can build those deep, meaningful relationships. To pay for such a momentous change, we could spend less money assessing our kids continuously and more money knowing and growing our kids consistently.
* More experiences; more relationships. Key question: What has profoundly impacted me in my own life? The answer usually has to do with significant experiences we have had. We tend to remember things we have done, and when we have done interesting things in the company of people we care about, those memories become profoundly life-altering for us. So, our students in K-12 schools should be having far more experiences, and far less seat work. This means more field trips, more projects, more games outside, more challenges, more physical movement during the school day, more performing their own stories and plays, and more interaction.
* More joy, less conformity. As many highly creative people know, the tangents are where the good stuff lies. We need to encourage our teachers to take tangents with students, have fun, find joy, and enjoy their time in schools. Obedience and efficiency create a prepackaged product; they don’t create long-lasting learning.
These three possibilities can help us reframe what it means to sit inside classrooms for 13 years of life. They represent the highest of all stakes. And maybe they will yield a surprise, down the road, when one of my soon-to-be-teachers comes back from engaging in my impromptu experiment and writes that beautiful, hopeful word on the whiteboard: school.
Luke Reynolds is an assistant professor of education at Endicott College. He taught in public schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts for many years and is a Windsor native.

domain: sociology


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Prof Megan Munsie highly commended Research Australia finalist
Congratulations to Professor Megan Munsie (Dept of Anatomy & Physiology) who was announced as a highly-commended finalist for Research Australia’s Advocacy Award.
Research Australia held their 18th annual Australian Health and Medical Research Awards presentation this year, celebrating the outstanding achievements of individuals and teams in health and medical research throughout 2020 and 2021.
Our congratulations to Professor Megan Munsie, Deputy Director of the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Stem Cell Systems and Convenor of Stem Cells Australia, who was nominated under the Advocacy Award for her work and leadership within the international stem cell research community. She was awarded as a highly commended finalist for the Advocacy Award at this year’s annual awards presentation.
The Advocacy Award recognises and congratulates Australian champions of health and medical research that raise community awareness and understanding about the importance of health and medical research. Professor Munsie’s advocacy and support for community understanding of medical research is reflected by her contribution to the community through the recently launched Stem Cells Australia website, which helps to dispel misinformation and provide independent advice to guide the general population in their understanding of stem cell research. Read more about Professor Munsie’s advocacy work in her article in the latest edition of INSPIRE Magazine.


ปรีไมค์สำหรับบันทึกเสียง ยี่ห้อ Warm Audio รุ่น WA12-500MKII
ปรีไมค์สำหรับบันทึกเสียง ยี่ห้อ Warm Audio รุ่น WA12-500MKII สำหรับใส่ rack 500 series 1-channel Mic/Instrument Preamp with 71dB of Gain Cinemag Transformers hi-Z Setting Changes the tone of both the mic and HI-Z inputs Phantom Power and 20dB Pad
ปรีไมค์สำหรับบันทึกเสียง ยี่ห้อ Warm Audio รุ่น WA12-500MKII from Warm Audio is designed for high gain ( 71 dB) high headroom and low noise. It is suitable for all types of recording applications. It is based around a discrete op-amp the X731 considered to be the predecessor to the modern 2520-style op-amp.
The X731 can achieve vibrant clean and lifelike tones; but can also be driven into mild saturation at much higher gain levels. The WA12-500 MKII can also accept any discrete op-amp which conforms to the ±16V 2520 pin out standard.
The WA12-500 MKII is a completely discrete high voltage dual-transformer microphone preamplifier design with high gain ( 71dB) high headroom low noise and an exciting sonic performance – great for all types of recording applications. A high quality mic preamp is one of the most critical pieces needed to achieve the elusive ‘larger than life’ sound and the WA12-500 MKII is more than capable of delivering.
- Utilizes premium grade input and output USA CineMag transformers
- Can be replaced with other 6-pin 2520 foot-print op-amps for varying tone/flavor
- TONE button – Switches the input impedance from 600 Ohms to 150 Ohms changes the tone of both the microphone and HI-Z inputs
- 2-MOhm true HI-Z input on front panel sends instrument signal through entire circuit including both Cinemag transformers and the discrete op-amp
- Suitable for guitars bass keyboards and other instruments that have a 1/4″ output jack
- Output attenuation control (after the CineMag output transformer) allows for driving the preamp and transformers into saturation
- LED meter gain indication


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A Special Place!Enjoy this 20 acre parcel in desirable Madison Mountain Ranches. This property includes 55 acres of subdivision common ground with river access. Enjoy breathtaking views of 5 mountain ranges with the subdivision bordering National Forest. The clear, crisp waters of Wade and Cliff Lakes are just minutes away. Abundant options for fishing, hunting, hiking, horseback riding and more.
See more listings at: http://www.EnnisMontanaRealEstate.com
MLS ID: 321939

domain: geography


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Nicole Evelina is a multi-award-winning historical fiction and romantic comedy writer. Her most recent novel, MADAME PRESIDENTESS, a historical novel about Victoria Woodhull, America's first female Presidential candidate, was awarded the prestigious B.R.A.G Medallion and was the first place winner in the Women¿s US History category of the 2015 Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction.Her debut novel, DAUGHTER OF DESTINY, the first book of an Arthurian legend trilogy that tells Guinevere¿s life story from her point of view, was named Book of the Year by Chanticleer Reviews and took home Silver for Best New Voice from the Independent Book Publishers Association¿s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards, in addition to winning gold in five additional competitions.Its sequel, CAMELOT'S QUEEN, was named Fiction Book of the Year by Author¿s Circle and Best Second Book by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, took first place in the myth/legend category of the Ozma Awards for fantasy, and was a finalist for four other awards, including the fantasy category of the Midwest Book Awards, where it took second to its prequel, Daughter of Destiny. BEEN SEARCHING FOR YOU, her contemporary romantic comedy, was named a Novel of Excellence by Author¿s Circle, won the romance category of the Midwest Book Awards and took Silver in romance category of the Independent Book Publishers Association¿s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards, in addition to winning three additional romance competitions and finaling in two more.Nicole¿s writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Independent Journal, Curve Magazine and numerous historical publications. She is one of only six authors who completed a week-long writing intensive taught by #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness. As an armchair historian, Nicole researches her books extensively, consulting with biographers, historical societies and traveling to locations when possible. For example, she traveled to England twice to research the Guinevere¿s Tale trilogy.
A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched young cultural observers of her generation, Roxane Gay.
“Pink is my favorite color. I used to say my favorite color was black to be cool, but it is pink—all shades of pink. If I have an accessory, it is probably pink. I read Vogue, and I’m not doing it ironically, though it might seem that way. I once live-tweeted the September issue.”
In these funny and insightful essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of color (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture.
Bad Feminist is a sharp, funny, and spot-on look at the ways in which the culture we consume becomes who we are, and an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we still need to do better.

domain: library


WASHINGTON, July 18 — Following two days of often personal debate, the Senate defied a veto threat by President Bush on Tuesday and approved legislation that would expand federal support of medical research using embryonic stem cells.
White House officials said Mr. Bush planned to veto the measure as early as Wednesday, ignoring the substantial support it won from Senate Republicans, including the majority leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee. It would be the first veto of Mr. Bush’s presidency.
Although the House passed the measure last year, the bill’s supporters do not appear to have the votes to override the veto, meaning the initiative stands almost no chance of making it into law this year.
But the Senate vote was an important moment in the evolving politics of stem cell research, which supporters say could hold the key to breakthroughs in dealing with a variety of medical conditions. Opponents say the bill would encourage the destruction of human embryos and lead the world down a dangerous ethical path. The vote was 63 to 37, with 19 Republicans joining all but one Democrat in support.
Mr. Bush has stood by his decision, announced in 2001, to allow the federal government to pay for research on a limited number of existing embryonic stem cell colonies, or lines.Continue reading the main story
The measure passed Tuesday could, if it became law, greatly expand the number of lines eligible for federal research financing by eliminating the specific restriction imposed by Mr. Bush five years ago. That restriction limited federal research money to lines created before Aug. 9, 2001. Mr. Bush’s restriction was intended to allow some federally financed research while not encouraging further destruction of embryos.
The issue has deeply divided Republicans, many of whom support expanded research on medical or political grounds or both. Backers of the bill pleaded publicly with Mr. Bush on Tuesday to reconsider his decision and allow the federal government to invest more substantially in research on stem cells derived from human embryos that would otherwise be discarded. They said the potential benefits of the research provided needed hope to Americans suffering from a variety of debilitating conditions.
“I can only say, Mr. President, don’t make the first veto you have ever made the veto which dashes these hopes,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California.
Senator Gordon H. Smith, Republican of Oregon and a member of the politically prominent Udall family, recalled the toll that Parkinson’s disease took on three members of his family, including a cousin, the late Representative Morris K. Udall.
“I appeal to my friend, President Bush, in the name of my Udall ancestry to please do not veto this bill,” Mr. Smith said. “To watch people die of such a malady is to instill in one’s heart a desire to err on the side of health, hope and healing, to find a cure if a cure can be found.”
Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said Tuesday that the president would veto the measure because of his belief that federal money should not be spent on research conducted on stem cells derived from human embryos. Mr. Snow said Mr. Bush considered that murder.
“The president is not going to get on the slippery slope of taking something that is living and making it dead for the purpose of research,” he said.
Mr. Snow said the president did intend to sign two other measures passed unanimously by the Senate on Tuesday — one that promotes efforts to obtain stem cells from sources other than embryos and a second that prohibits soliciting or receiving tissue from pregnancies initiated to provide material for research. But the House later threw a wrinkle into those plans when it failed to pass the measure encouraging the development of research on non-embryonic stem cells, leaving its fate in question for now. Democrats said the two secondary measures were a distraction intended to provide political cover to Republicans opposed to the expanded research on embryonic stem cells.
The bipartisan push for Mr. Bush to reconsider his veto threat was joined Tuesday by other prominent Republicans, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, who wrote to the president and urged him not to make his first veto “one that turns America backwards on the path of scientific progress.” Nancy Reagan, the former first lady, who was instrumental in lobbying for a Senate vote on the issue, issued a statement that did not address Mr. Bush directly but said, “Time is short, and life is precious, and I hope this promising research can now move forward.”
Opponents of the legislation said that medical science was already moving beyond the need to use embryonic stem cells and that they could not accept the idea of destroying a potential human life in exchange for potential medical advances.
“Ethical means that we don’t sacrifice life in order to do research to find out more,” said Senator Rick Santorum, Republican of Pennsylvania, an author of the measure encouraging an emphasis on alternative sources of stem cells.
Backers of the legislation said the embryos to be used would come from excess donations for in vitro fertilizations and would be destroyed if not made eligible for research purposes. They said federal dollars would not pay for the process of destroying the embryos to obtain the stem cells, but that the money and availability of new research material would stimulate medical advances. Senator Orrin G. Hatch, a Utah Republican who backed the measure, estimated the policy change could result in as many as 4,000 new stem cell lines becoming available for research through the National Institutes of Health.
“The current policy is eroding our national advantage on stem cell research,” said Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts. “We’re tying our scientists’ hands. We’re holding back our doctors.”
Members of both parties predicted the issue would resonate in this year’s Congressional elections because of widespread public support for the added research.
“The American people are watching, and they will not take kindly to seeing their last flicker of hope being extinguished,” said Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat seeking election to a full term after being appointed to office.
Despite nearly 150 veto threats, Mr. Bush has not sent a single piece of legislation back to Capitol Hill, where his Republican allies control both the House and Senate and have shied from such confrontations.
House members were so rusty with how to handle a veto override that Representative John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio and the majority leader, was temporarily stumped Tuesday when pressed by reporters on what the exact procedure would be. The last measure subject to an override was a water projects bill rejected by President Bill Clinton in 2000.
Mr. Boehner was clear, however, that Republicans were eager to quickly dispose of the politically charged issue. “The sooner the House speaks to the issue,” he said, “the better.”Continue reading the main story


An issue was discovered in cookie encryption in phpMyAdmin. The decryption of the username/password is vulnerable to a padding oracle attack. This can allow an attacker who has access to a user's browser cookie file to decrypt the username and password. Furthermore, the same initialization vector (IV) is used to hash the username and password stored in the phpMyAdmin cookie. If a user has the same password as their username, an attacker who examines the browser cookie can see that they are the same - but the attacker can not directly decode these values from the cookie as it is still hashed. All 4.6.x versions (prior to 4.6.4), 4.4.x versions (prior to 188.8.131.52), and 4.0.x versions (prior to 184.108.40.206) are affected.
With Rapid7 live dashboards, I have a clear view of all the assets on my network, which ones can be exploited, and what I need to do in order to reduce the risk in my environment in real-time. No other tool gives us that kind of value and insight.
– Scott Cheney, Manager of Information Security, Sierra View Medical Center


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70s -Missing Label- Womens natural cream polyester sheer knit floral lace button front shirt with mandarin inspired collar, modest v-neckline, darted bust, box cut hem and three quarter length belled sleeves. In stock.
36Bust (Womens Medium)
Approx Shipping Weight 0.65 lbs.
Questions? View our Help Page or contact Jen at firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: design


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Very soon Android user will start testing an android app available in google search results before you decide to download and install it on your device.
As Google has announced that it will allow Android users try out an app available in search results before installing it on their android device. The move as described by Google is an attempt to make downloading an app more enjoyable.
The search Trial run Ads will be initially made available to users based in the United States, and gradually they will extend it to other countries.
Android users will be allowed to play the app up for 10minutes over a WiFi or data connection and after testing it for 10minutes they can now decide whether to download it in full or move on to another application.
This is a great benefit to all app developers since it will drive highly qualified users to the app who are more likely to remain engaged with it even after a long time has passed since its installation.

domain: news


Have your say on Election Day
After all the mudslinging, negative ads, debates, mailings, phone calls, we have finally arrived at Election Day.
Once you cut through all that, the big question becomes: Who do you want to lead your state? Who will best represent you in Congress and the Legislature? Who will best run county offices?
We can help with those questions and others regarding today's vote:
• Check out our Meet the Candidates page online — http://gbpg.net/1sRfKjo — to see where the candidates stand without all the noise and negativity of campaign ads may succeed in turning people off of elections than provoking them to vote for their candidates.
We turned over the Opinion page to the candidates in the weeks leading up to today's general election. We've compiled that information in one handy place on our website.
The page includes essays from the candidates on the ballot for the following races: governor, attorney general and Brown County clerk of circuit court
The following races include an essay and a "Take 5 …" video interview in which we asked each candidate five questions, one minute per answer: 8th Congressional District; 1st Senate District; 1st, 4th, 5th, 88th and 90th Assembly Districts; and Brown County treasurer.
Nowhere will you find the type of information, and misinformation, seen in the campaign ads or the "October surprise" sort of stories that have coincidentally come up the week leading up to the general election.
• If you're unsure who's on your ballot or where you should be voting, you can go to My Vote Wisconsin, myvote.wig.gov, and find that out. You can also see your voting history (only the dates, election name and where you voted, not whom you voted for) and be either impressed or chagrined by it.
There's also a handy "Information About Voting" link where you can find answers to such questions as, where do I vote if I recently moved?
You can also go to the Brown County website, www.co.brown.wi.us, and click on the Election Information link to access sample ballots and view election results
• The state's voter ID law will not be enforced today. The U.S. Supreme Court changed that on Oct. 9 when it overturned an appeals court decision that had reinstated the law, saying it could lead to voter confusion.
You will not need a photo ID to vote. But you must show proof of residence if you have to register to vote, and this can be done with a driver's license or state ID card with a current address, according to Brown County Clerk Sandra L. Juno. You can also use such documents as a bank statement, paycheck, utility bill as proof of residence as long as those items have your name and current address. You can find more information on proof of residence at the Government Accountability Board website: http://1.usa.gov/1wZowSL
The Government Accountability Board predicts voter turnout will be about 56.5 percent. That would be 2.5 million votes. The presidential election in 2012 saw a 70 percent turnout.
We hope that you exercise your constitutional right to vote today and boost that turnout. Too often voting is a right taken for granted. It's your chance to have a say in who's representing you, whether it's in the county, Madison or Washington, D.C.
Have your say. Head to the polls and vote.


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Yellowthroat is a symbol of wisdom, protection, and harmony. They are often associated with the sun and the energy of light. The yellow color of their feathers represents positivity, happiness, and joy. Yellowthroats symbolize the importance of inner strength and resilience in the face of challenges.
Yellowthroat Spirit Animal
The Yellowthroat spirit animal serves as a guide for those seeking clarity and focus in their lives. It teaches the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in navigating through life's obstacles. Yellowthroat spirit animal brings with it a sense of joy and lightness, helping individuals connect with their inner wisdom and intuition.
Yellowthroat Totem Animal
Yellowthroat totem animal represents inner peace, creativity, and spiritual growth. Those who resonate with the Yellowthroat as their totem animal are often artistic, intuitive, and have a deep connection to nature. Yellowthroat totem animal encourages individuals to embrace their unique gifts and talents and to trust in their inner voice.
Yellowthroat Power Animal
The Yellowthroat power animal brings with it the energy of transformation and renewal. It empowers individuals to break free from limiting beliefs and embrace their true potential. Yellowthroat power animal also symbolizes protection and resilience, guiding individuals to stand strong in the face of adversity.
What it means if you see a Yellowthroat
Seeing a Yellowthroat in your path is a sign to embrace joy and positivity in your life. It may indicate that you are on the right path and that you have the strength and resources to overcome any challenges that come your way. Take the sighting of a Yellowthroat as a message to trust in your intuition and follow your heart.
Yellowthroat Positive Meaning
The positive meaning of encountering a Yellowthroat includes guidance, protection, and a sense of renewal. It signifies the presence of light and joy in your life, encouraging you to stay positive and optimistic. Embrace the Yellowthroat's energy as a reminder to focus on the good and let go of negativity.
Yellowthroat Negative Meaning
On the flip side, the negative meaning of coming across a Yellowthroat may suggest a need to address feelings of insecurity or doubt. It could be a sign to pay attention to your inner voice and work on building confidence and self-esteem. Seeing a Yellowthroat in a negative light may prompt you to release any fears or worries that are holding you back.

domain: psychology


Berg Violin Concerto
Beethoven Christ on the Mount of Olives
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Lisa Batiashvili violin
Elsa Dreisig soprano
Pavol Breslik tenor
David Soar bass
London Symphony Chorus
Simon Halsey chorus director
London Symphony Orchestra
Tickets: £57 £42 £32 £22 £16
£5 under-18s tickets available
£3 online booking fee, £4 telephone booking fee per transaction - click here for more information on booking fees
Part of the main season multibuy - click here for more information on multibuys
Part of the 2019/20 season
Please note that finish times are approximate and subject to change
Marrying emotive force with theatrically, Sir Simon Rattle sheds light on a rarely performed Beethoven masterpiece and Berg’s lyrical Violin Concerto with Lisa Batiashvili.
Lisa Batiashvili brings sensitivity and supple technique to Berg’s Violin Concerto, an ode to lost youth composed after the death of Alma Gropius’ daughter, aged just 18. Berg did not survive to hear the premiere of the concerto, which combines experimentation with lyrical melodies, ending with variations based on a hymn tune by Bach.
In the words of Sir Simon Rattle, Beethoven is ‘absolutely inescapable’, especially in the year of his 250th anniversary. Nevertheless, Christ on the Mount of Olives is a rarely heard masterpiece, which combines the emotive force of the composer’s later Missa Solemnis with the theatre of a Bach Passion. With orchestra, chorus and soloists, it tells the story of Jesus’ prayer and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Part of Beethoven 250 at the Barbican
'What Rattle made clear is that the music is full of life. It is hard to imagine this performance being bettered.' (Richard Fairman, Financial Times, ★★★★)
'In the hands of Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven's only oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives sparkled very brightly indeed.' (David Karlin, Bachtrack, ★★★★)
Lisa Batiashvili's performance 'is flawless'. (Michael Church, Independent, ★★★★)


text:
Call to arms for paradise
St Helena's Errol Duncan is offered refreshment during the marathon. He finished last.
Photo: Jason South
ONCE a year on the small South Atlantic island of St Helena, about 150 people come together to compete in a full-bore rifle-shooting tournament.
On the face of it, this does not seem like too significant an occurrence. But when you factor in the island's population of 7460, it becomes the equivalent of 600,000 Australians toddling down to the rifle range on a Saturday morning.
St Helena has sent four athletes to the Commonwealth Games, of whom two, Simon Henry, 33, and 16-year-old Mario Yon, are small-bore shooters.
Joining them are Errol Duncan, 45, who finished last in the marathon yesterday, and 21-year-old swimmer Kyle Tingler, winner of his heat in the 50 metres butterfly on Friday night.
"Shooting is considered one of the national sports. I'm not sure why, but it has been for quite a few years now," said Henry, who lives in England.
"It's just rifle. We do full bore once a year; it's one competition, one event, usually on a Saturday or a Sunday. We've got various categories for experience, so you've got first-class, second-class and third-class. We've had a lot of the islanders leave who used to shoot, like me for instance, so shooting has become a little bit less popular."
As well as target shooting, Henry said the islanders indulged in the hunting of small game such as rabbits and pheasants, neither native to St Helena.
Although football and cricket are also popular, Henry said the costs involved in sending teams overseas were prohibitive. St Helena, where Napoleon was famously exiled, lies some 1600 kilometres off the coast of Angola, and has no airstrip. It took the team nine days to make its way to Melbourne by boat and plane.
Cricket might be popular, but if the reaction of the team around Viv Richards at the weekend was anything to go by, it still has a lot of work to do on the island.
When the St Helena chef de mission, Gilbert Yon, heard the Master Blaster was at Melbourne International Shooting Club, he hared off in search of the cricket great. When he found Richards, he beckoned furiously for his team to join him in a photograph with his hero.
The photo taken, Yon pumped the hand of Richards while Tingler turned and mouthed, in all seriousness, "Who was that?" Duncan was just as puzzled, but seemed satisfied, when told the man's identity, that he had been in the presence of a sporting legend.
Earlier in the day, Mario Yon and Henry finished 18th in the 50-metre rifle prone pairs, won by England, and today they will take to the range again in the 50-metre three-position pairs.
Yon is in his final year of school on the island and, before this, had never been off St Helena, so he is understandably quite shy, letting Henry do most of the talking, although he did say with youthful understatement that the experience was, "something different to look forward to".
Henry has been in England for seven years, going home once every two years, and his already complex accent (a mixture of Caribbean, West Country English and west African) now has a London twang. He said he did not get homesick often, but when he described his homeland, his eyes sparkled.
"Some say it's the paradise island," he said. "There's minimal crime, you can leave your doors and your car unlocked, children play in the streets until they want to come home. It's a really nice environment to grow up in."
ST HELENACAPITAL: Jamestown.
MELBOURNE 2006: With four athletes, St Helena has one of the smallest teams at Melbourne 2006.
MANCHESTER 2002: No medals.
MOST GOLD MEDALS AT A COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Competed in the 1982, 1998 and 2002 Games but has not won a medal.
RECORDS: Holds no Commonwealth Games records.
HOSTING: Has never hosted, and is never likely to host, a Commonwealth Games.
TRIVIA: St Helena is a group of islands in the South Atlantic, about midway between South America and Africa. It is a British overseas territory. It lies 1931 kilometres off the coast of Angola. Access is by boat, so taking part in the Games is a real challenge. Its most famous resident was Napoleon Bonaparte, who was exiled there from 1815 until his death in 1821.


Trinity JCR President: council risking student safety to save money
“Cambridge is not some kind of hamlet whose roads aren’t used after midnight,” he said.
Trinity’s JCR President is urging students this year to oppose Cambridge Council’s plans to shut off a majority of street lamps in the area between 12:00 am and 6:00 am.
The change is planned to take place halfway through next year, and intended to save thousands of pounds.
This alteration is bad for Trinity students – including most second years – because those returning to Burrell’s Field will have no lit path while coming back from a night out.
This is despite the fact that in 2009 there were a number of incidents near Burrell’s Walk leading the college to introduce a minibus shuttle service.
Other areas that will be plunged into darkness as you try to get home from a night out include West Road, Trinity Lane, Senate House Passage, All Saints Passage and Free School Lane.
Trinity’s JCR President, Cornelius Roemer, criticised the plan, which Women’s Officer Charlie Chorley has previously had a go at.
“County Council plans to switch off the majority of street lights in the heart of Cambridge from 12:00 am to 6:00 am to save money. This is a terrible idea. Cambridge is not some kind of hamlet whose roads aren’t used after midnight. One of the proposed dark zones is the foot path from Trinity Lane to the University Library via Orgasm Bridge.
“This is a highly populated path after midnight by students returning from the City Centre after having visited friends or gone out. Switching off lights will make students feel less safe at negligible energy savings of 12 pounds per year per lamp.
“This is an outrageous loss of safety perception for the savings. Trinity College’s Students’ Union will fight against this and we encourage all students to write letters to their County and City Councillors protesting against the cuts.
“Rather than switching off street lights, the County should invest in energy saving LED lamps.”


text:
Monsoon, the season for gaarm-garam snacks and hot beverages, is being welcomed at Maia with the Pakoda & Chaat Festival. Oh, and did we mention that Mai is a fully vegetarian restaurant? Why should meat eaters have all the fun?
Walk into Maia’s little oasis and select from any of the Pakodas and Chaats from our special menu featuring Banana Flower Pakodas, Sweet Potato Pakodas, Bread chutney Pakodas, Mangodi Chaat, Shakkarkand Chaat, Aloo Tikki Chaat, to name a few.
Each plate of pakodas or chaat comes with a complimentary cup of Tea made with the house pounded traditional Gujarati Chai Masala. So, grab the gang and head over to Maia to get over the blues of the grey skies and enjoy the rains in the garden city
Date: June 1st 2018 onwards
For Reservations call: 95138 87771
Price: INR 400 (Approx for two)
Time: 12 Noon to 11:00 PM
Date: Monday to Friday
Venue: Maia Restaurant, Green Glen Layout, Bellandur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 56010

domain: food


text:
Litecoin is one of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the world. Hence, many say it is the second-best “coin” for online gambling. This digital currency is based on blockchain technology and was launched in 2011.
Litecoin is an Internet currency. The idea behind Litecoins is to enable instant online payments and transfers directly from peers to peers without an intermediary. In other words, to avoid unnecessary costs and to guarantee anonymity.
Here you can play the best live casino games
Litecoin Live Casinos
As a quick and easy-to-use means of payment, Litecoin is becoming very popular, partly because more and more online casinos are accepting it for different financial transactions. Moreover, one small distinction between the two most popular cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Litecoin, is what sets the latter apart and makes it more popular with the online gamblers.
This small yet crucial difference is that Litecoin blockchain processes transactions faster (depositing and cashing out) and is capable of handling higher transaction volumes. Not only can it handle transactions more swiftly, but it is also cheaper than Bitcoin, so it’s no surprise that Litecoin is gaining momentum and being accepted in more online casinos than before.
To start, you first need to find a secure e-wallet in which to store your funds. There are many different options, from the mobile, web, desktop, and hardware wallets. Some of the most well-known are Jaxx, LiteVault, LoafWallet, Exodus, Ledger Nano S, and TREZOR. The last two are hardware wallets you can purchase separately. Hardware wallets are the most secure storage options. However, this superb security is coming with a “superb” price-tag: up to $100.
Another vital thing to know about Litecoin is the existence of Litecoin faucets. These are specific incentives, usually on a web page or an app, where you can earn small amounts of ‘litoshi,’ the one-millionth part of 1 LTC. Faucet’s aim is to educate people and popularize cryptocurrencies. You can finish some simple tasks, and some of them even allow you to decide how often to claim your prize. The most popular Litecoin Faucet is Moonliteco. Besides a faucet, Litecoin can be purchased with regular currencies and other payment methods.
How to Deposit via Litecoin?
First, make sure to check you have picked the cryptocurrency-based online casino with a live casino you like. Then find the cashier page and select the Litecoin to fund your casino account. You will be provided with a generated wallet address. Write it down as it is needed to finish the transaction. In some casinos, you will get a more suitable way of acquiring the wallet address – by scanning a QR code.
The next step is to enter the address the casino gave you into your e-wallet. Then specify the amount you want to deposit and confirm. It may take several minutes before the money is available for spending from your casino balance, but usually, the transaction is swift.
It is good to know that some casinos may reward the punters that make deposits in Litecoin with some generous bonuses, such as a welcoming bonus. Furthermore, a faucet is also typical in those casinos, as one more incentive to gamblers to collect more ‘litoshi’ and revisit the site.
How to Withdraw via Litecoin?
The vast majority of crypto casinos that allow deposits with these currencies will also allow you to withdraw the winnings the same way. However, be careful as there are exceptions, so before signing up with a casino, make sure to familiarize yourself with all the details regarding the cash-out.
The withdrawal is simple. Visit the banking page and select Litecoin as your withdrawal option. Enter the address of your wallet and choose the amount you wish to collect. The transfer should also be processed quickly.
Transfer Times, Fees, and Security
In most cases, the withdrawal procedure is fast, but in some online casinos, it may take a couple of days. A few gambling sites are offering instant payouts. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see a casino imposing a minimum threshold to precondition the withdrawal.
As for depositing, the transfer is much faster, although there may be some delays, and the casino could charge a fee. The costs for depositing with Litecoin are insignificant. If you decide to buy a cryptocurrency on the market, you may incur certain costs.
The processing of a transaction lasts about 2.5 minutes thanks to the advanced blockchain technology. This is the reason why many gamblers prefer Litecoin to Bitcoin that needs 10 minutes to finish the action.
And finally, one of the biggest advantages of using these payment solutions is security. Cryptocurrency eliminates the need for credit cards, and, consequently, the need to use personal and sensitive data online.

domain: finance


text: We report the case of a 59-year-old man with primary intestinal T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed abnormal facial twitching synchronous with small palatal movements induced by attempts at speaking or swallowing. At rest, the electromyogram (EMG) showed no spontaneous muscular activity. Phonation triggered trains of synchronous, rhythmic EMG bursts at a frequency of 3–4 Hz lasting 10–20 s, with an average burst of 150 ms, which simultaneously involved palatal, facial, and neck muscles bilaterally with left-sided predominance. An enhanced blink reflex recovery curve was observed after stimulation of either side. Backaveraging electroencephalographic study revealed no activity that was time locked with the jerks. Axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed an increased signal intensity and bilateral enlargement of the inferior olives. No antineuronal-specific antibodies were found in the blood or in the cerebrospinal fluid. All of these clinical findings were consistent with a symptomatic palatal tremor (PT). Because it was triggered by activation of cranial muscles, we termed this movement disorder action PT. To our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic PT displaying these features.


text:
John Edwards came back on Sunday to a rainy New Orleans, the city where he kicked off his presidential bid last December, to start a three-day tour of poverty-stricken parts of the rural South and the urban Midwest in a bid to draw attention to one of his main campaign issues: the elimination of poverty.Howie P.S.: The WaPo now has a story, too: "Democrat Edwards starts poverty tour." I can't help asking, is there anyone named Edwards out there in the world that journalists work in who isn't a Democrat?
It is unclear whether Mr. Edwards has made any headway among poor voters. A Washington Post-ABC poll in July showed that he drew scant support from Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents with household incomes under $20,000. Mrs. Clinton got the bulk of the support at 55 percent, Mr. Obama drew 20 percent and Mr. Edwards received 10 percent.
Monday, July 16, 2007
"Edwards Embarks on Tour in South to Focus on Poverty"


An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron takes off for a night training mission at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany on Sept. 28, 2017. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder/U.S. Air Force
Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force for Intelligence Test Instrumentations Kits for use on the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile flight tests for telemetry and flight termination purposes, the company announced on Tuesday.
The $44.1 million deal seeks to test the AGM-158 during flight, with Lockheed Martin saying these upgraded Intelligent Test Instrumentations Kits will "eliminate obsolete parts from previous generation test kits" which can be used on several different missiles.
"The new iTIK provides a next generation telemetry kit for both JASSM baseline and Extended Range missiles, as well as the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile," Kim Oyler, program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a press release. "The electronic components in this new kit will provide enhanced reliability over the previous generation's mechanical configuration."
In July, Lockheed Martin received a $37.7 million contract action for the continued development of a new wing design for the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range.
The new wing design will provide greater range for the JASSM-ER, which currently can strike targets more than 550 miles away.
The AGM-158 JASSM is a long-range air-launched cruise missile with a stealthy radar-evading airframe. It uses an infrared seeker and GPS guidance to autonomously strike fixed targets at long ranges with a 1,000-pound penetrating blast warhead.
The standard model can be mounted on most Air Force and Navy fighters and bomber aircraft, while the JASSM-ER is currently deployed on the B1B Lancer heavy supersonic bomber. The ER version is being adapted for use with other aircraft.


text:
THE first three-dimensional image capturing a critical malaria ‘conductor’ protein could lead to the development of a new class of antimalarial drugs.
Researchers from Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute developed WEHI-842, a drug that blocks the malaria parasite protein plasmepsin V, killing the parasite. The discovery is a new step towards developing much needed new drugs for treating and preventing malaria.
The research, led by Professor Alan Cowman, Dr Justin Boddey, Dr Tony Hodder, Dr Brad Sleebs and Dr Peter Czabotar was published today in the journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology.
Professor Cowman said the detailed, three-dimensional molecular structure of the protein plasmepsin V was a significant step towards a new antimalarial drug.
“Plasmepsin V acts like a bus conductor, giving each protein that needs to leave the parasite a stamp of approval and a ticket to the correct destination,” Professor Cowman said. “It is an important target given its critical role in the survival of malaria parasites and expression at all stages of its lifecycle,” he continued.
“There has been significant interest in solving the structure of plasmepsin V, which has been a very tricky venture given the nature of the protein. Using the potent drug WEHI-842, we were able to stabilise the protein sufficiently to detail its molecular structure, which will be critical in developing this new class of antimalarial drugs.”
Dr Boddey said targeting plasmepsin V would effectively kill the two species of malaria that caused significant death and disease.
“WEHI-842 is a very effective agent in preventing the growth and survival of Plasmodium falciparum,” Dr Boddey said. “Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly form of malaria parasite, causing most of the 800,000 deaths from malaria each year. Plasmodium vivax is also particularly insidious because it can hide in the body for long periods of time without symptoms, causing disease relapses much later.”
Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria each year, with more than 200 million people infected. Malaria kills up to 700,000 people each year, predominantly children under the age of five. Current antimalarial drugs are becoming less effective as the parasite develops resistance to the drugs, making the search for new targets that can kill all species of malaria critical.
Dr Boddey said malaria parasites were shape shifters, changing how they look and how they act throughout their lifecycle to help them evade detection and elimination in the body.
“WEHI-842 is able to strongly bind to and disrupt the function of plasmepsin V, preventing the release of proteins that are critical for shaping the parasite’s environment and, effectively, killing it,” Dr Boddey said. “Plasmepsin V is expressed by the different shapeshifters across the lifecycle so we should be able to kill these different forms as well.”
Professor Cowman said the biggest challenge for the team was developing an agent that could cross the barriers that protect the malaria parasite as it hides within the cell.
“The malaria parasite hides exceptionally well in the liver and red blood cells, with four walls between the bloodstream and the protein we are targeting,” Dr Boddey said.
“We are now collaborating with a pharmaceutical company to identify drugs that act in the same way as WEHI-842, but are able to find a way through these four walls to access the parasite hidden deep inside the red blood cell.”
The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and the Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Program.
Image: Professor Alan Cowman (left) and Dr Justin Boddey have captured the first 3-D image of a critical malaria ‘conductor’ protein, which could lead to new antimalarial drug (Credit: Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research).
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.

domain: chemistry


HR/P Modernization program
The Human Resources/Payroll (HR/P) Modernization program is a multi-year initiative to replace the University of Washington’s 33-year-old legacy payroll system with Workday, a modern, integrated HR/P system. The program is the largest single administrative initiative ever undertaken at the University and the UW’s highest administrative priority.
Benefits of the new system
Workday will transform the University’s HR and payroll operations, significantly improving compliance, reducing risk, providing better data for decision making, and increasing efficiencies across the institution. It will enable people across the University to work more efficiently by having consistent, streamlined and modern HR and payroll practices, as well as user-friendly online resources. Workday also offers modern capabilities that will enable the UW to attract and retain the best people.
This effort marks a major step in a larger effort to transform the UW’s administrative infrastructure to better support the University into the future.
The program provides a unified approach that brings together all of the related projects, including:
- UW Workday
- Human Resources Information Systems
- HR/P Intersections
- Office of Academic Personnel
- UW Medicine
- School of Medicine
- Integrated Service Center
In addition, the program’s centralized Program Management Office (PMO) enables both technology and people readiness through coordinated leadership: The PMO manages all of the HR/P projects, as well as the Test and Deploy and Integrated Change Management (ICM) functions. The ICM team, in turn, supports the transition to Workday using a people-first approach designed to help units work effectively with the new system and newly streamlined business processes.
The program structure allows for better oversight across all aspects of the effort, ensuring a unified approach to risk identification, management and mitigation, and better transparency and accountability.
To find out more, please visit the HR/Payroll Modernization program website.
Executive Program Director
Email | 206-616-4933


text:
PHOENIX – Raiders edge rusher Aldon Smith has been banished from the NFL for over 16 months now as a repeat offender of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Commissioner Roger Goodell hasn’t ruled on Smith’s reinstatement application and it’s hard to imagine movement coming soon on that front after a pair of recent run-ins with the law.
He was reportedly involved in a domestic incident and was questioned by San Francisco police last month. Then he was a passenger in a vehicle that hit an unmarked police car on March 10, an incident where the driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Smith seemed out of sorts when interviewed by media after emerging from a San Francisco police station.
Smith’s banishment states he can’t have contact with Raiders personnel outside the director of player engagement, a stipulation head coach Jack Del Rio has criticized in the past.
He did so again Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings, saying it’s unfortunate the organization can’t support Smith during difficult times.
“It’s a little bit frustrating to not be able to be a part of the process,” Del Rio said. “My feel is that I could help him, but the experts know. The experts don’t allow that. We have to follow the rules.
“It does get frustrating to not be able to help a young man and provide support and provide structure. Somebody else has to make those decisions. It’s just out of my hands.”
The Raiders can’t petition for greater involvement, and are therefore in a wait-and-see mode regarding their troubled, yet talented player.
“He has to get himself together,” general manager Reggie McKenzie said. “(Smith’s status) is totally on the league office. They know more than what we know.”
PHOENIX – Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will soon enter a contract year. There is zero chance he becomes a free agent.
The Raiders plan to work out a contract extension with their franchise quarterback this offseason, and have budgeted appropriately for what will assuredly be a massive deal.
Both sides want to get a deal done, and general manager Reggie McKenzie said there has been good communication toward that end. This should ramp up, however, later in the spring.
There isn’t a huge rush and Carr isn’t pressing to get a deal done.
“He knows what we’re trying to do in free agency, and he’s never saying, ‘I need to know now. It’s not like that,” McKenzie said. “More likely, the serious talks will happen after the (NFL) draft. The communication has been ongoing, just talking about the philosophy of a contract and the thought process around it. Hopefully when the serious talks start going, then it’s going to be easier.”
Carr is the first of three extensions the Raiders hope to complete with players from McKenzie’s revolutionary 2014 draft class.
Edge rusher Khalil Mack will get a huge deal in time, though the Raiders can exercise a fifth-year option in his contract for the 2018 season. McKenzie also said the Raiders would like to extend right guard Gabe Jackson, a three-year starter who has been a rock on the interior offensive line.
Those three guys won’t be cheap, which is why the Raiders were more conservative in free agency than years past.
“We’re going to try and get our quarterback signed. We want to get Khalil signed , and at the same time we’re trying to sign Gabe,” McKenzie said. “You have to allot some money for those guys. With that being said, we didn’t have the opportunity to go after guys like we did last year, at those numbers.”


text:
Rock and roll don’t need reason, and it don’t need rhyme. Deafness, however, does. Unfortunately for AC/DC’s stalwart Brian Johnson, decades of fronting one of the loudest bands on the planet constitutes that reason, and his doctors have forced him to give up touring lest he risk total hearing loss.
In a brief post on the band’s website, the band revealed they’d be postponing the next ten legs of their massive Rock or Bust world tour to deal with the news. That means fans across the eastern stretch of the United States will have to forego their regularly-scheduled Acca Dacca.
However, the band did tell fans the shows will be likely be made-up later in ’16, most likely with some guest vocalists.
Drummer Phil Rudd, who’d been helming the skins for 20 years, was also waylaid in 2014 after some pretty onerous run-ins with the law. Unfortunately, they weren’t the celebrated-in-rock-anthem kind of wrongdoings, and he was placed under house arrest in New Zealand for threatening to kill and methamphetamine possession.
Then, of course, there was Bon.
Get well soon, Brian.
Photo: Jason Squires / Getty.

domain: entertainment


In this month's Glimmer Train bulletin, there's a lovely piece by Kathryne Young called "On Writing, Not Writing, and the Writing Life."
Here's a brief snippet:
Joan Didion writes, "The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily, in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself."
My mother told me something similar when I was young: you don't get to choose whether you're a writer; your only choice is whether to be a writer who writes or a writer who doesn't. What she didn't tell me then, though I'm certain she knew, is that if you're a writer and you're not writing, you will never quite be happy.
Or go straight to the entire Glimmer Train bulletin!


text:
Summer isn’t complete without a bowl of strawberries and the very best are those just-picked from the garden, still warm from the sun and bursting with flavour.
They are among the easiest of fruits to grow, taking care of themselves and suitable for growing in the smallest of spaces. Containers, strawberry pots and even hanging baskets are all ideal if ground space is limited.
When it comes to varieties, they divide into three main types: summer fruiting, ‘perpetual’ with a longer harvesting season and tiny alpine strawberries.
Summer and perpetual varieties produce the familiar big berries and prefer a good sunny spot, although they will cope with semi-shade. Plant early, mid and late-season varieties to get the longest picking season, or choose a perpetual, which should produce fruit from July to into autumn.
For cooler, shadier conditions, alpine strawberries are the answer. The fruits are tiny, with an intense, often perfumed, flavour. They are perfect for edging a vegetable bed or alongside a path in an ornamental potager.
Strawberries like soil that has been enriched with good compost or other organic matter and that’s slightly on the acidic side. Prepare the site well and make sure it’s been weeded.
Plant in late summer or mid-spring – alpine strawberries can be raised from seed but plants are easier and not expensive. Put plants 30cm apart with a 1m gap between rows and ensure the crown is at soil level. If you plant in spring, remove the first season’s flowers to allow the crowns to establish.
Strawberries will need to be kept well-watered and weed-free. Put straw or fabric around the plants to stop fruit getting splashed with mud. Some form of netting, or a fruit cage is essential to stop birds eating the fruit.
Plants growing in containers should have a regular feed and check for vine weevil.
Keep cutting off runners – long shoots with small plants on them – to ensure energy goes into fruit production. When the picking finishes, cut back the old leaves on summer varieties to around 10cm to allow new foliage to come through. Perpetual varieties should have the old foliage removed in autumn.
Strawberry beds should be replaced after three years to stop the build-up of disease and to keep the plants vigorous. The easiest way is to root runners in small compost-filled pots and then transplant them to a different area. Perpetual strawberries are best replaced annually by buying new plants.
And if you want to start summer early, try bringing a few plants under cover from February. Just remember to feed and water them and hand pollinate with a soft paintbrush. You could be eating strawberries by the end of April.

domain: agronomy


The next-generation Audi S8 has been spied testing for the very first time.
Spy photographers caught the Audi S8 prototype testing near the Nurburgring, just like the Audi S7 last week. Expected to debut sometime late next year, the new S8 will pack plenty of high-tech features including Piloted Driving. Under the hood, it is likely that the Audi S8 will turn to the same powerplant found in the Porsche Panamera 4S, which is a 2.9-liter V6 with 440 horsepower.
Although it is still heavily camouflaged, we can see that the luxury sedan sports massive brakes and wheels, as well as sportier bumpers than the standard A8, which has also been caught on camera by spy photographers.
SEE ALSO: Next-Gen Audi A8 Debuting in 2017 with Piloted Driving
The next-generation Audi A8 will make its debut in 2017, ahead of the high-performance S8 variant. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler confirmed earlier this year that the A8 will be the German automaker’s first series-produced car capable of driving itself. It won’t be a fully autonomous vehicle, however, but Audi’s system will be a traffic jam pilot and will be able to drive itself temporarily on the highway at speeds up to 37 mph (60 km/h).


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The indoor sparks we create in our Theater of Electricity are purple, and visitors often ask what causes the color. We explore the reasons behind different shades of lightning, including atmospheric composition, humidity, and temperature. This Pulsar podcast is brought to you by #MOSatHome. We ask questions submitted by listeners, so if you have a question you'd like us to ask an expert, send it to us at email@example.com.
ERIC: From the Museum of Science in Boston, this is Pulsar, a podcast where we answer our favorite visitor questions. I'm your host, Eric. And one of my favorite things about my job is presenting a lightning show in our Thomson Theater of Electricity. It has the world's largest Van de Graaff generator, musical Tesla coils, and it inspires some great questions. One of the most common we get after a show is: why is your lightning purple? Joining me to dig into this question is a fellow zapper, Becca from our education team. Becca, thanks for joining me.
BECCA: Thanks for having me here, Eric.
ERIC: So the first time I got this question, I had some guesses. But it's my favorite kind of question. Because by researching the answer, I learned a ton.
BECCA: Yes, this question is one that we get all the time. And it's one that there isn't a really good clear cut answer to, but I still love to talk about it.
ERIC: Yeah, there's a whole lot going on. And it's not like other questions where we have a simple answer. Honestly, sometimes that's the most satisfying when you can be like: that's the biggest animal. But it's complicated. This one's really complicated. So let's just start with what lightning actually is.
BECCA: Sure. So lightning essentially is just when charges get separated and come back together. And in doing so they end up heating the air where these charges get put back together to pretty extreme temperatures. Up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, maybe even more. And so it is really cool that it creates this amazing light, this flash that we see. Of course, it can be a little bit different depending on the conditions.
ERIC: Yes. So we explained that in the show: what lighting is. What we're seeing is light from superheated air. And the color of that light depends on the air, really.
BECCA: Yeah, there are so many factors that really go into what produces a certain color of lightning. And one of those conditions is what is in the air because air is made up of different things, different elements, pieces of dust or moisture in the air. And depending on where you are, that may be different. And so having lightning kind of going through this one spot of air may have it look a little bit different, just depending on what's going on.
ERIC: Yeah, there's no such thing as pure air because air is a mixture of gases. The average across the Earth's atmosphere is like 70% nitrogen, 20-something percent oxygen, but there's carbon dioxide, there's argon, there's a bunch of other gases, there can be more of some in certain places, there can be moisture in the air, there can be dust in the air. it really depends on what the air is made of, and what's in the air. And our indoor lighting is the same thing as a lightning bolt outside in a storm. It's just smaller, and it's going through air. But it's indoor air. So our air is more controlled than in a storm.
BECCA: Yeah, we definitely control our humidity quite a bit. So having a little bit less moisture in the air inside will cause our lightning to be so specifically consistent in that it's always kind of purple. And that's one of the questions that we get all the time. But it also has to do a lot with kind of how close you are to the lightning. Since light moves through air, the further you are away, the more air it has to go through. The closer you are to the lightning, the less air has to go through and often will appear more white if you're really close. I know Eric, you probably have experienced this too. But when we are in the cage during the presentation in our Theater of Electricity, the lightning appears white because we're actually right next to it. But further away in the audience, it appears a little bit more purple because that light has gone through more air to get to your eyes.
ERIC: Yeah, so it's the same as looking at a sunset. The sun looks like a different color because the sunlight has to go through more air. Some of the light colors get separated out so that sunset sun looks more red. The same thing with lightning, even a couple feet of air can take away some of the colors and affect its appearance.
BECCA: Yeah, absolutely, it can definitely change the way that that light is hitting our eyes, it can bend it in a way that we end up getting different colors. Another reason why people have seen pink or green lightning before is because it often gets bent by, really specifically, snow in the air. And that snow can cause that light to bend in ways that really no other gases can. So snow is sort of important to be able to get those really cool colors.
ERIC: Yeah, it's all about your viewing conditions, what kind of air you're looking through how much air you're looking through what's in the air, all that stuff adds up. And it makes it even harder because everybody's eyes are different. And cameras are different. I mean, when I was researching this, I saw plenty of things on the internet that said if you take a picture of a lightning bolt with film versus digital, it comes out different somewhat. Sometimes it can look more yellow or brown depending on your camera settings.
BECCA: Yeah, and even, it might look different to each human in the exact same location, just depending on how each human is able to perceive color.
ERIC: So lightning out in a storm, it can look white. If you see a lightning bolt it can look blue, maybe purple. There's some colors that are more rare. Like you said, maybe snow lightning can look a little bit more green. But some reddish or orange or yellow lightning tends to be associated with volcanoes, which I know you're just really excited to talk about today.
BECCA: Absolutely. I love volcanoes. So combining two of my favorite subjects is excellent. I love this question about volcanic lightning, because it's something that we often don't think about. Usually people associate it with, maybe there's a storm. But actually, the volcanoes themselves in their eruptions can create lightning. They occur when there's a really large ash cloud, all of these sort of small particles of kind of cooled, volcanic, well, magma when it comes out, comes out in a big column, because it's being sort of ejected all at once. And in that column, there's a lot of ash that tends to rub against other particles of ash. And in doing so it separates the charges within this column, causing lightning to actually form through the entire column, but also even going outside the column to really anywhere else that can sort of rebalance those charges. And because there's so much ash, and often so much dust and dirt, inside this column, all of those particles get heated too, and they can burn off, which is why that lightning can look a little bit more red, and a little bit more orange and yellow. Also, there's just different gases coming out of the volcano. You get a lot of sulfur dioxide, and several other pretty intense gases that cause this lightning to look so different, but so cool.
ERIC: So it's caused by a lot of the same things that storm lightning is caused by with droplets kind of rubbing up against each other or separating charge. It's the same thing we do in our theater on a much smaller scale with our machinery. And it can happen in a volcano with all that ash. But the conditions are way different because you have all these volcanic gases, you have the dust, you have the really distinct lightning bolts that are like no other colors anywhere else in the world.
BECCA: Absolutely. And that's why a lot of volcanoes have been correlated with sort of other deities in mythology because of these intense bits of power and energy coming out of them. Not only are they impressive on their own, but when they create their own lightning, well, that's just another layer on top of it.
ERIC: Well Becca, thanks so much for chatting about different colored lightning.
BECCA: Of course. Thank you. This was so fun.
ERIC: On your next visit to the Museum of Science, don't miss our daily lightning shows. check mos.org for the daily schedule. And while you're at home, you can take a virtual tour of the inside of our 30 foot Van de Graaff generator in our Sparks of Science video series. Until next time, keep asking questions.
Theme song by Destin Heilman


I decided to mod the cowl, so I wouldn't have to mess with swapping out the grab bar.
First was to mark, where I needed to cut, with a "Sharpie" pen.
I then used a carbide bit in my drill to rough cut the slot.
I cut lean corners with a fiber disc in my dreme.
Here is the finished cowl.
Close ups of the finished product installed
Ready for the road


text:
Second largest country in the Gulf wants to expand trade beyond oil
Apart from oil, apples, tourism and software education are high on Iran’s trade agenda with India, according to the country’s ambassador in New Delhi Gholam Reza Ansari.
Iran is exploring new ways of expanding its trade basket with India. Its cash-rich entrepreneurs are keen on investing in India, especially in the energy sector, Mr. Ansari said at an interaction with members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) on Friday. On the problems faced by local exporters while trading with his country, Mr. Ansari said there is much hope on the upcoming meeting in Geneva on January 20 involving six economic powers and Iran. He expects the impending accord to ease many of the sanctions imposed on his country and remove hurdles related to shipping and logistics, and other impediments to doing business with Iran. In addition, the opening of a line of credit, provided for by the two governments, promises to lead to new and non-oil business ties.Apples & travel
Mr. Ansari regretted that Indians are yet to taste Iran’s “best” apples. He also expects the two old friends to tap the potential for tourism and re-discover their ancient cultural bonds, dominated by religious travel to Iran. About 40,000 Iranians visit India each year, which is a small number compared to the 80 lakh outbound tourists from Iran. Iran looks to India for education, information technology, software and pharmaceuticals. Up to 7,000 students are enrolled in institutes in Bangalore, Mysore and Hyderabad.
S. Sampathraman, FKCCI’s senior vice-president, said Bangalore contributes a third of the country’s software exports to Iran. Trade with Iran is expected to cross $20 billion, up from $15 billion in the last fiscal.
To a pharma exporter’s query, Mr. Ansari said, “We are very tough on our standards especially for pharma and agricultural products. Some Indian companies have tried to sell pharma products in Iran by showing USFDA certifications. But these are not accepted as the permit is not for selling in the U.S.”
Mr. Ansari said the oil-rich country’s petrochemicals sector was open to Indian investors while the way would be smoothened for Indian pharma and incense suppliers.
Consul General in Hyderabad Hassan Nourian was present.


text:
3 hrs ago | BleacherReport
Series invades the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, the focus will be on serious contenders with porous starting positions and how they make it through the field.
He may be two full seasons removed from his last Sprint Cup title, but there's no doubt right now: Jimmie Johnson is the best driver in the series.
IndyCar's community of drivers, motor sports executives and members of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Hulman-George family gathered Wednesday in Downtown Indianapolis to observe a 14-year Indy 500 tradition: The Racing to Recovery Gala, benefiting the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.
An "Over the Wall" member of an Indianapolis 500 pit crew is normally a strong, agile, athletic and skillful young man who has yet to endure the wear and tear of this stressful job on their bodies.
The five-person class - the fifth in NASCAR Hall of Fame history - consists of Tim Flock, Jack Ingram, Dale Jarrett, Maurice Petty and Fireball Roberts.
Both men were born in France. Both live in St. Petersburg. This Sunday, they'll wake up in the middle of America.
Play the NASCAR Match Game and get registered for a pair of tickets to one of the June Races at Michigan International Speedway plus get qualified for the Grand Prize! -ARCA 200 Racing Series Race presented by Menards on June 14th -Alliance Truck Parts 250 Nationwide Series Race on June 15th -Quicken Loans 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on June ... (more)
A Beaumont man was among three people who died in a head-on collision in Las Vegas over the weekend, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
A chance to enjoy some of the best produce southern Michigan has to offer is returning to the Walker Tavern Historic Site.
Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian music superstar Sandi Patty will come back home to Indiana to sing the national anthem before the 97th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Listen all this week for your chance to win 2 tickets to the Firestone 550 and qualify for an epic Texas Motor Speedway prize.
AJ Allmendinger's parents attended their first Indianapolis 500 in 1979, when they camped in a grassy lot and watched Rick Mears win his first 500.
GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship: Mat Mladin on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, circa 2009.
A wrong-way driver may have been under the influence of prescription medication when the car he was driving slammed head-on into an SUV on Interstate 15, killing two family members from India and injuring four others, authorities said Monday.
Formula One driver Mike Spence died from injuries sustained in a crash while testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 7, 1968.
Meade will be the emcee for a special pre-race salute to 10,000 U.S. troops that will include an appearance by Lt.


text:
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
There is a complete and utter confusion going on out there, aided and abetted by many of the “green” lobby”, as to genetically modified organism and people believe that all GMOs are genetically engineered but there is a difference. And it is a difference, and a marked difference, that we must know and understand.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
GMO plants are those that have been bred through any type of genetic modification (biotech or human), including selection of fruits and vegetables for certain traits such as disease resistance, fewer seeds, thinner skins, redder color and so on. All plant hybrids, whether organically or conventionally grown are the result of genetic modification by plant breeders.
Genetically Engineered (GE)
Although GE and GMO are frequently confused, they are distinctly different. GE refers to the use of biotechnological techniques (typically recombinant DNA) to genetically manipulate organisms. In other words, these organisms, in this case plants, do not exist in nature – and never will without human intervention. GE seeds are used by agribusiness (think “Bt-corn” or “Roundup Ready”) and are not available to home gardeners.
In other words, the great majority of seeds that you buy, unless you settle for Heirloom Seeds, are hybrids of one kind or another and are, theoretically and practically, genetically modified in one way or other, though, predominately, by breeding and selection.
You can, however, keep and reuse seeds from F1 and other hybrids and they will produce new plants, but, it is reckoned, not the same variety as the original hybrid.
Personally, I have done that with beans and they turned out better than their “parents” in yield and growth and should have done that again this year also.
As I, however, due to my writing activity, get inundated with seeds from breeders and suppliers via events I did not bother keeping seeds last year and I must say that many of the runner bean seeds used (new varieties mostly) did not germinate and grow well (so far).
I have used Heirloom Seeds before also from a variety of sources and found that most of them were a waste of time and money due to the failure rate in germination.
To recap: There is a difference between genetically modified plants and seeds and genetically engineered ones. GMOs are any that are not heirloom, that is to say all hybrids, and GEs are only those that are biotechnological engineered ones.


Police are investigating the death of an infant at a licensed Long Island day care center.
They say the 4-month-old boy apparently stopped breathing after being put down for a nap around 11 a.m. Thursday.
Police say the owner of the Kay Shriver center in Levittown called 911 and began performing CPR.
The infant was pronounced dead at Nassau County Medical Center.
The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
More breaking news
- Former Agape World broker gets 30-month Ponzi sentence
- Islanders to hold memorial service for Al Arbour
- LBi Software expanding, adding jobs
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- Counting the days
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- LaGuardia travelers fear turbulence en route to new airport
- Judge: NY ex-Assembly speaker can remain free during appeal
- Taxing situation
- Royal Apparel to expand on Long Island


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Draft bills on monitoring cross-strait pacts stall in Legislature
ROC Central News Agency
Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Six versions of draft bills on monitoring agreements between Taiwan and China made little progress in the Legislature on Wednesday in spite of ruling and opposition party caucuses' vows to deliberate them that day and the next.
Legislators spent the whole day in a futile effort to determine whether the draft bills should be reviewed by a legislative committee or in plenary session.
Lawmakers of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and minor opposition New Power Party (NPP) proposed that the bills be screened in a joint session of the foreign affairs, national defense and economics committees.
However, the major opposition Kuomintang (KMT) caucus rejected the suggestion, while lawmakers of the minor opposition People First Party said they would accept it on condition that the NPP withdrew its version that implied "two countries in one China."
The arguments lasted into the afternoon until convener of the legislative Internal Administration Committee, Tseng Ming-chung (曾銘宗 ), who was scheduled to chair the committee meeting, called a recess and said the discussions would continue Thursday.
"We must continue tomorrow, unless there are caucus boycotts, to hold formal discussions on moving forward this important bill, which is critical to stabilizing cross-strait relations," Tseng said.
Meanwhile, PFP caucus whip Chen Yi-chieh (陳怡潔) accused the DPP and NPP of trying to "fix the game" by technically stalling the bill's progress.
She urged all the parties to stop their "ideological struggle" and find a new consensus on the resumption of cross-strait talks, which have been suspended since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office last May.
Premier Lin Chuan (林全) has said the Cabinet supports the DPP's version of the bill, titled "Draft Bill on Monitoring the Signing of Cross-Strait Agreements."
A more controversial version was put forth by the NPP, titled "Draft Bill on Handling the Signing of Agreements between Our Country and the People's Republic of China (PRC)."
The draft does not stipulate whether "our country" means Taiwan or the Republic of China, but is certain to incur the wrath of China for promoting the idea of "two countries" in defiance of Beijing's "one China" principle.
The PFP has proposed a "Draft Bill on Monitoring Cross-Strait Agreements," while the KMT caucus has not produced a draft but rather is allowing two of its legislators to put forth "private" bills.
DPP lawmaker, Yu Mei-nu (尤美女) has also presented her own version of the bill to the Legislature.
(By Chen Chun-hua, Miao Tsung-han and S.C. Chang)
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domain: law


text:
Published Jul 6, 2018 at 5:31 PM | Updated at 2:03 PM PDT on Jul 7, 2018
Los Angeles is home to some swanky mansions, and a new study by mortage broker LendingTree has the numbers to prove it.
California is home to the three metro areas with the highest share of million-dollar homes -- and four of the top five, according to a study. Los Angeles is in third place with a 17.23 percent share of such houses. Those homes have a median price of $1.42 million, while all homes in LA have a median price of $622,000.
Many of the U.S. cities with the lowest share of million-dollar homes are located in the Rust Belt, such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, New York.
Scroll down to see the full list, and find out which Bay Area cities lead Los Angeles in the rankings.


text: I have been taking pictures on and off for years. I live and work in Melbourne, Victoria. I enjoy capturing the special moments when the landscape and nature are lit by interesting lighting . Thank you for visiting my portfolio. I certainly appreciate that you are taking time to view what I’ve been up to, and I enjoy reading your comments. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will find in my gallery something that you like.

domain: artistic


text:
Dance critics and enthusiasts who label Tere O’Connor’s choreography “intellectual” confound even the creator.
“I don’t know what that means,” O’Connor says in a phone conversation about his choreography writ large and the upcoming West Coast premiere at ODC of Long Run. The 2017 work combines the full force of O’Connor with collaborators including eight company dancers, costume designer Strauss Bourque-Lafrance and lighting designer Michael O’Connor. About the original score, composed entirely by O’Connor and according to his custom, begun and finalized only after the dance was complete, he says, “The music is almost like an audience member commenting on the work. It can have a harmonious or discontinuous relationship to the dance.”
During his 38-year career, O’Connor has created contemporary dances for his company, Tere O’Connor Dance, the Lyon Opera Ballet, and White Oak Dance Project, among others, and solo works for Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jean Butler. His honors include a 2013 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, three Bessies, a 1993 Guggenheim Fellow, induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2014, and more. An educator as well, O’Connor is professor of Dance at the Center for Advanced Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A better term for O’Connor’s choreography might be architectural. But if it is architecture, it is modeled on a flexible, organic body and the human mind. There is logic to the form and rules of physics apply, although instead of mere skeleton, muscles, hemispheres, hormones, synapses, and glial cells generating imitation, the materials are a collective of human entities with all their contrapuntal parts operating, not reduced in scale to a generic human frame or single organ.
The brain/ mind is the place of dreams, imagination, true or false and muscular memories, neurological disorders, addiction, and intangibles like love, envy, desire, anger, sadness, and other emotions that, combined with motor centers, create actions without predictable outcomes.
When O’Connor, in his first dance composition course, was told to make a dance based on metered structures in an existing piece of music, he balked. “I thought, ‘Why would I do art based on art?’ I wanted my body to generate the dance. I wanted choreography to be the protagonist.”
The last word of his protest is a clue for understanding that O’Connor’s choreographic approach and philosophies extend beyond abstract construction. Using common tools — piano, acoustic guitar, Logic Pro, free music material found on the internet and others, O’Connor uses a dance’s structure to determine the sound environment. “I can get to more organic structures without the rules of metered music as a governing principle,” he says.
While choreographing Long Run, a work that drives physical extremes of rhythm, thrust, and duration before seeking calmer states, O’Connor reveals that references to pop culture and classical music played “silently” in his head. Little made-up songs that he says “came out of my body” later became portals to the actual music.
“The images are like an ocean of potential, so things appear and then are erased. It’s not one tyrannical voice. I don’t want singular definitions. At its center, dance holds multiple readings and constant change.”
The title is included in multiplicity. Long Run references O’Connor’s nearly four-decade career as a dance-maker. “I chose the title near the beginning because it laid out challenges. I’ve been making work for 38 years. I wondered, what the hell else can I come up with? I’ve been blessed to get to do this work and reach a place where I’m 61. It takes so long to understand what choreography is. It’s a spirituality that doesn’t line up with mainstream.” The title also refers to the temporality and duration of a dance that stretches like continuous wallpaper in a dream or surreal film. “There’s an accident, something that smells good, someone you know. No Western sense of beginning and end, or good/bad paradigm.”
When dance and sound are integrated for the first time in rehearsal, O’Connor says it is like a monster entering the room. Cuing for the dancer is at first difficult. Although musical specifics are important, O’Connor aims for transcendence. “It’s like a vehicle to go away from the reality of life. It’s not getting away from it to escape, but to be in a different position of viewership.”
Long Run, like all dance, he says, is emotional — if a person is open to expression that is not narrative. “For a lot of people, my choreography is completely moving. There are people open to the ambiguity of the poetic. For others, it’s a frightening place.”
What makes risk most rewarding when it comes to viewing O’Connor’s work is the embodied knowledge that runs like an undercurrent. Never circusy but often astounding, recognizable patterns skew in dynamic directions, then suddenly disappear without sensationalizing themselves. Bodies tossed as if by hurricanes resolve into an ocean of calmness; speed and complex rhythms in sound dissolve into gentle, wafting, singular lines. “I use erasure as a form of construction,” he says. “I don’t make dances that are depictions of anything. It’s an idea in my body and the result of that idea. It has its own dynamic. Maybe they’ll see it a lot of ways: that’s my goal.”