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World wide Multinational service company based in Barcelona.
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-Report on progress of assigned work to GTS Head and Business Technology Strategy and Architecture Director on a monthly basis.
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- 3-5 years previous experience in a Technical environment in a European or Global company
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Oportunidades de carrera y desarrollo profesional.


The ongoing collaboration between Intel Corp. and Deci AI has already achieved two milestones. The first was a joint submission to MLperf and the latest is the acceleration of three off-the-shelf models: ResNet-50, ResNeXt101, and SSD MobileNet V1.
The ML-perf submission, which we previously covered, demonstrated the incredible acceleration of the ResNet-50 model by up to 11.8x on several CPUs[*]. This post describes the second milestone, which leveraged both Deci and Intel core technologies to successfully boost the throughput of three off-the-shelf neural models by up to 3.7x1.
The objective of this second milestone was to accelerate ResNet-50, ResNeXt101, and SSD MobileNetV1 on two Intel CPU cores: the Intel Core i5-7260U and the Intel Core i7-1065G7. These cores are of special interest because they are used for many different small edge devices. Since we already tackled image classification in the MLPerf submission, the added task here was object detection (SSD MobileNetV1), which is significantly more challenging. ResNeXt101, one of our target architectures, is considerably larger and more accurate than ResNet-50. ResNeXt101 has 84M parameters with 78.1% top-1 accuracy on ImageNet, while ResNet-50 has 25.6M parameters with 75.3% top-1 accuracy.
As a first step, we applied Deci’s AutoNAC optimization on the target models. The AutoNAC receives as input a baseline model a0, a dataset D, and access to the specific target hardware device H. It then performs a constrained optimization to find the optimal architecture a* that solves the objective:
subject to : AccQ(a,D)≥0.99⋅Acc(a0,D),
where A is the set of all possible architectures in the search space, and LatH,C,Q(a ,D) is the latency of a given network a on data D over hardware H, compiler C, and quantization level Q. More details about Deci’s AutoNAC can be found in Deci’s white paper.
The next part of the optimization involved compiling the optimized AutoNAC model with Intel’s OpenVINO toolkit. This great toolkit by Intel, performs computation-graph optimization, 8-bit/ 16-bit quantization and graph restructuring, all of which enable additional acceleration over Deci’s AutoNAC optimization.
Results (as of August 2021)
We measured the results for the ResNet and ResNeXt classification models on the ImageNet dataset, and used the Microsoft-COCO dataset for the detection task. The model sizes were measured in megabytes, and we calculated throughput (measured by number of images per second) on a NUC PC2 for the i-5 core and on Dell PC3 for the i-7 core. As discussed above, all the optimized models were compiled with Intel’s OpenVINO 8-bit.
Table 1: Optimization results for the three models. For each model we present accuracy, model size in megabytes, and throughput (Thrpt) in images per second, for the two hardware (NUC for the core i-5 and Dell for the core i-7). *The model could not be compiled into 8-bit while preserving sufficient accuracy.
Figure 1: From left to right: Results of ResNet-50 ResNeXt101 and SSD MobileNetV1.
ResNet-50 – As can be seen in Table 1, AutoNAC successfully compressed the model by a factor of 4.4x over the 8-bit compilation, and by 23.1x relative to the PyTorch model. Moreover, AutoNAC boosted the throughput of the 8-bit model by 4.2x over the core i-5, and by 3.1x over the core i-7. It is worth noting that the AutoNAC engine completely changed the model’s backbone in this scenario.
ResNeXt101 – The model was compressed by a factor of 1.6x over the 8-bit model, and by 6.3x over the PyTorch model. For the core i-5, AutoNAC achieved a 2.8x throughput gain, while for the core i-7 case we boosted throughput by 2.1x. Remarkably, we also accelerated the model’s throughput by 19.1x relative to the vanilla PyTorch model. This is testimony to the enormous potential of algorithmic model acceleration.
SSD MobileNetV1– AutoNAC compressed the model by a factor of 1.7x over the vanilla OpenVINO model. Moreover, AutoNAC boosted throughput by a factor of 1.3x for the two types of hardware. We compared this model to the vanilla OpenVINO (16-bit) due to the difficulty of quantizing detection models to 8-bit while preserving accuracy, which is a well-known open problem in the industry.
Keep an eye out for quantization and hardware-aware optimization
We had some fascinating observations and insights that we’d like to share with you. Generally speaking, it is well known that some substitution exists between depth and width at least in terms of the expressiveness of the network. While running Deci’s AutoNAC engine to optimize different off-the-shelf models for different hardware, we saw a clear pattern. When the target hardware is GPU, AutoNAC tends to increase the width and decrease the depth. When the CPU is optimized, AutoNAC will usually decrease the width of the network.
1. Quantization is a powerful and significant technique. As can be seen in Figure 2, the 8-bit quantization computed by OpenVINO achieves striking results. It significantly speeds up throughput and compresses the model by a large factor, while almost fully preserving accuracy.
Figure 2: The effect of quantization on model size, throughput and accuracy
2. Being hardware aware is vital. It is crucial to choose a model that can be computed efficiently by the target hardware. A common wisdom in the industry is that it is sufficient to optimize models for the general families of AI chips such as GPUs, CPUs, etc. But, to really boost performance, you need to optimize for a particular chip. An example for this can be seen in Figure 3, which shows a comparison of three models on the two different hardwares, with similar CPUs. For the core i-7 machine, Model-1 has the highest throughput. However, this model has the lowest throughput on the core i-5.
Figure 3: The importance of hardware-aware model optimization
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Accelerating inference is a longstanding problem when it comes to real-world deep learning solutions.
Quantization alone delivers tremendous improvement in model performance, both in terms of throughput increase and model size reduction. That said, optimization that is hardware-aware and data-aware can deliver powerful incremental improvements as demonstrated in this experiment.
By combining quantization, computed by Intel’s OpenVino 1.3, and Deci’s powerful AutoNAC technology, we accelerated throughput for both detection and classification tasks by a large factor.
We would like to thank Guy Boudoukh from Intel-Labs Israel for driving the Intel-Deci collaboration and the joint work to prepare this blog.
1 Performance was compared to the original architectures on the same hardware
2 Specification: NUC7i5BNB Ubuntu 18.04. Intel (R) Core™ i5-7260U [email protected] fixed, GPU GT3e @0.95GHz fixed, DDR4/2133MHz.
3 Specification: ICL-U Ubuntu 18.04. Intel(R) Core™ i7-1065G7 [email protected] fixed, GPU G7, DDR4 2667MHz.
[*] MLPerf v0.7 Inference Open ResNet-v1.5 Single-stream, entry Inf-0.7-158-159,173; Retrieved from www.mlperf.org 21 October 2020
Configuration details: 1.4GHz 8th-generation Intel quad core i5 Macbook Pro 2019, 1 Intel Cascade Lake Core, and 8 Intel Cascade Lake Core


|No. 16 Virginia (8-6, 2-3 ACC) at No. 2 Maryland (14-1, 4-1 ACC)||Date and Time||Sunday, April 13, 2014, 1:00 p.m.|
|Location||College Park, Md. | Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex|
|Media||Live Stats | Live Streaming Video ($)|
|Additional Information|| Virginia Lacrosse Ticket Information | Season Stats |
Game Notes | 2014 Fact Book |
|Social Media|| @UVAWomensLax Twitter | Facebook |
Latest Webisode:The Crease
April 11, 2014
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 16 Virginia women's lacrosse team (8-6, 2-3 ACC) faces its third-straight top-10 opponent, playing at No. 2 Maryland (14-1, 4-1 ACC) on Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m. in College Park, Md.
Virginia is trying to extend its current win streak to five games after logging back-to-back wins in home games against Old Dominion and American followed by back-to-back wins over top-10 teams with a 13-8 victory at No. 9 Notre Dame and a 16-14 home win over No. 6 Boston College. Virginia's four-game win streak is its' longest since winning seven games in a row during the 2010 season.
Maryland's last three games have been tight, earning an 8-7 victory at Princeton and a 10-9 home win over Boston College. The Terps fell 17-15 at No. 1 North Carolina last Saturday (April 5). Maryland has amassed 292 points this season which ranks fourth in the nation. The Terps' +7.5 scoring margin is ninth in the nation. Taylor Cummings ranks fourth in the ACC in both draw controls (4.57) and caused turnovers (1.29) per game. She ranks eighth in assists (1.21). Kelly McPartland is fourth in the ACC with 2.86 goals per game. Her 4.36 points per game ranks fifth in the conference.
Maryland leads the series, 38-17, and is 15-4 in College Park against Virginia. Maryland has won the last eight meetings with Virginia's last win a 10-9 overtime victory in the 2008 ACC Championship final played at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. Virginia's last regular-season victory over Maryland was a 15-4 win in Charlottesville in 2007 and its' last win in College Park was a 14-9 victory in 2006.
Junior Courtney Swan (Vero Beach, Fla.) scored four goals against Boston College, her fifth game of the year with four or more goals. Swan has scored at least a hat trick in each of the last four games. She has 10 games this season in which she has scored three or more goals. Swan currently leads the team with 41 goals. Her 2.92 goals-per-game average ranks fifth in the ACC and 30th in the nation. Swan, who had a combined nine points against Notre Dame and Boston College, ranks 10th in the ACC and 30th in the nation, averaging 4.0 per game. Swan had seven draw controls against Notre Dame and six against Boston College. She is currently tied for the conference lead and ranks eighth in the country, averaging 5.42 draw controls per game.
Senior Liza Blue (Butler, Md.) scored three goals with three assists against BC. Blue has had seven straight games of contributing at least two points and has scored at least one goal in each of the last 20 games.
Sophomore Kelly Boyd (Baltimore, Md.) had hat tricks against Notre Dame and Boston College. Boyd has scored eight goals with two assists since moving into the starting lineup against Old Dominion. Boyd has scored those eight goals on just 10 shots. Overall this season, Boyd has scored 12 goals on 18 shots (66.7 percent).
Senior Maddy Keeshan (Greenwich, Ct.) scored three goals at Notre Dame and four against Boston College. Keeshan has scored at least one goal in each of the last six games.
Junior Casey Bocklet (South Salem, N.Y.) did not score a goal against BC, snapping a 12-game goal-scoring streak, but did log three assists. Bocklet has assisted on a trio of goals in each of the last four games and now has a team-high 17 assists.
Senior goalkeeper Liz Colgan (Cockeysville, Md.) made 10 saves in the victory over Boston College, her sixth game this season with double-digit saves. Colgan leads the ACC, averaging 10.0 saves per game.
Virginia closes out the regular season on Wednesday, April 16 in a 6 p.m. game at Virginia Tech. The 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship, hosted by Boston College, will be held April 24-27 in Newton, Mass.
Weekend Notebook: Perrantes Hits HomestretchMen's Basketball2/24/17For point guard London Perrantes, the final regular-season road game of his UVA basketball career is Saturday afternoon at NC State.Casey's Return Buoys CavaliersBaseball2/22/17Derek Casey, who missed the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, pitched five strong innings in No. 14 Virginia's home opener.Perrantes Searching for AnswersMen's Basketball2/21/17Senior point guard London Perrantes has made only 16 of 58 shots (27.6 percent) from the floor in his past four games, all Virginia losses.
Director of News Content
A 1985 graduate of UVA, White worked at the Richmond Times-Dispatch until July 2009. He was honored six times as the state's Sportswriter of the Year.
Women’s Lacrosse Hosts No. 12 Princeton Saturday
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The Virginia women’s lacrosse team (1-1) returns home to host No. 12 Princeton (1-0) on...
Mueller Paces Virginia to 15-14 Win Over Richmond
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Freshman Sammy Mueller scored six goals to propel the Virginia women's lacrosse team (1-1) to a...
Virginia Plays at Richmond Wednesday
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The Virginia women’s lacrosse team (0-1) returns after a week off to play at Richmond (1-0)...
Virginia Downs Wales in an Exhibition
W. Lacrosse | 2/14/2017
The Virginia women's lacrosse team hosted the national team of Wales in a scrimmage on Tuesday at...
Women’s Lacrosse Hosts Wales in Scrimmage Tuesday
W. Lacrosse | 2/13/2017
The Virginia women’s lacrosse team will host the Wales National Team in a scrimmage on...
Virginia Falls 11-10 to Elon
W. Lacrosse | 2/11/2017
The Virginia women’s lacrosse team (0-1) fell 11-10 to Elon (2-0) in its season opener on...
No. 14 Women's Lacrosse Hosts Elon to Open 2017 Season
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Maggie Preas Named Preseason All-ACC
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DeepStrike missile completes PDR
Raytheon, with the US Army, has completed a successful preliminary design review (PDR) of the DeepStrike surface-to-surface missile, the company announced on 26 March.
The successful PDR paves way for flight tests later in 2019.
The DeepStrike missile meets the army's requirement for a new precision strike missile. Featuring two-in-the-pod design, the missile will be capable of defeating fixed land targets 60-499km away.
During the PDR, the army evaluated all aspects of the new missile's design, including its advanced propulsion system, lethality package and guidance system.
Previous programme milestones include the successful integration of DeepStrike's new launch pod missile container into the army's M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS launchers.
More from Land Warfare
DARPA is keen to find partners for the Optomechanical Thermal Imaging (OpTIm) programme. The effort will develop novel IR sensors without the drawbacks of thermal sensors and photodetectors.
Company announced the delivery of the first 10 of 120 specialist military vehicles on 22 September. The platforms will be based throughout the UK, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Gibraltar.


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domain: food


Whenever I ask San Juan Island residents why they moved here,
they always answer something like this: “I wanted to escape from
the rat race and live a more relaxed lifestyle in beautiful
Agents can use the same line with clients who have already
experienced the bustling visitor hubs of Seattle, Vancouver and
Victoria; and those in search of an alternative and slower-paced
Dotting Northwest Washington’s waters, the 55-square-mile San Juan
shares the visitor spotlight with its sister islands of Orcas and
Lopez. Unlike the other islands, however, it established its main
town of Friday Harbor right by the docks where Washington State
ferries come and go making it appealing to pedestrians and bikers,
as well as drivers.
For years there was no organized, cooperative effort to actively
promote San Juan and its neighbor isles, said San Juan Islands
Visitors Bureau executive director Deborah Hopkins.
“Islanders are independent-minded,” Hopkins said. “But since 1999,
when SJIVB came into existence, the troops have rallied. We know
we’re all in this together, and we’re presenting a welcoming spirit
to visitors in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce.”
While its big-city neighbors may have more style and
sophistication, San Juan Island boasts better weather, averaging
about half the precipitation of the Emerald City.
“We’re in a rain shadow,” Hopkins said. “Cross the line and the
weather completely changes. Thanks to our many microclimates, if
you don’t like what’s happening in the sky, you can simply wait 15
minutes or go to another side of the island.”
San Juan swells with travelers in July and August, but Laura
Saccio, who owns Friday’s Historic Inn and Friday Harbor Inn and
Spa, recommends September and October visits.
“That’s when the weather is still beautiful and the rates are
lower,” she said.
She sings the praises of Friday Harbor’s surprisingly high-quality
community theater, outdoor summer Shakespeare productions, artist
studios, garden tours, galleries and museums.
“There’s a lot to see and do here,” Saccio said, “but if you ever
need more stimulation, Seattle is just a 30-minute seaplane ride
Before moving to San Juan, Saccio was a financial analyst in
“I was working too many hours a week,” she said. “My husband and I
needed to slow things down.”
I heard a similar story from Steve and Kathy Anderson, owners of
The Place Bar and Grill in Friday Harbor, whose windows present
heavenly views of the harbor.
“After living and working in Seattle for 12 years, we moved to San
Juan Island with the intention of finding a less frantic place to
raise our family,” they said. “It has been a great experience.”
Becki Day, manager of Friday Harbor’s popular Downrigger’s
restaurant and owner of San Juan Wedding and Events, grew up in
Seattle and environs.
“In 1995 during a beautiful Indian Summer, I made the decision to
move here,” she said. “I love living in a small town. The sense of
community spreads to our guests. One of the greatest rewards of my
job is seeing my clients return year after year.”
Friday Harbor satisfies aquatic explorers with kayak and wildlife
tours offered by San Juan Excursions. During a recent whale watch
on the company’s Odyssey vessel, San Juan Excursions manager Alison
Engle shared her feelings about the island.
“I lived here part-time in the summer of 1998 and came here
permanently in April of ’99,” she said. “The quality of life is
Beyond Friday Harbor, the rest of San Juan Island teems with
activities ranging from bird-watching and clam-digging to horseback
riding and wine-tasting. Clients can explore its down-to-earth
attractions by car, bicycle, moped or a shuttle that runs in the
summer. At my favorite stop, Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm and Country
Store, owners Albert and Kris Olsen shared their story of moving to
“As we were entering retirement, we bought a small lot on the
island as a weekend retreat from the busy pace of the mainland,”
One thing led to another, including the chance to buy an alpaca
farm on the island.
“Instead of retiring, we entered into another great adventure,”
she said. “We hope all visitors to this wonderful place will feel
the magic, the peace and the beauty we enjoy every day.
This year, the Saturday mushroom hunts will be held on Sept. 16,
23 and 30, and Oct. 7, 14 and 21. The five-hour excursion,
including lunch, costs around $108 per person. This autumn, Brother
Michael, a Benedictine monk from the local Sole Dao Monastery and a
mushroom expert who has supplied local hotels and restaurants with
mushrooms for years, will be conducting the hands-on mushroom
Weekend rates at The Aerie start at around $265 night, dropping to
$220 as of Sept. 28.
Commission is 15 percent.


text:
surrounding the Occupy Oakland encampment early this morning and appear ready to close the ongoing encampment, according to live video accounts by protesters.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, November 14, 2011, 6:26 AM
Original post made on Nov 14, 2011
A good year for Pleasanton; 2018 could be even better
By Jeb Bing | 0 comments | 731 views
3 Great Ways to Showcase Your Strengths on College Applications!
By Elizabeth LaScala | 0 comments | 146 views

domain: news


First female Prime Minister has portrait revealed
Australia's first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has finally had her official portrait unveiled, five years after losing the job.
Before a packed gallery of Labor and Coalition MPs, including another former PM, Tony Abbott, Ms Gillard spoke of her reluctance to have the portrait done, believing it was part of the "pomp and ceremony" of being a nation's leader.
"And I wasn't particularly interested in doing that," Ms Gillard said after being warmly greeted.
"I always said, let's just forget about it, let's just forget about."
But she finally agreed after a little nudge from her staff.
"They said 'you ought to get that portrait done before you look a hell of a lot older than you did as prime minister'," Ms Gillard said.
"I thought yes, I really should get this done."
She said portraits were difficult to capture a prime minister's achievements, the overseas trips, the "sleepless nights" worrying about establishing the National Disability Insurance Scheme, or the Royal Commission into child sex abuse.
The portrait will hang beside John Howard in Parliament House.
It was created by award-winning Melbourne artist Vincent Fantauzzo.


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Kill-Team is great fun and growing fast, but does it have a single grand flaw?
A guest editorial by BDub
Kill team is a great addition to GWs line-up, that in many ways appeals to me far more than a sprawling 40K game does. Fewer models, lets you reasonably dabble with collecting and painting a wider variety of factions. A smaller footprint lets you take everything you need for a game in a backpack-sized package, and its quick enough you can get a few games into an evening of play. In addition to all of these appealing features, GW’s foray into alternating unit activations is a welcome (if long over-due) endeavor.
I wanted to get all of that out of the way in order to demonstrate my genuine attraction and affection for Killteam as a game, lest i be accused of hating on a game I don’t actually play. I do play it, and I like the game very much. That said, over the course of many games I have come to recognize at least one major flaw, and at least one minor flaw that I’d like to discuss here, as well as to offer a solution – one that I have tried and found very effective as solving the issue, and that I personally feel makes the game a more rewarding experience for a wider variety of lists and play styles.
If you have more than a handfull of Killteam games under your belt you have probably noticed that melee is a very powerful tactic in Killteam, and it should be. Its a brutal setting, with close-up encounters. But if you’ve ever watched or participated in the game between a dedicated melee faction and a hybrid, or *gasp, a dedicated shooty faction, you have probably noticed the tendency of the former to carpet-roll the later. I have personally witnessed and participated in many games where little to no shooting has ever taken place. The chance to do any shooting is simply denied by the steam-rolling effect that Killteam’s turn-sequence and melee rules lend to the stabier of 40K’s denizens. And there in lies the flaw.
The rules are such that models will charge into combat, often not facing any overwatch, and once in combat these models cannot be shot at in the next phase – the shooting phase. Then the melee phase ensues with three possible results; 1) the defender is anihilated and the attacker moves closer to their next victim, 2) the combat continues to the next round, further shielding the models for any subsequent shooting, or 3) the attacker is anihilated and the game continues as before. Generally 3 doesnt happen often, as you are usually witnessing a superior melee force charging a weaker foe. Scenario 2 is pretty straight forwards, since its an ongoing melee that will usually continue, or relsove into one of the other scenarios, usually the 1st. However, in Scenario 1 you have a melee unit/s that are now closer to their next target, and just waiting for the movement phase of the next round so they can repeat their previous foray – thus the carpet begins to roll up and shooting ceases to be an option. Because of the rules and the close confines of the game-board, Melee units, particularly fast ones, or ones with charge rerolls can often fearlessly run across a battle-field until they can come to grips and then benefit from the cover of melee as they chew their way through the enemy taking few rounds, if any, of incoming fire. The only effective defense is copying the offense – an option not available to many factions.
How Do We Fix It?
More importantly, how do you fix it so that it doesn’t break other rules, and doesn’t cause the pendulum to swing to the other side, destroying viability of melee? Well it turns out that the rules are robust enough that the fix is surprisingly simple. Just move the shooting phase so it happens after the melee phase. That’s it.
What Does this Fix Accomplish?
Quite a bit actually, and in subtle enough ways that it doesn’t disturb the feel & flow of the game, and in my opinion feels a bit more realistic and action-movie like. To use the previous examples above, in scenario 1, models that have charged into a melee and have anihilated their enemy are now out in the open and can freely be shot. Importantly, this means that a round of shooting will likely happen to those models before they can mount their next charge. Interestingly, this freqently leads to a tactical choice between finishing off a weakened enemy, leaving your models exposed, or staying in the combat for the cover it provides while other models move to engauge other possible shooting threats. Scenario 2 remains unchanged. And in scenario 3, the much relieved defenders are free to take a breath and squeeze off a shot at any enemies contemplating revenge for their deceased fellows. The fix also means that in ongoing combats a round of pistol shooting will follow from any of the surviving melee participants rather than preceed the melee, which feels a bit more natural. None of the other rules are adversely affected, and melee isn’t stymied. You can still consolidate into any models that strayed too close to the previous melee, but if the enemy is positioned well back from consolidation range, they are still going to get a chance to do some shooting at the now unoccupied melee participants, before they get charged in the next round. This significantly cuts down on the carpet-rolling phenomenon without dampening melee’s inherant threat. Elite units melee units will still clean up, but without the outright destruction of any shooting oportunities of their enemy. As a side note, it also means that any models that didnt charge during that round, that were engauged in a fight that has resolved, are now free to shoot in the shooting phase. This makes flexible hybrid units more interesting to use in lieu of commiting to the extreme melee or shooting specialists. Try this adjustment to the rules yourself, with a few different faction combinations. I’m sure you will begin to appreciate the nuance in this fix.
So What About the Minor Flaw?
Well maybe its not a flaw, maybe its just personal preference. It certainly seems to have been designed with intent, but it continues to rub me the wrong way. What am I on about? Random initiative. That is to say, that the winner of the initiative is randomly determined and obligated to go first. That last bit is the flaw, as i see it. Because of the nature of Killteam’s movement phase being an IGOUGO proposition, it often means there is a distinct advantage to “Losing” the initiative. For instance if you are a shooty army with models in an ongoing melee you want to go second, so the other player has to commit his models to the melee, leaving you free to fall back with your models, perhaps saving them, and opening the enemy to shooting from other models. On the other hand, if you are that enemy, you want the other guy to either decide to fall back, or commit to the ongoing melee so you can then have the advantage of choosing wether or not to follow up with another charge or continue the melee. It seems to me that “winning” initiative should not feel like a losing proposition, but rather an opportunity to reward the winning player with the tactical choice of going first or second. In my experience a lot of the fun in a game comes from its decision tree. Tangential to this issue is the inability to spend a command point (or two perhaps) to reroll the initiative dice. This option was specifically omitted from the Tactical Reroll options. In my opinion, it should have been one situation or the other – either pure random initiative, with an option to CP for reroll, or winner choses order with no option to CP for reroll. There is even a case to be made for Choice, and a CP Reroll, as this opens up the same decision tree often seen both players spend CP on Decisive Strike/Shot, causing a roll-off between the players.
Well that about covers it. I’ve been playing with this major flaw fix for a while now and think it stands the test. I believe it to be an option that smoothes out the power-curve between melee and shooting, with minimal (if any) disruption to the rest of the rule-set.
~Let me know what you think, and at the very lease share your thoughts about the initiative question.

domain: game


Here we cover some core concepts of security and progress down the cryptographic rabbit hole of passwords, encryption, and web storage. Buckle-up Buck-o.
Cyber vs IT Security:
☑ Cyber: anything in the digital realm like software or hardware.
☑ IT (Information Technology): broader than cyber, includes the physical world, acknowledging real-world attack vectors such as human and business needs.
◆ Always consider the real-world dimension to security (like biometrics over weak passwords or ones that must be written).
▼ The CIA Pillars of IT Security:
☑ Confidentiality: your data is private.
◆ Encryption: masking data with a code or pattern.
◆ Sandboxing (virtualization): actual system and data is hidden and protected by a virtual one.
☑ Integrity: your data is uncompromised.
◆ Backup Servers: provide failover (redundancy) so data is not lost due to partial failure.
◆ Digital Signatures: additional data attached that when processed, verifies the other data as authentic.
☑ Availability: your data is ready.
◆ Clustering: shared server and data architecture to increase availability (also provides backups for integrity).
◆ Guaranteed Delivery: using a data store for persistent transmission (like databases) instead of volatile and temporary transmission (like page files or RAM).
▼ How does it work?
- ☑ The middleware (software) interfaces or acts as the 'glue' or 'plumbing' between the end user and the system with the actual app.
- ☑ Secures both the user and the app ecosystem from misuse (like the AWS service Cognito ↗).
▼ AAA Middleware Security:
☑ Authentication: identifying the user and system.
◆ Passwords: long alphanumerics (like partial phrases with both upper and lower cases and special characters).
◆ Biometrics: physical features (like fingerprints, facial landmarks, eye's retina scan, iris pattern recognition, heart rate, and so on).
☑ Authorization: enabling and disabling features according to the specific privileges of the user.
◆ User tiers: users of ranked data privileges (like Guest, Worker, Mod, Admin, Root).
☑ Auditing: maintain and update security by studying data.
◆ Logging: inspection of older activity using data (logs).
☑ A configurable password hashing function for securing data.
◆ Cryptographic hashing functions: the input known as a message is transformed by looking up different values from the outputted byte array.
◆ Deterministic: the same message every decode to avoid hash collisions.
◆ One-way function: prevents easily inverting data to decode it.
◆ Have an avalanche effect: small changes of input create dramatic output changes, making it difficult to decode through brute force, or iterating through variations.
☑ salt (cryptography): a form of padding, or random data added (so salting passwords makes them salted).
☑ Peppers (cryptography): a secret added to the password, which unlike a salt, is stored separately from the output (like outside of the database, making the security much more difficult to breach).
◆ NOTE: Syntatic Sugar simplifies code syntax (like an abstracted function that automates or being able to directly access an array instead of using getter and setter functions). Not necessarily cryptographic.
☑ Uses a block cipher (made of a fixed length of bits transformed with a symmetric key) called Blowfish.
◆ Asymmetric key or public-key is a newer method that does not have a single or shared key for both encryption and decryption, making it more secure.
◆ Uses the digits of PI, (3.1415926535...) for numbers that appear random, but are not.
☑ Invented by Niels Provos and David Mazières in 1999, based on their Eksblowfish (Expensive Key Setup Blowfish) key transforms, making it an elaborate set of rounds and tweaks to Blowfish.
▼ bcrypt (middleware):
☑ Has a decoding speed of O(log n) (algorithm time), making it fast considering hash lookups.
☑ Optimized for CPUs instead of GPUs by using a non-cacheable table.
◆ This complicates hardware-based attacks since CPUs are more expensive and have less linking capabilities.
☑ Optimize your encrypted output or attempt to crack using an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and as much RAM as possible.
◆ FPGAs are essentially processor chips (with an accompanying board) that specialize in processing arrays and can be programmed directly.
◆ They often accompany embedded systems and specialized devices (like for security or signal processing).
▼ Session (User Session or Visit):
☑ A set of user actions over time.
◆ Broken-up and limited by storage means.
◆ Commonly stored on the web using localStorage, sessionStorage, or cookies, and sent in the format of a JWT.
JWTs (JSON Web Tokens):
▼ Data Structure:
- ☑ The JWT format has an additional layer of security with their headers and can be used for sessionStorage, localStorage, and cookies.
▼ Cookies vs session storage vs local storage:
◆ More browser centric, unfriendly to non-browser apps, and does not require HTML5 like Session Storage and Local Storage.
◆ The browser auto sends and stores cookies, a JWT without cookies requires an HTTP request and assigned storage.
◆ Data must be sent to the server.
◆ Expires at the end of the session (as determined by the browser settings and site exit).
◆ Data remains local unless extracted and sent to the server via code.
◆ Larger storage than cookies (5mb+).
◆ No expiration, explicitly cleared in code or via browser settings.
◆ Stores data locally, but can be sent to the server via code.
◆ Largest of the 3 storages.
▼ Storages vs cyber attacks:
☑ All 3 forms of storage are restricted from same-origin XSS (X or 'Cross'-Site Scripting) and must be sent from the same domain (like Google.com cannot send cookies to Gmail.com).
☑ Cookies are particularly vulnerable to an attack called a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
◆ This occurs by forging the origin address (like mySite.com to hackerSite.com) in the HTTP (or HTTPS) request header, from a tampered web component, so that your other cookie's session can be hijacked.
◆ CSRFs is prevented by synchronized token patterns and assigning a header (like the HMAC token pattern used in encryption). NOTE: CORS and HTTPS offer no protection against CSRFs.
▼ 3 parts of a bcrypt JWT:
☑ Header: contains the token type, and hashing algo (like SHA256)
◆ alg (algorithm): encryption method in signature. NOTE: HMAC (Hash-Based Message Authentication Codes) are the most common.
◆ typ (type): media type stored in the header.
◆ cty (content type): content structure of the JWT (also stored in the header).
☑ Payload: contains the claims or the 'meat' of the data.
☑ Signature: verifies the encryption through the encoded header, payload, a secret and the encrypting algorithm found within the header (like Blowfish).
◆ Like, 'HMACSHA256(base64UrlEncode(header) + "." + base64UrlEncode(payload), secret);'
▼ Claims data in detail:
☑ Claims: data often about the user.
☑ Registered claims: compact predefined claims.
◆ iss (issuer): ids who issued the JWT.
◆ exp (expiration): the time limit to accept this JWT.
◆ sub (subject): ids the JWT's subject.
◆ aud (audience): ids the JWT's intended receiver.
◆ nbf (not before): the time to wait before processing or accepting this JWT.
◆ iat (issued at): the time the JWT is issued.
◆ jti (JWT ID): the unique id for the JWT.
☑ Public claims: custom defined names. Define them as registered names or use a collision-resistant public name.
☑ Private claims: a custom claim that is not public or registered. NOTE: May cause data collisions (lost or corrupted data) that must be resent and mitigated against.


California Guitar Trio: The Echoes Interview
The California Guitar Trio talk about their August Echoes CD of the Month, Elegy. CGT has been around for a little over three decades and have recorded 18 albums. They got together in the 1980s while studying with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp in his famed Guitar Craft course and played in his League of Crafty Guitarists. They’ve taken those teachings and deployed them across an eclectic range of music that includes covers of Queen and Pink Floyd as well as John Cage and many original compositions. Their latest album may be their most coherent and finely crafted yet, even though it was recorded in AirBnB living rooms while on tour this past winter just before pandemic lockdown. Hear the latest chapter of California Guitar Trio’s journey on Echoes.
Read a review of their album Elegy.
Monday, Oct 12, 2020 – Echoes Program 2041A
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First Half Hour
|0:01:00||Ben Blackett||Gaea’s Axiom||Horizons|
|0:06:01||Robot Koch||Manipura||The Next Billion Years|
|0:11:35||Song Sung||Take Some Time||This Ascension Is Ours|
|0:17:18||David Bridie & All India Radio||By The Light Of The Stars||Reconstructions|
|0:22:35||Half Waif||Murphy Bed||You Think It’s Like This, But Really It’s Like This|
|0:25:43||Greg Lisher||Science of Sleep||Songs from the Imperial Garden|
Second Half Hour
|0:30:00||Interview: California Guitar Trio|
|0:42:25||California Guitar Trio||Halllitussilmad||Elegy|
|0:46:16||Braids||Just Let Me||Shadow Offering|
|0:51:24||Hugar||Reykjavík||The Vasulka Effect (OST)|
|0:53:58||Rituals of Mine||Tether||Hype Nostalgia|
Third Half Hour
|1:00:22||Jim Ottaway||Isolated Realms||When Eternity Touches Time|
|1:06:01||Erik Wollo & Michael Stearns||Ruins Of The Past||Convergence|
|1:17:21||Tycho||Ghost of Kodoku (Tycho Remix)||Ghost of Tsushima Remixed|
|1:22:34||Kelly Lee Owens||Wake-Up||Inner Song|
|1:26:50||Erothyme||Split Rock Portal||Steep Dreams|
Fourth Half Hour
|1:35:37||High On Isra||When We Collide (Der Waldläufer Remix)||When We Collide|
|1:39:52||Fiona Joy Hawkins||All That Is Left||Moving Through Worlds|
|1:46:23||Forrest Fang||Chasing the Stars||The Book of Wanderers|
|1:51:43||Washed Out||Face Up||Purple Noon|
|1:55;38||Blackbird Blackbird||The Biggest Mistake||Hearts|
Copyright 2020 Pennsylvania Public Radio Associates, Inc.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.


Westlands Water District praised today’s action by Governor Jerry Brown to issue an emergency drought declaration for the State of California.
“The Governor’s declaration recognizes that the State of California is facing unprecedented drought conditions. The situation in the San Joaquin Valley is particularly critical. After several consecutive dry years, compounded by regulations that have restricted water deliveries through the federal Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project, the people who live and work in agricultural areas of the Valley are facing a disaster,” said Tom Birmingham, General Manager, Westlands Water District.
Westside Valley farmers who receive water from the Central Valley Project expect to receive a zero allocation under water service contracts, and because of historic dry conditions, the availability of water through transfers will be limited. These shortages will lead to massive land fallowing with severe reductions in agricultural production. In Westlands, it is estimated that more than 200,000 acres of farmland will not be planted. The economic losses resulting from this increased fallowing will only make worse the human suffering that already exists in disadvantaged communities that have unemployment rates higher than the state average. Agriculture related industries including: processing, packaging, transportation, shipping and distribution will also suffer.
The lack of water has direct socio-economic impacts on families in the Valley due to lost jobs. During the drought in 2009, Fresno’s Community Food Bank distributed 9 million pounds of food at an estimated value of $13.5 million. It is anticipated that the need in 2014 will be even greater.
“If irrigated agriculture is going to survive this year, it will require close coordination and cooperation among state and federal agencies that exercise authority over water project operations. Governor Brown’s declaration will facilitate that coordination and cooperation and will enable state agencies to re-examine and modify existing regulations to rebalance competing uses of water in light of these unprecedented conditions,” Birmingham stated. Birmingham added, “Governor Brown’s declaration of a drought emergency will reinforce the message to federal agencies that we are not dealing with ‘business as usual.'”
Westlands encompasses more than 600,000 acres of farmland in western Fresno and Kings Counties, and more than 50,000 people live and work in the communities dependent on the District’s agricultural economy. Earlier this week, the Governor met with local farmers and water agency managers to hear firsthand of the severity of the water crisis and its anticipated effects.
“The Governor’s declaration will help mitigate the drought’s negative impacts for Valley families, but it is does not address the larger problem of chronic water supply shortages,” stated Birmingham. The current disaster facing the San Joaquin Valley, indeed all of California, is just further evidence that we must invest in new water supply infrastructure, including storage and conveyance, to sustain the state’s economy and we must fix problems in the Delta.


Silica-based buried channel waveguides and devices
This book is designed as a self-contained introduction to both the understanding and solution of theoretical and practical design problems in single- and multimode planar optical waveguides and devices in silica-based technologies. It provides both a qualitative physical description and quantitative analytical and numerical derivations of the fundamental attributes of waveguiding, device response and simple passive optical circuitry.
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Approximation methods for modal analysis
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adiabatic amplitude analysis analytical angle arms attenuation coefficient bend radius buffer layer buried channel waveguides calculated Chapter concatenated core and cladding core-cladding interface corresponding coupler coupling curve cutoff cutoff wavelength denotes diffraction domain effective index eigenvalue equation etching excess loss expression fabrication fibre and BCW fibre core finite finite element method function fundamental mode fundamental-mode field Gaussian approximation geometry index profile input integral knco Ladouceur length method MFDM minimize modal field normalized numerical offset optical fibers optical waveguides optimal Optoelectronics parameter path planar waveguides port propagation constant pure bend loss quantify radiation loss rectangular rectangular-core refractive index refractive-index region scalar wave equation Section silica silicon single-mode slab waveguide Snyder and Love solution source wavelength splice loss square-core BCW square-core waveguide step-profile straight substrate supermodes surface roughness symmetry taper techniques transition loss transverse V-value values variation vector waveguides and devices wavenumber weak-guidance approximation y-junction


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Large Quantity of Air Ace and War Comic Booklets.
Vintage paper comic books, approximately two hundred and thirty of them, plus another 15 without covers. Mainly published in the early 1960s. They’re a bit non-PC now, with stereo types of enemies. They come from a large group of various “Picture Libraries”. Air Ace, War Picture Library, Commando, Combat, Battle Library, Lion, Conflict Library, Valiant Pict. Library, War at Sea, Super Detectives, Cowboy Comics, Thriller, Schoolgirls, Love Story, Western Pict. Library, Adventure, Pearsons, and some miscellaneous. All comics measure 13.5 cm wide by 17.25 cm high. They have all been well-read, and generally have worn covers (being paper-backed).
ITEM REF. No. E10897A
Shipping: NZ North Island: $32.00 NZ South Island: $42.00 Australia: $124.00 Rest of World: $220.00
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domain: library


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Director-producer Crayton Robey's riveting documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the play and film. Yet his exploration goes further, examining the evolution of the place of homosexuals in American society.
This documentary views Crowley's work as a serendipitous sign of its turbulent social times and a catalyst for change. In including ruminations on the way this work affected the author's life and career, as well as those of the cast members, Robey's piece becomes even richer.
"Boys" followed the well-made paradigm of such Crowley predecessors as Arthur Miller and Lillian Hellman. Set at a Manhattan birthday party among a group of gay friends, the seriocomic work explores foibles and strengths, warmth and cattiness, resilience and self-destructiveness among the men. Its truth games that lead to a shattering catharsis have justifiably been compared to Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Ironically, Albee—who with his business partner, Richard Barr, was involved in producing the play's early workshop—continues to suggest that the work did not positively impact gay acceptance. In the film, he says the piece did "serious damage" to the cause.
Robey's film is enhanced with choice footage of the 1960s and '70s, showing gays coming out of the closet in a big way. In home-movie scenes of beach parties at Roddy McDowall's Malibu home, guests such as Crowley, Natalie Wood, Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, and Rock Hudson mingle with the revelers. Crowley offers touching remembrances of his close friendship with Wood, who brought him with her to Hollywood as her personal assistant as she filmed "West Side Story," opening career doors for him as a television writer and producer.
There are candid comments from Crowley about his problems with severe depression when trying to make career inroads. The film explains how portraying gay characters at that point in history damaged the careers of some "Boys" actors, such as Peter White.
There was severe psychological fallout for Cliff Gorman, who played the mincing Emory and felt his career never got on track afterward, and Robert La Tourneaux, the play's "midnight cowboy" who subsequently turned to hustling and drug addiction. The film points out that though "Boys" came out more than a decade before the outbreak of the AIDS virus, several cast members eventually contracted and died of the disease.
There are many fascinating tidbits, including a clip from an unsold sitcom pilot written by Crowley that was to star Bette Davis, in which the producers forced Crowley to change a gay sidekick role designed for Paul Lynde to one for veteran character actor Mary Wickes.
William Friedkin remarks that he loved the "Boys in the Band" film, in which he directed the entire original stage cast. "It's one of my few films that I can still watch," he says. Here's betting that Friedkin—and many others—will be enjoying "Making the Boys" for decades to come.
Directed and produced by: Crayton Robey.
Featuring commentary by: Mart Crowley, Edward Albee, William Friedkin, Dominick Dunne, Cheyenne Jackson, Larry Kramer, Terrence McNally, Tony Kushner, Paul Rudnick, Robert Wagner, Laurence Luckinbill.

domain: artistic


text:
Show all countries in alphabetical order
Built my first website in 1996, web enthusiast ever since.
AQuest inspires minds and hearts by transforming the most beautiful dreams into a magical digital experience.
I'm the interactive web designer at Sports Illustrated. You can also see my work @ Interactive Blend.

domain: design


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DLC DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR NI NO KUNI 2: REVENANT KINGDOM
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe reveals new details about the content of the upcoming Adventure Pack for Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM. This first DLC will be free to download and will be released 9th August. As outlined in the Season Pass, further DLCs will follow.
The Adventure Pack provides new challenges for experienced players. It adds additional floors to the Faraway Forest which upon clearing, will reward players with new costumes for Evan and other characters. Players will also be able to challenge themselves against even stronger new bosses; Blackhart and Zeta. Additional quests will be unlocked after completing the story and unique rewards can be acquired.
The second DLC is coming this winter, featuring a new puzzling dungeon. Players will face a series of difficult challenges and powerful enemies while trying to reach for the deepest floors with great rewards awaiting those that do!
A third DLC is planned for early next year with new exciting content and game features, as well as a whole new story expansion. Further details will be shared soon.
Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM is available for PlayStation 4 and PC.
To learn more about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit:


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We will work with you to develop a tribute for your loved one that is personal and unique to them. There are lots of ways to make the flowers individual, including incorporating favourite flowers, scents or colours (including flowers from your/their garden).
You can also incorporate a person’s interests or hobbies through aspects of the design made personal (for example, fishing wire for a man that loved fishing, or sparkles for a lady that loved to shine).
Prices range from £30 for a small posit up to £300 for a large full casket topper. Have a look below at the options to help decide what flower are right for you.
What flowers would you like?
Close family will often choose a floral arrangement for the top of a coffin. This tends to be the main focal point in the hearse and ceremony.
We can provide single stems of flowers, or small posies that can be laid with the coffin.
From £1 a stem dependent on flowers.
If you would like to show your respect to a family or for a friend we can design a small posie or arrangement suitable.
Alongside the main flowers other close family members also like to show their respect with a range of flowers.
Eco friendly/Green Burial
We specialise in making designs that are eco-friendly and suitable for natural burial site using no foam, plastic or pins.The designs can be left to natural decompose on the site. Have a look at our gallery and prices for suitable options.
We want the process to be as simple and easy for you as possible, so are happy to meet you at a convenient place to discuss options for flowers or develop a proposal from information given on the phone or email. We can even offer a service where you can visit a local flower farm to pick the flowers for the tribute.We will deliver directly to the funeral home, memorial or family home.


String Wound Filter Cartridge
- Country of manufactureMalaysia
CSB String Wound Filter Cartridges was using FDA compliant filtration yarn wound onto the center core in a specified of pattern for different kind of micron rating by using USA design winding machine with high speed, consistency and continuous wound process which create one piece of filter with hundreds of diamond shaped. Our String Wound Filter Cartridges provide true depth filtration, each layer of roving contributes to true depth filtration, outer layer trapping coarser particles and inner layers trapping fine particles.
CSB String Wound Filter Cartridges nominal rated offer an excellent filtering efficiency, non-leaching and operate at the high flow rates with low pressure drop. This was designed to meet a variety of industrial processing need, and available in a several of media and core material.


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We interrupt this deluge of SDCC news to report that the TENTH TV spot for G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA has gone up over on HDTVSpot’s YouTube Channel. Thanks to SNAKE EYES from HissTank.com for the report!
The Terror Drome continues to upload images from the preview night floor in San Diego, and a few more have caught my eye. These images contain the following:
- The Doctor in white labcoat confirmed as a secondary release
- Volcano-Viper, the driver of the Lava Pod (MolePod repaint)
- Red Claw Ninja (I believe)
HissTank.com is getting their images uploaded (as their servers explode), but thankfully, I’m also mirrored some images of theirs here as well. You can check out the original Hisstank.com thread here. Lots of diorama images, mostly what we’ve seen before, but a few neat little tidbits like Kamakura, Red Claw Ninja, and the Tiger Claw ATV. Check out the gallery below and peruse this site until they get theirs back up.
Next in line for the Preview Night madness is The Terror Drome, who have started posting some images at their gallery here (but are also graciously allowing me to host them all at my site, too). Images below feature:
- Close up images of the G.I. Joe “Desert 5-Pack”
- The pilot of the Polar Shark Sub, Ice Storm
- Miscellaneous Vehicles that we’ve seen already
Check out those images below, and don’t worry, there will be much more coming!
Okay, I perused the gallery over at Toy News International, and there wasn’t a whole lot of consequence. Well, that’s not entirely true. The diorama buildings in those images pretty much blew my head clean off. Absolutely amazing…I’d wager the fine folks at Diorama Dreams had just a little to do with those…pure brilliance.
As far as product goes, mostly what we’ve seen before, with a few gems mixed in:
- The Doctor in a white labcoat. Planned variant? Another figure entirely? Hmmm…
- Dusty standing next to the Desert Rockslide; Very nice camouflage patterns on both, but still repaint stuff.
- Mini Subs! Hell yeah…we’ve seen funky multicolored test shots, but no actual in-color production shots of what looks to be the Polar Shark Sub w/ Ice Storm (though they almost look like Volcano Vipers). These things look pretty nasty.
All images, again, came from the Toy News International Rise of COBRA gallery.
Right out of the starting gate, Toy News International has begun posting images of Preview Night for San Diego ComicCon. The Full gallery can be viewed right here! I’m going to digest this for a minute then post again with my thoughts.
YoJoe.com and JoeReloaded.com have teamed up for a contest guessing the opening Box Office returns for the upcoming G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA motion picture. Winners will receive the four-issue Rise of COBRA adaptation with the SDCC Exclusive covers!
Check out all of the details here and have fun with it. Sounds like a very cool idea.
This one’s pretty late in the game, but the third installment of my review for the Shout! Factory Complete Series boxed set has been posted here! Part four will be bright and early tomorrow morning.
I know other sites have some pictures up already, and I’m combing through them and picking out the good stuff, but I’m also expecting some images from JoeBattleLines and The Terror Drome potentially tonight as well. But at this point, this is what we know about what was shown at SDCC (or what was peeked at behind enemy lines… )
Wal-Mart Exclusive Battle Stations
- Heatseek Missile w/ Scrap Iron and Neo-Viper
- Surveillance Port w/ MARS Trooper
- Laser Artillery Weapon w/ Hawk and Hit & Run (YES!)
- Outpost Defender w/ Tripwire and Roadblock
First impressions – I loved these battle stations as a kid, and they still look pretty cool, and I love that they’re coming with two figures. Resolute Roadblock is GREAT, even if he looks different. Love the QuaidHawk. Please don’t tell me that funky green and silver Tripwire with tiger stripes is supposed to be Hit & Run… :/
Toys “R” Us Exclusive Troop Builder Packs
- G.I. Joe “Desert Set” w/ Dial Tone (female), Law & Order, Zartan, Footloose, and Repeater
- COBRA set w/ Unknown
Tough to make out a whole lot here, but I’m loving that Joe set. Repeater and Footloose are both winners (yeah, I know, Footloose needs to be in green camouflage, but these paint apps look GREAT, even if they’re not vintage accurate). Female Dial Tone is awesome to see, too, for those of us willing and able to move on from 1986.
Hopefully more to come!
Images courtesy of HissTank.com.

domain: hobby


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Travel the Map Trimmer
10.6 metres per pack
A unique trimmer in the form of a series of world globes. The trimmer design is repeated every fifth globe and covers all of the earths continents. Colours of soft turquoise, lemon, dusty pinks and tangerine feature on this trimmer illustrated using the traditional world map style. Ideal for current affairs, world news or travel features in classrooms.
- Pre-cut, durable and reusable panels
- Includes 12 panels, approx 5cm x 90cm each
- Totals 10.6m per pack
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An inspired Hapsal classic, the Holm trousers are created in our soft OEKO-TEX certified black linen. Perfect for autumn transitions to spring, the trousers are a joy to wear.
- 100% OEKO-TEX® Linen
- Colour: Black
- Side pockets
- Designed & Ethically Made in Haapsalu
- Brand: Luxe Hapsal
- Sizes: S (EU 36/38), M (EU 40/42), L (EU 44/46), XL (EU 48/50)
- Size chart
- Model is 177cm/ 5'10" and is wearing a size M.
Please contact us if your size is no longer available to reserve for our next monthly release at: firstname.lastname@example.org.
Care instructions: Delicate cycle machine wash at 30 degrees. Iron inside out on linen steam setting.


What’s going on in the world today? Price cuts for LED bulbs, the future of wind and marine energy, and a boost on green funding from both sides of the pond.
1. “Rebates to Cut Price of $60 LED Bulb” – Phys.org – A new LED bulb from Philips is state-of-the-art, is designed to last 20 years and give off a natural, pleasant light, but thanks to all these features, it can run up to $60. However, thanks to a grant from the government and rebate deals with utility companies, that price will drop to about $22; LEDs, however, must still content with the much cheaper and just-as-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
2. “Behind the Wheel of Ford’s First Electric Vehicle” – Wired – The folks at Wired take the 2013 Ford Focus Electric for a spin, and report that it beats the Nissan Leaf in charge time and in driving pleasure. One of its weak points? Overly enthusiastic brakes.
3. “Wind Power Capacity to Double by 2016 After US Dip, Lobby Says” – Bloomberg – The wind industry lobby has estimated that worldwide wind power capacity will jump from 238 to 493 gigawatts by 2016, thanks to emerging markets like India and Brazil. This is in spite of shrinking margins and market slumps, especially in the US, thanks to Chinese competition and loss of tax credits.
4. “A Swell Chance to Harness Wave Energy” – The Australian – Ali Baghaei’s Syndaey-based company, Oceanlinx, is currently in the application process for federal funding for the Oscillating Water Column, which could be the next big step in wave energy technology. A grant from the Australian government would allow Oceanlinx and its technology to reach the commercialization level.
5. “EU and US Step Up Green Development Funding” – Business Green – The European Union recently announced plans to fund a plan to provide people in developing nations power via renewable, clean sources, with the goal of reaching 500 million people by 2030. Meanwhile, two new chairs of the UN’s program for climate financing program were announced, who will look at a variety of climate- and clean energy-related projects.


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Low-income students are increasingly paying for policies that prioritize prestige over opportunity
Money magazine's college rankings are the most pernicious yet
The latest ed trend seems like something you might have done in middle school
Graduates can't find work. So why won't their alma maters quit calling?

domain: sociology


All About Jazz needs your help and we have a deal. Pay $20 and we'll hide those six pesky Google ads that appear on every page, plus this box and the slideout box on the right for a full year! You'll also fund website expansion.
Clarinet Marmalade. Eddie Daniels and Ken Peplowski play the tenor saxophone and the clarinet. They are both better known for the latter than the former. Therefore, it is an occasion when either releases a clarinet-only disc. In the present case of Peplowski, add to this pleasure that he is highlighting the music of the Benny Goodman. This is Clarinet Marmalade indeed.
Topic. Born in 1958, Kenneth Peplowski grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Influenced by Benny Goodman and Tony Scott, he went on to develop, with Daniels and Don Byron, a distinctive style playing that most difficult mistress, the clarinet. He has recorded many fine discs for Concord Jazz, his most recent being Grenadilla (Concord 4809-2). Here he is captured leading a big band in Japan on a 15 date jaunt in late 1998, including this live recording at the 14th Annual Fujitsu/Concord Jazz Festival at Kan-I Hoken Hall in Tokyo.
Oh, The Music!. Having said all of that, what about the music? It swings from “Let’s Dance” to “Good-Bye”. These are not note-for-note performances, they are purely in the spirit of Goodman with superior sound and the wonderful immediacy that a good live recording always fosters. This is a must for Swing Heads. For all you nouvue swing aficionados, come and listen to the finest performed by the finest. Peps heartfelt hug for Benny Goodman.
Track Listing: Let
Personnel: Ken Peplowski: Clarinet; Conte Condole; Bob Milikan; Randy Sandke: Trumpets; Eddie Bert; Bobby Pring: Trombones; Jack Stuckey; Joe Romano: Alto Saxophones; Rickey Woodward: Tenor Saxophone. Ben Aronov: Piano; Frank Vignola: Guitar; Richard Simon: Bass; Frank Capp: Drums.
Jazz is a creative explosion of individual freedom and communication.
I was first exposed to jazz when I was a kid. My father had a music store.
The best live performance I ever attended was Kenny Garrett in Harlem, New York.
The first jazz record I bought was Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins.
My advice to new listeners is keep listening!


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As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, a new variant has emerged, causing concern among health experts and governments worldwide. The Omicron variant, first identified in South Africa, has been classified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its high number of mutations.
However, some experts suggest that the Omicron variant may not be as severe as the Delta variant, which has been responsible for the majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent months.
One reason for this optimism is that early data suggests that the Omicron variant may be less likely to cause severe illness or hospitalization. According to a report by the South African Medical Research Council, the majority of cases in the country have been mild or asymptomatic.
Additionally, some experts believe that the high number of mutations in the Omicron variant may actually make it less effective at infecting human cells. This could mean that the variant is less transmissible than the Delta variant, which has been highly contagious and responsible for numerous outbreaks around the world.
However, it is important to note that the situation is still evolving, and more research is needed to fully understand the impact of the Omicron variant. Health officials are urging caution and emphasizing the need for continued vigilance in the fight against COVID-19.
In the meantime, governments and health organizations are taking steps to contain the spread of the Omicron variant. Many countries have implemented travel restrictions and increased testing and surveillance measures to detect and isolate cases.
The development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 also remains a top priority. While it is unclear how effective current vaccines will be against the Omicron variant, pharmaceutical companies are already working on developing booster shots and updated vaccines to address the new variant.
In conclusion, while the emergence of the Omicron variant is certainly cause for concern, there is reason to believe that it may not be as severe as the Delta variant. However, it is important to remain vigilant and continue to follow public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.


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Dr Kathy Weston's Get a Grip! Parenting Podcast
By Dr Kathy Weston
Dr Kathy Weston's Get a Grip! Parenting PodcastApr 20, 2023
Episode 150 - Dr Christie Talks with Dr Carolyn Dunford and Dr Mellissa Prunty: Developmental Coordination Disorder
In this interview, we learn all about developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and get some top tips from two experts in the field. We also hear about an exciting research project, which schools might be interested in joining!
Episode 149 - Dr Christie Talks with Dr Lisa Sugiura: Talking to Young People about Online Misogynistic Groups
Cybercrime expert, Dr Lisa Sugiura explains what the 'manosphere' is and explores the harms of online misogyny and how it might impact on young people. This interview is packed with tips about how to talk to young people about these issues, encouraging cognitive flexibility and critical consumption of what see and read online.
Episode 148 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor Peter Smith and Dr Jennifer St.George: What are the Benefits of Rough and Tumble Play?
In this interview, Professor Peter Smith and Dr Jennifer St.George talk to us about their fascinating work on rough and tumble play. What is it? How does it differ from play fighting? And how should we respond to this kind of play, both at home and at school?
Researcher of the Month: Gemma Goldenberg Discusses the Impact of Outdoor Learning
Our Researcher of the Month, PhD student, Gemma Goldenberg, tells us about her exciting research into the impact of learning outdoors on young children. Tune in for some fascinating findings about how simply being outdoors for a few minutes has a significant positive impact on children's physiological stress levels.
Episode 146 - Dr Hope Christie Talks with Guests About Father Mental Health
In this episode, Dr Hope Christie speaks with three guests Scott Mair (Fathers Network Scotland), Kieran Anders (Dad Matters) and Professor Anna Tarrant (University of Lincoln), about the importance of father mental health, father inclusive practices and the role of fathers within a family unit.
Episode 145 - Dr Christie Talks with Professor Anna Tarrant: The Importance of Grandparents
In this episode, Professor Anna Tarrant talks with us about the importance and value of grandparents and other kinship carers. Find out about the role grandparents can play in a child's life and the benefits to a child's development of having extended family.
Episode 144 - Dr Christie Talks with Monique Thoonsen: Sensory Processing in the Classroom
Monique Thoonsen, author of 'Sensory Processing in the Classroom' and 'Making Sense of Your Senses' talks to us about what sensory processing is, why it's so important and how we can best support children who struggle with processing sensory input.
Researcher of the Month: Camille Mori Discusses Problematic Sexual Behaviours in Children and Teens
Researcher of the Month, Camille Mori discusses her new paper, which examines the links between exposure to explicit sexual content and problematic sexual behaviours in children and teens. She talks us through the differences between normal and problematic sexual behaviours in children of different ages and outlines what we know about its relationship to exposure to sexual content, both online and in the home. Any interested parent or educator should listen for tips on how to open up conversations about sex and relationships generally and best practice on how to respond effectively if your child is either exhibiting problematic behaviours, or has been impacted by the behaviours of someone else.
Episode 142 - Dr Christie Talks with Miranda Eadonable: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
PhD student and educational psychologist, Miranda Eadonable talks about how foetal alcohol spectrum disorder can impact on children's learning and behaviour. She tells us about her research, explores how teachers can best support children and young people with FASD and points listeners to numerous useful resources.
Episode 141 - Dr Hope Christie Talks with Dr Kerry Montgomery: Supporting Young People with Alopecia
In this episode, we learn more about alopecia and how best to support children and young people affected by the condition.
Episode 140: Dr Kathy Weston Talks with Becky Vieira: Enough About the Baby - Surviving the First Year of Motherhood
Dr Weston is joined by Becky Vieira, author of 'Enough About the Baby' and the woman behind popular Instagram account, #wittyotter. They chat about the first year of motherhood and all of its challenges and frustrations. Becky's book doesn't shy away from all those common taboos, from managing nosey in-laws and an anxious partner to surviving the first postpartum poo and when to seek out treatment for depression! Tune in for plenty of advice and tips.
Researcher of the Month: Anya Heneghan Discusses the Experiences of Young People Who Have a Sibling with an Eating Disorder
Researcher of the Month, Anya Heneghan talks to us about her work which examines the experiences of siblings when they have a brother or sister with an eating disorder. She talks us through what the existing research shows about how consuming eating disorders can be for siblings and provides numerous tips to help parents support all of their children throughout this very challenging situation.
Researcher of the Month: Professor Claudia Bernard Discusses Affluent Neglect
Researcher of the month, Professor Claudia Bernard discusses her recent paper which explores the experiences and perspectives of designated safeguarding leads in fee-paying schools to understand how they engage affluent parents when there are safeguarding and child protection concerns.
Episode 137 - Dr Hope Christie Talks with Professor Johan Korhonen: Maths Anxiety and Math Performance
In this interview, Professor Johan Korhonen talks with us about math anxiety and its role on math performance. Find out about why math anxiety may develop in children, what are the early signs of math anxiety, and how it may impact future educational aspirations. Professor Korhonen provides a number of insights into strategies both parents and teachers can implement immediately at home and at school to ease math anxiety in children.
Researcher of the Month: Professor Beatriz Ilari Discusses the Impact of Music on Young People's Development
Researcher of the month, Professor Beatriz Ilari chats to us about how music has a wide-ranging impact on young people's social and emotional development. We might assume that being 'musical' means playing an instrument, but Professor Ilari stresses the importance of everyday musical experiences and simply of listening to and engaging with our favourite bands or songs. In this interview, we find out more about her fascinating work.
Episode 135 - Dr Christie Talks With Professor Courtenay Norbury: Understanding Developmental Language Disorder
In this interview, Professor Courtenay Norbury talks with us about developmental language disorder (DLD), which she describes as a 'chronically understudied' topic. Find out about early signs and what impact it might have on children and young people's development. Professor Norbury provides numerous practical strategies for both parents to use at home and teachers to try in the classroom to help children with DLD have as good outcomes as possible.
Episode 134 - Dr Christie Talks with Dr Erika Galea: Cultivating Children's Emotional Regulation Skills
Did you know that the ability to regulate our emotions well is connected to better mental health and wellbeing, academic achievement and stronger and more long lasting personal relationships? In this interview, Dr Erika Galea talks us through the most effective strategies for building the vital skill of emotional regulation which can be used in both the classroom and at home with children and young people of all ages.
Episode 133 - Dr Christie Talks with Dr Marina Bazhydai: Probing the Space of the Possible - Children's Curiosity, Wonder and Creativity
In this interview, we talk with Dr Marina Bazhydai, Director of the Active Learning Lab (ALL) at Lancaster University, about nurturing children's sense of curiosity, wonder and creativity. We learn about her innovative and fascinating work which investigates active exploration and curiosity in very young children, find out more about the links between creativity and emotional literacy and discover how she is seeking to pinpoint the elusive concept of wonder. This is a great listen if you are keen to learn how to cultivate curiosity and innovative thinking in your child (or the children in your care).
Episode 132 - Dr Christie Talks with Dr Emma Ross from The Well HQ: Talking More Openly About Female Bodies, Women's Health and Helping Girls Thrive in Sport and Movement
Dr Emma Ross, former Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport and founder of The Well HQ, talks to us about her new book and all things related to women, girls and sport. We learn about the need to change the language often used to talk to girls about their bodies and give them the confidence to advocate for themselves, how to fuel girls' bodies adequately to provide them with the energy they need, the importance of well-fitting, comfortable sports bras and kit, the importance of menstrual cycle tracking and how to keep girls up girls' interest and enjoyment in sport. This wide ranging, practical interview is a must listen for anyone who supports women and girls and anyone who wants to know more about women's health, fitness and movement.
Episode 131 - Dr Christie Talks with Maggie Johnson: Understanding Selective Mutism (Part Two)
Maggie Johnson is a speech and language therapist specialising in childhood communication disorders and selective mutism, and the associated impact on families, schools and young people. She talks to us about her fantastic new book, 'The Selective Mutism Workbook for Parents and Professionals', which includes numerous activities and strategies organised around the daily routines of school and family life. This interview is longer than most and is packed with information and tips, so for ease of listening, we've broken it into two parts. This is part two. Enjoy!
Episode 131 - Dr Christie Talks with Maggie Johnson: Understanding Selective Mutism (Part One)
Maggie Johnson is a speech and language therapist specialising in childhood communication disorders and selective mutism, and the associated impact on families, schools and young people. She talks to us about her fantastic new book, 'The Selective Mutism Workbook for Parents and Professionals', which includes numerous activities and strategies organised around the daily routines of school and family life. This interview is longer than most and is packed with information and tips, so for ease of listening, we've broken it into two parts. This is part one. Enjoy!
Researcher of the Month: Tanya Manchanda Discusses the Role of Friendship Interventions on the Mental Health Outcomes of Adolescents
Our Researcher of the Month, Tanya Manchanda, has recently published a review which assesses existing friendship interventions and their impacts on the mental health outcomes of adolescents aged 12–24 years. In this interview, Tanya considers what we know about these interventions, for both the teen who is trained and their friends and reveals that surprisingly few interventions which utilise authentic social groups have been studied, despite their potential for strong results. She talks us through some of the interventions that do exist and outlines key things that schools might like to consider when developing and implementing friendship interventions designed to improve teens' mental health.
Episode 129 - Dr Weston Talks with Dr Danielle Paddock: 'Feel Cute, Might Delete Later' - Teens and Appearance-based Interactions on Social Media
In this interview, we talk to cyberpsychologist Dr Danielle Paddock about her fascinating examination of how teens converse with each other about appearance on social media. We know that appearance-related concerns are very high among teens in the UK. We also know that visual social media platform design encourages both image creation/sharing and interactions about these images. Dr Paddock chats about key themes that have emerged in her work, fruitful ways to talk to teens about this issue, and the positive impact of a brief school-based intervention about appearance-based interactions on young people's body image.
Episode 128 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor Jessie Ricketts: Love to Read - Reading Development and Motivation
In this interview, Professor Jessie Ricketts talks to us about her research into reading and language development in both teens and younger children. We explore early reading development, how reading ability continues to evolve into adolescence and discuss evidence-based ways to boost young people's motivation to read. Professor Ricketts also provides information on useful tools that can be used in the classroom.
Researcher of the Month: Professor Shana Carpenter Discusses the Science of Effective Learning
Our Researcher of the Month, Professor Shana Carpenter, talks to English teacher and examiner, Patrick Cragg about the science behind two effective learning strategies: spacing and retrieval. She outlines how and why these simple practices can benefit learning and explores why so few students actually use them. Listen for top tips on how to integrate these strategies into the classroom or at home.
Episode 126 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor Suzanne Graham: Foreign Language Teaching and Cultivating Motivation in Language Learning
In this interview, Suzanne Graham, Professor of Language and Education at the University of Reading, chats to us about the potential benefits of learning foreign languages. She discusses the links between language learning and creativity, talks us through her research into learning foreign languages in both primary and secondary settings and considers how we can motivate young people to engage with and enjoy the challenge. Professor Graham provides information about several fantastic resources for teachers, including free lesson plans and assessment tools.
Episode 125 - Dr Weston Talks with Dr Verity Jones: Climate Change Education and Fast Fashion
Have you ever considered the impact of the climate crisis on young people or really asked how they feel about the constant barrage of bad news that faces them? In this interview, Dr Weston chats with Dr Verity Jones about sustainable futures and education. They talk through optimal ways to discuss climate change with children and young people and outline the things that young people would find helpful. They also discuss the global impact of fast fashion and how our intimate relationship with clothes can be a great way to open up conversations about sustainability. Dr Jones references a vast number of fantastic resources which teaching staff and parents will find useful.
Episode 124 - Dr Weston Talks with Dr Amy Harrison: Supporting a Friend with an Eating Disorder
In this interview, clinical psychologist and eating disorder expert, Dr Amy Harrison, talks to us about optimal ways to support a friend who has an eating disorder. She discusses her innovative research into the impact of eating disorders on social functioning and gives us some actionable tips that might be helpful in maintaining and strengthening friendships. She also guides us through some topics of conversation to avoid or reframe.
Researcher of the Month: Is Heavy Gaming Detrimental to Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing? Dr Simona Skripkauskaite Fills Us In
Should we worry if our teens spend hours a day gaming? New research shows that for the majority of teens, heavy gaming is not detrimental to their wellbeing and might even have a positive relationship with it. However, it also shows that there are a small number of teens for whom heavy gaming is associated with poor wellbeing. Dr Simona Skripkauskaite, our Researcher of the Month for February 2023, chats to us about her new study and what these findings mean for parents.
Episode 122 - Dr Kathy Weston Talks with Dr Leor Zmigrod: Ideological Thinking and Radicalisation in Teens
In this episode, Dr Weston talks with Dr Leor Zmigrod about the psychology of ideological extremism. It's a fascinating discussion which outlines cognitive characteristics that might act as vulnerability factors for radicalisation and ideologically-motivated behaviour in young people, before addressing what strategies might help to protect young people from this kind of rigid, and potentially dangerous, thinking.
Researcher of the Month: Dr Cele Richardson Discusses the Impact of Parental Warmth on Teens' Sleep
Researcher of the month, Dr Cele Richardson, discusses her 2022 study, which shows that when parents have a warmer relationship with their teens, teens tend to have better sleep hygiene practices, sleep for longer at night and feel less sleepy during the day. Lack of sleep can have a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many teenagers. As parents, we are ideally placed to help them form good and healthy habits. Learn more about the impact we can have in this fascinating interview.
Episode 120 - Emotional Literacy at Christmas
Researcher of the Month: Dr Susie Bower-Brown Discusses the School Experiences of Gender Diverse Teens
In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Susie Bower-Brown about the experiences of binary-trans, non-binary and gender questioning young people in UK schools. Her research uncovers various ways in which teens who identify in this way often feel invisible or discriminated against. Listen for her thoughts on how schools can best support these young people and improve their mental health outcomes.
Episode 118 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor James O'Higgins Norman: Tackling Bullying
In this interview, Dr Weston talks to Professor James O'Higgins Norman about bullying. Professor O'Higgins Norman is the UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Schools and Cyberspace at Dublin City University, where he is Director of the fantastic National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre. We chat about what bullying looks like in 2022, how schools can best tackle it and the importance of reducing bystander behaviours. Professor O'Higgins Norman also lets us know about some innovative games and websites that can be used by parents, teachers and young people. A must listen for both parents and anyone who works in a school.
Episode 117 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor Marc Brackett about Emotional Intelligence: Permission to Feel
Professor Brackett outlines how, far from being a weakness, emotions - and our ability to feel, understand, and use them - are vital to achieving success. He describes his effective, evidence-based approach to emotional intelligence, known as RULER, which is used in thousands of schools worldwide.
Episode 116 - Dr Weston Talks with Ella Podmore MBE: Inspiring Young Engineers
In this interview, Dr Weston chats with Ella Podmore about her role as senior materials engineer at McLaren Automotive. Ella answers questions from children and young people, talking inspiringly about setting goals and how to work towards achieving them. Passionate about inspiring other girls into STEM industries, Ella also highlights some campaigns and organisations working in this field.
Episode 115 - Dr Weston Talks with Caoimhe Dempsey: Becoming a School Parent
In this interview, Dr Weston talks with PhD student, Caoimhe Dempsey about her research into how parents feel when their children first start school. We know a lot about how to make children 'school-ready' in terms of their learning, but what about how parental attitudes and emotions impact their transition? Do parents tend to feel positively about school starting? How does it impact on their life? Tune in to find out!
Episode 114 - Dr Weston Talks with Rugby Star and PE Teacher Sonia (Sonic) Green
In this interview, Dr Weston chats to England and Saracens rugby player, Sonia Green, otherwise known as Sonic. They discuss how to encourage sporting participation, how to balance academic pressures with sporting aspirations and the best way to deal with inevitable injuries. A must listen for all parents of young athletes and their children.
Episode 113 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor Mina Fazel: Supporting Refugee Children
In this interview, Professor Mina Fazel talks to Dr Weston about supporting displaced children once they are in a place of refuge. Listen now to find out about the crucial importance of a sense of belonging and how the outcomes of these children are dramatically improved if they are able to form natural social connections. Teachers and school staff can learn some top tips on supporting the mental health of refugee (and in fact all) children in the classroom. Professor Fazel also points us in the direction of some helpful further resources.
Researcher of the Month: Professor David Putwain - Is Warning Students of the Consequences of Exam Failure an Effective Strategy?
Researcher of the month, Professor David Putwain, discusses his recent paper which focuses on whether warning GCSE students of the consequences of failure (otherwise known as a 'fear appeal') is a motivating strategy in terms of their levels of engagement and achievement. He outlines the reasons why teachers use fear appeals, how this kind of approach can have very different outcomes depending on the way that individual students evaluate the message, and what this means for classroom practice. He also provides us with some great tips and tools that teachers can use to take a temperature check of their students' levels of test anxiety.
Episode 111 - Dr Weston Talks with Professor Deirdre Butler and Dr Paula Lehane: Using Minecraft in Schools
In this podcast interview, Dr Weston talks with Professor Deirdre Butler and Dr Paula Lehane about how Minecraft: Education Edition is being used in classrooms. They discuss the great potential of so called 'sandbox' games in children's learning, outline current gaps in the research evidence and provide useful tips for any teachers wanting to make the most of game-based learning.
Researcher of the Month: Dr Éadaoin Slattery - Do Sustained Attention Training Interventions Really Work?
Researcher of the Month, Dr Éadaoin Slattery, discusses her recent paper, which systematically reviews the evidence around popular sustained attention training interventions, which are widely used in schools. She talks us through what sustained attention is, why it is important and whether or not widely used interventions are likely to have a significant impact. We've probably all heard of brain training, but here Dr Slattery also talks us through some other kinds of interventions, which potentially show more promise.
Episode 109 - Dr Weston Talks with Justin Bowen: Supporting Bereaved Children at School - a Father's Experience
In this interview, Dr Weston talks with Justin Bowen about his own family's experience of loss and what prompted him to write support books for parents, schools and children experiencing bereavement. They discuss how schools can best support children who have lost a loved one (and how settings can access Justin's fantastic and practical book, 'Be The Rainbow') and dwell on Justin's personal insights into things that helped him and his family manage through this deeply challenging time. Justin's story is an inspiring and empowering message of hope and optimism, and will help schools to see what an important role they can play in helping to heal children who have experienced the death of someone close to them.
Episode 108: Dr Weston Talks with Victoria Franklin: Working Together to Improve School Attendance
In this interview aimed at school staff, educational consultant Victoria Franklin talks with Dr Weston about key messages from new Government Guidance on school attendance, which is being implemented as of the beginning of September 2022.
Researcher of the Month: Tom King Discusses the Effectiveness of School-Based, Peer-Led Wellbeing Interventions
Our Researcher of the Month, Tom King, discusses his recent paper which reviews the evidence for peer-led mental health and wellbeing interventions, widely used in schools worldwide. He talks us through why they are so appealing to schools and outlines the potential benefits and risks.
Episode 107 - Dr Weston Talks with Bennie Kara: Embracing and Valuing Diversity in Schools
In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Bennie Kara, deputy headteacher, author and speaker on diversity in the curriculum and school environment. Bennie shares her wealth of expertise on how schools can build an inclusive school culture, talks about the importance of language and outlines some key terminology that all educators and parents should be aware of.
Episode 105 - Dr Weston Talks with Dr Nikita Hayden: Siblings of Children with Autism
In this podcast, Dr Weston talks with Dr Nikita Hayden about the experiences of young people who have siblings with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Research into the outcomes of these children is extremely mixed. Dr Hayden unpacks the complexities of this, highlighting more complex family factors that also impact on young people's outcomes. She asserts the need to target support to those young people who actually need it and discusses meaningful things that schools and families can do to help support siblings and foster good sibling relationships.
Researcher of the Month: Dr Larisa McLoughlin Discusses Cyberbullying and Social Connectedness
Our researcher of the month, Dr Larisa McLoughlin, talks to Dr Weston about her recent paper which examines whether or not social connectedness is a protective factor against cyberbullying's negative impact on mental health and wellbeing. They chat about what social connectedness really is, the best ways to approach conversations about cyberbullying with your children and how schools can support strong social bonds.
Episode 103 - Dr Weston Talks with Dr Natalie Brown: The Importance of Menstrual Cycle Education
In this podcast, Dr Weston is joined by research scientist, Dr Natalie Brown, to discuss the importance of menstrual cycle education and its current delivery in UK schools. They discuss the everyday effects of the menstrual cycle, including its impact on school attendance, social confidence and participation in sport and physical activity, and explore the general lack of understanding around many of the issues associated with it. Dr Brown outlines the findings of a new study examining teachers' perceptions of menstrual cycle education, chats about the perceived barriers to delivering it and lets us know what her and her team intend to do to help things improve!
Researcher of the Month: Mishika Mehrotra Discusses the Importance of Dinnertime Conversation
Our researcher of the month, Mishika Mehrotra, talks to Dr Weston about the importance of mealtime conversation between parent and child. Join us to learn more about the why mealtimes are so important, what Mishika will be investigating and how to encourage children to open up during family chat around the table. Mishika is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and is definitely a researcher to watch out for in the future!

domain: psychology


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Stop & Shop recalls Pedigree dog food
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, following a recall by Mars Petcare U.S., Inc., announced it is removing Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites and Pedigree Large Breed Complete Nutrition dry pet food products from sale.
MARS Petcare has issued a national recall of these products because of potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.
Animals infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will only have decreased appetite, fever or abdominal pain.
If your pet has consumed the recalled product and experiences any of the above symptoms, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends contacting your veterinarian
In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Mars Petcare at (866) 298-8332. Consumers who have purchased the affected products may return them to Stop & Shop for a full refund.
Customers with questions about the recalled product may contact Stop & Shop customer service at (800) 767-7772 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit Stop & Shop's website at www.stopandshop.com.

domain: pet