Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Laser Beams Create a Job
The new legislators of the NH House have been busy. You remember that they campaigned on outrage about the state budget, and promised a laser-like focus to “cut taxes, cut spending, and create jobs, jobs, jobs”. Are they honoring those promises? How many jobs have the Laser Beams created?
There have been bills filed to repeal some taxes, a bill to repeal all taxes passed during the last legislative session, and Speaker O’Brien has been candid that he actually wants to eliminate revenue streams. He testified in support of a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit an income tax, saying, “I want to make sure that we do not have available to us a new and large revenue source.” The Speaker and his cohorts were going to try to balance the budget by cutting spending and cutting revenue. Yes, when we sit around our kitchen tables, cutting out cable, cutting out health insurance, new clothes, and we’re thinking about cutting out feeding the kids – the conclusion we automatically come to is that we must eliminate our second or third job. Sigh.
They’re serious about cutting taxes, though. So serious that on Wednesday they voted for two fake tax cuts, and promptly tabled them. There isn’t enough money to pay for the cuts – but that didn’t deter the Laser Beams. Republican Tony Soltani was gaveled out of order for objecting to this symbolic fakery. Based on prior experience, when Tony Soltani is coming across as the voice of reason, things are very, very wrong in Concord.
Rep. Al Baldasaro is pushing an amendment to the NH constitution that would change the oath of office for NH elected officials to swear “true allegiance,” to NH and “support” the US Constitution. No word on how many jobs this creates.
There are 3 bills aimed at telling us who can get married. Despite polls showing that the majority of NH voters don’t support repealing our marriage equality law, Laser Beam Bates of Windham is intent on legislating his evangelism. He’s sponsored 2 bills that repeal marriage equality. The third bill would dissolve all NH marriages and turn them into “domestic unions.” It’s an attempt by a Baptist Minister and a Freebagger to “take the government out of marriage” which is code for “the gummint has to kill your marriage in order to stop interfering with it.” It’s a useless bill that purports to fix something – something that isn’t broken. We have civil marriage. We have religious marriage. No need for more tinkering. It seems unlikely that this bill will be popular with anyone’s grandparents. Yet another bill would prevent couples with children under the age of 18 from divorcing. This transcends nanny statism, and prances into the land of fascism. If the “Live Free or Die” state takes rights away from a minority group, after having conferred them, we have crossed a line, and we’ll never recover from it. NH will be the object of scorn and derision, and we will deserve it, for letting a bunch of bigoted, narrow minded individuals mix religion and legislation.
In other Laser Beam news, Rep. Brandon Guida wants $7 million tax dollars to divert the Suncook River. The river flooded and changed course a couple of years back. The state DES advises against diverting. Rep. Guida knows better. An outside firm reached the same conclusion as DES. Rep. Guida still knows better. Must be that GOP science affinity. Another of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Dan McGuire used to have riverfront property. He doesn’t any more. ‘Nuff said.
Representative Jeanine Notter of Merrimack, recently opined during a committee hearing that health care reform is not needed, because communities will rally around cancer patients, and help them cover their costs by having bake sales, and such. That’s a lot of brownies – but Rep. Notter assures us that this is the American Way. Notter was also overheard during a hearing on the possible legislative oversight of nuclear power plants asking a person giving testimony if NH has a nuclear power plant.
The House also voted to defund NH Public Television. Our own Rep. Karen Umberger was quoted as saying “this is not the proper way to spend taxpayer dollars.” Some legislators went as far as saying it wasn’t good programming, that it was redundant. These are people who have never watched Windows to the Wild, or Granite State Challenge. These are the same people who want to spend approx. $5 million to administer urine tests to food stamp recipients, divert rivers in their own back yards on the public teat, and broaden the death penalty, which will cost at least an additional $5 million a year. Elmo=bad. Drug tests for poor people=good.
There’s also a bill to prevent college kids from being able to vote. For years the NH GOP has tried desperately to invent voter fraud, despite all reports to the contrary from the Secretary of State. It’s simple, really. When Republicans win it’s because they have a mandate. When Democrats win, it’s because of voter fraud. Just ask a Republican. Speaker O’Brien was pretty clear in the Union Leader on why college kids should be prevented from voting: “He said students in college towns register to vote on Election Day "and are basically doing what I did when I was a kid and foolish, voting as a liberal.” It would all be so much easier if we only allowed Republicans to vote.
There is good news, though, from Concord. Speaker O’Brien, after numerous clownish debacles in the early weeks of the legislature, has hired a fellow named Greg Moore to be the “House Policy Director.” Moore was formerly the policy and communications director for John Stephen. Apparently the new Policy Czar will prevent the Speaker from trying to improperly toss Democratic legislators out of office. Perhaps he will ensure that no more embarrassing bills will go public, like the one Rep. Lars Christiansen filed to get rid of the judge who convicted a child rapist Christiansen seems to have taken under his wing. We taxpayers are paying the Speaker’s babysitter $75,000 a year.
NH Republicans: hold your heads up high! You may have voted to kill Elmo, but you’ve created a single job!
Posted by susanthe at 11:41 AM


text:
"Designing Growth Strategies is in our DNA"
Ophthalmic examination chairs are the essential and crucial equipment necessary for ophthalmic practice. These chairs provide natural comfort for patients and convenience for the doctors to treat and supervise the patients. Certain types of ophthalmic chairs offer advanced equipment compatibility, which is beneficial for the clinicians during ophthalmic procedures.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), cataracts affect approximately 24.4 million U.S. population aged above 40 years, and 2.7 million Americans are affected by Glaucoma. The ophthalmic chairs market growth is anticipated during the forecast period due to the increase in the number of patients having eye disorders like eye infections, vision correction, etc. Also, the rise in geriatric population with vision correction disorders drive the market growth.
To gain extensive insights into the market, Request for Customization
Global ophthalmic examination chairs market growth is being driven by the increase in the prevalence of eye infections, cataracts that require specialized examination is becoming the primary attribute to drive the ophthalmic examination chairs market. Market players are into the development of more sophisticated examination chairs that will help the clinicians during examination and procedures.
On the flip side, the cost required in the development of the ophthalmic examination chairs is very costly and may hinder the market growth, and the lack of adoption of advanced ophthalmic examination chairs in emerging markets are the factors that can restrain the increase in global ophthalmic examination chairs market.
The major companies covered in the global ophthalmic examination chairs market report include Topcon Medical Systems, Inc., HAAG-STREIT GROUP, Heine USA LTD., DRE Medical, S4OPTIK LLC., Luneau Technology USA, Frastema Srl, and other players.
· Ambulatory surgical centers
· Specialty clinics
· North America (USA and Canada)
· Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Rest of Europe)
· Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia and Rest of Asia Pacific)
· Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Rest of Latin America)
· Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC and Rest of Middle East & Africa)
As per the current ophthalmic examination chairs market trends, specialized chairs are predominantly preferred over general chairs as it features another instrument compatibility, convenient use, and provides sophisticated practices among the application segment and is anticipated to register a higher market share in the global ophthalmic examination chairs market.
The global ophthalmic examination chairs market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is dominating the market share of ophthalmic examination chairs due to an increase in eye disorders, glaucoma, advanced technologies, and raising awareness of eye care in this region. Europe is also expected to hold significant growth during the forecast period due to the rise in the geriatric population. The regions of Asia Pacific are expected to register comparatively higher CAGR during 2019-2026 due to increase in several eye disorders, cataracts surgeries, and glaucoma patients mainly in China and India. In the Asia Pacific and Latin America, the evolving healthcare infrastructure and increasing awareness regarding ophthalmic disorders are anticipated to fuel the ophthalmic examination chairs market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, ophthalmic examination chairs market in the Middle East and Africa is in the nascent stage; however, unmet needs for better ophthalmic treatment is expected to drive the market growth in this region.
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domain: geography


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domain: sociology


Rick Borovoy and Brian Knep at MIT’s Center for Future Civic Media have put together a public project – Junkyard Jumbotron – enabling users to combine multiple devices into a single screen.
The experimental platform allows users to spread single images across the displays of all the devices, creating the effect of one large overall display.
Users load a URL in the web browser on each device, which displays a unique calibration image on each of the separate displays. A photograph of the displays is then sent to the MIT server, which is then able to determine the relative position of each display and thus which parts of the image to show on which screen.
Try it for yourself at jumbotron.media.mit.edu.


text:
Elaboration of Angeli di Varano Rosso Conero Conero Riserva Stile Libero 2013
Angeli di Varano Rosso Conero Conero Riserva Stile Libero 2013
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(They’re no better than Kolodny)
Here’s a short video that is about some of the most common mistakes that people who are learning ASL- American Sign Language make. I hope you enjoy!
ASL Learner Mistakes https://youtu.be/CHRkPKa5iRU via @YouTube #asl #americansignlanguage #asllearningmistakes #aslmistakes #deafculture #deafcommunity #hh #hoh
Title: Reported Outcomes for Mister O are Highly Representative
As a non-physician advocate for chronic pain patients with 22 years experience, I see the story of Mr O repeated widely and horrendously. The current regulatory environment on opioid analgesic therapy is grossly distorted by mythologies about who becomes addicted and from what sources. Public policy is actively denying treatment to hundreds of thousands of people in agony. Doctors are fleeing practice, deserting their patients; those who do not flee are refusing the therapies that are often the only effective measures.
Director of Research
Alliance for the Treatment of Intractable Pain
Structural Iatrogenesis — A 43-Year-Old Man with “Opioid Misuse”
Mr. O., a 43-year-old man with severe, destructive rheumatoid arthritis, had been receiving acetaminophen–hydrocodone at low doses from his primary care provider (PCP) for 15 years. He worked in an auto-parts factory in southeastern Michigan, and pain control was essential to maintaining his employment. His pain had been well managed on a stable regimen, and he had not shown evidence of opioid use disorder.
In 2011, his primary care clinic began requiring patient–provider agreements (“pain contracts”) and regular urine drug testing. Mr. O. participated willingly, and his tests were consistently negative for unprescribed substances. In 2014, his insurance company began to require annual prior authorization for all controlled-substance refills. Although there were small delays in receiving medication once a year when the authorization was due, the patient was able to keep his pain level stable on his usual regimen.
In 2016, Mr. O.’s PCP retired, and his care was transferred to another PCP in the same office, who followed the patient’s existing pain-management plan. The same year, the insurance company began requiring more frequent prior authorizations and then that prescriptions be sent to the pharmacy every 15 days. The new PCP was occasionally late providing these prescriptions and approving prior authorizations because of the required multistep interactions with the insurance company. Mr. O. did not own a car and had difficulty making frequent trips to the pharmacy. He began to have several-day gaps in medication. During these gaps, he experienced severe pain and mild withdrawal, as a result of which he performed poorly at work and received a citation. He became very concerned about losing his job.
Mr. O. made an appointment with his PCP and requested an increase in his number of pills, wanting to “stockpile pills so that I’ll never run out.” The PCP noted that Mr. O. seemed nervous during the conversation. She noted in the chart that the interaction “made her uncomfortable.” She knew that the previous PCP had reported that Mr. O. had shown no evidence of opioid misuse, but in the current environment of vigilance regarding the risks posed by opiates, she did not feel comfortable increasing the number of pills.
Three months later, the patient submitted a urine sample that tested positive for unprescribed oxycodone. When the PCP discussed the result with Mr. O., she learned that he had obtained oxycodone from a friend during one of his gaps in medication.
The following month, oxycodone was once again found in his urine. Already overwhelmed by the frequent need for prior authorizations, and noting that Mr. O. had “violated his contract” by submitting two urine samples containing unprescribed opioids, the PCP referred him to a local pain clinic.
The wait time for an appointment at the clinic was 4 months. The PCP continued to provide prescriptions during that period, planning to stop prescribing as soon as Mr. O. had his first appointment. When he arrived at the pain clinic, Mr. O. learned that it had a policy of not prescribing opioids for the first two visits. Facing a prolonged period without his usual regimen, and having previously failed to obtain any “extra” acetaminophen–hydrocodone from his PCP, Mr. O. began purchasing his full narcotic regimen (in the form of oxycodone) from a friend.
Through a series of events, Mr. O.’s therapeutic relationship with his PCP deteriorated, and he became compelled to obtain medications outside the medical setting, which in turn increased his risk of overdose, as well as his risk of arrest for possession of unprescribed opioids. This shift was not precipitated by physiological changes in Mr. O.’s disease, need for medication, or personal attributes. Rather, it was caused by structural forces outside his control, ranging from clinic policies (pain agreements, a drug-testing initiative, a moratorium on prescribing) to corporate bureaucracies (insurance companies, factory management) to larger-scale social forces (poverty, lack of availability of transportation, lack of opportunities for work appropriate for someone with a painful condition).
We call this type of harm “structural iatrogenesis” (see box). Drawing on a long history of social science scholarship,1the use of the term “structure” emphasizes that Mr. O.’s poor outcome was determined by social forces and structures outside his control. The term “iatrogenesis” specifically focuses on the harmful role of bureaucratic structures within medicine itself. In Mr. O.’s case, many of these structures had been instituted to protect patients at risk for opioid use disorder: clinicians acted according to prevailing standards of care in chronic pain management; his prior clinic’s pain contract and urine drug screens were meant to prevent deviation from prescribed opioid use that might place him at risk for overdose or addiction; the pain clinic’s protocol of delayed prescribing was meant to prevent patients from “shopping” for opioid prescriptions; prior authorizations required by the insurance company were intended to reduce overprescription of potentially harmful (and costly) medications. But these systems were not beneficial to Mr. O. in the context of his economically and socially precarious life, which was shaped by a lack of transportation and a need to perform painful manual labor for economic survival.
Structural iatrogenesis is the causing of clinical harm to patients by bureaucratic systems within medicine, including those intended to benefit them.
Structural iatrogenesis is a type of “structural violence,” defined as the systematic infliction of disproportionate harm on certain people by large-scale social forces such as resource distribution and hierarchies of race, gender, or language.2,3 “Iatrogenesis” points to the causation of such harm by bureaucratic systems that are potentially under clinicians’ or health systems’ control.4
Clinicians who identify structural iatrogenesis may alter structures or create action plans to prevent them from causing harm. Generalizing from Mr. O.’s case, we would offer the following approach:
1. Recognize and alter structures that systematically harm patients. Clinicians may be the first to identify a structure that is systematically harming patients and can then advocate for or directly effect change. For example, in the 1980s, the Food and Drug Administration and physician organizations recommended that women undergo pelvic exams before receiving hormonal contraception. Some clinicians noted that these exams were a barrier to contraceptive access and stopped requiring them in their own clinics. By the 1990s, these local changes led to removal of the recommendation from national policy, which increased access to contraception and rates of effective use.5
Similarly, if Mr. O.’s PCP noticed that her clinic’s opioid-prescribing policy generated frequent gaps in medication coverage for patients in general, she could have advocated for a new approach. It’s important, however, to avoid the pitfall of thinking that structural harm emerges only from “broken” systems. All structures carry a risk of harm, even when they are functioning “properly.”
The policy in Mr. O.’s PCP’s office might have been working well for most patients, but it turned out to be a poor fit for Mr. O.
2. Bend policies according to context. Attempts to standardize clinical care in order to ensure high quality often inadvertently lump complex phenomena into simplistic categories. Such oversimplification, in turn, can create structures within clinical care that harm patients more than help them. By questioning how such categories (such as “opioid misuse”) apply to particular patients and types of patients, clinicians can work to reduce the risk of structural iatrogenesis. The label of “opioid misuser,” for example, negatively affected Mr. O.’s care by failing to acknowledge reasons that he might be acquiring medications outside the clinic.
Similarly, clinic policies that penalize patients for arriving late to appointments disproportionately harm people who don’t own a car or control their work schedule. And policies of rewarding clinicians on the basis of quantitative measures of practice quality, such as reductions in glycated hemoglobin levels, may ignore complex disease interactions and the social factors contributing to diabetes and may create an incentive for clinicians to drop particularly sick patients. Instead, one might identify patients with particular vulnerabilities and adjust policies on the basis of their life context
3. Address implicit agendas head-on. Mr. O.’s care deteriorated when he was labeled an “opioid misuser.” This designation was putatively a clinical diagnosis, but it also marked a tacit category shift from “good patient” to “bad patient,” reflecting the mixing of clinical reasoning with moral judgment. Similarly, the insurance company’s rationale for requiring more frequent prescriptions mixed a harm-reduction agenda (reducing risk for addiction and death) with a profit motive (reducing payouts for medications). Mr. O’s poor clinical outcome was due in part to tensions between these implicit agendas. Clinicians often consider such agendas to be outside their purview, but given that they have such a significant impact on clinical outcomes, it may be more effective clinically to identify these agendas, assess their interactions, and decide which ones to prioritize. The staff of Mr. O.’s clinic, for example, could recognize the moral judgment involved in the diagnosis of “opioid misuse” and instead set an explicit goal of identifying behaviors that could increase a patient’s risk of addition, overdose, or dangerous side effects. They could then assess whether their established protocols were achieving that goal and how to balance it with other goals.
At Mr. O.’s next visit, his PCP expressed concern about risks of overdose and legal harm from use of unprescribed oxycodone. She persuaded him to return to the pain clinic, and in the meantime she agreed to continue prescribing his opioids. A medical assistant appealed for an exemption to the insurance company’s 15-day prescription rule, citing Mr. O.’s lack of transportation, fragile work circumstances, and long-standing treatment. At the time we wrote this article, it remained unclear whether these modifications would stabilize Mr. O.’s treatment and prevent his use of unprescribed opioids.
The editors of the Case Studies in Social Medicine are Scott D. Stonington, M.D., Ph.D., Seth M. Holmes, Ph.D., M.D., Helena Hansen, M.D., Ph.D., Jeremy A. Greene, M.D., Ph.D., Keith A. Wailoo, Ph.D., Debra Malina, Ph.D., Stephen Morrissey, Ph.D., Paul E. Farmer, M.D., Ph.D., and Michael G. Marmot, M.B., B.S., Ph.D.
The patient’s initial and some identifying characteristics have been changed to protect his privacy.
From the Departments of Anthropology and Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Ann Arbor (S.S.); and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (D.C.)
I opened up facebook to see that a person who calls herself an “investigative reporter”; doesn’t actually have a clue about the subject for which she stands upon her soapbox and spews hate and prejudice! Her hate speeches, disdain, lack of knowledge & empathy for the chronic pain community are outrageous. She also states that she’s a pastors wife! Which in a stereotypical sense, should make her more kind, loving & empathetic (on the contrary). I’m definitely not a cold or callous person. I deeply care about others & especially my fellow chronic pain patients. But I pity her in her for the way she’s unable to get help for her grief. I’m terribly and deeply sorry for anyone who’s lost someone that they love to any kind of addiction. She lost an adult child to overdose of prescription opioids. She’s made it her fight in life now, to rid the world of the “evil narcotics”. Do you think she knows that the statistics prove that only 1-3% of prescription opioids ever result in overdose?Check out this new report from the Cato Institute
It’s the illicit fentanyl and Cara-fentanyl from Mexico & China that are the problem! It’s not legitimate chronic pain patients with legitimate prescriptions from licensed pain management physicians that are to blame for this manufactured “opioid crisis”. The opioids are only a tool. Just as guns, kitchen knives and cars are all tools. These tools don’t kill people any more than opioids “kill people”! There’s a genetic link to addiction. There’s also a distinct difference between addiction and being dependent physiologically to a medication that one has taken for several years to decades. With addiction, the addict must make a conscious decision to get the meds, tell lies, keeps secrets and physically take the increasing amounts of drugs to give them a “high” or a euphoric feeling! They ruminate look at the clock, just waiting for their next fix! Chronic pain patients, for the most part; were never given the “luxury” of a choice! Most are people living the rest of their lives with high amounts of ongoing daily chronic pain; with no end in sight! The average chronic Pain patient, is living a life sentence in agony through no fault of their own! Usually an unsuccessful surgery, freak accident or a motor vehicle accident. Today we have an “under & untreated pain crisis”, with suicides from pain mounting in numbers weekly. A very knowledgeable and vocal physician and chronic pain patient advocate, Dr Thomas Kline, MD, has kept a record of these rising number of suicides.
Chronic pain is in fact a disease; as explained in this article in Health Magazine (February 2016) and in many other news articles. It’s Origin is Neurological. Scientists now believe that one cause of chronic pain is a dysfunction of the nervous system & includes the misfiring of nerve signals long after an accident or injury. According to this article: http://amp.timeinc.net/health/health/condition-article/0,,20187942,00.html, Neurons (cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other) become overexcited and keep firing, even after the original cause (injury or illness, in some cases) has long since passed. The person receives persistent pain signals.”
If I may be so bold as to speak for the majority of the chronic pain community, we are not insensitive or calloused persons. In fact, I’ve never met a more caring, empathetic group of citizens. We care very much that people have lost their family members to the disease of addiction. We grieve for their loss of lives and love.
But we are grieving too! We have had so many deaths due to either suicide, untreated or under treated chronic pain since the CDC Guidelines appeared in 2016. Read this: Article by Dr Jeffrey Singer MD, Cato Institute. Dr Singer states that, “patients have become the civilian casualties of the misguided policies addressing the opioid crisis.” These “guidelines”have somehow become “law” to the majority of anti-opioid zealots; along with many physicians and pharmacists!
I wrote to the CDC and if you look at their response to my letter here(*& in photo below) A Response letter sent to me, from Exec Secretary of CDC, they state that “the CDC Guidelines are not meant to be rule, regulation or law. It’s not intended to deny access to opioid pain medications as an option for pain management”. I also agree that nobody should be denied pain care. That these are just supposed to be nothing more than guidelines. They weren’t meant to become the Law!!
Now there are admissions of the over fabrication of statistics by the CDC. Also, the AMA has come out with their own resolutions to these Draconian CDC Guidelines. You can find what they’ve written in this article by The Pain News Network https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2018/11/14/ama-calls-for-misapplication-of-cdc-opioid-guideline-to-end
This person calls herself an investigative reporter. People like her feel that because they have an audience & a platform; that they can stand on their soapbox and spew misinformation and hatred due to unresolved feelings of loss and grief! But they are just plain wrong!
When I opened up Facebook to try and reason with her. To attempt to discuss and/or debate like adults; I found that her page was blocked from any comments or discussions. That’s when you know you’re on the side of light and good. When you’re willing to discuss hard subjects in a civilized manner. But when discussions are cut out and blocked; that’s when we know that a person just wants to pontificate and spew hate!
Lastly, I wanted to add that this person should be in violation of the ADA, for her written comments regarding Cindy Steinberg. She made derogatory remarks about Cindy, a very well known pain patient advocate and friend of mine! I don’t think she is allowed to say the things that she said about Cindy supposedly being “theatrical” because she used a cot in between her statements regarding the opioid hysteria. This reporter even went so far as to say that Cindy was “laying in her her cot while testifying to Congress.”! Gee, I saw the video and it sure appears that she’s sitting in a seat discussing the situation in an intelligent manner. Here is part of Cindy Steinberg’s message:
“In the near term, we can and must restore balance to opioid prescribing with depoliticized, rational and cleareyed recognition of the risks and benefits of these medications,” she said, according to her prepared remarks. “In the long term, we must invest in the discovery of new, effective, and safer options for people living with pain.”
What’s wrong with that message? How could any sane person find something incorrect or one-sided, with that direct quote”. On the contrary, Cindy spoke intelligently! She discussed ways to help end opioid hysteria and the under-treated/untreated pain crisis today!
Lastly, if this one-sided, so called “investigative reporter”, would share an ounce of the truth with her readers; she’d have not lied about Cindy “laying in a cot while testifying to Congress”. Cindy, as you can see from the video of her testimony, is sitting upright in a chair as she speaks to Congress. But would there have been a problem if she had been in a cot while testifying? NBC & this reporter could very well be violating the Americans with Disabilities Act? In what world is mocking a disabled person OK? Isn’t there an ADA law that calls for accommodating persons with a disability?
Below is a photo from a portion of the return response letter that I received from the Executive Secretary of the CDC:
Here are some great resources for those who are skeptical of my words here today:
Many of my “regular” readers may remember that I am “Hard of hearing”. Hearing people may use the term “hearing impaired”. We prefer to be called “Hard of hearing”. Mostly because we don’t feel that we are broken or “impaired”. Technically it means that I’m not totally “medically 100% deaf”. I can hear a few various pitches, frequencies and sounds. With my hearing aids in, I can hear a little bit during a “one on one” conversation. But add in background noise and people who mumble or talk very fast; and then it’s nearly impossible. Next, add the situation of trying to “listen” to several people at once, in a crowded room or restaurant? Lastly, there are those with facial hair all around their mouth and lips. They are the group for me, who have the most frustrating lips to read! Then again, it’s not really like “reading”. Because it’s more like piecing together bits and pieces of a puzzle & then trying to “fill in the missing pieces”.
In case you’re not familiar with my hearing loss journey; I’ll recap just a little bit for you. When I was a child, I had recurring ear infections. During those times, I could often be found literally rocking my body back & forth, while curled up in the fetal position. My memories start as young as age 3 years. It was always pure hell while I was living with horrible ear infections. When I complained to my parents about the excruciating 😖 throbbing Pain in my ear (or ears), my mother would always say same thing. She’d tell me “Once your eardrum ruptures, the pressure will go away and you will feel better!” Well, it did feel better after the pressure was gone. But each time that happened it caused scar tissue to form in my ear drums. It also caused mild hearing loss as I was growing up. I remember asking the teachers if I could sit closer to the board to try and hear them better. Therefore my audiologist (in 2002) & ENT Dr. felt that I’ve had mild hearing loss since I was a child. I had tubes put in my ears when I was about 7 or 8 years old. They were surgically placed multiple times and for several years.
Later in 2002, I was a passenger in a car driven by my husband. We were just driving along through a green light when we were hit by a car running through a red light. It was considered a “catastrophic accident”. I acquired a TBI (traumatic brain injury) and had multiple injuries and 9 surgeries. I went to brain injury rehab for 3 years & had 9 years of PT/OT, balance therapy and speech therapy. I acquired a pacemaker, glasses with prisms (for lowered vision), 2 screws in my left shoulder and 2 hearing aids. I also got a wheelchair, a seated wheeled walker, a motorized scooter, loft strand crutches, a cane and several other helping aides for activities of daily living.
I won’t bore you with all of the chronic pain illnesses that came out of that accident. That’s not what this post is all about. But I also acquired a bi-lateral sensory neural hearing loss in both of my ears L>R (but currently (2019), it’s R>L & it’s a mixed hearing loss). Along with the many medical issues, I also acquired lower vision. I saw a Neuro-Othamoligist, who put prisms in my glasses to try and correct some of it. The prisms really bothered me. Today I just have a very strong prescription for eye glasses. Everything has a bit of a halo effect.
It’s ironic and very awesome that prior to that MVA (motor vehicle accident), I had been an ASL Interpreter. I worked at a Deaf preschool and then I interpreted for a school district. In the end, I was a medical Interpreter at a University hospital. I even did volunteer work doing medical interpreting for Deaf/Blind at free medical screening events. I had gone through a 4 year SLS/Interpreting program and finished with a 3.8 gpa.
Back in the 1980’s when I went to college, I practically lived at the dorms with my 16 Deaf friends. We watched CC “General Hospital” daily at 3:00 pm. We even tried to schedule our classes around it! It was a social hour. I’d been learning ASL since age 11 & even “tested out” of the first fingerspelling class.
The Deaf community accepted me and they were kind to me. At that time I went to Deaf bowling every Thursday with DAD club. I had a Deaf boyfriend whose sister was a cheerleader at MSD & we went to all of the football games and even the homecoming dance! Me and my group of college friends, who happened to be Deaf, used to go out dancing on Friday nights. One time my friends & I were on our way to a dance club and we got pulled over for a slight bit of speeding. We were all packed in the back of a mini van signing with each other. One of my friends told me to “talk to the officer”. I was terrified and I told him “No way! I’m afraid! Since I’m with you guys, I don’t want to talk to him either!” We all laughed as the officer just let us go with a handwritten warning on a piece of paper. That was a fun and I felt included.
Just to back track a little, I started learning ASL at age 11. My best friend & I babysat for a Deaf family who lived next door to her. The parents and 6 children were Deaf. The children went to the Lutheran School for Deaf at that time! They included me in many Deaf social activities and I learned the language & received my sign name from them. First we played games and I learned colors, numbers, family signs, days of week and more!
I’ve always felt accepted by the Deaf community. I always respected the culture, the history & the language, ASL. How ironic then, that I lost my hearing & was already prepared with the tools I needed!
I’ve lost touch with some of my old friends from DAD (Detroit Association of Deaf). But I still have a some close friends from the past, who are Deaf. I still feel a part of the community. I’d like to become even more involved again! But living with several high pain chronic illnesses makes it difficult to get out due to persistent pain.
I’ve found my own ways to reconnect and to feel not so “in-between” two worlds. I get to teach ASL vocabulary with the Deaf Socials on their Instagram and Facebook pages. I love & look forward to each new vocabulary list they give to me for teaching! I truly enjoy doing that and doing song covers to ASL on my Youtube channel: My YouTube channel at: ASLSuzyQ . I also post to my Instagram A link to my ASL Instagram and Twitter A link to my ASL Twitter with the same name. I do this for fun and as a volunteer and advocate for Deaf Awareness.
Lastly, I used to love being a part of two ASL performance groups during the 80’s, when I lived in Arizona & worked at a Deaf preschool. One group was called “Silent Impressions productions”. We performed in choreography and ASL to broadway show tunes and in costumes! We put in shows at ASU and it was so much fun! The other group to which I belonged, was called “Silent Praise”. We performed Christian songs while others did lyrical dances. We did that at the ASU Neumann center. It was such a fun time in my life. My friends and I also interpreted for our church community at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Scottsdale, AZ.
After reminiscing in this post, I feel so grateful that I had already been involved with the Deaf community & had many years of experience with ASL, before I became more (*I was mild HoH since elementary school) Hard of Hearing. As ironic as it seems, it’s not all that crazy. I had a mild hearing loss and then it worsened due to the TBI.
I mostly seem to write about chronic pain illnesses. I’ve been writing about the rights of chronic pain patients to have access to much needed opioid pain medications. We need these medications because without them, people like me wouldn’t even be able to do the small amount of activities that we try to do. I was forcibly tapered from my long acting pain meds after doing pretty well on them for almost 14 years! Now I sit in my recliner for approximately16 hours daily. I try to get up, put I make up and do some online activities every few days. But my life is not the same with so much less help for the pain.
Although I still want to continue advocating in that area, I’m doing more & more advocating for Deaf awareness, inclusion and preservation of ASL. I thought I’d put my hearing loss story and ASL history here in my blog too. I’ve written a few posts about Deafness and trying to live in “two worlds”. But I’ve never explained the details of how I became who I am today. I’m a survivor of long time childhood abuse, domestic violence and then a catastrophic car accident. I’m not a “victim” but I am a “fighter and a survivor”! Don’t ever give up!!
I have a Facebook page at: Link to my ASLSUZYQ Facebook page
I have a Facebook group called “ASLExpress” at:Link to join Facebook group ASL Express
Lastly, I have an ASL group for allowing people to post ASL covers in a safe place, called “ASL Song” at: Link to ASL Song Facebook group
Here is a video that has taken me awhile to get out. I asked for submissions from every chronic pain patient on LinkedIn, 3 Instagram accounts, 3 Twitter aaccounts, 5 Facebook pages and 5 or 6 Facebook groups. I requested video submissions many times during November 0f 2018. I received a total of 8 videos. I waited to produce and edit this video until this week. It is the First week of February 2019 and the video was posted today 2-7-19. I added the closed captions for other Deaf/Hard of Hearing persons like myself.
Please watch this video on YOUTube and make comments. Share this video on Twitter to our POTUS and to the FLOTUS. Please share it to Fox News, Greg Guttfield and any other news, media or government agencies where you think someone may be able to help us. Please share, share and share. We need someone to see us, hear our stories and believe in helping 100 million chronic pain patients. There are about 26 million who depended on Opioid prescription pain medications and now they are mostly unable to obtain any relief whatsoever. Thank you for watching and for sharing this video far and wide.
This video is not affiliated with any group or organization. This was totally my idea and I requested, received, produced and edited this video on my own. These ladies are brave and I’m so thankful and grateful for their pleas and their stories. Thank you again! Have a wonderful day! If you just click on the link below (it is a safe link, I promise), it will take you directlly to the YOUTube video that I uploaded. If you prefer to visit it yourself without clicking on the link, here is the URL:
or click the link below
(**IF YOU NEED CC FOR DEAF/HOH, PLEASE USE THE BLUE LINK AND GO TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEO WHERE I’VE PUT THE CC JUST FOR THOSE OF US WITH HEARING LOSS):
A not-so-crazy couple with 15 cats

domain: medical


text:
Valery Novoselsky has been active in international Roma movement. As the editor of Roma Virtual Network, an organisation that provides helpful information on Roma issues through the internet, he is trying to change perceptions about his people. Novoselsky was recently in the capital for a talk on the Roma (commonly referred to as Gypsies) in Europe and their ancestral relations with India. He spoke to Meenakshi Kumar:
Has the condition of the European Roma changed?
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, there has been an improvement. But some problems continue. Lack of education and unemployment still plague most European Roma. Across Central Europe, from Czech Republic to Macedonia, 70-80 per cent of working-age Roma are unemployed. When it comes to education, 90 per cent students are placed in schools meant for the disabled and one-third of Roma children don't study at all. But things are improving, even though the pace is slow. Many Roma, moreover, live in deprived and segregated areas with poor-quality housing, a lack of basic services and limited access to good quality health care.
The Roma have been looked at with suspicion over the years. Under the communists they got a raw deal. Does the discrimination still exist?
Discrimination is less visible today, but it is there. Changing ethnic stereotypes is not easy. There are countries which try to stop the Roma from entering their boundaries. Even some members of the European parliament have anti-Roma attitudes.
They talk about a Europe for the Europeans. Now, where will the Roma people go? They don't have a country of their own; they adopt the country they are born into. That's one of the reasons why many Roma people refuse to register their ethnic identity in official censuses for fear of discrimination. And that's why we still don't have their true numbers. The communists were against the Roma style of life, which is basically against totalitarianism.
It's believed that the Roma have an origin in India? How true is that?
Yes, it's true. Our roots are here. It were circumstances which forced us to move and spread out. Mahmud Ghazni took our ancestors from different parts of north India to Afghanistan and Iran. Later, with every successive invasion, they were forced to move out and seek refuge in different parts of the world.
Over centuries we have become a part of the country we adopted as our motherland. Roma were the first Indian expatriates. And now after years, many of us realise that we need a connection with our real homeland. We have to return to our forgotten motherland and it has to be a two-way process. As far as our connection with the banjaras is concerned, we believe that the latter are just a social group. On the other hand, Roma is a racial group.


text:
Picture This: The Extraordinary Learning Benefits of Drawing
There is something magical that happens when you give a child some crayons and a blank piece of paper. They become readers.
Well, not right away.
But children’s first explorations in creating lines and squiggles that become drawings of boats and kitty cats are also a good approximation of what happens when they start learning how to read.
Both drawing pictures and reading words involve interpreting objects (in one case, pictures; in the other, text) as representations of a greater reality. This (a drawing of a tiger, the word “tiger”) represents this (an actual tiger).
And of course, just learning to write letters is a kind of drawing – and creating stories. As the great cartoonist and storyteller Lynda Barry writes to her adult readers in the introduction to her latest book, “Making Comics”: “There was a time when drawing and writing were not separated for you. In fact, our ability to write could only come from our willingness and inclination to draw. In the beginning of our writing and reading lives, we DREW the letters of our name. The motions each requires hadn’t become automatic yet. There was a lot of variability of shape, order, and orientation. The letters were characters, and when certain characters got together in a certain order, they spelled your name.”
The natural joy and interest most small children have in drawing is easy to encourage – through fingerpaints, crayons, chalk, markers.
It’s when children get older (Lynda Barry says around the age of 8 or 9, “when drawing noses or hands become an issue”) that they begin to abandon drawing – and often, their literacy suffers.
The library to the rescue!
Tucked in the extraordinary Dewey number of 740s are literally hundreds and thousands of books on drawing: sports figures, dinosaurs, Disney princesses, superheroes and supervillains, fashion, cats and kittens, clouds – whatever you can imagine!
While YouTube videos can also offer excellent drawing lessons (and I will never dissuade you from a good YouTube video), these books slow the process down a little bit and help children see all of the possibilities.
Here are a few of my favorite drawing instruction books for kids:
How To Draw Cute Animals by Angela Nguyen
“Enter planet CUTE! This follow-up to How to Draw Cute Stuff teaches kids how to draw a menagerie of adorable creatures, from cats, dogs, hedgehogs, and hamsters to dolphins, bunnies, swans, and unicorns. An introduction explains the popular kawaii style of art, step-by-step how-to sequences make the process simple enough for beginners, and interactive pages get budding artists practicing right away.”
First Drawings: Cars and Trucks by Katie Lajiness
Easy instructions for making simple drawings and then coloring in of vehicles like monster trucks, race cars, and dump trucks.
How to Draw Awesome Wild Animals
How To Doodle series by Carolyn Franklin – Color Patterns, Optical Illusions, Portraits and Animals
Exploring different aspects of “doodling,” this series will help unleash your child’s imagination while giving step-by-step instructions for making some really extraordinary artwork.
Finally, don’t forget perhaps the greatest drawing instruction books in the library – picture books! Getting lost in the illustrations by these amazing artists is a great way to fortify your child’s visual imagination and perhaps even inspire them to pick up a marker or a crayon and draw on their own.
Here are just some of my personal favorite illustrators and their best books:

domain: artistic


text:
NASA spinoffs to bioengineering and medicine
Rouse, D., Winfield, D., & Canada, S. (1991). NASA spinoffs to bioengineering and medicine. Acta Astronautica, 25(2), 103-110.
Through the active transfer of technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Technology Utilization (TU) Program assists private companies, associations, and government agencies to make effective use of NASA's technological resources to improve U.S. economic competitiveness and to provide societal benefit. Aerospace technology from areas such as digital image processing, space medicine and biology, microelectronics, optics and electrooptics, and ultrasonic imaging have found many secondary applications in medicine. Examples of technology spinoffs are briefly discussed to illustrate the benefits realized through adaptation of aerospace technology to solve health care problems. Successful implementation of new technologies increasingly requires the collaboration of industry, universities, and government, and the TU Program serves as the liaison to establish such collaborations with NASA. NASA technology is an important resource to support the development of new medical products and techniques that will further advance the quality of health care available in the U.S. and worldwide


Kolo Toure is confident Liverpool will make up lost ground on their rivals for a Champions League place.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is keen to take Liverpool striker Fabio Borini back to the Stadium of Light.
Gus Poyet has challenged his Sunderland players to rediscover their cutting edge after drawing a blank at Liverpool.
Speaking after Sunderland's 0-0 draw at Liverpool, manager Gus Poyet feels his side missed a great opportunity to win at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers insists Raheem Sterling didn't dive in the closing stages of Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
Paul Merson said he couldn't believe 'how bad Liverpool were' during their goalless draw with Sunderland.
Brendan Rodgers insists he can't fault his Liverpool side despite drawing 0-0 with Sunderland at Anfield.
Steven Gerrard’s introduction couldn't inspire Liverpool as they were held to a forgettable 0-0 draw by Sunderland.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet still believes Chelsea are stronger than Manchester City, despite this week's results against them.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has backed his players to bounce back against Liverpool on Saturday.
Ed Chamberlin previews Liverpool v Sunderland.
Brendan Rodgers will have some idea where Liverpool stand this season by the middle of January.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that Mario Balotelli is still an important part of his squad, despite reports linking with him with a move away from Anfield.
Gus Poyet says Sunderland should have Wes Brown and Adam Johnson back for Saturday's game at Liverpool.
Liverpool's tense win over Sunderland proves they've got the mettle for a tight title run-in, says Carra.
Liverpool's resurgence is based not on signings or science but confidence, writes Daniel Storey.
Gus Poyet remains baffled as to how Sunderland cannot perform against relegation rivals after pushing Liverpool close.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard insisted "we've won nothing yet" after helping his side to a 2-1 win over Sunderland.
Brendan Rodgers has warned that Liverpool are getting stronger and will embrace the pressure of the run-in.
Liverpool moved within a point of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday.
©2017 Sky UK


IRIS is a proud partner of Women’s Shelters Canada / Hébergement femmes Canada in their campaign to end violence against women and gender-based violence in Canada.
Doris Rajan, IRIS’ Director of Social Development was invited to be actively engaged in the work that Women’s Shelters Canada is doing linked to advancing Canada’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence. The federal government has been engaging far and wide on the NAP since the summer of 2020. Doris is one of eight participants from across the country serving on the Prevention Working Group to develop recommendations in this area, that will provide the framework and initial content for a 10-year NAP.
More at information at https://endvaw.ca/nap-on-vaw/


Model No.: SP6X-11
1. With Clip
2. Brightest LED
3. Compact Size
Maxtoch SP6X-11 Aircraft-grade Cree 18650 U2 Aluminum 2013 LED Cree Light Product Description:
*LED Type: CREE XML U2
*Finish: HA IIl
*Reflector: Orange Peel Reflector Features:
*LED Type: CREE XM-LU2
*Max output: 1000LM
*Beam: Micro Orange Peel Reflector for flawless beam *Lens: Toughened ultra-clear glass *Finish: HA IIl
*Waterproof: IPX8 *Switch: Tail cap switch
*Modes: Max-Mid-Min-Strobe-SOS *Battery: 1*18650
*Circuit efficiency: 85%
*Size: 28.5*130*27 mm
*Press tail switch for turning light on/off.
*With the light turned on, gently press the tail switch, the brightness level will switch between five modes ( Max-Mid-Min-Strobe-SOS ) *Remove tail cap, insert the batteries with the positive ends toward the head of the light, replace the tail cap. Parameters:
|Max Output ( lm )||1000||Runtime ( H )||1.5|
|Distance ( m )||300||Battery||1 * 18650|
|Weight ( g )||88||Size ( mm )||28.5*130*27|
*Max output of 1000 lumens for approximately 1.5 Hours
*Mid output of 600 lumens for approximately 2.2 Hours *Min output of 150 lumens for approximately 32.1 Hours
Note:Stated brightness and runtime figures are based on tests using 1PC 18650 Li-ion battery(approximate 2200mAH) under laboratory conditions. Variances in these figures will occur depending on batteries used and individual usage habits. Contact us if you need more details on 2013 Led Cree Clip Light. We are ready to answer your questions on packaging, logistics, certification or any other aspects about U2 Led Light、Clip Light. If these products fail to match your need, please contact us and we would like to provide relevant information.
The 2.40 million tons of alumina project of Xinfa Group in Jiaokou County, Lüliang City, needs to invest 30 billion yuan in accordance with the conventional requirements. The construction period will take 3-5 years and the land will occupy 1,500 acres. The Xinfa Group only invests 12 billion yuan, and the effective...
Model NO.: POPPAS-F25 Battery Type: Lithium Battery IP Rating: IP65 Material of Reflecting cup: Metallic Surface Preparation of Reflecting cup: Smooth Material: Aluminum Alloy Certification: CE, RoHS, ISO, EMC Brand: Poppas, Lumifire Function: 5 Brightness Levels Trademark: POPPAS Specification: CE, RoHS Origin: Ninghai,...
Model NO.: JFC9 Battery Type: Lithium Battery IP Rating: IP65 Material of Reflecting cup: Plastic Surface Preparation of Reflecting cup: Concave-convex Material: Aluminum Certification: CE, RoHS Distance & Lumen: 300m/350lm LED: Q5 Power: 5W Battery: 18650 Trademark: JIAN TECHNOLOGY Specification: CE ROHS Origin: China...
Model NO.: TW-358 Brand Name: Tianwang Place of Origin: China (Mainland) Model Number: Tw-358 Usage: Camping, Hunting, Fishing, Climbing, Self-Defense Power Source: Rechargeable Battery Color: Black Input Voltage: 7.2V Output Voltage: 4000kv Current: 2.5A Certification: CE, RoHS, SGS Trademark: TW Transport Package:...
Product Categories : Maxtoch Flashlight


Security Appliance 7.0(4) - Problem configuring IPSec over TCP
I'm configuring a PIX 525 Firewall running Security Appliance Software version 7.0(4), to support remote access VPNs using IPSec-over-TCP (port 80).
ISAKMP is enabled and crypto map set is applied on the inside interface which terminates the VPN tunnel from VPN clients. An ACL is applied inbound on inside interface which permits "ip any any" (for troubleshooting purpose).
I also have configured these commands:
sysopt connection permit-ipsec
isakmp nat-traversal 3600
isakmp ipsec-over-tcp port 80
I used Cisco VPN Client Version 4.0.2 (A) to connect to the PIX but failed. The following is error messages on the PIX:
Nov 18 2005 16:48:14: %PIX-6-302013: Built inbound TCP connection 4 for inside:10.230.5.133/1487 (10.230.5.133/1487) to NP Identity Ifc:10.1.1.1/80 (10.1.1.1/80)
Nov 18 2005 16:48:19: %PIX-6-302014: Teardown TCP connection 4 for inside:10.230.5.133/1487 to NP Identity Ifc:10.1.1.1/80 duration 0:00:04 bytes 0 TCP Reset-I
Nov 18 2005 16:48:35: %PIX-6-106015: Deny TCP (no connection) from 10.230.5.133/1487 to 10.1.1.1/80 flags RST on interface inside
Nov 18 2005 16:48:35: %PIX-7-710005: TCP request discarded from 10.230.5.133/1487 to inside:10.1.1.1/80
10.1.1.1 - IP address of PIX
10.230.5.133 - IP address of my workstation from which I launched VPN
Attached is screenshot of my VPN client configuration settings.
Anyone please kindly tell me what's missing to make the setup work (i.e. IPSec over TCP with port 80)?
Re: Security Appliance 7.0(4) - Problem configuring IPSec over T
My VPN config was working fine before I posted this problem. FYI, the command "vpngroup" is deprecated in version 7.0 and replaced by "tunnel-group".
My problem is, there's a requirement to enable IPSec over TCP on port 80 for remote VPN clients. To the best of my knowledge, the only command needed is "isakmp ipsec-over-tcp port 80" which I configured but failed to work.
I included the PIX system error messages in my earlier post. Also, attached was screenshot of VPN client 4.0.2 (A).
DocumentationCode download linksGoalRequirementLimitationsSupported ISR and UCS-E ModelSupported ISRG2 and UCS-E Blades:Supported ISR4K and UCS-E Blades:Step by Step ConfigurationConfigure one of the connectivity options to access the Cisco IMC from the n...
Firepower Threat Defense (NGFWv) on UCS E-series - Transparent Mode in HA
DocumentationCode download linksGoalRequirementLimitationsSupported ISR and UCS-E ModelSupported ISRG2 and UCS-E Blades:Supported ISR4K and UCS-E Blades:Step by Step ConfigurationCo...
I am currently unable to specify "crypto keyring" command when configuring VPN connection on my cisco 2901 router.
The following licenses have been activated on my router :


text:
|Reviews for Harry Potter and the Secrets He's Kept|
| BlockPlacer chapter 9 . 9/10
A promising story, sad to see it hasn't been updated in a few years. I hope to see it continued at some point.
| Immortal Sailor Cosmos chapter 7 . 11/22/2016
Hopefully I haven't reviewed this chapter yet. I'm up two hours late, and tonight I can blame you (yesterday it was only one hour and it was a different fic's fault). I remembered the opening lines of Harry's interview but not where they came from, I was positive they were a time travel story, and when google didn't help I went through my whole list of Harry Potter Alerts (there are lots) to figure out which. I was searching with anything with Time in the title first, and then I saw this link, couldn't remember which time travel plot was involved (There are many) so I read the fist story, got to the letters in the first chapter and thought "no, this isn't the one" closed it, and then got the stories further in the search when I thought "wait...maybe it was?" and I was right. So I reread everything. Do I have any hopes for a chapter 10 soon?
| p00hb34r2002 chapter 2 . 6/28/2016
Dynamic Duo is from Batman. I think. Anyway I am a Ravenclaw. :)
| BeholdTheMetatron1946 chapter 9 . 5/19/2016
brilliant I love how Siri stands up to Dumblebumbles my only criticism is that Sev wasn't in this enough
was it Kenneth Brannagh? (I'm a Slytherin)
I know it's been 7 years but I am hoping that you will return to this and continue to write it
| BeholdTheMetatron1946 chapter 7 . 5/19/2016
Tom Felton (Slytherin)
| BeholdTheMetatron1946 chapter 2 . 5/19/2016
Dynamic Duo... would that be Batman?
| Holly M chapter 9 . 4/25/2016
Um. You going to finish this?
| Holly M chapter 3 . 4/25/2016
He didn't. He and Prof. Moriarty fell off a cliff but Sherlock faked his death.
| Holly M chapter 2 . 4/25/2016
| Madeleine Strang chapter 9 . 10/3/2015
| Esther Jacobson chapter 7 . 9/12/2015
| Guest chapter 3 . 8/15/2015
In BBC Sherlock, Sherlock 'dies' by jumping off of a building, having been blackmailed by arch-nemesis James Moriarty. I believe that, in the books, he either jumps off of a, or falls off of a, waterfall? Not sure about that one. But ether way, he doesn't actually die.
| libraryslady chapter 9 . 6/2/2015
I'm really sorry to see this story unfinished. I have quite enjoyed it. It's well written and quite funny.
| ray74656 chapter 9 . 3/21/2015
Here's hoping you'll continue this story. It's great.
| chris chapter 3 . 3/16/2015
yeah good chapter,and in answer to your question about sherlock holmes he and moriarty where fighting on reichenboch falls and they fell off and drowned.

domain: literature


text:
A sweet side trip to ‘Little Edo’ Kawagoe in Saitama
Known as “Little Edo,” Kawagoe is located in neighboring Saitama Prefecture and is only 30 minutes by limited express train from central Tokyo. Kurazukuri Street and neighboring streets are lined with 200 beautifully preserved wooden warehouses from the Edo Period (1603-1867) that have been turned into shops and restaurants. The city’s iconic centerpiece is “Toki no Kane,” (Bell of Time), a wooden bell tower that rings the time several times a day.
My first stop before sightseeing was the Kawagoe Starbucks. Only steps away from the bell tower, the shop’s design blends in seamlessly with the surrounding Edo-style buildings (the exterior is made from local timber). The decorations lining the walls are made from painted sliding panels from traditional Japanese houses and the bench cushions are crafted from traditional Kawagoe kimono fabric. Outside is a beautiful Japanese dry stone garden with bonsai pine trees and plenty of terrace seating. In addition to the standard Starbucks Japan lineup, the café also offers Nitro Cold Brew on tap for 520 yen (tall) or 480 yen (short). Nearby, Kawagoe’s Kashiya Yokocho (“Candy Alley”) offers visitors the chance to try old-fashioned Japanese sweets and snacks. During its heyday in the Showa era, there were over 70 confectionary shops lining the street; today some 22 remain.
Dotted with numerous temples and shrines, one of the more impressive sights in Kawagoe is Kitain, the head temple of the Tendai sect in the Kanto region. Among its buildings are the only remaining palace buildings of Edo Castle as well as the birthplace of one of the Tokugawa shoguns. Don’t miss the Gohyaku Rakan: made between 1782 and 1825, each of these 540 stone statues of the disciples of Buddha has a unique expression. Admission to the temple’s museum (400 yen) includes admission to the Gohyaku Rakan (turn in your ticket at the small souvenir stand in front of the walled courtyard).
I also visited Tsubaki no Kura, a remodeled Edo warehouse that includes a striking camellia mural by renowned Kyoto muralist Ki-Yan, several retail shops, and best of all, a hidden footbath in the back. With the purchase of a drink or snack, you can soak away to your heart’s content.
In addition to excellent local beers by Coedo Brewery (www.coedobrewery.com/en/), Kawagoe is famous for sweet potatoes in every shape and form as well as unagi (grilled eel), Edo-style sushi, and kaiseki (elegant multicourse meals originally served as part of the tea ceremony). Be sure to try one of Kawagoe’s many traditional “ryotei” for a taste of traditional Kawagoe (www.koedo.or.jp/foreign/english/ryotei/).
- Tobu Tojo Line (from Ikebukuro to Kawagoe)
Express 31 minutes, 450 yen
- Seibu Shinjuku Line (Seibu Shinjuku to Kawagoe)
Limited Express 43 minutes, 890 yen
- JR Kawagoe Line (Shinjuku to Kawagoe)
Local 60 minutes, 760 yen
Kawagoe Kanetsuki-Street Store
Address: 15-18, Saiwaicho, Kawagoeshi, Saitama Prefecture 350-0063
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Number of seats: 77 (inside the store – 56, terrace – 21)
Tsubaki no Kura
Address: 3-2 Kogacho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Prefecture 350-0063
Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, holidays 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
URL: tsubaki-kura.jp/ (Japanese)
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domain: travel


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ME, United States
““You can make anything by writing.” – C. S. Lewis”
BA in Communication, Minor in Art History
University of Southern Maine
Favorite referencing style
APA is my favorite because of its precision and the readability of the narrative citations.
Why I became an editor
My communication degree led me to librarianship, medical office work, and even insurance claims and auditing, but my passion for words and reading was not satisfied by a sea of spreadsheets.
Proofreading combines the endless creativity of the written word with the precision of refining those words into the best result possible.
Background and experience
Along with librarianship and insurance policy work, I have evaluated manuscripts and written book reviews, earning a reputation as the go-to wordsmith at any job I have held.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love putting that final polish on a document so that the writer's voice shines through.
institutions and businesses

domain: library


text:
Chicken pot pie has been one of the most requested recipes in the last year or so. I honestly never got the hype… until I made it!
Growing up, you would never see this kind of comfort food at my family’s table. So to me, chicken pot pie was a bit of a foreign concept. Of course, now that I’ve put this recipe together, I learned that it’s one of the simplest things to make.
And yes, it does work for meal prep. I encourage you to make this for your family holiday table OR for comforting work lunches.
What you need to know about this chicken pot pie recipe:
- To make our lives easier, I recommend using pre-made pie shells, found in the frozen or refrigerated section. That being said, if you love making your own crust, go for it!
- The filling itself is freezer-friendly. So if you have extra, you can freeze it for later in the season! I also think the filling is completely edible and delicious on its own.
- You can use ANY leftover veggies you have in this recipe. I had no idea before making this, but the pot pie was invented with leftovers. Leftover chicken and veggies normally made up the filling so whatever you have can go in.
The fact that chicken pot pie was traditionally made with leftover chicken frustrated me a little when doing recipe research. If you have leftover chicken to use, that’s great. But this recipe does include instructions for cooking the chicken too.
I am really, really proud of this recipe and I hope you love it! My partner said I nailed it. He’s not a huge foodie, but he couldn’t stop talking about how good this pot pie was.
Storage & reheating notes
You can serve this immediately OR put it in meal prep containers. Let it cool before cutting if you’re meal prepping it. It will last in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months. Note that if you prep this, the crust won’t be as crusty after you reheat it, but it’s still really good. You can reheat it in the microwave or in the oven.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie For Meal Prep (Or Your Holiday Party)
- 2 pie crusts defrosted, I used Pillsbury frozen crusts
- 16 oz chicken breast chopped into medium-sized chunks
- 2 tsp ground thyme divided
- 2 tsp dried dill divided
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 TBSP olive oil divided, sub oil of your choice
- 2 yukon gold potatoes chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 celery sticks chopped
- 1 onion diced
- 1 clove garlic diced
- 1 cup chicken stock sub broth, but then reduce the amount of salt you’re using!
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- cooking spray
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup milk of your choice I used 2%, if you use non-diary, offset sweetness with more salt, onion powder or nutritional yeast
- 1 egg whisked, optional
- Preheat your oven to 350 F. Prepare a pie dish with cooking spray and add one of the pre-made crusts to it if using. Prick the crust with a fork a few times and pre-bake it for about 10 minutes (until it’s lightly browned). Remove it and let it cool when it’s done, but keep the oven on!
- Add 1 TBSP oil to a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. After 2 mintues, add the chicken breast. Season it with salt, pepper, half of the dill and half of thyme. Rotate the chicken breast every few minutes and let it cook completely through, about 10 minutes. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
- Add half of the chicken stock to the pan and use a spatula to scrape up the brown bits (this is called deglazing the pan). Add the onions and potatoes with salt and pepper and cook them for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the carrots, celery and garlic with the remaining thyme and dill. Cover and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pan looks dry, add a splash of chicken stock. The veggies are done when the potatoes are tender.
- While the veggies cook, chop up the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the corn, peas and chopped chicken to the pan and stir. Sprinkle in 1/4 cup of flour and stir. Then, 1/2 cup at a time, add the milk and remaining chicken stock and stir. Bring the heat up and keep stirring so the mixture starts to thicken. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed (you may want to add more salt or pepper!).
- Pour the mixture into the pre-baked pie shell. It might not all fit, but the remaining filling is delicious on its own and it’s freezer-friendly. Top with the remaining pie shell. Cut 3 slits on top. Using a small brush or the back of a spoon, brush whisked egg on top of the pie shell. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- You can eat this right away OR let it cool a bit before dividing it into meal prep containers.

domain: food


Find Is It Safe To Burn Memory Foam Mattress … In order to choose the best one, it is needed to understand the advantages of the numerous bed mattress types and their particular uses. Picking the right type of bed mattress is important for the comfort and health of the customer.
The Saatva bed mattress are produced by the Saatva company, maker of these mattresses consisting of the Loom, Leaf and Zenhaven. The other advantages of selecting the Saatva innerspring mattresses consist of:
o A quality bed mattress of the Saatva firmness is much more expensive than the other two kinds of bed mattress. It provides an excellent deal of convenience and assistance to the customers. Because of its greater firmness level, the Hybrid innerspring mattresses of the Saatva are suggested by medical professionals.
The Sauna bed mattress is particularly created for supporting the lower back portion of the body and easing lower back discomfort and stiff limbs. Online bed mattress from this business are available at inexpensive rates, making them a good choice for your house.
o Saturation or heat setting is another important aspect when looking for a good sleeping plan. When you lie on the upper layer of Sauna, you will experience a higher level of comfort due to its unique shape and design. It uses high levels of assistance as well as pressure relief. The topmost layer of the mattress contains memory foam. If you want a mattress that provides a good amount of assistance as well as pressure relief, then the Memory Foam Bed mattress from Sauna may be a great choice for you. Is It Safe To Burn Memory Foam Mattress
The maximum density of the mattress coils is six inches. The “U” design, which are built with 2 support coils beneath the box spring, and the “SB” model, which contain just one coil. If you want to buy a bed mattress with more support, the Sauna mattress from Sauna may be a good alternative. Is It Safe To Burn Memory Foam Mattress


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02/12/2021. ACCRA – The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in partnership with Continental and Sub-Regional Agricultural Research organizations, including the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), CORAF and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), announces the maiden edition of the Continental Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development (KM4AgD) Conference under the theme: Strengthening the Knowledge Ecosystem for Improved Agricultural Productivity in Africa.
The Continental Conference has been organized in collaboration with the Knowledge for Development Partnership (K4DP), Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR). The three-day conference will take place from December 7th to December 9th, 2021, in Accra, with physical attendance strictly limited to 40 guests from over 20 African countries. The online version will be open to the general public (register here).
Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, the Executive Director of FARA, will open the maiden Conference on December 7th, 2021, followed by a series of goodwill statements from partner organizations. Dr. Sarah Cummings, a leading voice of the global Knowledge Management Community (KM4Dev) and a Director at the K4DP, will deliver the keynote titled: A sixth generation of knowledge management for development? Implications for agriculture in Africa. It will be followed by a presentation on “Advancing the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A), CAADP Malabo targets, and the SDGs agenda in Africa through KM for improved production and productivity in Africa” by Dr Irene Annor-Frempong, Coordinator for the LEAP4FNSSA Project and former Director for Research and Innovation at FARA. The 28 participants in the 2021 KM4AgD Challenge will take turns to present their draft countries’ KM Concepts and Challenges for input and validation.
Presentations of concepts and challenges produced in the KM4AgD Challenge will continue on Day 2 (December 8th, 2021). The final day will be dedicated to validating the 10 KM briefs developed from the 10 identified Challenges, inaugurating the Africa Knowledge management Community of Practice for Artificial Intelligence; a presentation on the implications of fake news and misinformation by Prof Kimir Dalkir of McGill University (Canada) and the concept of Knowledge Art by Dr. Andreas Brandner, a founding director of the K4DP; a special awards ceremony to honour successful candidates in the 2021 Challenge with certificates and an International Knowledge Management Award Ceremony to honour the 2021 Global prestigious KM Excellence award recipients, and presentation of the conference communique.
This Conference is organized under the CAADP-XP4 Programme, funded by the European Union (EU) and administered by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Director for Research and Innovation at FARA, will anchor the Conference with Mr Benjamin Abugri, Knowledge Management, Learning, and Communications Lead Specialist at FARA, and Dr. Andreas Brandner, Director at K4DP and faculty Coordinator for the 2021 KM4AgD Challenge.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the apex continental organization responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research for development (AR4D). FARA is the designated technical Institution of the African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency on matters concerning agriculture science, technology and innovation.
For more information, visit: http://www.km4agd.faraafrica.org / www.faradatainforms.faraafrica.org and www.faraafrica.org or contact Mr Benjamin Abugri firstname.lastname@example.org & Daniel Peprah email@example.com

domain: agronomy


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Turret Arch through North Window is an iconic image to make at Arches National Park as a quick search on Google will show hundreds of results of a similar composition. The ideal position to be if you want to make the popular image is about 15 feet to my left up a rocky ledge. On this morning, when we arrived at this location, a half dozen photographers had already been set up so this was as far as I could go. I don’t mind, I’m happy with this composition and the symmetry of the sky in the upper left and in the window along with the snow.
Arches - Leica S007, 24mm, f/13, 1/25s, ISO 100.


What’s cuter than a classic Austin Mini? I don’t know about you, but I am going to say an Austin Mini Pickup Truck. Speaking of which, the 1972 Austin Mini Pickup is more of a Ute than a pickup since it was based on the Mini Van and presumably, has a one-piece body like a […]
The original Volkswagen Bus may be several decades old, but its shape remain relevant and there’s no better way to make the internals relevant than electrifying it. Previously, VW melts retro design of a Type 20 bus with technology and a 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus was given the e-Golf powertrain.
In 1980, way before hybrid and electric vehicles become a thing… engine builder, Briggs & Stratton, have conceived a six-wheeled hybrid vehicle. TBH, I have never heard of Briggs & Stratton, let alone that it actually had a hybrid concept way back in 1980. In 1980! Imagine that! Now, that’s forward thinking.
Almost every fossil fuel car makers are betting on an electric future. Fiat is no exception… Except, instead of pushing an electric variant of a familiar model, it has rolled out an iconic model as an electric-only model.
This is a Toyota HiAce. It is a people mover and trusty cargo van. But this HiAce is not your everyday van. Right. It has all the cosmetics of a sports car. Rear wing, wide body aero kit and wait, what? A Nissan R35 GT-R exhaust??? That, folks, is hint that this the mods on […]
January 30, 2020 marked the 100th years of Mazda. Like fellow automaker, Toyota, Mazda did not start out as an automobile manufacturer. It was a maker of artificial cork and it wasn’t known as Mazda 100 years ago.
One of the obvious stumbling block of electric vehicles is range. Unlike its fossil fuel counterpart where pumping fuel takes no more than a few minutes, charging an EV takes an excruciatingly long time. Not exactly ideal, does it?
Geneva International Motor Show is cancelled and so Aston Martin has went ahead to unveil its new roadster at its Gaydon HQ. It is called V12 Speedster and speedster it certainly is, with the car wiping the century sprint (0-62 mph) in just 3.5 seconds, sending it on its way to a top speed top […]
Since the 1980s, silver screen Batmobiles had been largely non-car like. They were designed from the ground up rides unlike where in the early days, Batmobiles appeared to be merely modified regular automobiles.
Koenigsegg is best known for two-seater super fast, exotic cars surprises the world with The Gemera, a 4-seater “Mega-GT.” Packing a ludicrous combine electric and I.C. power of 1,700 horsepower and even more ludicrous torque of 3600 Nm (2,655.22 lb-ft), The Gemera rockets to 0-62 (0-100 kph) in mere 1.9 seconds and has a top […]


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If it wasn’t bad enough that Nokia backed the three legged horse in the smartphone race (Windows Phone 7), its now got another problem on its hands. It is reported by the Wall Street Journal that a court has ruled Nokia is infringing a patent belonging to IPCom: The ruling means IPCom could seek an […]Read More Nokia’s IPcom patent problem
Despite what Microsoft advocates may claim about Windows 7 sales or office sales (lets face it there’s no bragging about WP7) they can’t seem to talk up their online efforts. It is reported over at Business Insider that this quarter Microsoft lost $476 million on line, with the only light seeming to be they are […]Read More Nearly half a billion $ lost online – Microsoft’s continuing tale of woe
Intellect 2012 Open source and open standards are the direction for UK government IT, the civil servant leading the government’s technology change agenda has said. Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/10/open_source_government/ More often than not, the UK governments grasp on technology/software is rather vague to say the least. We need look no further than BBClick to see the level in […]Read More UK Government going ahead with Open Source
Readers to OpenBytes may remember that a couple of years ago, I like many people bought a PC of my choice only to have Windows pre-installed. It was unwanted, it was uneeded and presumably this forced inclusion, added to the claimed “sales figures” of Windows. I enquired about a refund and after a little to and fro, […]Read More Justice for the consumer who didn’t want Microsoft – An EU precedent?
I want no connection drawn between the legend that is MC Hammer and the “company” that is Microsoft, there’s old news and surprising news to be had in the world of tech today! First up – MC Hammer, the singer who was so popular during my “youth” has made a rather unexpected comeback, not in the guise […]Read More Microsoft, MC Hammer and mobiles – its old news and new news!
WP7, the phone which we have covered many times on the TechBytes audiocast, is in the news again. There are reports that VB will soon be available for developers for WP7. Great news? Well if you read Microsoft-Watch and their quotes from Microsoft, then yes, all would sound well: Microsoft is allowing third-party developers to […]Read More VB coming to WP7 – “Users, users, users” What WP7 really needs?
Today I thought that I would present a list of articles/links which hardly put Microsoft in the same light as its PR agents and boosters would want you to know. On TechBytes Audiocast we have often mentioned that what Microsoft advocates say != reality. To reinforce that point, let’s have a look at some of […]Read More Microsoft – A modern day tale of (November) woe? What MS says != reality?
A short snippet of a rumor…. For anyone who thought that their Windows 7 investment would not be “upgraded” for some time may have to think again. It is being alleged that the Dutch Microsoft site released a statement which Winrumors has translated to read: Furthermore, Microsoft is on course for the next version of […]Read More Start saving – Windows 8 on its way?
XP RIP 25/10/01 – 22/10/10 It seems Microsoft is going to retire Windows XP on 22nd October – no, really this time! As reported by one of the few MVP’s I have respect for: …Windows XP, up to this point, was one of the most popular versions of Windows and continues to dominate the desktop […]Read More NewsBytes – Saturday 28th August 2010
Continuing on from the previous article of “Those “magnificent” softies in their flying machines” we now learn what happened at the Red Bull competition when Microsoft took to the skies. A Microsoft “product” having an uptime of seconds was no surprise to me when after 15 seconds we learn Microsoft’s glider came right back down to […]Read More 15 seconds of uptime before a crash? – Yep thats Microsoft!

domain: news


text:
What would your parents think if you dated outside your race?
As a poll, your desktop will remain removed from Yahoo! Answers Please dating: Your use of Yahoo! Report Abuse Navigation menu. Answers is subject outside the Yahoo! Community Guidelines, and how the Yahoo! Members who have violated the Community Guidelines are at question for review and possible termination of their Answers questions. In.


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This quaint, hideaway community is found in a turnoff on the way down the Soufriere Hill from the west coast. This small community is virtually untouched by development, making it a perfect look back in time and what many consider to be “a little piece of paradise hidden in the bosom of Soufriere.” There is a two mile road that takes you to the community, but it is not made for two-way traffic. The Bouton Combined School is at the end of the road that brings you there. Two trails, one on each side of the school, lead to pristine beaches on the Caribbean Sea. Wherever you are in Bouton, the twittering birds are the noisiest sounds around.
You can find many exotic fruits (including mangoes), cashew nuts and Soursop in this community. The small population of this community has the side benefit of making the sole primary school there have a low student teacher ratio, which has enhanced instruction at the school. If you visit this community you will see people at home tending to everyday chores, kids playing games and biking, men congregating at the rum shop for a game of dominoes. If you visit Bouton you will see the heart of St. Lucia.


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Apple’s expansion into automobiles has certainly got the rumour mill churning. Apple began working on an electric vehicle project back in 2014 but in the last six months rumours have really picked up.
Expanding into cars is a huge step for the tech giant, particularly if it wants to compete with the likes of Tesla. While it will be a few years before we see Apple’s car project come to fruition, plenty of leak and rumours are already circulating Here’s what we can expect.
Apple Car design
Apple has not confirmed any rumours about its Apple car itself, but Apple CEO, Tim Cook, did speak about the project back in 2017. Talking to Bloomberg, Cook said:
“We’re focusing on autonomous systems. It’s a core technology that we view as very important… We sort of see it as the mother of all AI projects.”
Apple hasn’t said much beyond this, but these comments from Cook do confirm that the company is developing an AI system for cars, leading towards a completely autonomous vehicle at some point.
Another report from Bloomberg indicates that Apple is seeking a next-gen LiDAR supplier for its auto project. LiDAR is an advanced sensor technology that is already employed in many of Apple’s iPhone devices.
When used for a car this will allegedly allow a car’s computer to “see” its surroundings and aid with the whole self-driving element.
On top of being an electric vehicle, Apple is also apparently building a car battery that could radically increase a vehicle’s range, according to Reuters. This battery will also somehow significantly reduce the cost of EV batteries.
Those familiar with the project said Apple is planning to use a “monocell” design. This bulks up the cells in the battery and eliminates pouches and modules that hold battery materials, meaning more active material can be packed inside.
A patent for smart lighting filed by Apple (via 9to5 Mac) could be the solution to a common problem. You’ve dropped something on the floor of your car and your interior light just doesn’t cut it. Apple’s smart lighting would use a mixture of sensors and cameras to switch lights on in particular areas of the car’s interior to aid you with your search.
Like all patents take it with a grain of salt but this one seems like a smart choice. The smart lights also include a feature to gently wake you up after your self-driving car approaches its destination. The only time sleeping behind the wheel is actually allowed.
In something straight out of a science-fiction movie, another patent from Apple suggests it could be looking into automatic tinting windows.
The patent explains a glass technology that can alter its transparency, allowing users to have control over the tint of their window. The automatic part of the feature would also allow the windows to tint themselves in response to external weather conditions.
A patent that was filed back in 2016 suggested Apple was looking into creating retractable bumpers. The patent described the bumpers as housing an inflatable portion that extends out with pressurised gas. This is designed to provide soft initial contact on impact.
It’s unclear why Apple was looking into this technology but it could be to do with providing a sleeker design or making it easier to park in tight spaces.
Apple Car manufacturer
When it comes to actually building its vehicle, it seems Apple is looking for potential partners.
Hyundai spilled the beans earlier this year saying it was “in talks” with Apple over its new vehicle. However, since this news came out, the company has said neither Hyundai nor its subsidiary Kia are moving forward with the development of Apple’s car.
This could effectively put an end to rumours that Apple’s car will utilise Hyundai’s technology, such as its E-GMP platform.
Apple is still said to be in negotiations with a number of other car dealers. GM, Magna and Groupe PSA have all been rumoured and the latest report suggests LG and Magna’s e-Powertrain could be close to signing a contract with Apple to handle its initial car production.
When it comes to the technology inside the car, reports indicate Apple will continue its relationship with TSMC, which currently provides the A-series chips in Apple’s iPhones. It’s believed that TSMC will provide chips for Apple’s car which are expected to meet Level 4 or Level 5 chip requirements.
Apple car team
Apple has also hired a number of professionals to head up its Apple Car project over the years but it’s also seen its share of team member departures.
Doug Field, a former Tesla engineer, is currently heading the project as of August 2018.
Recently the company snagged Ulrich Kranz, an exec who previously worked at BMW and self-driving vehicle developer, Canoo. Kranz’s role in the Apple car project is currently unknown.
Other significant hires include Manfred Harrer, a chassis engineer from Volkswagen, former Tesla execs Steve MacManus, Michael Schwekutsch and Stuart Bowers, and Andrew Kim a former Tesla and Microsoft HoloLens designer.
Apple Car release date
The release of Apple’s car has been pushed back a number of times and recent rumours indicate it’s still a few years away.
Reuters reports we could be seeing the Apple Car as soon as 2024. However, famed Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, predicts we won’t see the car until 2025-2027.
Even if Apple ramps up the development of its vehicle this year it will still take time to put it through testing and manufacturing. That means we have years of leaks and rumours ahead of us.
So, be sure to keep checking this article as we will continue to compile everything you need to know about Apple’s electric car.
This article has been updated with additional information.

domain: design


text:
They sat facing each other, holding hands. They did not mind the hard plastic chairs and barely noticed the people streaming all around them. They sat in the middle of all the rush and yet far away from everything on this earth. In their own parallel universe, oblivious to everything but each other.
“Why”, he asked. His question was not an accusation, nor a plea, not a rhetoric…just a simple question. He simply wanted to know why. Why she wanted to break up. Why she wanted to give up something that was magical, so ecstatic, so pure, so joyful that it seemed too good to be true, it felt unearthly to love and to be loved so…
“That is why…” she sighed, they did not need sound to communicate, just thinking them put the desired words in the other’s mind. He was bewildered, “You want us to separate because you think we’re too good for each other?” In his surprise he had let go of her small hands. She had withdrawn them the instant they were free as if pulling the anchor away for good. She counted that instant as the beginning of the rest of her life.
“Yes I do, What we have is out of the ordinary, it scares me. I do not want a perfect life, I want an ordinary one. I want to feel pain, in order to feel ecstacy. I have to be hurt, to feel love. What I have with you is so pure that I feel numb, numb with joy as one is numbed with pain. I want to feel again. With you there is only light. I am a lesser creature, I need darkness too, to know light when I see it.”
“With you, only my best is revealed, only the light in me finds expression. But that is not who I am. It is only a part of what makes me, me. The darkness in me needs expression too. The balance of good and bad that I have struck is me, with you the balance is askew. A part of me can never inhabit the world we have created.”
“With you I have come to know what heaven must feel like. But I am not ready to go there yet. I have a life to live…”
With that as a cue, her flight was announced. He inched forward to claim her hands again. She stepped back. Not so much physically….but he felt it, in her lowered gazed, in her fingers, tightened ever so little over the strap of the bag on her shoulder, in her shoulder barely tensed.
She dared not look at him. She had pulled her anchor from this safe harbor, knowing she may never find it again. Yet she wanted to…she was a creature of the wild blue seas, the turbulence was her sustenance.
Before exiting the boarding gate she looked back just once, at his face through the glass wall. To see for one last time what heaven would look like when she was ready for it.