text:
Disciplines is available in a variety of formats: print, digital, and print/digital combo packages. A digital subscription includes access to author bios, the ability to comment, and audio lectio.Sign Up Today
One of the great memories of my childhood is sitting on the front porch of my grandparents’ house. My grandmother’s stories of her life and encounters with her neighbors amazed me. The front porch provided a space for neighbors to get to know one another. They would walk by, greet...
Living God, help us open our hearts to those who live alongside us. May we build porches of transformation as we love the stranger as we love ourselves. Amen.
“Prayer, searching the scripture, and service are means of entering into and sharing the heart, mind, and work of Christ. A balanced spiritual practice helps us get in step with the transforming rhythm of Jesus’ life with God: work and worship, engagement and rest, service and Sabbath, contemplation and action.” Read more.

domain: literature


Why Southridge Doesn’t Want Your Business
Its owner, Simon Property, has a history of relocating bus stops and discouraging certain kinds of customers.
These are good days for the Simon Property Group. This ever-growing mega-business is larger than all but about 60 companies in the world, with a total value or market cap of nearly $50 billion. Simon has grown earnings by 17 percent annually for the past five years, as dailyfinance.com notes, while its stock skyrocketed from $33 per share to $160 per share.
Shopping malls like Southridge are the key to that business. Simon currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe. Included on that list are some of the largest shopping malls in the U.S., led by Florida, where the company owns some 45 of them.
Wisconsin is a tiny part of that empire, with just five shopping malls, but Southridge, its only one in metro Milwaukee, is generating tons of bad publicity for the company. The company has a history of taking actions to discourage certain kinds of customers, often with little opposition locally, but in Milwaukee it faces a firestorm of criticism.
On November 1, Southridge moved the bus stop for the Milwaukee county bus from a location near the Sears main entrance to the edge of the mall parking lot near S. 74th St. and W. Edgerton Ave. That put the stop about 1,000 feet and across a street from the closest mall entrance, making access difficult for the disabled and elderly. As soon as the mall announced this decision, in October, the idea generated protests.
County Supervisor Patricia Jursik called on people to sign a petition opposing the move (she is still collecting signatures), and joined by protestors, met with Southridge officials but failed to budge them on the new policy.
Perhaps the most dramatic gesture of protest was a youtube video created by John Haupt, a disabled bus rider who has MS and is filmed in his wheel chair making the difficult journey from the bus stop to the mall. This got considerable coverage, including from TV news shows.
Milwaukee County officials have since referred the matter to federal authorities to determine whether the move violates civil rights law or the Americans with Disabilities Act, as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported. County Corporation Counsel Paul Bargren said that Assistant U.S. Attorney Lennie Lehman was reviewing the matter.
That has created an uncomfortable issue for Greendale Village President John R. Hermes, who tells me the TIF agreements “contained no contractual requirements regarding transit. To my knowledge, para transit services continue to operate direct to the mall entrance, allowing both elderly and individuals with disabilities direct access.” Meanwhile, he adds, “the village has, and is continuing to attempt to facilitate discussions between the County and Simon Property Group.”
Why is the mall happy to allow paratransit services direct access to the mall, but not the regular county bus? The explanations by Simon Property’s representatives have varied.
Back in 2012 the company said the issue was “noise” caused by the bus, but Hermes said he wasn’t aware of any customers complaining about this. More recently, and in response to Jursik’s group, the company said the move was made to enhance safety. Clearly it’s now less safe for riders making the 1,000 foot trek to the mall. Does moving the bus stop make things more safe for other mall customers? If so, company officials have provided no information to back up that claim.
Simon Group has given various reasons for a similar policy in other cities. In 2007, it moved bus stops to the outer edges of large parking lots in three of its shopping malls in the Pittsburgh area “because of negative feedback from customers and retailers having to navigate through large groups of people” at mall entrances.
In 2009, in Peoria, a mall owned by Simon Properties demanded a reduction in the number of bus routes to the mall, which was cut from six to two. In that case Simon Property said it was concerned about damage to the mall.
But Tom Lucek, general manager of the CityLink bus company, offered a different explanation, telling the press that it’s company policy for Simon Properties to not allow public transportation on its privately-owned malls.
That same year, Simon Property faced a lawsuit because access for the disabled was so difficult at its Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso. It’s not clear if bus stops were moved or were from the beginning set up in a place far removed from the mall, but the impact on passengers sounds similar to what’s transpired at Southridge. “The problem is people here have to travel in the street and they’ve almost been hit by cars,” said Briana Stone with the Paso Del Norte Civil Rights Project.
WTMJ radio host Gene Mueller contends the Southridge issue is really just about rowdy teens, and particularly minority terms. There’s a simple solution, he writes: ‘Take a page out of the Mayfair playbook… and slap some restrictions on who can be at Southridge and when. Dictate the terms, mandate that anyone under 18 HAS to be with a parent after, say, three p.m.”
Elsewhere, Simon Properties has taken such actions. Indeed, one newspaper credited Simon with inventing this concept in the mid-1990’s with its mega Mall of America in Minneapolis “that prohibits unescorted youth and teens on Friday and Saturday evenings.”
In Boston several area malls owned by the Simon Property Group implemented a “No Swearing” policy, aimed at foul-mouthed teenagers.
And at some of its malls in Florida, Simon Property “posts notices… to warn shoppers that loitering, disorderly conduct and dress that is ‘identified as gang-related through law enforcement intelligence’ will not be tolerated.
Similarly, its Aurora mall in Colorado posts a code of conduct that doesn’t mention “gang apparel” but requires shoppers to wear “appropriate” clothing. “Apparel that may provoke a disturbance or incite violence is prohibited,” it states.
Southridge has never suggested there was any problem with rowdy teens at the mall. And if it has moved its bus stop to make life difficult for minority teens, that seems pretty silly. They will be the least troubled by the 1,000 foot trek to the mall. Meanwhile, it’s conflicting explanations and lame PR have turned even supporters like Mueller into critics, while raising many questions about the role and responsibilities of the semi-public square that malls create in America.
Neither Simon Property Group nor Southridge responded to my request for comment. Their handling of this controversy could provide an entire chapter in a book on public relations disasters.


text:
Well, apparently they were back then and still are today for people of all ages. Here is collection with coloring pages of famous people. Johnny Depp, Emma Watson, Marilyn Monroe, Katy Perry, Barak Obama - it is only part of our archive. Also you can find here the characters of popular movies, musicians and so on. All drawings is available for printing and downloading. For printing and downloading you'll find buttons at the right. This portraits is coloring pages for older kids. I think that our main guest in this category is schoolgirls. Enjoy this drawings while our team prepares new coloring pages of celebrities. Take care! As already stated, the most widespread coloring books offer animation heroes as well as pets or countryside animals. Kids really like cartoons and household pets, thus, every kid will love interesting coloring pages which may vary in difficulty. A lot of color printables have three to four colors and figures, whilst you can buy more complicated ones as well (more than 10 colours). Making use of games in teaching turned out to be a professional methodology across the world. In addition, dads and moms may make use of color printables outside school to get ready little ones for kindergarten. The key benefit of this technique is the fact that children find it irresistible! You might also motivate your kids by offering prizes and also awards for picking the proper colours.
Adult Coloring Books Health Benefits. Despite the fact that coloring does offer a slew of mental benefits, it's not the same as therapy. Working through coloring pages definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring about more mindfulness, according to the industry researchers. Based on groundbreaking research in 2005 it was proven that anxiety levels dropped when subjects colored complex coloring pages for adults or mandalas, which are round frames with geometric patterns inside. Surely, early education is vital, but in different situations toddlers just don't like studies because it can be monotonous. However using computer games features in learning completely resolves that very common problem for children as well as their moms and dads. So there's no need to visit the shopping center to find interesting color by number printables to your beloved kids. Nowadays it is possible to buy different color by number pages on the net. These coloring pages may be printed in course of time and thus used as educational material for your children. However, it is possible to get different apps with rich collections of such coloring pages. These apps can be very powerful since in addition to leaning the numbers as well as bettering diligence, your son or daughter will study the fundamentals of computer work. Some cool crayons that you can find are the metallic or glitter ones. Kids love playing with the new media that manufacturers are coming out with these days. Gel pens are even good for the kids to play with. Hopefully you'll put a blanket down in the backseat so that the kids won't get ink or crayon wax on the upholstery while you're driving.
The coloring page has many benefits. It's an activity, number one, that keeps the kids happily involved. Number two, it encourages the artistic side of your children and number three, encourages several developing skills, such as coordination, decision-making and follow through when they finish their coloring pages. It is little surprise then that Winnie the Pooh coloring pages have also became a firm favourite among children, and the sales of Winnie the Pooh coloring pages far outstrips the likes of other Disney characters. It should be noted that the term "Winnie the Pooh coloring pages" is something of a misnomer because currently, the Winnie the Pooh franchise is taken to include all of the characters, such as Tigger, Piglet, Christopher Robin et al. How many of us parents have more than one child, and then have to contend with a civil war that breaks out whenever a toy is given to one child and not the other? If you give Winnie the Pooh free coloring pages to one child, you run the risk of incurring the righteous wrath of the other and so to that end then, you can use the online Winnie the Pooh coloring pages booklet to avoid such potential complications. It seems that Batmans popularity will never stop. With several recent high quality and respected movies he really appeals to males of all ages. He's a great subject for dads to sit and work on with their sons. Every generation knows the hero and can talk about him. Here's a tip, why not ask your child to make up a story about what is happening in the picture, maybe just before or after the scene that is shown. Or why not ask your child to add in extra characters or even the batmobile. Don't feel you are done once the character is colored in, why not use it as a starting point for elaboration?

domain: entertainment


text:
The Best Personal Loans : No Credit & No Collateral OK. Best Online Payday Loans!
US experts reviewing low-carb, other diets for guidelines US experts reviewing low-carb, other diets for guidelines. – · Last year, U.S. health officials said low-carb diets will be reviewed along with other eating styles for the 2020 update to the guidelines. Backers are hopeful because the panel of experts.
The de Young is easily reachable from all parts of the San Francisco Bay area, via public transportation, bicycle, or car. Public Transportation: The de Young is accessible via Muni lines 5, 44, and the N-judah. museum visitors who take public transit will save $2 on admission with proof of purchase. Discount cannot be combined with other offers.
We got you covered for your first timers package. Our gloves are available for rent ($2) after your first class package runs out. Our Drop Gloves go through an extensive cleaning process to ensure their supreme freshness just for you.
If you pay $1,000 in interest on a home equity loan and are in the 22% tax bracket, you’d save yourself $220 thanks to the fact interest is deductible. Finally, there’s one last big consideration: the.
Here are a few to consider when weighing your. t take the time to research their refinancing options. Our picks of the best student loan providers can help you save thousands of dollars in interest.
Are you a non-U.S. citizen hoping to purchase or refinance a home in Florida? – David A. Krebs Licensed Mortgage Broker in Miami New York DMV | Proof requirements for a permit, license or non-driver. – skip to alternate accessible home page. If you were born in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island or Queens, you can order a copy of your birth certificate from the City of New York website. Photo Driver License/Permit/Non-Driver ID card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction, Canadian.
RV Loan Calculator.. Fuel Economy – What self contained motor-coaches offer in luxury they take away in fuel efficiency. Class A and class C tend to get between 8 and 15 miles to the gallon depending on whether you opt for a gasoline or diesel engine.. How Will the Interest Rates on Your.
You can save. get on your car loan. To illustrate this, here are the national average rates on a 60-month new auto loan and what this means if you’re buying a $30,000 vehicle. data source: myFICO..
Framework is a $99 online course that you can take at your convenience.. Whether your savings goal is a new television, buying a reliable car or a down. and first time home buyer programs but you must complete all four courses in the series.. A detailed look at the Purchase Agreement, Loan Application, Appraisal .
If you stop making payments before confirming that your loans have been successfully deferred, your credit report could be in for a nasty surprise!) Pros and cons of putting off payments. Make sure you understand both the advantages and disadvantages to student loan grace periods, deferment, and forbearance.
flanking dabbles: vaporing referentially Examples for "referentially" and how to use it – Nyanglish – English examples for "referentially" – It holds only in the case where a term names and, furthermore, occurs referentially. More formally, methods should return a value only if they are referentially transparent and hence possess no side effects.St. Peterburgs Beach FL Refinance Mortgage | Heath Hall | Mortgage Lender Florida Mazuma Credit Union – Local Credit Union – Kansas City – Index – Mazuma is Kansas City born and bred. So when we give back to our hometown, we don’t just write a check. We get hands on in financial education, the arts, and community development.
Learn about everything from credit scores to home inspections before starting your home search.

domain: finance


text:
If you want to have a successful fantasy football draft, there's more than just having an in-depth knowledge of player values. You also need an intimate understanding of the bye weeks. There aren't many owners who wouldn't love to have Drew Brees on their team. But when the Saints quarterback is on a bye (Week 10), who would be the best backup to draft and start in his absence? That's valuable information, but countless owners don't think about it on draft day. Fantasy owners would also love a backfield duo of Cedric Benson and DeAngelo Williams, right? Well, both of them are off in Week 6. But if those are the best players on the board, it doesn't make sense to pass on them to avoid the bye-week conflict. Instead, it's a better idea to target someone like Arian Foster, who faces an awful Chiefs run defense that week, as a third running back in the middle rounds.
Below is a list of all the starting quarterbacks and running backs and their respective bye weeks. More importantly, we've also included the best bye-week replacements for those starters. While it's harder to avoid drafting running backs with the same bye based on values, it's still important to know which alternative runners have attractive matchups. What's more, it's also vital to know which No. 2 fantasy runners should thrive based on favorable opponents when your No. 1 back is on a bye week. Print this out and bring it to your draft!
Week 4 byes
Replacements - Favre and Romo are the lone starting fantasy quarterbacks with a bye in Week 4. If you land either of these field generals on draft day, you should target Carson Palmer (at Browns) or Alex Smith (at Falcons) as your top reserve in the middle to late rounds. In smaller leagues, Jay Cutler (at Giants) is also a nice option, while Matt Hasselbeck (at Rams) and Kyle Orton (at Titans) warrant consideration in larger formats.
Replacements - Peterson and Charles are the top running backs off in Week 4. Barber and Williams are closer to flex options in most fantasy leagues, though the former has a ton of sleeper appeal in 2010. The backs with the best matchups this week include Shonn Greene (at Bills), Ryan Grant (vs. Lions), Knowshon Moreno (at Titans), Foster (vs. Raiders), Jonathan Stewart (at Saints), Pierre Thomas (vs. Panthers) and Justin Forsett (at Rams).
Week 5 byes
Replacements - Brady is the lone No. 1 fantasy quarterback on a bye in Week 5. Roethlisberger could be at the end of his suspension at this point, but he'll be drafted as a backup in most formats while being forced to miss at least four games. If Brady is your starter, chances are you won't take him out of your lineup outside of this week. In his absence, consider Matthew Stafford (vs. Rams), Matt Ryan (at Browns), Palmer (at Buccaneers) or Mark Sanchez (vs. Vikings).
Replacements - Mendenhall is without question the most valuable running back with a bye, and there are plenty of No. 2 or 3 options with great matchups. That list includes Ryan Mathews (at Raiders), Joseph Addai (at Chiefs), Beanie Wells (vs. Saints), Jahvid Best (vs. Rams), Matt Forte (at Panthers) and Barber (vs. Titans). If you land Mendenhall late in Round 1, targeting Mathews in the second round is an extremely attractive choice.
Week 6 byes
Replacements - There isn't a single starting fantasy quarterback off in Week 6, and Edwards won't even be drafted outside of deep leagues or formats that require two starting quarterbacks. If you decide to pass on the position until the middle rounds and utilize the matchups instead, consider Cutler (at Seahawks), Eli Manning (vs. Lions), Kevin Kolb (at Falcons), Stafford (at Giants), Vince Young (at Jaguars), Roethlisberger (vs. Browns) or David Garrard (vs. Titans).
Replacements - Owners with a late pick in the first round could land Benson and Williams in their fantasy backfield. In that scenario, it makes sense to also target someone like Ahmad Bradshaw (vs. Lions), Foster (vs. Chiefs) or Cadillac Williams (vs. Saints). The other runners with tremendous matchups this week include Mathews (at Rams), Greene (at Broncos), Thomas (at Buccaneers), Forte (vs. Seahawks) and Clinton Portis (vs. Colts).
Week 7 byes
Replacements - Manning and Schaub will be two of the first six quarterbacks taken in most drafts, and the former won't ever be taken out of a fantasy starting lineup outside of a bye week. Owners who do land either Manning or Schaub should target Kolb (at Titans), Roethlisberger (at Dolphins), Palmer (at Falcons), Garrard (at Chiefs) or Cassel (vs. Jaguars). Anderson (at Seahawks) and Freeman (vs. Rams) are worth a look in larger formats.
Running backs - Greene, Addai, Best, Foster.
Replacements - Two of the more prominent No. 2 fantasy backs (Greene, Addai) and a top rookie runner (Best) are off the board for fantasy owners in Week 7. Alternative running backs with the most favorable matchups include Moreno (vs. Raiders), LeSean McCoy (vs. Raiders), Wells (at Seahawks), Thomas (vs. Browns), Jerome Harrison (at Saints), Cadillac Williams (vs. Rams) and Darren McFadden (at Broncos).
Week 8 byes
Replacements - A number of a low-end fantasy starters are off in Week 8, so owners who want to start quarterbacks based on their weekly matchups should take interest. Donovan McNabb (at Lions), Palmer (vs. Dolphins) and Jason Campbell (vs. Seahawks) are solid options based on the level of their opponents. If you're in a deeper league, Anderson (vs. Buccaneers), Moore (at Rams) and Edwards (at Chiefs) will be worth a look as well.
Replacements - Two of the top running backs in fantasy football are off this week, as Rice and Turner will both be on byes. If you're lucky enough to land one of these runners in Round 1, targeting Mathews (vs. Titans) or Stewart (at Rams) makes sense. Other backs with favorable matchups include Wells (vs. Buccaneers), Foster (at Colts), Spiller (at Chiefs), Forsett (at Raiders), Portis (at Lions) and McFadden (vs. Seahawks).
Week 9 byes
Quarterbacks - McNabb, Young, Smith, Garrard, Orton, Bradford.
Replacements - Outside of McNabb, there isn't one quarterback off in Week 9 who'll be drafted as a starter. As a result, owners who want to use weekly matchups should consider Eli Manning (at Seahawks), Flacco (at Dolphins), Ryan (vs. Buccaneers), Sanchez (at Lions) or Campbell (vs. Chiefs). In larger fantasy leagues, consider field generals like Anderson (at Vikings), Hasselbeck (vs. Giants) and Freeman (at Falcons).
Replacements - Four running backs (Johnson, Jones-Drew, Gore, Jackson) that will be drafted in the first round are off in Week 9, so this is an important time to understand the matchups. Greene (at Lions), McCoy (vs. Colts) and Stewart (vs. Saints) are all nice options. Other running backs with favorable opponents include Thomas (at Panthers), Jacobs (at Seahawks), Forte (at Bills), McFadden (vs. Chiefs) and Maroney (at Browns).
Week 10 byes
Replacements - Three of the four quarterbacks off in Week 10 are ranked in the top five at their position from a fantasy perspective. If you land one of these elite players, the best backups to target include Flacco (at Falcons), Young (at Dolphins), Smith (vs. Rams) or Sanchez (at Browns). If you wait until the late rounds, the best options are Henne (vs. Titans), Anderson (at Seahawks), Hasselbeck (vs. Cardinals) and Orton (vs. Chiefs.)
Running backs - Grant, Mathews, Thomas, McFadden.
Replacements - Grant, a borderline No. 1 fantasy back, and Mathews, the top fantasy rookie are the most prominent runners off in Week 10. Several players have solid matchups for owners to consider, a list that includes breakout candidates like Greene (at Browns) and Moreno (vs. Chiefs), along with Wells (vs. Seahawks), Brown (at Titans), Stewart (at Buccaneers), Best (at Bills), Spiller (vs. Lions) and Cadillac Williams (vs. Panthers).

domain: sports


Robotic Assembly: Companion Parts In One Cycle
Featured Product from Visumatic Industrial Products
Visumatic's dual application XY robot assembly machine is a compact, state of the art, accomplishment for automated fastening. This machine is able to handle assembly of two highly complex, different parts in the same footprint using roughly one third the floor space, by utilizing separated X and Y robot axis working in tandem.
The X axis allows the drive spindle to move back-and-forth while the y-axis moves the parts fixture in and out. This way, the Robot controller achieves the same XY motion without being conjoined.
The screwdriver locations are on separate z-axis planes. In order to accommodate this challenge, VISUMATIC designed a specialized tooling tip to handle multiple drive location levels.
Both part assemblies are unique, each requiring a different fastener. Visumatic built two completely independent screw feeders. The machine program selects which screw is required and delivers it to the tooling tip.
Each part differs in density, material stack up, and torque requirements. The machine controller tracks the assembly through the entire process ensuring perfection in every finished part.


Datasets underpinning the four figures for "High quality hydrogen silsesquioxane encapsulated graphene devices with edge contacts" in Materials Letters. The primary data files are transmission line measurements for edge contacts and Hall mobilities of devices with and without hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) encapsulation. Also included are a device processing chart and atomic force microscopy (AFM) profiles. Raman data presented in the Supporting Information are also included.
|Date made available||28 Oct 2019|
|Publisher||University of Bath|
|Date of data production||Oct 2018 - Feb 2019|


text:
Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media: Bacteriology and Drug Sensitivity Patterns at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (2004-2005): A Preliminary Study
Keywords:chronic otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane, chronic aural discharge
Objectives: To identify the bacterial pathogens associated with chronic suppurative otitis media and their antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance
Study Design: Cross-sectional survey
Setting: The study was carried out from July 2004-July 2005 at the outpatient clinic of a government tertiary hospital.
Number of subjects: A total of 32 patients (54 ears) with unilateral or bilateral active chronic suppurative otitis media.
Results: Bacterial pathogens of 54 ear discharge samples from CSOM were studied. Among them, 42 (78%) were pure cultures and 9 (16.7%) were mixed, only 3 (5.6%) of the submitted samples had no growth. There were 42 pure isolates, the most common of which was Staphylococcus aureus 21 (50%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14 (33.3%). Drug sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus showed that 61.9% were resistant to Penicillin while more than 90% were sensitive to Aminoglycosides and Clindamycin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to penicillin in 64.3% of cases and Ciprofloxacin was active against pseudomonas in 85.7%.
Conclusion: The most common bacterial pathogens from CSOM include Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Majority of the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to penicillin. Aminoglycosides, macrolides and quinolones were effective against most of the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.
Keywords: chronic otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane, chronic aural discharge
How to Cite
Copyright transfer (all authors; where the work is not protected by a copyright act e.g. US federal employment at the time of manuscript preparation, and there is no copyright of which ownership can be transferred, a separate statement is hereby submitted by each concerned author). In consideration of the action taken by the Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery in reviewing and editing this manuscript, I hereby assign, transfer and convey all rights, title and interest in the work, including copyright ownership, to the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. (PSOHNS) in the event that this work is published by the PSOHNS. In making this assignment of ownership, I understand that all accepted manuscripts become the permanent property of the PSOHNS and may not be published elsewhere without written permission from the PSOHNS unless shared under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.


Questions like these were at the center of discussions at the Fuel Economy Accelerator Symposium held in Paris last week. The event, organized by the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI), was hosted by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. I represented the World Bank at this event, which took place on the heels of the UN Secretary General’s upcoming Climate Conference in New York, scheduled for late September. As a result, the topic of the fuel economy and energy efficiency is especially timely and relevant.
Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 is one of the three major objectives of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), an initiative led by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank Group. The other two goals by 2030 are to provide universal access to electricity and modern cooking solutions, and to double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Increasing numbers of citizens all over the world are demanding that urban planners and political authorities in their cities “get it right” when designing public urban spaces. People living in cities, both in developed and developing countries are reclaiming streets as public spaces, demanding urban planners to re-design streets to ensure a more equitable distribution of these public spaces, and prioritizing the allocation of streets for people to walk, cycle and socialize. This was the central topic discussed last week at the “Future of Places” conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
How do we contribute to a more equitable society by building more equitable cities? In an increasingly urbanized world, urban mobility is central to citizens’ social and economic wellbeing. However, current urban transportation systems – based primarily on the movement of private motorized vehicles – have prioritized road space and operational design of streets for automobiles over other modes of transport, which has caused many social, environmental and economic consequences, therefore reducing urban livability and equitable access.
The values of urbanity and mobility are being rethought all over the world, and Latin American cities are no exception to this questioning of how cities are to be developed today. One of the answers to sustainability issues lies in the concept of proximity, which combines different dimensions of the urban proposals that the 21st century requires. These dimensions include public health – particularly the fight against sedentary habits – as well as density, compactness, closeness, resilience, and livability of the public space. These all point to a new urban paradigm that all creative cities wish to adopt in order to attract the knowledge economy and guarantee social cohesion.
A dangerously warming planet is not just an environmental challenge – it is a fundamental threat to efforts to end poverty, and it threatens to put prosperity out of the reach of millions of people. Read the recent Fifth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change if you need further evidence.
If we agree it is an economic problem, what do we do about it? There is general agreement among economists that a robust price on carbon is a key part of effective strategies to avert dangerous climate change. A strong price signal directs finance away from fossil fuels and toward a suite of cleaner, more efficient alternatives.
This logic is not lost on governments and companies. Momentum is building around the globe to put a price on carbon. Consider these facts:
While public-private partnership (PPP) transport investment has been initially driven by countries (such as Poland, Croatia and Hungary) that implemented reforms to join the EU, most of them have not been able to close on transport PPP transactions in the past five years. Now Russia and Turkey are the leaders in the region, as explained below.
What can explain this situation?
A focus on off-balance sheet accounting of PPP projects has dominated transport PPP in EU-member ECA countries in recent years. Off-balance sheet accounting means PPP projects are structured in a way that only annual government payments are accounted for, instead of the total commitment (the assets and liabilities associated with the project). This means that PPP projects end up being large and greenfield (multi-billion dollar investment, typically in new highways), and tend to follow a separate path than for budget-financed projects, based on the assumption that the associated liabilities won’t be accounted for.
Risk allocation between the public and private sectors is driven by accounting treatment. This also results in limited support from governments and very rigid negotiations. It also means that projects are often not able to close or, as a former Minister of Transport said, “We do PPP to build off-balance sheet assets but, in order to reach financial close, assets has to be on our books.”
These are some of the views and reports relevant to our readers that caught our attention this week.
Corruption 'impoverishes and kills millions'
An estimated $1tn (£600bn) a year is being taken out of poor countries and millions of lives are lost because of corruption, according to campaigners. A report by the anti-poverty organisation One says much of the progress made over the past two decades in tackling extreme poverty has been put at risk by corruption and crime. Corrupt activities include the use of phantom firms and money laundering. The report blames corruption for 3.6 million deaths every year. If action were taken to end secrecy that allows corruption to thrive - and if the recovered revenues were invested in health - the group calculates that many deaths could be prevented in low-income countries.
The Best and Worst Places to Build More Roads
Roads are taking over the planet. By the middle of this century, so many new roadways are expected to appear that their combined length would circle Earth more than 600 times. To build critical connections while preserving biodiversity, we need a global road map, scientists argue today in the journal Nature. And as a first step, the international team has identified areas where new roads would be most useful and those where such development would likely be in conflict with nature.
Things are looking up in Haiti as the country continues to rebuild from the devastating 2010 earthquake. And part of this progress is a story of trade.
The Haitian government recognizes this, and is working with the World Bank Group and other donors to identify and remove barriers to trade to better promote export growth.
A World Bank team traveled to Port au Prince earlier this month for a week long workshop with the main stakeholders (public and private) intervening on trade logistic in the country, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in order to discuss ways to strengthen the Haitian Trade Facilitation (TF) program. The program is funded through the Trade Facilitation Facility, a multi-donor trust fund dedicated specifically to helping developing countries realize economic development and poverty reduction through trade.
On Sunday in Apia, the capital of Samoa, I saw the results of the World Bank Group’s work with coastal communities that were devastated by the 2009 tsunami and by Cyclone Evan in 2012. Working with the Samoan government and partners, we built coastal roads and a new system of access roads that leads into the hills away from the seashore. Many families rebuilt their homes in the hills, and the new road system helps bind those new households together as well as providing safe escape routes should a tsunami or major storm hit the coast again.
The hard infrastructure construction is interesting; the community conversations about next steps for protecting the coastlines are even more so. The government is launching a series of community consultations that will bring together village mayors, women leaders, government agencies, and NGOs to decide how best to climate-proof their coastlines. The communities are set to decide if sea walls or mangrove plantations will best protect their land and livelihood.
I’m in Apia with a team from across the IFC and the World Bank to represent the World Bank Group at the 3rd UN Conference for Small Island Developing States and took the opportunity to learn more about climate and disaster risk management at the community level.
For island nations, the small size of their land and their economies comes with a set of unique vulnerabilities that makes climate change a major determinant of their ability to thrive and in some cases even survive.
Personal security on and around Mexico City’s public transport system is a serious problem that frames the travel experience for many, particularly for women. A recent report by the Mexico City Women’s Institute showed that 65% of women using the system have suffered some form of sexual assault while on the system or when accessing it. However, there is little argument that only a fraction of these events are reported… which leads us to believe that the actual percentage could be much higher.
Last month, it was time for the project's third phase: a competition to surface new ideas for mass transit options, road safety and mobility information. This event, called the MueveTT Innovation Challenge, brought together 14 teams of people to brainstorm ways for the government, companies, universities, organizations, citizens, and others to work together toward the vision of smart cities.


text:
On Monday morning the news of David Bowie’s death took us by surprise. Two days after his 69th birthday and the triumphant release of his latest, and last, album – Blackstar – the man who inspired a generation to new heights of curiosity, creativity, and self-expression was gone.
Though I loved all of Bowie’s music, including all the classic songs that were released before I was quite old enough to appreciate them, the first Bowie record I owned (and played to death) was Tonight. I think I may still have a battered cassette copy of that album somewhere. Two years later, in 1986, I – like millions of other teenage girls – fell in love with Bowie as the evil but oh-so-alluring Jareth the Goblin King in Jim Henson’s movie, Labyrinth.
I have spent more time than I’d like to admit over these past couple of days reminiscing about Bowie – reading tributes and articles, watching video interviews, and – of course – listening to his music. It’s funny, a couple months ago on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I bought two Bowie albums from iTunes. I rarely buy digital music, but I couldn’t get the song Tumble and Twirl out of my head, so I downloaded my beloved Tonight album and then picked up the Best of Bowie because – man! – I loved every song on the playlist.
I wish I felt up to offering a fitting tribute to Bowie, but I’m not yet able to articulate my feelings fully. So, instead, I humbly offer this list of ten things David Bowie taught us about creating art. I still have much to learn about the man, his life, and his art; but these ideals are ones he embodied boldly, through his creations, actions, and words.
#10 – Be original, but also don’t be afraid to steal. Bowie is renowned for being a one-of-a-kind geek/freak who never shied away from embracing the weird, eclectic, or fringe elements of his identity or his audience. He is credited with inspiring many, many other artists from the 80s, 90s, and today. On the other hand, he readily cites the heavy influence of other artists on his own work – Little Richard, for instance, John Coltrane, Shirley Bassey, and John Lennon. Bowie had a way of processing all these influences, making them part of his own art. As they say, nothing is original. You can only take what’s been done and do it your own way.
#9 – Look at things from different perspectives. Bowie was able to create such fresh and unique music because he had such a huge talent for looking at the world and his art from different perspectives. In a 1999 commencement speech at the Berklee College of Music, Bowie talked about how he liked to play the game of “What if?” – what if you combined this thing with that thing? By mixing wildly different elements in unlikely combinations, he was able to create something new. In another interview, he walks through the “cut up” method he sometimes used to write his lyrics. (Don’t pay attention to the lines of coke on the table.)
Bowie also famously created characters that he inhabited on stage and sometimes off – Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, The Thin White Duke, Major Tom. He looked at the world through the eyes of these characters, and he told their stories – and ours – with their voices.
Finally, David was an avid reader. In 1998, Vanity Fair magazine published Bowie’s responses to the famous Proust Questionnaire. His answer to the first question – “What is your idea of perfect happiness?” – was “Reading.” Bowie was curious about life, you might even say he was voracious. Of the Bowie quotes making the rounds on the Internet, one of my favorites is, “Don’t you love the Oxford Dictionary? When I first read it, I thought it was a really really long poem about everything.”
#8 – Don’t be afraid to confront what scares you. Much of Bowie’s work has a decidedly dark bent. His lyrics dive deeply into themes of loneliness, exclusion, fear, death, loss, and grief. He was never afraid to write the hard stuff, and his courage made us brave. He faced many demons and he did so with an air of rebellion. Robin Williams made us laugh about the scary stuff, Fred Rogers comforted us, David Bowie invited us to explore it – to get inside and see what made it work, to take it apart so it couldn’t scare us anymore.
#7 – Create what YOU want to create. Bowie was never subtle about the strength of his artistic integrity. He is quoted as saying, “I’m just an individual who doesn’t feel that I need to have somebody qualify my work in any particular way. I’m working for me.” Bowie didn’t write to please anyone but himself. I imagine he didn’t think of his work as a product, but as an exploration or an experiment. He may have enthralled millions of fans over the years, but he truly only played for one person – himself.
#6 – Keep a sense of wonder. Like most great artists, Bowie doesn’t seem to have ever felt he was “done” or knew everything. He was a constant seeker and student, and he knew the value of keeping an open mind and being willing to be surprised. “Once you lose that sense of wonder at being alive,” he said, “you’re pretty much on the way out…”
#5 – Collaborate. Many of Bowie’s greatest hits were collaborations with other artists. The list of musicians Bowie worked with is long and illustrious: Lou Reed, Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, John Lennon, Iggy Pop, even Bing Crosby, and so many more. Bowie knew the power of collaboration to inspire great ideas and stellar performances.
#4 – Don’t get caught up in the pursuit of recognition. In addition to creating only what he wanted to create, Bowie also seems to have had very specific opinions about accepting accolades for his work. He is one of only a handful of people who declined knighthood, reportedly saying, “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”
#3 – Be a force for bringing beauty into the world. Though the sometimes outrageous personas and fashions he adopted over the span of his career aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying that Bowie brought color and style to the world. He embraced the importance of beauty – in all its forms – fully and passionately. He never held back. In fact, he pushed at the edges of traditional definitions and helped us see beauty everywhere.
#2 – Don’t take yourself too seriously. “I’m always amazed that people take what I say seriously. I don’t even take what I am seriously.” – David Bowie
I love that quote.
On Monday, I posted the following Facebook status update, “For all his mystique and musical genius, what I always liked best about David Bowie was his sense of humor and his full-bodied, roguish smile. Gods, that smile. It was like he knew a delightfully wicked and beautiful secret – a cosmic joke that we’d all get to hear someday; and he couldn’t wait to share the punch line. There is a little less magic in the world today, but thank the gods we had him while we did. He made us feel less alone. He made us dance. He made us laugh and think and dream. The stars look very different today. May they guide you home, wherever that may be.”
The post included a link to the first in a series of three video clip compilations of Bowie being funny.
#1 – Never stop creating. The media reports that Bowie died after an eighteen-month battle with cancer, but – clearly – his personal health crisis did not keep him from creating his art. If anything, it seems to have fueled his drive to finish Blackstar, an album that his friends and family agree was a parting gift from the artist to his fans. I came across a Jack London quote earlier today that seemed fitting, “I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” That seems to be exactly what Bowie was doing – using his time. And, oh, how grateful I am that he did. How grateful I am that he lived.
We have lost a great artist and an inspiration. If – like me – you’re feeling down about it, maybe this tweet of questionable but irrelevant lineage from @jesuisdean will make you smile: If you’re sad today, just remember the world is over 4 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.
Jamie Lee Wallace Hi. I’m Jamie. I am a content marketer and branding consultant, columnist, sometime feature writer, prolific blogger, and aspiring fiction writer. I’m a mom, a student of equestrian and aerial arts (not at the same time), and a nature lover. I believe in small kindnesses, daily chocolate, and happy endings. Join me each Saturday for the Weekend Edition (a fun post and great community of commenters on the writing life, random musings, writing tips, and good reads), or introduce yourself on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest. I don’t bite … usually.

domain: artistic


text:
Warhorse #2 - Walnut body - hand rubbed oil finish
Warhorse #1 - walnut body - hand rubbed oil finish
All guitar designs on this web site are the property of Monson Guitars. Any reproduction or assimilation will be subjected to legal action! All guitar names are trademarks of Monson Guitars. All violations will be subject to legal action!

domain: hobby


text:
Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed. 1911 in DJVU
There Is No Preview Available For This Item
This item does not appear to have any files that can be experienced on Archive.org.
Please download files in this item to interact with them on your computer.
Show all files
- Publication date
- Public Domain
This is a high quality version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911 in djvu. You'll need djview to view these files.
- 2008-08-18 17:59:35
- Public domain because 70+ years old collection.
Subject: Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed. 1911 in DJVU
Uploaded by magnentius on

domain: library


text:
Perfect Makeup for Brown Eyes. This eye makeup look is perfect for brown eyes. The blue from the eye shadow will clash with your brown eyes causing them to pop. Could use a blue eyeliner instead of the blue eyeshadow for a more wearable day time look.
Thats what I can do with that green make up, ugh. "Mermaid" eye make up- this would be so great for all my green eyeshadows, and I have LOTS of green eyeshadows. Too bad I can't ever get these thighs to look right!
Use the empty perfume bottle Steve got me. And Mom's old ones. TURN OLD PERFUME BOTTLE INTO VASE diy crafts home made easy crafts craft idea crafts ideas diy ideas diy crafts diy idea do it yourself diy projects diy craft handmade diy vase flowers vase


text:
Painted rock-and-mirror grouping
Then I built up the other one, that big sculpture. I put anything I couldn’t use, and that it shine, I put it in there. Even the flamingos. They lost the legs. I couldn’t fix them up, so I just stick them in there. Basically, it was just stuff that broke and I didn’t want to throw away, and couldn’t use otherwise. My lamp got broke, I just took it, added color, put it on there. I even used painted tiles. And basically the reason I put those things around the edge of die house was when the shrubbery had died, I wanted the house wouldn’t look so bare.


text:
WASHINGTON: Catholics make up around a quarter of the US population and their numbers are growing, thanks in part to immigration, according to researchers at Georgetown University.
Americans who self-identify as Catholic, including those who do not attend Mass regularly, numbered 81.6 million in 2015, more than 25 percent of the US population.
The number of Catholics tied to a specific parish yields a smaller total of 68.1 million Catholics, or about 20 percent of Americans, the Jesuit university’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) has found.
Mary Gautier, a researcher at CARA, said the figures make Catholics the largest single faith group in the United States.
Although Protestants as a whole account for more than half the population, they are divided up among a number of different denominations, she told Agence France-Presse.
After Catholics come Jews and Muslims but their numbers are much smaller as a proportion of the total population.
The number of US Catholics has increased by 3 to 6 percent each decade since 1965, according to CARA’s numbers.
“Part of it is immigration, part of it is birth rate,” Gautier told AFP.
She said the Catholic Church is “the most diverse in terms of race and ethnicity in the US,” with Hispanics accounting for 38 percent of Catholics and blacks and Asians three percent each.
Geographically, Catholics are pretty evenly distributed around the country, with the largest concentrations in big-city suburbs.
But some parishes have closed in the Northeast and Midwest, where past waves of immigrants once settled, while new churches in the South and western United States “are stuffed” with new immigrants from Latin America, Gautier said.
In terms of vocations, the number of seminarians has held steady over the past 15 years, she said.
But the number of priests has fallen from some 50,000 in 1995 to around 37,600.
“There are more priests from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s who are dying or retiring so the new seminarians are one third as many as we would need to replace them,” the researcher said.
About one quarter of US Catholics attend church once a week or more, a figure that has been stable for 20 years, and about 38 percent go at least once a month.

domain: sociology


text:
I have a new necklace project - "Ravishing Rosettes" - published in the latest December 2011 Bead and Button Magazine.
Also, three of my works are featured in Fabulous Peyote Stitch Jewelry with Crystal Accents - a wonderful e-magazine from Beadwork. This e-Mag is full of sparkling jewelry, all stitched in one of the most favorite stitches - peyote. You will love reading this eMag in its innovative format! There are sections within the pages for tutorials, inspirational galleries of works and what I really loved is the interactive color chart, which is fun to use!
Click on the Image to Go to Site
The jewelry set below is my latest beadwoven creations - a necklace with a 2-in-1 pendant, made with Swarovski crystals, pearls and beautiful Miyuki Duracoat seed beads (I highly recommend Duracoat!), and a matching bead embroidered cuff.


The House of Representatives, with mostly Republican votes, approved a bill on Tuesday, that restricts nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of conception. As the bill moves across the Capitol, it's fate has already been decided, as the Democrat controlled Senate will ignore it, and the White House has warned it would veto it.
Despite the bill's inevitable defeat, Republicans say they moved forward on a vote in light of the conviction of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. Gosnell is the Philadelphia abortion doctor who was found guilty of murdering three babies after they were born. Democrats say the current law worked, and Gosnell is behind bars as a result.
One person conspicuously absent during the bill's debate was it's sponsor, Arizona Congressman Trent Franks. Franks sparked controversy last week when he said that rape results in few pregnancies. As a result of his comment, GOP leadership made sure female representatives were front and center during the debate.
"The Republican men who brought this bill to the floor, despite the parade of our women colleagues on the House floor today, do not represent America," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida.
Republicans hope the law lays the groundwork for a challenge of Roe versus Wade, the law that legalized abortion 40 years ago.
The current bill was passed with a vote of 228 to 196, mostly along party lines. Six Democrats voted to approved the bill, and six Republicans voted against it.
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
Lastly, drug rehab is important because it affords participants the opportunity to construct new habits. One of the more common characteristics of addicts is poor self-discipline and care. Rehab provides these individuals with the chance not only to set goals but to accomplish them as well. Routinely achieving goals provides addicts with an improved sense of self-worth and resolve.
After the detoxification stage, you will begin rehabilitation. This involves a wide range of different therapies and treatments to help you combat drinking urges and triggers. During this stage, you will also learn coping skills that can be applied to everyday situations after leaving rehab. The rehabilitation stage may take place in an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on the severity of your alcoholism and what your doctor recommends.
GENERAL DISCLAIMER: Rehabs.com is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information provided through Rehabs.com should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider. The authors, editors, producers, and contributors shall have no liability, obligation, or responsibility to any person or entity for any loss, damage, or adverse consequences alleged to have happened directly or indirectly as a consequence of material on this website. If you believe you have a medical emergency, you should immediately call 911.
Drug abuse statistics can be alarming, but the numbers also show a potential for help and healing. The Substance Abuse and MEntal Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Substance Abuse and Health states that while 21 million Americans aged 12 and over needed drug or alcohol treatment in 2016, only 3.8 million received the help they needed at a specialized treatment facility. Other research sources on drug addiction show that:
Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.
Outpatient treatment programs give you the flexibility to continue to live at home and work or attend school while participating in a program. There are varying levels of outpatient treatment depending on the level of care the patient needs. Some outpatient programs may involve several hours of therapy per day while others might require varying amounts of time throughout the week.5 Program requirements vary, and you can research the various programs to find what works best for you.
Finding a drug rehab facility that has all of these features may seem difficult, but here at Axis, we provide everything on the list above and more. Our goal is to offer your loved one everything he or she needs to break free from drug and alcohol dependence and to go home with a plan that will help to continue to grow in recovery and remain true to his or her principles of sobriety. Starting with an evaluation and diagnostic process at intake, we create a treatment plan designed just for your loved one, complete with an intensive therapeutic schedule that comes with cutting-edge treatment options as well as traditional care and support.
Professional assessments are always the best first step towards recovery, and they are especially important for anyone who feels they may have a problem with drinking. Since alcohol is legal, and drinking is culturally acceptable, many people who have an AUD (alcohol use disorder) might not realize the extent of their problem. A professional assessment is the only way to be sure.
This quote might best sum up the topic of proclivity for acquiring a drug addiction: “Most people who become addicts are subject to a combination of risk factors.” Anything from childhood trauma and having alcoholic parents to being exposed to drugs at an early age can influence whether a person takes their first hit or their first drink. And whether addiction will develop.5
Outpatient treatment is the next step down in a continuum of care. It is also a rehabilitation option for individuals whose addiction is less severe and doesn’t require inpatient treatment. Clients in this phase of rehab drug treatment visit the facility regularly, but do not stay overnight. This approach allows the individual to receive drug treatment while maintaining family and job responsibilities. Drug Addict Is Terrified When He Sees the Rehab Car | The Jeremy Kyle Show

domain: medical


While the arrests of reported REvil members may have reduced ransomware activity, infosec analysts say the impact will likely be short-lived.
Last month, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it had "stopped" REvil operations, arrested more than a dozen members and confiscated millions in cash. It's unclear how much these arrests affected REvil operations; the ransomware as a service (RaaS) group was also knocked offline in October following a reported cyber offensive operation led by the U.S. Cyber Command.
But infosec analysts believe the REvil arrests have had an impact. With one of the most notorious gangs -- responsible for high-profile attacks like the one against JBS Foods that resulted in an $11 million ransom -- seemingly out of commission and under scrutiny from Russian law enforcement, the ransomware landscape may be altered, with the fear of potential jail time trickling down to other groups.
Prior to the arrests, REvil gained a reputation for its ego; the operators and their affiliates were unafraid to hit a wide range of targets, from point-of-sale terminals to managed service providers and a foreign currency exchange. It seemed no target was out of reach; even celebrities like Lady Gaga and Madonna were affected after the Russia-based ransomware group hit an entertainment law firm. As highlighted in the report "A History of REvil" by Jon DiMaggio, chief security strategist at Analyst1, one of the group's "targeting choices" even involved supply chain organizations.
That ego is what DiMaggio attributed with REvil's downfall. In the report, he noted that if it had "targeted smaller, non-essential organizations," perhaps its operations would still be intact.
Several factors contributed to that ego, including timing, DiMaggio told SearchSecurity.
Ransomware attacks against enterprises, he said, weren't as common until 2015 or 2016. REvil filled a gap left behind by GandCrab and gained attention in its early attacks from the criminal community, Russian forums and Telegram channels. It was one of the first groups to appear approachable, and they would respond, whether it was to a security researcher or another criminal.
"They just came in with such momentum," DiMaggio said. "So many people were drawn to them because they were doing these big attacks, but then coming out and talking about it, which up to that point really hadn't been done. It almost gave them this celebrity status."
Russian government intentions
Several of the most prolific ransomware gangs have been tied to Russian-speaking threat actors over the years, and some analysts believe the Russian government's crackdown on REvil may not be entirely genuine. Trustwave security researcher Ziv Mador published a blog post last month that examined the fallout on dark web forums. One forum member broached the idea of the operation being "faked or was only a show for international consumption."
"One possible reason for the FSB to fake or not follow through on these arrests could be that it's just trying to placate the U.S. and avoid additional economic sanctions," Mador wrote in the blog.
While DiMaggio said protection from the Russian government didn't lead to REvil's ego, it may have allowed the group to feel safe to operate, even if the group didn't realize it themselves.
"Not having a fear of being arrested allowed them to be approachable and allowed them to feel safe to talk and to do interviews with researchers, so I think that's what made them feel safe to do all this stuff, which then led to their widescale popularity," DiMaggio said.
In his report, DiMaggio examined conversations held on dark web forums over the past several years and found that "ransomware criminals believed they were untouchable." The most common concern he observed was being arrested outside of Russia.
Similarly, Ryan Olson, vice president of threat intelligence for Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 group, said if groups have been operating in a country without arrests, it gives the impression that the government wouldn't hand them over.
"You probably feel more safe living in that space, where you don't have to worry about extradition or cooperation from law enforcement," Olson said.
Coveware CEO Bill Siegel said Russian law enforcement possibly coddling ransomware gangs is nothing new. There is a long history of these activities being "state ignored" or "state condoned," he said in an email to SearchSecurity.
A Coveware quarterly report referred to the arrests as "an unprecedented action for the Russian government to take."
As for the cybercriminal underworld, DiMaggio said, the biggest accusation against REvil regarding law enforcement was that one of the key operators in the group was cooperating with U.S. authorities after being arrested.
Recently, a feud broke out between LockBit and BlackMatter that appeared to be tied to the REvil arrests and the breakdown of trust they represented. The feud stemmed from accusations of REvil members being undercover law enforcement agents or working with law enforcement directly.
Azim Khodjibaev, senior intelligence analyst at Cisco Talos, told SearchSecurity the final allegation made by LockBit was that the REvil bust was a major political plan between Russia and the U.S. to cooperate more on ransomware disruption. It was allegedly a bone thrown to President Joe Biden by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, in order to show or hint at the possibility of cooperation.
Olson cited the types of attacks he observed last year against critical infrastructures, especially against the Colonial Pipeline Company, that may have shifted from a law enforcement focus to a wider government response.
"That changed the game a bit around who needed to talk to who and who was actually engaged in the fight as well," he said.
Impact on ransomware landscape
Despite remaining questions around government motivations, analysts and vendors agree that the reported REvil arrests will have a level of impact.
Following the arrests, Hold Security observed the resignation of key members from various ransomware gangs, including TrickBot and Conti. In a tweet on Friday, the Milwaukee-based security consulting company said its dark web sources reported that "Trickbot gang lost its key members over the past 24 hours. Looks like Russian government actions are driving ransomware gangs to close their doors."
Alex Holden, chief information security officer at Hold Security, told SearchSecurity that several members mentioned moving on to other projects, but a majority of them just said, "I'm done."
"Conti group members were mentioning that if the Russian government ever starts enforcing the law and starts arresting the ransomware groups, they would exit the same business day. That seems to be happening today, and it's absolutely been brewing over the past months," Holden said.
Mador also documented post-arrest dark web chatter and found "a great deal of anxiety and consternation" from forum participants "regarding the FSB arrests and how those actions will impact them in the future."
"From the conversations we've observed, it is clear that these people no longer believe Russia is a safe harbor for their activities," Mador wrote in the blog post. "This level of worry and fear expressed by Dark Web forum members is something we have not seen before."
Mador concluded that the long-term impact remains to be seen.
"There is a strong chance that the FSB's activity has a long-term impact on cybercrime, but only if the Russian government follows through and prosecutes those arrested to the full extent of their law. Russian prisons are no walk in the park, and cybercriminals know that," he wrote.
Olson also believes it may be too early to determine the true impact. The Unit 42 team did observe a drop-off in ransomware activity in January, compared with December and November, but nothing significant.
"Arresting one group itself, taking those players off the board doesn't have a big impact as there are so many people launching ransomware attacks, especially with the ransomware-as-a-service model," Olson said.
Since ransomware affiliates are separate from the operators that produce the malware and perform encryption, Olson said, they can simply move to a new RaaS operation if one or two groups are shut down.
Though the arrests of a single group's players may not have a huge impact on the overall ransomware landscape, Siegel said any action that increases the perceived risk of arrest is good.
"Even if these arrests are for show, or the actors don't get our definition of 'justice,' you can't deny that these actions were disruptive and raise the risk profile," he said. "That is a positive."
The Coveware report determined that the arrests decreased the "addressable market of cyber criminals willing and able to execute these attacks, as not all of them are willing to risk jail time or western extradition for the money they earn."
Emsisoft analyst Brett Callow said law enforcement action will have ransomware gangs worried.
"They don't operate in a vacuum and [they] share resources and personnel with other operations. So, when one gang gets compromised and its members arrested, others will invariably wonder whether they may be impacted too," Callow said in an email to SearchSecurity.
But the short-term progress may not last long. If not for the recent escalation at the Ukraine-Russia border, DiMaggio believes the impact made by the REvil arrests would have been greater. Now, he thinks things may get worse.
"I think that not only are they not going to be afraid, I feel like they're going to be encouraged. They'll be encouraged to do attacks like the Colonial Pipeline or to hit financial institutions," he said. "It's really the first time in my career I will say I am really concerned as to what's coming."


Overall ScoTori Review: GREAT (4.0)
In this episode we review “The Meg”, Jason Statham’s monster shark action movie.
Even though Tori knew him only by name (due to his hunk factor), Scott’s been a fan of Jason Statham for many years. It’s a typical slightly cheesy action adventure movie with a diverse cast of characters.
Now that it’s out digitally, check it out and let us know what you think!


text:
15:36 2022-01-25 crimes - citeste alte articole pe aceeasi tema
Comentarii Adauga Comentariu
_ Chiritoiu: Let's not go back to that stupid system in which we subsidize all consumers, pretend energy is cheap
Chiritoiu: Let's not go back to that stupid system in which we subsidize all consumers, pretend energy is cheap
Support measures for energy consumers should be aimed only at the vulnerable ones, and not return to that stupid system when everyone was supported and we pretended that energy was cheap, the Competition Council's head Bogdan Chiritoiu said on Tuesday.
"It is clear that we are making an exceptional effort these months, because the situation is exceptional, but, as the minister of energy said, we expect a drop in gas prices in April and this will to some extent lead to a decrease. But the problem remains. High energy prices are not strictly transitory and in a few months we will return to the situation 10 years ago," Chiritoiu told the conference" Energy crisis - solutions to the problems of the moment," organized by DC News.
In his view, mechanisms need to be put in place to help manage the situation of vulnerable consumers.
If all consumers receive aid, they will no longer be encouraged to use it effectively and take measures to reduce consumption, he continued, Agerpres.ro informs.
He pointed out that the legitimate expectation of the state towards large companies is to cooperate correctly with the authorities and, when there is a state policy, by a normative act approved by Parliament, the companies should cooperate for the implementation of that strategy.
Linkul direct catre Petitie
Citiți și cele mai căutate articole de pe Fluierul:
ieri 23:54 _ Secretele formării timusului dezvăluite
ieri 23:54 _ Găsirea supraconductivității în nichelați
ieri 23:54 _ Cum și-a primit universul câmpul magnetic
ieri 23:44 _ Secretele formării timusului dezvăluite
ieri 19:47 _ Prince of Wales' Bucharest visit roundup
ieri 19:43 _ Peter Thiel renunță la consiliul lui Meta
ieri 19:02 _ Belarus furnizează arme Rusiei
ieri 17:43 Secretele formării timusului dezvăluite
ieri 15:53 _ Revizuirea istoriei teoremei CPT
ieri 15:53 _ Unde sunt următorii virusuri zoonotice?
ieri 15:53 _ Poliția publică este o instituție lacomă
ieri 15:53 _ Urbanismul timpuriu găsit în Amazon
ieri 14:40 _ De ce se tem șoarecii masculi de banane?
ieri 11:52 _ Festival dedicat plutăritului
ieri 10:38 _ Jamie Redknapp dezvăluie, în glumă
ieri 10:13 _ VIDEO - Manifestație pro-Dodon la Chișinău
ieri 08:22 _ Klaus Iohannis a promulgat Legea Offshore
ieri 07:53 _ 21 de judeţe sub cod galben de ploi
ieri 07:17 _ Prince Charles, on visit to Romania

domain: news


text:
Today In Mormon History-FB
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
100 years ago today - Nov 22, 1918
Heber J. Grant presides at the graveside services held for President Joseph F. Smith. Because of a nationwide influenza epidemic, no public funerals were allowed during this time.
Post a Comment
Please Enter your Comment:
Post Comments (Atom)

domain: history


There are only four games left in the MAAC regular season for each team. This is baffling to think about. As the teams battle for final positioning down the stretch it’s time for us to start thinking about things like postseason awards.
Valuable: A thing that is of great worth
In order to do that it’s imperative that journalists, coaches, and sports information personnel define some particularly nebulous concepts including the “Most Valuable Player.” What exactly does “Most Valuable” mean? That’s a great question. It causes all sorts of problems in Major League Baseball and it could cause similar issues in the MAAC this season.
There seems to be a rising consensus that Canisius’ Billy Baron is going win the MAAC’s Player of the Year award. (Basically the conference’s MVP.) There’s no shame in that assumption either. Baron is coming off a ridiculous 40-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist performance in willing Canisius to a 92-88 triple-overtime victory at Siena. Without the younger Baron the Golden Griffs would probably be lost. (Read CBS’ Jeff Borzello on Baron when you get the chance.) Baron has been on the court for almost 96% of Canisius’ possessions during MAAC play. His father (who is also his head coach) obviously thinks he’s extremely valuable, because Baron almost never comes off the court. But in a funny way that might hide some of Billy’s value.
One of the ways to measure value is how a team performs when a player is on and off the court. Yes, plus-minus certainly has its drawbacks (small sample sizes, weird interaction effects, etc.), but it can also be illuminating in the right contexts. I took 10 of the top players in the MAAC and figured out their team’s points per possession on offense and defense when they were both on and off the court and the calculated the pythagorean expectation in both situations. The difference might begin to quantify how valuable a player is on the court.
|Last||First||Team||Pythag In||Pythag Out||% Poss. In||Pythag Diff|
Baron (because he plays so much) suffers from a gigantic small sample size issue. I doubt the Griffs would really win just two games in the MAAC if he wasn’t present, but in the 50 possessions he hasn’t been on the court that’s how the team has played. At the bottom of the list, Niagara’s Antoine Mason faces a similar conundrum (77 possessions off the court). The cases aren’t as extreme for Iona’s Sean Armand (143 off) or Marvin Dominique of Saint Peter’s (177 off), but they aren’t exactly robust either. Still, this at least begins to approximate how good teams are with and without their star players.
One I’d like to point out? Manhattan’s George Beamon. The Jaspers’ super senior swingman missed part of MAAC play, which makes his sample sizes in both cases particularly robust, but when he’s on the court Manhattan is almost unstoppable, playing at the level of a team that wins 90% of its games (+18.5 points/100 possessions). All of that value comes on the defensive end. What? You thought that Beamon’s amazing ability to absorb 27% of MC’s possessions when he’s on the court with a 114.3 offensive rating was the key to the Jaspers’ success? Nope. It’s because when Beamon is able to roam in the press Manhattan’s defense goes from good to the college basketball equivalent of a black hole. MAAC opponents have scored 87 points per 100 possessions when Beamon is on the court. That’s insane. (It’s also because Beamon can do it while playing a huge role in the Jaspers’ offense.)
Another player that won’t get his due this season because he missed some time for an injury is Ousmane Drame. The Quinnipiac big man improves QU’s offense and defense by significant margins. So does Ike Azotam. Though overall the two conclusions taken in combination seem to say more about QU’s front court depth than anything else.
You might be wondering why Marvin Dominique is so low. The Fordham transfer has had a breakout season for the Peacocks, but the team has struggled defensively when he’s on the court. It’s odd too, because it seems to be entirely related to offensive rebounding. The Peacocks have given up 30% more offensive rebounds when Dominique is on the court even though he’s an excellent defensive rebounder. It makes little sense. (But I’m open to theories.)
Baron will probably win the MAAC’s Player of the Year, but it shouldn’t be because he plays a lot. It should be because coaches and media really think he’s the player no team could be without.
Luck: A force that brings good fortune or adversity
Let’s also spend a little time this week talking about luck. With just four games remaining in MAAC play there are a bunch of teams that are playing above or below their pythagorean expectation. Almost half the league are 0.95 wins above or below where efficiency margin expects. When you call it “luck” you bring all these silly connotations. All I really mean though is teams whose win totals are inconsistent with their overall quality of play.
Quinnipiac has been the greatest beneficiary (+1.7 wins), while teams at the bottom of the standings – namely Niagara (-1.0 wins) and Fairfield (-1.3 wins) – look worse because of some annoyingly close losses. Does this mean we could see some upsets during the MAAC tournament? Definitely. Is it guaranteed? Nope. All I’m trying to capture here is that there’s some discrepancies in the results and maybe QU isn’t the same quality as Manhattan or Canisius despite what the Bobcats’ record suggests.
- Best Team: Iona (0.14 efficiency margin)
- Worst Team: Fairfield (-0.12 efficiency margin)
- Best Offense: Iona (1.19 points scored per possession)
- Worst Offense: Saint Peter’s (0.95 points scored per possession)
- Best Defense: Manhattan (0.95 points allowed per possession)
- Worst Defense: Niagara (1.13 points allowed per possession)
- Luckiest Team: Quinnipiac (1.75 wins above expected)
- Unluckiest Team: Fairfield (1.27 wins below expected)


text:
One such example is the Bold Bets and Jackpot Journeys Casino Chronicles. This exclusive event takes place once a year and invites only the most daring gamblers from around the globe. Participants are treated like royalty from start to finish, as they embark on an extravagant journey that spans multiple countries and continents. The adventure begins with a private jet ride to Las Vegas, where participants will be greeted by their personal concierge who will cater to their every need throughout the trip. From there, they will be whisked away in luxurious limousines to some of Sin City’s most renowned casinos. Once in Las Vegas, participants will have access to high-limit tables and exclusive VIP lounges where they can make their boldest bets yet.
Whether it’s blackjack or roulette, poker or slots – all games are available for those willing to take risks that could change their lives forever. After spending several days in Las Vegas testing their luck at various casinos, participants will board another private jet bound for Monte Carlo – known as Europe’s playground for high-rollers. Here they’ll get a taste of old-world glamour as they try their hand at iconic European games like baccarat and chemin de fer. From Monte Carlo, the journey continues to Macau, the gambling capital of Asia. Here participants will experience the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of this city’s famous casinos while trying their luck at games like Sic Bo and Casino Bonus Fan Tan. The final leg of the jackpot journey takes participants to a secret location known only to those who have made it this far.
This undisclosed destination is rumored to be an exclusive island resort where even more extravagant gambling opportunities await. In the world of gambling, few things are as exhilarating as hitting a royal flush. The perfect combination of luck and skill, this hand is the ultimate triumph for any poker player. At The Royal Flush Casino, tales of these triumphant moments have become legendary. Located in the heart of Las Vegas, The Royal Flush Casino has earned its reputation as one of the most prestigious establishments in town. With its opulent décor and luxurious amenities, it attracts high rollers from around the globe who seek both excitement and exclusivity. One such tale involves James Thompson, a regular at The Royal Flush Casino known for his strategic prowess at the poker table.


text:
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease characterized by the infection of the joints. People experience great pains and stiffness and so they can even become incapable of getting around and of performing the simplest movements. Arthritis can take many forms and its causes are not yet clear. Patients must get a physician by all means in order to get an enough osteoarthritis treatment. This disease is a chronic one, so it doesn’t vanish entirely completely.
One can live with it his or hers entire life and the point of arthritis treatments is to offer alleviation also to alleviate the symptoms. Besides approved drugs for arthritis there are also natural treatments that patients can try. Taking man-made pills for the complete life is not at all a nice perspective; this is why many people try natural remedies. Arthritis treatments depending on herbs and essential oils include, Lavender and rosemary essential oil – They have a strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and they provide alleviation if massaged on the painful areas.
Degenerative Arthritis Meaning
As a result, arthritis is burning again. To go through life changes such as moving, death of a loved one, financial worries or even holidays obliges us to adapt, to change routine and to worry. . It is important to recognize when you are stressed and worried. Being aware of your body’s reaction will remind you to relax. What helps you to relax? Here are some suggestions of how to relax. Breathe slowly for two minutes.
A summary chart of surveillance of drug treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is included. While in some cases, lower doses of NSAIDs are effective, in rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, a higher dose is often required to decrease inflammation. A lower dose may initially be used if the inflammation is slight, if mechanical pain is the major problem, if the patient is elderly or if the patient suffers conditions that increase the risk of toxicity see below. If a particular preparation is ineffective after a 4-week trial or is not tolerated, another NSAID may be initiated.
On the surface of cells presenting the antigen. T cells recognize antigens as foreign and if they receive a second stimulus, they will become active, proliferate, point to inflamed sites, and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. , including TNF. One of the second important signals for T cell activation is mediated by the CD80 and CD86 molecules found on the antigen presenting cells and the CD28 molecule on the surface. T. abatacept is a fusion protein that combines the extracellular domain of the CTLA4 molecule CD154 with the Fc portion of a human immunoglobulin molecule.
The Pham / Wickline team was able to show that the peptide-siRNA nanocomplexes intravenously injected the inflamed joints of an RA mouse model, while the free siRNA, which has a half -your minutes, was unable to do it. Peptide-siRNA complexes have not been sequestered in “target-deficient” organs such as the liver or spleen, suggesting a targeted administration of siRNAs to the region of interest, the inflamed joint.
Avoiding repetitive movements over long periods may help, but repetitive movements are part of a job or a hobbyactivities, good training is important. If someone has a traumatic injury to a joint, they need medical care and rehabilitation to prevent further damage. Talk to a doctor about the proper use of ice, rest, heating pads, hot water bottles and hot tubs to treat any injury. Exercise programs to maintain muscle tone are helpful for managing osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis.
The anti-inflammatory effects of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis appear to be related at least in part to the interruption of adenosine and the possible effects on other inflammatory and immunoregulatory pathways. The immunosuppressive and toxic effects of methotrexate are due to the inhibition of an enzyme involved in the metabolism of folic acid, dihydrofolate reductase. The beginning of the action is visible from 4 to 6 weeks.
RA Medicine Hydro
But first, let’s take a look at the cause of arthritis. We once thought that arthritis was the result of usury – but more recent research shows that this is not the case. Researchers at Stanford University say that arthritis can be the result of low-grade chronic inflammation. In a nutshell, the immune system releases proteins that damage the joints – and these proteins also bind to the cartilage-producing cells in the joints, causing them to secrete even more damaging protections.
But chronic inflammation – the type of inflammation that persists for weeks, months, and even years – is the real culprit for most of the deadly health problems. inflammatory conditions in your dog. Researchers find that heart disease can be related to dental disease. Chronic bladder infections can lead to bladder cancer. And they find that low grade chronic inflammation is a major factor in joint degeneration.
Tofacitinib has already been marketed in the US for some time, but has recently been approved in the European Union. However, both treatment options contain methotrexate which, according to the NHS, causes a number of its own side effects. These include discomfort, loss of appetite, mouth pain, diarrhea, headaches and hair loss. Check out today’s front and back pages, download the newspaper, order past issues, and use the Daily Express’s historical archive.
Studies are currently underway concerning the practice of temporary administration of a biological DMARD in the presence of infection and the use of antibiotics. However, many practices in rheumatology follow this practice. In some clinical trials of TNF antagonists, lymphomas were more frequently observed in patients treated with TNF inhibitors than in the placebo group, but incidence rates do not appear to be significantly lower. Pass those reported in the PR population prior to the availability of TNF inhibitors.
What is the next step for this research to move to the bedside of the patient? A new company Trasir Therapeutics, Inc., St. Louis, MO was created to develop the nanoparticle delivery system for clinical trials in a number of diseases including inflammation, arthritis, cancer, atherosclerosis and kidney disease. What is the potential impact for patients and what other disorders could be affected? Up to one third of RA patients do not respond to conventional treatment.
These contain a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and a protective agent of the stomach, to prevent or treat the gastrointestinal side effects that can be caused by NSAIDs. Inhibitors of COX-2 block an inflammatory enzyme called COX-2. It was initially thought that this class of drugs worked as well as traditional NSAIDs, but with fewer stomach problems. However, many reports of heart attacks and cerebrovascular accidents have prompted the FDA to review the risks and benefits of COX-2 inhibitors.
MRI and ultrasound can show more information than an X-ray. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a liquid sample from a swollen joint for examination under the microscope and send the sample to the laboratory for analysis of white blood cells and other factors. Unfortunately, there is no cure for most forms of arthritis. The goal of treatment is to reduce the symptoms of pain and inflammation with exercise, physiotherapy and medication programs.
Psoriatic Arthritis Spondylitis
A Potential Pathway to a Remedy These combinations of drugs reduce virus levels so much that they can not be detected by lab tests, but we know that the virus is still there. It can persist at a latent stage in the immortal CD4 cells of the body, not multiplying, but ready to become active again if treatment is stopped. More than a million people in the United States live with HIV, so finding better treatments and even a cure are research priorities.
An oral gold compound Auranofin® is also available but its effectiveness is even more limited than that of injectable compounds. A number of mechanisms have been postulated, but how gold works in patients with rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown. Myochrysin or solganal therapy is started at 10 mg intramuscularly, 25 mg is then given in the second week, then 50 mg is administered weekly until a new response occurs or until a total of 1 g has been administered.
Your age and profession will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with you to create a treatment plan. If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the underlying cause of arthritis. However, sometimes the cause is not curable, as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, the goal of the treatment will be to reduce pain and discomfort and to prevent other disabilities.
Sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli, could be the key to preventing or slowing the progression of osteoarthritis, according to a study at the University of East Anglia. The researchers believe that it works by blocking the enzymes that cause joint damage. Basically, homemade chicken or meat broth contains minerals in forms that your body can easily absorb: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur and others.
If there is a favorable response, the treatment is reduced to 50 mg every 2 weeks for 3 months, then every 3 weeks for 3 months and finally to a monthly maintenance dose. No response after a total of 1g should be considered a therapeutic failure. The monthly gold should continue indefinitely. Effects are achieved within 4 to 6 months or after administration of 1 g of gold. Approximately 35% of patients on gold therapy experience side effects leading to discontinuation of treatment. Before each gold injection, patients must have a complete blood cell count and a urine test for the proteases.
People should discuss the safety of drinking with their doctor because the recommendations depend on a person’s medication and other health issues. See “Patient Education: Quit Smoking Beyond Basic Principles.” Measures to Reduce Bone Loss – Rheumatoid arthritis causes bone loss that can lead to OSTA oporose. Bone loss is more likely in inactive people. The use of glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, further increases the risk of bone loss, especially in menopausal women. See “Education of Patients: Bone Density Tests”. Several measures can minimize the bone loss associated with corticosteroids.
Patients receiving infused biological agents, including may develop a clinical syndrome ofr, chills, body aches and headaches associated with the infusion of biological products. Symptoms can often be reduced or avoided by slowing down the infusion rate, administration of diphenhydramine, acetaminophen and sometimes corticosteroids before infusion. Injection site reactions can be observed with injectable biologics.Remedies For Arthritis Toes

domain: biology


text:
this summer, Accent Decor had the honor of sponsoring the presentation of the British Academy of Floral Art
by providing resources and containers to help bring their vision to life on stage for those in attendance.
The wonderful ladies chose to walk the AIFD audience through the techniques, inspiration, methodology, and exploration of floral design through history and especially how it was represented in royal weddings.
Elizabethan Era – 16th Century wedding trends in floral design
While Queen Elizabeth I never married, Jo Jarvis, AIFD, found it necessary to start the presentation off in the 16th century as quite a few of the floral practices established then are still used today.
The pomander (or posy) shows up every now and then, especially as something a flower girl would carry, but during the 16th century, it was customary for brides to carry ones made of herbs. During a time of poor hygiene, the perfumed ball of plants would act as a personal air freshener.
Jo also mentioned that an updated take on the pomanders would be to take away the flowers we’re used to seeing today, and replace them with succulents as pictured above. In the end, a bride or bridesmaid would have a memento that keeps growing.
Elizabethan Wedding Details:
- love knots
- tussie mussies
- mystcal plant lore
Jo and her team also drew inspiration from botanicals and other natural elements to create woodland inspired bouquets and arrangements using the spherical influence that was popular in florals in the 16th century. Pictured below, Francoise Weeks shows off the pinecone details she used to line the bottom of a woodland-inspired bouquet.
Queen Victoria – Victorian wedding trends in floral design
The language of flowers was so important to the Victorians, and myrtle, a symbol of affection and duty, found favor with Queen Victoria. Since Victoria’s reign, a sprig of her myrtle has been tucked into the bride’s bouquet for every royal wedding and has been a popular tradition for British brides since.
Kathryn Delve chose to focus on myrtle as well as other popular Victorian flowers such as roses, Sweet William, Lace Ann, and carnations for her designs representing the time period of Queen Victoria’s reign.
To update floral trends popular during the Victorian era, Kathryn chose to focus on concentric circles, copper, and the ever-growing sub-culture Steampunk trend. She focused on modern flowers with victorian colors and her steampunk bouquet, pictured below, is bio degradable.
Queen Elizabeth II – 1920s Wedding Trends in Floral Design
The 1920s in Great Britain was an age of contrast. It was a time of liberation for women and opulence. It saw the dawn of the Flapper with her dropped waistline and cropped hair. But it also saw a time of recovering from the first world war unaware that another was just around the corner.
Aligned with this age of contrast, the floral world saw the emergence of Constance Spry a “rule breaker” known for giving us the wild, foraged look that’s very popular today. According to Amanda Randell MDPF, British Master,Constance Spry would build an arrangement using the established rules of line and form and then break the line, often by using a discord color.
(Shop the Princeton Urn
)When Queen Elizabeth II married, she had fabric flowers sewn onto her veil, but Amanda thought “why not fresh?” The veil below shows Amanda’s take on adding floral work to a cathedral veil.
1920s Wedding Details
- trailing ribbons
- historical techniques
- cathedral length veils
- Constance Spry
Princess Grace of Monaco – 1950s wedding trends in floral design
Tina Parks, AIFD, focused her part of the presentation on sharing that the 1950s bride started to lean away from carrying flowers directly in her hands, and leaned toward attaching them to an object as Grace Kelly did with Lily of the Valley tied upon her her prayer book.
Tina’s modern interpretation was to see the hands-free bouquet evolve into wearable flowers in the form of headdresses or collars.
1950s Wedding Details
Princess Diana – 1980s Wedding Trends in Floral Design
The 1980s saw a focus on romance and over-the-top details in a completely new way. Shower bouquets, made popular by Princess Diana’s own wedding bouquet, were the top choices for brides, and designer Julie Collins, MDPF British Master, took a foraged, wild turn with the classic 80s bouquet shape.
White flowers and yellow roses also reigned supreme and in a stunning reveal, Julie used our Enrich Vase to create the larger than life arrangement pictured above and below. It took seven people to carry the urn and lift it onto the stage, and Julie explained that they inserted a bucket inside the urn to house the arrangement since they simply couldn’t fill the entire container.
Do you have a modern take on historic wedding floral trends?
We want to see! If you have a floral arrangement or styled look inspired by a certain period in history, send your photos to email@example.com. Don’t forget the photographer’s name if you didn’t take it yourself. We’d love to share your work on Facebook and Instagram!
For more photos from the Academy of Floral Art Presentation at AIFD, check out AIFD’s photo gallery on Facebook!


Aspheric lenses are of increasing importance in compact imaging systems. New developments in production technologies have led to the so called wafer level production with several thousands of lenses on a single wafer. This high volume production demands fast testing equipment which allows for the characterization of complete imaging systems as well as of all of its single components. In most of the cases conventional methods cannot be used to measure single lenses or objectives in earlier production states. Although e.g. the measurement of the modulation transfer function is a well established method for fast and accurate quality inspection of entire objectives it has its limitation for single lenses. Due to its very large dynamic range the Shack-Hartmann sensor is able to measure a very broad range of spherical and aspherical lenses as well as partially or fully assembled objectives. With the combination of a fast high accuracy wavefront sensor and special positioning algorithms which allow for high throughput in mass production a new flexible instrument has been developed.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.


text:
|New CD release for 2019! Available soon!|
TANSMAN: Piano Works
Giorgio Koukl, piano
"It has been a pleasure to dig into the apparently
bottomless treasure of never-played works of Alexander Tansman.
A man of the world, yet bound with intimacy to his Polish origins,
to his Parisian world and most of all to his Jewish roots, he
was able to transform all these influences into something unique
far better than any other composer. Unjustly neglected for far
too long, his work is now on the rise and being rediscovered.
I am happy to contribute to this rediscovery with the hope it
will become a part of the piano repertoire."
Giorgio Koukl is a pianist/harpsichordist and composer who
resides in the beautiful town of Lugano, located in the italian-speaking
canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland. He was born in Prague,
Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) in 1953, and studied there at
the State Music School and Conservatoire.
In 1968 he moved to Switzerland and continued his
studies at both the Conservatories of Zürich and Milan (Italy).
During this time, he took part in the masterclasses of N. Magalov,
J. Fèvrier, R. Firkusny and S. Neuhaus.
Giorgio Koukl is the Prizewinner of many International
Music Competitions including those of Ciudad Ibaguè
(Colombia), Tolosa (Spain), Viotti (Italy), the H.Rahn
competition (Switzerland) and the Aliènor Competition
(Washington DC, USA).