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Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Number of Pages: 192
Width: 14.3 cm
Height: 22.4 cm
Acclaimed author of Summerwater and Ghost Wall, Sarah Moss is back with a sharply observed and darkly funny novel for our times. 'A tense page turner . . . I gulped The Fell down in one sitting' - Emma Donoghue 'Gripping, thoughtful and revelatory' - Paula Hawkins 'This slim, intense masterpiece is one of my best books of the year' - Rachel Joyce 'Her work is as close to perfect as a novelist's can be' The Times At dusk on a November evening in 2020 a woman slips out of her garden gate and turns up the hill. Kate is in the middle of a two-week quarantine period, but she just can't take it any more - the closeness of the air in her small house, the confinement. And anyway, the moor will be deserted at this time. Nobody need ever know. But Kate's neighbour Alice sees her leaving and Matt, Kate's son, soon realizes she's missing. And Kate, who planned only a quick solitary walk - a breath of open air - falls and badly injures herself. What began as a furtive walk has turned into a mountain rescue operation . . . Unbearably suspenseful, witty and wise, The Fell asks probing questions about the place the world has become since March 2020, and the place it was before. This novel is a story about compassion and kindness and what we must do to survive, and it will move you to tears. 'One of our very best contemporary novelists' - Independent
A slim, tense page turner that captures the weird melancholia of locked-down life but also the precious warmth of human connection. I gulped The Fell down in one sitting -- Emma Donoghue Carefully, affectingly and with emotional veracity, Moss opens out Alice's secrets along with everyone else's: the mortal fears, the losses, the mistakes. Moss writes so compassionately about human frailty while her own work is as close to perfect as a novelist's can be * The Times * With The Fell, Sarah Moss seems to have achieved the impossible: she has written a gripping, thoughtful and revelatory book about lockdown -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train A funny, savage novel * Guardian * Absorbing . . . ingeniously done . . there's an intoxicating flow to much of the writing . . . a humane, thoughtful reflection on the lockdown experience * Scotsman * The Fell reflects the lives we have been living for the last 18 months in a way no other writer has dared to do. There is wit, there is compassion, there is a tension that builds like a pressure cooker. This slim, intense masterpiece is one of my best books of the year -- Rachel Joyce A one-sitting read that's both thriller and stream of consciousness meditation on how Covid has changed our world . . . ambitious and immersive * Red * Moss is strong on pastoral lyricism, and her characteristic humour is as piercing here as in her previous novels . . . The Fell eloquently explores many of the big issues we have been facing since March 2020 * The Times * A masterfully tense, deeply empathetic novel about lives stilled and re-examined, and the uncertainty and danger of the world that surrounds them. I was completely riveted by the central questions of its narrative, and by its tender, insightful exploration of the times we are living through -- Megan Hunter, author of The End We Start From Again and again, and always with steely precision, Moss has mined both the circumstances and the consequences of isolation . . . one of the very best British novelists writing today about contemporary life - if anyone can justify writing a pandemic novel, she's the woman for the job * Daily Telegraph * She conjures the fretful confinement of the pandemic with colossal skill . . . deft and evocative . . . the operation to rescue Kate is nail-biting. There are also scenes of unbearable poignancy . . . shrewd and moving * i * The pandemic is spawning some fine writing, and this helter-skelter novel by Moss is one of the best yet. The book captures both the paranoia of the times and the kindness of strangers -- Mail on Sunday The novel's chief achievement is the way it calcifies a specific moment in recent history . . . Moss perfectly simulates the stifling psychological confinement and ennui of locked-down life . . . Moss writes evocatively of the stark beauty of the countryside . . . a neat, atmospheric novel * Literary Review * [The Fell] leaves the reader on tenterhooks as the story builds to its conclusion. Moss perfectly captures Kate and Alice's self-isolation-induced claustrophobia . . . Some readers might not want to immerse themselves in the cabin fever of early lockdown so soon after living through it, but Moss makes a strong case for social connection being as important as our physical health for survival * Daily Mirror * Moss steps into other people's shoes with impressive ease. Her prose is clear, low-key and compelling, its power incremental . . . The Fell is about the hazards that lurk at the edges of life. Feelingly, but without sentimentality, Moss explores what happens when you find yourself teetering on the precipice * Herald * The Fell is very much a novel of our time . . . it takes note of the moment, and captures what seemed unimaginable even a year before it was set. But it also offers hope . . . there may be a time when what is described here is, indeed, in the past, and a novel like The Fell will help us to remember * Church Times * It seems ever more important that fiction acknowledge the truths the pandemic has revealed to us: how connected we all are, and how much we fear one another * Guardian * Moss is brilliant at creating a feeling of mounting peril . . . Her humour is so black it's treacly She's also one of our best writers on the natural world . . . [The Fell] confirms that Sarah Moss is a writer of remarkable power, control and deftness. She's funny, observant and very much of the moment * Oldie *


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Poker is an international card game that has been played for centuries. It is now one of the world’s most popular forms of gambling, and has become a highly competitive sport for people from all walks of life.
It is not an easy skill to master, but it can be a rewarding experience if you are willing to work at it. The skills required to play well are a combination of strategy, patience, and tenacity.
Read Your Enemy
Poker players learn to read other players by watching their behavior. They pay attention to how many times they call or raise a bet, what their stack looks like, and how often they fold. These patterns can help you determine if they are playing a good hand or not, and whether they have been bluffing or not.
They also develop the ability to calculate the odds of their cards remaining in the deck, and how those odds stack up against the other players’ hands. Those calculations are essential to understanding the odds of winning and losing, and they’re vital for making informed decisions.
Calculate the Odds of a Hand
Poker requires players to quickly and efficiently calculate the odds of their hand, especially when deciding what to bet. This is a critical skill that allows them to make informed decisions in any situation, and it’s not something that many people have the skill to do.
The ability to focus for long periods of time is a major skill that’s necessary for success in a variety of areas, and poker improves this aspect of a player’s mental state. Successful poker players have a longer attention span than average, and this is primarily due to the fact that they are constantly concentrating on several different aspects of the game.
Understand the Rules
Poker is a card game that’s played with a standard deck of 52 cards. These cards are ranked from high to low, and they have four suits. A player’s hand is valued based on its rank and sequence, with the highest card winning.
There are a number of variations on the basic rules, but most use the same cards and a single round of betting. Some games have jokers, which are wild cards that can take on any suit and rank.
Identify Your Strategy
A lot of poker players have written books about their strategies, but developing your own approach to the game is the key to success. A good player takes the time to carefully examine their results and come up with a strategy that works for them.
Be Tough on Bad Beats
Getting dealt bad hands doesn’t necessarily spell doom for a player, but it’s important to be tough on yourself when you get beaten. Phil Ivey is a great example of someone who has a positive reaction to bad beats and never gets upset over them, and this can be a big advantage in poker.
Ultimately, it’s the ability to be tough on yourself that will allow you to win at poker. It will also help you become a better person in the long run, because you’ll have a stronger perspective on failure and know how to deal with it in an empathetic manner.

domain: hobby


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As the age of cell phone number portability begins, the City of New York has released its Mobile Phone Reception Problems report. First off, the city has this caveat:
Additionally, the city makes many caveats, like "The data is not the product of a scientific survey. All data was self-reported. Individuals were able to submit anonymous reports. Individuals were able to submit multiple reports concerning the same location(s). The City of New York has not independently verified the existence of actual service problems at the reported locations.
You can see the Density of Reported Mobile Phone Problems, and naturally, the most problems seem to be in the areas that are densely populated - both residentially and commercially. The other part is the Mobile Phone Problem Report, which looks at problem areas carrier by carrier. Overall, most carriers seem to have many problems areas, except for Cingular (report here), which might be a result of less market penetration leading to less reporting of their problems. And, of course, people who have problem with service are more likely to report them than those who are content wtih service. Other carriers surveyed: ATT (report), Nextel (report), Sprint PCS (report), T-Mobile (report), and Verizon (report),

domain: geography


Suing agencies for violation of First Amendment rights
Oct 30, 2013
Back in August Infowars and Ben Swann broke the story of the NSA threatening online t-shirt makers because users of their sites were creating parody shirts denouncing the agency and selling them on the internet. Now one t-shirt designer, who was specifically targeted is suing both the NSA and The Department of Homeland Security, for violating his First Amendment rights.
Dan McCall, who created several t-shirts on the website Zazzle that featured parodies of the NSA’s logo, has filed for declaratory relief, following the NSA’s admission that it sent cease and desist letters on the grounds that “misusing” the logo constituted copyright infringement. McCall, with the help of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, is also suing the DHS for sending similar letters claiming it is against the law to modify any seal of the US government.
McCall created the following designs, among others, mocking the government agencies:
“In response to the threatening communications from NSA and DHS raising intellectual property claims, Zazzle removed the NSA Spying Parody, the NSA Listens Parody, and the Homeland Stupidity Parody from McCall’s Zazzle store,” McCall says in the complaint.
His lawsuit further states:
Defendants violated the First Amendment to the United States Constitution by threatening to enforce 50 U.S.C. § 3613 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 506, 701, and 1017 to forbid McCall from displaying his NSA Listens Parody, his NSA Spying Parody, and his DHS Stupidity Parody, from placing the Parodies on products to identify the targets of his criticism, or from selling mugs, T-shirts or other items bearing those designs to customers who want to display the items to express their own criticisms of NSA and DHS.
The lawsuit also argues that the law regarding modifying US seals is unconstitutional, because it is too broad and infringes on freedom of speech.
The lawsuit states that it is obvious that the products in question are not created by the government agencies and are in no way affiliated with them. The NSA even admitted this recently, reversing its stance and saying that that it no longer had a problem with the parody products.
“[The] use of images of the NSA and DHS seals, whether unaltered but in combination with critical text, or altered in parodic form, did not create any likelihood of confusion about the source or sponsorship of the materials on which they were available to be printed.” the complaint notes. “No reasonable viewer is likely to believe that any of the materials is affiliated with or sponsored by defendants. Nor were the seals affixed to the items to be sold with any fraudulent intent.”
“The agencies’ attempts to forbid McCall from displaying and selling his merchandise are inconsistent with the First Amendment,” said Paul Alan Levy, the attorney handling the case. “It’s bad enough that these agencies have us under constant surveillance, (but) forbidding citizens from criticizing them is beyond the pale.”
In a blog post yesterday, Levy also criticized Zazzle for capitulating to the NSA, accepting overly broad claims from the government, and setting a precedent for taking down products in the future.
“Consumers have a right to expect companies like Zazzle to have a thicker skin when faced with preposterous demands, and to wait for specific trademark challenges, rather than policing its service…”
“Happily, Zazzle faces commercial competition from others that do get tough on frivolous threats.” Levy adds, referring to CafePress.com, which still carries the designs.
“Until Zazzle shows itself to be more energetic in responding to threats against political humor, parodists speaking about controversial subjects should consider voting with their feet by using other vendors.” Levy concludes.
McCall is also still selling the items on his own website, with the slogan: “Get the T-shirts the NSA & DHS Don’t Want You to Wear!”
The Obama administration is increasingly characterizing copyright infringement as terrorism, with SWAT teams now being sent out to deal with alleged copyright infringers. Critics have noted that the process is about creating a history of case law to establish the precedent of stamping out free speech via copyright claims.
Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor for Alex Jones’ Infowars.com, and Prisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham, and a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Literature and Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University.


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Cost of living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States vs Aveiro, Portugal
|Personal Care||+ 34%|
This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 289 prices entered by 41 different people.
These prices were last updated on August 11, 2020. Exchange rate: 0.851 EUR / USD
Do you live in Aveiro? We need your help!
Cost of living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (United States) is 56% more expensive than in Aveiro (Portugal)
For example, you would need at least €2,811 ($3,302) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with €1,800 in Aveiro.
Prices recently added
- Public transport in New York City costs $127 (6 minutes ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Montevideo costs $U35,000 (about 1 hour ago)
- Monthly rent - 900 sqft furnished accommodation in expensive area in Coimbatore costs ₨15,248 (about 2 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 900 sqft furnished accommodation in expensive area in Berkeley, California costs $3,253 (about 2 hours ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Las Vegas, Nevada costs $12 (about 2 hours ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Algiers costs 500 Dinar (about 2 hours ago)

domain: finance


Posted on September 8, 2022
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
On August 29th, Republican members of the Appropriations, Energy, and Human Services committees proposed an amendment to supplement $79.2 million in expected federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to increase total home energy assistance to $191.5 million. The amendment, however, was not entertained by the majority party and rejected on procedural grounds.
As a result, millions of dollars in potential relief was left on the table.
To overcome procedural hurdles, our caucuses are now calling for a special session to reallocate un-spent federal ARPA dollars that are currently sitting in an account at the Department of Economic and Community Development.
While the debate over additional funding is ongoing, the application period has opened:
The application period for the 2022-2023 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) will begin on September 1, 2022. The program helps Connecticut residents – including both homeowners and renters – with the costs associated with heating their homes.
Basic benefits toward heating bills are around $400 for the season but can be significantly higher depending on the household’s income and number of family members. Benefits are available for households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income, which equates to roughly $76,400 for a family of four. These benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for multiple free tank fills.
Applications for the 2022-2023 winter season must be received by May 31, 2023. Additional information can be obtained by visiting ct.gov/heatinghelp or calling 2-1-1.


Driving signal for each amplitude level.
Diabetic neuropathy (DPN) is asymptomatic in its early phases but can cause serious complications as it progresses. Most DPN tests are cumbersome and produce only qualitative assessments, and simpler approaches that yield quantitative results are needed. Techniques that allow patients to perform examinations themselves would be especially valuable. In this study, we focused on quantifying the decline in tactile sensation associated with DPN and developed a measurement device that used a thin shape memory alloy (SMA) wire as the actuator. An ON/OFF pulse current caused the wire to shrink and expand. This vibration was amplified by a round-headed pin, allowing even DPN patients with reduced tactile sensitivity to detect the stimuli generated when lightly touching the pin with their fingertips. The tactile stimuli were ranked into 30 levels of intensity. A key advantage of the device is that it can be used by patients themselves, returning quantified results within minutes. Although developed for DPN, the method can be applied to the detection of peripheral neuropathy in general.
- shape memory alloy actuator
- tactile application
- quantitative tactile examination
- early detection
In this chapter, we introduce a quantitative tactile examination device using shape memory actuators and discuss previous work by the authors on the use of such a system for the early detection of diabetic neuropathy (DPN) [1, 2, 3]. We consider the range of potential applications and the future potential of this technology.
We have conducted a number of studies on tactile sense-presentation technology that applies micro-vibrations using thin shape memory alloys (SMA) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. The SMA allows for a compact device that consumes little power and causes no pain to patients.
Tactile-stimulus diagnostic techniques, such as the technique reported in this study, may be possible with other actuators such as small motors [12, 13], piezoelectric actuators , or pneumatic actuators . However, each of these technologies requires large electromagnetic devices that require more power than that provided by a portable battery.
Piezoelectric actuators need a driving voltage of the order of several tens of volts, and their inclusion of mechanical parts makes their application in portable devices difficult .
Our tactile-stimulus presentation technology that uses a thin SMA avoids the problems of size and power consumption. The present iteration of the device can be driven with a small battery [2, 3, 5, 6, 7].
Quantitative diagnosis of DPN at present requires a machine costing at least several million yen and larger than 1 m on a side, such as nerve-conduction studies. Equipment for these tests, in addition to being cumbersome and expensive, requires skilled technicians for its operation.
Some patients refuse a second examination because nerve conduction studies and electromyography studies can be quite painful. Many asymptomatic diabetes patients are left untreated because of the cost, difficulty, and pain caused by the current methods for quantitative diagnosis of the neurological effects of diabetes.
In previous studies [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7], we have developed a range of simple, quantitative, and painless examination methods that use SMA, and the present study summarizes those studies and discusses future prospects.
A wide range of conditions contribute to hypoesthesia and/or peripheral nervous disorders, including the administration of anticancer drugs, DPN, vitamin deficiency, vasculitis, polyneuropathy, depression, alcohol dependence, infection, and uremia. However, the progress of the condition is generally slow, and most sufferers are initially unaware of its presence .
Peripheral neuropathy tests can be divided into two main types. The first is qualitative and includes the Achilles tendon reflex/vibration test. The second is nerve conduction studies (NCS), which involve complex and painful invasive examinations but provide quantified diagnoses. Both types require medical expertise and judgment and must be conducted by a healthcare professional. Patients have no access to their test results, making them less likely to seek treatment.
Approximately, half of all patients with diabetes contract asymptomatic neuropathy . As the causes of neuropathy are not limited to diabetes mellitus, it is assumed that there are many more asymptomatic neuropathy sufferers. Currently, patients are unable to perceive the condition themselves, and no simple quantification scale is available. Even patients whose condition is treatable may be unaware of its presence and therefore fail to seek treatment.
A simple method for quantitative detection of the asymptomatic condition is therefore needed. By combining medicine and engineering, we developed a quantitative tactile examination device based on detecting the decline in tactile sensation.
The initial study targeted diabetes patients whose condition was associated with deterioration in sensation. The tactile sensation of diabetic patients was found to be lower than that of normal subjects [1, 2] and that of diabetic patients who were not conscious of the decline to be still lower .
2. Tactile sensation and diabetic neuropathy
The sense of touch relies on four main tactile receptors in the skin: the Meissner’s corpuscle, Merkel disc, Ruffini ending, and Pacinian corpuscle. As shown in Figure 1, Merkel discs are located in the epidermis and are approximately 10 μm in diameter. They are used to sense pressure and texture. Meissner’s corpuscles are primarily located immediately below the epidermis and are between 30 and 140 μm in length and 40–60 μm in diameter. They are used to sense stroking and fluttering. Ruffini endings are also located in the dermis, have a length of approximately 0.5–2 mm, and are used for the sense stretching of the skin. Pacini corpuscles are located in the subcutis and are approximately 0.5–2 mm in length and 0.7 mm in diameter. Based on their response speed and size, the receptors are given four labels: fast adapting I and II (FA I and FA II) and slow adapting I and II (SA I and SA II).
The receptors are present at different densities in different regions of the human body. Figure 2  shows the innervation density in the hand, which is where most human tactile recognition takes place. Receptors are particularly dense in the fingers and especially in the tips. Human fingers are therefore sensitive to a range of stimuli. The response of the receptors is closely related to nervous system activity, and the tips of the fingers are therefore also densely supplied with capillary vessels. When a diabetic condition restricts the blood flow in the capillary vessels or destroys them, sensitivity to tactile sensations is restricted. Most diabetes patients, even at an early stage of the disease, have reduced sensitivity to tactile sensations in the fingers and feet. The extent of the decline is a measure of the progress of the condition.
Diabetic neuropathy (DPN) is caused by the degradation of axons in peripheral nerves, which decrease nerve function in slow progression. The rate of degeneration depends on the ability of the patients to control their glycemic index; thus, it varies with each individual. Nerves are distributed throughout the body and vary in function. For that reason, neurological diagnostic methods vary depending on the parts and functions of the nerve distributed, thus making uniform standards difficult to formulate. For example, in the event of dysuria arising from DPN, the patient may consult a urologist. However, a patient who feels discomfort or numbness in the sole of the foot owing to DPN may consult an orthopedist, and both patients may not consult a diabetes specialist until their condition has degraded significantly. DPN presents a variety of symptoms that patients are likely to consult a range of specialists for the same underlying condition. Diagnosis of DPN is so complicated and time-consuming that even many diabetes specialists are not equipped for quantitative studies.
Neuropathy can also be caused by other diseases, but DPN is distinguished by a few symptoms.
DPN presents diffuse neuropathy, with bilateral symmetry. The nerve failure is focused on sensory functions, and DPN tends to progress from peripheral nerves inward.
While examining patients with multiple neuropathy-causing conditions, the underlying cause of any symptom is very difficult to distinguish, with any diagnostic method; thus, this chapter focuses on tactile anomalies and tactile reduction among the neurological abnormalities that could indicate DPN.
To confirm and diagnose the specific form of neuropathy that a patient has developed, an affected nerve must be biopsied from the patient, but this procedure is generally too invasive for the degree of suffering a patient is experiencing. Instead, clinicians administer a series of tests to collate a program similar to quantitative diagnosis and treatment program.
Our tactile test method stimulates the following four main tactile receptors in the skin: the Meissner’s corpuscle, the Merkel disc, the Ruffini ending, and the Pacinian corpuscle. Though it may also stimulate other receptors, this device clearly provides a tactile stimulus that at least stimulates the haptic receptors. Precise diagnostic methods require the application of electric current to a patient’s nervous system and measuring response. These tests are painful, while our haptic stimulator causes no pain at all. We have not performed biopsy studies to conclusively demonstrate to diagnoses pathologically confirmed with DPN. But we have shown that the device can quickly, inexpensively, and painlessly assess a patient’s tactile response with novel technology in some clinical studies [1, 2, 3].
In this study, a tactile device was developed that presented present a range of tactile stimuli to the fingers of a subject and then measured the response from the driving parameters of the tactile actuators.
3. Design of the measurement device
3.1. A compact SMA actuator to generate micro-vibrations
To generate the physical stimuli, an SMA wire was employed. Within the typical operating temperature range, SMA has two phases, each with a different crystal structure and therefore different properties. The first is a high-temperature phase, called the Austenite phase, and the second a low-temperature phase, called the Martensite phase. When the temperature exceeds a critical threshold (70°C), the SMA alternates between the two phases, causing the crystal structure, and therefore the shape of the SMA, to change. SMA has been widely used in actuation and sensing applications and in the aerospace, automotive, and biomedical sectors.
When SMA is formed into a thin wire, its length originally 3 mm at a low-temperature phase will change at a known temperature. In the current study, the SMA wire (Toki Corp., BioMetal, BMF75) was used to create a compact actuator, the characteristics of which are shown in Figure 3. When the temperature of an SMA wire passes T1 (68°C), the wire begins to shrink up to 5% lengthwise at the temperature T2, reaching a minimum at T2 (73°C). As the temperature is reduced, the wire gradually returns to its initial length.
As the alloy has an electrical resistance of 0.6 ohms per 1 mm, its length can be controlled by supplying a pulse current. This instantaneously increases the temperature, shrinking the wire. When the pulse current is halted, the body instantly cools, returning to its initial length. The shrinkage and return are fully synchronized with the ON/OFF pulse current, as shown in Figure 4. The magnitude of the vibration created can be precisely controlled by the amplitude of the pulse signal H and the duty ratio W/L. For an efficient operation, the SMA temperature must be maintained within the range T1–T2. In our design, a pulse-width modulated (PWM) rectangular wave signal with an arbitrary frequency, amplitude, and duty ratio is generated by a PC and is then amplified to drive the SMA actuator. The amplifier drives the SMA actuator at frequencies up to 300 Hz. The voltage amplitude is variable and controlled by the current. According to the measurement results of our research so far, the SMA wire shrinks by ~2 μm at the maximum according to the duty ratio of the pulse current. Therefore, according to the duty ratio, the overall length of the SMA wire was observed to be shrinking from 0.1 to 2 μm. The detailed driving pulse signal for each amplitude level of vibration is shown in Table 1 .
|Amplitude level||W [ms]||L [ms]||H [V]|
While most SMAs have a slow response time, the BMF75 wire with a diameter of 75 μm can respond within less than 1 ms and was used to create the compact vibration actuator.
The subject only touches the actuator lightly to eliminate the disturbance of the actuator due to the skin reaction force.
The vibration stimulus generated by the SMA wire is transmitted to the subject through the round-head pin (Figure 5) described below. The pin actually touched by the subject is shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the test equipment is shaped in a manner such that the subject can lightly touch the middle and index fingers on the pin array.
Tests were conducted at room temperature, 20–30°C, controlled by air conditioning. We did not use any electromagnetic shielding as the actuator will need to function in unshielded clinical settings.
3.2. Vibration actuator with a round-head pin
To make the actuator usable for tactile screening of diabetes, the micro-vibration generated by the SMA wire required amplification. A round-headed pin was therefore fixed at the center of the SMA wire, transforming the movement of the SMA wire into vibration. As shown in Figure 5, the actuator comprised an SMA wire, 75 μm in diameter and 3 mm in length, and a round-headed pin, 1.4 mm in diameter and 3 mm in length.
Shrinking and expansion of the SMA wire was continuously synchronized by the ON/OFF pulse current. This induced vibration in the round-headed pin, allowing even diabetic patients with reduced tactile sensitivity to recognize the tactile stimuli when the vibration pins were brought into light contact with the fingertips.
3.3. Tactile display for the detection of diabetes mellitus
As shown in Figure 6, eight actuators were arranged as arrays. Two of these made up the tactile presentation area. The patient placed the index and middle fingers on these in such a way that the tips of two fingers were in contact with the array.
The presentation of vibratory stimuli makes use of higher-level tactile perceptual processes . The pins in each array were driven by the pulse current signals with a time delay, as shown in Figure 7. This was expected to create an apparent perception of movement and the subject to experience a vibrating object moving from Ch. 1 (fingertip) to Ch. 8 (the second finger joint). The apparent movement of the stimuli could be controlled by varying the time delay of the pins.
To confirm that perception of apparent movement could be generated, a pilot study was run, using three healthy subjects, in which the frequencies and the amplitudes were varied using different time delays. Based on the results, the amplitude of the vibrations was divided into 30 levels. The lowest amplitude represented a stimulus that was difficult for healthy people with normal tactile sensitivity to perceive, while the strongest could be perceived even by a diabetic subject with severely compromised tactile sensitivity.
As shown in Figure 4, the amplitude of vibration was controlled by selecting the parameters W [ms]: pulse width, L [ms]: period, and H [V]: amplitude. These parameter values were carefully selected to allow the vibration to be increased linearly from level 1 to 30 (Table 1).
To examine the lowest threshold of tactile sensitivity of the index and middle fingers, a tactile sensation threshold (TST) score or peripheral neuropathy vibration (PNV) score were used. The subject was asked to place the index and middle fingers on the pin arrays. Tactile stimuli were then presented at different frequencies and amplitudes and in randomized directions. Using “yes” or “no” responses, the system measured the threshold of tactile perception and its relationship to the severity of attenuation. We named our proposed method the finger method.
3.4. Experimental procedures for detection by diabetes mellitus subjects based on tactile sensation threshold scores
Three different procedures were performed. In the first, tactile stimuli were presented to both fingers simultaneously, in a single direction starting at the fingertips (Pattern 6 in Figure 8). Subjects were asked if they had perceived the stimuli. This procedure is known as the tactile sensation threshold 1 direction test (TST-1) or PNV 1 direction test (PNV 1) and was used to investigate the perception of tactile stimuli in two fingers. In the second procedure, a moving stimulus was presented to one of the two fingers in a random direction, and the subject was asked to identify both the finger and the direction of movement. In this procedure, known as the tactile sensation threshold 4 direction test (TST-4) or PNV 4 direction test (PNV 4), the subject was asked to identify the tactile perception as matching one of the four patterns shown in Figure 8. In the third procedure, known as the tactile sensation threshold 8 direction test (TST-8) or PNV 8 direction test (PNV 8), stimuli moving in random directions were applied to one or both fingers, and the subject was asked to match the finger(s) and direction of movement with one of the same eight patterns.
In all procedures, the examination began at a stimulus intensity of 15. Based on the accuracy of the answer given, the next round started at an intensity of 22 or 7.
Again, based on the accuracy of the answer given, in the next round, a stimulus intensity of 26, 19, 11, or 4 was presented to the subject. The stimulus intensity was then changed until the subject gave a correct answer 66.7% or more of the time. This TST score or PNV score was defined as the tactile threshold. The value for the tactile threshold was defined as the lowest value among the 30-stage stimulus intensity in which subjects were able to correctly answer more than 66.7%.
To reduce the examination time as much as possible, we applied a protocol to stimuli levels in 30 successive stages.
In our preliminary research on healthy subjects, we gradually increased the stimuli intensity from the weakest stimulus to the strongest. Inspecting patients with obvious neurological disorders in this fashion leads to patient fatigue and boredom, and we cannot expect to see any response for the weakest stimuli. Therefore, we developed a protocol to shorten the inspection time. We began examining all subjects at the middle stimulus intensity of 15. The test stimulus was presented to the subject two or three times. Only subjects who correctly answered 66.7% or more with the test stimulus, that is, examinees who correctly answered at least twice, are next presented with stimulus intensity of 7, which is halfway between the minimum and middle intensities. Subjects who do not detect a stimulus at intensity 15 are presented next with a stimulus intensity of 22. This process significantly reduces the time needed to determine a subject’s reaction threshold. Ultimately, the lowest stimulus intensity that was detected more than two-thirds of the presented intensity was defined as the tactile threshold for that subject.
4. Verification of early detection of DPN
4.1. Pilot study to confirm tactile reduction in long-term diabetic patients
The device was first used in a pilot study of 15 diabetic patients with a long history of treatment, and a significant decrease in tactile sensation compared with healthy subjects was confirmed .
4.2. Validation of DPN evaluation for diabetic patients
The device was next used to validate the evaluation of DPN in diabetic patients . Based on the criteria  for diagnosis of DPN provided by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), tactile sensation was quantified, and a comparison was made of patients with and without DPN. A significant reduction in tactile sensitivity was confirmed in the DPN group.
The goal of this part of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method in diagnosing DPN.
A cross-sectional study was conducted of 52 type 2 diabetic outpatients. Patients were evaluated for DPN using the ADA criteria, the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), and our proposed finger method. Patients were assigned to probable DPN or non-DPN groups, based on the ADA criteria. The finger method was used to produce a PNV score from the index and middle fingers, using the three procedures introduced above: PNV 1, PNV 4, and PNV 8. The scores ranged from 1 to 30, and comparisons were made between the two groups.
The PNV scores of the DPN group were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The PNV scores for the right fingers of the DPN and non-DPN groups were 10.2 ± 7.4 and 3.4 ± 3.3 in PNV 1, 20 ± 4.9 and 10.7 ± 5.3 in PNV 4, and 23.2 ± 4.9 and 14.6 ± 7.8 in PNV 8, respectively (Table 2).
|Non-DPN group (N = 21)||DPN group (N = 31)||P-value|
|Neuropathic symptoms (%)||2 (9.5%)||15 (48.4%)||0.003†|
|MNSI-Q score||1 ± 0.8||2.1 ± 2||0.017*|
|MNSI-E score||1 ± 0.5||2.9 ± 1.3||<0.001*|
|Abnormal MNSI score (%)||0 (0%)||20 (64.5%)|
|PNV 1 left||4.1 ± 5||9.7 ± 7.2||<0.001*|
|PNV 1 right||3.4 ± 3.3||10.2 ± 7.4||0.004*|
|PNV 4 left||12.6 ± 6.3||20.4 ± 4.8||<0.001*|
|PNV 4 right||10.7 ± 5.3||20 ± 4.9||<0.001*|
|PNV 8 left||16 ± 7.3 (n = 19)||25.1 ± 3.9 (n = 30)||<0.001*|
|PNV 8 right||14.6 ± 7.8 (n = 19)||23.2 ± 4.9 (n = 30)||<0.001*|
Overall, the tactile threshold of the DPN group was higher than that of the non-DPN group.
The results suggested that the finger method, performed using the proposed device, can be used to evaluate DPN.
4.3. Detection of a decrease in asymptomatic tactile sensation in diabetic patients
Next, a comparison was made of the tactile sensitivity of 31 asymptomatic DPN patients and 32 healthy volunteers. The results confirmed that the asymptomatic DPN patients exhibited a significant reduction in sensitivity .
This part of the study focused on the asymptomatic development of decreased sensation, associated with diabetes mellitus. The goals were to investigate the use of the quantitative tactile sensation measurement device to examine diabetic patients who were unaware of abnormal or decreased sensation and to determine whether tactile sensation is reduced in asymptomatic patients. A group of healthy controls was recruited, and the finger method was used to measure the TST score of the index and middle fingers in the three procedures TST-1, TST-4, and TST-8. The TST scores ranged from 1 to 30, and a comparison was made between the two groups. The TST scores of the diabetic patients were significantly higher (P < 0.05). The TST scores for the left fingers of the diabetic patients and healthy controls were 5.9 ± 6.2 and 2.7 ± 2.9 in TST-1, 15.3 ± 7.0 and 8.7 ± 6.4 in TST-4, and 19.3 ± 7.8 and 12.7 ± 9.1 in TST-8, respectively (Table 3).
|Test conditions||Healthy controls (N = 32)||Asymptomatic diabetic patients (N = 31)||P-value|
|TST-1 for left fingers||2.7 ± 2.9||5.9 ± 6.2||0.025|
|TST-1 for right fingers||2.9 ± 3.5||4.7 ± 5.2||0.160|
|TST-4 for left fingers||8.7 ± 6.4||15.3 ± 7.0||<0.001|
|TST-4 for right fingers||8.4 ± 6.7||13.9 ± 7.2||0.002|
|TST-8 for left fingers||12.7 ± 9.1||19.3 ± 7.8||0.005|
|TST-8 for right fingers||12.1 ± 8.9||17.3 ± 7.9||0.009|
Overall, the tactile threshold of the fingers of asymptomatic DPN patients was shown to be higher than that of the healthy controls.
The results suggested that the quantitative tactile sensation measurement device was able to detect a decrease in tactile sensation in diabetic patients who were themselves unaware of abnormal or decreased sensitivity.
4.4. Summary of the three previous studies
In this section, we summarize the results of the three tests performed on the quantitative tactile examination device. The instrument was demonstrated to be capable of quantitative evaluation of the reduction in tactile sensitivity (or increase in tactile threshold) of patients with DPN. The instrument was also able to distinguish between patients with DPN and non-DPN. Finally, the tactile sensitivity of asymptomatic DPN patients was shown to be lower than that of healthy subjects.
This suggests that the device can be used to distinguish the different stages of DPN.
Although the tests involved a relatively small number of subjects, they suggested that a decrease in tactile sensitivity was present in patients with both severe and mild DPN (Figure 9).
4.5. Statistical revalidation using propensity score
To examine whether significance could be added to the TST score by adjusting to reflect the patient’s background, a propensity score was derived.
In a cross-sectional study, the novel micro-vibration actuator with shape memory alloy wires was used to measure the tactile sensations of 68 type-2 diabetic outpatients and 89 healthy controls. Patients were again evaluated using the ADA criteria , the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) , and the TST scores for the index and middle fingers. Patients were classified as probable DPN (n = 31) or non-DPN (n = 37) using the ADA criteria and as symptomatic (n = 26) or asymptomatic (n = 42) using the MNSI. Propensity score weighting was applied to compare the scores of each patient group with that of the control group.
The mean time for determining the TST score was approximately 3 min/patient for all groups. The TST score of every patient group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). The right finger scores of the DPN, non-DPN, symptomatic, asymptomatic, and control groups were 20.1 ± 4.9, 11.7 ± 5.1, 19.4 ± 4.5, 15.7 ± 6.9, and 6.5 ± 5.7, respectively. This gave P values of 0.00 for DPN, 0.198 for non-DPN, 0.002 for symptomatic, and 0.025 for asymptomatic.
The results confirmed that our novel device provides simple quantitative evaluation of tactile sensation in diabetic patients, facilitating the early detection of asymptomatic DPN.
5. Comparison with other DPN evaluation techniques
In this section, we first describe the diagnostic criteria for DPN and give an outline of representative evaluation methods. Next, we roughly classify these nerve conduction studies as qualitative or quantitative and compare them. Finally, we discuss the difference between these quantitative tests and our proposed method.
5.1. Diagnostic criteria and representative examination methods for diabetic neuropathy
No specific tests for DPN currently exist and nor are diagnostic criteria reflecting an internationally established consensus available. It is therefore necessary to base comprehensive diagnoses of neuropathy on neurological symptoms and the results of examinations. The diagnostic criteria (Table 4)  of the A DA are used in daily clinical practice.
|Possible DSPN||The symptoms or signs of DSPN may include the following. Symptoms: decreased sensation, positive neuropathic sensory symptoms (e.g., “asleep numbness,” prickling or stabbing, burning, or aching pain) mainly in the toes, feet, or legs. Signs: symmetric decrease in distal sensation or unequivocally decreased or absent ankle reflexes||Clinical use|
|Probable DSPN||The combination of any or two or more of the following symptoms and signs: neuropathic symptoms, decreased distal sensation, or unequivocally decreased, or absent ankle reflexes||Clinical use|
|Confirmed DSPN||The presence of a nerve conduction abnormality and one or more symptoms or one or more signs of neuropathy||Clinical use
The tests used include the pain sensation test, vibration sensation test, 10-g monofilament test, and Achilles tendon reflex assessment. By regular application of these tests, it is possible to evaluate the onset and development of neuropathy. They are also effective in the early diagnosis of asymptomatic DPN. Being relatively easy to implement, the tests are useful when applied by a proficient practitioner. However, the results are qualitative.
To confirm the diagnosis, quantitative nerve conduction tests are necessary. These are not widely available, however, as they are time-consuming and require the use of expensive equipment.
5.2. Comparison of qualitative methods and the quantitative method
The pain sensation test, made with a sharp object such as a pin, is used to test for hyperalgesia and weakness.
In the vibration sensation test, sensitivity to vibration is investigated by applying a 128 Hz tuning fork to the ankle or the toe of the foot. The ability to sense vibration is compared with that of a healthy person.
In patients with DPN, the Achilles tendon reflex is often attenuated or absent, providing an excellent test that can be performed in a short time if the examiner is proficient.
In the 10-g monofilament test, a thin thread of monofilament nylon is placed on the foot. It is used to investigate the function of the nerve that senses tactile and pressure. In DPN patients, the sensations are dulled.
These tests are representative qualitative examination techniques that can be performed in a short time.
In NCS, the stimulation conductivity of the peripheral nerve is measured. In patients who have developed neuropathy, the speed with which the stimulus is transmitted becomes slower. NCS is able to produce a quantitative measurement of the speed of the peripheral nerves of the human body [21, 22]. However, it requires the patient to be subjected to painful electric shocks. NCS also requires the use of expensive equipment. The examination time is lengthy, and if multiple peripheral nerves on both the left and right side are examined, the procedure may take several hours. NCS is therefore only available at large specialized hospitals.
5.3. Comparison of NCS and quantitative tactile examination methods
The proposed finger method is superior to NCS in some respects. First, the inspection time is short, taking a maximum of approximately 3 min. Second, the patient experiences no pain, as no electric current is applied to the nerve of the patient. The sensation is experienced only in the nerve being investigated. Third, while medical examination is normally performed by an expert, it is possible for the subject himself/herself to perform the test. This allows the test to be run at a place and time chosen by the patient. If tactile sensation reduces over time, poor glycemic control may be indicated. The test can detect such haptic loss. By making patients aware that their sense of touch is declining, the test may encourage them to seek treatment.
6.1. Strengths and significance of this device
A key strength of this device is that it can be used by patients themselves, producing quantitative results within minutes. It may be applied not only to DPN but to all forms of peripheral neuropathy. We are currently developing a device for assessing the lower limbs. Applications to diseases other than DPN are also being investigated.
The cross-sectional studies reported here involved outpatients, and the sample sizes were limited. To confirm the effectiveness of the technology, future studies should use larger samples and a wider range of patients.
7. Future work
The tactile test quantification technology introduced in this chapter has a wide range of potential applications. In future studies, we will apply it to other types of peripheral neuropathy.
One such current study is applying the tactile test equipment to the feet. The equipment has already developed to a point where practical application is possible. We plan to conduct further clinical studies of patients with DPN, quantitatively measuring the tactile sensations in the feet as well as the fingers. This will be useful in identifying DPN in different areas of the body.
In further developments, we will use the technology to visualize the severity of peripheral neuropathy in a manner that will be easily understandable by both healthcare professionals and patients. This may prove useful for monitoring the severity of peripheral neuropathy induced by anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel. It may also encourage patients with peripheral neuropathy to seek early treatment.
No currently available examination method can distinguish clearly between nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain, which are treated with standard pain medications and expensive analgesics, respectively. Patients who are misdiagnosed may be prescribed inappropriate analgesics and experience pain over a long period. The prescription of inappropriate pain medication may also add unnecessarily to medical expenses. Our tactile test technique may provide a useful tool for distinguishing between nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
By promoting early detection and treatment of asymptomatic peripheral neuropathy, this novel technology may reduce the medical and social resources needed when complications arise or the severity of the condition is unknown. By promoting the use of this technology, the authors hope to make a social contribution.
A quantitative tactile examination technique using shape memory alloy actuators was developed. The painless, simple, and quantitative tactile examination technology that can be performed in a short time is an ideal examination technology. A notable feature of this technology is that it succeeded in miniaturization and power saving. This was demonstrated to allow early detection of DPN. Large-scale clinical trials should be conducted, to confirm the effectiveness of this novel technology, which may have applications in the identification of a wider range of neuropathies.
This work was partly supported by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (no. 24500548 and 17 K17925), and by endowments from MSD and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company.
Conflict of interest
Keiji Uchida holds a patent on the quantitative tactile examination device. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Sawada H, Nakamura Y, Takeda Y, Uchida K. Micro-vibration array using SMA actuators for the screening of diabetes. In: International Conference on Human System Interaction; Poland. 2013
Danjo J, Sawada H, Uchida K, Danjo S, Nakamura Y. Efficacy of a new micro-vibration sensation measurement device at detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy using a newly devised finger method. Journal of General and Family Medicine. 2017; 18(4):155-161
Danjo J, Danjo S, Nakamura Y, Uchida K, Sawada H. Micro-vibration patterns generated from shape memory alloy actuators and the detection of an asymptomatic tactile sensation decrease in diabetic patients. IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems. 2016; E99-D(11):2759-2766
Zhao F, Jiang C, Sawada H. A novel braille display using the vibration of SMA wires and the evaluation of braille presentations. Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering. 2012; 7(4):416-432
Sawada H, Uchida K, Danjo J, Nakamura Y. A Screening device of diabetic peripheral neuropathy based on the perception of micro-vibration patterns. In: 2015 RISP International Workshop on Nonlinear Circuits, Communications and Signal Processing. 2015. pp. 162-165
Sawada H, Uchida K, Danjo J, Nakamura Y. Development of a non-invasive screening device of diabetic peripheral neuropathy based on the perception of micro-vibration. In: International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology; Thailand. 2016
Danjo J, Danjo S, Sawada H, Uchida K, Nakamura Y. Diabetic neuropathy: A focus on the testing method. International Journal of Family & Community Medicine. 2018; 2(1):00027
Takeda Y, Sawada H. Tactile actuators using SMA micro-wires and the generation of texture sensation from images. In: International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems; Japan. 2013
Sawada H, Takeda Y. Tactile pen for presenting texture sensation from touch screen. In: International Conference on Human System Interactions; Poland. 2015
Sawada H, Kitano S, Yokota, S. A hapto-tactile display for presenting virtual objects in human-scale tactual search. In: International Conference on Human System Interactions; UK. 2016
Sawada H. Tactile display using the micro-vibration of shape-memory alloy wires and its application to tactile interaction systems. Pervasive Haptics. 2016; 21:55-77
Nagano K, Ashihara N. Communication aid for deaf-blind due to the vibration motor. In: IEICE Technical Report, HCS96-09. 1996
Kanno T, Nagano H, Asihara O, Nagahashi H. A communication aid for deaf-blind people using vibration motors. The Transactions of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers. 1997; J80-A(9):1509-1516
Uchida M, Tanaka H, Ide H, Yokoyama S. Vibration tactile display using 16 different modulation wave of a single PZT transducer. IEEJ C. 2000; 120-C(6):825-830
Harrison C, Hudson SE. Providing dynamically changeable physical buttons on a visual display. In: Proc. of 27th Annual CHI Conf. on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2009. pp. 299-308
American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2014; 37(1):81-90. DOI: 10.2337/dc14-S081
Pop-Busui R, Boulton AJ, Feldman EL, Bril V, Freeman R, Malik RA, Sosenko JM, Ziegler D. Diabetic neuropathy: A position statement by the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2017; 40(1):136-154
Vallbo AB, Johansson RS. Properties of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the human hand related to touch sensation. Human Neurobiology. 1984; 3(1):3-14
Tesfaye S, Boulton AJ, Dyck PJ, et al. Diabetic neuropathies: Update on definitions, diagnostic criteria, estimation of severity, and treatments. Diabetes Care. 2010; 33:2285-2293
Feldman EL, Stevens MJ, Thomas PK, Brown MB, Canal N, Greene DA. A practical two-step quantitative clinical and electrophysiological assessment for the diagnosis and staging of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Care. 1994; 17:1281-1289
Dyck PJ, Litchy WJ, Lehman KA, Hokanson JL, Low PA, O’Brien PC. Variables influencing neuropathic endpoints: The Rochester diabetic neuropathy study of healthy subjects. Neurology. 1995; 45(6):1115-1121
Dyck PJ. Detection, characterization, and staging of polyneuropathy: Assessed in diabetics. Muscle & Nerve. 1988; 11(1):21-32


text:
Bipolar maternal depression portrayed in a movie
In the Danish movie “Sorrow and Joy” directed by Niels Malmros (2013), a woman becomes depressed after giving birth to a daughter. In the...
THE NORDIC PSYCHIATRIST
Find all articles published in the journal. Please select the desired topic. Alternatively, you may search by author or issue.
All Topics Editorials Nordic congress of Psychiatry Connecting minds Historical aspects Medical comments Education Week in psychiatry Board of NPA Nordic journal of Psychiatry Hope and resilience Art

domain: library


text:
Today is one of those days when “no” is impossibly hard to hear. One of those times when the rug is pulled out hard and fast, and you’re still standing up so no one can understand why you’re so shaken.
Don’t tell me that you love my work and want to give me a part if you’re going to then A) Not cast me and B) Not tell me about it and wait for me to ask.
What a waste of psychic energy.
And just so everyone is clear, fuck you Lake Tahoe Shakespeare. And fuck whoever is playing my part.
I’m done now.

domain: artistic


text:
Priyanka Chopra thanks Michelle Yeoh as she dines out with Marvel Shang Chi stars, Sandra Oh. See pics
- Michelle Yeoh has shared a new picture from her dinner with Priyanka Chopra, Awkwafina, Sonoya Mizuno and Sandra Oh. Check it out here.
Taking to Instagram, Michelle shared a series of pictures of their night out that also featured Sonoya Mizuno, Sandra Oh as well as filmmaker Paul Feig and his wife Laurie Feig.
In the picture, Priyanka sits at a dinner table surrounded by the actors. Michelle captioned the post, "Glorious friends and happy birthday to our sweet Laurie!!." Reacting to the post, Priyanka commented, "Thx for having me" followed by a heart-eye emoji.+
Earlier Priyanka had shared a post on Instagram and captioned it, "When u get a seat at the cool kids’ table. #queens #asianpride @awkwafina @michelleyeoh_official @iamsandraohinsta #sonoyamizuno."+
Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, the first Asian superhero film by Marvel Studios, stars Awkwafina as Katy while Michelle portrays the role of Jiang Nan. The film features Simu Liu as Shang Chi and explores the narrative of a young superhero whose journey of self-discovery unfolds in this never-before-seen origins story.
Directed and co-written by Destin Daniel Cretton, and produced by Marvel Studios, the film will be Marvel Cinematic Universe's 25th film.
Meanwhile, Priyanka has been shooting in London for her upcoming series Citadel, which is a spy thriller backed by Avengers: Endgame directors The Russo Brothers. Priyanka stars alongside Game of Thrones fame, actor Richard Madden.
Priyanka will next be seen in Text For You which also features Celine Dion and Sam Heughan in the lead roles. Apart from that, she will also be seen in Matrix 4 and the recently announced Bollywood film Jee Le Zaraa, which will mark actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar's return as a director.
She also recently launched an Indian restaurant called Sona in New York and published her memoir titled Unfinished earlier this year.


text:
October 18-22, 2010 marks the 4th celebration of Open Access Week. Visit Scholarly Communications@Duke for a guide of events at Duke. For Open Access Week events in the Triangle, visit: http://www.lib.unc.edu/scholcom/openaccessweek.html
I also received a notice from Dr. Richard Cante (UNC-Chapel Hill), Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Cinema, about an interesting kick-off lecture at UNC:
Debunking Open Access and Copyright Myths about Film and Visual Media”
Light refreshments will be served.
This discussion will focus on the use of visual media in academic instruction and the scholarly enterprise. What sources can creators use? What uses can be made for instruction? How can works be designed and presented to maximize their benefits to creators, consumers, and society as a whole?
Paul Jones, director of ibilbio.org and clinical associate professor in the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the School of Information and Library Science, will lead this panel discussion.
This panel is sponsored by UNC-Chapel Hill’s University Libraries Scholarly Communication Committee.


text: The Conover Beacon is a 40 foot tower that sits on the shoreline in Leonardo. The tower was built in 1856 and originally had a third order Fresnel lens. This beacon was used as "range light" with the Chapel Hill Light. A range light works when a mariner lines up the two lights, and when he sees one light on top of the other, he knows he is in the center of the channel. This range light system was used to help ships navigate the entrance to the Sandy Hook Bay. On a clear day you can see the Sandy Hook Lighthouse over the tops of the houses of Officer's Row on Sandy Hook. This beacon is inactive and unaccessable to the public. The Coast Guard has fenced off the bottom so no one can enter the tower. To get to the beacon, take Route 36 east from the Garden State Parkway. Turn onto N. Leonard Avenue and follow that to the water. The beacon will be on your right.


text:
Order Last Wish Dreaming City raid boost during Destiny 2’s season of the Wish
Embark on an epic journey with BoostCheetah’s Last Wish Raid Completion Service. The Last Wish Raid, set in the mesmerizing Dreaming City, is one of Destiny 2’s most challenging and rewarding experiences. Our team of expert Guardians is ready to guide you through the intricate puzzles, formidable bosses, and breathtaking landscapes that await in this legendary raid.
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- This key has a chance to drop after defeating riven and gains you the Ermine Tac-717 Ship. To unlock this ship you must put in a wish and defeat Morgeth. A chest will spawn that can be opened with the Glittering Key. Have the key? Leave a note and we’ll unlock it when you purchase the full Raid.
- You have the chance to obtain the following weapons
- Nation of Beasts (Arc Adaptive Hand Cannon)
- Chattering Bone (Kinetic Lightweight pulse rifle)
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text:
Innovation is the lifeblood of any successful organization. It’s the driving force behind groundbreaking products, streamlined processes, and lasting growth. However, fostering a culture of innovation is no easy task. It requires more than just implementing the latest tools and technologies; it demands a shift in mindset, a willingness to take risks, and an environment that encourages creativity. In this article, we’ll explore how leading companies cultivate cultures of innovation and the lessons we can learn from their approaches.
At the heart of an innovative culture is an openness to new ideas and perspectives. Companies like Google have famously embraced the concept of “20% time,” where employees are encouraged to spend a portion of their work hours on projects outside their core responsibilities. This approach allows employees to explore their passions, experiment with new concepts, and potentially stumble upon groundbreaking innovations.
Another crucial aspect of an innovative culture is psychological safety. Employees need to feel comfortable sharing their ideas without fear of criticism or punishment. This is exemplified by companies like Pixar, where the creative process involves candid feedback sessions that improve ideas over time.
Moreover, innovation thrives when companies embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has often spoken about the company’s “Day 1” mentality, where every day is treated as the first day of a startup. This perspective encourages risk-taking and the acceptance that not all ideas will succeed, which ultimately leads to the discovery of what does work.
Collaboration is another key element in fostering innovation. Companies like Apple have mastered the art of cross-functional teams, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to solve complex problems. These teams leverage the strengths of different disciplines to generate unique solutions.
In conclusion, cultivating a culture of innovation requires a holistic approach that encompasses openness to new ideas, psychological safety, a willingness to embrace failure, and effective collaboration. By learning from the practices of leading innovative companies, organizations can pave the way for a future filled with creativity, growth, and impactful change.

domain: sociology


text:
Yemen relaxes COVID-19 restrictions too soon
The war-torn country has been seeing reduced death rates, but testing and other medical realities point to a different picture.
In Yemen, there is a real fear that COVID-19 would break the camel’s back, coming on top of severe malnutrition and a raging cholera pandemic. The National Coronavirus Committee says the total number of confirmed cases is 1,356 with 619 deaths, making it a country with one of the worse death rates. It also has very limited testing capacity, with only six labs. Furthermore, there is almost no information about the disease coming from the rebel-held parts of the country, making the overall numbers hazy.
But already most Yemeni provinces have relaxed their curfews and other rules like mandatory wearing of masks and social distancing. People are now allowed to gather in mosques and markets and freely travel between cities and provinces. Health officials have warned against this, saying hospitals in government-controlled areas are reporting a rise in cases and deaths. They asked the public to continue adhering to social distancing rules and not fall into the trap of thinking the pandemic is over.
There is a false sense of security because of certain developments like falling death rates and medical NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) winding up its activities in the country due to decrease in number of patients visiting its centres. The centre was started in May as the COVID-19 outbreak was picking up pace.
But MSF has also said that the fear of the virus and disinformation is preventing people from seeking medical help. Many in Yemen are worried about getting infected in hospitals if they show up for testing. They also worry about being stigmatised by their communities if they test positive for the disease. This means they often don’t come to hospitals until their condition is serious and continue to remain a source of infection for everyone they come in contact with.
Meanwhile, aid for coronavirus continues to come into Yemen to bolster its crumbling medical infrastructure. Recently UNICEF had sent a medical package of 8,000 testing kits and 15 tonnes of medicine, equipment and safety gear.

domain: medical


text:
This hotel features a business center and rooms with flat-screen TVs. The property is within a 20-minute drive of Philadelphia, which features shopping, dining and entertainment.
Free Wi-Fi and work desk are standard in rooms at The Hotel ML. The rooms include white bedding with red blankets and large windows.
Guests can work out in the fitness center or work in the business center. The hotel also has a restaurant and bar.
The Hotel ML is 25 miles from the Philadelphia International Airport. The property is within a 10-minute drive of the Pennsauken Golf Club.

domain: travel


It”s time for a revolution. That”s right, the five guys that collectively make up of a revolution (known to many as simply O.A.R.) will rock the Michigan Theater tonight, with special guest Ordinary Peoples, on their national tour. They have been selling out venues from New York to Vermont and are sweeping college campuses all over the country with a style of music that some describe as “reggae rock” and others compare to the likes of Dave Matthews and Bob Marley. Whatever style you consider O.A.R. to encompass, you”re sure to get a down-to-earth yet ultimately adrenaline rushing performance.
Lead singer and guitarist Marc Roberge, guitarist Richard On, bassist Ben Gershman and drummer Chris Culos grew up together in Rockville, MD. O.A.R. was formed while these boys were still in high school and they hooked up with Jerry DePizzo, formerly the saxophonist for Ordinary Peoples and now officially the saxophonist for O.A.R., while attending Ohio State University. They released their first album, The Wanderer, in 1997 and had a breakthrough hit with “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker.” Their follow up albums, Soul”s Aflame, released in 1999, and most recently Risen, in 2001, have become staples of college-aged youth across the country.
With meaningful lyrics and a style all their own, O.A.R. have the ability to connect with their fans, mainly because their fans are reflections of themselves. Not one of the band members is over 22-years-old and they hail from a Midwest university, just like most of their fans. And even though O.A.R. has never been on MTV, they have turned their popularity into a national tour, and for $15 a ticket, you can”t get a more exhilarating and resounding evening.


text:
6th millennium BC
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During the 6th millennium BC, agriculture spread from the Balkans to Italy and Eastern Europe, and also from Mesopotamia to Egypt. World population was essentially stable at approximately 5 million, though some speculate up to 7 million.
Black Sea today (light blue) and in 5600 BC (dark blue) according to Ryan's and Pitman's theories, versions of the Black Sea deluge theory
Byzantine Calendar illustrating 1 September 5509 BC (the calendar is from the 12th century CE).
- A massive volcanic landslide off of Mt. Etna, Sicily caused a megatsunami which devastated the eastern Mediterranean coastline on three continents.1
- c. 6000 BC: The Mehrgarh culture reaches its height c. 6000 BC. The Mehrgarh site is one of the most important Neolithic sites in the world. It is located in present-day Pakistan (Baluchistan Province).
- c. 6000 BC: The entire 6th Millennium was a part of the Holocene climatic optimum (so were the 4th, 5th, and 7th Millennia). This was a warm period also known as the Atlantic period. This period was characterized by minimal glaciation and high sea levels. (McEvedy)
- c. 6000 BC: The Copper Age comes to the Fertile Crescent. (Roux 1980) First use of copper in Middle East. (Bailey 1973)
- c. 6000 BC: Fully Neolithic agriculture has spread through Anatolia to the Balkans. (1967 McEvedy)
- c. 6000 BC: Equids disappear from the Americas.
- c. 6000 BC: Junglefowl kept in India.
- c. 6000 BC: Female figurines holding serpents are fashioned on Crete and may have been associated with water, regenerative power and protection of the home.
- c. 5900 BC: Prehistoric Vinca culture emerges on the shores of lower Danube.
- c. 5800 BC: Beginning of the Dadiwan culture in China.
- c. 5800 BC: The Hassuna Period in Mesopotamia <t. 5500 BC>, with the earliest version of stamp seals. (Roux 1980)
- c. 5760 BC: The volcano Puy-de-Dôme in France erupts.
- c. 5677 BC: Cataclysmic volcanic eruption of 12,000-foot (3,700 m) high Mount Mazama creates Oregon's Crater Lake2 when the resulting caldera fills with water. With a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 7, it remains the largest single Holocene eruption in history of the Cascade Range.
- c. 5600 BC: Beginning of the desertification of North Africa, which ultimately lead to the creation of the Sahara desert. It's possible this process pushed some people into migrating to the region of the Nile in the east, thereby laying the groundwork for the rise of Egyptian civilization.
- c. 5600 BC: The Red Paint People become established in the region from present-day Labrador to New York state.
- 5509 BC: The Byzantine calendar dates creation to 1 September of this year.
- c. 5500 BC: Beginning of the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture in the region of modern-day Romania, Moldova, and southwestern Ukraine
- c. 5500 BC: Beginning of the Xinle culture in China.
- c. 5500 BC: Agriculture started in Ancient Egypt.
- c. 5500 BC: Predynastic period (Neolithic) starts in Ancient Egypt (other date is 4350 BC).
- c. 5450 BC: Volcano Hekla eruption.
- c. 5400 BC: Beginning of the Zhaobaogou culture in China.
- c. 5400 BC: Irrigation and the beginning of the Sumerian civilization in Southern Iraq.
- c. 5300 BC: Beginning of the Beixin culture in China.
- c. 5200 BC: Beginning of human inhabitation and settlements in Malta.
- c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Hemudu culture in China.
- c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Daxi culture in China.
- c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Majiabang culture in China.
- c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Yangshao culture in China.
- c. 5000 BC: Farming reached central and north Europe.
Inventions, discoveries, introductions
- c. 6000 BC: Cycladic people started to use a coarse local type of clay to make a variety of objects.
- c. 6000 BC: Brick building was taking place at modern-day Çatalhöyük, Turkey.3
- Agriculture appears in the valley of the Nile.
- Rice cultivated in Asia.
- c. 6000 BC–5000 BC: Wine is created for the first time in Persia.
- c. 5500 BC: Earliest evidence of cheese-making (Kujawy, Poland).4
- c. 5000 BC: Agriculture began in the Americas perhaps this early, in complete isolation from the Old World.3
- Artifacts of stone were supplemented by those of metal, and the crafts of basketry, pottery, weaving (Africa).
- Dead were buried in a fetal position, surrounded by the burial offerings and artifacts, facing west (Africa).
- Decorated, black-topped clay pots and vases; bone and ivory combs, figurines, and tableware, are found in great numbers (Africa).
- Jewelry of all types and materials (Africa).
- Objects began to be made not only with a function, but also with an aesthetic value. (Africa)
- Organized, permanent settlements focused around agriculture. (Africa)
Content from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
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Weekly Drought Monitor Released
Posted By News On November 1, 2013 @ 6:29 am In Today’s Local News | Comments Disabled
The most recent Drought Monitor was released Thursday and Marion, Mahaska and Jasper counties remain among the 33% of the state suffering from severe drought conditions. Another third of the state is suffering moderate conditions, 20% is abnormally dry, 2% is extreme, and 11% no longer has cause for drought concern. Marion County has seen some rain this week with .62 of an inch falling in Knoxville Wednesday/Thursday, and another .56 falling in Pella.
Article printed from KNIA / KRLS: http://kniakrls.com
URL to article: http://kniakrls.com/2013/11/weekly-drought-monitor-released/
Copyright © 2009 KNIA/KRLS. All rights reserved.


text:
1 edition of Little Reindeer found in the catalog.
by Chronicle Books
Written in English
|The Physical Object|
|Number of Pages||12|
Reindeer Reading a Book clip art image for teachers, classroom lessons, educators, school, print, scrapbooking and more. Reindeer Reading a Book Clip Art - Free Christmas clip art images for teachers, classroom projects, web pages, blogs, print and more. Feb 08, · PDF Download Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer Little Golden Book PDF Online. Phoufruc. Read Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) (Little Golden Book) PDF. Fhdtfalb. ☆ Disney Frozen Anna & Elsa: A New Reindeer Friend Storybook Game For Little Kids & Toddle.
Introducing Five Little Reindeer, a festive rhyming book with fun, puffy reindeer! It’s Christmas Eve, and the reindeer are out delivering presents with Santa. Young children will love reading the sweet rhyme and watching the puffy reindeer disappear at the turn of each page. This tactile book offers plenty for young children to look at and explore, helping in their early learning! Reindeer Reindeer. Descriptive (nonfiction), words, Lexile L Level 1 Grades K Reindeer live in a cold place in the far north, but this book tells readers that "a reindeer doesn't mind the cold." A reindeer's body--from its antlers and nose, to its coat, wide hooves, and long legs- .
5 Little Reindeer is a printable Christmas poem for kids. Use in a poetry notebook, as the poem of the week, for a Winter themed program, or let the kids color to . Sep 19, · She designed cards before starting an MA in children’s book illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and since then she has been working on her own books, including The Little Reindeer, which was called “entertaining a perfect bedtime read” in a starred review by Kirkus Reviews and “magical” by Publishers Weekly.
story of sail
Montesquieu, Lettres persanes
Hydrologic, water-quality, and meteorologic data for Newberry Volcano and vicinity, Deschutes County, Oregon, 1991-93
And a time to play
A Bibliography of Leicestershire churches
Pressure vessels and piping
The New American Standard Bible Cameo Edition
Christmas Crafts from Around the World
The Little Reindeer was named a Horn Book Holiday High Note. Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England. Nicola Killen has always loved drawing and still likes nothing better than taking her sketchbook to the zoo to draw her favorite animals: rhinos and penguins/5(53).
stevefrithphotography.com: the little reindeer book. Skip to main content. Try Prime All Little Reindeer: Finger Puppet Book (Little Finger Puppet Board Books) by Klaatje Van Der Put | Sep 28, out of 5 stars Board book $ $ 3. 73 $ $ Get it as soon as Wed, Sep I just Little Reindeer book The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen and I love it.
It is in a grey scale mostly but there are hints of color seen in small, but important details in the story. Little Reindeer book is a little girl who likes reindeer and she hears a sound outside on Christmas Eve/5.
Sep 19, · The Little Reindeer was named a Horn Book Holiday High Note. Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England. Editorial Reviews. 09/04/ Killen (Fluff and Billy) brings an understated style to a quietly magical tale of holiday miracles and nighttime adventure, originally published in the U.K.
When a mysterious jingling awakens Ollie on 5/5(1). Check out this FREE emergent reader. My students love the poem, "Five Little Pumpkins," so I created this Christmas version, Five Little Reindeer.
With my prekinders and kindergarten students, we read this book together for shared reading several times, using the larger color copy available in my Fi 4/4().
The Little Reindeer was named a Horn Book Holiday High Note. Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England. About The Illustrator. Nicola Killen. Nicola Killen has always loved drawing and still likes nothing better than taking her sketchbook to the zoo to Released on: September 19, Dec 12, · The Little Reindeer book.
Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. These festive foil books will add sparkle to your holiday. Shimmering /5(6). This miniature board book takes the silhouette shape of its story's hero, a little elf from Santa's workshop. It has a Christmas theme, for as every boy and girl already.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fair. 1st Edition. Rare copy of Ira Butler's "The Little Lost Reindeer" by Ira Butler. Dust jacket is a little beat up but it is original. Book itself is in good condition; has an inscription and signature of the author on inside front page.
Sue Deen is the Illustrator. So Santa needs another reindeer to help pull the sleigh. Rudolf’s sister Ruby is a little reindeer who always finds herself in big trouble. Will she find a way to be on her best behavior, or will she bring chaos to Christmas Day.
Reindeer Dust | Reindeer Dust is an interactive picture book that engages the imagination through family. 12 Reindeer Books for Little Learners This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. View our full disclosure policy here.
I'd love it if you shared. For your youngest readers, this board book helps us count Santa’s reindeer from one to eight. Olive, The Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh. Olive isn’t a reindeer at all. In fact. 5 Little Reindeer is a fun pocket chart activity. I have included the cards and pictures needed for the pocket chart.
A headband for your students to make and wear while performing the poem. Color and black and white copies of the poem in book form and a one page poem form. A fill in the blank rhym. Introducing Five Little Reindeer, a festive rhyming book with fun, puffy reindeer. It’s Christmas Eve, and the reindeer are out delivering presents with Santa.
Young children will love reading the sweet rhyme and watching the puffy reindeer disappear at the turn of each page. This tactile book offers plenty for young children to look at and explore, helping in their early learning.
FESTIVE. A fun, Christmas-themed twist on the classic nursery rhyme "This Little Piggy". This little reindeer went to market. This little reindeer loaded the sleigh. This little reindeer did some stretching. And this little reindeer mapped the way. These little reindeer have a lot of work to do to prepare for Chistmas!Released on: September 19, It's not easy getting ready for Christmas.
Even the reindeer have to learn how to pull the sleigh. But what happens if one of the reindeeer falls and gets lost. Who will help him get back to the North Pole. Buy This Little Reindeer (Board Book) at stevefrithphotography.com And this little reindeer mapped the way. These little reindeer have a lot of work to do to prepare for Chistmas.
One goes to the market, one loads Santa's sleigh, one stretches, one cooks some treats, and one plays in the snow. Now they're all ready to deliver presents and wish you a Brand: Aly Fronis.
Product Information. Children ages will love to read this Little Golden Book retelling of the classic holiday TV special, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."All of the other reindeer make fun of Rudolph and won't let him play in their reindeer games because he's different.5/5(4).
A sweet holiday companion to The Littlest Elf from New York Times bestselling author Brandi Dougherty. From the New York Times bestselling author that brought us The Littlest Pilgrim comes a sweet new holiday companion filled with Christmas cheer and one adorable reindeer.
Dot may be the littlest reindeer in the North Pole, but she has a big desire to help Santa pull his sleigh!Brand: Scholastic. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen (, Picture Book) at the best online prices at eBay. Free shipping for many products!5/5(1).
This book is so sweet. My 17 month old loves it. Her fingers are all over the pages and she loves looking through the little holes. My 3 year old loves looking for the reindeer and narrating along.
So there’s something for each age. As soon as the book is over they insist on reading it again. This book is a fun adaption of If You Meet a Dragon by Joy Cowley. This printable was made to go with Little Giraffes Thanksgiving Literacy Ideas. This book is being provided in different formats to meet your needs in both black and white and color.
You can print a larger sized class book and mount a [ ].Little Reindeer Shop. 43 likes. The Little Reindeer Shop offers signs and plaques. We make custom engraved or carved signs to meet your needs.
Camp signs, home (welcome) signs, business signs and Followers: My Little Reindeer. 76 likes · talking about this. The most adorable hand-knitted newborn clothing shop. Jump to. Sections of this page.
Children's book. Book Series. Glory of the Past. Photographer. Festive Reindeer. Arts & Crafts Store. Reindeer Holidays. Tour Guide. That’s A .


MFGT B2: CNC Lathe Programming and Operation
Recommended: MFGT B1ab with a grade of C or better, or evaluation by instructor of student's machining skills. Reading - one level prior to transfer. Description: Set-up, operation and programming of a computer numerical control lathe.
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This conductor’s rage will simultaneously terrify and inspire you
18 April 2018, 11:57 | Updated: 18 April 2018, 11:59
Watching this rehearsal footage of the great Leopold Stokowski from 1968 will make you wince with its severity, but you’ll also learn a lot…
When you’re a great conductor, you don’t have time for babysitting musicians. And when they’re really getting on your nerves, sometimes you have to yell. Just look at Leopold Stokowski in the video above.
And then enjoy the rest of it, because it’s a joyful and enlightening experience - pianist Jerome Lowenthal is note-perfect as Stokowski works the orchestra intensely hard, but it’s all done with plenty of explanation and reasoning.


text:
Skip to comments.Top Marine to Obama: Get in the Fight
Posted on 07/16/2014 2:57:14 PM PDT by John W
Its highly unusual for a high-ranking soldier, let alone a high-ranking Marine, to publicly question White House and Pentagon policy. Yet thats exactly what four-star Gen. James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, did yesterday in Washington.
Speaking at the Brookings Institute Tuesday, Amos said the Obama administration paved the way for the emergence of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) by completely withdrawing American troops in 2011.
I have a hard time believing that had we been there, and worked with the government, and worked with parliament, and worked with the minister of defense, the minister of interior, I don't think we'd be in the same shape we're in today, Amos said.
Amos also blasted the White House for failing to live up to its obligations around the world.
We may think we're done with all of these nasty, thorny, tacky little things that are going on around the world -- and I'd argue that if you're in that nation, it's not a tacky, little thing for you. We may think we're done with them, but they're not done with us," Amos said.
We're probably the only country in the world that has the resources and the capability to be able to do some of this that others can't, Amos added.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
He’ll be gone by next week. Watch and see.
Do or die
Stay out of Fort Marcy Park, General!
The story says he’s retiring in the fall. Hence the freedom to criticize.
The General is a suck-up toadie.
He was against repealing DADT one day and leading the charge for faggotry in the Corps the next.
Its a pity the Corps has been reduced to this.
The general surely had already planned his retirement knowing that a court martial would have proven embarrassing for the Commander-In-Chief.
What is going to be Obama’s call sign?
Being relieved from command and court-martialed for not being sensitive enough to the needs of gay, lesbian and transgendered marines in violation of the new DoD gender and orientation sensitivity regulations in 5, 4, 3, 2 . . . .
I understand that you are upset of the current events going on in the ME. But, the only way to change that is to kill lots of lots of people. If you want peace, advocate for death.
Goodbye General Amos. You are a good man. You’ll be gone before anybody knows it.
Semper Fi, Marine!
Perhaps Amos felt free to voice opinions on White House policy because he is set to retire this fall. Now, his comments are likely to influence the debate within the defense community about how to handle the myriad of crises going on around the world.
0bama’s in the fight...against America.
Early retirement. Career suicide by CIC. /S
I agree, he won’t be there long.
One more time, General Amos had already announced his retirement BEFORE this statement.
PRESIDENT OBAMA NOMINATES NEXT COMMANDANT OF MARINE CORPS
By Sgt. Chelsea Anderson, Defense Media Activity
June 5, 2014
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Maryland — President Barack Obama has chosen Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. to serve as the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced today. The decision is pending senate confirmation.
Dunford is currently serving as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and United States Forces-Afghanistan.
Dunford will relieve Gen. James F. Amos this fall, who will retire following his relief and appointment ceremony after 43 years of service.
He is one of the most knowledgeable and talented leaders and thinkers in the military today, Amos said. He has commanded and excelled at every level. His tenure as commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces - Afghanistan over the past 18 months has been extraordinary, and is testament to the full measure of the man. Our country and our Marine Corps will benefit greatly from his continued service.
Since his commissioning in 1977, Dunford has served in multiple prestigious assignments including the Director of the Operations Division for Plans, Policies and Operations; Commanding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force and the Commander of Marine Forces Central Command; and assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. He also served in three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with valor device, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three award stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the NATO Medal.
thanx for sharing that-—you think someone has real courage, until you know they don’t...
Fight? Girlie-mon fight? It is to laugh ....
Obama’s call sign? Chickenthief.
It’s about time Gen Amos grew a set of balls. He is easily the worst Commandant my beloved Marine Corps has ever had. His sudden change is likely due to the fact he is retiring this fall. Good riddance!
Thank you. I wish people would get “the rest of the story” before just jumping on someone’s bandwagon just because they said one thing against Hussein’s governance. I wouldn’t start applauding Harry Reid if he woke one morning and started saying that Hissein better not put illegal aliens near his home.
I miss Jim Conway
Got to meet him once , great man .
I wish he would enter leadership politics
America needs to be led by warriors , not by lawyers
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domain: news


To say the least, it was a long day Wednesday for State Rep. Jim Hall (R-Los Alamos, Sandoval, and Santa Fe).
A House redistricting plan that would keep Los Alamos intact won approval early Thursday in the 70-member chamber and Gov. Susana Martinez made it clear she doesn’t support the proposal.
The measure passed on a 36-34 vote with one Democrat breaking party ranks to join Republicans in opposing the plan.
Hall did not support or vote in favor of the measure either, but it pained him.


Missouri Judge Rejects Challenges to Ballot Items
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri judge has rejected legal challenges to a pair of proposed constitutional amendments dealing with gun rights and transportation taxes.
In two similar rulings Tuesday, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem dismissed lawsuits against the measures as moot because less than six weeks remain before the Aug. 5 election.
Beetem also ruled that the ballot summaries approved by the Republican-led Legislature are sufficient and fair.
The transportation measure asks voters to impose a three-quarters cent sales tax. The woman who sued said she will drop the legal fight and instead focus on defeating it at the ballot.
The other measure would enhance the right to keep and bear arms in the Missouri Constitution. An attorney for those challenging that measure said he will appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.


text:
Coming in on the high side of expectations, the 104 Bcf net withdrawal from storage reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Thursday morning for the week ended March 24 triggered only a minor blip in natural gas futures. The May contract — in its first regular session as prompt month — finished the day 3.1 cents higher at $7.487.
The stout withdrawal, which reflected last week’s cold temperatures, outpaced most industry expectations as well as historical analogs. The 104 Bcf pull was well above the Reuters survey’s 84 Bcf withdrawal projection as well as the ICAP-Nymex storage options auction’s final result of a 96.9 Bcf withdrawal. According to the EIA, the withdrawal far surpassed last year’s 56 Bcf pull and the five-year average withdrawal of 30 Bcf.
Immediately following the report, May natural gas futures jumped 16 cents to trade at $7.550. However, following that initial knee-jerk reaction, the newly minted prompt month was unable to get any higher on the day. The contract was able to record a low of $7.370 in the afternoon before moving higher to settle.
With one week left in the traditional withdrawal season, the level of working gas in storage (1,705 Bcf) is on pace to end March at the second highest inventory level since futures began trading, surpassing the stout ending surpluses of March 1992, 1,545 Bcf and March 2002, 1,518 Bcf. Only March 1991 would be higher at 1,912 Bcf.
“We have a lot of gas in storage, and May natural gas contract prices are trading comfortably around $7.50,” said Tom Saal, managing director and commodity trading advisor with Commercial Brokerage Corp. in Miami. “The price action tells me that the market might think current gas storage levels are not enough.”
Saal noted that the market over the last couple of years has really been concerned about potential supply problems. “It is almost as simple as Ivan, Katrina and Rita,” he said, referring to the Atlantic hurricanes of the last two years. “Those storms are the market’s most recent memories. Those three words alone, I think, have allowed some premium to be pumped into this price…and people are willing to pay it.
“So while the level of natural gas storage may be high by historical standards, the market is saying that the amount of gas in storage may not be enough if we get another direct hit in the Gulf of Mexico.”
As hedging strategy, Saal said he recommends buying options. “Because we have been going sideways for a month or so, the volatility has fallen dramatically. Low volatility means low premiums for options,” he said.
Despite the significant storage surplus, history shows that prices may be able to marshal a hefty advance once the market fully digests the prospect of a large season-ending inventory. Spot futures for 2002 posted their low on Jan. 28, 2002 at $1.850 before staging an advance to $3.875 by May 14, 2002.
At 1,705 Bcf, stocks are 459 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 651 Bcf above the five-year average of 1,054 Bcf. Due to a cold spell in the East last week, the East region led the withdrawal charge by removing 73 Bcf from underground stores. The Producing and West regions withdrew 21 Bcf and 10 Bcf, respectively.
Saal will be among a number of key industry leaders and energy experts looking at all aspects of natural gas supply, demand, prices and risk management strategies at GasMart 2006 in Denver, May 3-5.
Featured speakers for the three-day event include FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher, Questar Chairman Keith Rattie, Kinder Morgan’s Natural Gas Pipelines Group President Scott Parker, Houston Energy Partners Analyst John Olson, and hedge fund MotherRock COO John D’Agostino. Sponsors of the event are the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the Natural Gas Exchange (NGX), and North American Energy Credit and Clearing (NECC).
This 20th annual gathering of natural gas market participants, hosted by Natural Gas Intelligence, features more than 20 speakers, a sold-out Exhibit Hall, a golf tourney, Rockies baseball game and an anniversary celebration reception. For more information, visit https://gasmart.com.
©Copyright 2006Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.
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