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Social Security Disability Appeal Attorney Fees
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal payroll tax-funded insurance program of the United States federal government meant to offer earnings assistance to individuals who are physically disabled due to an incurable medical condition. In general, Social Security Disability Insurance offers protection for special needs incurred in the course of dealing with one’s job. It is funded by a percentage of a worker’s wages. It does not spend for disabilities developing later. Social Security Disability Insurance has various programs, including:
Eligibility requirements for Social Security Disability advantages depend upon the special needs claimed. Eligibility requirements for this program change from year to year. In addition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) specifies the conditions that certify an individual to end up being eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance advantages. It likewise defines the term “impairment” for the function of examining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance declares. The following are the conditions which meet the SSA’s definition of an impairment for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
The primary step in getting Social Security Disability benefits is to identify whether you get approved for disability benefits. Most of the times, you need to have been unable to operate in a substantial amount of time. This duration needs to have lasted for one or more months. You can get this details from your medical records. The medical records should be initial files.
To prepare your disability claim, you will need to hire a disability lawyer to assist you with the application procedure. The lawyer should be a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the American Bar Association (ABA). Before hiring a special needs lawyer to assist you with your claim, check out if your state bar association has a list of attorneys who specialize in Social Security special needs claims. If your state bar association does not have a list of lawyers, then search for one locally.
After receiving the application from the SSA, it ought to be gone back to the agency along with any supporting paperwork such as pay stubs, prescriptions, and so on. The NALA or ABA likewise supplies design templates for the medical kinds you need to fill out. Once your application is gotten, the disabled claim specialist will begin the procedure of getting your claim approved. You might be told that your claim is still being evaluated. When this happens, call back within a couple of weeks to let the specialist understand that your claim is still being reviewed.
If your Social Security Special needs claim is denied, don’t quit. Recall within a number of weeks to let the expert understand that you want to pursue the matter further. Discuss why your Social Security Special needs claim was rejected. Have your medical records sent to the agency in addition to your initial application. Have your medical records forwarded by the doctor’s workplace to ensure that they are updated.
As part of the Social Security Special needs application process, a medical exam is carried out. If your Social Security Disability claim is rejected, don’t lose hope. Keep calling the various workplaces that handled your Social Security Impairment claims. This may help to accelerate the special needs claims procedure and prevent more action.
If your claim is granted, congratulations! You’ve shown to the SSA that your condition is disabling. Now that your condition has actually been diagnosed, you need to follow the proper procedures to declare your benefits. Now, you must deal with your doctor and/or a special needs declares expert to find out how to correctly use your directory. You need to likewise discover how to remain on top of your condition’s altering aspects to guarantee that you are awarded maximum benefits for your condition.

domain: law


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Superego vs. Id
As a young child I was very well behaved, always doing what I was told and always doing the right thing. My superego is clearly shown in the top photo where I was completely harmless and innocent.
However, after I hit a certain age my id started to control the decisions I was making. Entering a more rebellious stage in my life, completely influenced by my teenage sisters at the time as well as my idol Avril Lavigne. (Seen in the bottom two pictures).

domain: psychology


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Right-wing media reacted with predictable enthusiasm to a better-than-expected February 2017 jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which they attributed to President Donald Trump’s unique leadership. In reality, the economy is currently enjoying a 77-month streak of job creation that began under President Barack Obama -- whom the same outlets routinely blasted for leading a sluggish economic recovery.
On March 10, the BLS released its monthly jobs report for February 2017 showing that the economy added approximately 235,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate remained little changed at 4.7 percent. After accounting for minor upward revisions to data from December and January, the economy has produced an average of 209,000 jobs per month over the past three months.
As Politico’s chief economics correspondent, Ben White, pointed out, the positive report is “a continuation of a good, long trend” and shouldn’t be attributed directly to Trump. White also noted that it is hard to see a “Trump bump” in the February jobs data, which look “nearly identical” to those of February reports from the past two years. Economist Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) explained this phenomenon at greater length in a March 10 blog, pointing out that Trump “inherited an economy that was already making steady progress towards full employment”:
Today’s jobs report, which showed the economy adding 235,000 jobs in February, is notable for being the first BLS report of the Trump administration. It may be tempting for today’s policymakers to claim credit for this solid employment growth, but credit is only truly deserved when the economy grows faster than expected. It’s important to remember that President Trump inherited an economy that was already making steady progress towards full employment.
The jobs data are certainly strong -- and they undermine Trump’s claim that he inherited a “mess” from his predecessor -- but not everything in the report was good news. Bloomberg financial columnist Conor Sen pointed out that the February report showed a drop in employment for workers without a high school diploma, and University of Michigan economist Betsey Stevenson noted that labor force participation for men actually declined slightly while participation rates for women increased.
These measured responses from expert journalists and professional economists were not echoed by Trump’s cohort of right-wing media devotees, who trumpeted the jobs report as a major victory for the administration. Under a headline proclaiming that the American economy was “GREAT AGAIN!” Breitbart economic editor John Carney -- who was hired to shepherd the fringe website out of the alt-right fever swamp -- absurdly claimed that job creation last month was “jaw-dropping” and that the “jobs market is sizzling.” On Twitter, the right-wing Drudge Report also proclaimed the report showed America was “GREAT AGAIN.” On Fox Business’ Varney & Co., host Stuart Varney stated that we could be witnessing a “Trump expansion” after 77 months of job creation -- 76 of which predate Trump:
On Fox News’ Fox & Friends, the co-hosts joined Trump surrogate Newt Gingrich in lauding the report. Co-host Pete Hegseth stated that Trump is simply “winning everywhere” while Gingrich suggested that “you're seeing the beginnings, I emphasize ‘beginnings,’ of a potential Trump Economic Era”:
Media Matters pointed out last month how quickly Fox News had shifted from nitpicking the jobs reports to lauding them after Trump’s inauguration -- so quickly, in fact, that the network incorrectly credited a January expansion to the new president. New York Times reporter Sopan Deb mocked Trump and his right-wing allies for suddenly embracing positive jobs data that they spread conspiracy theories about just months ago, while New York magazine writer Jonathan Chait questioned why no outlets were reporting the more than 90 million people who are currently out of the labor market -- a favorite right-wing media misrepresentation during the Obama administration. As FiveThirtyEight chief economic writer Ben Casselman pointed out, no president deserves singular credit for monthly job creation in the vast American economy.

domain: news


The new booking, which takes place at UFC Fight Night 36, was first reported by Brazilian outlet Combate.
Featuring a middleweight main event between Lyoto Machida and Gegard Mousasi, UFC Fight Night 36 takes place Feb. 15 at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Caarina, Brazil. The card airs on FOX Sports 1 and streams on MMAjunkie.com, though the night’s bout order has yet to be revealed.
Loughran returns to the UFC after asking for his release in 2008. The NorCal Fighting Alliance product opened his professional career with nine straight wins, eight of which came by submission, including a UFC debut win over Johnny Rees. However, he suffered an injury against Tim Credeur in a December 2008 contest and quit on the stool before the start of the third round and later asked for his release from the promotion to focus on life outside of the cage.
While Loughran continued to train during his break from competition, he didn’t enter the cage again until March 2012, when he earned a split-decision win over Jamie Jara on the California regional scene.
He now meets Silva, an explosive 29-year-old Brazilian who looks to rebound from a disappointing (and shocking) knockout loss to Dong Hyun Kim in October. While Silva’s upside is undeniable, he’s struggled to find consistency in the cage against top competition, including the loss to Kim as well as an October 2012 defeat against Jon Fitch.
With the addition to the card, UFC Fight Night 36 now includes:
- Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi
- Francis Carmont vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Cristiano Marcello vs. Joe Proctor
- Viscardi Andrade vs. Nicholas Musoke
- Andy Ogle vs. Charles Oliveira
- Jesse Ronson vs. Francisco Trinaldo
- Thiago Tavares vs. Zubair Tuhugov
- Rodrigo Damm vs. Ivan Jorge
- Nate Loughran vs. Erick Silva
(Pictured: Nate Loughran)


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Versatile portable traffic control systems
The Berghaus partner, service provider AVS Traffic Safety Group, will also be in Amsterdam to show the full range of services available for professional traffic safety with the latest addition to the ProTec roadworks safety family: the portable ProTec 100 crash barrier, together with the proven ProTec 120 and ProTec 160 (pictured) crash barrier systems.
German company Peter Berghaus will use Intertraffic to unveil its latest portable traffic engineering products. These include the MPB 3400 construction site traffic light with quartz, cable or radio control for simultaneous use of various modes such as request, fixed phase and green on request. Further signal heads can be simply added for controlling alternating one-way traffic or crossroads traffic.
Berghaus will also be highlighting its export hit – the MPB 1400 portable traffic light in new, ultra-flat design with standard LED technology, with quartz control for alternating one-way traffic and crossroads traffic. Users of this multilingual portable traffic light are guided through the menu as easily as using a TV remote control.
The company’s new FG 2 portable traffic light controller for controlling passenger and alternating one-way traffic will also be featured. It is cable controlled for 12V battery or 230V mains operation, with the option of 12V halogen lamps or LED technology for every signal group.


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Pt. 1 of Gov. Christie's 'State of the State'
Watch the first part of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's "State of the State" speech from Tuesday afternoon.


When you need to install a new water heater in your home, you want the most reliable, efficient, and durable solutions. Today, there are many more options than just the conventional gas or electric tank systems that have been installed in homes for decades. The following water heater installation information will help you find the right solution for the needs of your home.
Heat pump solutions for volumes of hot water
The most popular solution for water heaters when a large volume of hot water is needed is a heat pump system. These are systems that work much like a heat pump AC system and take thermal energy from the surrounding environment to heat the water in the tank. The heat pump water heater can efficiently provide hot water for larger homes with more plumbing.
Tankless systems for the convenience of on-demand hot water
The next option that you will want to consider for an efficient water heater for your home is a tankless system. These on-demand water heaters eliminate the tank of a conventional system to provide you with hot water when you need it. The elimination of the tank also helps to improve the efficiency of your hot water heater to reduce energy consumption.
High-efficiency electric water heaters powered by renewable energy
The water heater installation that you have done for your household plumbing can also be a high-efficiency system. The benefit of the modern high-efficiency water heater designs is that they can often be powered by renewable energy solutions like solar panels or wind turbines. These systems are ideal for average-sized homes, but may not be the right solution when you need a larger volume of hot water.
Solar water heaters and other efficient energy solutions for water heaters
Another option that you will want to consider for your home is solar energy. These are often solar water heater systems that are specially designed to provide hot water directly to your plumbing or to an existing water heater. These systems can be installed with some of the other water heater installations for a completely new system that is as efficient as possible. Vacuum tube solar water heaters are the most efficient and ideal solutions for the household plumbing needs of your home.
These are some facts you want to know about the water heater installation for your home. Contact a water heater installation professional for help or more information.


Audio Technica ATR4697USB Microphone
- USB-C boundary microphone
- 1.5m USB C terminated mic
- Includes USB-C to USB-A adapter
The Audio Technica ATR4697-USB condenser boundary microphone is ideal for meetings and teleconferencing. It offers a convenient way to record or send high-quality sound through a computer, tablet, smartphone, or other device. The low-profile microphone has an omnidirectional pickup pattern for full 360° coverage. It is terminated with a USB-C connector and comes with a USB-C to USB-A adapter for greater compatibility.
- Perfect for meetings and teleconferencing
- Plugs into computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices
- 1.5 m (4.9') cable is terminated with USB-C connector, and comes with USB-C to USB-A adapter
- Omnidirectional pickup pattern offers full 360° coverage
- Rugged construction for long-lasting performance
Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
Frequency Response: 50 – 15,000 Hz
Open Circuit Sensitivity: -46 dB
Power Requirements: 5V DC
|DJ / Pro audio device||USB microphones|
|Manufacturer's warranty||1 Year|
Please try again.
^Discounts apply to most recent previous ticketed/advertised price. As we negotiate on price, products are likely to have sold below ticketed/advertised price in stores prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport & express stores.


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MapMap of Frederick County, Md. accurately drawn from correct instrumental surveys of all the county roads, Scale [ca. 1:63,360]. Relief shown by hachures. Includes 25 insets, illus. and text. Election districts shown. Landowners identified. LC Land ownership maps, 292 Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.
- Contributor: Bond, Isaac - E. Sachse & Co.
- Date: 1858

domain: geography


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JACKSON — Researchers with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) are surprised at how far paddlefish they’ve tagged traveled as part of a research project. Two of the tagged paddlefish swam more than 500 miles down the Mississippi River to the northern portion of Louisiana before being caught and called in. Researchers hope anglers will continue to look for tags when they catch paddlefish and report them.
Paddlefish are large fish with lengths up to seven feet and weight known to surpass 160 pounds. They are most known for their long snouts which can take up more than 1/3 of the fish’s total length.
“Paddlefish are known to be strong swimmers and though their long spawning runs each spring have been well observed, we’ve been surprised at where some of our Missouri paddlefish have been caught,” said Nick Kramer, a graduate student in charge of sampling Mississippi River Paddlefish.
In 2014, MDC and Southeast Missouri State University began a 5-year study to evaluate the paddlefish population in the Mississippi River. In the first two years of the project, the focus is on getting as many fish tagged as possible. When the tagged fish are then caught by commercial or recreational anglers their tags are reported. This helps scientists gain an idea of how many tagged fish are being caught and harvested each year. The project will provide information that helps MDC make management decisions for Missouri’s paddlefish. An added perk of this information is being able to track the fish movements between tagging and recapture.
Students and MDC resource scientists have tagged around 500 paddlefish throughout the Mississippi River and have had 30 of those tags called in. Nine of those fish were found swimming up the Ohio River and its tributaries, four below Smithland Dam on the Ohio River, and one each below Kentucky and Barkley Dams.
“Some of these fish movements are just extraordinary. For instance, one of the fish that swam up the Ohio River swam up to Kentucky Dam and actually managed to utilize the lock chamber to enter Kentucky Lake before being caught nearly 10 miles above the dam,” Kramer said.
Kramer and his colleagues expected to see some movement from the tagged fish. However, the results in the first two years have been eye opening.
One of the first reported tags was originally tagged near Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County and was called in nearly 300 miles away just south of Memphis, Tenn.
“I thought that was pretty far, but then other reports came in with four other fish swimming past that location,” he said.
Two of the fish entered Arkansas with one being caught on the Arkansas River near Pendleton, and the other swimming up the White River and further up the Cache River before being caught and released by a commercial fisherman just south of Interstate 40.
“When that call came in, I thought he meant the Cache River in Illinois, but when he said Arkansas, I think I was speechless for a minute,” Kramer said. “That fish traveled over 500 miles, with more than 120 of that being in smaller tributary systems. I never expected movement like that.”
Since then, two other paddlefish have surpassed that mark swimming more than 500 miles down the Mississippi River to the northern portion of Louisiana before being caught.
While this movement information is not crucial to the outcome of the study, it is important in understanding the exploitation levels of these prehistoric fish.
“Many paddlefish tagged in Missouri’s rivers are not staying within our state’s limits,” says Kramer. “This is a reminder that we must consider harvest that occurs outside of our borders when determining the sustainability of Missouri’s paddlefish for the future.”
Kramer also said the long distances are exciting for anglers that anticipate catching these fish, which could also be coming from other states. Anglers who reel in a tagged paddlefish should call the number on the tag, or contact their local MDC office.
For more information on Missouri paddlefish, go online to mdc.mo.gov.

domain: biology


Listen to Little Boots' "Motorway"
Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:17:46
It's always darkest before the light.
Little Boots will release Nocturnes on May 7, but you can enjoy the track "Motorway" now.
Little Boots aka Victoria Hesketh became one of the most talked about new pop stars around when she arrived on the scene with her Gold-selling debut Hands, which came out back in 2009.
Now, the dance-pop songstress is preparing to release her sophomore studio album, which is "an album indebted to the night," which is why it is titled Nocturnes.
We likey, since the night is our favorite time.
Listen to "Motorway":
Did you like "Motorway?" You can get a free download in exchange for your email at the Little Boots website.


Manufacturer: Gao Gao
Origin: Gundam 0079
Now, lets talk about the history of this kit
Taken from Gundam.Wikia.com
"A modified version of the UT-1D Civilian Astray DSSD Custom used by Leons Graves. All the modification and new parts utilized are designed by Leons himself and the change in name signifies that the MS is now optimized for combat. The most significant difference is the modification to the head unit, which now contains enhanced sensor unit that allows Leons to fully utilize his sniping skills. There are also other modifications made to the internal components but these did not result in any changes to the outer appearances. One such modification is the adding of a power receiver function to the backpack mounted electromagnetic propulsion system, allowing the MS to operate longer. Like the Civilian Astray DSSD Custom used by Leons, the Arms Astray PMC Custom is armed with a laser torch, beam pistol and shield."
Manufacturer : TT HONGLI
Scale : 1/144
Grade : HG
Origin : Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Frame Astrays - Side Story
Type : Snap Fit
HAND GUN AND SHIELD
LEG (PINKY PINK)
Consider really hard before you decide to buy this kit. For some reason, this kit made me love it and hate it at the same time
1.you can swap the head between the USSD Custom or Leon's Custom
2.hand Gun and read beamsaber
1. kit comes in pink and whitegrey part.
2. Snap fit means no polycap. joint will lose easily due to no polycaps.
3. limited movement.
4. sticker quality very bad
last but not least,buy this kit if you want to complete your Seed/Astray collection. one of the kit that comes with pink scheme. Not for beginner. buy the original if you can afford it.


Roderick Williams Baritone
Jacqueline Shave Leader/director
Schubert arr. Webern German Dances
Webern Five Movements
Schubert arr. Webern Lieder
Mahler Four Rückert-Lieder
Schubert Symphony No.5 in B flat major
Due to family illness Mark Padmore has regrettably had to withdraw from his appearance with the Britten Sinfonia. At short notice, the orchestra is delighted to announce that the fine young baritone Roderick Williams will be the replacement soloist. The programme for the evening remains unchanged.
Schubert’s Fifth Symphony followed hot on the heels of its darkly brooding predecessor, the ‘tragic’ Fourth. Light, lyrical and owing an acknowledged musical debt – ‘the magic notes of Mozart’s music still gently haunt me…’ – it echoes with the exultant optimism of youth.
Like Schubert, Mahler had a deeply melodic sensibility and could render the most abstract of human emotions with deceptive simplicity. Never more so than his collection of lieder (1902) set to the words of Schubert contemporary Friedrich Rückert. Rückert’s themes – love, death, loneliness and spiritual transcendence – were positively Mahlerian in their scope. That the latter should distil their ‘romantic’ essence so sublimely is testament to a musical and textual match made in heaven.
Last heard by Brighton Dome audiences in December 2011 singing Berlioz’s L'enfance du Christ, Roderick Williams has worked with many orchestras throughout Europe, including all the BBC orchestras in the UK, and his many festival appearances include the BBC Proms, Edinburgh, Cheltenham and Aldeburgh. He has an extensive discography and his recordings of English song with Iain Burnside have received particular acclaim.


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Winter is here. A mild south breeze and dry atmosphere with bright shining sunlight during the day are common phenomena before the arrival of December.
Those who have to go out every single day to get their jobs done keep sunscreen in their bags for summer. Because it is a must for summer in Bangladesh where temperature mostly ranges between 30°C and 40°C.
The summer does not only come with high temperatures, it also comes with UV rays to destroy the natural glow of our skin. Apart from making the skin tan, this ray also contributes heavily to causing skin cancer.
However, people assume that sunscreen is not important during the Winter. Well, Winter doesn’t come with high temperatures, but the UV ray remains there equally. Hence, the importance of sunscreen is too costly to neglect during the Winter season as well.
Why one should use sunscreen and how to use it according to our skin type is a matter of concern for those who are willing to use it.
A study conducted by Henry Lim, a dermatologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, USA found that less than 55-year-old people who used sunscreen regularly had a 24 per cent less chance of getting wrinkles and looking old.
It also gives protection from skin cancer as well as rashes, itching etc.
Why use sunscreen?
Due to ultraviolet rays from the sun, outer skin layers and the deeper layers of the skin get affected as the rays can damage or even kill the skin cells.
The outer layer gives us protection from cancer or other skin issues. So using sunscreen to save those layers is a necessity.
People with less melanin and brighter skin tones are more likely to get affected by the UV rays. Redness in the skin, tan tone, burned skin are quite common due to being in the sun for long. Hence, sunscreen can help to avoid these issues.
Proper use of sunscreen
“Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours if one is actually planning to be under the sun for a long time in order to avoid tan,” advised Dr Afzalul Karim, Dermatologist of Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, in an interview with a Television channel.
He also mentioned that at least SPF 30+ sunscreens are good for Bangladeshi skin tones but it will vary if someone has brighter skin tones.
If someone has oily skin, he/she has to apply oil-free sunscreens and wash their face with special dry soaps to avoid redness and pimples.
“Even on rainy or cloudy days, it is important to use sunscreen as our skin is susceptible to harmful sun rays considering the fact of hyperpigmentation and discolouration of our healthy skin,” Lamia Tasnim, a freelancing model and popular social media beauty blogger mentioned.
She re-emphasises using sunscreen during winter too stating, “Not using the right amount of sunscreen in your busy days will result in skin damage. So make sunscreen your best friend for healthy skin.”
People who use makeup in their regular routine should not forget to apply sunscreen first after using their required moisturiser. After all, healthy glowing skin is preferable to everyone irrespective of any season or place.

domain: medical


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Main / Media & Video / Beyond ps3 demo
Beyond ps3 demo download
1 Oct Description. Take a glimpse into the extraordinary life of Jodie Holmes – a woman who possesses paranormal powers that she does not. 25 Sep Free. PlayStation®Plus. Online Multiplayer. Monthly Games. Exclusive Discounts. Try Free Demo. Add to Wishlist. 6 Sep UPDATE: Pre-order your copy of Beyond: Two Souls at GAME and you'll get a week's early access to the game's customers will.
It's good, how long it is I suppose kind of varies based on how many ways you want to go about things, but one playthrough takes about Has anyone tried the Beyond: Two Souls demo (out now on PSN)? I'm very keen to know if this is worth downloading. Also how big is the file?? Thanks gang!!. On September 5, it was announced via the PlayStation Blog that a demo for Beyond: Two Souls will be released October 1, in the United States.
Beyond: Two Souls: Polygon Community Review Thread. 6 replies latest reply over 4 years ago by spooky · Beyond: Two Souls - Demo impressions? 9 replies .

domain: game


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Maskless etching of silicon using patterned microdischarges
Microdischarges in flexible copper-polyimide structures with hole diameters of 200 µm have been used as stencil masks to pattern bare silicon in CF4/Ar chemistry. The discharges were operated at 20 Torr using the substrate as the cathode, achieving etch rates greater than 7 µm/min. Optical emission spectroscopy provides evidence of excited fluorine atoms. The etch profiles show a peculiar shape attributed to plasma expansion into the etched void. Forming discharges in multiple hole and line shapes permits direct pattern transfer in silicon and could be an alternative to ultrasonic milling and laser drilling.
Additional Information© 2001 American Institute of Physics. Received: 18 April 2001; accepted: 6 June 2001. This material was based on work supported by NSF (ECS-9729968).
Published - SANapl01.pdf

domain: chemistry


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Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The San Marco - Walnut Hills, Cincinnati
Last weekend Christina and I went for a bike ride at Lunken and then we stopped at Cafe deSales in Walnut Hills. We had been wanting to sketch the San Marco and it was fun to have a bite to eat and then sit at the cafe and sketch. You can see Christina's sketch in her mini sketchbook here.
Every time I drive through Walnut Hills I am in awe of this building. I love that it is built on a funny, obtuse angle and the stone and copper work is amazing. It was built in 1893 by local architects John Boll and Charles Taylor. There are some nice images and history of the building here. I like to imagine myself looking out the window of the round room on the top floor. The architecture of Cincinnati never ceases to amaze me.

domain: travel


For the 1982 remake of the 1942 horror movie “Cat People,” Georgio Moroder was contracted for the film score and after writing the music for the theme song, he asked David Bowie to write lyrics and sing the theme which he did.
The soundtrack was released on MCA’s Backstreet Records label and the single was released three different times to support the film. It was first released as an “A” side with “Paul’s Theme” as the “B.” The single was released a second time with “Cat People” flipped to the “B” side. It’s third release saw “Cat People” again as the “A” side.
Fourth Time’s a Charm
With the release of Bowie’s monumental “Let’s Dance” album in 1983, he re-recorded “Cat People” and it appeared as the “B” side to the album’s title cut. Bowie’s intention was to use the original cut, but MCA would not license the recording to him – so he did it again.
I actually prefer the remake to the original. It has a killer solo guitar by Stevie Ray Vaughan.


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For years, soccer superstar David Beckham and his team of investors have hoped to build a stadium in Miami in an effort to revitalize the city’s major league soccer scene. After months of pursuing a stadium next to Marlins Park, Beckham’s team of investors revealed their plan to build it on a nine-acre site on the western edge of Overtown, following months of negotiations with county and city officials.
While information about the stadium itself has yet to be divulged, many have welcomed the idea with open arms, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez. For local fans of soccer, the introduction of a new stadium in an area that will surely benefit from it seems like a win-win.
But that may not necessarily be the case. For decades, Overtown has been one of Miami’s poorest neighborhoods. It has suffered some of the worst symptoms of urban decay and poverty with almost no retail chains or restaurants to buttress it economically. Unemployment and crime rates remain high, and while parts of downtown Miami have undergone significant improvements over the years, Overtown has remained neglected.
Now, Miami Beckham United is promising what appears to be a saving grace. Despite praise from a local community of soccer fans, one can easily question whether or not an economic overhaul for an area that truly needs it is guaranteed.
This is an issue that should be analyzed retrospectively. Numerous stadiums exist on Miami’s soil, most notably the Marlins Stadium that was unveiled to the public in 2012. The development of this particular stadium was a lofty and ambitious project. Marlins Park regularly attracts large amounts of tourists and local fans to Little Havana on a regular basis, bringing people together in an area that, much like Overtown, also has had very little economic success. While certainly not the poorest neighborhood in Miami, Little Havana had once reached a point, according to Census 2000, where more than 25 percent of its residents were impoverished due to a severe lack of business momentum.
Back in the late 2000s, when Little Havana was pitched as the site of the upcoming Marlins Park, residents were promised what Overtown is being promised today: a more economically viable neighborhood and further growth.
However, some promises couldn’t be kept. As luxurious as the stadium is, the surrounding stores and restaurants remain notably diminutive. Despite attracting more than 20,000 visitors on a daily basis, Marlins Park has one of the lowest attendance rates in the league, culled from a long list of disastrous seasonal reports revealing the city’s $2 billion debt along with relatively weak profits. These poor results were lamented by residents and city officials, including City of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado.
To some extent, it seemed as though development was recklessly completed, with more focus on the alluring prospect of a shiny new tourist attraction rather than concrete plans to recuperate costs quickly. The predicted cost of the Marlins Stadium was largely underestimated due to unprecedentedly high interest rates and the public’s current inability to repay bonds, which could quite possibly increase the bill to more than $2 billion in the future.
Little Havana’s failed revitalization could very well be a harbinger of what’s to come for Overtown. It goes without saying that David Beckham’s team shouldn’t make any promises that they can’t keep. While they can easily provide a ballpark estimate of how they plan to invest in the local economy, Miami Beckham United must also consider factors such as property taxes and the overall convenience of the location to ensure whether or not they’d be making a net profit and whether or not said earnings would be sufficient enough to evenly support local businesses.
Guaranteeing a more exhilarating soccer scene for the sake of making money may be facile, but elucidating the intricate nature of reviving a sullen, withering economy is the next direction that Miami Beckham United needs to go toward if they’re to quell any skepticisms that the residents of Overtown may have in regards to their neighborhood’s future, which now needs attention more than ever.
Israel Aragon is a freshman majoring in neuroscience.


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The Walker Art Center's web casting branch, the Walker Channel, just announced that their broadcasts are now available on iTunes U. The channel provides webcasts of the Walker's programming, including lectures, readings, and presentations involving artists, scholars, and critics of contemporary art and culture. The Walker Channel is an invaluable resource for contemporary art research -- a quick glance through the archives and one will find artists talks with the likes of Cameron Jamie, Thomas Hirschhorn, Raqs Media Collective (conducted by Steve Dietz), Steina Vasulka, Amy Youngs, and much more. Their entire archives are not yet available via iTunes, but hopefully soon will be.
eteam is the New York-based duo of German artists Franziska Lamprecht and Hajoe Moderegger. In 2008 they received a Rhizome Commission for their Second Life Dumpster project in which the levels of consumption and disposal typically occurring blindly in the virtual world are manifest in the form of an ever-evolving garbage heap composed of deleted items tagged with a decay script by the artists. This exploration of the social life of spaces and systemic behavior within them is an interesting follow-up to their incredibly ambitious International Airport Montello project in which, after purchasing a piece of land in rural Nevada on eBay for the sum of US$1, they created an airport employing locals -- which they call "an impossible machine, which is perpetually in motion and sometimes on strike." Despite flying a handful of art world insiders there (putting commissioning organization Art in General's curators to work as flight attendants), eteam worked to underscore Montello's outsider status. The contested frontier between the so-called real world and spaces and cultures operating at the edges of constructed reality provided a nice point of comparison between Second Life Dumpster and International Airport Montello in this interview with the artists.
Today, Rhizome's annual Community Campaign begins. This a tough year for the global economy and for the arts. As an organization, we are relying now more than ever on everyone who participates in, reads and cares about Rhizome and our mission of supporting new media and internet art to support us with a donation of $25 (or up). It's fast and simple and will help us tremendously as we strive to keep conversation, activity and attention towards this field active.
Our goal is to raise $30,000 by midnight December 31, 2008. This figure is truly vital to us and will go towards our commissions and editorial program as well to creating new points of community engagement on our website. Every single contribution, however small or large, will get us closer to this goal.
3d installation and 3d game in university library Amsterdam, 2005.
Artist's statement: By collecting information and killing bookworms in the game, the player can cause events in "real life"
For his solo show at London's Seventeen Gallery, Berlin-based Austrian artist Oliver Laric is showing three video projects that put a recursive spin on his previous work. The artist's 50 50 project, in which he seamlessly strung together fifty YouTube clips of strangers singing three songs by hip hop artist 50 Cent, has received praise around the internet and the art world for its remix of both 50's music and vernacular video culture. But now he's showing a recomprised version of the piece (50 50 2008, a remix of his own remix) by using all new clips. The mass availability of videos of people singing these three songs speaks both to the popular appeal of the music and of the act of performing for the home movie camera--thus deepening the initial resonance of Laric's project. For Touch My Body (Green Screen Version), the artist took the nerd-loving video for Mariah Carey's hit single and made a template for chroma-keyed remixes by YouTube users by digitally replacing the background images surrounding the starlet's body with a flat green backdrop. At Seventeen, Laric is showing not only his template video, but also the remixes that internet users (other net artists and general surfers alike) uploaded to the web. This decision emphasizes the project's dependence on the notion of fandom, which is both participatory and collaborative by nature. Laric's inviting template also susses out the often creative and productive nature of fan culture, particularly with regard to the internet, where appropriation and distribution tend to be fast and easy. Finally, his multi-channel work,
This Halloween, there are scarier things on the horizon than ghosts and goblins, as the recent New Yorker cover acknowledges, so we thought we'd sum up some of the Election Night events occurring around New York City next Tuesday to get you thinking ahead.
Location: Storefront for Art and Architecture Event: Election Night Special - Sleepover at Storefront
To mark the closing of the White House Redux exhibition, Storefront will hold an all-night election vigil in the gallery with live a large-screen CNN projection and special blog-reading stations. Everyone welcome!
Location: New Museum Event: Election Night Trivia at Salon Aleman
On Election Night 2008 the New Museum hosts an evening of tequila, trivia, and live-stream coverage of the exit polls. Artist Eduardo Sarabia's Salon Aleman project, including his sculpture Babylon Bar, and his limited-edition Tequila Sarabia will be imported to the Museum for a gathering of campaign camaraderie and fun-filled, trivia-distracted anticipation. You and your friends are invited to drink, commingle, and participate in the Campaign Stump! trivia game while awaiting the outcome of this historic Presidential election. Prizes will be awarded. Hosted by comedian Desiree Burch.
Location: Monkeytown Event: ELECTION DAY ALL DAY EXCEPTER TELETHON
In an attempt to effect the election results "through sound" improv noise band Excepter will play at Monkeytown from 8am to Midnight (until the polls close on the West Coast). The performance will be webcast by Jon Williams aka WIZARDISHUNGRY. "Excepter plays until the New President walks this LAND; "VOTE EARLY; VOTE OFTEN; WE WILL PLAY ALL DAY"

domain: artistic


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ecolab inc (ECL:New York Consolidated)
Daniel J. Schmechel
Chief Financial Officer,Ecolab Inc.
|Age||Total Calculated Compensation||This person is connected to 0 board members in 0 different organizations across 1 different industries.|
As of Fiscal Year 2014
Mr. Daniel J. Schmechel, also known as Dan has been the Chief Financial Officer of Ecolab Inc. since October 1, 2012. Mr. Schmechel served as Senior Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer of Ecolab Inc. until April 15, 2008. He served as Controller of Ecolab Inc. from April 2002 to November 2005, Treasurer from January 2001 to March 2002 and Vice President since July 1999.
370 Wabasha Street NorthPhone: 800-232-6522
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
Board Members Memberships*There is no Board Members Memberships data available.
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
|Kevin A. Lobo||Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President|
|Vincent A. Forlenza||Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of Executive Committee|
Becton, Dickinson and Company
|Charles E. Bunch||Chairman and Chief Executive Officer|
PPG Industries, Inc.
|Christopher M. Connor||Chairman and Chief Executive Officer|
The Sherwin-Williams Company
|Chihiro Kanagawa||Chairman and Chief Executive Officer|
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
|¥326.0M||Compensation as of Fiscal Year 2014.|

domain: economics


June 8, 2023 – The LAEDC’s Future Forum, as part of LA Tech Week 2023, centered on the power of technology in driving innovation and building an equitable economy. New technologies, such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, have the potential to revolutionize economic development. They can improve access to information, services, and workforce opportunities for marginalized communities, bypassing traditional barriers like physical distance or lack of funding. By harnessing technology’s potential, the aim is to create more inclusive and sustainable economies that benefit everyone.
Stephen Cheung, President and CEO of the LAEDC, and Chris Manriquez, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of California State University Dominguez Hills, also welcomed the participants. Mr. Manriquez highlighted the university’s commitment to transformative education, community collaboration, and technological advancements. Mr. Manriquez stressed the importance of technology and its role in shaping the future economy, emphasizing the need for critical thought, education, and regional cooperation.
Jessica Ku Kim, Chief Deputy of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, represented the newly formed department, which aims to deepen economic and workforce development services. During her keynote, Ms. Kim emphasized the significance of technology in the digital economy, highlighting the impact of technology during the pandemic. She acknowledged the resilience of high-skill, high-wage jobs and the challenges faced by marginalized communities due to the digital divide.
Ms. Kim discussed the department’s focus on supporting local businesses, investing in employers that offer living wages and career advancement opportunities. The County aims to build resources and partnerships to promote equitable capital access. The department also recognized the importance of workforce development, ensuring individuals had the necessary skills for rapidly changing technology-driven industries. Kim encouraged employer partnerships and participation in regional discussions to meet the demands of a fast-changing economy. She mentioned LA County’s investment in technological infrastructure, including a worker and business portal to simplify access to resources. The department also planned to invest in digital navigators and resources for communities with limited digital literacy and access. Kim emphasized the need for collective investment in socio-economic empowerment, particularly in disinvested communities.
Ms. Kim expressed the County’s commitment to making impactful investments, working with partners, and delivering services to the community. She invited participants to connect with her and the department for further collaboration.
The Future Forum featured a panelist discussion with:
- Mandi Cohen, Managing Director, Deloitte
- Valorie Jones, CTO, Storyfile
- Krystal Rawls – Director, Workforce Integration Network (WIN), CSUDH
- Tim Ryder, General Manager, Microsoft
- Moderator: Todd Terrazas, President, A LA Community
Mr. Terrazas opened the panel with a recent Goldman Sachs report stating that generative AI is expected to drive a significant increase in global GDP by up to 7 percent and productivity growth over the next decade. Generative AI can generate text, images, and other media, revolutionizing content creation, creativity, and productivity. However, it raises ethical concerns regarding quality, authenticity, and ownership of generated content. The panelists focused on harnessing AI’s positive potential while ensuring fairness, safety, and broad benefit.
Each panelist then introduced themselves and shared their perspectives on AI. Ms. Rawls emphasized the importance of collaboration across various sectors to ensure the successful implementation of AI. Ms. Cohen highlighted the need for effective regulation and governance to manage the risks associated with AI, drawing from lessons learned from the invention of the internet. Ms. Jones discussed the advancements in creating digital humans and their applications in fields like entertainment, education, and storytelling. And Mr. Ryder discussed the opportunities and challenges of AI in manufacturing, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between skill requirements and workforce development.
The conversation then discussed the broader implications of AI, including bias in datasets and the importance of governance and ethics, such as those that were not present at the start of the Internet’s rollout. The panelists acknowledged the inherent biases in data and stressed the need for transparency, ethical policies, and human oversight in AI systems. They discussed the importance of organizations having robust ethics policies and being accountable for their data practices. There was an emphasis for the need to involve diverse perspectives and communities to address biases and ensure fair and inclusive outcomes.
Ms. Rawls acknowledged the digital divide and the importance of AI literacy for different populations. The participants discuss how certain communities lack access to devices and the internet, making using AI or even understanding its basic concepts challenging. They also highlight the prevalence of fearmongering and misinformation about AI in society, which hinders its adoption and creates unnecessary concerns. To address the digital divide, efforts are being made to provide computers, internet connectivity, and training materials in communities, ensuring that individuals who have never used a computer before can learn and ask questions without judgment.
The conversation further explored the need for diversity and inclusion in the development of AI models. The panelists emphasized that a wide range of people with different backgrounds and experiences should be involved in building AI models to identify biases and ensure fair representation. The democratization of AI training models is also discussed, making it accessible to individuals without the need for a supercomputer.
Within educational institutions, AI tools can act as personal tutors, assisting students in their assignments, prompting critical thinking, and providing access to information. Ms. Jones addressed concerns about the misuse of AI tools and the importance of maintaining a balance between using AI for assistance and developing essential skills such as math, coding, and creativity.
The participants expressed optimism about the potential of AI in education and its impact on productivity and job opportunities. They highlight the need to educate educators, challenge existing paradigms, and ensure equitable access to AI tools for all individuals. Ms. Rawls noted the transformative power of AI and the importance of responsible and inclusive implementation to bridge the gap between technology and society.
During our audience question period, a question was asked about the potential negative impact of AI on mental capabilities and social skills, such as how reliance on calculators and cell phones can lead to declining mathematical and interpersonal skills. However, our panel participants expressed a more optimistic view, emphasizing that while technology may lose or affect certain skills, AI also opens new opportunities and enhances productivity.
Ms. Cohen noted the importance of consciously taking breaks from technology and teaching younger generations the value of interpersonal skills. They suggest that AI can be used to train people in better communication and encourage technologies that bring people together rather than isolating them. Mr. Ryder spoke about the challenges faced in onboarding new employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of creating spaces for people to connect and experience company culture. The participants also highlighted the need to continuously reflect on what makes us human and find ways to foster connection and preserve our core humanity. Ms. Cohen highlighted the potential that the educational system might change, moving from technical skills to more interpersonal skills learning.
The overall sentiment is that humanity has always adapted to new technologies, and while there may be trade-offs, human connection and evolution will persist. Trusting in our ability to adapt and embracing the benefits of AI without demonizing it is seen as crucial.
Overall, the panel discussion provided insights into AI’s transformative potential, its challenges, and the importance of ethical considerations, governance, and collaboration to ensure the responsible and beneficial use of AI technology.


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UK-based life and general insurer Aviva has posted a profit of £776m for the six months ended on 30 June 2013, compared to a loss of £624m for the same period last year.
The company’s operating profit grew by 5% to £1bn in the first half of 2013, compared to £959m for the same period last year primarily due to lower expenses.
Operating expenses declined by 9% to £1.52bn in the first half of 2013, compared to £1.67bn for the same period last year.
Cash flows to the group grew by 30% to £573m in the first half of 2013, compared to £441m for the same period last year.
Aviva group CEO Mark Wilson said that the company has taken a number of steps in the first half to deliver investment thesis of cash flow and growth.
"Our key measure of sales – value of new business – has increased 17%, driven by the UK, France, Poland, Turkey and Asia," Wilson added.


For 25 years, Systec Conveyors has been committed to providing American Made material handling equipment to the corrugated industry. We manufacture all of our equipment in our state of the art manufacturing facility located in Indianapolis IN. Where we implement LEAN manufacturing methods to reduce lead times for customers and to ultimately reduce costs as well. Michael Harris the President of Systec Conveyors and his family have been in the material handling industry since 1974.
Innovation – In design and function, our goal is to deliver a better product to the corrugated marketplace.
Durability – Designed to last, a Systec conveyor features laser cut and formed steel allowing tighter tolerances in the manufacturing process resulting in the longest lasting conveyor in the industry.
Service – Our knowledgeable service team can provide service for not only Systec Conveyor products, but other manufacturers' products as well. Local Service and Sales are through regionally located personnel.
Knowledge – Our staff of mechanical, electrical and industrial engineers continually bring new ideas and innovation to our industry. Our knowledgeable sales staff will help you define your needs and prepare a solution specific to your application.


Zedd has come a long way from his electro roots. The Russian-German musician has seen a meteoric rise in fame and recognition over the past few years, garnering success far beyond the EDM sphere.
Much of this success can be explained by his well-received and widely popular collaborations with mainstream artists, such as "I Want You To Know" featuring Selena Gomez and "Break Free" with Ariana Grande.
Yet, it’s good to see that Zedd still remembers to give a voice to rising artists. A couple of days ago, he took to Twitter to announce a collaboration with R&B new-comer Khalid.
Khalid began making waves with his hit single" Location," which eventually reached number 10 on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs in January, partly aided by Kylie Jenner posting a snap of herself listening to the song. His voice is gentle, warm and liquid, while his songwriting skills are modern, passionate and refreshing - attributes that make him stand out in a world where countless new musicians are trying to make a name for themselves. The 19 year old singer just wrapped up a successful US tour last month and released his debut album, American Teen, through RCA records less than 2 weeks ago! With over 30 million listens on Spotify and co-signs from Zayn Malik and Diddy, 2017 is slated to be a big year for the soulful R&B artist.
We Came Up With Bizarre Descriptions of DJs—Then Used Artificial Intelligence to Bring Them to Life
Aphex Twin, Flume, REZZ and Daft Punk are just a few of the many artists we placed in nonsensical situations before feeding them through an A.I. art generator.
Lost Lands 2022 Inspired a Sense of Adventure—And the Future Is Brighter Than Ever
Excision and his team have created an event that feels more like an adventure than a music festival.
From Debut Performances to the Birth of a Popular Nickname, These 10 Dirtybird Artists Reveal Their Favorite Campout Memories
The summer camp-themed festival returns to the Modesto Reservoir October 7-9.
We’re excited to see what the Zedd and Khalid collaboration will shape up to be like. The two artists’ dynamic and unique styles are sure to make for a creatively exciting pairing. While we eagerly wait for more news on the track, get to know Khalid better with his passionate hit "Location."


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Veteran actor Gauthami has filed a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner alleging that a builder and his wife had defrauded her of assets worth Rs 25 crore. She also claimed that the accused Allagappan had sent death threats to her daughter Subbulakshmi.
In her complaint, Gauthami said that she had given a power of attorney to the couple for selling her 46-acre property. However, the duo embezzled her assets and are also now using goons to threaten her and her daughter, she stated. The death threats have affected her daughter's studies, Gauthami said.
The Chennai Central Crime Branch has registered a case against the accused persons and has sent a notice to the couple.
Gauthami has worked with several prominent actors in the South Indian industry, including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal, among others. The actor had shared an intimate relationship with Kamal Haasan for several years till she announced their separation in 2016.

domain: celebrity


“The sound and music are 50 percent of the entertainment in a movie.”
“The truth is, for me, it’s obvious that 70, 80 percent of a movie is sound.”
Sound is important! Not only for Movies, but all visual media. When you are planning your shoot it only makes sense to capture the best audio you can, to ensure the success of your project. Choosing the right Location Sound Mixer for your project is just as important as hiring the right Director of Photographer (some might say more so). So while leave the sound for your important in the hands of the lowest bidder or someone who doesn’t have the experience, gear or motivation the get the best audio possible. Steve Baker Sound Guy is a location Sound Mixer based in the Greater Boston area, but willing to travel wherever your shoot takes you. With over 20+ years of experience and a client-centric, no drama attitude, good gear and an ability to adapt to any crew and situation.


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This is the perfect time of year to highlight one of our most holly jolly colorways, 607 Zenith in Classic Shades Metallic. We’ve previously shown off this color, in this 2014 blog post with a knitted project, shown below.
Red, dark ash, green, and some silver sparkle. Love this yarn! The Bruges Noel Shawl is a triangular shawl that is worked sideways from one tip to the other. The stitches used are traditional crochet Bruges lace, constructed with strips of double crochet and connected with chain spaces. This shawl is worked in one piece. At 84″ (7 feet) long, this is a great shawl to wrap around yourself and show off. It’s a fun crochet project with the right amount of sparkle.
If bling isn’t your thing, this would work up at exactly the same gauge in self-shading Classic Shades, which has the same fiber content without the metallic strand. But if ever there were a time of year to sparkle a little, this is it.
812 Yule Time, with its classic red, white, and green color scheme, is used in the popular free Elfkin set for sizes 6 months to 6 years at right. We’re also partial to color 806 Emerald, which has a lovely blue spruce feel to it that fits right in under the tree.
These socks are worsted weight, knitted on US size 6(4mm) double-pointed needles. As you can see, they’re small enough to fit as socks great for sliding across the floor to see what Santa left you. They also include a small crochet loop so you’re free to hang them as stockings if you wish. We use size 6 needles for a tight fabric so no little gifts fall through the holes.
Knitted toe-up with a Turkish heel, one ball of Tapestry and one ball of Uptown Worsted 302 White Glow for the heels and toes ought to do it for small sizes. If your feet are longer than 9″, consider grabbing an extra ball of Tapestry. This handy guide to foot sizes from the Craft Yarn Council may be helpful in estimating, although I wear a US women’s size 8 1/2 or 9 with 9 1/2″ long feet and these socks fit me just fine.
We hope you have a great weekend of crafting and good times.
Mother’s Day is tomorrow! Are you ready? Me neither! Fortunately, Amy came up with marvelous way to put together a handmade gift from your stash in a flash. Yarn art!
Step one is to find an image that you want to use and draw or trace it onto your card. We used a cut-down sheet of foam core board. We’re going to be using adhesive for this craft, so construction paper or thinner paper is a little iffy – we don’t want it to buckle or ripple from the moisture of the glue.
Amy freehanded her design, but you could also use clip art. You can see it above with a couple of flowers already filled in with Bamboo Pop. We’ll show you how to do that in the next step!
Outline your design with glue (we used Alene’s clear gel tacky glue). It’ll be easier to do a small section at a time rather than the whole thing – it’s easy to accidentally smear your yarn through the glue if the whole card is covered in it.
Position your yarn over the outline and stick it down. We used the point of a pencil to press the Bamboo Pop to the card. It keeps glue off the fingers and it’s more precise.
After you do your outlines, fill in the area inside, then if you wish you can cover any remaining space. Be as creative as you want. Incorporate straight lines, whirls and swirls, unusual colors or shapes – it’s all up to you!
I love the touch Amy included of the chain stitch around the edge of the card!
Finish it off with a personalized message on the back. Draw your own, or use clip art or illustration from the internet.
Voila! A personalized card that you made yourself without making yourself crazy. We’ll hope that Amy’s mom gets the card before she reads this post!
Originally designed for Classic Worsted Holiday, this would look great in any worsted weight yarn. Naturally you’re not limited to red and white – be a psychedelic Santa if you want! – but we do have recommendations in our solid color worsted weight yarns.
This pattern is designed to be knit flat, handy for those who aren’t comfortable with circular needles.
I love Michael’s use of bobbles in this pattern to give texture. Make a provisional cast-on and knit the bobbled brim, then attach the red to the cast-on edge and knit the rest of the hat. A festive pom-pom finishes it off. I’m still backed up on my holiday knitting, so I might just use a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom to save time rather than making my own.
Wishing you a festive holiday season – and happy knitting!
How’s the holiday knitting going? I’m doing better than expected – I found this glittering little gem on our shelves here yesterday and am happily knitting a quick one-ball scarf. The yarn is Classic Shades Metallic (175yds/100g) and the color is 607 Zenith. When I saw the red and green accented by silver, I knew it would make the perfect holiday project. This scarf couldn’t be any more Christmasy unless Santa Claus himself knitted it using two candy canes.
The pattern is a scaled-down version of this free three-ball Classic Shades Shawl pattern by Olga Tonjes. She also provides instructions for working just one section (as I’m doing in the picture above), making this a great project to adapt if you’re really backed up on your holiday knitting.
Classic Shades Metallic is interchangeable with customer favorite Classic Shades, but with an extra strand of glitter running through it, making it perfect for gifts that you really want to stand out.
I’ve got another couple of balls of Classic Shades Metallic sitting beside me right now – this scarf is going quickly, and I’ll definitely have time to knock out another gift. This time, I think I’ll work up the Longways Linen Scarf. On size 9 needles with a basic two row pattern repeat, it ought to go quickly. I’ll make it through the holidays yet!
Here’s hoping your days are merry and bright. Happy knitting!
I’m home celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, but couldn’t resist sharing this little guy – especially after we promised the crocheters last week!
Jolly St. Nick is a crochet version of Santa from Michele Wilcox, the Queen of Cute. He stands 18″ high including hat – if you’ve seen an American Girl-style doll, that’s about the same height. Just as with last week’s knit Santa, we’re recommending Uptown Worsted. The 100% anti-pilling acrylic stands up to a lot of beard-pulling and snuggles.
Start at the top of his head and work down, then go back and add all the details that make him so adorable. Any pattern that instructs you to embroider a smile is a keeper.
We hope you’re having a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year, as every year, I am grateful for the ability to create, and in so doing to bring joy to myself and others. And always, always, there is gratitude for the community of fellow crafters who enrich our lives. What are you thankful for this year?
This week, we asked our Facebook friends whether they’d rather see a knit or a crochet pattern today. The knits won – but don’t worry, crocheters, we’ll have something for you next week!
Michele Wilcox’s Hearty Holiday Santa is mittens-down the most adorable Santa I’ve seen. You just know that when he laughs, his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly.
Santa was originally made in now-discontinued Classic Worsted Holiday. We’re updating the selection to Uptown Worsted. The 100% anti-pilling acrylic will stand up to quite a few hugs.
Make the legs, then the body and head, then add on details like ears, belt, and hat. You can’t quite see it in the picture, but Santa has an adorable smile behind his beard. We hope this project will make you smile too.

domain: hobby


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By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@ YawMintYM on Twitter
Ghana and the United States are the Atlantic Ocean apart but have unique commonness between. For starters, political symbols of the leading parties in both countries are the same. Unlike the States two party democratic system, Ghana’s multi party system is better off adopting a two party approach not forgetting both countries share the same colonial master.
While Ghana’s change of power has not been as dramatic as that of the United States, the West African nation has witnessed quite a few glaring differences since December 7. Out with the incumbent, in with the new.
That’s the path the nation has chosen and that’s the way the US under Donald Trump, is going. Mere days after becoming the most powerful president in the world, Trump’s actions have been super fast. Trade dealings, political appointments and controversial laws have dominated the headlines close to a fortnight.
However, one directive that has caused a lot of feathers to ruffle has been the passage of a travel ban on seven Muslim dominated countries from entering the States. Citizens of Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria and Sudan cannot travel to the country due to this ban. In one of the world’s biggest melting pot, the world’s best basketball league aka the NBA, this directive has been taken with a lot of consternation and cringe worthy debates.
The emotional talk is centered on Los Angeles Lakers Forward Luol Deng and Milwaukee Bucks Center Thon Maker and this is where opinions including mine diverge from the norm which views this law as a potential danger to the aforementioned players. To be honest, the ban is unnecessary and harsh and the NBA has little to worry about the consequences of this directive at least for the remainder of the season. Reason being there is nothing to worry about because the players in question are not from any of the aforementioned countries. Yes you read correctly; Thon Maker and Deng are not from Sudan but from South Sudan.
Had the ban been in place prior to 2011, this would have been an issue because both players were born in territories in Sudan. However, those territories are now part of what is the world’s youngest country South Sudan since South Sudan gained independence in 2011 so neither player falls victim to the ban. In any case that has been put to the test and rightly so, nothing happened. The Bucks travelled with Maker northwards to play Toronto Raptors in Canada before the directive was issued but the seven foot tall Center had no problems getting through immigration.
Prior to that, the situation was of major concern to teammates and officials. Thanks to Vancouver Grizzlies relocation to Memphis, Canada has just one team, the Raptors, to mark its presence in the league so the frequency of border crossing is reduced likewise the frequency of the issue coming up again. The NBA’s global games are over too meaning teams will not travel to Mexico and England to play games.
There is also the need to know both players in question are technically not even Sudanese since Maker and Deng represent American allies in Australia and England. Due to a long fought Civil War, many Sudanese took up refuge in many countries particularly Europe and some, like Deng, have become citizens of such nations. Deng officially became an English citizen in 2006 and Maker is a dual citizen since he holds an Australian passport and a South Sudanese passport. And how official can your status get after Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turbull personally commented on the issue to clear any doubt that may linger regarding Maker’s situation.
Another reason, this issue shouldn’t be treated as a potential block to players from other regions is the temporary status of the Order in the first place. The Order is set to last 90 days whilst the situation on the ground is reviewed by the appropriate quarters. Should it hold and get extended, then we can revisit this situation sometime in the future since a host of players may pop up from such countries. Should it not last, then the situation should be treated as a temporary measure due for expiration.
To be honest, many people don’t like President Trump-just check the number of people demonstrating in cities in America and the world against his laws- and that is perhaps the main reason behind the heavy backlash meted out to him. However controversial Trump is, the NBA’s reaction to the travel ban is way over the top and unnecessary.


Nalini Karma Inferno long-sleeve Jersey made from Cold Moa Medium fabric is the ideal companion for the transitional seasons like spring and autumn, as well as for cooler summer days. Its regular cut offers a little more room, without compromising on performance.
The Nalini Karma Inferno long-sleeve Jersey is treated with Moa Mantodry, which prevents the absorption of perspiration and allows for constant evaporation and more effective heat exchange. Raglan sleeves, a full-length zipper with a cam lock, flat seams, and an elastic silicone waist gripper make for a perfect and comfortable fit.
This jersey features a self-faced back pocket, divided into 3 parts for storing essential items on your ride. Reflective insets on these back pockets make you visible, even in low light conditions.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.


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Comercio Limited, has announced plans for its flagship programme – International Cyber Security & Cloud Conference.
The Group Managing Director of Comercio Limited, an ICT Solution Company, Mrs. Aderonke Adeyegbe, said that the conference is being held in partnership with eFortresses CloudeAssurance & HISPI.
The Conference which holds at Four Point by Sheraton, Oniru, Lagos on 4th October, 2019 is tagged: “The Business of Cyber Security & Cloud in 21st Century Nigeria.
The Conference will be anchored by Global Cyber Security expert and Founder of eFortresses CloudeAssurance, HISPI, Mr. Taiye Lambo and former CISO of the City of Atlanta, Georgia, USA along with other seasoned leaders in the Cyber Security area of interest such as the CISO, CBN, Rakiya Mohammed; Founder/ CEO Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe; Director Afenoids & Former CISO, Galaxy, Backbone, Opeyemi Onifade and the Managing Partner, Technology Advisors LLP, Basil Udotai.
The experts will be speaking on and addressing business pain-points such as
- external threat to Nigeria businesses is cyber security
- barrier to the adoption of public cloud in Nigeria is security and privacy concern
- The instability of the Nigeria power and telco infrastructure makes the cost of operating on-premise servers is astronomical for both commercial and government sectors.
- The issue of sovereign integrity for sensitive information stored in public cloud needs to be addressed.
- The commercial and public sector is lagging behind from a technology standpoint.
- The human capital for cyber security and cloud is very limited in Nigeria.
- The Nigerian narrative and brand of Cyber criminals needs to be changed to that of ethical Cyberists.
While the conference is also expected to look into cloud technology, it is important to remark that ComerCio cloud computing Limited is Nigeria’s’ leading Enterprise local cloud service Provider.
The Company has been rated as first choice of Cloud Solutions and managed data services for local and Global businesses with great ambitions.
“We offer Information Technology as a service (Cloud services, Colocation, Managed solutions, Backup services, Disaster Recovery etc.), and support for diverse infrastructure need by providing Industry-specific Solutions.
“Our Company is based on the principle of developing and delivering top of the line Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solutions to meet the need of our existing and prospective clients”, the GMD added.
Meanwhile, expected participants at the Conference include: Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), Chief Risk Officers (CROs), amongst others.


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Local band Bank is hosting a handful of events to celebrate their sophomore effort, The Hope Inside Your Sleep, produced by Kansan Ed Rose.
In the vein of mega acts like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, Bank will release the album digitally but will offer fans a physical take-home token.
Local artist extraordinaire Ben Wilson is creating a book to accompany the release which, according to Bank's bio, will serve to assist the process of "unifying visual art with music by allowing the artwork to be a physical representation of the journey of the record."
Purchase of the book gets fans a download code or they can buy a download card separately.
Friday, Sept. 19, listening party and art unveiling, 7 p.m., FREE, Lush, 760 W. Main St.
Saturday, Sept. 20, in-store performance, 2 p.m., FREE, Record Exchange, 1105 W. Idaho St.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., $5 adv., $10 door, release party with Paper Mache, Man Without Wax, Abandon Kansas, The Venue, 521 Broad St.


Kyodo News | Masakatsu Ota | Tokyo, Jan. 23, 2015
Top U.S. military officials considered giving the Japanese Self-Defense Forces atomic weapons in the 1950s under an arrangement similar to NATO’s “nuclear-sharing” deal, declassified U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff documents revealed on Friday.
In February 1958, the Joint Chiefs of Staff decided its “position,” saying “The United States would prefer that Japan integrate appropriate atomic weapons into the Japanese self-defense forces.” The decision came five months after the U.S. military and the SDF conducted a joint map exercise assuming use of nuclear weapons, according to the JCS documents.
The nuclear map exercise, conducted in September 1957, had never been revealed to the public until a joint investigation by Kyodo News and Akira Kurosaki, associate professor of Fukushima University, uncovered the documents recently at the U.S. National Archives in Maryland.
As Cold War tensions rose in the 1950s with the Soviet Union’s successful nuclear tests and its development of hydrogen bombs, the administration of President Dwight Eisenhower dramatically increased its dependence on nuclear arms under its “New Look” policy that equated them with conventional weaponry.
The JCS decision on a potential nuclear option for Japan, which had come under nuclear attack the previous decade, suggests the U.S. Cold War mentality relied on nuclear arsenals as a countermeasure against the massive conventional capability of the Soviet bloc.
A JCS document dated Feb. 17, 1958 said “a combined U.S.-Japan Map Exercise FUJI was conducted in Japan during the period 24-28 September 1957,” in which the use of nuclear weapons was simulated.
The document does not mention the specific venue of the exercise. But an oral record left by late former senior Ground Self-Defense Force official, Gen. Ryuhei Nakamura at National Institute of Defense Studies, a research branch of Japan’s Defense Ministry, indicated that “FUJI” was held at the U.S. Camp Drake located in areas straddling Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture.
According to this oral record, the Japanese participants wanted to know how the U.S. military would use tactical nuclear weapons in Japan. However, the U.S. side did not provide precise information.
Still, the JCS documents detailed questions raised by the Japanese “Co-Director” during the joint map exercise.
“Would the United States hold all the nuclear weapons for use by her own delivery systems or would the United States release some weapons for use by Japan?” the JCS document paraphrased the questions posed by the Co-Director.
He also presented other questions such as; “Would the United States prefer Japan to have conventional weapons only?” “If Japan were to decide to arm herself with nuclear weapons, could she depend upon U.S. support for such a plan?”
A memorandum by the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Arleigh Burke, dated Nov. 20, 1957, said “the significance of the questions posed by the Japanese Co-Director…warrants the early consideration of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” “These questions express the concern of the only country in the world that ever experienced a nuclear attack…” the memorandum added.
In response to Burke’s suggestion, the Joint Chief of Staff finally decided its positions at a meeting on Feb. 12, 1958.
The JCS document dated Feb. 17, 1958 elaborates its positions, saying “(t)he provision of such weapons support to Japan would be primarily dependent on the desires of Japan to be provided with atomic weapons and her development of capability to employ effectively such weapons.”
In addition to U.S. preference for integration of atomic weapons with the SDF, the JCS document said, “(the SDF) must eventually be equipped with the most modern conventional and atomic weapons.” These JCS positions were conveyed to CINCPAC, Commander in Chief Pacific Command.
Another JCS document dated Sept. 17, 1958, noted “(t)he United States is willing to support her allies with atomic weapons, after the NATO pattern, subject to the desire of Japan to acquire such weapons and to develop a capability for their effective employment.”
Such JCS positions on arming the SDF with nuclear weapons were not formally proposed to the Japanese government.
Other declassified U.S. documents obtained by Kyodo News suggested caution by U.S. policymakers who were familiar with Japan’s volatile domestic situation and growing antinuclear sentiment following the Lucky Dragon incident in March 1954, when Japanese fishery vessels were exposed to radiation fallout from the U.S. thermo-nuclear “Bravo Shot” near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
“The U.S. military considered integration of nuclear weapons into the SDF and some SDF officials showed interest in this idea,” Kurosaki said.
“There was a backdrop that the U.S. administration deepened its dependence on nuclear weapons in its national security strategy. From these contexts, then Prime Minister (Nobusuke) Kishi stated it is possible for Japan to possess nuclear weapons (for defensive purpose) even under the Constitution,” he said.
Kurosaki said he wonders if Japan would have continued to be a nonnuclear power if the Lucky Dragon incident had not taken place and antinuclear sentiment in Japan had not risen so sharply.
On the Japanese side, from mid-1950s to mid-1960s, the Staff College of the Japanese GSDF taught future top officials about nuclear tactics and doctrines which were imported from the U.S. Command and General Staff College (CGSC), former SDF top officials told Kyodo News recently.
“Which direction would nuclear fallouts move and how should we conduct military operation evading these fallouts? These were brought back to Japan by SDF official who studied (nuclear tactics) at the U.S. CGSC,” former GSDF Major Gen. Kiyoshi Maekawa said.
But, the nuclear tactical education at the Staff College in Tokyo was suspended later in 1960s due to growing antinuclear public sentiment and governmental policies culminated in the three nonnuclear principles, which were introduced by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1967.
“The Lucky Dragon Incident, the (national-level) ban-the-nuclear bomb movement and three nonnuclear principles created a lot of impact” on SDF’s position, former GSDF Gen. Mitsuaki Yokochi said.


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This Fresh Pick was designed by Miannda on Dec. 7, 2012.
Fresh Picks are color and texture arrangements to help you get inspired—you can browse all Fresh Picks, or design your own!
On Dec 07, 2012 at 4:44 pm #
On Dec 07, 2012 at 5:19 pm #
Love this pick! Great color combo!
On Dec 07, 2012 at 6:29 pm #
Anna, I love your choices — perfect for your theme!
On Dec 07, 2012 at 8:02 pm #
Thank you all! I love the brown circle agate and wanted to do something around it.
On Dec 07, 2012 at 8:37 pm #
On Dec 07, 2012 at 9:00 pm #
Great combo…the brown circle agate is gorgeous.
On Dec 07, 2012 at 9:55 pm #
On Dec 08, 2012 at 8:14 am #
Love that Agate too and I love your choices
On Dec 08, 2012 at 7:18 pm #
I like the African brass with all the Czech beads.
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What are GTO tasks?
GTO is the last test of the second phase, which is conducted on 3rd and 4th day of SSB.
GTO tasks stands for Group Testing Officer tasks. The name itself specifies it’s meaning that an officer will going to test a group of candidates for assessing their personality traits by giving them tasks. This test is totally different from the last test (Psychology) but the idea is same i.e. to unearth some more personality traits of the candidate and to take the confirmation of those personality traits which have already been assessed by the psychologist.
Group Testing Officer is the only one who remains in touch with the candidates for the next two days. The GTO tasks sounds more like a game rather than a test, but playing these tasks requires a great dealt of OLQs. Moreover, the atmosphere of the GTO tasks gives the feeling of playing a game in the minds of the aspiring candidates. Of course, like any other game GTO tasks are also to be completed with discipline and by adhering the rules and regulations communicated by the Group Testing Officer.
Now, let us discuss the 9 GTO’s in brief. You can get the detail of each and every task by clicking on the same.
1. GROUP DISCUSSION
2. GROUP PLANNING EXERCISE
3. PROGRESSIVE GROUP TASK
4. HALF GROUP TASKS
5. COMMAND TASK
7. INDIVIDUAL OBSTACLES
8. GROUP OBSTACLE RACE/ SNAK RACE
9. FINAL GROUP TASKS
Click here to watch the video of the GTO Tasks.


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Cannabis Stock Prices Increase in Hours After Jeff Sessions’ Resignation
Stock prices for cannabis companies jumped in the hours after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced his resignation on Wednesday. The spike follows another uptick in share prices leading up to Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Canadian medical marijuana firm Tilray was the day’s biggest winner, with shares closing up 30 percent on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Canopy Growth was up 8.1 percent in New York Stock Exchange trading, while Aurora Cannabis was up 9 percent. Shares in Cronos Group were up more than 8 percent at the close of Nasdaq trading. The rally extended into after-hours trading as stocks in all four companies continued to rise.
Cannabis exchange-traded fund Alternative Harvest Marijuana ETF, also listed on the Nasdaq, saw a spike of 5.6 percent in the hour after the announcement of Sessions’ resignation. Shares were up to $36.97, a gain of nearly $2.
Sessions, long an opponent of legalizing marijuana, announced on Wednesday that he was resigning from the top position at the U.S. Department of Justice at the request of President Trump. Art Hogan, chief market strategist at investment bank B. Riley FBR, said that news of the attorney general’s departure was received positively by cannabis investors.
“You’re happy if you’re long

domain: finance


I'm developing a program to run in a trusted execution environment on i-series CPUs, and I'm wondering what the maximum enclave size for SGX is? There doesn't appear to be any public information on the memory capacity for enclaves on i-series CPUs before Icelake, which was 128MB.
I'd LOVE to know what the maximum capacities are for each of the 10-14th generation, i-series CPUs, to know which we can support!
Yes, you are right. You may find a list of Intel processors supporting the Intel® SGX following the steps below:
For a complete list of Intel® processors that support Intel® SGX, visit Intel® Processors Supporting Intel® SGX
Click the processor and scroll down to the Security & Reliability section and look for Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX).
Find out if a specific processor supports Intel® SGX:
- Go to product specifications (ARK).
- Enter the processor number in the search specifications box in the top-right corner.
- On the product specification page of the processor, click Security & Reliability and look for Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
In addition, you may read this Intel SGX information.
This thread will no longer be monitored since we have provided information. If you need any additional information from Intel, please submit a new question.


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[OSM-talk] Actually using OpenStreetMap - how to get vector data
simone at cortesi.com
Mon Jul 28 18:29:14 BST 2008
On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 7:07 PM, Igor Brejc <igor.brejc at gmail.com> wrote:
> The problem is fetching the data - the only viable option I see is using
> OSMXAPI, but its server is overwhelmed and will limit the download size
> in the future (from what I read on this list). Using planet dumps seems
> to me a bit too unfriendly from the end-user perspective - they would
> have to download quite a large quantity of data.
still you can download data from some planet's country extract (italy
is 22mb at the moment).
find them on Geofabrik, cloudmade, etc...
More information about the talk


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Assessor Feedback - Publisher Introduction Program 2019
This year’s Publisher Introduction Program submissions represented an interesting cross-section of Australian writing - from engaging genre fiction to literary novels (several quite daring) and short-story collections to a relative handful of non-fiction - mostly in memoir and biography.
Some writers already had runs on the board with previous publications and awards; others were fresh out of the starting gate with their entries, by no means a handicap. Inevitably, the assessors were both impressed by what we read and daunted by the task of selection. It is important that those who were not selected retain their writing elan and dedication.
Not making it across the hurdles in one competition does not mean you will never - at some point - enter the winner’s circle. Persistence pays.
It was a pleasure to read the manuscripts for the Publisher Introduction Program and to discuss them at the panel meeting. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes one manuscript more compelling than another, but for me, the most absorbing were those which were written in an authentic voice, and which left space for the reader’s imagination.
I found many of the short story collections particularly captivating and well-crafted. There were also many powerful stories contained within the memoirs and narrative non-fiction works. The most absorbing of these paid close attention to the narrative arc and characterisation, rather than relying on chronology as the sole structural principle.
Another feature of stronger manuscripts was evocative and embodied writing which encouraged the reader to identify with the characters and to care about their fates. Those manuscripts in which the writer had paid close attention to the sound and rhythm of the language, and the ways in which this enhances meaning and flow, also captured my interest. The most compelling created a visceral response in me, embedding the narratives strongly in memory.
A full-length manuscript is a major achievement in itself, and I appreciated the work and time that was put into each one of the submissions.
I was very impressed by the manuscripts I read as a PIP assessor. It was very clear to me that all the authors had put a lot of hard work into writing, revising and polishing their manuscripts.
My advice to writers who submitted manuscripts but weren’t shortlisted and those who intend to submit work in the future would be that a strong narrative voice will immediately make their manuscript stand out to the assessors.
Another tip would be that exposition is essential, particularly in fiction, to balance out the use of description, scenes, dialogue and characters’ thoughts. Though many creative writing books and teachers exhort writers to ‘show not tell’ my advice is to ‘show AND tell’. It’s always hard to find the right balance between scenes and dialogue vis a vis exposition or ‘telling’, and even some of the most experienced writers don’t achieve this balance. However, exposition enables authors to provide context and background at the beginning of a novel, deepen characterisation and link the action where scenes and dialogue aren’t necessary and would slow the manuscript down.
In addition, it’s important for literary authors, to have a compelling plot and/or a sense of growth in the characters as the novel progresses.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and kudos to everyone who submitted.
It was an incredible privilege to consider 90 or so of the 146 submissions over nearly three months for the publishing fellowships. It was clear all of the manuscripts were projects of intense passion and commitment for each writer. For an awards judge, a literary agent, a publisher and/or an editor, it’s always humbling to be one of an unpublished manuscript’s first readers, and I know all of the judges for this Varuna-led program undertook the task of reading the entries with the utmost respect for the process.
Having to consider at least one manuscript a day over about 90 days was sometimes a little overwhelming, particularly with everyday commitments (work, family, etc!) but it meant that my reading had to have a very clear focus on how strong the voice was in each manuscript, how compelling the characterisation and plot were, and whether I could anticipate the manuscript working on particular publishers’ lists, given my knowledge of the individual publishers offering the fellowships.
The collective process of deciding on the shortlist was intensive but fairly straightforward as the four judges were mainly in agreement during our meeting together about the longlisted manuscripts. Where rankings and scores might have initially been disparate between the judges, we were all able to come to a consensus effectively, though probably every judge had at least one manuscript they wished had scored much higher with the other judges.
I was surprised that all three collections of short stories that were part of the 146 entries were so strong – as an agent the quality of short stories I’ve seen in recent years hasn’t been as high as the ones we considered as part of this process. In my time as an agent I learnt very quickly that collections of short stories by emerging writers are more often than not a very difficult sell to publishers. However, all three collections of short stories made it on to the shortlist because they displayed originality, an excellent control of narrative tension and sophisticated plots in many of their stories. The three writers clearly have immense potential and some of the stories may be able to be developed into longer-form fiction.
All of the memoirs and biography I read were polished, compelling and poignant, even those that did not make the shortlist. Some needed to focus more on the voice and language, rather than intricate factual detail and some needed to be reduced in word count to make them more engaging (though some of the entrants acknowledged this in their applications).
The literary fiction manuscripts that made it through to the shortlist did so because they felt inventive, bold and multi-layered. I found that some writers described their novels as literary fiction when they might better be described as commercial fiction, but I acknowledge that labels are often problematic. Some of the novels used as comparison titles also felt somewhat questionable; my advice to writers considering entering their manuscripts into the fellowship in future years would be to compare your work to books that have been in the market recently (in the past three years) and are not too obscure. The literary fiction that did not make it through to the shortlist needed further drafts to develop more texture and perhaps more complex characterisation.
There was some solid commercial fiction in the submissions and those novels that made the shortlist were well paced, had an interesting hook, and intriguing characters. The commercial fiction manuscripts that didn’t make it through was mainly because of their concepts not being arresting enough to get all four judges to come to a consensus on their merits, or the novel might have lacked subplots or adequate exposition. Some novels relied on dialogue too heavily, perhaps because the writers felt tentative about using narrative exposition. It’s probably always better to use a little too much than too little, as it can always be pared back.
Ultimately, although the selection process was as fair as we could possibly make it, there is always an element of arbitrariness about judging, and so I feel that none of the entrants should be disheartened because they didn’t make it to the shortlist this time around. My advice is always to leave the manuscript for a few months, read copiously in the genre in which you’re writing, and return to your next draft with renewed vigour (and the knowledge that you have already achieved so much in having a complete draft).
Congratulations to all of those writers longlisted and shortlisted, and thank you to the other writers who gave us the opportunity to consider their work. Many thanks to everybody at Varuna for the passion and commitment you show to the Australian writing and publishing communities and for facilitating programs such as these publishing fellowships.

domain: literature