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|Home -> Other California History Books -> Impressions of the Art at the Panama-Pacific Exposition - Foreign Painting - Part One|
Despite the petulant pronouncement of Whistler that art knows no country, it becomes increasingly apparent that the element of nationality is the most potent of all aesthetic characteristics. The butterfly conception of beauty, while an effective weapon when employed against the Philistine, fails to enlist the sympathies or augment the sum of knowledge. It is through studying the art of other lands that we can alone glean an accurate impression of our own, and this is not the least reason why we should extend generous welcome to the stranger. In the ensuing survey of foreign art at the Panama-Pacific Exposition special consideration will be accorded only those countries which were officially represented. Though there were numerous isolated canvases in the International Section that might otherwise invite comment, we shall confine our attention to nations rather than to individuals.
As the first country to respond to the appeal of popular life and shake off the sterilizing formalism of Church and Court, Holland claims a leading place in the history of modern painting. It matters little that there was a dreary, barren hiatus following the death of Ruisdael, Hobbema, and Pieter de Hooch. The sturdy Dutch were simply biding their time, and when, under the inspiration of the French romantic movement of 1830, attention was again directed to native theme, they readily reconquered their lost prestige. The chief names in this renaissance of the art of the Netherlands are Bosboom, Israëls, Mauve, Weissenbruch, and the brothers Maris. They it was who laid the foundations of the contemporary Dutch school. Through their sympathetic appreciation of nature and their power of synthetic presentation they re-affirmed the fundamental principles of their forbears. It is the men of the second generation such as Blommers, Breitner, Witsen, Gorter, Isaac Israëls, and van Mastenbroek who figured most prominently at San Francisco, and it may be asserted without hesitation that they preserve intact the national artistic patrimony.
Like their Fontainebleau-Barbizon predecessors the Dutchmen are by preference tonalists. Their pictures are studies in atmospheric unity rather than specific transcriptions of line or form. Drifting in from the sea or rising from lush meadow and lazy canal is an all-pervading moisture, a diffused, modified radiance that gives to the land and its art a characteristically persuasive appeal. One and all these men are sincere, unaffected nature poets. No restless individualism disturbs their harmonious compositions. Repose, not revolution, is the sentiment they inspire. Whether treating broad, panoramic outdoor motive or modest cottage interior it is light, or rather tone, which remains the centre of interest. You will note this alike in the busy glimpses of Rotterdam harbour by van Mastenbroek, or the irregular spires and rambling house-fronts of Witsen. The same tendency is visible in the work of more advanced talents such as Hendrik Jan Wolter who, despite his freedom of stroke and purity of colour, relies primarily upon the unifying possibilities of atmosphere.
In surveying the spacious, well-appointed rooms devoted to Dutch art at San Francisco one was impressed by the sanity and balance that characterized the canvases as a whole. The themes were, as may be inferred, normal and unpretentious, the technique sound and devoid of eccentricity. A conspicuous measure of approval greeted the appearance of Breitner's simple and effective Amsterdam Timber Port, while Marius A. J. Bauer, with a small panel entitled Oriental Equestrian, and a series of dramatic fantasias in black and white, contributed his usual richly imaginative note. A less familiar figure was Mr. Willem Witsen, the Commissioner of Fine Arts, who, with his portraits in the Netherlands Pavilion, his two views of Amsterdam, and his etchings, revealed himself the possessor of a definitely formulated artistic individuality. To a rare degree of objective verity Mr. Witsen adds a personal subjectivity which, in its every manifestation, is instinct with poetic feeling. One can indeed but congratulate the Resident Commissioner-General, the Honourable H. A. van Coenen Torchiana and his able staff upon the success of the Netherlands Section. Conservative, and basing itself confidently upon the production of the past, contemporary Dutch art, in no sense radical or modernistic, illustrates the value of a consistently maintained tradition.
It was to the Frenchmen of a later date that the more eclectic Swedes turned for inspiration. The "phalanx of 1830" had already been superseded by grey-toned naturalist and sparkling luminist when Zorn, Ernst Josephson, Karl Nordström, Larsson, and Liljefors flocked to Northern France. They did not as a rule remain away long enough to lose sympathy with Scandinavian type and scene. One by one they returned to fling defiance at the Academy and initiate one of the most vigorous and wholesome movements in the history of current art. Under the commanding influence of Nordström the Konstnärsförbundet became the most important organization of its kind in Sweden. And yet, while this particular society has at various periods included in its membership virtually all the leading artists, certain of the better men, restive under its restrictions, have from time to time broken away. It was from such independent spirits, as well as from other sources, that the Swedish Section at San Francisco was recruited.
There is no gainsaying the impression which the art of these virile, clear-eyed Northmen made upon the exposition public. Admirably arranged by the Swedish Commissioner of Fine Arts, Mr. Anshelm Schultzberg, who here duplicated his successes at St. Louis and at Rome, the several galleries reflected that breadth of comprehension without which painting remains a mere dilettante diversion. The Fjaestad room with its hand-carved furniture, tapestries, and amply spaced canvases offered an object lesson which local museum and exhibition officials should take seriously to heart. This artist, whose work is at once stylistic and naturalistic, who is a marvellous observer and a master of decorative design, proved one of the outstanding features of the exposition. An older and better-known man who was likewise accorded collective representation was the animal painter, Bruno Liljefors, while the landscapes contributed by the Commissioner himself proved that, despite official duties, he is more than maintaining his position as a sympathetic and veracious interpreter of forest stillness and snow-clad hillside.
While it was difficult, from so well balanced an ensemble, to detach specific individuals, it was impossible to overlook the work of two young and less widely known men, namely, Gabriel Strandberg and Helmer Osslund. The former selects his types from the poorer quarters of Stockholm and portrays them with luminous stroke and penetrative intuition. The latter finds his inspiration in North Sweden, where he records the clear colour, sharply silhouetted forms, and mighty rhythm of seemingly illimitable stretches of mountain and sky. You instantly discern in the work of the Swedes - in the bold Lofoten Island sketches of Anna Boberg or the delicate panels of Oskar Bergman - a frankness of vision and directness of presentation as rare as they are stimulating. Unfatigued and lacking in sophistication, the art of Sweden derives its strength from the silent, persistent community between nature and man. The elements are few, but they are all-sufficient.
A less uniform development and a more truculent physiognomy mark the artistic production of latter-day Norway. Trained for the most part in Germany, the leaders, such as Christian Krohg and Edvard Munch, are turbulent and stressful in their outlook upon nature and character. Both dominant personalities, the rugged naturalism of Krohg becomes with Munch a species of restless, haunting evocation, now sensuous, now psychic in appeal. It was these men, together with numerous recruits from the ranks of the new school, who constituted the exhibition collected by Director Jens Thiis for the delectation of San Francisco. Lacking in homogeneity, though not in interest, the display ran the gamut from tentative essays in impressionism by Collett and Thaulow to the invigorating chromatic experiments of Henrik Lund and Pola Gauguin.
Save at Cologne, Berlin, and Vienna, where they have appeared with unquestioned success, the work of the more advanced men has not proved sympathetic to the general public. While it is impossible to deny the dynamic power and fundamental pictorial endowment which these compositions reflect they not infrequently reveal a certain want of sensitiveness. More talented than their neighbours, the Norwegians are lacking in discipline. If the art of Sweden is a clearly formulated and in a measure collective expression, that of Norway remains defiantly individual. A stormy instability of temper combined with the lack of a central tradition, has thus far prevented these men from assuming their rightful position in the province of contemporary painting or sculpture.
Although not represented in the Palace of Fine Arts, or its precipitately constructed Annex, the Danish Government contributed several canvases toward the enhancement of the official Pavilion. Viewed at leisure in spacious, homelike reception suites, these few subjects, all of which were from the Royal Gallery in Copenhagen, conveyed an agreeable impression of the essential characteristics of Danish art. The painters included H. and W. Hammer, Exner, Roed, Ottesen, Hansen, Balsgaard, Kyhn, Petersen, and Christensen. They belong to the epoch before Kroyer carried northward the gospel of light and air, and before Willumsen stirred his countrymen to fury with the premonitions of Post-Impressionism. It was not "Frie Udstilling" art that greeted you from figured wall and looked down upon flower-set table.
Face to face with these simple, engaging bits of still-life, or glimpses of sunlit river and ripening grain field, one experienced a feeling of peace and repose. Here passed a peasant workman with a cheery "God Aften" to the landed proprietor and his wife. There sat a stolid market woman from Amager counting her hard-earned coppers. The feverish scramble for sensation, the shuffle of a thousand anxious feet, the crudity and confusion of the Palace of Fine Arts with its heterogeneous contents vanished like a nightmare amid the soothing propriety of these discreetly appointed rooms. In their quiet, unpretentious way the Danes appear to have somewhat the better of the argument. They have not lost sight of the true function of oil painting, which, be it intimated, is appropriately to embellish a given wall space. Their conception of life is modest and measured, and this attitude is eloquently reflected in their art.
It is not difficult to divine why these particular subjects should have been sent to America. One can readily picture the mellow, erudite Director Madsen sauntering through the Kunstmusæum and selecting them deliberately, one by one, each designed to convey its special message of beauty and benignity to a restless, transatlantic world. While it is to be regretted that he did not include a few examples by Köbke and Marstrand, this would have been asking too much of such a savant and solicitous custodian.
Although it seems a far cry from the art of the Northern countries to that of Hungary, the passage may be made by way of Finland, for the Finns and Hungarians are allied both ethnically and aesthetically. There having been however but a single Finnish artist, Axel Gallén-Kallela, on view at San Francisco, we shall proceed to a consideration of the work of the music and colour-loving Magyars. The art of Hungary is before else a typically rhapsodic expression. You feel in it a marked degree of rhythm and a rich, vibrant harmony rarely if ever encountered elsewhere. There has thus far been in the Land of the Four Rivers and the Three Mountains no visible divorce between beauty and utility. The painter's attitude toward his profession, while more conscious, resembles that of the peasant toward the simpler tasks of eye and hand. In each you meet the same deep-rooted race spirit, the same love of vivid chromatic effect, the same fervid lyric passion.
Hungarian painting in the modern signification of the term dates from the early pleinair canvases of the pioneer impressionist, Szinyei Merse Pál, who, at the Munich exhibition of 1869, first came in contact with the epoch-making Frenchmen. And yet while Majális, just as Manet's Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe, marks the dividing line between the old and the new, it was not until 1896 when Hollósy Simon moved his classes from the Bavarian capital to Nagybánya, that the tendency assumed definite shape. The work of Hollósy is today being continued by Ferenczy Károly, while at Kecskemét we have Iványi Béla, and at Szolnok, on the banks of the Tisza, is Fényes Adolf and another flourishing colony. Everywhere throughout Hungary you will note a similar return to the salutary fecundity of native scene and national inspiration. The movement is best typified in the most talented personality of all, Rippl-Rónai József who, after years of Paris artist life, is now serenely sequestered at his birthplace, Kaposvár, producing the best work of his career. Although independent of temper, it is necessary for such men to exhibit in a body, their memorable debut of 1897 having been followed a decade later by the formation of the Circle of Magyar Impressionists and Naturalists, currently known as the "M. I. É. N. K." A still more recent group is the Nyolczak or Eight, whose aims and ideas are patently expressionistic.
It is these tendencies which, be it confessed, were somewhat ineffectually elucidated at San Francisco. The manifest intention was to have offered a more or less inclusive survey of contemporary Hungarian artistic activity, yet for one reason or another this was scarcely achieved. The group of sketches by Rippl-Rónai did not fail to disappoint those already familiar with this brilliant creative colourist's achievement. Csók István fared somewhat better, but one missed Réti István, Perlmutter Izsák, Czóbel Béla, and other names of kindred importance. Réth, Késmarky, Kóródy, Csáky, and numerous talented young radicals whose work is as well known in Berlin and Paris as it is in Budapest, were also absent. The physiognomy of current Hungarian painting as presented at the Panama-Pacific Exposition was in short varied but incomplete. The public was hardly able to divine from this particular offering the true significance of modern Magyar art. That fruitful movement which, on the one hand, aims to preserve unspoiled the eloquent peasant heritage and, on the other, to foster an equally national though more comprehensive development was not clearly indicated. A more serious study of racial characteristics and a less spasmodic choice are necessary in order to convey a convincing sense of aesthetic aspiration and attainment.


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UPDATE: Whoops, never mind. These songs are NOT new. They’ve been on ABRA’s Bandcamp for a solid minute now. Apologies, guys. You should still listen!
Last year, the Atlanta DIY goth-soul star ABRA signed to True Panther and released a truly promising EP called Princess. Today, she’s followed that one up, not with a new EP or anything like that, but with four entirely separate new songs, all packaged on their own, with their own cover art. One of those is “Bounty,” a song that she already posted on SoundCloud back in December. But the other three — “Sick Girl,” “Diamonds & Gold,” and “Needsumbody” — are all entirely new. They’re sharp, skeletal songs, and they all make a case that ABRA is a sharp, inventive, tough-to-categorize artist, one who absolutely deserves your attention. Check out the three new songs below.
All three of those songs, along with “Bounty,” are out now, and they’re all self-released.

domain: news


ModalAI, Inc. spun out of Qualcomm’s Corporate R&D Division in June 2018. The team founded Qualcomm’s robotics R&D efforts which led to the creation of two product lines for Qualcomm’s Chipset Division: Drones and Robotics. ModalAI left Qualcomm with a market-ready product, now called VOXL, built upon more than 5 years of R&D. VOXL leverages the smartphone ecosystem to create a highly integrated, machine vision-based, autonomous navigation system that provides autonomy for indoor and outdoor, aerial and ground robots. The VOXL was born as a successor to the team’s previous work, Snapdragon Flight. The integration provided by VOXL and Snapdragon Flight enables fully autonomous UAVs well under 300g in total weight.
ModalAI’s mission is to accelerate safe autonomy with compact, light-weight, and powerful robot and drone perception and communication system
|Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Awards ModalAI Contract to Develop Next-Generation UAS (Drone) Technology|
|AEE Collaborates with ModalAI to Bring Unprecedented Safety to Drones|
|AEE Teams with Qualcomm Spin-off ModalAI for Mach 2 Drone|
|Drone Company AEE Announces AI-fueled Product Launch at CES 2019|


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Agnes, played by Abi Tedder, is hosting a wake for the father who abandoned her as a child.
It’s sentimental. Agnes, without fatherly support from a young age, has remained a child emotionally, socially and romantically; and many things about the production are delightfully child-like: drawings projected onto a cardboard box and the way Tedder wears all black mourning clothes except for multi-coloured socks and shoes.
It’s funny too. Food and drinks are relentlessly spilt on Agnes; her inner monologue cuts in via voiceover to leer her on to saying either offensive things about her step-mother or embarrassing tales of sexual misdemeanour; she impersonates off-stage characters and relates conversations between her and them with great skill.
The sentimentality and humour already present in the script are enhanced by Tedder, who is a joy to watch as she bounds all over the stage, makes reptile-like faces, and at times looks tenderly out into the audience as if searching through it for a friend. With a touch more confidence and with sharper direction, the gags have the potential to be hilarious. At first it didn’t seem necessary for Agnes to seem so desperate for laughs after every punch-line, but then as the play progressed it made more sense that Agnes, so masochistically eager to please everyone, would put so much emphasis on making us – perfect strangers – enjoy ourselves.
The structure of the play could also be tweaked somewhat. Instead of demanding sympathy for Agnes about her situation so early in the play, perhaps more purely unadulterated fun in the first half would work better. Once we’ve been well and truly won over by Agnes, the flickers of vulnerability would be felt more dearly.
It would now be wise to address feminism, the elephant in the room of the Pleasance Courtyard’s Baby Grand. ‘Anything But’ does indeed set itself up as a feminist work, challenging the idea that people should want ‘anything but (a one-woman play)’, by presenting us with a character who, in Abi Tedder’s words, is ‘neither an idiot, nor someone defined by their appearance’. She’s a fully developed character, both likable and laughable.
However, some of the play’s statements I found either controversial, or just confusing. Agnes discovers an old sex-education book at one point in the play, and opens it to read out various ill-conceived names for female genitalia. Not only is this incredibly close in material to ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ but it also sits strangely with the rest of the play, which I was not aware was about Agnes’ society-induced repressed sexuality so much as her generally low father-induced self-belief.
Yet ‘Agnes’ (aptly meaning pure) has remained a virgin until the day of her father’s funeral, which is interesting. Agnes has spent her life suffering her father’s abandonment, and it becomes clearer throughout the play that she is replicating her father’s absence by finding a new male protector in the form of Jason, a half-witted loser soon to become her lover. This ending poses a not very empowering message for feminism, but it’s perhaps an ending that’s – sadly and poignantly - true for many women.
This is a piece both witty and heart-warming. Get your ticket, and you’ll be anything but disappointed.

domain: artistic


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Loren Gray can’t cover her whole body because of her tight bιkιnι. my
Loren Gray can’t cover her whole body because of her tight bιkιnι.
Loren Gray, real name Loren Gray Beech, is an American singer-songwriter and social media star. She was born on April 19, 2002 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States. Loren rose to fame through the TikTok app, formerly Musical.ly, where she shared dance videos and short vocals.
With millions of social media followers, Loren has become a teen icon. She has also expanded her career into music, releasing a number of songs such as “My Story” and “Kick You Out”. She signed with Virgin Records and Capitol Records in 2018.
In addition to music, Loren is also a model and has appeared on the covers of many fashion magazines. She also regularly participates in top fashion events and is a fashion influencer on social media.
With her beautiful looks and stylish fashion sense, Loren Gray has attracted the attention of many people around the world. She continues to develop her career and impress her fans through her talent and love for music and art.


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It’s been five years since lifelong friends Hamish and Andy finished travelling the world for the award-winning ratings hit, Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year. And now they’re back on the road in North America for Hamish & Andy’s “Perfect” Holiday - Sundays at 7.00pm on Nine and 9Now
Giving Life, a fly-on-the-wall series to inspire Australia’s blood donors, Saturdays at 1.00pm on Nine.
The biggest Block ever reached a stunning conclusion, celebrating a 100% clearance rate with all five houses selling in a night of incredible auctions.
Nine is on track to enjoy its best ratings share performance of all time.
Key to the network’s success is a year-round schedule of premium content that delivers proven consistency of audience across all advertiser-preferred demographics.
Tennis fans will experience the sport from a whole new angle with Cross Court – a magazine style show dedicated to the great game – Sundays at 11.00am on Nine and 9Now.
Follow the adventures of Alex Hynes, Danni Dusek, Lewis Hunt and Peter Ricci in Bondi Vet: Coast to Coast - Fridays at 7.30pm on Nine.
Four-time ARIA Award winner and The Voice coach Guy Sebastian, one of Australia’s most enduring artists, will host the 33rd ARIA Music Awards from The Star Event Centre in Sydney.
© 2018 NBN Television


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It wasn’t the best morning for photography but I haven’t been in the last few days so despite the clouds starting to build up I decided to hit the local wildlife management area and see what I can find. It was a slow morning bird-wise but I did come across a few song sparrows I was able to spend a few minutes with. Sometimes I like to capture some of the surrounding vegetation and scenery with the bird and other times I like to get in real close and get a close up, particularly a head shot of the bird. I was able to do just that this morning with this cooperative song sparrow.
It would have turned out better with better lighting conditions but we are expecting another storm soon so I have to deal with the never ending days with low light and cold temperatures this time of year. I love photographing birds in the winter because they are quite a bit easier to get closer to but I also miss the long stretches of sunny mornings when my camera can capture more color and detail. Either way a day out watching birds and photographing our natural world is a great day.


Re: QSX 10W HF Linear PA kit
am not sure which three transistor W7ZOI amp you are referring to, but suggest you look at
which uses a Hayward hyb Cascode amp and subs amplifier to drive a PA - all the early bits are class A. Enhancements include using two J310 Fets in parallel (Q90 should be a current hog compared to a J310 JFET, and changing out the final transistor. All done without magic MMIC . 250 mW Linear should be possible ie about 3dB greater than as found.
That 250 mW will give you 8 W out from 3.5 to 30 Mhz if used with topology in Kee's (Talen) 16 W linear amp.


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40 More Seconds
After a rough start (I think the weather made us all boisterous), we sketched in 40 more seconds of choreography tonight.
I spent much(1) of the rehearsal standing around in 1st arabesque à terre while we worked two different bits in which I, standing there as such, am the still point.
- The rest of the time was petite allegro, running, more petite allegro, more running, even more petite allegro, demonstrating grand assemblée en tournant, even more petite allegro, and two full runs of all three minutes and ten seconds of the dance. Holy cats, do I need to locate my jump rope. Yea verily, my cardio sucketh.
I think the effect is going to be pretty neat. Following a section with much bourrée-ing, I chassé through and hold the 1st a-à-t whilst eight of the girls 2nd a-à-t, then collect back to a fondu-soutenu-y thing before leaping and flocking away to do pretty things stage right.
Immediately after the first flock departs, the other four girls envelop me (still bravely holding my position) into their flock, and then we do pretty things stage left.
The experience of dancing this bit of my part is rather like getting off of one train, watching as it sails away, then getting drawn into a second train amongst your fellow commuters.
Assuming, of course, that one is in the habit of arabesque-ing on the train platforms (regarding which I think I’d better exercise my right to the fifth amendment).
One of the things I quite like about this piece is that it is not always the girls leading me or vice-versa. Sometimes they lead me; occasionally I lead them. At other points, I’m just part of the stream. (Evidently of commuters. On the bourré train.)
I’m curious about where we’re going next, as we’ve reached another partnering bit that is, per BG, sort of a little hommage to Apollo. For me, tonight finished on a total cliffhanger as I couru-ed my butt to downstage right and finished in this lovely lunge with arms extended à côté.
Evidently the girls are going to make use of my arms, and I’m burning with curiosity as to what, exactly, that means.
At any rate, I just hope they put them back when they’re done, because I am definitely going to need them, if only to shove food and so forth into my face after the performance, as one does.
Anyway, it’s past my bedtime. I’m taking a rest/cleaning day tomorrow, since both Wednesday and Thursday promise to be long days.
Posted on 2017/02/28, in balllet, performances, rehearsals and tagged anticipation, ballet rehearsal, get on the bourré train. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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domain: hobby


AMD Issues Second Statement on Ryzen 7000 Burnout Issues: Caps SoC Voltagesby Gavin Bonshor on April 27, 2023 9:53 AM EST
Yesterday, AMD issued a statement surrounding the burnout issues some users have been experiencing with their Ryzen 7000X3D processors. The problem, reported in multiple Reddit subforums, includes some Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs burning out part of the chip, and damaging the AM5 socket in the process. This morning, AMD has released a second statement regarding the issue, including what it is doing to rectify the problem and put Ryzen 7000 processor owners at ease.
The official statement from AMD is as follows:
To counteract the problem, AMD has apparently identified an issue with specific chip voltages going too high when users enable AMD's EXPO memory profiles. A new cap on SoC voltages looks to be the primary change in the AGESA firmware rollout.
However, AMD's broad statement mentions that the update will address multiple power rails, which implies to some degree that the issue may be more than just the SoC power rail – or at least, that AMD isn't taking any chances. So what this entirely means is still a bit up in the air, as AMD hasn't specified in detail what it's doing outside of SoC power limits to prevent Ryzen CPUs from exceeding their specification limits.
Technically speaking, enabling EXPO memory profiles is a form of overclocking – i.e. operating the processor outside of specifications – as AMD's Ryzen 7000 family only officially supports DDR5 memory up to DDR5-5200 speeds. So going past this is putting additional stress on the memory controller in terms of clockspeeds; but the greater concern is how the various voltages on the chip are being adjusted to keep up with the demands of higher memory speeds.
One interesting point about AMD's statement is that it doesn't allude to whether or not the issue is just on its Ryzen 7000X3D processors, or whether it affects all of its Ryzen 7000 processors entirely. Regardless of the Zen 4 chip that users may have, AMD is ambiguous in its language, and it seems to be that AMD is recommended that all users with a Ryzen 7000 series processor should update to the latest firmware.
In practice, enabling EXPO memory profiles on compatible DRAM does seem to push SoC voltages beyond AMD's safe spot on the Ryzen 7000 processors, which AMD is treating as part of the cause of the burnout issue. AMD does, however, state that the changes it has made to their AGESA firmware, once flashed, shouldn't affect the user's ability to apply EXPO memory profiles on compatible kits of DDR5 memory. Which does raise the question of why motherboards were increasing SoC voltages in the first place, as presumably this shouldn't be needed if AMD's new caps won't limit EXPO memory overclocking.
In any case, AMD is actively working with its motherboard partners to release a new AGESA firmware with the new voltage limits, which they say has already been distributed. AMD claims that all AM5 motherboard vendors and models should have a new BIOS version available to them within the next few days, and is recommending all users to update their BIOS at their earliest convenience.
Image source: Speedrookie/Reddit


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Biotope -- South American Blackwater Creek
BIOTOPE AQUARIA -- South American Blackwater Creek
A biotope aquaria is an aquarium that is set-up to simulate a natural habitat. The fish, plants, water chemistry, and furnishings are similar to those that can be found in a specific natural setting.
Always check compatibility! Some species from a particular habitat are not suitable tankmates. For example, the Peacock Bass will eat small tetras since they are their natural food in the wild.
The biotope aquarium can be adapted by adding species from disparate areas that have similar water requirements.
South American Blackwater Creek - near the Rio Sucasari, Peru
This biotope description is derived from an interview I did for SimplyDiscus.com that was posted on February 28, 2003.
The Rio Sucasari is a small tributary near the confluence of the Rio Napo and the Amazon River about 5 hours downriver from Iquitos, Peru. It is an interesting area because of the diversity of habitats: the Rio Napo and Amazon are large whitewater rivers, while the Sucasari is a pure blackwater creek. There are also several Oxbow lakes, both whitewater and blackwater. I will specifically be describing a small creek off the Sucasari, which was under a nearly complete canopy shading.
In the Sucasari creek there were numerous downed trees. Submerged wood is generally very dark in color. There were few living roots, but fallen tree matter (trees, branches) was much more common in this specific biotope.
I only did a limited amount of collecting in the creek using dip nets, throw nets, and traditional fishing line. I snorkeled around a bit during the day and at night examined the creek using a floodlight. Pimelodids and Loricarids were abundant as were silver hatchetfish, Severum, and assorted small tetras in large schools (Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Boehlkea, and Thayeria). There were Apistogramma spp. and Brochis splendens among the leaf litter. I did not encounter any discus in that specific area.
In the forest around the creek there were a large number of frogs, toads, and snakes. I found mata mata turtles in the shallows of the creek under fallen logs. As for aquatic insects, I saw few "swimmers" but many insect larvae living among the wood matter and rotting vegetation. There were land snails, but I failed to notice any aquatic snails. There were lots of flying insects especially flies and gnats but not too many mosquitoes. In the vegetation along the river there were many highly camouflaged katydids, grasshoppers, and other insects.
Few aquatic plants -- mostly roots and submerged wood. At the time of my visit water levels were at their midpoint, so many semi-aquatic plants that grew along the water are probably submerged at some point during the year. In some areas there were reedy plants growing fully submerged. In this particular area there were no floating plants but in adjacent oxbow lakes they were water lilies, water cabbage, and duckweed-like plants. Sword plants were also present in nearby swampy areas -- these grew both emerged and submerged.
No rocks whatsoever!! In this part of the Amazon, rocks are treated as a commodity and are used for trading because of their rarity. The river bed is orange/pinkish colored clay with several inches of rotting leaf litter and debris. The leaves had sharply pointed tips consistent with typical rainforest leaf shape (the so-called "drip-tips" facilitate water flow off the leaf surface).
pH 5.5-6.5, 0-4 dH, 79-84 F (26-29 C)
Use fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Ideally, woody material should be the most prominent decoration in the tank. Use scattered Amazon swords and reedy plants like Vallisneria.
Lighting should be subdued and filter outflows placed to create little current.
Sword plants, Vallisneria
Discus, Angelfish, Dwarf Cichlids, Tetras [Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Boehlkea, and Thayeria], Hatchetfish, Corydoras, Pimelodids, Loricarids.
"Pimelodids and Loricarids were abundant as were silver hatchetfish, Severum, and assorted small tetras in large schools (Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Boehlkea, and Thayeria). There were Apistogramma spp. and Brochis splendens among the leaf litter. I did not encounter any discus in that specific area."
Blackwater creek after rain
Blackwater creek after rain
Altum Angelfish Biotope Aquarium Pictures
Discus Biotope Aquarium Pictures
Other Biotope Resources

domain: geography


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Leah Pipes plays the queen of Theta Pi in Sorority Row, and she will admit that it's Queen B for b*tch. The Theta Pis follow her character, Jessica, even when she orchestrates a prank that results in the death of Theta Pi Megan (Audrina Patridge). Rather than go to the police, Jessica convinces the sisters to bury the body and the evidence, and she kind of sells the viewers on her plan, too.
"Well, I had to believe it," Pipes said in an exclusive interview on Aug. 30 in Beverly Hills, Calif. "I had to really figure out what she was saying and what she was really saying is, 'This just happened.' You can see in the scene, at first she does freak out. It's a freaky thing and I needed to show that, I felt, that it does hit her but then she just stops and she wipes off her tears and she says, 'Get me out. Get me out of this situation. Get me out of what comes from this situation. Not everyone else, just me.' So she has to convince everyone around her and I played that scene very much in my own head, where she's not really noticing the other girls and what they're going through. It's very much all about her, as it always is."
Things don't stay buried as Jessica planned and a killer stalks the Theta Pi house on graduation night. Jessica reacts to the killings with the nonchalance of Ash cutting off his own hand in Evil Dead II.
"I think that she isn't there," Pipes continued. "She's not in the situation. She's not really experiencing it. All she's seeing is the way out and she has her goal and she's very focused on that. I don't think she's evil. I didn't see her as evil. I saw her as very determined."
No matter how many sisters die in Jessica's attempts to cover her tracks, it never occurs to her to just stop and go to the police. The killer has phone video of the sisters' prank and evidence they buried with Megan, but Jessica still thinks there's a way out for her.
"Yes, and every problem she's just trying to fix," Pipes said. "She wasn't trying to say, 'Oh, woe is me. How are we ever going to do this? People are dying.' It was like, 'I'm going to ignore death. I'm going to ignore all this tragedy and I'm going to get out of this.' Of course, in the beginning of the film, you do see that she is a b*tch. She will play tricks on people and I think she's just so intelligent and bored that she likes to toy with people. She likes to be manipulative and see what she can make people do. It's not necessarily evil. I just think she's so intelligent that she actually finds most people very boring."
One of Jessica's best lines, before the murders even start and the sister are only worrying about threatening messages on their phones, is when she says, "No one's dead. Well, Megan ... "
"Exactly, she's very self-centered," Pipes agreed.
She also warns another sister, "Don't go out there," with obvious insincerity in a reference to the ultimate horror movie cliche.
"I mean, she's a sarcastic b*tch and of course she wants that girl to die," Pipes said. "She genuinely does. She's genuinely like, 'Oh no, she can go. This situation can actually work for me. There's a killer on the loose and they might kill her and I want her dead so this actually is perfect.'"
Even the film's gratuitous nudity comes from a place of character. Jessica orders an underclassman to remove her towel as she walks back from the senior shower. "Yes, again, she really enjoys power. She likes to manipulate people. They say she's a power whore. I don't think so. This is such an intelligent human being that she's going to get bored and start exploiting her intelligence and exploiting other people while doing so."
Jessica's real comeuppance would not be her possible fate at the hands of the killer. It is actually when Megan's sister (Caroline D'Amore), visiting campus in her sister's honor, calls Jessica out. Jessica is left stuttering with no response, a fate worse than death.
"That moment where I didn't respond wasn't initially in the script," Pipes said. "It kind of happened on the day where she says something to me and I'm supposed to get back in the car but I try to respond and no one's ever done this to me before. So it's like, 'A, a, I, ah, o, uh, I, I will deal with you later.' I don't even know what to say. It's just such a weird [moment] and I hadn't been called out in so long, in that entire film, that it just kind of happened that way where I was so angry as being Jessica and I didn't even know how to respond. So it was perfect that there was no line there in response."
Sorority Row opens Sept. 11.

domain: entertainment


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They came from all over Sydney. At 4.30 Monday morning hundreds of Spanish and Italians headed to the Star to watch the final of Euro 2012, joining the Asians who dominate the floor of the casino in the early hours of the morning.
The gamblers scattered around the few open tables, or pushing notes through the pokie machines, weren’t distracted by the excitement surrounding the big clash.
In the sports bar the rows of seats in front of the big screen were packed. It was standing room only. People stood around the edges and spilt out of the room. Ten minutes before kick-off no one was being let in, not that there weren’t plenty of other screens to watch throughout the casino.
The Italian supporters came expecting a win and were vocal in their confidence. Fans wore flags tied around their shoulder as capes and face paint on their cheeks.
Behind the bar a couple of bartenders had painted their faces the red and yellow of the Spanish. They had plenty of time to watch the soccer. There wasn’t a lot of drinking going on.
By the second half, down two-nil, the Italian fans didn’t have much to yell about. One passionate supporter was reduced to yelling, “Putana!” at his team, the opposition, the referee, or the television signal that occasionally dropped out.
A woman was in tears when it went to three-nil. Rather than stand and watch the slaughter she sat on the carpet. Her boyfriend joined her. They pashed as if they were in a hotel room, instead of sitting on the casino carpet watching their team getting flogged.
The Italians started to clear out before the final whistle, before Juan Mata slotted in the record-making fourth goal. The Spanish fans didn’t linger long to savour their victory. It was time to get to work or get back to bed. A few dozen watched the presentation and tried to start chants that didn’t catch on.
By 7.30 the place was near empty again, but for the few gamblers at the tables, still hoping for a win against the odds.


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Who doesn’t love deep fried foods!? When we saw that Nicko’s Kitchen put together a YouTube video on deep fried Oreo recipe, we knew we had to share it with you all.
Let’s ignore all of the health downers for a moment and enter into some deep fried Oreo bliss!
Here is what you will need:
- 10 Oreo cookies
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tbls sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- Vegetable oil to fry
Go ahead, run to the market and try this out and tell us how much you enjoyed them.
Don’t forget to give this a like and a share on Facebook before you go!

domain: food


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Law enforcement continue to investigate Woodforest National Bank burglary
Nearly a week after a burglary at the Woodforest National Bank in Conroe, law enforcement agencies continue to work on identifying the robbers while the victims attempt to determine what remains missing.
Woodforest National Bank representatives released stating on Sunday, July 22, “a burglary occurred in the middle of the night at Woodforest National Bank’s branch located at 3101 W Davis in Conroe. No persons were injured.”
This particular location sits across the street from Conroe High School.
The Conroe Police Department, who initially responded to the alarm call, and the FBI are conducting an ongoing investigation. Neither CPD nor the FBI responded to requests for further information regarding the burglary.
“At this time and until we have a clear picture of what occurred, the bank is keeping 24/7 security at the branch,” Cindi Stewart, Woodforest National Bank public relations director, said. “It is extremely unfortunate that this occurred, and the bank is doing all we can to resolve the situation for our customers.”
For one of the victims, who requested the Courier not use her identity, she was not informed of the burglary until Tuesday.
“Woodforest National Bank called to let us know about the burglary, which apparently had never happened to them before and that we were possibly affected,” the victim stated. “The burglary reportedly affected the safety deposit boxes and the bank’s vault. I drove over to the bank to learn that we were directly affected; we’re missing numerous items out of our safety deposit box.”
The victim stated that once she was inside the room where the safety deposit boxes and vault are located, it appears the suspects went through the roof to enter into the area and were very precise.
“We had to take stock of what was missing from our safety deposit box and now it’s a waiting game until we hear more from the FBI,” the victim added. “We feel as if we were targeted; we still have so many questions.”
No additional information was available.


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At home COVID-19 tests
Last updated September 9, 2021
Rapid, over the counter COVID-19 tests are now widely available around King County. These tests provide results in 15 minutes. Rapid, over the counter tests are also known as home-based self-collected COVID tests, or antigen tests. Whichever test you choose to use, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
For more information on self-testing please see this guidance from the Washington State Department of Health. Below are some answers to common questions about these tests and considerations for use.
How to report results
The results can be reported to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) by calling 1-800-525-1027. Additionally, calling 1-800-525-1027 can provide answers to questions about what to do next. This hotline is available Monday 6 a.m.-10 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Language assistance is available. Home-based self-collected rapid antigen tests are not required to be reported to DOH, however, Public Health – Seattle & King County strongly encourages reporting results.
If you have a positive result, please stay in isolation for 10 days.
What do I do if I test positive with an over-the-counter home-based rapid test?
If you have a positive result, consider yourself positive and:
- Isolate for 10 days
- Tell your close contacts and household members you have tested positive
If you use more than one test on a single individual and one of the tests is positive, consider yourself positive and isolate for 10 days.
What do I do if I think my over-the-counter home-based rapid test is a false positive?
If you test positive and don't have symptoms and weren't exposed and are concerned this may be a false positive, consider getting a confirmatory test through your healthcare provider or at one of King County's testing sites. Healthcare personnel must collect or observe the collection of a confirmatory test.
For a confirmatory negative test to override a rapid test result, the sample must be collected within 48 hours of the initial positive home-based, self-collected rapid test result.
If you test positive on the confirmation test, isolate from others for 10 days (starting when you initially tested positive or when your symptoms started if you develop symptoms), regardless of your vaccination status.
What if I have a negative result but I am concerned I have COVID-19?
If you are concerned that you might have COVID-19 because you were exposed or have symptoms, then we recommend quarantining yourself and getting another COVID-19 test.
Options for repeat testing include:
- through your healthcare provider
- one of the King County testing sites
- another testing site with confirmatory testing
- continuing to test (no more than once in a 24-hour period) with an over-the-counter rapid test during your quarantine period.
If a repeat test is positive, isolate from others for 10 days since your positive test, OR, if you develop symptoms, enter isolation the date your symptoms started, regardless of your vaccination status.
What else do I need to know if I get a confirmation test?
When getting a confirmation test, wear your mask and tell the staff that you have either had a positive test with an at home, self-collected over-the-counter test OR that you have had a concerning exposure or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 BEFORE you remove your mask.
Some sports are considered high risk for spreading COVID-19. To reduce the risk of transmission for competitive school-based sports teams, Washington Department of Health (DOH) has partnered with Health Commons to implement weekly testing. On days of competition, teams are required to use a type of rapid antigen testing called BinaxNOW. Informed consent is required. For more information on how sports are classified, please refer to the DOH webpage.
For teams who want to compete, athletes who are not fully vaccinated are required to test for COVID-19 twice weekly. If an athlete is fully vaccinated, they are exempt from weekly testing if they do not have COVID-like symptoms.
An athlete who has tested positive and recovered from COVID within the last 90 days is exempt from testing unless they start experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
How far apart should athletes get tested in a week?
Tests need to be done 3-4 days apart. On the day of competition, anyone competing must take a rapid antigen test. Tests taken on the day of competition count as part of the twice weekly testing requirement.
Can any type of COVID-19 test count towards the twice weekly testing requirement?
Yes. However, rapid antigen testing is well suited to this requirement as results are provided in 15 minutes, which allows coaches/trainers to make immediate decisions about an athlete’s ability to compete that week.
What should we do if an athlete gets a positive test result?
If there is a positive test result, notify competition officials, the opposing team/facility, and Public Health—Seattle & King County (PHSKC). Any athlete with a positive test will immediately be excluded from the event and removed from the venue.
Whenever an athlete tests positive, the team must work with PHSKC to determine how to approach isolation, quarantine, and/or further testing (regardless of vaccination status).
If we get one positive test result on the day of competition, can the rest of the team still compete?
According to DOH, all teammates who are not fully vaccinated will also be ineligible to play. These teammates will be considered a close contact, and be immediately removed from the venue, even if they have tested negative up to that point.
Athletes who have recently recovered from COVID in the last three months and are symptom-free may participate in team sports activities without testing. To do so, they must provide a letter from their doctor attesting that they fall into this category (the individual must have had a positive diagnostic test within three months and must have displayed symptoms. An antibody test is not sufficient).
What if an athlete is vaccinated?
Fully vaccinated athletes are not required to quarantine and can continue to participate in the event. If a vaccinated athlete is considered a close contact, they don’t have to quarantine if they don’t have symptoms. Vaccinated athletes that have had close contact should monitor for symptoms for 14 days but do not need to quarantine or isolate.
However, if a fully vaccinated athlete has COVID-like symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, they will be ineligible to play and must leave the venue.
Should coaches and trainers also use these tests?
This program is only required for athletes engaging in competition. However, we encourage coaches and trainers to get tested frequently if they have symptoms, or if they are exposed to COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated.
Link/share our site at kingcounty.gov/rapidtesting

domain: medical


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Contact Lens Design & Materials
Three Steps to Lens Comfort
BY DAVID L. KADING, OD, FAAO
As the saying goes: “The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.” With dry eye, this saying seems to be true. The more we understand meibomian gland dysfunction, aqueous deficiency, and inflammatory dry eye, the more we realize the delicate balance that has to be maintained in the ocular surface to protect our contact lens-wearing patients.
In this constant battle of protecting the ocular surface in our contact lens-wearing patients, we have three fronts on which to take the battle.
The first is the treatment of the ocular surface. This needs to be our first priority and should be done in conjunction with lens fitting in patients who have mild discomfort or early dry eye. For patients who have more significant dry eye symptoms or signs, consider advising them to take a break from contact lens wear for a brief time.
Optimize Care Solutions
The second front is to optimize the care solutions that our patients are using. With a significant percentage of patients purchasing store brand solutions, which were formulated prior to silicone hydrogel lenses, it is imperative that we know what care solutions our patients are using. Then, we will be able to upgrade them or switch them to a hydrogen peroxide-based solution when appropriate.
Switching Lens Modalities
The third front relates to switching patients to a new lens material or modality. It should be noted that there are not any contact lenses that have specific approval for the treatment of dry eye. However, eyecare practitioners routinely alter their patients’ lens modality and materials in an effort to decrease their contact lens discomfort, which may in fact be due to a dry eye state.
While this is a fine line for certain, the goal remains that we want to select lens materials that support the ocular surface to its fullest.
Two options that we discuss with our patients are silicone hydrogel and daily disposable lenses.
Silicone Hydrogels Although not new, silicone hydrogel lenses make up the majority of the lens materials that are fit today. Each company’s lenses vary dramatically from each other, and switching between brands can have an impact on patients’ comfort.
As a whole, silicone hydrogels can have a positive impact over their hydrogel counterparts. One study looked at patients who were refit into a silicone hydrogel lens from their prior hydrogel lenses and found a 48% reduction in the number of subjects reporting frequent during-the-day dryness and a 46% reduction of those reporting frequent end-of-the-day dryness (Chalmers et al, 2008).
Daily Disposable Lenses It should be no surprise that the most advanced technology that we have in the contact lens industry is in daily disposable lenses. In the last two years, the advancement of lens materials from several manufacturers has worked to address comfort at a new level.
As this is the case, in our clinic we have elected to move all of our contact lens wearers into daily disposable lenses (this includes toric and multifocal wearers). In fact, year-to-date we are an 83% daily disposable practice. With new materials and the option of silicone hydrogels in the daily disposable modality, there are obvious advantages.
To fix the dry eye, first address the care solution and then consider moving modality and material. With all of the lenses available to us, these three steps can increase the success in our practices, the number of wearers, and, most importantly, the comfortable wearing time of our patients. CLS
For references, please visit www.clspectrum.com/references and click on document #228.
Dr. Kading owns the Specialty Dry Eye and Contact Lens Center in Seattle. He is the co-owner of Optometric Insights with Dr. Mile Brujic. He has received honoraria for consulting, performing research, speaking and/or writing from: Alcon Laboratories, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Biotissue, Contamac, Essilor, Nicox, Oculus, RPS Detectors, TearScience, Valley Contax, and ZeaVision. Follow him on Twitter @davekading.

domain: health


If the senior housing industry wants to better address the ongoing affordability conundrum, it might consider borrowing some ideas from SHAG.
That’s the acronym for Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations, a senior housing nonprofit based in Tukwila, Washington, which helps older adults access support and services in settings they can afford.
For SHAG Executive Director Jay Woolford, housing is a platform for health care. The organization uses an operational model that’s light on staffing but heavy on innovative partnerships that help support residents as they age in place. And because staffing is such a large part of what makes senior living services more expensive, SHAG’s methodologies could be looked at as a case study for what might work in the larger industry.
Woolford outlined some of what makes SHAG’s operational model work during the newest episode of Transform, a Senior Housing News podcast sponsored by PointClickCare that focuses on the people and ideas shaping the future of senior living.
Here’s some of what Woolford had to say, edited for length and clarity:
We all know that affordability is one of the most pressing issues in the senior housing landscape today. I was curious, in your view as someone who works in the senior housing sector, how big of a problem are we facing?
I think it’s quite substantial. We’ve got three kind of converging things going on. One is the availability of affordable housing, regardless of whether it’s market-rate or whether it’s subsidized. Two, the growing size of an aging population based on health and longevity. And then the third factor is, unfortunately, the savings that many people have today is far below what they’re going to need in order to maintain a lifestyle into the future.
So, between those three factors, I think dealing with the affordability issue is critical.
In the past we have discussed how you are doing some of these projects in mixed-used settings, including SHAG is developing one in a regional mall in Bellevue, Washington. Tell me more about that project.
We’re pretty excited about that opportunity. We’ve been working with a developer who has really been spearheading this. Bellevue, which is a suburb — well, I don’t know if they would consider themselves a suburb — of Seattle. But the east side is an area where there is a great need for affordable housing, and the opportunity presented itself to be able to develop on what would have been a pad site in a regional mall.
So, we’re developing 185 units. In this case, it is a mixed-income project where 20% of the units are tax credits set aside for 50% of the median income. And then the other units are more market-rate. Generally, our model is to keep the communities so that the income limits are such that 50% of the units are for folks that are 80% of median income or lower.
In this case, the location is really amazing because we’re adjacent to a municipal park and an executive golf course. We’re right next to a movie theater. The mall itself was one that actually had this sort of creative concept. It was really the original precursor of the idea of the third [place], where they created a community center at the core of the shopping mall with a food court, a bookstore, and then we also have urgent care available there. There’s actually a mini city hall there. We have craft stores, grocery stores, we’re on three different bus lines.
So, it’s a phenomenal opportunity to look at an ex-urban environment and provide housing within the context of that.
I know that SHAG’s philosophy is, in a nutshell, achieving affordability by tapping into tax credits and also using an operational model that’s heavy on resident-led activities and bringing in community partners, correct?
One of the areas that we’ve really kind of focused on is the need to fill the gap for residents around their financial security. Again, the cost of housing and just supporting housing continues to go up. We try to manage that and keep it at a reasonable pace, but unfortunately with our market it’s often outstripping what they’re seeing in their cost of living adjustments.
So, we developed a couple of years ago two focus areas in order to help with that. One is a resident service coordination program. A lot of folks that are doing affordable housing are doing this type of thing, where we’ve got a cadre of people that are working in our communities with individuals to help find them resources they need in order to be able to maintain their independence and their housing stability.
The other area that we’ve focused on is the idea of partnerships and program development. With that, we’ve got a core group of people who focus on developing relationships with other organizations, other nonprofits, to help in areas with food insecurity, transportation needs, financial resources if required.
And then they’re also working with colleges, universities, health care programs, to be able to bring in to the communities wellness clinics, nursing students, pharmacy, a variety of different resources that would be available to residents in the community.
They also work on toolkits that communities are able to utilize where residents are then able to take these toolkits and work with them in order to expand activities in their communities, and also help with resources. We’ve got folks that are dedicated strictly to working with residents in the communities to develop more of that volunteer relationship.
So, from an operational model, what we have looked at is being able to develop the core competencies, to be able to manage these type of programs, and then really use the model of network nonprofits to be able to bring these resources into the communities and really leverage the population that we have with other organizations that are looking to be able to deploy into this sector.
Do you generally find that it’s easier when you have a community that’s 250 or 300 units, to bring more people in, simply because there’s more people in one place that these organizations can serve?
Absolutely. We have some that are small that are 50 to 100 units. But I think our sweet spot has been in the 250-unit range. Our largest community is 450 units.
The other thing is, not only do our communities have a certain scale, but we also have developed in clusters so that if you look at places like north Seattle, we have four or five communities that are close together in that area. Or, if you go north of Seattle up to Snohomish County, we’ve got four communities. Or you go south of the city down to Federal Way, we’ve got four communities in that market area.
So, not only is it the individual scale of the community but then the concentration of some of the communities that really provide that opportunity to leverage that population, the organizations that want to be able to serve a density. We find that has worked very effectively.
I remember that you have called this model independent living light. How did you land on that name and how does independent living light differ from something like active adult?
I don’t know that we coined the phase, but it certainly is reflective of our approach. When we started 30 years ago, I think the focus was really on providing housing, providing a roof over somebody’s head, at a reasonable price. The focus was on really the provision of housing. And as we have evolved over the years, we’ve begun to realize that more resources need to be provided in order to help people sustain their independence.
So, we don’t provide services, what we do is we coordinate those services for people. So, if people need home care or health care support in their unit, if they need nutrition support, if there is wellness that can be brought in, then we work to be able to find the providers that are able to bring them into the communities. But our primary focus is providing the housing and then providing the network to be able to support people to live independently. So, that’s where we think about it being independent living light.
We don’t have activity directors in our communities, we certainly are not in a position to be providing assisted living support or services. But by working with our plans and partnership team, working with residents in the communities, we are able to coordinate getting those things into our different communities.
Click below to listen to the complete episode:


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You must be logged in and verified to contact the designer.
This model represents the NPC* "Omprelly". He is a character of the indie Game "Love" by the Swedish developer Eskil Steenberg (www.quelsolaar.com). The Omprelly Enclave is the tribe of the power system, also known by their blue color. When you purchase this model the profit is shared with the game developer Eskil and will help him to develop awesome new games! Models are developed from the original geometry of the game.
*NPC stands for "non player charachters", which is equivalent to Artificial Inteligence (A.I.) in a computer game context.


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I still hate airlines. I don’t fear flying, I simply want to withhold as much of my money as I can from those greedy [censored] until the tight squeeze of market forces compel them to start treating their passengers with a little respect. I’m pretty much at the point where I’ll drive to any destination of a thousand miles or so instead of fly. That sentiment led to another grandiose road trip over the winter holidays. Of course, the handful of readers who follow the 12MC Twitter feed already figured that out. That’s an incentive for the rest of you to subscribe to my Twitter page I guess, or maybe it’s a disincentive. I don’t know.
DC to Florida to Mississippi and Back
We took a rather unusual route to the Mississippi Gulf Coast this time, via St. Augustine, Florida. I know many readers would think of that as a crazy detour. I rationalized it a couple of different ways. First, there wasn’t a completely straight route between the Mid Atlantic and the Mississippi Gulf so the detour didn’t make all that much difference in the larger trip. Was it the most direct route? No, of course not. It wasn’t totally insane either.
Second, there were lots of cool things to see and do in St. Augustine and I knew the boys would love it. My wife actually nailed it on the head, though. "Is this a county counting thing?" she asked. Well, ahem, yes that might have had something to do with it. She was fine with the idea once I confessed the ulterior motive. We’ve been married long enough by now that she accepts my weird hobby even if she doesn’t completely understand it.
We left on Christmas day to avoid the worst of the soul-sucking horror of Interstate 95 traffic and stopped overnight somewhere in North Carolina. That evening, with few restaurant options, I chose shrimp and grits for my Christmas Dinner. That’s a thing, right? The traditional shrimp and grits Christmas Dinner? I enjoyed it anyway, and it reminded me that we were in the South. I washed it down with a Sweet Tea since we were way below the Sweet Tea Line by that point. The next day we continued to Florida and all went smoothly except for some bad traffic for the final forty-five miles of South Carolina. We made it safely to St. Augustine (map) by late afternoon.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Castillo de San Marcos
We stopped first at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (map).
Americans often think of Plymouth, Massachusetts (established 1620) or Jamestown, Virginia (established 1607 – and visited by 12MC) as the "oldest" successful European settlements in the continental United States. That’s because people of English descent wrote many of the history books. As a point of fact, that honor should go to St. Augustine instead which was founded by Spanish settlers in 1565.
St. Augustine didn’t incorporate a magnificent fort from its inception. Rival European nations and their privateers conducted raids up and down the Atlantic coast. St. Augustine was sacked a couple of times by the English and threatened by the French. Spain finally had enough after the 1668 attack by Jamaican privateer Robert Searle. Construction of Castillo de San Marcos began in 1672, a full century after the original settlement of the city.
The National Park Service discussed the architecture and construction of this oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S., and its only surviving specimen from the Seventeenth Century:
… It is a prime example of the "bastion system" of fortification, the culmination of hundreds of years of military defense engineering. It is also unique for the material used in its construction. The Castillo is one of only two fortifications in the world built out of a semi-rare form of limestone called coquina… A cannon ball fired at more solid material, such as granite or brick would shatter the wall into flying shards, but cannon balls fired at the walls of the Castillo burrowed their way into the rock and stuck there, much like a bb would if fired into Styrofoam. So the thick coquina walls absorbed or deflected projectiles rather than yielding to them, providing a surprisingly long-lived fortress.
Castillo de San Marcos was constructed in a star shape with four bastions. This allowed defenders to create deadly crossfire for anyone hoping to to attack. The fort never fell during battle, however it changed hands a number of times because of political changes.
- Florida became a British territory in 1763 as part of the settlement of the Seven Years’ War.
- Florida returned to Spanish control in 1783 at the end of the American Revolutionary War (Spain had been a supporter of American independence and this was its reward).
- Florida became part of the United States through the Adams–Onís Treaty in 1821.
- Florida seceded from the U.S and joined the Confederate States of America in 1861.
- Union troops seized the undefended fort in 1862 and held it for the remainder of the war and ever since.
During all that time and up until 1933, it remained a military garrison. Only then did the property convey to the U.S. National Park Service.
Saint Augustine Lighthouse
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Our other primary stop that day was the Saint Augustine Lighthouse (map).
Everyone else, it seemed, had a similar idea. The weather was absolutely perfect on the Saturday after Christmas. All the sites were mobbed. We drove onto Anastasia Island and noticed a line of traffic stretching at least a half-mile in the opposite direction, backed up by a traffic light at the end of the bridge in St. Augustine proper. Getting onto the island was easy. Getting back would be a problem. We couldn’t do anything about it so we headed towards the lighthouse anyway. We feared the worst when we were forced to park down the street because the parking lot was completely full. Tons of people mingled around the lighthouse base although few of them ventured to the top. I suppose the 219 steps in the spiral staircase separated the tourists from the lighthouse nerds. From there, 165 feet (50 metres) above the fray, we spotted another bridge several miles away. We enjoyed a panoramic lighthouse view of the Florida coast and discovered a way to avoid the dreaded stoplight. Pro Tip: maybe skip the extra helping of mashed potatoes on Christmas so one can climb to the top of the tower and find the secret escape route.
A lighthouse stood at this spot even during the Spanish period. It was an important structure marking the inlet between two barrier island, Anastasia and Conch, so that ships could enter the Matanzas River and approach St. Augustine safely. This version was constructed in 1874 and continues to remain an active navigational aid. According to Lighthouse Friends, the tower was built using brick from Alabama, granite from Georgia, iron work forged in Philadelphia, and a first-order Fresnel lens crafted in France."
A1A Ale Works
We also visited a couple of brewpubs including A1A Ale Works in downtown St. Augustine (map).
Imagine that. Somehow we ended-up at a fort, a lighthouse, and a brewpub — all things that I "collect" and count. It sounded pretty self-indulgent although we also did plenty of things enjoyed by the other members of the family too. I’ll talk about some of those in the second part.
It dawned on me recently, as I drove around the Washington, DC area, that there seemed to be an inordinate number of reversible road lanes that switched directions on regular schedules. The occurrence that got me thinking about this was a one-block section of Washington Boulevard (map) on the western edge of Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood
Washington Blvd., Arlington, Virginia, USA
via Google Street View, July 2014
I’ve driven through that slot a number of times and I never gave it much of a second thought. It seemed rather self-explanatory. Overhead lights with green arrows and red x’s denoted lanes that could be traversed depending on prevailing morning or evening traffic patterns. It made sense even if it lasted for such a short distance. It was the only three lane segment with four lanes radiating from either end. It saved on construction costs.
The variety of different types of reversible lanes also surprised me as I started ticking-off some nearby examples.
Stupid Young Driver on Cell Phone in Closed Lane on Chesapeake Bay Bridge! by William Johns, on Flickr
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (map) connecting Maryland’s eastern shore to the rest of the state provided yet another example of overhead lights signaling traffic flow. The bridge accommodated prevailing traffic to and from Atlantic Ocean resorts especially during the summertime. More lanes opened towards the beach on Fridays and pointed back towards home on Sundays, almost like the ebb and flow of tides.
Overhead lights exposed an inherit problem: people needed to understand that lanes could reverse and they also needed to know what the symbols meant. "Stupid Young Driver on Cell Phone" had obvious difficulties with one or both of those concepts.
Just a Sign
'Signs' — Chain Bridge (VA) January 2014 by Ron Cogswell, on Flickr
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Chain Bridge (map) had three lanes stretching across the Potomac River between Arlington and Washington, with the middle lane reversible. Only a single sign told motorists about the unusual situation (Street View). Presumably daily commuters traveling over the bridge during critical hours would already understand the situation. Woe to the poor visitor who happened to cross the bridge at an inopportune time and not see the sign.
A Machine Does All the Work
Roosevelt Bridge, Washington, DC, USA
via Google Street View, August 2014
Another Potomac River bridge between Arlington and Washington, the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (map) offered a better solution. The reversible section had a concrete barrier to keep drivers from making a mistake. An odd little machine moved the barrier twice a day to accommodate commuters. This unusual arrangement was created by Lindsay Transportation Solutions.
The moveable barrier system enables the DOT to quickly reconfigure traffic lanes and directional capacity on the bridge in less than 15 minutes (the bridge is just under one mile in length). The Barrier Transfer Machine (BTM) safely transfers the barrier one or two traffic lanes at speeds from seven to ten miles per hour. A magnetic tape grooved into the pavement guides the BTM and ensures precise placement of the barrier wall.
That seemed a lot safer than signs or overhead lights.
Completely Reversible with a Sign
IMG_4012 by bankbryan, on Flickr
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Some of our local roads were completely reversible. The Rock Creek Parkway (map) — actually called the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway in official terms, which I didn’t know until a few minutes ago — operated with two lanes in both directions most of the time. However in the morning all four lanes headed towards Washington and all four lanes returned traffic to the suburbs in the evening. Monday through Friday. Except Federal holidays. Make an error reading a sign (Street View) and find oneself heading towards the wrong way on a four-lane highway.
I would stay away from here on Columbus Day. Federal government employees are about the only people who get the day off. Imagine everyone else forgetting about that quirk and thinking it was a normal Monday commute. Yikes!
Completely Reversible and Safer
Interstate 395 – Virginia by Doug Kerr, on Flickr
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A stretch of Interstate 95 and Interstate 395 (map) from Northern Virginia into the District featured two High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes that switched directions for the morning and evening commutes, sandwiched between and completely separate from the regular highway lanes. These are being converted into High Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lanes although the concept will remain largely the same.
These seemed considerably safer. Barrier arms blocked access to ramps that led to these special lanes so that cars traveling in the "wrong" direction couldn’t make a mistake. The arms raised when the lanes reversed and it was safe to travel that direction again.
There were several more reversible lanes in the area that I didn’t have space to mention. Also Wikipedia had an entire article devoted to reversible lanes in other parts of the world so I imagined they were rather prevalent. It was funny how I’ve grown so used to seeing them that I never considered how weird they seemed conceptually.
I stumble across the most fascinating bits of information in unexpected places. It happened this time as I examined the unusually-wide median strip between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 8 in southern California. I learned of a nearby oddity further down the highway while reviewing various roadfan websites.
A motorist will encounter the lowest overland elevation in the entire Interstate Highway System just to the east of the extreme central reservation I’d discovered earlier. It is listed as 52 feet (16 meters) below sea level by the U.S. Government’s Federal Highway Administration.
It’s not the lowest elevation of any road of any type within the U.S. — that’s Badwater Road in Death Valley which provides access to the lowest public restroom in North America (~ -282 ft, -86 m) — just the lowest natural point of elevation in the Interstate Highway System. It’s still pretty impressive, though.
View Larger Map
This happens in the vicinity of Exit 107 where I-8 crosses the New River. Notice the channel. The road dips down here as it crosses the river over a short bridge. Where, I wondered, could the New River be flowing if it was already more than fifty feet below sea level here? Certainly it would not be flowing to the sea. It much be part of an endorheic basin, and indeed that is the case.
The New River begins in Baja California, Mexico where it’s known as the Río Nuevo. It passes through the wonderfully conjoined portmanteau cities of Mexicali and Calexico. From there it flows under the I-8 bridge west of El Centro, and on to the Salton Sea. The surface elevation of the Salton Sea is -226 ft (-69 m) so whatever flows along the New River won’t leave the Salton Sea on its own unless it’s able to evaporate.
View Larger Map
That’s a problem. This Street View image from the point of lowest Interstate elevation shows one of the most polluted bodies of water in the nation. Sewage, pesticide-laden agricultural runoff, and industrial waste from businesses located along the ditch then dump into a basin without an outflow. Toxins and pathogens collect in extreme concentrations, creating a most foul situation. Those driving at high speed along I-8, crossing this point of lowest elevation, likely never consider the drawbacks of this dubious honor.
Let’s put one more asterisk onto the claim. There are other places along the Interstate Highway Systems with a lower elevation. However, they are located in tunnels. A similar situation exists in Canada.
View Larger Map
The Intertubes claims that the Fort McHenry Tunnel carrying I-95 traffic through Baltimore, Maryland represents the absolutely lowest Interstate elevation at 107 ft (33 m) below sea level. It passes in close proximity to historic Fort McHenry, as implied by the name, the battlefield site inspiring the Star Spangled Banner. It then drops below Baltimore Harbor. I’d post a Street View image except that the interior of a tunnel isn’t exactly the most exciting scenery available (check for yourself if you must).
While the exalted position of the Fort McHenry tunnel seemed to be conventional wisdom for the cyberspace masses, it was not the only candidate offered. I discovered numerous other claims. I could not, however, nail-down a definitive source. Another option included the I-93 Thomas P. "Tip" O’Neill Tunnel, part of the Big Dig project in Boston, Massachusetts. The I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia was also mentioned frequently. I know we have several roadfans who read 12MC regularly so hopefully someone can provide a proper citation and we can put these issues to rest. I’ve driven through all three of these tunnels so I’m covered no matter how it turns out. Funny, I never realized I was experiencing a true geo-oddity during any of my transits.
I’ve never driven on I-8 through California though. I look forward to experiencing both the wide median and the lowest overland elevation someday.


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text:
Udo Erasmus, Ph.D. Nutrition is one of North America’s foremost authorities on the role that dietary fats and oils play in human health. With a background in biochemistry, genetics, and nutrition, Udo has spent over four decades pioneering the healthy fats/oils movement. As the co-founder of Udo’s Choice supplement brand and the author of Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill, he has been a leading voice in raising manufacturing standards for food oils and has improved the health of millions of people through his work and advocacy.
In this episode, Udo and I talk about myths about dietary fats, why the misconceptions around fat persist despite research proving otherwise, the problem with most commercial oils, the influence of processed foods on our overall health, butter versus margarine, why he created his healthy oil supplements, and so much more!


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1 Books Published by Kojack Enterprise on Our Site — Book Cover Mosaic
Kojack Enterprise (Nov 01, 2006)
Read Detailed Book Description
By any yardstick you want to use, Dawayne Williams had a very tough childhood. He and his younger brother were raised in the projects in Washington, DC by a single mom while his dad (who denied paternity) was in and out of prison for a variety of criminal offenses. Consequently, Dawayne grew up without a male role model to emulate. So it’s no surprise that he joined a street gang as a junior high school student to deal crack and weed and woo older women until he ended up shot and stabbed multiple times and behind bars like his absentee father. This autobiography is written in vivid words that jump right off the pages. Since being born again, Dawayne has found Jesus and sworn off most of his profligate ways once and for all, though he does confess to falling off the wagon occasionally.

domain: literature


Reflecting on many of their earlier influences such as Mudhoney, the Pixies, and Sonic Youth, the members of Garland Buckeye put together a feverish album of compelling lyrical expression, intense guitar work, and passionate rhythms. This album is all about angst-ridden, emotionally charged, excitingly fulfilling rock & roll. More Seas Than Before rambles from track to track with heavy-hitting percussion, fiery basslines, and distortion-laden, blazing guitar chords filled with crunch and bite. A delightful record for avid fans who wish to reminisce on the grunge period while digesting some fresh new music at the same time, More Seas Than Before is a fine display of grunge fever in an age of indie music when records like these are hard to come by. Garland Buckeye is a heavy rock-laden force to be reckoned with, a youthful, exuberant, and brash band proudly wearing honest intensity and passionate flair within its songs.
AllMusic Review by Shawn M. Haney


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Biggest Ripple Forecast from Analyst Predicting the Downtrend in 2018!
Peter Brandt, one of the market’s veteran analysts, says he thinks Ripple (XRP) will see a big increase in the near future. Brandt had previously correctly predicted the decline in Bitcoin in January 2018.
Is the Rise Beginning in Ripple?
In a post he made on Twitter, Peter Brandt stated that XRP ended the 3-year decline and consolidation process and switched to the bullish model.
In a statement targeting people with XRP investments, Brandt states that XRP’s current position in the SEC case is positive and enjoys it, so to speak.
In addition, the analyst stated that XRP is currently technically positive and the price is moving towards a new record. XRP hit its all-time high in January 2018 with $ 3.84. If Brandt’s prediction comes true, XRP should rise above this level. When the current prices are evaluated, this means that there will be an increase of approximately 3 times.
A 275% Increase is Expected in Ripple!
If Brandt’s script becomes real, XRP will increase by approximately 275% from its Ripple current price . However, Brandt thinks the XRP will set a new all-time record, which points to a larger increase.
In addition to these, Brandt recently stated in another statement he made on Twitter that XRP also gained strength against Bitcoin. According to the popular analyst, this should be considered as a serious buy signal for XRP, which is the fourth largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization.

domain: finance


text:
All the highlights from London Fashion Week 2020
Katie Wright recaps all the top stories from London Fashion Week 2020
AS ONE of the world's four main fashion capitals, twice a year London plays host to five days of catwalk shows attended by celebrities, fashion editors, retail buyers and other industry insiders, all keen to get a glimpse of what's in store for next season.
London Fashion Week's autumn/winter 2020 edition concluded on Thursday – but as usual, the clothes were only half the story. From backstage to the action on the catwalks and the famous front rows, here's what went down in the Big Smoke...
:: Burberry's trip down memory lane
Riccardo Tisci said he was inspired by memories of his time as a young designer, for his fourth collection at the helm of Burberry.
The result was a confident showing that married the storied house's well-known codes – a beige colour palette, trench coats, check prints – with streetwear staples, bold colours and metallic fabrics.
The deconstructed rugby shirts in bright hues were a highlight, as were the men's duffle coats – we predict copycat looks will be all over the high street next season.
:: Tommy Hilfiger's star-studded show
Veteran US designer Tommy Hilfiger staged the most celebrity-filled show of the week on Sunday night to unveil #TommyXLewis, a collaboration with racing driver Lewis Hamilton.
The Formula One driver cast supermodels young and old – including Erin O'Connor, Jodie Kidd, Jourdan Dunn and Alessandra Ambrosio – in the show, and he was joined for his bow at the Tate Modern by Naomi Campbell wearing a neon cagoule from the streetwear-heavy collection.
:: Roksanda's fabulous front row
Aussie A-lister Cate Blanchett graced the front row at Roksanda alongside fellow actors Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson and Zawe Ashton, making up one of the coolest front rows of the week.
The leading ladies were treated to a stunning collection in the grand surroundings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, featuring the designer's trademark vivid colours and fluid silk gowns.
:: Richard Quinn's floral fantasy
Richard Quinn has fast become one of the hottest tickets of LFW thanks to his catwalk theatrics, and his Saturday-night show did not disappoint.
Soundtracked by a classical version of ABBA's Dancing Queen, the collection was awash with Quinn's signature vivid florals and voluminous shapes. But as usual it came with a side of subversiveness, this time in the form of bondage-inspired bejewelled and studded face masks.
:: Victoria Beckham's gentle rebellion
Victoria Beckham said she was thinking about breaking the rules for AW20, but hers was a 'gentle rebellion' that brought chunkier heels on over-the-knee boots and slightly shorter hemlines on tweed A-line skirts.
As usual, the Beckham crew (minus Brooklyn) were on hand to support mum at her Sunday morning show.
:: Future fashion stars on show
London is renowned as the breeding ground for future fashion superstars, and if you want to find out who's destined to be the next big thing, the Central St Martins MA show is a must-see.
Hotly-tipped this year are Paolina Russo, a Canadian graduate who has already bagged a collaboration with Adidas thanks to her impressive knitwear designs, and Johanna Parv, whose garments with detachable bags are designed for urban cyclists.
:: Metallic make-up
On the beauty front, it was all about sparkle and shine in London, with gold leaf pasted on models at Preen, silver leaf used to create foil eyes at Erdem, crystal shards at Halpern and glitter at Marques'Almeida.
While these bold looks may not seem very wearable in the real world, they're sure to generate a trend for metallic and glitter textures come next season.
:: Matty Bovan's big barnets
The most extreme hair look of the week came courtesy of the Matty Bovan catwalk, where certain models were weighed down with humongous wigs five times as wide as their heads.
Practical they were not, but that's not what Bovan is about. His mantra for autumn/winter? Big hair, don't care.


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text:
- Salesforce reported fiscal third-quarter earnings on Tuesday.
- Salesforce named Bret Taylor to be co-CEO alongside current CEO Mark Benioff.
- Salesforce said earnings per share for the December quarter would be between 72 and 73 cents, lower than Refinitiv analyst expectations of 81 cents.
Salesforce reported fiscal third-quarter earnings on Tuesday for the period ending Oct. 31, beating Wall Street expectations on earnings and sales. But shares fell over 6% in extended trading after earnings guidance for the fourth quarter fell short of expectations.
Salesforce also named current President and COO Bret Taylor to be co-CEO alongside current CEO Marc Benioff. Benioff said in a statement that Taylor would help lead the company through "the next chapter."
Salesforce stock fell over 6% in extended trading.
Here's how the company did versus Refinitiv consensus expectations:
- Earnings: $1.27 per share, adjusted, vs. 92 cents per share expected, up 27% year-over-year.
- Revenue: $6.86 billion, versus $6.80 billion expected
Sales were up 27% from $5.42 billion in the same period a year earlier. The company expects between $7.22 billion and $7.23 billion in revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, raising its previous guidance, and coming in on par with analyst expectations of $7.22 billion.
But Salesforce said earnings per share for the December quarter will fall between 72 and 73 cents, lower than Refinitiv analyst expectations of 81 cents.
Sales Cloud, the company's core product that salespeople use to track leads and opportunities, reported $1.54 billion in sales, up 17% from last year. Salesforce's Service Cloud business was up over 20% from last year to $1.66 billion in sales.
"No other software company of our size or scale is really performing at this level," Benioff said on a call with analysts. "We know that because we're talking to other cloud CEOs every day."
The Platform and Other unit reported $1.27 billion in sales during the quarter, although the company said it had re-classified sales from its Tableau and Mulesoft acquisitions into its Data unit, which reported $900 million in sales.
In July, Salesforce closed its acquisition of enterprise chat app Slack for over $27 billion. It said that the app contributed $276 million in sales to the company's Platform unit, which previously reported Tableau and Mulesoft sales.
"Slack outperformed our expectations in the first full quarter as a part of the Salesforce family," Taylor said. "The number of customers on Slack that spent over $100,000 is up 44% year over year."

domain: economics


Jefferson Health is expanding its hiring scope and leaning on technology to manage the ongoing cybersecurity workforce shortage without sacrificing security. The current healthcare cyber threat landscape demands strict, sophisticated security controls and constant monitoring.
But the ongoing cybersecurity workforce shortage has left many organizations scrambling to safeguard data and prevent cyberattacks with an overworked and short-staffed team.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation, Jefferson Health noticed cybersecurity workforce gaps. The large health system, which serves the Greater Philadelphia area and Southern New Jersey, found that its cybersecurity needs were growing faster than local schools could generate new talent.
Mark Odom, vice president and CISO of Jefferson Health, knew that his team would need to pivot and reassess its security strategies to make up for gaps in the workforce.
“Obviously, not being able to cover all the bases in security is a significant issue,” Odom said in an interview with HealthITSecurity.
“It’s not a Jefferson issue, and it’s not a US issue—it’s a world issue that we’re all facing.”
By investing in entry-level talent, leaning on automated technology, and reducing burnout among current staff, Jefferson Health is tackling the cybersecurity workforce shortage head-on while still acknowledging that the industry as a whole has a long way to go.
A survey conducted by (ISC)² found that while the cybersecurity workforce gap narrowed for the second consecutive year, the global workforce still must grow by 65 percent to defend critical assets effectively.
A workforce shortage can result in employee burnout, as exemplified by the current nationwide clinician shortage. For IT and cybersecurity teams, the workforce shortage could cause remaining employees to be stretched too thin, allowing critical vulnerabilities and suspicious network activity to fly under the radar.
Log4j vulnerabilities also put significant strain on an already overburdened cybersecurity workforce, another (ISC)² report found. Because Log4j is so widely used, unpatched vulnerabilities could have catastrophic security consequences for healthcare and other sectors if not patched immediately. As a result, the cybersecurity workforce had to work overtime to secure systems and mitigate risk.
(ISC)²’s survey of 269 cybersecurity professionals working closely with Log4j vulnerabilities and remediation efforts validated the severity of the vulnerabilities, “the fallout of which will not be known for months or even years to come.”
Along with technological implications, Log4j exposed the fragility of the cybersecurity workforce. Respondents reported sacrificing their vacation time and weekends to remediate Log4j vulnerabilities, which led to burnout and job dissatisfaction for some.
One in four surveyed cybersecurity professionals reported believing their organization was less secure while they worked to remediate the Log4j vulnerabilities. In addition, 23 percent of respondents said they are now behind on 2022 cybersecurity priorities.
The healthcare sector cannot afford these gaps. If network intrusions slip through the cracks and cyberattacks continue to increase, there could be serious impacts on patient safety and privacy.
“I would say the workforce gap is starting to impede some organizations’ ability to move forward,” Odom observed.
“I think we’ve kept up so far, but if we had not changed some of our strategies and leveraged some of these tools that are out there, we would find ourselves at a loss.”
“There is so much bright talent out there,” Odom noted. “Some of my best cybersecurity resources came to me without a cybersecurity degree.”
Along with the idea that an entry-level candidate must have a degree in or prior knowledge of cybersecurity, there are other glaring misconceptions about the required skillsets needed to get a job in cybersecurity, Odom suggested.
“For instance, we scare a lot of these young practitioners off with the word coding, but probably only 25 percent of our staff really codes,” Odom noted.
Reducing the barriers to entry for the cybersecurity field is one way that Jefferson Health has been combatting the workforce shortage.
For example, on paper, a candidate with a business degree may not appear to be the best fit for a more technical cybersecurity role. But business degrees teach a great deal of risk management. With baseline business knowledge, an entry-level candidate can enter the cybersecurity field and pick up technical skills along the way.
Jefferson Health’s strategy now involves hiring entry-level candidates, training those individuals, and establishing runways to generate a talent pipeline. The goal is to help employees progress in their careers and see a future in cybersecurity.
“I would encourage everyone to open up those entry-level positions and start onboarding those trainees today,” Odom advised. “They will be your support tomorrow.”