(Washington D.C.) U.S. Army Infantry units fight door-to-door in Close-Quarter-Combat in high-threat urban environments, advance through wooded, rocky terrain to maneuver to contact and “close with the enemy,” and at times conduct reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines to secretly gather intelligence or disrupt enemy operations. They face the most incoming fire of any Army unit, often on foot without close-in armored vehicles offering protection.
When it comes to major war tactics, infantry often advances alongside armored units to cross bridges, scout enemy locations and verify combat data acquired by advanced sensors. In the most dangerous engagements, infantry confronts, attacks and exchanges fire with enemy fighters. For this reason, Army warfare strategies include forward operating drones, air fires and mechanized ground forces moving alongside infantry. Nevertheless, the bottom line - Army infantry units face death regularly and take the most casualties of any Army unit - by far.
It is precisely with these kinds of high-risk, high-fatality warfare scenarios faced by Army infantry, that U.S. Army Futures Command is working quickly to integrate new soldier-worn sensor technologies and protections; this effort, referred to as developing the “soldier as a system,” is based on the premise that individual soldiers need to operate as an integrated platform, merging human strength and cognition with weapons, sensors, computers, backpacks, body armor, night vision and advanced lightweight uniform materials to form a complete inter-connected and unified suite of technologies.
This strategic and tactical approach is being extended to include a squad of networked infantry as well, according to Brig. Gen.David Hodne, Director, Soldier Army Futures Command Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team and Army Infantry Commandant. .
“Adaptive Squad Architecture (ASA) is a new way of thinking. It's a strategic, enduring approach to ensuring the capabilities of the individual soldier and the squad are integrated onto the soldier and squad as a combat platform. We're rejecting the component focused mindset in favor of a system focused strategy,” Hodne said, according to a transcript of his remarks at a recent Industry Day.
These soldier as a system technologies, many of which are fast emerging through rapid developmental efforts, continue to change infantry tactics, strategies and maneuver specifics needed for future war. For instance, over the years, the Army has developed acoustic sensors to provide soldiers with the sound signature of incoming fire. Also, the service has developed infrared sensors engineered to detect the heat and light emitted from the muzzle flash emitted by enemy weapons. Army hand-held drones and overhead air support are also used to find enemy units prior to contact.
Now, as part of a move to build upon these effective sensors, the Army has a new focus --
“Pre-shot detection.” This, according to Army weapons developers, can use soldier-worn laser technologies designed to detect enemy weapons “before” they are fired.
“It (a laser system) detects glass looking at you, so if there is some type of optic, it sees right away and lets you know someone is looking at you through glass. You can see that guy and engage before you pull the trigger. Shot threat detection give you the azimuth. You see that guy and engage before you pull the trigger,” Bridgett Siter, Communications Director,Soldier Lethality CFT, told Warrior in an interview.
This, it goes without saying, enables soldiers to find enemies without first being fired upon - saving lives and changing tactics.
These laser emitters, which can go on a soldier or a vehicle, are still in the developmental stages. They are, however, being designed to operate in tandem with the Army’s existing Rapid Target Acquisition system which uses wireless data links to connect night vision goggles with rifle weapons sights. The technology connects head-worn imaging with M150 rifle combat optics intended to support Army close-combat squads. This is described by Army weapons developers as “ensuring lethal overmatch.”
“This involves a clip-on thermal imager that goes in front of the day optic and sees through smoke, fog and night. It connects with soldier Enhanced Night Vision Goggles and puts a reticle in my field of view,” Siter said.
Interestingly, fully leveraging this connectivity to alleviate the need for soldiers to “shoulder-the-weapon” and even shoot around corners, requires a lot of difficult training.
“Muscle memory leads infantry to shoulder the weapon. We definitely bring it up to gain stability,” Siter said.
This established and practiced tactic (shouldering the weapon) is often favored by older, more experienced infantry soldiers, yet weapons developers say “young guys” may use this since basic training, making the transition easier. In effect, this provides infantry with a greater range of attack options, meaning a rifle can both be shouldered as needed while also being available for other firing options.
The use of lasers by dismounted soldiers will bring a number of new combat advantages. For quite some time, laser weapons, often mounted from ships or armored vehicles, have been used as both an offensive weapon and a “sensor” able to find targets. Lasers can be scalable, meaning they can either combine several beams or fire in more narrow configurations, providing options. The emergence of this defensive laser detection system, it seems self-evident, could also be adapted for soldier-fired offensive laser weapons. Not only do lasers travel at the speed of light, but they are stealthy - quiet. They can be fired silently, thus making it more likely that attacking soldiers may not give up their position.
Alongside all of this, it is also important to bear in mind and often under-recognized reality -- laser weapons are not only in development - they are here. Army Strykers are already firing lasers, the Navy has already deployed its ship-fired Laser Weapons System at sea and the Air Force is ground-testing laser weapons intended to fire from fighter jets by the mid-2020s. Also, senior Pentagon and industry weapons developers are in the early phases of conceptual development of looking at lasers for missile defense and armed drones engineered for space flight. All of this progress is fortified by current efforts to miniturize mobile power for future uses, a fact which brings great promise for the Army’s “pre-shot-detection” laser program.
Integrating lasers as part of a soldier system, however, is not without developmental challenges. Lasers need mobile power sources to operate, something which larger platforms such as Strykers, fighter jets, drones and even space-based lasers have been working to accommodate. Smaller, soldier-transportable lasers certainly pose technical challenges. At the same time, Army scientists and advanced weapons developers have been making rapid progress with ongoing efforts to generate mobile power in smaller, lighter-weight form factors. This effort is of course not only relevant for lasers but also a host of other soldier-worn gear which require power as well. In fact, ongoing Army Research Lab, academic and Special Operations efforts to build new Ironman-like exoskeletons are also focused upon the same challenge - leveraging new miniturized, yet highly powerful and promising new sources of transportable power.
All of these technical nuances not only involve integrating new technologies but also promise to change warfare tactics, approaches and procedures. In essence, expectations for future warfare continue to change rapidly, leading the Army to adapt and continuously evolve the way it plans to fight wars.
“We will measure success by recognizing that we have arrived at the point of clear and substantial overmatch and our Close Combat Force is more lethal, more mobile and survivable. To maintain that position, we must ensure we're equipping them with equipment and components that are compatible with both the individual and the squad. Like everything we do, the process requires a deliberate and iterative approach where to project and anticipate the second and third-order impacts of every decision we make,” Hodne said.
Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army - Acquisition, Logistics& Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.


Males defend clumps of flowers from conspecific males and hummingbirds of other species. They are thought to willingly share feeding domains with conspecific females only during courtship (Feinsinger and Chaplin 1975, Snow 1977, Feinsinger et al. 1988). Females also show territorial behavior, but they are less aggressive and use scattered bunches of flowers in a manner termed 'traplining' (Feinsinger and Chaplin 1975).
Little courtship behavior has been described for this species, although the sexes occasionally share flowers and call to each other responsively (Snow 1977). Because males and females typically exclude each other from defended feeding territories, it has been suggested that such atypical resource sharing is a form of courtship.


Your Invitation to Million Dollar Christmas Magic
Get ready to jingle all the way this festive season with a nostalgic journey back to 1956, in the company of four sensational music sensations. The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas show at the Ivoryton Playhouse brings together the star power of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis in one dynamic playback of their real-life jam session at Sun Studios, Memphis. It’s as close as you’ll get to a real-life recording of these timeless holiday hits!Embed from Getty Images
Could you feel the groove when Elvis was back from Hollywood and facing his imminent draft notice or the vibrant atmosphere when four iconic stars share a studio? You’ll feel it all here. This show lifts the curtain on that fabled meet-up, adding the captivating allure of seasonal classics to the platform.
A Four-Star Musical Extravaganza
In this immersive Christmas spectacle, their camaraderie, playful banter, and musical genius play out in an electrifying performance that shines new lights on these timeless classic tunes. As an audience member, be prepared to tap your feet (or sway) along with 22 songs in 95 minutes!
Each performer is an acclaimed veteran of the original Million Dollar Quartet show, bringing an authentic twist to the set. From misses to hits, from blues to carols, follow the fascinating journey of each character, seamlessly blending Christmas spirit, with the unforgettable charm of classic rock-n-roll.
Margaret Dudasik’s Outstanding Performance
Margaret Dudasik’s portrayal of Dyanne, the Hollywood belle out of her comfort zone in Memphis, is an engaging spectacle. Alongside her finesse as an actress, she showcases her mesmerizing vocals and fiddling talents, scoring hits with her renditions of “Santa Baby,” “O Christmas Tree,” “Que Sera, Sera,” and a blend of other popular tunes from that era.
The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas show is a recommended watch, not just for music lovers but every Christmas enthusiast. Its vivid set designs, captivating performances, and nostalgic trip down the holiday lane will ignite your Christmas spirit like no other.
Get Your Tickets Today!
So, why wait? Add a dash of tinsel magic to your season with this blockbuster performance. Secure your tickets online at IvorytonPlayhouse.org and prepare to light the yuletide flame with rotations of your favorite holiday tunes, all courtesy of these spectacular performers.
Stay optimistic and keep the positivity flowing this festive season with Million Dollar Quartet Christmas – it’s your golden ticket to a time-transported musical celebration. Enjoy!


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Blurring images can assist you in retouching an image, smoothing transitions, and decreasing contrast in your photo. PaintShop Pro’s Blur commands allow you to easily mimic photo blur and create blur effects that even the best photographer needs to add to their work.
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domain: artistic


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Supermarkets push average price of fuel up 2p per litre
The average price of a litre of fuel rose by 2p in December as three major supermarkets increased their prices.
Morrisons, Sainsbury and Tesco all increased prices by 3p per litre, despite wholesale prices only increasing by just over 1p.
Asda was the only major supermarket to raise prices appropriately, increasing by 1.5p per litre.
The data comes from RAC Fuel Watch, which shows the average price of petrol went up 2.07p to 116.46p per litre, and the average price of diesel increased 2.28p to 120p per litre.
The RAC says its analysis shows motorists should be paying around 113p for petrol and 118p for diesel.
Despite the increases, supermarket prices were about 4p cheaper for unleaded and 4.5p cheaper for diesel.
The cost of filling an average 55-litre tank has gone up by £1.14 to £64.05 for petrol, and £1.25 to £66 for diesel. Topping up at a supermarket would save about £2 per tank.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “It’s very disappointing to see some of our biggest fuel retailers putting up their prices over and above the increases seen on the wholesale market.
“There’s a definite feeling that they have been trying to protect themselves for what was to come in terms of further coronavirus restrictions.
“While wholesale prices went up very slightly in December our data shows there should be scope to lower forecourt prices rather than put them up.
“Retailers will no doubt argue that the pandemic is leading to drivers filling up far less so their ‘per litre’ profits are considerably down, and Monday’s announcement of another lockdown will be treated as justification for their decision not to pass savings on at the pumps.
“Unfortunately, those who still need to fill up regularly are having to pay more than they should be as, by our calculations, both fuels should actually come down by 3p a litre in the next fortnight.

domain: finance


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Because Trump is a truth-teller. And a good businessman, or something.
From Buzzfeed News:
One of Donald Trump’s companies prepared financial estimates for its lenders and investors that were “rosier” than the projections it used internally, a financial analyst for the company said in a deposition obtained by BuzzFeed News.
The testimony concerns Trump’s $200 million project to transform the Old Post Office building — a taxpayer-owned landmark just five blocks from White House — into a luxury hotel. The company developing the hotel is owned by Trump and three of his children, Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric.
Raymond Flores, a financial analyst, testified that lenders were sold a bill of goods (kind of like Republican voters) that promised the project could draw millions more in revenue that what the internal numbers said. For those within Trump’s organization, the numbers tended to be a bit more muted.
In other words, the Trump-backed organization pushing this project had no reasonable expectation of the level of success they promised, based on their own findings, but misrepresented the earning potential of the project, in order to get money.
Representatives from the Trump campaign and the Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment Friday evening. But earlier this week, before the full depositions were released, a spokesperson for the Trump Organization emailed BuzzFeed News the following statement: “Because no one can predict the future, it is standard practice in virtually every industry for businesses to run multiple financial models analyzing projected performance based on varying outcomes. Once again, this is yet another example of the media attempting to make something out of nothing.”
Financial experts say many companies prepare multiple sets of projections, and there’s nothing inherently illegal about that. The potential trouble arises when projections are used to misrepresent what management knows to be true.
That would be lying. The one thing Trump is actually good at.
From a legal perspective, a projection about the future is more opinion than fact, said Robert Bartlett, a professor at the University of California Berkeley School of Law who specializes in securities regulation and capital markets. Still, he added, the existence of two sets of books could help illuminate the matter.
“It smells a little fishy,” he said. “If the internal set of books was what they held out to themselves as the true and likely scenario, then that would seem to be circumstantial evidence that the rosy projections were not honestly held projections.”
Flores was speaking in a deposition in May by the lawyers for chef Geoffrey Zakarian. He’s a celebrity chef who pulled out of the hotel project when he took offense to Trump’s words about Mexicans. Trump’s lawyers sought to have the testimony kept under wraps, but Buzzfeed News has filed a motion to have that testimony released.
At one point, a lawyer representing Zakarian asks Flores about exactly how “heightened” the lender-focused projections were. The lawyer said that the “current model” lists room revenue “at $40 million and change. And under the base model that you said was the rosier or lender-focused projections, you show room revenue at roughly $10 million more, or $50 million and change. Correct?”
Flores responded: “Looking specifically at Year 2018, yes.”
Flores went on to acknowledge that food and beverage revenue was $15.7 million for the “current model” versus “roughly $32.5 million” for the lender-focused projections.
The revelation about the “rosier” financial estimates given to lenders was one of those things Trump’s lawyers sought to keep quiet from the media, but on Thursday night, a judge ruled that Trump’s lawyers had failed to meet the legal standard necessary to keep the information out of the hands of the media, per the Freedom of Information Act.
So Trump is willing to say anything to get money for his projects, and anything to get voters sucked in, even as his inner circle knows better.
There’s a lesson in this, somewhere, but we may not see it until after the general election.

domain: news


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The Hollow Shadow is drawing near. Akihito knows that Mirai wants to risk her life in a fight against the powerful youmu. The only way to stop her is to learn more about her past and confront her, but she’s been avoiding him...
Runtime: 24 minutes
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

domain: entertainment


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Villa Stella is a luxury house located in South Lake Tahoe. Amazing lake views can be seen with snowcapped mountains set behind them in the distance and you have a magical feeling that you are looking at a painting.
Inside the house, you will find the living room with big Flat Screen TV over rock fireplace. Comfortable rustic couches surround the entertaining area. Large dining table that can comfortably accommodate many groups. Oversized kitchen with High-end appliances. The house also boasts a large movie theater with 133 inch HD Screen that seats around 13 people and game room with pool table and Shuffleboard. All 7 bedrooms designed with a true Tahoe Rustic décor. All bathrooms have top of the line granite and knotty alder cabinetry with modern fixtures.
Rooftop deck features large Hot tub, rustic restoration hardware patio furniture set in front of the fireplace and some of best views of the lake, Mt Tallac and views across the lake to the North Shore. Outdoor deck with Patio furniture by the fireplace for that true indoor/outdoor experience. Game room deck has built in BBQ, dining table for 12.
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is a California resort city on Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s known for nearby ski resorts and beaches, like El Dorado Beach, with its picnic areas. The city’s restaurants and bars merge with the casinos of adjacent Stateline, Nevada.

domain: geography


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St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17th!
Get your green on so you don't get pinched! We've got Hats, Beads, Bow Ties, Wigs, Suspenders, Light up Jewelry and much much more! Making a Leprechaun Trap? Ask our crafting specialists for the best items to catch your very own little green man! Need some Lucky Leprechaun Chocolate Gold Coins? Want to turn your beer green? Hosting a St. Pat's Event? Making Leprechaun treats? We've got you covered!
Purim begins at Sunset on Saturday, March 15th
We've got everything you need to celebrate: noisemakers to drown out the name of the evil Haman, costumes, masks and dress up accoutrements to disguise yourself for the holiday and plenty of baking supplies for packaging your hamantashen to hand out as gifts!

domain: hobby


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Aug. 28, 2006 (Emeryville, Calif.) — Nanomix Inc., a leading nanoelectronic detection company commercializing high-value diagnostic and monitoring applications, today announced the appointment of Scott Schroeder as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer to lead the company’s financial and administrative activities. In this position, Mr. Schroeder will report to David Macdonald, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Schroeder has over 15 years experience providing financial and administrative support to both private and public companies across a broad range of hardware and software products. After earning a BBA in Banking and Finance at Hofstra University, Mr. Schroeder obtained his MBA from Hofstra University with a focus in Accounting. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California and several other states.
Prior to joining Nanomix, Mr. Schroeder was Vice President Finance at Luminous Networks, a privately held communications equipment company. He was Vice President Finance and Corporate Secretary at Brokat Technologies resulting from the acquisition of Blaze Software, where he supported a successful NASDAQ Initial Public Offering. Mr. Schroeder has also served in roles of increasing responsibility at Accugraph Corporation, Coopers and Lybrand L.L.P., and Dreyfus Corporation.
“We are excited about the addition of Scott to our management team,” said Nanomix CEO David Macdonald, “He will continue our progress related to building infrastructure to support our rapid expansion and growth plans.”
Nanomix is a leading nanoelectronic detection company launching a portfolio of devices based on Sensation™ technology. These scaleable devices use ultra-sensitive carbon nanotube detection elements combined with proprietary chemistries. They can be deployed across a broad range of industrial and medical applications where valuable attributes – low power consumption, small size, and high sensitivity offer significant performance advantages and enable unprecedented access to critical information. Nanomix is located in Emeryville, California. For additional information, please visit the Nanomix web site at www.nano.com


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I am so excited to show you the latest collaboration between Lynette Reed
and me, Paper Cut Jewels, a line of earrings. We used her hand decorated papers and my collaged ones and created these "fabulous" little jewels last week, unveiling them at our First Friday opening, November 1.
Those earrings are fantastic!
Thanks so much! They're comfy too, so nice and light.
Oh they look lovely!! So colourful! I'd love to see some of them up close. And yes - lightness is an important issue with earrings, the lighter the better.
Glad you like them, Cari_Jane.
They are too cute:)
Hah! Thanks, Monica and Andrea.
Post a Comment

domain: design


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“He leads me in paths of righteousness” (23:3b, NKJV)
Psalm 23 speaks of God as a good shepherd who leads you beside “still waters” of safety and refreshment but also to paths that are straight. Specifically this shepherd will lead you in paths that are “righteous.”
Now when I think of the word “righteous,” positive connotations don’t come to mind immediately. For example, when someone is called “self-righteous” that certainly isn’t a compliment! Thinking of people who are considered “righteous” may elicit a picture of someone adhering to rigid fundamentalism or legalistic religion perhaps. So what did the Psalmist intend to convey with the phrase “paths of righteousness”?
When Psalm 23 was read in the synagogue, it would immediately bring the exodus from Egypt to mind when Israel wandered through the wilderness for 40 years with Yahweh as their Shepherd. The phrase “I do not lack” (23:1) would remind them of Moses leading them and God providing manna, quail and fresh water in the desert. In fact the Hebrew word for “leads” (nachah) is also used to refer to Israel's journey through the wilderness. Exodus 13:21 says, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead (nachah) them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night” (NIV). So these righteous paths that Yahweh is leading them on is less about religious festivals or adherence to cleanliness laws and more about a life aligned with God who leads them on good paths that result in sustenance, security, peace and wholeness.
Margaret Feinberg writes, “Sheep also trust each other immensely and, in extreme cases, have been known to follow each other right off of a cliff. Partly, this is due to the fact that sheep travel in a straight line, which creates issues when a shepherd calls to sheep across a ditch or hillside. To prevent the sheep from getting hurt, shepherds will guide their sheep in zig-zag patterns down the side of hills…The Israelites recognized that the path of righteousness is the one that leads straight to the shepherd” (Scouting the Divine, p. 55).
Millions are without jobs in the US. Reopening the country is not going to be easy nor even consistent state to state or city to city. When we will be able to or feel comfortable meeting in person for worship as the family of God? Where is the sustenance, security, peace and wholeness Scriptures speak about during this COVID-19 disaster? Perhaps right now it’s hard to see God leading in our circumstances. Maybe you’re tempted to follow others “off the cliff” into a paralyzing anxiety or a self-preservation attitude that makes it hard to care for others. As we bring our questions to the Lord, He continues to promise to lead us in paths of righteousness. He will not lead us astray.
Just as things seem to be crumbling around us, simultaneously new opportunities arise. We’ve seen a huge increase of people viewing our online worship services compared to just a month ago. I know personally of small groups that have grown since moving online! One friend started a new bible study and now over 60 people have joined! A donation of hygiene masks were donated to our church and thousands were distributed while I was also able to help another church in Seaside get access to over 5000 masks so they could distribute as well. I have new friends in Seaside now as we partner together to serve those in need. The amount of counseling and discipleship opportunities have actually increased for our staff and leaders as people seek the Lord’s guidance in these times.
So as we see the real hardships the Lord also points to the opportunities to serve and bless others. If we pay attention, the Lord wants to direct and shape us individually and as a church in this new season of the unknown.
God will be faithful to care for his wandering sheep in life and in death. What a blessed assurance to know that He will not abandon us in these troubling times.
Living Out God’s Word
As you reflect on the past 10 years of your work and personal life, where have things gone “straight” and where have they “zig-zagged”? In the past month how have you shifted your attention to the ways of the Lord and away from “falling off the cliff” of anxiety, isolation and distrust of God? Spend some time thanking God for being there in the past and for wisdom as you navigate this current season of life.
“We are so thankful to believe that this is a life for us, a life without lack, a life of sufficiency. It’s so clear in you, the sufficiency of your Father and the fullness of life that was poured through you, and we’re so thankful that you have promised that same love, that same life, that same joy, that same power for us. Lord, slip up on us today.” (Dallas Willard, Life Without Lack, p. xiii)

domain: literature


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HIV-positive gay men’s experiences of stigma and rejection by sexual partners strongly influence their involvement in casual sex and discourage them from practicing many risk-reduction strategies, report Sigma Research in their Relative Safety II report published this week.
The men they interviewed wished to balance their desire for sexual pleasure with a need to maintain their sense of moral integrity, but were often unable to avoid sex that could result in HIV transmission.
To follow up a similar study published a decade ago, Adam Bourne and colleagues interviewed 42 gay men with diagnosed HIV about their sexual practices and management of risk. The in-depth, qualitative interviews focused on recent experiences of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), and to take part in the study, men had to have had unprotected sex in the past year. Therefore it’s important to note that the study does not reflect the experiences of the one-third of gay men with HIV who do not practice UAI in any given year.
The researchers attempted to include in the sample a mix of respondents from London and Manchester as well as lower-prevalence areas, and also ensure diversity in terms of age and time since diagnosis.
All respondents were aware that they could transmit HIV through unprotected anal intercourse, and almost all said that they would never want to be responsible for doing so. Men more recently diagnosed tended to be particularly preoccupied by this concern, often avoiding sex altogether for a period after diagnosis.
In terms of the other harms that unprotected sex could give rise to, men tended to feel that sexually transmitted infections were rarely serious, although a few were more concerned about hepatitis C. Whilst some recently diagnosed men felt that HIV superinfection was an issue, men who had been diagnosed for longer usually believed that clinicians had deliberately exaggerated its importance.
Of more concern, however, were the emotional, psychological and social harms that unprotected sex could lead to. If men failed to live up to their own ethical guidelines, this could lead to inner turmoil. Moreover, some respondents described the perceived irresponsible behaviour of other HIV-positive men in order to highlight their own moral integrity. Having unprotected anal intercourse posed a threat both to a man’s positive sense of self and to the way in which other gay men saw him.
The researchers argue that men’s concerns about rejection and stigma shape the way they manage risk. Disclosure leaves men vulnerable to significant harm, including violent reactions and anxiety about ex-partners using police investigations as retribution, as well as rejection leading to emotional upset and problems finding sexual partners. In a community that often remains hostile to people with HIV, men’s instinct for self-preservation often leads them to choose behaviours where disclosure is felt to be unnecessary.
For example, many men used saunas, not just because sex was readily available, but also because the men assumed that almost all other sauna users were HIV-positive. Like online chat rooms or HIV support group meetings, saunas were thought to be ‘HIV-positive spaces’ where men had implicitly announced their HIV status simply by being there. This allowed men to have unprotected sex there without an explicit discussion of HIV status, but leaving them with their sense of personal integrity intact.
In some settings, some men tried to avoid disclosure but maintain their sense of moral integrity by suggesting to sexual partners that it would be a good idea to use a condom. Nonetheless one man described how these suggestions prompted one sexual partner to ask directly whether he had HIV. When he said yes, the man became angry and left.
Another form of implicit disclosure that men tried was ticking ‘safer sex needs discussion’ on a Gaydar internet profile. Few men explicitly advertised their HIV status on their profile, but might mention it during private instant messaging. The respondents described ambiguities and misunderstandings in disclosure on the internet, but generally found that the internet enabled them to screen potential partners with less fear of disappointment or reprisal.
Nonetheless, the researchers found that men used risk reduction strategies to quite a limited extent. No respondents mentioned reducing the duration of anal intercourse or the impact that viral load or a sexually transmitted infection could have on the risk of transmission. Just a few men discussed the greater risk of infection for the receptive partner or the possible benefit of withdrawing before ejaculation.
Some men did practice some form of serosorting (seeking partners of the same HIV status) and respondents said that it allowed them to have uninhibited sex where HIV status did not remain the most salient concern throughout.
Nonetheless the researchers stress that very few men exclusively practiced serosorting in a way that could guarantee that both partners had the same HIV status. Disclosure was often implicit (by being in a sauna, for example) or was not reciprocal. The respondent may have made an upfront disclosure of HIV status, and assumed that if his partner was ready to carry on without condoms, then he must be positive too.
However, the majority of men actually rejected the idea of serosorting. It was associated in their minds with high-risk, esoteric practices, and in the words of one respondent, men who are “going spreading it round because they are shagging willy-nilly”. Many men were at pains to distance themselves from this behaviour. They were appalled by the idea that unprotected sex could ever be a regular or planned activity, and so rejected serosorting, strategic positioning, withdrawal before ejaculation and other risk-reduction strategies.
Nonetheless these same men had all had some unprotected sex. It tended to be described as an exceptional event, explained by circumstances such as substance use or a partner’s insistence. The researchers make it clear that a number of men lacked the self-confidence or negotiation skills to manage such situations. Many men aspired to use a condom every time, but were not able to fall back on risk-reduction strategies when, for whatever reason, condoms weren’t used.
In their conclusion the researchers note several consequences of HIV-related stigma: a reluctance to disclose and an encouragement to have anonymous sex; some interviewees' rejection of other HIV-positive men and their behaviour; a desire not to engage with the idea that HIV risk is an integral part of sex; and the reluctance to use risk-reduction strategies.
However they also note that, for many men, there are direct contradictions between their intentions and their behaviour. Many men construct systems of belief about risk that enable them to have the sex they desire, whilst feeling that they are ‘moral enough’. They believe they are behaving responsibly, but HIV transmission may well be taking place.
The researchers recommend tailored prevention interventions for diagnosed men which take account of the centrality of stigma, and discuss unprotected sex in credible and informative ways. Moreover, health professionals need to improve their skills in engaging men with these issues.

domain: psychology


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A summary of “i wandered lonely as a cloud” in william wordsworth's wordsworth's poetry learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of wordsworth's poetry and what it means perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. I wandered lonely as a cloud (daffodils) by william wordsworth i wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high oer vales and hills when all at once i saw a crowd a host of golden daffodils beside the lake beneath page. A lyric poem inspired by an event on 15 april 1802, when william wordsworth and his sister dorothy came across a “long belt” of daffodils in the lake district, where they lived at the time written in 1804, it was first published in 1807 in poems in two volumes, and a slightly revised version was published in 1815 it is written. It is through the poem “i wandered lonely as a cloud” by william wordsworth that the reader can recognize everything nature has to offer wordsworth opens this poem by claiming that he is a cloud observing the nature underneath him from here he sees a large field of daffodils, then further describes the deeper meaning.
Firstly, for writing any summary or analysis of a poem, you need to know about the poetic devices used in a poem there are around 40 poetic devices which we have covered step-wise on our rhetoric playlist hosted on youtube additionally, you can. The speaker was walking around through the hills and valleys, but he felt all lonely and mopey suddenly, as he passed a lake, he noticed a big group of yellow daffodils waving in the breeze this wasn't just some scattered patch of daffodils we're talking thousands and thousands around this particular bay and all these. In what follows, you can read useful informations as concearns the summary and the composition of the poem “i wandered lonely as a cloud” by william wordsworth summary the poem “i wandered lonely a (.
Poems in two volumes was savagely reviewed by francis jeffrey in the edinburgh review (without, however, singling out i wandered lonely as a cloud ), but the review was well known for its dislike of the lake poets as sir walter scott put it at the time of the poem's publication, wordsworth is harshly treated in the. A reading of wordsworth's classic daffodils poem often known simply as ' daffodils' or 'the daffodils', william wordsworth's poem that begins 'i wandered lonely as a cloud' is, in many ways, the quintessential english romantic poem its theme is the relationship between the individual and the natural world,.
About the poem – the daffodils the romantic poet william wordsworth's “i wondered lonely as a cloud”, also known as “the daffodils” is probably his most famous lyrical work the poem was written in 1804, inspired by an event on 15 april 1802, in which wordsworth and his sister dorothy came across. Commentary 1-summary the poem 'daffodils', also known by the title 'i wandered lonely as a cloud', is a lyrical poem written by william wordsworth in 1804 william wordsworth is a well-known romantic poet who believed in conveying simple and creative expressions through his poems he once said, “ poetry is the. In this essay i present the outlines of a cognitively motivated, discourse-analytical approach to metaphor in poetry i will begin by emphasizing that analysis has to be seen in the context of the more encompassing framework of research into the relation between language structure and process i will then adopt one particular.
Form and meter i wandered lonely as a cloud has a fairly simple form that fits its simple and folksy theme and language it consists of four stanzas with six lines each, for a total of 24 lines the rhyme schem. This aphorism clearly accents the meaning of william wordsworth's poem i wandered lonely as a cloud in his work, the speaker reminisces about a past experience in which he saw a beautiful multitude of daffodils swaying in the breeze as he recollects this scene, the speaker gradually realizes the true beauty he had. Analysis of i wandered lonely as a cloud erin smith loading the analyst is quite right, it is entitled i wodered lonely as a cloud following the tradition at the time of titling a poem after its first line this is one of my favourite poems and i found your analysis very interesting and thought provoking. 'i wandered lonely as a cloud' is one of william wordsworth's most memorable poems what makes it london, 1802 by wordsworth: summary & poem analysis a red, red rose by robert now, let's begin our analysis of the poem, keeping our eyes open to any imagery and themes we encounter although the term.
I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o'er vales and hills, when all at once i saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way, they stretched in never-ending line. The main theme of the poem “i wandered lonely as a cloud” by william wordsworth is that of bliss, or a certain state of natural happiness adjacent themes are: man's relationship with nature (.
The poem i wandered lonely as a cloud by william wordsworth, written in 1802 and first published in 1807, celebrates the beauty of nature to such an extent that for the poet it is not only a beauty but 'bliss of solitude' too it is for him a source of inspiration to live his life meaningful the poem is a romantic poem that is. Summary of stanza 1 of the poem i wandered lonely as a cloud (daffodils) line- by-line analysis. Throughout daffodils (or 'i wandered lonely as a cloud' as some people refer the poem to), the tranquil tone and peaceful imagery along with the steady flow of rhymes implies the joyful yet peaceful feeling of being on this cloud the way the speaker attributes his own feelings to parts of nature, shows that he feels.
I wandered lonely as a cloud (daffodils): rhyme, form & meter i wandered lonely as a cloud has a fairly simple form that fits its simple and folksy theme and language it consists of four stanzas with six lines each, for a total of 24 lines the rhyme scheme is also simple: ababcc the last two lines of each. Immediately download the i wandered lonely as a cloud summary, chapter-by- chapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more - everything you need for studying or teaching i wandered lonely as a cloud. “heart / that watches and receives” that will open up a new universe for human beings, not the heart that has “waxed gross” in the final analysis, jesus condemned the scribes and pharisees because of their cold, unreceptive hearts the language of the poem mixes worship of nature with christianity and ties. I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o'er vales and hills, when all at once i saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way, they stretched in never-ending line along the margin of.


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We have some adorable liver/white and black/white , AKC registered, English Springer Spaniel puppies avialable. Taking deposits to hold now! They will have all their vaccine and deworming programs complete, tails are docked and dew claws are removed. They will be vet checked by our vet and we offer a one year genetic health guarantee. Our puppies are well socialized with our children and ...
Curly black or cream puppies born May 11,2016 to 4th generation black Mom;Dad is 2nd generation cream.Have had first and second shots/worming.Raised in home with lots of love and playing time. Very social,loving natured. Shipping cost is buyers responsibility.Call 605-321-1990
Beautiful blue brindle Frenchie girl..born feb 15th. Utd on vaccines. Full AKC available. Sweet girl, doesn't bark..very well-behaved, happy, healthy young girl! Dam is about 26lbs, sire 16lbs. Call or text with questions.
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Pic 1 & 2 Black & Tan Parti Male $850 + tax
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I have a boy and a girl to find forever homes for. There mom is an AKC standard poodle and dad is an english cream golden retriever. They are ready to go home on October 8th. They will be up to date on shots, wormed and microchiped.
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We are asking $650 for boy and $700 for the girl.
These gorgeous girls are available! They are stunning red tri colors that should have 2 blue eyes! Their parents are fully health tested and clear for DM, HU,HC,PRA PRCD,CMR1,CEA,CD,NCL6,DCM and dad is OFA certified hips and elbows. Our babies come with natural bob tail, 1st sets of shots, and full written health guarantees including a 5 year genetic! All babies are raised in our home around ...
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Puppies are raised on a farm in Southwest, MN. AKC Registered an will have their first round of shots, wormed, & will have had a bath when they are picked up. Only females available & they are ready for new homes now!
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Litter of 7, house raised very social loving kittens. Will have shots and litter trained by time of adoption. Will hold your kitten with non refundable deposit. 2 torties, 2 blue points and 2 chocolate seal points.
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BEAUTIFUL AKC STANDARD POODLE PUPPIES.
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domain: pet


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Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Kira tried out on Monday for the talent show. Her talent...playing the guitar. She played the Star Spangled Banner and she practiced it for weeks before the try outs. I am pleased as punch that she made it in! She also is the opening act, which totally makes sense given what she's playing! This is the third time she's made it into the show and I'm very proud of her because not everyone makes it into the show. The first time she tried out, we choreographed a jump rope routine. The second time, she did a hula hoop routine to some stomping song. Now we're showcasing her softer talent. I can't wait for the show!


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This family is thought to have its origin from the area of Osterstade near Bremen, Germany. Its name spelled variously as Krogh, Kroge, Kroghe, Krogen, Krough, Krug, Croghe, Croge, etc., is very old among German nobility indeed. It appears as early as 1236. A genealogical Table from the 1700's takes the family back to the year 1400. This table, however, is not available or verifiable.
However, the family has, on specific occasions been recognized as nobility by the President of the Duchy of Bremen Knighthood in a document, dated June 8, 1870, and by the Royal Heraldic District in Berlin in a document, dated June 4, 1875. Similarly the family has been recognized as noble in Denmark and have occupied high military and civilian positions. They also have intermarried with the most highly esteemed noble families.
The family Coat of Arms has been a white castle with two towers between which are four rising golden morning stars against a blue background, and on the crest a greyhound, half white, with a golden collar in between two blue and white wings.
The family's ancestor in Denmark and Norway wrote his name as BERENT von KROGH, but his contemporaries called him Berent von Kroge or von Krueg. He was the son of GEORG (JURGEN) von Krogh and a Captain of a company located in Gluckstadt in 1645. At King Frederick III's succession to the throne, he appears to have entered Danish-Norwegian service on a permanent basis. It is possible, however, that he is not the first of his family to come to Denmark. In 1653 Gehard(Gert) von Krogh, an older brother of Bernhardus, died in Trondheim. He and his wife, Alked, had three sons and three daughters, but his descendants can only be traced to the third generation. At the same time Heinrich von Krogh, died Oct. 8, 1655, a younger brother of Bernhardus living in Lybaek. He was married to Anna Hasse. One of his sons , named Heinrich, born in 1655 in Lybaek, was a medical graduate. He died Dec. 6, 1679 in Leipzig, and was buried at St. Paul's church on Dec. 10th.
Bernhardus came to Denmark in 1644 with troops from Bremen to assist King Christina IV of Denmark at the end of the "Thirty Years War" (1618-1648). Though the Danes were subdued he remained in the service of the Danish King and was sent to Trondheim Norway in command of the troops there, since Norway was still under the rule of Denmark. Bernhardus married Alide von Bo;ton, daughter of the Mayor of Bremen, and their descendants inter-married with prominent families in Denmark , Norway and Sweden.
Bremen is a port city in northwest Germany, on the banks of the Weser River about 70 km (43 mi) from the North Sea. Bremen has a population of 551,219 (1991 est.). Bremen and its surrounding territory became a Land, or state, of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1947 and retained that status following German reunification in 1990. The province has an area of 404 sq km (156 sq mi) and a population of 673,700 (1990 est.).
The Weser River is navigable by seagoing craft up to the city's docks. The Bremen docks are second in importance only to those of Hamburg; they line the Weser to the north of the Old Town. A considerable trade in cotton, grain, and tobacco is conducted in the city. Above the city the Weser River is used by barges and is linked with the canal system of Germany. On the estuary to the north is the outport of BREMERHAVEN, built on land purchased from Hanover. It was opened in 1830 to accommodate ships that were too large to sail up to Bremen itself. The chief industries of Bremen are shipbuilding, the production of iron and steel, and the manufacture of automobiles, electrical equipment, and machinery.
Bremen was founded about AD 787. By the 13th century it was a prosperous trading town, and in 1358 it became a member of the HANSEATIC LEAGUE. It was declared a free city in 1646 and maintained its independence until 1815, when it merged with the German Confederation. The city was heavily damaged during World War II but has since been completely rebuilt. The Altstadt, or Old Town, retains its Cathedral of Saint Peter, dating in part from the 11th century, and its Gothic town hall; both were rebuilt after the war. Also still in existence are several other medieval churches and the Guild Hall of the cloth merchants.
Kilde: Danmark's 1898 Adels Aarbog (pages 279 through 287) Norman J. G. Pounds
Trond Riisnes, døde i Bergen den 10. November 2022.
Ingolf Magnus, døde i Bergen den 10. August 2022.
Erik Kold Bakkevig, døde i Haugesund den 30. Juli 2022.
Aud Ingebjørg Horvei, født Magnus døde på Elverum den 18. Mai 2022.
Jannike Christine Mowinckel Falk, døde i Oslo den 29. april 2022
Kurt Kristian Stockfleth von Krogh Magnus døde i Ølen 22. Mars 2022
Mathilde Kristine "Lillemor" Monclair, 99 år gammel døde i Haugesund 15. Januar 2022
Magnhild Monclair, født Amdal døde i Førresfjorden den 2. September 2021
Elsa Margretha Monclair døde i Bergen den 13. Mai 2021
Stamfar for slekten von Krogh i Norge Bernhardus von Krogh 1620-1676 av Mathias BeyerBernhardus (Bernt) von Krogh var født i Lübeck, Tyskland og kom til Danmark i 1644 med tropper fra Bremen for å hjelpe kong Christian IV av Danmark i krigen «Hannibalfeiden» 1643-1645 mot Sverige.
We make every effort to document our research. If you have something you would like to add, please contact us.

domain: history


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Choosing a family physician is an important decision for patients, but in most instances it is done without adequate knowledge or forethought. Some years ago, in an effort to begin my patient relationships on the right foot, I instituted an enrollment interview as both an opportunity and requirement for new patients. People who called my office seeking a physician were advised that an interview was required prior to enrollment. Those unwilling to participate simply were not enrolled. (We did not have any managed care contracts that obliged us to see patients unwilling to take part in our enrollment interview.) Those willing to participate were scheduled for the interview. Interviews were conducted initially on an individual family basis but subsequently in a group setting with as many as 35 families at a time. Here’s how we did it.
Appointments for the interviews were made during evening hours so that all family members could attend. While we did not specifically encourage the presence of small children, we did not discourage it either. Much of the discussion was boring to small children, so we tried to offer some type of entertainment (e.g., toys, books or movies) to keep them occupied. Older children, particularly teenagers, were included in the interview and given appropriate attention.
The interview began with introductions, showing the family around the office and discussing the significance of certain instruments or pieces of equipment. This perusal of the office was usually brief, and then we would retire to my private office for the rest of the interview. We made great efforts to communicate to the family that there was no obligation to enroll in our practice and no charge for the interview, as they were not yet patients of ours; it was simply a means for deciding whether we had the basis for an ongoing relationship.
During the interview, we covered the following topics:
Family medicine. People have all sorts of ideas about what a family physician is, and it is helpful to establish a mutual understanding of the role of the family physician in the health care system. I would often explain that, as a family physician, I was able to care for all members of the family, providing not only routine or periodic examinations but also certain specialized services. For example, after I decided to stop delivering babies, I explained to new patients that I could take care of the mother and baby after delivery. Many patients are surprised to learn of the broad scope of services that family physicians can provide.
Housekeeping. Housekeeping chores may seem trivial, but they can be important to the smooth functioning of your practice. These issues include explaining when you have office hours, how appointments are made, how you arrange your call system, etc. These issues are exceedingly important because unless you tell people what you expect of them, they have no way of knowing how to cooperate with you. By communicating these issues up front, many routine problems are avoided.
Proactive care. One of the hallmarks of our practice was that we tried to keep track of the health care activity of our families and maintain an adequate database on them so that we could provide proactive care. We did not feel that it was possible to maintain a modern family practice by giving primarily episodic care. Beginning with the enrollment interview, we promoted the concept of preventive care. Individuals who did not agree with this philosophy were encouraged to seek care elsewhere. While this may sound somewhat autocratic, it helped us accumulate a patient base attuned to our goals.
Team care. Also at the time of the interview, we established the fact that we considered health care to be a team enterprise and the patient to be the most important member of the team. We discussed each member’s roles and responsibilities and emphasized the importance of openness and feedback among all parties.
Group vs. individual sessions
The individual family interviews gave us a chance to discuss privately any individual or family problems that arose and helped us assess what the needs of that family would be when we enrolled them. In the group interview, this privacy was not possible; however, we did offer private discussions after the group sessions to those who requested them.
The group interview allowed us to present a more detailed and stylized program, including slides and transparency projections. For group interviews, our entire staff was present so that we could introduce them to the families and designate their duties. At times, we even had our medical students present, as it helped demonstrate that teaching was an important function in our office.
At the end of the group presentations, we always invited the families to ask questions, many of which reflected confusion about the role of family physicians. This furthered my view that we, as family physicians, have a responsibility to educate the public as to what we mean by family medicine. This is not an easy task that will be accomplished overnight, but the enrollment interview provides a perfect forum.
To join or not to join
If the family or individual decided to enroll in our practice, we initiated the enrollment procedure, which included collecting basic patient data and establishing a chart. In addition, we gave the patients forms to send to prior physicians or medical institutions to obtain past records. We then considered the individual to be our patient.
If the family or individual needed more time to decide, we simply waited until we heard from them before placing them on our enrollment list.
While some of my colleagues were initially skeptical of the enrollment interview concept and assumed we would foster ill will by requiring the interview and not seeing patients immediately, their fears proved to be unfounded. If immediate care seemed necessary, we directed those callers to other providers (e.g., urgent care clinics) and offered to schedule an enrollment interview. These prospective patients were impressed by our courtesy and the fact that we had such a system. No other office in town offered an enrollment interview, and individuals seemed to view it as evidence of an organized approach to health care – the main thrust of our approach. This introduction to our practice created patient confidence, understanding and goodwill, all of which are essential to the success of any practice.

domain: medical


text: Dynamic shock wave reflection generated by a rapidly pitching wedge in a steady supersonic free stream have been studied with numerical simulation previously. This paper publishes the development and design of an experimental facility to characterize these dynamic shock wave reflection phenomena. The paper documents details of the experimental rig, flow visualization technique and the high-speed imaging system. High-speed schlieren images from tests with gradual, but dynamic wedge pitch are included. Flow field images are captured with a Photron Ultima APX-RS high-speed camera at 250 fps. Tests were conducted at Mach 1.9 and Mach 3.0 free stream conditions in a supersonic wind tunnel. The high-speed imaging enabled the accurate determination of the point of transition between regular and Mach reflection. The wedge incidence for which the shock system is swallowed and disgorged was also measured during these tests.


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Lady Longhorn softball pitcher Tiffany Lubken, a Payson High senior, has signed a letter of intent to play next season for Glendale Community College.
According to Lubken's mother Valerie, the youngster signed Jan. 15 with coach Laura Dodrill's Lady Gauchos and was awarded a scholarship.
But before Lubken hurls for GCC, she has one more year of high school eligibility remaining and may turn out to be the ace hurler on the Longhorn pitching staff.
Lubken's goal this spring, she said, is to help the Lady Horns earn a state championship. She then hopes to go on to pitch for her amateur team in the ASA 18-years-and-under national tournament to be held in August in Salem, Va.
Lubken should be in excellent form for the upcoming high school and summer amateur seasons since she's been playing "travel ball" for the Phoenix-based 18-years-and-under Scorpio team.
As a pitcher on the Valley squad, Lubken helped hurl the team to the championship of the USSSA Junior Olympic Fast Pitch Softball state tournament held two weeks ago.
"She recorded three wins (and) allowed a total of three runs with her devastating changeup and mixture of drop and rise balls," Valerie Lubken said.
The youngster also swung a hot bat in the tournament.
"She went eight for 14 from the plate to add some valuable runs and RBIs for her team," Valerie said.
Lubken says she is excited about someday playing collegiate softball, but the journey to the big time hasn't been an easy one.
"Approximately five years ago, I asked my mom to let me play travel ball in Phoenix," she said. "The thousands of miles on the road, the practices once or twice a week in Phoenix, and the tournaments (played) year round have been a total family commitment."
On the way to becoming a college pitching prospect, Lubken has been coached by one of the state's most acclaimed softball pitchers Arizona Hall of Fame member Jay Bob Bickford.
"He has been giving me pitching and hitting lessons every week for the last three years," Lubken said.
The teenager's accomplishments on and off the diamond have her mother glowing with pride.
"Tiffany's hard work, dedication to her studies and positive attitude have finally gotten Valley coaches turning their heads to watch her perform," mom said.
Lubken's feats on the USSSA youth softball scene, Valerie said, is "how coach Dodrill saw her and why she asked her to become a part of the team in Glendale."
At GCC, Lubken hopes to major in pre medicine classes and someday become a doctor.
Currently, the youngster is taking classes at Eastern Arizona College, with her sights set on earning a nursing assistant certificate.
Once she enrolls at Glendale, her mother said, "she will finish her registered nursing (education), start pre med and pitch her heart out for the Lady Gauchos, to get noticed by a university."
After two years at GCC, Lubken's goal is to pitch for a Division 1A collegiate team.


I have a question for the national security crowd.
North Korea clearly wants nuclear capability. They want it very badly because they think—not irrationally—that it’s the only thing that can reliably protect them from an American invasion. It is, right now, their highest priority by far, and nothing will stop them from obtaining it. Not sanctions. Not diplomacy. Not tut tutting from China. Not tweets from President Trump. Not B1 flights or carrier group movements.
In fact, even a conventional bombing strike wouldn’t be effective at stopping their program. Conventional bombs couldn’t get everything, since much of North Korea’s program is buried underground. And anyway, it would take time and invite massive retaliation, both conventional and nuclear, on Seoul.
That leaves one alternative: a nuclear strike. Am I right about that? The only way to halt North Korea’s nuclear program would be a surprise nuclear attack on every known nuclear installation in the country.
I’m asking because I’d like to cut through the fog and understand if we truly have any options here. Are there any other non-fantasy-based alternatives to stopping North Korea’s nuclear program?
EVENING UPDATE: I see that my point has been missed by some people. So here it is in plainer form: I’m asking if we have any real options with North Korea. We are obviously not going to nuke the Korean peninsula—I hope—so does that mean we don’t really have any choice at this point but to accept a nuclear-armed North Korea?


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Today will be bitterly cold, but gusty southwest winds will bring much warmer air for the weekend and into next week.
Skies will be partly sunny today with a high temperature around 24 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. However, light winds will make it feel in the low teens.
Tonight will be partly cloudy with an overnight low around 11 degrees.
On Saturday, it will be breezy and a little warmer, with highs in the low 40s and clouds increasing in the afternoon.
After dark, breezy winds will continue and skies will be mostly cloudy. Temperatures aren’t expected to fall much, falling to a low around 34 degrees.
Sunday will be mostly cloudy, windy and warmer, with gusts of 35 to 40 mph possible and highs around 48 degrees.
Winds and clouds will gradually decrease Sunday, with lows dipping to around 28 degrees.
Monday will be partly sunny with temperatures in the mid- to upper 40s.


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Claire-Louise Bennett's Bookshelf
5th April 2016
A lot of the time I feel like I’m just hanging around. Seldom is it obvious to me what I should do with myself. Some philosophers and psychologists believe that human beings are born with a number of innate predispositions and it is the fulfilment of these biological and social leanings that give direction and meaning to one’s life. Along with many other instructive and possibly life-saving documents I seem to have mislaid that particular blueprint and am therefore forever grappling with the double-edged sword of freedom; sometimes I feel like a swashbuckling occupant of the whole wide world, other times I cannot muster the wherewithal to tread beyond the apartment door. When I think about the writers I most often orientate towards I am not surprised to realise that the basic situations of life do not occur to them automatically either. They presuppose very little, if anything, and so the use of themselves in the world is persistently unclear to them. They never quite adapt to and integrate with their surroundings, instead they prod about in an obsessive hermetic zone, or else freefall fast and loose through a dissolving universe. Paul Bowles was 17 when he decided to quit America – ‘I think I had a fairly good idea of what life would be like for me in the States, and I didn’t want it.’ When the interviewer asks him what it would have been like, Bowles replies; ‘boring’. Pessoa dodged the obligations of a fixed personality by devising around 70 heteronyms for himself, Sara Maitland left behind the yakkety-yak of city life in order to experience deep silence in the Hebrides, and Beckett went so far as to abandon his mother tongue – ‘Is there any reason why that terrible materiality of the word surface should not be capable of being dissolved?’ he asked.
The dissolution of that which appears to be an essential of life – home, identity, integration, language – can be liberating and may lead to something ground-breaking, personally and artistically, yet it can also be alienating and traumatic: ‘It was as if a curtain had fallen, hiding everything I had ever known’, goes the opening line of Voyage in the Dark; the eighteen year old narrator, having spent her childhood in the West Indies, has just arrived in England. The author Ella Williams came to London from the island of Dominica in 1908, and was renamed Jean Rhys by Ford Maddox Ford some years later, but she never did quite settle into either of these adopted appellations. ‘I would never be part of anything’, she wrote in her unfinished autobiography, ‘I would never really belong anywhere, and I knew it, and all my life would be the same, trying to belong, and failing. Always something would go wrong. I am a stranger and I always will be, and after all I didn’t really care.’ Whether through wilful sabotage, laziness, inattention, or some inherent glitch, I frequently feel slightly at odds with wherever I am and the things that go on there. And so I am grateful for the existence of the books listed here because I have felt very much at home in each one of them. As I am sure you will too, regardless of how well attuned you may or may not be; after all, as Shirley Jackson wisely pointed out – ‘No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream.’.


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They say that when you have kids, your whole life changes and your outlook and lifestyle mellows out. Laura Veirs has certainly been affected by the birth of her son, Tennessee, so much so that she's recorded an entire album of American children's songs, citing the young addition to her family as part of the inspiration. But that's not the whole story.
On her website, she explains that 'countless fans have told her over the years how much their kids love her records'. The idea that young children have been tapping their feet to Veirs' critically-acclaimed folk/country stylings, might seem preposterous, but listen closely and you get the impression it's very true.
So, rather than re-record her award-bothering masterpieces "Year of Meteors" and "Saltbreakers" using a Speak-and-Spell© machine, she's opted for a more organic and archival approach. "Tumble Bee", out in November, gathers up classic American children's folk songs, originally recorded by Woody Guthrie, Peggy Seeger and the like and given them a Veirs finish. The winning formula has been topped-off with guest appearances from Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Bela Fleck and more and is described by Veirs' partner, Tucker Martine as 'songs that have been forgotten throughout the years,' says Martine, 'we wanted to bring these beloved songs to a new generation with an instrumentation that both honors their traditions and creates something unique.'
You can witness this uniqueness when Veirs comes to the UK in 2012 for a series of headline shows. Stops include London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on 30th January, Nottingham, Salford, Gateshead and finally, Birmingham on 4th Feb.
With the exception of London, tickets will be on sale from Monday 3rd October, costing £10. Tickets for the Queen Elizabeth Hall gig are on sale now, priced £17.50 from the venue directly.


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6:00 PM, 27th August, 2011
In case you somehow missed last semester’s screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, or have been hiding under a large, spoiler-proof rock for the last year, here is your chance to see both parts of the final instalment of the Harry Potter franchise back-to-back at the ANU Film Group.
The first film set completely outside of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is arguably darker yet more beautiful than its six predecessors. No longer able to rely on the protection of Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) or the routine of school life, Harry (Radcliffe), Hermione (Watson) and Ron (Grint) are forced to make daunting choices in the struggle against the increasingly powerful Lord Voldemort (Fiennes). Searching for Horcruxes - the key to defeating Voldemort’s immortality – the trio will face challenges both from the outside and within, as they gradually uncover the answers to important questions that have long permeated the series. Where are the remaining Horcruxes? What are the mysterious Deathly Hallows? Did even Dumbledore know how to defeat Voldemort?
With Deathly Hallows: Part 2 following this screening of Part 1, Potter fans can experience the complete culmination of seven books, four directors, countless stars of the British stage and screen and ten years of literal movie magic. Anyone with even the slightest affection for the world’s most famous wizard will undoubtedly want to be here with him, until the very end.
Majella Carmody & Matthew ‘Victor’ Dunn
8:45 PM, 27th August, 2011
This is it. The very last, the final, the ultimate instalment of a saga which, when you take the books and films into account, has been unfolding for nearly fifteen years. For some of you, there is no memory of a world without Harry Potter. And when the final film is screened, a few of us will look around and wonder where we are, and what we are going to do in this strange, new, slightly lonely world.
Perhaps we'll go out and buy the Harry Potter cupcake mix, with extra bonus sparkly sugar stars - it really exists - and bake our misery away. Or perhaps we'll simply just watch this film again.
If you've at least taken the trouble to see the previous film (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) you'll have found out what the titular Deathly Hallows are, and that Voldemort has just got his hands on one of them. As this film opens, our heroic trio are still on the run, still tracking down and attempting to destroy fragments of Voldemort's soul, and still struggling to grow into adults at the same time. If you really are new to all this and haven't the faintest clue as to what's going on, you're still in a position to enjoy some of the most spectacular set-pieces in the series, leading up to a climactic final battle between, in ring one, Harry and Voldemort, and, in ring two, everyone else.
And then it will end. Perhaps we should start a support group.
Helena Sverdlin & Henry Fitzgerald


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We brought home a medium size dog this weekend from the SPCA. Dexter is a 8-12 month old Lab/Hound and is very friendly towards Emma, our 4-year old cat who has been the only pet for 2 years. Dexter has only been around her a few times that she's crept out but Emma has been in hiding since Saturday except for when Dexter has been crated (when we're asleep). She got up on the bed during the night so I know she was moving around. I moved her food to the countertop and showed her where it was. She has not eaten in 2 days. She is hiding in the closet, responds to my husband and I lovingly but won't come out. I'm worrried for her. Maybe we did it all wrong. She was playful and fun with a smaller dog that my parents have. I thought sure she'd be okay since Dexter isn't that big. Will she come around? What can I do? She could obviously have the upper hand if she felt threatened. She's got sharp claws and could easily kick Dexter's butt but I don't think she realizes that. I don't want to ruin her. When should I really worry? I need some advice. I am torn and upset. Thank you.
post #1 of 11
10/20/03 at 3:51pm


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Wherein may be found the occasional trills, photographs and artwork of the unreknowned Koy Deli, and his guests, friends and fellow bloggers.
For breakfast I eat up my vowels, my a e i o u,
to which I add from consonants a fricative or two;
After that I move my bowels then write as poets do,
and frequently am quite surprised to feel a trill come through.


Last month, Pentegra Retirement Services was hit with a lawsuit involving its multiple employer plan, or MEP.
It was at least the third such excessive-fee case brought this year against an MEP provider, after ADP TotalSource was named in two separate lawsuits over its 401(k) plan in May. There have also been two recent settlements, including a $10 million agreement in a 2019 case filed against the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, or NRECA.
This year also has seen a wild rise in the number of 401(k) lawsuits, though relatively few of them have involved MEPs.
It’s not clear whether MEPs represent the next frontier in 401(k) litigation, but the recent case filings and settlements show potential interest among plaintiffs’ law firms in pursuing more class-action claims against big MEP providers.
“As any area grows in visibility and size, inevitably it could be a potential for litigation,” said David Levine, principal at Groom Law Group. “It’s why we’ve seen lawsuits, whether it’s the MEP lawsuits you see today, or whether it is the different types of claims against service providers or the old-fashioned fee lawsuits.”
One indicator is that the law firm that pioneered 401(k) litigation, Schlichter Bogard & Denton, is behind several of the recent MEP cases. The firm, which began a barrage of 401(k) litigation in 2006, has brought dozens of cases on behalf of plaintiffs against 401(k) and nonprofit 403(b) plan sponsors, the latter of which includes colleges and universities.
In March, the law firm finished a 10-day bench trial in a 2015 case against MEP provider Insperity Retirement Services and Reliance Trust Co., which managed and controlled the plan’s investment options. The court has not yet delivered a verdict on the case, and on Sept. 21 the parties reached an undisclosed settlement, court records show. Insperity’s MEP represented nearly $3.7 billion in assets among more than 124,000 participants as of the end of 2018, data from the Department of Labor show.
Schlichter Bogard & Denton also brought the September case against Pentegra, as well as one of the lawsuits in May against ADP TotalSource. The Pentegra plan represented about $2.1 billion at the end of 2018, while the ADP plan had about $4.4 billion.
But managing partner Jerry Schlichter said those cases do not necessarily represent an area of interest for his firm.
“I would not say there is a trend or that this is necessarily going to be an area of litigation in the future,” Schlichter said. “It’s really a case-by-case situation.”
The lawsuits the firm has brought against MEP providers don’t have commonalities, he said.
“Each MEP case, like any other 401(k) case, has to be looked at on its own facts,” he said. “The fiduciary duty is the same — to have prudent investments and reasonable fees.”
One thing that separates MEP cases from some other 401(k) fee cases is that MEP providers receive compensation from the plans, while 401(k) sponsors generally do not, unless they are a financial services firm, such as a record keeper or investment provider.
Some firms, like Pentegra, are compensated at least in part for the fiduciary liability they assume by having discretion over plan administration, said Jason Roberts, CEO of the Pension Resource Institute. That can make it hard to show that the plan provider charged excessive fees, Roberts said.
“That type of case I don’t think will ever succeed in either extracting a settlement of any meaningful amount or being adjudicated in favor of the plaintiffs,” he said. “When you are asking a professional fiduciary to step in and assume those duties, there is additional work, and there is additional risk. And both of those premiums will be priced in and reflected in the value of the services.”
Plans can opt for higher levels of service, for higher costs, “because courts have routinely reminded plaintiffs that we don’t look at fees in a vacuum,” he said.
There is also a misconception that MEPs are less costly that other 401(k) plans, he noted.
A recent report by an assistant professor at Boston College Law School found that MEPs overseen by human-resources outsourcing firms, called pooled-employer organizations, on average have fees several times higher than individual 401(k)s.
In 2018, Oasis Outsourcing settled a case involving its MEP for nearly $6 million, about $2 million of which went to legal fees.
MORE TO COME
There will likely be more attention paid to MEPs and similar plans, with the first pooled employer plans, or PEPs, set to launch next year. PEPs, the Department of Labor’s answer to “open” MEPs, do not require participating employers in the same plan to have any commonalities, as MEPs do.
Both MEPs and PEPs “will be under intense scrutiny and potential targets of litigation,” a trend that’s hinted at by the recent cases filed against ADP, Greg Ash, partner at law firm Spencer Fane, said in an email.
“Litigation tends to follow the money, and the primary purpose of these arrangements is to aggregate more plan assets so as to leverage bargaining power,” Ash said. “As the plans get bigger, so will the scrutiny, and the targets on their backs.”
If litigation does persist, it could cause Congress to act, Levine said.
“Congress is trying to promote innovation to help people save for retirement,” and litigation could stifle that, he said. However, plaintiffs’ firms likely feel differently, he noted.
“Most plan sponsors just want to do right by their employees,” he said.
One consequence of the overall rise in litigation is that fiduciary insurance has become more costly, he said.
“These cases take a lot of resources to defend,” he said. Rather than settling cases, “more people are interested in defending these out, to try to see if they can get some resolution.”
CONSEQUENCE OF LITIGATION
MEPs can be an obvious target for litigation, given the amount of assets in those plans, said Nevin Adams, chief content officer at the American Retirement Association. It’s hard to know whether those plans will attract even more lawsuits, but the discovery processes in such cases could lead to different types of claims in the future, he noted. For example, the ownership of participant data has become central to some cases, he said.
“Schlichter spent a lot of time in the ERISA space and developed some judicial cred,” Adams said. “In the process of discovery, [he’s going] to stumble across other things that are potential fodder.”
Regardless, the rise in 401(k) litigation over about 15 years has made plan fiduciaries much more sensitive to fee considerations, he said.
“It’s important for people to remember that they’re dealing with other people’s money,” Adams said “If it’s not a wake-up call, it should be. To every committee out there that is just trundling along and assuming somebody else is minding the store — you’re a fiduciary and you’re supposed to be minding the store.”
Fiduciary standards have become clearer as a result of litigation, and employers have taken their duties much more seriously, Schlichter said. But there will still be potential cases in the future.
“Many plans have been improved substantially, without litigation,” he said. But “there still are employers who are [plan] sponsors who are not carrying their duties fully.”
The easiest way to avoid getting sued is to “align their conduct with adherence to a beacon,” Schlichter said. “And that beacon is operating in the best interest of the participants, by making sure that the fees are reasonable and the investments are prudent. If they do that, then they shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
As our second lead editor, Cindy Hamilton covers health, fitness and other wellness topics. She is also instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. Cindy received a BA and an MA from NYU.


A ribbon cutting was held for R.T. Moore-Lakewood Ranch, 5009 Lena Road, Lakewood Ranch. The company is a full-service plumbing and mechanical contractor, serving multifamily and residential markets with target markets including high rise apartments, garden apartments, assisted living, student housing, and hotels. For more information, call 317-291-9915 or visit rtmoore.com. Do you have a ribbon cutting you’d like to submit? Send it to Angie Monroe at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Photo courtesy of Manatee Chamber of Commerce


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Re: Scrap ‘fashion accessory’ Finch and Sheppard LRTs, says report, Dec. 11
Scrap ‘fashion accessory’ Finch and Sheppard LRTs, says report, Dec. 11
Michael Schabas’s take on transit development in Toronto is short-sighted, shopworn and dead wrong. Our public transit system is a pathetic mess, an unmitigated rolling horror show in which long waits, massive overcrowding, and slow and unreliable service are the rule rather than the exception.
Utterly horrendous service over a period of decades has driven anyone who can afford to drive to work to do so. Now that we have killed off much of our potential ridership, Schabas wants to use low ridership projections as an excuse for not expanding the system. That’s fine if the system is doing a good job of meeting the needs of the present.
Even with large of numbers of people having been driven from the system, it is so inadequate to meet the needs of commuters that during rush hours it looks like something out of a documentary on Kolkata. Current ridership is certainly not low when compared with resources.
Schabas is using a laughably rosy view of the current state of transit in Toronto as an excuse for curtailing development. This sort of con is becoming tiresome.
Stephen Langevin, Toronto

domain: sociology


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HFI Responds to NC
Though Hurricane Matthew no longer pounds the US coastline, it’s after-effects continue to be catastrophic over 100 miles inland. Initial predictions reported Florida as being the primary target for Matthew's landfall, but North Carolina has received the worst of its fury.Read More
Hurricane Aftermath in Haiti
When Hurricane Matthew slammed into the Sous Savanne area, many living in shanties quickly realizedRead More
Become a Disaster Responder
Our next Disaster Responder Training Intensive is being held in Pachuca, Mexico, October 27-29, 2016. The next U.S. Training is in Tupelo, MS, November 10-12, 2016. ...Register Now
A Video from the Field
We could use your willing hands & hearts to serve those in Louisiana
Our Latest Newsletter
Haiti...Appalachia... HFI Disaster Response: You are Needed! - Read the latest happenings in Hope Force InternationalRead More
Meet Hope Force
Watch this short video to learn the mission and see the heart of Hope Force International.
Join us in Haiti!
Hope Force in-country coordinators, Rene & Marianne Lako, share about our project initiatives in Haiti and invite you to be a part of bringing hope to "our village" of Sous Savanne!
Medical Personnel Needed
We are recruiting medical teams to join us in our long-term international recovery/rebuilding efforts.Read More
The walls are going up!
Hope Force International is actively engaged in raising funds to complete the rebuilding of ECCA school in Haiti. We're encouraged as the walls of the first block of classrooms are starting to go up! Here's a quick update and video that depicts the progress of the project.Read More
One HUGE step forward!
Members of the Hope Force International (HFI) team, both staff and Reservists, have completed an important exercise. Check out the video clips from the HFI E-Blast.Read More
Throughout history, the failure to cope with natural disasters has produced devastating consequences, from countless lives lost to ruined homes, businesses and economies. Tragically, it is often the poorest of the poor who are the most vulnerable. Around the world over 60 million people a year are affected by disasters and crisis.
As never before, trained disaster responders are needed to walk sensitively and appropriately alongside those affected by crisis. Hope Force International (HFI) is a Christian response to disaster events that surround us at home and abroad, reaching out to those who experience suffering and loss. Read more about us »


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OTTAWA – As speculators head into RRSP season this season, stocks in Nova scotia and the United States spend time at or near history levels, but trepidation are rising knowning that could mean volatile occasions for the markets.
Before this U.S. presidential election, many had believed that a Trump win could send stock trading markets crashing. But the undo happened. Markets cheered a election of the real estate property mogul and charged ahead in the many weeks following the vote.
But a realistic look at the Trump administration has started to sink throughout and investors are getting to be wary about what some sort of angry tweet is able to do to their holdings.
Jurrien Timmer, movie director of global macro at Constancy Investments, said Americans elected a “disrupter” and understanding that, the “game has changed.”
“Since the 2016 bottom, post-the overall economy, price has outperformed salary in a very big technique,” he said.
“The question is, ‘Just what are people going to be in a position to pay for those earnings if we are faced with politics and policy doubt?”‘
Timmer said he wants the U.Ohydrates. markets will do well because earnings are expected to raise, but the risk by uncharted political rich waters may mean that stock values might not keep up with a boost in corporate profits.
“You will see this valuation headwind,” he stated.
Instead, Timmer is looking to Euro and emerging sells where he says they may be earlier in their business cycle with home to grow.
“I am progressively more of the opinion that the prospects in 2017 are going to be not in the U.S.,” he was quoted saying.
Stock markets in the Ough.S. have been on your bull run because end of the overall economy, smashing through track record highs in recently available days.
The Toronto marketplace has seen a similar samsung wave s8500 of gains inside recent weeks prior to March 1 RRSP involvement deadline. The S&P/TSX composite index, which is very much weighed in products, struggled through 2016 because the price of oil had a beating, yet roared back last year, increasing 18 per cent just before setting new intraday and shutting highs last week.
Colum McKinley, some sort of portfolio manager on CIBC Asset Management, reported improved oil prices have helped underpin the electricity sector where information mill beginning to talk about making an investment and growing just as before after rounds for cost-cutting.
“We’re starting to see a bottoming process in Western side Canada,” he said.
McKinley said he also sees a great upside for the Canada banks, noting their strong record to pay and increasing their particular dividends.
“The Canada banking industry is an original one and we reckon that is one of the reasons why to remain great investments designed for Canadians in the past,” he said. “That’verts likely to remain a fact in the future.”
McKinley said it is essential for investors every single child stand back, have an understanding of their long-term investment ambitions and the best avenues to achieve them.
“We feel that we are in a period of moment that we’re about to continue to experience increased volatility, but we should use that movements to our advantage,” he was quoted saying.
“So when there’s not so good in the near term that comes on on the front page, we’lso are going to use that will as a buying chance to add to what we think are excellent companies.”
Timmer said he’vertisements an advocate regarding dollar-cost averaging, regularly putting money into your investment funds, in good times plus in bad.
“If you’re also a typical investor, which means you’re saving to get retirement, then you should often be putting money into your system when the ability is created,” he said.
“That’ersus the whole point of dollar-cost-averaging is that you simply spread out your price tag basis over the long term.”


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This is the fifth year of this prize and the books that make it onto the longlist keep getting better each year, and it is a varied selection again this year. The scope of the memoirs is quite broad, there is Sir John Lister-Kaye’s memoir of his journey to the creation of the Aigas Field Centre and Alys Fowler’s very personal journey through relationships and the waterways near her home. For some people, the closest they get to nature is by living near a designated green belt area, and John Grindrod’s Outskirts is a celebration of these green lungs surrounding our cities. Tom Cox has always striven to do things differently and his book 21st-Century Yokel carries on in that vein. Not only did it set a record for the fastest funded book on Unbound at the time, but he uses it to explore the countryside in his own unique way.
It wouldn’t be a Wainwright longlist without John Lewis-Stempel appearing on it. He only has the one this year, The Wood, a celebration of a small copse on his farm that even the shortest of visits to would be sufficient to recharge his soul. This is also a theme of A Wood of One’s Own by Ruth Pavey; she bought a small wood in the West Country because she wanted to and she could and it has been a place she has grown to love. Books about animals make up a quarter of the longlist. Rosamund Young tells us about the cows on her farm that have characters of their own. Owl Sense details Miriam Darlington’s desire to see all the native owls of the UK, but it becomes a bit of an obsession, so she heads to Europe to see even more. Adam Nicolson’s book, The Seabird’s’ Cry, is as much a polemic on the crisis that is about to engulf our ocean travellers as it is a study of their lives and journeys.
Even though we are a small island, there are still places where we can experience the wild. Neil Ansell needs those moments of solitude and his book is about returning to the same part of Scotland to immerse himself in the landscape there. Patrick Barkham’s journey around our archipelago takes in eleven islands of different sizes and perspectives as he talks to the people that live on them or discovers about those that used to. Raynor Winn’s book, The Salt Path, starts off with a series of bad news; terminal illness, loss of livelihood and home, but as her husband and her walk the South West Coastal Path on a minuscule budget they are healed by the natural world. This year for the first time there is a children’s book on the longlist, The Lost Words. This beautifully illustrated book has inspired people all around the country to run crowdfunding to get copies of it into schools and get children to write their own spells to acclaim the natural world.
How the judges are going to get this down to a shortlist of six, I do not know.
My reviews for all thirteen books are all here: