Speaking in front of the American flag in McGraw 165, Dan Flynn, author of Why the Left Hates America, explained his classification of the “Left” and his view of its ideology to an audience of about 70 people last night.
To clarify his viewpoint, Flynn first defined what he meant by the Left. He said he chose that word, rather than “liberal” or “Democrat,” very specifically.
“It’s not called Why Democrats Hate America. It’s not called Why Liberals Hate America,” he said. “When I think of Left, I think of Noam Chomsky.”
After asking audience members to name prominent liberals, Flynn illustrated his differentiation between liberals and the Left.
Describing Hillary Clinton, Flynn said, “She is [more] in agreement with the current head of the Oval Office than she is in agreement with Noam Chomsky or Gore Vidal.”
He said that he focused on this group of people because they have disproportionate influence on places like college campuses, even though they make up no more than 10 percent of the American population. He quoted surveys reporting the disparate numbers of Democrat professors over Republican professors, sometimes a ratio as high as 25:1.
“The Kremlin had more diversity than that,” he said.
In the question-and-answer session, when asked why he quoted statistics about Democrat professors rather than Leftist professors after making distinctions between the two, Flynn said that statistics aren’t available to measure the proportion of Leftist professors.
He said that a focus on diversity creates a college history department “that looks like the United Nations, but thinks like a San Francisco coffeehouse.”
To introduce the rest of his speech, he played a clip from Monty Python’s Life of Brian showing John Cleese as a member of a revolutionary group in ancient Judea asking “What has Rome ever done for us?” In response, his own political allies offer a variety of positive answers, ranging from public health to aqueducts.
After the clip, Flynn commented, “America has its own People’s Front of Judea and they call themselves the Left.”
He explained that the Left ignores America’s positive accomplishments and views everything American in a very negative light. He recounted a number of incidents after Sept. 11 when universities forced their employees to remove American flags from the workplace and also mentioned Cynthia McKinney’s choice as a Frank H.T. Rhodes Class of ’56 Professor.
Commenting on McKinney’s statement that President Bush knew about Sept. 11 beforehand, he said, “You say something like that in normal society, you’re laughed at. You say that in academia and you get offered a job.”
He went on to describe his opposition to many of the people protesting the war in Iraq. He said that he himself was skeptical of the war, but disliked the protesters’ tactics.
“Waving the sickle and hammer at a peace rally. [It’s] like having Charlie Manson at a humanitarian rally,” he said. “Activism isn’t group therapy.”
He said that these type of actions, which included posters proclaiming “Bush is a Nazi,” actually “repulsed” the majority of the American public rather than garner sympathy toward the antiwar cause. He also played audio clips of himself interviewing some of these protesters, one of whom said, “The United States is like a stuck-up little bitch. … 9/11 was like breaking a nail.”
Countering this negative attitude, Flynn offered a number of examples of positive American accomplishments. He focused on three main areas: medicine, immigration and freedom.
After listing a number of developments in modern medicine in the United States, he moved onto America’s historical policy on immigration and attacked people who claim America is xenophobic.
He said that 60 percent of the world’s immigrants from 1820 to 1930 came to America, and pointed out that the governor of the largest state in the United States is an immigrant. “This has been the most welcoming country in the history of the world,” he said.
He also criticized people who focus on the fact that the Constitution excluded people from voting. “What was unique about the founding was that anyone was allowed to vote,” he said. “Most people in the world today have no say in who their rulers are.”
Flynn further faulted people who compare America with an unrealistic ideal.
“Instead of comparing America to the Candyland in your head, compare it to the existing countries,” he said.
He then gave several examples of persecution around the world that the United States is free of, such as dowry killings in India and genital mutilation in Africa.
“To put all of your energy into bashing this one country is not seeing the forest for the trees,” he said.
After finishing his speech, he opened the floor to questions from the audience. He addressed issues varying from possible bias in universities to American imperialism.
In particular, he answered several questions about the influence of radical liberals as opposed to radical conservatives.
Flynn said that generally, conservatives ignore their most radical contingents, but liberals venerate theirs. “People on the right who are crackpots who hate their country are condemned. On the left, they are venerated,” he said. He cited examples such as Noam Chomsky, who said that “the U.S. is the leading terrorist country in the world” but is a bestselling author and a professor at MIT.
Flynn ended his speech on a positive note, saying, “I would submit to you that Americans love their country, not just because it is our country, but because it is a lovely country.”
Although certainly willing to interact during the question-and-answer session, the audience seemed to have mixed reactions to Flynn’s opinions.
One consistent criticism of his speech by liberals in the audience was that his definition of the Left excluded most liberals.
“You’ve made it impossible for me to identify with the group you’ve described,” said Ben Rockey-Harris ’04 during the question-and-answer session.
In contrast, other audience members agreed with most of Flynn’s opinions and applauded his viewpoints.
“I was expecting a logical, intelligent, articulate criticism of the liberal bias in academia. It exceeded my expectations,” said Meghan O’Neill ’04. “I think his speaking at Cornell is a wonderful opportunity for this University.”
Nick LaPage ’05, vice-chair of the Cornell Republicans, expressed similar sentiments. “I really liked how he was able to basically show how there’s a very small fringe of the country who has influence disproportionate to their numbers,” he said.
The Cornell Review sponsored the speech.
Archived article by Shannon Brescher


text:
Central to the field of bacterial pathogenesis is the ability to define if and how microbes survive after exposure to eukaryotic cells. Current protocols to address these questions include colony count assays, gentamicin protection assays, and electron microscopy. Colony count and gentamicin protection assays only assess the viability of the entire bacterial population and are unable to determine individual bacterial viability. Electron microscopy can be used to determine the viability of individual bacteria and provide information regarding their localization in host cells. However, bacteria often display a range of electron densities, making assessment of viability difficult. This article outlines protocols for the use of fluorescent dyes that reveal the viability of individual bacteria inside and associated with host cells. These assays were developed originally to assess survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in primary human neutrophils, but should be applicable to any bacterium-host cell interaction. These protocols combine membrane-permeable fluorescent dyes (SYTO9 and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole [DAPI]), which stain all bacteria, with membrane-impermeable fluorescent dyes (propidium iodide and SYTOX Green), which are only accessible to nonviable bacteria. Prior to eukaryotic cell permeabilization, an antibody or fluorescent reagent is added to identify extracellular bacteria. Thus these assays discriminate the viability of bacteria adherent to and inside eukaryotic cells. A protocol is also provided for using the viability dyes in combination with fluorescent antibodies to eukaryotic cell markers, in order to determine the subcellular localization of individual bacteria. The bacterial viability dyes discussed in this article are a sensitive complement and/or alternative to traditional microbiology techniques to evaluate the viability of individual bacteria and provide information regarding where bacteria survive in host cells.
19 Related JoVE Articles!
Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung
Institutions: University of Liverpool , University of Liverpool .
There is growing concern about the relevance of in vitro
antimicrobial susceptibility tests when applied to isolates of P. aeruginosa
from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Existing methods rely on single or a few isolates grown aerobically and planktonically. Predetermined cut-offs are used to define whether the bacteria are sensitive or resistant to any given antibiotic1
. However, during chronic lung infections in CF, P. aeruginosa
populations exist in biofilms and there is evidence that the environment is largely microaerophilic2
. The stark difference in conditions between bacteria in the lung and those during diagnostic testing has called into question the reliability and even relevance of these tests3
Artificial sputum medium (ASM) is a culture medium containing the components of CF patient sputum, including amino acids, mucin and free DNA. P. aeruginosa
growth in ASM mimics growth during CF infections, with the formation of self-aggregating biofilm structures and population divergence4,5,6
. The aim of this study was to develop a microtitre-plate assay to study antimicrobial susceptibility of P. aeruginosa
based on growth in ASM, which is applicable to both microaerophilic and aerobic conditions.
An ASM assay was developed in a microtitre plate format. P. aeruginosa
biofilms were allowed to develop for 3 days prior to incubation with antimicrobial agents at different concentrations for 24 hours. After biofilm disruption, cell viability was measured by staining with resazurin. This assay was used to ascertain the sessile cell minimum inhibitory concentration (SMIC) of tobramycin for 15 different P. aeruginosa
isolates under aerobic and microaerophilic conditions and SMIC values were compared to those obtained with standard broth growth. Whilst there was some evidence for increased MIC values for isolates grown in ASM when compared to their planktonic counterparts, the biggest differences were found with bacteria tested in microaerophilic conditions, which showed a much increased resistance up to a >128 fold, towards tobramycin in the ASM system when compared to assays carried out in aerobic conditions.
The lack of association between current susceptibility testing methods and clinical outcome has questioned the validity of current methods3
. Several in vitro
models have been used previously to study P. aeruginosa
. However, these methods rely on surface attached biofilms, whereas the ASM biofilms resemble those observed in the CF lung9
. In addition, reduced oxygen concentration in the mucus has been shown to alter the behavior of P. aeruginosa2
and affect antibiotic susceptibility10
. Therefore using ASM under microaerophilic conditions may provide a more realistic environment in which to study antimicrobial susceptibility.
Immunology, Issue 64, Microbiology, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antimicrobial susceptibility, artificial sputum media, lung infection, cystic fibrosis, diagnostics, plankton
A Microscopic Phenotypic Assay for the Quantification of Intracellular Mycobacteria Adapted for High-throughput/High-content Screening
Institutions: Université de Lille.
Despite the availability of therapy and vaccine, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most deadly and widespread bacterial infections in the world. Since several decades, the sudden burst of multi- and extensively-drug resistant strains is a serious threat for the control of tuberculosis. Therefore, it is essential to identify new targets and pathways critical for the causative agent of the tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
) and to search for novel chemicals that could become TB drugs. One approach is to set up methods suitable for the genetic and chemical screens of large scale libraries enabling the search of a needle in a haystack. To this end, we developed a phenotypic assay relying on the detection of fluorescently labeled Mtb
within fluorescently labeled host cells using automated confocal microscopy. This in vitro
assay allows an image based quantification of the colonization process of Mtb
into the host and was optimized for the 384-well microplate format, which is proper for screens of siRNA-, chemical compound- or Mtb
mutant-libraries. The images are then processed for multiparametric analysis, which provides read out inferring on the pathogenesis of Mtb
within host cells.
Infection, Issue 83, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, High-content/High-throughput screening, chemogenomics, Drug Discovery, siRNA library, automated confocal microscopy, image-based analysis
The Synergistic Effect of Visible Light and Gentamycin on Pseudomona aeruginosa Microorganisms
Institutions: Bar-Ilan University, Bar-Ilan University, Bar-Ilan University, Bar-Ilan University.
Recently there were several publications on the bactericidal effect of visible light, most of them claiming that blue part of the spectrum (400 nm-500 nm) is responsible for killing various pathogens1-5
. The phototoxic effect of blue light was suggested to be a result of light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation by endogenous bacterial photosensitizers which mostly absorb light in the blue region4,6,7
. There are also reports of biocidal effect of red and near infra red8
as well as green light9
In the present study, we developed a method that allowed us to characterize the effect of high power green (wavelength of 532 nm) continuous (CW) and pulsed Q-switched (Q-S) light on Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Using this method we also studied the effect of green light combined with antibiotic treatment (gentamycin) on the bacteria viability. P. aeruginosa
is a common noscomial opportunistic pathogen causing various diseases. The strain is fairly resistant to various antibiotics and contains many predicted AcrB/Mex-type RND multidrug efflux systems10
The method utilized free-living stationary phase Gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa
strain PAO1), grown in Luria Broth (LB) medium exposed to Q-switched and/or CW lasers with and without the addition of the antibiotic gentamycin. Cell viability was determined at different time points. The obtained results showed that laser treatment alone did not reduce cell viability compared to untreated control and that gentamycin treatment alone only resulted in a 0.5 log reduction in the viable count for P. aeruginosa
. The combined laser and gentamycin treatment, however, resulted in a synergistic effect and the viability of P. aeruginosa
was reduced by 8 log's.
The proposed method can further be implemented via the development of catheter like device capable of injecting an antibiotic solution into the infected organ while simultaneously illuminating the area with light.
Microbiology, Issue 77, Infection, Infectious Diseases, Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Bacteria, Photodynamic therapy, Medical optics, Bacterial viability, Antimicrobial treatment, Laser, Gentamycin, antibiotics, reactive oxygen species, pathogens, microorganisms, cell culture
Solubilization and Bio-conjugation of Quantum Dots and Bacterial Toxicity Assays by Growth Curve and Plate Count
Institutions: McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada.
Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles with size-dependent emission spectra that can be excited by a broad choice of wavelengths. QDs have attracted a lot of interest for imaging, diagnostics, and therapy due to their bright, stable fluorescence1,2 3,4,5
. QDs can be conjugated to a variety of bio-active molecules for binding to bacteria and mammalian cells6
QDs are also being widely investigated as cytotoxic agents for targeted killing of bacteria. The emergence of multiply-resistant bacterial strains is rapidly becoming a public health crisis, particularly in the case of Gram negative pathogens 7
. Because of the well-known antimicrobial effect of certain nanomaterials, especially Ag, there are hundreds of studies examining the toxicity of nanoparticles to bacteria 8
. Bacterial studies have been performed with other types of semiconductor nanoparticles as well, especially TiO29,10-11
, but also ZnO12
and others including CuO 13
. Some comparisons of bacterial strains have been performed in these studies, usually comparing a Gram negative strain with a Gram positive. With all of these particles, mechanisms of toxicity are attributed to oxidation: either the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the particles or the direct release of metal ions that can cause oxidative toxicity. Even with these materials, results of different studies vary greatly. In some studies the Gram positive test strain is reportedly more sensitive than the Gram negative 10
; in others it is the opposite 14
. These studies have been well reviewed 15
In all nanoparticle studies, particle composition, size, surface chemistry, sample aging/breakdown, and wavelength, power, and duration of light exposure can all dramatically affect the results. In addition, synthesis byproducts and solvents must be considered16 17
. High-throughput screening techniques are needed to be able to develop effective new nanomedicine agents.
CdTe QDs have anti-microbial effects alone18
or in combination with antibiotics. In a previous study, we showed that coupling of antibiotics to CdTe can increase toxicity to bacteria but decrease toxicity to mammalian cells, due to decreased production of reactive oxygen species from the conjugates19
. Although it is unlikely that cadmium-containing compounds will be approved for use in humans, such preparations could be used for disinfection of surfaces or sterilization of water.
In this protocol, we give a straightforward approach to solubilizing CdTe QDs with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). The QDs are ready to use within an hour. We then demonstrate coupling to an antimicrobial agent.
The second part of the protocol demonstrates a 96-well bacterial inhibition assay using the conjugated and unconjugated QDs. The optical density is read over many hours, permitting the effects of QD addition and light exposure to be evaluated immediately as well as after a recovery period. We also illustrate a colony count for quantifying bacterial survival.
Biomedical Engineering, Issue 65, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Quantum dots, solubilization, conjugation, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, growth curve, plate count
Bacterial Delivery of RNAi Effectors: Transkingdom RNAi
Institutions: Charité Campus Mitte.
RNA interference (RNAi) represents a high effective mechanism for specific inhibition of mRNA expression. Besides its potential as a powerful laboratory tool, the RNAi pathway appears to be promising for therapeutic utilization. For development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies, delivery of RNAi-mediating agents to target cells is one of the major obstacles. A novel strategy to overcome this hurdle is transkingdom RNAi (tk
RNAi). This technology uses non-pathogenic bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli
, to produce and deliver therapeutic short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into target cells to induce RNAi. A first-generation tk
RNAi-mediating vector, TRIP, contains the bacteriophage T7 promoter for expression regulation of a therapeutic shRNA of interest. Furthermore, TRIP has the Inv
locus from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
that encodes invasin, which permits natural noninvasive bacteria to enter β1-integrin-positive mammalian cells and the HlyA
gene from Listeria monocytogenes
, which produces listeriolysin O. This enzyme allows the therapeutic shRNA to escape from entry vesicles within the cytoplasm of the target cell. TRIP constructs are introduced into a competent non-pathogenic Escherichia coli
strain, which encodes T7 RNA polymerase necessary for the T7 promoter-driven synthesis of shRNAs. A well-characterized cancer-associated target molecule for different RNAi strategies is ABCB1 (MDR1/P-glycoprotein, MDR1/P-gp). This ABC-transporter acts as a drug extrusion pump and mediates the "classical" ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of human cancer cells which is characterized by a specific cross resistance pattern. Different ABCB1-expressing MDR cancer cells were treated with anti-ABCB1 shRNA expression vector bearing E. coli
. This procedure resulted in activation of the RNAi pathways within the cancer cells and a considerable down regulation of the ABCB1 encoding mRNA as well as the corresponding drug extrusion pump. Accordingly, drug accumulation was enhanced in the pristine drug-resistant cancer cells and the MDR phenotype was reversed. By means of this model the data provide the proof-of-concept that tk
RNAi is suitable for modulation of cancer-associated factors, e.g. ABCB1, in human cancer cells.
Microbiology, Issue 42, Transkingdom RNAi, shRNA, gene therapy, cancer, multidrug resistance, bacteria
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Institutions: Auburn University , Keesler Air Force Base.
A structurally transformed lytic bacteriophage having a broad host range of Staphylococcus aureus
strains and a penicillin-binding protein (PBP 2a) antibody conjugated latex beads have been utilized to create a biosensor designed for discrimination of methicillin resistant (MRSA) and sensitive (MSSA) S. aureus
. The lytic phages have been converted into phage spheroids by contact with water-chloroform interface. Phage spheroid monolayers have been moved onto a biosensor surface by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique 3
. The created biosensors have been examined by a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation tracking (QCM-D) to evaluate bacteria-phage interactions. Bacteria-spheroid interactions led to reduced resonance frequency and a rise in dissipation energy for both MRSA and MSSA strains. After the bacterial binding, these sensors have been further exposed to the penicillin-binding protein antibody latex beads. Sensors analyzed with MRSA responded to PBP 2a antibody beads; although sensors inspected with MSSA gave no response. This experimental distinction determines an unambiguous discrimination between methicillin resistant and sensitive S. aureus
strains. Equally bound and unbound bacteriophages suppress bacterial growth on surfaces and in water suspensions. Once lytic phages are changed into spheroids, they retain their strong lytic activity and show high bacterial capture capability. The phage and phage spheroids can be utilized for testing and sterilization of antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Other applications may include use in bacteriophage therapy and antimicrobial surfaces.
Bioengineering, Issue 75, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Infection, Medicine, Immunology, Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Anatomy, Physiology, Bacteria, Pharmacology, Staphylococcus, Bacteriophages, phage, Binding, Competitive, Biophysics, surface properties (nonmetallic materials), surface wave acoustic devices (electronic design), sensors, Lytic phage spheroids, QCM-D, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, assay
Visualizing Bacteria in Nematodes using Fluorescent Microscopy
Institutions: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Symbioses, the living together of two or more organisms, are widespread throughout all kingdoms of life. As two of the most ubiquitous organisms on earth, nematodes and bacteria form a wide array of symbiotic associations that range from beneficial to pathogenic 1-3
. One such association is the mutually beneficial relationship between Xenorhabdus
bacteria and Steinernema
nematodes, which has emerged as a model system of symbiosis 4
nematodes are entomopathogenic, using their bacterial symbiont to kill insects 5
. For transmission between insect hosts, the bacteria colonize the intestine of the nematode's infective juvenile stage 6-8
. Recently, several other nematode species have been shown to utilize bacteria to kill insects 9-13
, and investigations have begun examining the interactions between the nematodes and bacteria in these systems 9
We describe a method for visualization of a bacterial symbiont within or on a nematode host, taking advantage of the optical transparency of nematodes when viewed by microscopy. The bacteria are engineered to express a fluorescent protein, allowing their visualization by fluorescence microscopy. Many plasmids are available that carry genes encoding proteins that fluoresce at different wavelengths (i.e.
green or red), and conjugation of plasmids from a donor Escherichia coli
strain into a recipient bacterial symbiont is successful for a broad range of bacteria. The methods described were developed to investigate the association between Steinernema carpocapsae
and Xenorhabdus nematophila 14
. Similar methods have been used to investigate other nematode-bacterium associations 9,15-18
and the approach therefore is generally applicable.
The method allows characterization of bacterial presence and localization within nematodes at different stages of development, providing insights into the nature of the association and the process of colonization 14,16,19
. Microscopic analysis reveals both colonization frequency within a population and localization of bacteria to host tissues 14,16,19-21
. This is an advantage over other methods of monitoring bacteria within nematode populations, such as sonication 22
or grinding 23
, which can provide average levels of colonization, but may not, for example, discriminate populations with a high frequency of low symbiont loads from populations with a low frequency of high symbiont loads. Discriminating the frequency and load of colonizing bacteria can be especially important when screening or characterizing bacterial mutants for colonization phenotypes 21,24
. Indeed, fluorescence microscopy has been used in high throughput screening of bacterial mutants for defects in colonization 17,18
, and is less laborious than other methods, including sonication 22,25-27
and individual nematode dissection 28,29
Microbiology, Issue 68, Molecular Biology, Bacteriology, Developmental Biology, Colonization, Xenorhabdus, Steinernema, symbiosis, nematode, bacteria, fluorescence microscopy
Characterization of Complex Systems Using the Design of Experiments Approach: Transient Protein Expression in Tobacco as a Case Study
Institutions: RWTH Aachen University, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft.
Plants provide multiple benefits for the production of biopharmaceuticals including low costs, scalability, and safety. Transient expression offers the additional advantage of short development and production times, but expression levels can vary significantly between batches thus giving rise to regulatory concerns in the context of good manufacturing practice. We used a design of experiments (DoE) approach to determine the impact of major factors such as regulatory elements in the expression construct, plant growth and development parameters, and the incubation conditions during expression, on the variability of expression between batches. We tested plants expressing a model anti-HIV monoclonal antibody (2G12) and a fluorescent marker protein (DsRed). We discuss the rationale for selecting certain properties of the model and identify its potential limitations. The general approach can easily be transferred to other problems because the principles of the model are broadly applicable: knowledge-based parameter selection, complexity reduction by splitting the initial problem into smaller modules, software-guided setup of optimal experiment combinations and step-wise design augmentation. Therefore, the methodology is not only useful for characterizing protein expression in plants but also for the investigation of other complex systems lacking a mechanistic description. The predictive equations describing the interconnectivity between parameters can be used to establish mechanistic models for other complex systems.
Bioengineering, Issue 83, design of experiments (DoE), transient protein expression, plant-derived biopharmaceuticals, promoter, 5'UTR, fluorescent reporter protein, model building, incubation conditions, monoclonal antibody
One-day Workflow Scheme for Bacterial Pathogen Detection and Antimicrobial Resistance Testing from Blood Cultures
Institutions: Maastricht University Medical Center, Erasmus Medical Center.
Bloodstream infections are associated with high mortality rates because of the probable manifestation of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock1
. Therefore, rapid administration of adequate antibiotic therapy is of foremost importance in the treatment of bloodstream infections. The critical element in this process is timing, heavily dependent on the results of bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Both of these parameters are routinely obtained by culture-based testing, which is time-consuming and takes on average 24-48 hours2, 4
. The aim of the study was to develop DNA-based assays for rapid identification of bloodstream infections, as well as rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The first assay is a eubacterial 16S rDNA-based real-time PCR assay complemented with species- or genus-specific probes5
. Using these probes, Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Escherichia coli
as well as Gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus
spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.,
and Streptococcus pneumoniae
could be distinguished. Using this multiprobe assay, a first identification of the causative micro-organism was given after 2 h.
Secondly, we developed a semi-molecular assay for antibiotic susceptibility testing of S. aureus, Enterococcus
spp. and (facultative) aerobe Gram-negative rods6
. This assay was based on a study in which PCR was used to measure the growth of bacteria7
. Bacteria harvested directly from blood cultures are incubated for 6 h with a selection of antibiotics, and following a Sybr Green-based real-time PCR assay determines inhibition of growth. The combination of these two methods could direct the choice of a suitable antibiotic therapy on the same day (Figure 1
). In conclusion, molecular analysis of both identification and antibiotic susceptibility offers a faster alternative for pathogen detection and could improve the diagnosis of bloodstream infections.
Immunology, Issue 65, Infection, Medicine, Microbiology, Bacteria, real-time PCR, probes, pathogen detection, blood culture, 16S rDNA gene, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic susceptibility testing
Establishing the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration of an Antimicrobial Agent for Planktonic Cells (MBC-P) and Biofilm Cells (MBC-B)
Institutions: University of Ottawa.
This protocol allows for a direct comparison between planktonic and biofilm resistance for a bacterial strain that can form a biofilm in vitro
. Bacteria are inoculated into the wells of a 96-well microtiter plate. In the case of the planktonic assay, serial dilutions of the antimicrobial agent of choice are added to the bacterial suspensions. In the biofilm assay, once inoculated, the bacteria are left to form a biofilm over a set period of time. Unattached cells are removed from the wells, the media is replenished and serial dilutions of the antimicrobial agent of choice are added. After exposure to the antimicrobial agent, the planktonic cells are assayed for growth. For the biofilm assay, the media is refreshed with fresh media lacking the antimicrobial agent and the biofilm cells are left to recover. Biofilm cell viability is assayed after the recovery period. The MBC-P for the antimicrobial agent is defined as the lowest concentration of drug that kills the cells in the planktonic culture. In contrast, the MBC-B for a strain is determined by exposing preformed biofilms to increasing concentrations of antimicrobial agent for 24 hr. The MBC-B is defined as the lowest concentration of antimicrobial agent that kills the cells in the biofilm.
Immunology, Issue 83, biofilm, planktonic, antibiotic resistance, static, antibacterial, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)
Using Coculture to Detect Chemically Mediated Interspecies Interactions
Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .
In nature, bacteria rarely exist in isolation; they are instead surrounded by a diverse array of other microorganisms that alter the local environment by secreting metabolites. These metabolites have the potential to modulate the physiology and differentiation of their microbial neighbors and are likely important factors in the establishment and maintenance of complex microbial communities. We have developed a fluorescence-based coculture screen to identify such chemically mediated microbial interactions. The screen involves combining a fluorescent transcriptional reporter strain with environmental microbes on solid media and allowing the colonies to grow in coculture. The fluorescent transcriptional reporter is designed so that the chosen bacterial strain fluoresces when it is expressing a particular phenotype of interest (i.e.
biofilm formation, sporulation, virulence factor production, etc
.) Screening is performed under growth conditions where this phenotype is not
expressed (and therefore the reporter strain is typically nonfluorescent). When an environmental microbe secretes a metabolite that activates this phenotype, it diffuses through the agar and activates the fluorescent reporter construct. This allows the inducing-metabolite-producing microbe to be detected: they are the nonfluorescent colonies most proximal to the fluorescent colonies. Thus, this screen allows the identification of environmental microbes that produce diffusible metabolites that activate a particular physiological response in a reporter strain. This publication discusses how to: a) select appropriate coculture screening conditions, b) prepare the reporter and environmental microbes for screening, c) perform the coculture screen, d) isolate putative inducing organisms, and e) confirm their activity in a secondary screen. We developed this method to screen for soil organisms that activate biofilm matrix-production in Bacillus subtilis
; however, we also discuss considerations for applying this approach to other genetically tractable bacteria.
Microbiology, Issue 80, High-Throughput Screening Assays, Genes, Reporter, Microbial Interactions, Soil Microbiology, Coculture, microbial interactions, screen, fluorescent transcriptional reporters, Bacillus subtilis
Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods
Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles .
Microorganisms are present on all inanimate surfaces creating ubiquitous sources of possible contamination in the laboratory. Experimental success relies on the ability of a scientist to sterilize work surfaces and equipment as well as prevent contact of sterile instruments and solutions with non-sterile surfaces. Here we present the steps for several plating methods routinely used in the laboratory to isolate, propagate, or enumerate microorganisms such as bacteria and phage. All five methods incorporate aseptic technique, or procedures that maintain the sterility of experimental materials. Procedures described include (1) streak-plating bacterial cultures to isolate single colonies, (2) pour-plating and (3) spread-plating to enumerate viable bacterial colonies, (4) soft agar overlays to isolate phage and enumerate plaques, and (5) replica-plating to transfer cells from one plate to another in an identical spatial pattern. These procedures can be performed at the laboratory bench, provided they involve non-pathogenic strains of microorganisms (Biosafety Level 1, BSL-1). If working with BSL-2 organisms, then these manipulations must take place in a biosafety cabinet. Consult the most current edition of the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
(BMBL) as well as Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) for Infectious Substances to determine the biohazard classification as well as the safety precautions and containment facilities required for the microorganism in question. Bacterial strains and phage stocks can be obtained from research investigators, companies, and collections maintained by particular organizations such as the American Type Culture Collection
(ATCC). It is recommended that non-pathogenic strains be used when learning the various plating methods. By following the procedures described in this protocol, students should be able to:
● Perform plating procedures without contaminating media.
● Isolate single bacterial colonies by the streak-plating method.
● Use pour-plating and spread-plating methods to determine the concentration of bacteria.
● Perform soft agar overlays when working with phage.
● Transfer bacterial cells from one plate to another using the replica-plating procedure.
● Given an experimental task, select the appropriate plating method.
Basic Protocols, Issue 63, Streak plates, pour plates, soft agar overlays, spread plates, replica plates, bacteria, colonies, phage, plaques, dilutions
Simultaneous Multicolor Imaging of Biological Structures with Fluorescence Photoactivation Localization Microscopy
Institutions: University of Maine.
Localization-based super resolution microscopy can be applied to obtain a spatial map (image) of the distribution of individual fluorescently labeled single molecules within a sample with a spatial resolution of tens of nanometers. Using either photoactivatable (PAFP) or photoswitchable (PSFP) fluorescent proteins fused to proteins of interest, or organic dyes conjugated to antibodies or other molecules of interest, fluorescence photoactivation localization microscopy (FPALM) can simultaneously image multiple species of molecules within single cells. By using the following approach, populations of large numbers (thousands to hundreds of thousands) of individual molecules are imaged in single cells and localized with a precision of ~10-30 nm. Data obtained can be applied to understanding the nanoscale spatial distributions of multiple protein types within a cell. One primary advantage of this technique is the dramatic increase in spatial resolution: while diffraction limits resolution to ~200-250 nm in conventional light microscopy, FPALM can image length scales more than an order of magnitude smaller. As many biological hypotheses concern the spatial relationships among different biomolecules, the improved resolution of FPALM can provide insight into questions of cellular organization which have previously been inaccessible to conventional fluorescence microscopy. In addition to detailing the methods for sample preparation and data acquisition, we here describe the optical setup for FPALM. One additional consideration for researchers wishing to do super-resolution microscopy is cost: in-house setups are significantly cheaper than most commercially available imaging machines. Limitations of this technique include the need for optimizing the labeling of molecules of interest within cell samples, and the need for post-processing software to visualize results. We here describe the use of PAFP and PSFP expression to image two protein species in fixed cells. Extension of the technique to living cells is also described.
Basic Protocol, Issue 82, Microscopy, Super-resolution imaging, Multicolor, single molecule, FPALM, Localization microscopy, fluorescent proteins
Super-resolution Imaging of the Cytokinetic Z Ring in Live Bacteria Using Fast 3D-Structured Illumination Microscopy (f3D-SIM)
Institutions: University of Technology, Sydney.
Imaging of biological samples using fluorescence microscopy has advanced substantially with new technologies to overcome the resolution barrier of the diffraction of light allowing super-resolution of live samples. There are currently three main types of super-resolution techniques – stimulated emission depletion (STED), single-molecule localization microscopy (including techniques such as PALM, STORM, and GDSIM), and structured illumination microscopy (SIM). While STED and single-molecule localization techniques show the largest increases in resolution, they have been slower to offer increased speeds of image acquisition. Three-dimensional SIM (3D-SIM) is a wide-field fluorescence microscopy technique that offers a number of advantages over both single-molecule localization and STED. Resolution is improved, with typical lateral and axial resolutions of 110 and 280 nm, respectively and depth of sampling of up to 30 µm from the coverslip, allowing for imaging of whole cells. Recent advancements (fast 3D-SIM) in the technology increasing the capture rate of raw images allows for fast capture of biological processes occurring in seconds, while significantly reducing photo-toxicity and photobleaching. Here we describe the use of one such method to image bacterial cells harboring the fluorescently-labelled cytokinetic FtsZ protein to show how cells are analyzed and the type of unique information that this technique can provide.
Molecular Biology, Issue 91, super-resolution microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, OMX, 3D-SIM, Blaze, cell division, bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, FtsZ, Z ring constriction
Stress-induced Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing on a Chip
Institutions: Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Harvard Medical School, Boston University, Boston University.
We have developed a rapid microfluidic method for antibiotic susceptibility testing in a stress-based environment. Fluid is passed at high speeds over bacteria immobilized on the bottom of a microfluidic channel. In the presence of stress and antibiotic, susceptible strains of bacteria die rapidly. However, resistant bacteria survive these stressful conditions. The hypothesis behind this method is new: stress activation of biochemical pathways, which are targets of antibiotics, can accelerate antibiotic susceptibility testing. As compared to standard antibiotic susceptibility testing methods, the rate-limiting step - bacterial growth - is omitted during antibiotic application. The technical implementation of the method is in a combination of standard techniques and innovative approaches. The standard parts of the method include bacterial culture protocols, defining microfluidic channels in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), cell viability monitoring with fluorescence, and batch image processing for bacteria counting. Innovative parts of the method are in the use of culture media flow for mechanical stress application, use of enzymes to damage but not kill the bacteria, and use of microarray substrates for bacterial attachment. The developed platform can be used in antibiotic and nonantibiotic related drug development and testing. As compared to the standard bacterial suspension experiments, the effect of the drug can be turned on and off repeatedly over controlled time periods. Repetitive observation of the same bacterial population is possible over the course of the same experiment.
Bioengineering, Issue 83, antibiotic, susceptibility, resistance, microfluidics, microscopy, rapid, testing, stress, bacteria, fluorescence
Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains
Institutions: Georg-August University.
Many microorganisms such as bacteria proliferate extremely fast and the populations may reach high cell densities. Small fractions of cells in a population always have accumulated mutations that are either detrimental or beneficial for the cell. If the fitness effect of a mutation provides the subpopulation with a strong selective growth advantage, the individuals of this subpopulation may rapidly outcompete and even completely eliminate their immediate fellows. Thus, small genetic changes and selection-driven accumulation of cells that have acquired beneficial mutations may lead to a complete shift of the genotype of a cell population. Here we present a procedure to monitor the rapid clonal expansion and elimination of beneficial and detrimental mutations, respectively, in a bacterial cell population over time by cocultivation of fluorescently labeled individuals of the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis
. The method is easy to perform and very illustrative to display intraspecies competition among the individuals in a bacterial cell population.
Cellular Biology, Issue 83, Bacillus subtilis, evolution, adaptation, selective pressure, beneficial mutation, intraspecies competition, fluorophore-labelling, Fluorescence Microscopy
Monitoring Changes in Membrane Polarity, Membrane Integrity, and Intracellular Ion Concentrations in Streptococcus pneumoniae Using Fluorescent Dyes
Institutions: University at Buffalo, State University of New York, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, University at Buffalo, State University of New York.
Membrane depolarization and ion fluxes are events that have been studied extensively in biological systems due to their ability to profoundly impact cellular functions, including energetics and signal transductions. While both fluorescent and electrophysiological methods, including electrode usage and patch-clamping, have been well developed for measuring these events in eukaryotic cells, methodology for measuring similar events in microorganisms have proven more challenging to develop given their small size in combination with the more complex outer surface of bacteria shielding the membrane. During our studies of death-initiation in Streptococcus pneumoniae
(pneumococcus), we wanted to elucidate the role of membrane events, including changes in polarity, integrity, and intracellular ion concentrations. Searching the literature, we found that very few studies exist. Other investigators had monitored radioisotope uptake or equilibrium to measure ion fluxes and membrane potential and a limited number of studies, mostly in Gram-negative organisms, had seen some success using carbocyanine or oxonol fluorescent dyes to measure membrane potential, or loading bacteria with cell-permeant acetoxymethyl (AM) ester versions of ion-sensitive fluorescent indicator dyes. We therefore established and optimized protocols for measuring membrane potential, rupture, and ion-transport in the Gram-positive organism S. pneumoniae.
We developed protocols using the bis-oxonol dye DiBAC4
(3) and the cell-impermeant dye propidium iodide to measure membrane depolarization and rupture, respectively, as well as methods to optimally load the pneumococci with the AM esters of the ratiometric dyes Fura-2, PBFI, and BCECF to detect changes in intracellular concentrations of Ca2+
, and H+
, respectively, using a fluorescence-detection plate reader. These protocols are the first of their kind for the pneumococcus and the majority of these dyes have not been used in any other bacterial species. Though our protocols have been optimized for S. pneumoniae
, we believe these approaches should form an excellent starting-point for similar studies in other bacterial species.
Immunology, Issue 84, Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumococcus, potential-sensitive dyes, DiBAC, Propidium Iodide, acetoxymethyl (AM) ester, membrane rupture, Ion transport, bacterial ion concentrations, ion-sensitive fluorescence
Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis
Institutions: Concordia University.
This protocol describes the use of fluorescence microscopy to image dividing cells within developing Caenorhabditis elegans
embryos. In particular, this protocol focuses on how to image dividing neuroblasts, which are found underneath the epidermal cells and may be important for epidermal morphogenesis. Tissue formation is crucial for metazoan development and relies on external cues from neighboring tissues. C. elegans
is an excellent model organism to study tissue morphogenesis in vivo
due to its transparency and simple organization, making its tissues easy to study via microscopy. Ventral enclosure is the process where the ventral surface of the embryo is covered by a single layer of epithelial cells. This event is thought to be facilitated by the underlying neuroblasts, which provide chemical guidance cues to mediate migration of the overlying epithelial cells. However, the neuroblasts are highly proliferative and also may act as a mechanical substrate for the ventral epidermal cells. Studies using this experimental protocol could uncover the importance of intercellular communication during tissue formation, and could be used to reveal the roles of genes involved in cell division within developing tissues.
Neuroscience, Issue 85, C. elegans, morphogenesis, cytokinesis, neuroblasts, anillin, microscopy, cell division
Building a Better Mosquito: Identifying the Genes Enabling Malaria and Dengue Fever Resistance in A. gambiae and A. aegypti Mosquitoes
Institutions: Johns Hopkins University.
In this interview, George Dimopoulos focuses on the physiological mechanisms used by mosquitoes to combat Plasmodium falciparum and dengue virus infections. Explanation is given for how key refractory genes, those genes conferring resistance to vector pathogens, are identified in the mosquito and how this knowledge can be used to generate transgenic mosquitoes that are unable to carry the malaria parasite or dengue virus.
Cellular Biology, Issue 5, Translational Research, mosquito, malaria, virus, dengue, genetics, injection, RNAi, transgenesis, transgenic

domain: medical


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Summer is over and school is here! My little guy is starting kindergarten, and he is very excited. Being his mother's son, he is most excited about taking his lunch everyday (it's always about food!).
Since we're new to the whole lunchbox thing, I searched high + low for items that were eco-friendly AND easy for kids to use. Throw in a few über-cute items, and I'd be excited too!
Here's what we found:
|Bento Box, über-cute accessories + lunchskins|
Leaflet Bento Box, Animal sauce holders, Bento forks + picks all from Amazon.com.
lunchskins available at Seward Co-Op + online.
Once we got the lunchbox items squared away, we headed to Seward Co-op to let AJ pick out his favorite foods to pack. This is a great way to get your kids involved in making lunches...and making sure they eat it! It's amazing how many healthy foods they'll pick out when left to their own devices. Seward makes it extra fun because they can get their own mini cart to load up.
I'm hoping to feature a great lunchbox meal every now and then to help us all get a little more creative. And I work better under pressure. ;-)
What's your favorite way to pack lunch? Got any great packable meals to share?

domain: food


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The more, the merrier! Kyle Richards has no qualms about sister Kathy Hilton potentially filming season 11 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
“Well, God knows. I did that for a long time on the show,” Richards, 51, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, October 22, of mixing work and family while promoting Annual Mammogram Day. “I think it would be interesting and fun. I feel like it’d be an adventure, and people know from watching the show that we’ve gone through some rough times together but we’re great. We talk every day, many times a day, and we laugh. And so, I think it’d be fun.”
The Bravo star would not go so far as to confirm reports that Hilton, 61, will be a part of the next season. “I don’t know. I cannot … I don’t know. I don’t know,” she said. “We’ll see.”
Hilton has in the past denied that she was joining the reality show, but she played coy in September. “@KyleRichards18 drum roll @kathyhilton next season,” a fan commented on Instagram at the time, to which the socialite replied, “Your [sic] very kind. I am thinking?????”
A source also told Us that Hilton is in talks for a part-time role for season 11.
The Bravo series has had its fair share of cast shake-ups after a tumultuous season 10. Denise Richards and Teddi Mellencamp will not return, while Kyle, Lisa Rinna, Garcelle Beauvais, Dorit Kemsley and Erika Jayne are expected to come back.
During her downtime from filming, Kyle is encouraging others to participate in Annual Mammogram Day at the Bedford Breast Center on Saturday, October 24. Women in need of a free mammogram who were nominated by Dr. Susan Love Foundation will receive an appointment at the facility with the option for genetic testing for the BRCA gene for those who qualify.
The TV personality has partnered with Dr. Heather Richardson, her longtime breast surgeon, to bring attention to the importance of early detection during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in honor of her late mother, Kathy Richards. “I lost my mom to breast cancer 18 years ago,” she told Us. “So it’s really important to me to use my platform and my voice and get out there and remind women to get their mammograms and do a self-exam every single month because you really can save your life.”
Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!

domain: news


I need some help on some nice air soft guns...?
I want a few different types of guns
1. A shotgun with a stock spring powered shoots nice
2. a spring sniper rifle that is 400+ fps accurate and bolt action (preferably full metal)
3. a spring rifle for close corners and preferably a military model
4. a spring pistol for really close
5. a nice blow-back that sticks back when you're empty ...all that jazz
6. a nice electric preferably full metal Uzi
sounds like a lot but I'm getting over a long period of time. Please tell me even if you don't have all of them and try to keep it under 100 if possible for most guns and under 200 for full metals...I'm not rich ;)
TSD Tactical L96
I found this one priced it around 150ish..what think?
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
1. Get the UTG shotgun, with or without a stock, I have one and it shoots beast- ~70 ft range (http://www.airsoftgi.com/advanced_search_result.ph...
2. I don't think any bolt action rifle, real steel or airsoft, is full metal... the stocks or bolt action rifles will usually not be full metal, for weight reasons. Anyway get the UTG MK96, its 450 fps and has 150 ft effective range (http://www.airsoftgi.com/advanced_search_result.ph...
3. A spring rifle for close quarters? I have no idea, either get a cheap CQB AEG or a Big 5 spring gun.
4. Again, spring pistols and rifles aren't high quality and will probably break. The only good spring airsoft rifles I would recommend are sniper bolt action rifles. If your dying for one get one from Big 5 or any sporting goods store.
5. Get a WE full metal pistol. They're cheap (around $100), gas blowblack, and some come with 2 mags. (http://www.airsoftgi.com/index.php?cPath=139_25_13...
6. The only electric Uzi I can think of is the Tokyo Marui one, but those are expensive and rare, and are prone to breaking. Plus they're not full metal, but plastic. You can get the KWC CO2 uzi, but I would recommend the KWA M11a1 (http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products... Its not metal, but it feels really good and is a beast to shoot. I have it and love it, you won't be disappointed.
Just remember to stay away from spring pistols and such, they're cheap for a reason- they suck. Hope this helps.Source(s): 4 years airsoft experience


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Sunday, 7 February 2016
Book Review #54 : Logically Stupid, That’s Love
Sometimes, I feel really lucky to be a book lover and getting author signed copies from authors themselves to review their work. I feel so privileged and blessed.
I started reading this book and after a few pages, I got so engrossed that I could actually visualize the characters in front of my eyes. This book is dedicated to our generation which never values anything that comes easy. This book has too many ingredients that can make it a bestseller.
I loved the way Shikha has put elements like romance, thrill, and so much more in this book. I fell in love with the characters. As the story develops, the characters get intense, and you have more reasons to believe why the book is titled so. Special mention for the book jacket that fits so apt with the entire theme!
Language used is very simple and crisp. Every chapter has a twist that adds to the plot. Shikha leaves the readers asking for more. Also, I can safely say like Shikha's previous book, this too can be converted to a motion picture, as it has all the correct ingredients!
The two things that l liked the most about her characters were that they were very close to real and they keep you hooked. Because as readers we do not adore perfection in characters, flawed characters appeal us more!
Delhi, Goa, Amritsar- story travels through 3 cities giving you the local flavors. Also to mention, the conversation of the middle-class families is an icing on the cake.
Shikha is an incredible story-teller and that passion of hers shines through her words. This read is for those who love witty romances. The book addresses the common issue faced by today's generation, Career or Love? Hence the connectivity with the characters is instant as a reader. After her first book, Shikha has again touched the right chord with her readers.
Shikha is a witty writer who is somehow always successful in dodging sugar-coated romance and emphasizing on fun quotient consistently, and yet her book never fails to glow on emotions.
Shikha is one author to watch-out for. No dull moment, full of turns and twists, LSTL is an entertaining read with a profound message to the generation. It is a love story to cherish and read this Valentine season. Warm your hearts with a different yet everyday tale, a fun story which will impress today’s young romantic-comedy lovers.
Rating - 4.8/5
P.S: The book was sent to me by author, Shikha Kumar in exchange of an honest review.

domain: artistic


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morning of the battle, orders came from General Thomas that their assistance was no longer needed, and the brigade retraced their steps to Somerset.
During this time a heavy storm came on, and torrents of rain continued to pour upon the devoted troops. General Thomas' immediate command was tolerably well protected; but General Carter's brigade had started without tents, and hence were completely exposed to the drenching rain and chilling wind. Every man in the brigade was soaked to the skin before Logan's Place was reached, and during the remainder of Saturday night the poor fellows lay on the wet ground sheltered only by the dripping woods.
On the morning of the fight the regiments posted on Logan's farm were distributed as follows: on the right of the road to Hart's Ford, facing toward the river, were the Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota; directly opposite them, on the left, lay General Carter's brigade; threequarters of a mile south-east of it were the Fourth Kentucky, Tenth Indiana, and two batteries—the Tenth Indiana occupying the most advanced position. In front of the last mentioned regiment were encamped about one hundred and twenty of Wolford's Cavalry, the balance of the regiment being off on escort duty; about two and a half miles further south was the outmost Union picket—twenty of Wolford's cavalry, the Fourteenth Ohio and Tenth Kentucky being still encamped eight miles to the north-east. It is thus seen that the Federal force advanced upon by the rebels included no more than seven infantry regiments, the detached Michigan companies, one hundred and forty cavalry, and two batteries.
The main characteristics of the battle-ground are steep, bluff-like hills, and abrupt narrow ravines. The only comparative levels are formed by the undulating ridges of the former. Logan's Place extends over one of the most extensive of these, and, with its large cleared fields, afforded the best field for a battle that could have been found in many miles around. The whole country is covered with a thick growth of timber, except where the husbandman had cleared it away. The roads were but a succession of rugged little hills, tiring to the footman and taxing the wagoner's skill to the utmost in the best weather.
According to the statements of persons subsequently captured, Zollicoffer's original force did not exceed six thousand in number, which had been increased to ten thousand, comprising ten regiments of infantry, about three thousand cavalry, and fifteen pieces of artillery. On Saturday morning information was brought to General Crittenden by secession sympathizers, living near Somerset, of the proposed movement of General Carter's brigade. The rebel commander had learned that General Thomas' division was on the march to Somerset, but was not ware that it had already arrived; and supposing that General Carter's
mmand was merely setting out for scouting purposes, conceived a plan of falling upon it with his whole force. The plan being communicated to Zollicoffer, he strenuously objected to any demonstration outside of their intrenchments. His superior, however, insisted upon the project—bold and creditable enough, if not based upon wrong premises— and hence the whole rebel army moved out of the fortifications shortly after dark. Owing to the difficulty of working their artillery ahead, it took them until 3 A. M. to come within one mile of the Union pickets. Here they halted and rested, in a deluge of rain. At six o'clock they renewed their march, and their cavalry advance guard came up with Wolford's men. Supposing them to be only a foraging party, the Union dragoons attacked and drove them back. Perceiving, however, masses of infantry down the road, they sent word to General Thomas, and then retreated to their camp. The squadron was quickly mounted and rode towards the enemy; but, discovering his overwhelming strength, fell back, dismounted, and joined the Tenth Indiana, acd afterwards actively participated in the fight.
Companies K and I, of the Tenth Indiana, Captains Shortar and Perkins, were detailed as pickets in advance of their regiment, and were first attacked by the advancing rebels at half past six o'clock, and with the assistance of Company A, Captain Hamilton, all under Major Miller, gallantly held the enemy in check, until supported by the remainder of the regiment.
In twenty minutes after General Thomas was apprised of the approach of the enemy, his whole force was under arms, and eagerly awaiting the onset. The Tenth Indiana, Second Minnesota and the dismounted cavalry pushed forward a short distance from their encampment in an open field to a piece of timber, and the Fourth Kentucky took a position in the woods on the left. The Tenth Indiana having the lead, was within musket range of the rebels just before eight o'clock, and now the battle fairly commenced.
At least six regiments formed the rebel right, and pressed first on the Tenth Indiana; but this brave regiment had learned the fighting metal of the enemy at Kich Mountain, in Western Virginia, and could not be made to yield an inch even to such fearful odds. Fortunately protected somewhat by the trees from the hostile fire, they stood steadily, pouring volley after volley into the rebels; responding to their yells with defiant cheers; fighting four times their number for nearly an hour and a half, and never yielding an inch, in spite of a constant and fearful hail of lead, until their ammunition became exhausted; when they were ordered to give way to the Second Minnesota. This they did with composed and unbroken ranks, bringing off their dead and wounded, whose number was a mournful proof of the fearful trial they had undergone.
Some thirty minutes after the Tenth Indiana had opened the contest, the Fourth Kentucky engaged the rebels on the loft of the former, and displayed coolness and firmness most remarkable, in view of the fact that it had never before been under fire. It also had to contend against superior numbers, but maintained its formation, and did not allow the rebels to gain a foot of ground. The men cheered each other, and in their ardor came within short range of the enemy, to whose irregular fire they replied with great vigor and effect. Colonel Fry inspired all under him by his courageous conduct. Up and down the line of his command he moved, urging his Kentiickians on under a shower of bullets.
Meantime, the Second Minnesota fulfilled the trust left to it by the Tenth Indiana. The stalwart farmers and lumbermen that composed it performed the duty allotted to them deliberately and with perfect success. They loaded and fired with ease and calmness, and seemed to think no more of the work they were doing than of handling a plow or plying an axe.
The widely-renowned Ninth Ohio did not join in the bloody strife in its earliest stages. At about half-past eight, however, its impatience for the fray was at last gratified, and it appeared upon the stage in solid line of battle, moving measuredly, and with the confident and determined air of veterans, through a broad, open field on the right of the road, to within two hundred yards, and began a fire upon some rebel regiments that were firing from behind a fence, with regularity and precision. It held the right alone while the action continued.
The rebels succeeded in bringing a battery of their artillery in position about nine o'clock, and opened upon the Federal troops shortly aftdr- • ward with solid and hollow shot. Their balls and shells all went high over the Union soldiers, not one of whom owed his death or wound to the rebel artillery.
Captains Kinney's, Standart's, and Whetmore's Ohio batteries were brought into position, and rendered effective service whenever an opportunity offered. In the heat of the engagement Captain Kinney ordered one section of his battery within sixty yards of the enemy's line, and opened a deadly fire upon them, which added greatly to the success of the day.
The battle was now at its height, and the effect of the artillery, roaring through the conflict, with the crash of shells and sharp whistle of bullets, was increased by a storm that had broken out in the mornii g, and now poured a deluge of rain on the combatants. For a time, the lightning of heaven vied in sharpness with the flash of artillery, and rolling bursts of thunder went booming over the mountains, giving terrible effect to the whole scene.
BATTLE OF imx SPRING.
Amid this storm, the opposing lines of battle were several times carried so close to each other that the fight was urged on with a hand-tohand encounter, and the commanders on both sides came in dangerous contiguity with the foe.
Up to eleven o'clock, the fighting was confined almost entirely to an exchange of lead and iron. The Union right and left would advance on the enemy, fire, and fall back. Then the Secession forces would advance, exchange shots, each side holding its own ground and no more.
The Fourteenth Ohio and Tenth Kentucky, sent for as soon as the alarm had been given, being reported to General Thomas coming np with their battery from their encampment on the Columbus road, on a full run, he at last determined to bring matters to an issue. He directed General Carter to flank the enemy's right with his regiments, which had been restive all the morning under the necessity of remaining idle spectators.
But before this movement could be made, the heroes of the Ninth Ohio had already decided the battle. Colonel McCook (by the way the only American in the regiment) had' his horse shot under him, and was himself wounded, but nevertheless continued in command. About eleven the patience of the regiment became exhausted, and the Colonel gave the order to advance. It was received with a hurrah. Steadily and compaotly the column moved over the two hundred yards separating it
fron. the enemy. When within thirty yards of the foe the order was given to "charge hayonets," and in an instant the moving human wall bristled with bayonets and pressed forward in quick step. The rebels looked aghast at a sight they had never witnessed before. A Tennessee regiment on their extreme left fired a random volley and broke. A Mississippi regiment—the same that held the fence already mentioned—hesitated a few moments longer. But the triumphant shout from the Germans, and the bristling array of pointed steel was too much for them. In an instant, those of the enemy between the fence and the Federals, with the exception of a few, who were bayoneted, had scrambled over and fled in wild disorder.
Colonel S. S, Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky, was in the act of leading his regiment into a charge upon the Mississippians, when General Zollicoffer, accompanied by his aid, rode up to him and said, " You are not going to fight your friends, are you? These men (pointing to the Mississippians) are all your friends." In the mean time Zollicoffer's aid fired upon Colonel Fry, wounding his horse, from which vvound the animal died. Colonel Fry then turned and fired upon Zollicoffer, with fatal effect. General Z. evidently labored under the impression that Colonel Fry was a rebel officer. They had never met before, nor did Colonel Fry know the position of the officer upon whom he fired, as the evidences of his rank were covered by a cloak which General Zollicofler wore in battle.
From this moment the battle was won. The rebels in front of the Union left had grown dispirited by the news of Zollicoffer's fall, and their fire was slackening. When they saw the breaking of their left wing, they faltered and commenced retreating. The Tenth Kentucky, Fourteenth Indiana, and two batteries were immediately pushed after them. But the speed of the enemy increased, and although the Union troops followed in quick step, they could only manage to come within range of his rear, to which they gave from time to time parting salutes with rifle balls and shells. The pursuit was continued to within a mile of the intrenchments, when owing to the close approach of night, the victors stopped and made themselves as comfortable as possible on the northern declivity of a hill overlooking the fortifications.
Rain was still falling, and although all were greatly fatigued from the labors of the day, but few sought repose on the soaked ground. The excitement of the battle kept the majority awake, and the uncomfortable night was spent in the discussion of the stirring events of the preceding hours, by the immense camp-fires, which burned brightly in defiance of the drifting rain.
With djybreak some of the Federal guns were got into a position commanding the rebel intrenchments, and were soon hurling shells upon

domain: history


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The best permanent magnets are rare earth magnets. The rare earth magnetic household is made up chiefly of neodymium ring magnets & samarium cobalt magnets. These rare earth magnets are the best permanent magnetic force and in excellent quality n52 magnets are today the most powerful permanent magnetic force. You will see rare earth magnets for sale quite readily. These rare earth magnets can be seen online from various magnet suppliers.
A variety of neodymium and samarium magnets are available for unique home decor and industrial applications. Lots of people prefer to use these rare earth magnets for sale for a gift or decorative item for their home and offices. For those people who are aware of the benefits of magnets, they know how helpful the magnets are for household purposes. They are used for holding cups, saucers, cutlery and numerous other household items that require a strong holding power.
disc magnets can be used for a variety of purposes like holding a garden candle, a picture and a lot more. There are a number of places where you can buy rare earth magnets for sale. It is advisable to buy the rare earth magnets from reputable dealers and suppliers. A large variety of magnets of all shapes, sizes and colors are found from these suppliers. A neighborhood magnet shop is the best place to purchase them. Besides magnets, you can also buy hand tools made of rare earth magnetic material.
Different parts of the world possess various kinds of rare earth magnets for sale. South Africa has many cobalt magnets which are quite strong. Brazil has larger quantities of neodymium magnets than any other country. Germany and India are known to have large amounts of magnetized iron.
The most common rare earth Neodymium magnets that are found are in the kind of flat steel sheets. These magnets are often used for car wheel alignment. The larger the magnet, the more powerful the car wheel alignment will be.
While searching for rare earth magnets available, it’s important to get them from respectable dealers. You can find a good deal of suppliers by searching the internet. Be sure the supplier you are purchasing your magnets from is authentic and credible. You can often buy these magnets from eBay and Craigslist.
Additionally, there are neodymium ring magnets for sale that are custom made. If you can afford the additional expense then it’s sensible to have them made especially for your car. Some collectors prefer to have these custom magnets because they know that every car that they add to their collection will be unique. Auctions also tend to be more expensive compared to making them yourself. If you are buying them for investment purposes then there’s absolutely no advantage to purchasing rare earth magnets for sale.
One significant benefit of using rare earth magnets available is that they can withstand the most extreme conditions. It is easy to see why these magnets have been used for centuries in the construction industry. They are strong and sturdy, yet extremely flexible. These magnets are the perfect choice for people that work in areas where they are often exposed to high levels of force and vibration. When searching for rare earth magnets available, it is ideal to be sure you purchase them from a reputable supplier and dealer.

domain: hobby


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Whether it's the World Cup or the royal wedding, the most memorable events in the London calendar are the ones that have the power to unite the city in celebration.
And that's exactly what we love about London Wine Week. The initiative – from the brains behind London Cocktail Week and London Beer Week – is not just a selection of events in central London, but an all-out celebration of wine that includes an eye-watering number of bars, restaurants and pop-ups. The aim is to get the capital not only drinking it, but talking about and getting better acquainted with the world of wine. Here's our pick of the essential things to do (and drink) during the week.
The London Wine Week Hub
This year, the home for the week's activities will be Flat Iron Square, a hub of street-food, restaurants, bars and businesses a cork's throw from London Bridge. From 15-20 May, it'll be transformed into a gorgeous garden, featuring a rotating line-up of pop-up bars throughout the week and, if you're that way inclined, a screening of the royal wedding on the Saturday (because a garden full of wine is surely the most fitting place in London to toast to the happy couple). The resident bar, Tap & Bottle, will also be the first stop on the initiative's Wine Tour events.
The week's main attractions are arguably the festival's Wine Tasting Flights and Sip & Snack pairings. Available throughout the week at some 125 venues, they'll mean you can enjoy the best of the action at anywhere from fancy central London wine bars to neighbourhood haunts. London Wine Week flights are a snip at £5 each for Festival Pass holders.
Berry Bros. & Rudd's wine pop-up
The pop-up event's, er, popularity might have gained most of its traction in the 2010s, but that doesn't mean that London's oldest wine seller isn't getting involved in the action. Berry Bros. & Rudd, the historic merchant with a history dating back to the late 1600s, is putting on a pop-up bar at Tap & Bottle on 15 and 16 May, open all evening and serving wines by the glass and by the flight from a hand-picked selection of its most treasured wine producers, from the USA and Greece to France, South Africa and more.
Vinoteca's Think Pink wine flights
Rosé has never been more popular, with the much-loved Provence rosé having been a bit of a springboard for interesting skin-contact wines from Italy, Spain and the New World. To celebrate, wine bar and shop Vinoteca is putting on a £5 flight featuring a glass each from Provence, Yecla in Spain, and the Denby Hills in Surrey.
Loire Valley Wines takeover
If you're going to have a wine region taking over much of the happenings throughout the week, you could do a hell of a lot worse than the Loire Valley. The iconic French region, just to the north of the country, is home to some of France's best-loved winemakers and styles. This year, the capital will see an influx of winemakers from the across the Loire Valley region partner up for some of the week's best events, from a Loire Valley wine-paired oyster event at Wright Brothers to a Muscadet pop-up, a tasting masterclass event with the Three Wine Men in Canary Wharf, a pairing dinner at Peruvian restaurant COYA and, of course, a £5 Loire Valley Wines flight at Bedales.
See the full programme of events and buy your pass at drinkup.london


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domain: design


The fifth instalment of this split release series gets off to a raucous start: Alex Stein's "Gojira" features an ominous bass and the kind of nocturnal synth stabs that could be the soundtrack to curfew in a bleak dystopia. Olivier Giacomotto's "Eake" is more restrained, but it does feature what sounds like a hyena yowling at regular intervals over its blend of percussive rhythm and morose bass. It's only a brief respite however, and on Distale's "Tantal", a pounding techno groove unravels to the sound of ominous chords and a buzzing bass. Oliver Huntemann deserves props for supporting new artists through this series - and the Senso boss is sure to especially proud of the closing track, the chilling "Full Of Magic" by Murat Uncuoglu.
Oliver Huntemann's Senso Sounds returns with more brooding dancefloor drama here courtesy of new signing Distale - who's appeared previously on Upon.You, Shaping Music and Lapsus in recent times. The German producer (real name Michael Knop) describes his tracks as 'raw Berlin techno' and that's evident on his new EP entitled Keep Watching. The title track is a tunnelling and strobe-lit warehouse jam, full of Hawtin style ping-ponged risers, while "Isolate" or the particularly trippy "Mezzo" go for more stripped back and dubby factory floor dynamics - much like music on popular imprint Drumcode. Following up some great releases by Carlo Ruetz and label staple Andre Winter, it sure likes like this Hamburg based label is off to a stellar start in 2018.


Arsenal will take on Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday January 25.
The encounter at the Emirates will be shown live on BBC One with kick-off at 7:55pm.
The encounter is the pick of the fourth round fixtures after the two sides eased through their third round ties.
United continued their fine start under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by beating Reading at Old Trafford while Arsenal beat Blackpool.
United fans have hit out at the FA's scheduling of the tie although there are currently trains from London to Manchester, which will arrive in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Also selected for TV coverage on fourth round weekend is Everton's trip to Millwall and Chelsea's home clash with Luton or Sheffield Wednesday.
West Ham’s trip to AFC Wimbledon will be shown on BT Sport on Saturday January 26, and has been moved to 7:45pm.
The London derby between Crystal Palace and Tottenham will also be shown on BT on Sunday January 27.
Live TV matches
Friday January 25
Saturday January 26
Accrington vs Derby/Southampton - BT Sport - 12:30pm
Millwall vs Everton - BBC One - 17:30
AFC Wimbledon vs West Ham - BT Sport - 19:45
Sunday January 27
Chelsea vs Sheffield Wednesday/Luton - BBC One - 18:00
Monday January 28
Barnet vs Brentford - BT Sport - 19:45


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Our friends at USTravel are busy digging up great, low fares.Some are available all summer long–some through June 30. Best to check with Melinda or Kelly Jo here in Anchorage (907)561-2434 or toll-free: (800)544-2217. Check the website for USTravel locations in Fairbanks, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Ketchikan, Prudhoe Bay and Seattle.
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domain: geography


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“DEDICATION OF A NEW CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY IN SAN FRANCISCO 2003”
Thirty-five years after it first opened its doors a block off Union Square, the Church of Scientology of San Francisco marked the opening of its new quarters in the original Transamerica Building, across from the Transamerica Pyramid, with a gala grand opening celebration Saturday, November 29, that included Mr. Willie Brown, mayor of the City of San Francisco, and San Francisco Police Captain Stephen Tacchini.
Original Transamerica Building is restored as hub of spiritual activity
Special guest speaker was Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, the organization responsible for upholding the purity and standard application of the Scientology religion. Mr. Miscavige spoke of the pivotal role San Francisco has played in the growth of the Scientology religion.
San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown presented a proclamation to Church of Scientology San Francisco President Jeff Quiros, recognizing the Church's commitment to the "spiritual and cultural heath and diversity of any neighborhood it is part of."
Master of ceremonies, Mr. Jeff Quiros, president of the San Francisco church,told the assembly of 2,500 that "today is all the more a celebration because we are joined by so many of the friends with whom we have worked side by side over the course of 35 years to make this a better place for all who call San Francisco home."
A proclamation presented to the Church by Mayor Brown read in part: "...[T]he Church of Scientology of San Francisco [is to] be congratulated for its expansion into new headquarters, commended for its efforts in making the Bay Area a better place for persons of all races, colors, creeds and walks of life...."
It also recognized the Church's commitment to the "spiritual and cultural health and diversity of any neighborhood it is a part of."
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ADDRESS BY MR. DAVD MISCAVIGE ON THE OCCASION OF THE GRAND OPENING OF THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF SAN FRANCISCO
Posted at 10:49 pm by Clearday

domain: sociology


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domain: entertainment


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These nifty NFL broadcast maps are provided each week courtesy of the fine folks at the506.com
. The maps offer some cool collages highlighting what Pigskin America is watching each Sunday.
The maps also provide some insight into the NFL, the hot teams, the psyche of fans and the goals of the big pro football broadcasters.
With a small slate of uninspiring early games, the Bills-Jets battle gets top billing in the time slot. The rest of you will probably be over on Fox watching Tampa-Atlanta.
If the early slate features few games and even fewer compelling match-ups, the network makes up for it with a pair of playoff-worthy battles in the late slot. In fact, the nation is just about evenly split geographically between the huge Pittsburgh-Baltimore battle for AFC North supremacy, which gets the top crew of Nantz-Simms, and what's shaped up as an interesting Denver-Carolina contest. New England-Oakland gets only regional coverage and probably deserves even less.
Atlanta's rising star Matt Ryan gets some of his most widespread coverage of the year as the NFC North's key Bucs-Falcons battle will be seen throughout the Deep South, along with in far-flung regions from upstate New York to Southern California. However, the star-studded Minnesota-Arizona showdown, which also impacts the NFC playoff picture, is the biggest game in the eyes of the network, drawing the No. 1 crew of Buck-Aikman.


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Prometheus is director Ridley Scott’s latest endeavor and marks his return to the genre which many people believe he is most famous for. Since its announcement, speculation has flown about the film’s ties to the sci-fi classic, Alien. Ridley Scott himself said the film takes place in the Alien universe, but evolved from a direct prequel into something of its own, yet many people believe it is a direct prequel to the first Alien film. Prometheus delivered a truly unique experience and also gave Alien fans plenty of pleasers to keep them entertained, but did it tell the story everyone was hoping for?
One thing can be said for certain: Ridley Scott is a visionary and Prometheus is a testament to that fact. I chose to see this film in 3D -and I don’t care for this 3D fad America is infatuated with right now, but I highly recommend experiencing it in this fashion. The spectacle of Ridley Scott and H.R. Giger collaborating is only amplified by the 3D experience as it really helps immerse you into the film and it is visually stunning. The world created for this film is vibrant and beautiful and Giger’s gothic influence contrasts that with his own dark imaginings which are beautiful on the opposite end of the spectrum. Fans of the Alien franchise and Giger’s work in general will appreciate the set pieces in this film and will feel refreshed to see them once again on the big screen.
The acting in this film is grand as well. Primarily, the main focus is on Noomi Rapace and Logan Marshall-Green as scientists who make the initial discoveries on Earth that lead them to seek the human race’s creators, or engineers, but Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of David, Peter Weyland’s android “son” easily steals the show with his intrigue and dark nature. David fits right in with Ash and Bishop from the first two Alien films and really delivers on the aspect of being in the beginning stages of android creation with his stiff movements and constant attempts at acting more human by replicating actions and phrases he hears and sees. As the film progresses, we see David has his own agendas just as Ash did before (after?) him.
Noomi Rapace is the new protagonist in Ridley’s universe and while her portrayal of Elizabeth Shaw is good, I couldn’t help but compare it to Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, who is a much stronger character. Noomi’s emotions were genuine, believable and she was even a little more badass than expected during a certain medical procedure. Elizabeth Shaw’s antagonist is none other than Charlize Theron who plays Meredith Vickers, a hardened and determined woman that cares little for the expedition she is in charge of. Vickers is rude yet likeable as she does show some humanity throughout the movie and Charlize can’t help but be incredibly sexy even if she is a bit cold-hearted here. Aside from these characters and David, the film lacks much development on anyone else in the crew, which is disappointing.
Prometheus is not without its flaws. The mythology of the story is a little loose-ended, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Personally, being able to interpret things my own way and tie things together without someone holding my hand is something I enjoy; there is plenty of analyzing to go around in this film with sets reminding us of the first Alien film, the return of the Space Jockeys and their easily identifiable ship. Prometheus brings us on a journey to find out where we as a people come from and also hints at where the Aliens hail from. Needless to say, it does a stellar (no pun intended) job of it. While not completely explained, those who pay attention should be able to tie up the loose ends or at least enjoy the speculation with fellow fans. I can, however, understand on some level the disappointment I’ve heard about its story and how it ends.
Prometheus is a grand and beautiful science fiction film that aims to help us understand the origins of one of Hollywood’s most beloved franchises. It succeeds on multiple levels, although some will be disappointed with the lack of direct answers to some important questions. Even with some naysayers out there, the film is definitely quite the experience and fits nicely into the Alien universe and will undoubtedly rise to become a classic some time down the road. It is best experienced in 3D which brings Ridley Scott’s and H.R. Giger’s creations to life in ways thought impossible. Enjoy the spectacle, the acting and characters. Be prepared for a great ride, and please, pay attention.


Japanese swords as armor
A Japanese sword is actually one of many different types of traditionally produced swords in Japan. The first swords were primarily bronze and typically carried in the hand instead of secured by a fixed hilt. From the 7th century onward, iron was used for the majority of blades, and eventually stainless steel was used for swords that could be used in battle with great ease.
The status of Japanese swords has undergone a dramatic increase in popularity in recent years. After Japan began to arm itself with modern arms and armor in World War II, many of its citizens feared that their traditional sword making techniques were being lost forever. However, the renewed interest in Japanese swords in the western world and the Japanese government encouraged the old ways of swordmaking. Today, many Japanese sword makers are making a great return to the time-honored traditions of Japanese sword making, and many new styles of Japanese sword are becoming popular worldwide. This has led to an increase in demand for authentic Japanese swords for sale, leading to higher prices for these antiques.
Japanese sword making technique
Historically, there are two primary schools of Japanese swords. The first is the craftsmen who use the traditional Japanese sword making techniques, called samurai swords. These are typically forged from high quality Japanese steel and are much longer than their shorter European cousins. Traditionally, samurai swords had a single edge, but many swords are double edged, with a right and a left side blade. Some are even more elaborate, incorporating multiple edges, and can even be worn on the belt.
The second school of swordsmen, referred to as Kamakura blades, developed out of the amalgamation of the two styles. The term ‘kamakura’ means “a living sword” and was used to designate the style of the swordsmen. The hilt of a katana was covered in hard, orange lacquer, and the blade was a blacksmith to a taino, or steel. As this alloy was too expensive for most Japanese samurai to purchase, it was changed to nagashima-zasa, a much cheaper metal that gave the same appearance but was still affordable for the common person.
Japanese warriors for centuries
Today, many new swords are being crafted from this alloy, known as “Shinto-Ryu”, which is similar to the gold-bladed Japanese sword. Because of the popularity and durability of these new swords, many individuals are looking for more affordable alternatives to the traditional Japanese swords. One option is the “daisho” or “daishou” daishou. A very short sword, it has a unique design that looks a bit like a crescent-moon symbol, and it is a very popular choice for the collector.
Many antique dealers offer shinto-tamahagane and other Japanese swords for sale at reasonable prices. These antique weapons have been kept by Japanese warriors for centuries, and through the years they have developed a distinct appearance that collectors love. With their popularity increasing, many new swords forged today are being designed by Japanese swordsmiths. Many times, buyers will also be able to customize the design of a sword that they have purchased through an online auction, or by purchasing a custom-made Japanese sword from a local smith.


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A new investor joined the shareholders of Gymsteer – the Pracuj Ventures Fund. We are glad to announce that, once again, our law firm was given the honour to advise the Company and its Founders in the negotiations on the investment conditions.
The Fund will support the Company in developing the sales of pay per entry to employers as an employee benefit and in further expanding the network of available sports facilities.
Gymsteer is a platform for fitness clubs that provides for the comprehensive, intuitive, and efficient management of a fitness club. As part of its principal activity, the Company develops its marketplace with access to sports facilities in the pay per entry model, where anyone (both individually and through the Employer) may buy an open access or entry to selected classes. Apart form the marketplace, the Company also offers a system for managing sports facilities in the SaaS model.
Pracuj Ventures is an investment fund investing in innovative HRTech and EduTech enterprises, with contributed amounts ranging from PLN 500 thousand to 2 million. It was founded in 2019 by Grupa Pracuj and some of its shareholders. Within the next 3 years it is going to support about 10-12 companies. The fund’s managing partners are Maciej Noga and Paweł Leks – co-founders of Grupa Pracuj.

domain: finance