text:
abillings —
Alexandra Billings ( abillings) wrote,
Alexandra Billings
abillings
Tribute To Young Frankenstein
In early 1970 Gene Wilder had an idea for a script that would spoof the classic Jeckle and Hyde movies. It was a character he always wanted to play and he thought a comic version would be not only challenging but well received if done right. When he approached Mel Brooks about the idea, Brooks too had been working on a horror movie parody, but this one concerned it self with The Wolfman. Neither one budged, They haggled, re wrote, argued, tore their collective hair out, and stopped talked for almost 6 moths, This was the marriage that was to create one of the greatest comic films of the 20th century: "Young Frankenstein."
Concerning itself with a descendant of the original horror monger Baron Von Frankenstein, his great, great, great grandson is approached by a creepy guy with long fingers to "take up where he left off." On the way, Frederick falls in love with his saucy assistant, departs from his frigid and glamorous fiancée, and begins, along with his assistant Igor, and the ominous house mistress Frau Bleucher, to reinstate his birthright. Eventually giving birth to a new Creation.
The film, edited by ….. and filmed in glorious black and white has a stunning visual to it. Brooks may have saved quite a lot of money without bowing to Technicolor, but made up for it by buying many of the original artifacts from the Frankenstein set. Most of the machinery seen in the movie was seen in the 1939 version. Brooks especially went after:
"…the spirally thing that shoots light up in the air."
This helped give the film not only it's originality, but it's authenticity as well. It's literally shot like a true horror film. The long shots, the wide camera angles. Even the moment of Frau Bluecher's entrance is done in old movie horror style: creaking door, shadows thrown behind Leachman's face, and a long sound of strings ringing in our ears letting us know something frightening is happening. This not only adds to the comedy, it enhances it.
Brooks and the cast got along so well, he actually added scenes at the end of filming because the cast couldn't stand the fact that the experience was actually over. When Madeline Kahn is discovered coming out of the carriage, they were suppose to complete the scene in one rolling shot. Because the cast couldn't keep it together, the scene is cut up into almost 8 or 9 different takes.
This was due to Brook's and Wilder's vision that they not only remain true to Shelly's original story but to the absolute silliness that ensued as well. He allowed improvisation to a point, but was meticulous about sticking to the vision and to the homage that was the original idea.
The "Putting on the Ritz: number was, in fact, Wilders idea. Brooks actually wanted to cut it, deeming it "too silly" for the film. They went into another famous fight, and Wilder (thankfully) won.
Brooks is all over this film. It's Mel at his zenith. His direction is deft, bawdy and careful, yet there's a brilliant playfulness to it. And I think, a bow to horror movies in a way never captured again. He never seems to comment on what's happening, simply letting the over the top comedy land right in our laps.
Kahn's singing of "Oh Sweet Mystery" was her idea. Brook's needed something as The Creature climbed atop her, and as rehearsals went on, Kahn tried several different things. As the cameras rolled, on the first take, Madeline tried something completely different, and sang a part of the score in her beautiful falsetto. It was left in, and then copied at the end of the movie by Garr as well.
Brooks's genius is his love of the genre and his love for actors, and it shows in every frame of this film.
Kenneth Mars as the Superintendent gets little credit for his odd, bizarre and one armed role here. His accent is complete and utter insanity and his physicality is magnificent. The way he uses his arm as not only a prop but a living, breathing sound effect is a comic wonder. He never ceases to amaze me. His comedy is precise and amazing.
I love Marty Feldman. One of those actors that again, like Mars, people recognize but can't name. Feldman worked for years in films and on television, and because of his odd looks, was usually cast as the second banana. As "Igor" (pronounced EYE-gor) he is a muddled, scatter brained living sight gag. His bizarre rendition of "I Aint Got Nobody" is fall down funny.
Brooks had an idea that he wanted to literally spoof several actual classic scenes from the original "Frankenstein". One of them included a moment between a blind man and The Creature. He called his friend Gene Hackman and begged him to appear. After reading the script and watching some of the rushes, Hackman agreed wholeheartedly In fact, he wanted to be buried so far into his character, that he doesn't receive star screen credit. Hackman's knack for comedy is abundant in this 10 minute scene as he feels Boyle's massive chest and whispers:
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were a mute. And incredibly big mute."
Terri Garr's first scene in this film is a moment of comic gold "Vould you like a roll in ze hay?"….and she begins to roll. In the hay. Garr, an Oscar nominee for her fantastic turn in "Tootsie" is a blonde tidal wave here. Never giving into what's easy, and always staying true to who she is on screen. She has a lovely, lithe ability to her and her comedy is the same. Wonderfully funny and at the same time, a little heart breaking at times as well.
Garr says she copied her hairdresser for the oddly German/Swedish accent she used in the film.
Cloris Leachman (and Oscar winner for her sardonic and bleak portrayal in "Last Picture Show") reaches new heights of comic genius as the weirdly omnipresent Frau Bleucher. Her taught, starched updo, her lips perched on an eternal "Oh" sound, a smear of red lipstick, and a large black mole that creeps up her face in different scenes. In her twisted, oblique German accent, Leachman seems to be hiding something. Up her skirt. She seems constantly in pain, and always hanging on to something prickly. Her eyes dart, her hands lay flat at her side, and everything that comes out of her mouth seems like it's from other movie. An amazing astonishing performance.
I still can't understand how Kahn wasn't nominated for this role. She's excellent in everything she does as a rule, but here, she shines. Her lovely soprano and her fearlessness as an actor are in abundance. There's never a moment when I don't believe her. There's never a moment on screen where it's impossible to not look at her. Her ability to turn two simple lines into comic gold are completely and utterly hers:
"No tongues."
Peter Boyle, who found television success on "Everybody Loves Raymond" was padded, booted, and dentured into a living stupor. Most of the time throughout the film he either grunts or moos like a sick cow. A sparkling and hilarious role thanks to Boyle's unbelievable comedy.
Wilder's always good. Here, as writer and star, he is maniacal, frenetic, and completely insane. Consider his brilliant monologue as the Creature is lifted toward the dark sky with Wilder sanding on the side board ranting and raving into the Heavens about Life. This is Shakespearean in its delivery and hilarious in its motivation. He is never off his mark here. Again, the Academy's prejudice toward comedy is in abundance, Wilder should have easily gotten an Oscar nomination for this role. He's that good.
The film was shot in the same castle and with the same props and lab equipment as the original Frankenstein (1931).
The howling wolf sound on the ride to the castle was made by director Mel Brooks.
When Dr. Frankenstein descends the stairs into the basement of the castle there is a gargoyle on the wall made to look like director Mel Brooks.
The assistant property master's name, Charles Sertin, is on the third brain on the shelf.
The clock rings 13 times at the beginning of the film.
Director Cameo: [Mel Brooks] the sound of the off-screen cat screaming when hit by a dart.
The idea of Frederick's dart hitting a cat was ad-libbed on set. When Gene Wilder threw his dart off camera, director Mel Brooks quickly screamed like a cat to create the illusion.
A couple who are talking on the train near the beginning of the film are having the same conversation in English, then in German.
Teri Garr, who plays Inga, was called in when Madeline Kahn, whom Mel Brooks had originally wanted for the role, turned it down and asked if she could play Elizabeth instead. Madeline Kahn decided to take the role after all, so Mel Brooks told her that if Garr could come back the next day with a German accent, he'd like her for Inga. She looked at Mel and said, "Vell, yes, I could do zee German ackzent tomorrow - I could come back zis afternoon" and the part was hers.
The skulls that Freddy and Inga find under the castle were real skulls except for the one that was six months dead, which was hand-crafted.
The Blind Man scene includes parts where we see the monster having hot soup poured on him and getting his thumb lit on fire. To keep himself protected, Peter Boyle had a hot pad on his lap, and he wore something on his thumb to protect it from getting burnt.
The scene in which the creature contemplates throwing the little girl into the lake ("No more flowers. What shall we throw in now?"), is a homage to a scene in Frankenstein (1931). In that version, this was cut from the film until its video release 50 years later.
The shot of the monster carrying Elizabeth in the woods is a subtle reference to a similar shot in Creature from the Black Lagoon.
The original cut of the movie was almost twice as long as the final cut, and it was considered by all involved to be an abysmal failure. It was only after a marathon cutting session that they produced the final cut of the film, which both Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks considered to be far superior to the original product. At one point they noted that for every joke that worked, there were three that fell flat. So they went in and trimmed all the jokes that didn't work.
Due to make-up continuity problems, certain shots in "The Blind Man" scene had to be re-shot. In the shot where The Blind Man spills soup on the Monster, the "Hand" spilling the soup actually belongs to director Mel Brooks, not Gene Hackman.
When they started to film the "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene, no one was sure what the Creature should say. The first time out of the gate, however, Boyle came up with a strangled version of "Puiinin da reeez!"
The Blind Man's line "I was gonna make espresso" was not in the script, but was ad-libbed by Gene Hackman during shooting.
The Gasthaus, or guest house at the beginning of the riot scene is Gasthaus Gruskoff. Michael Gruskoff was the producer of the film.
Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks got into only one fight during the movie's production, but it was a big one with Mel throwing a huge temper tantrum, yelling and raging and eventually storming out of the studio. Shortly thereafter, Gene received a phone call from Mel, saying, "Who was that lunatic yelling and screaming on the set today? You should fire that bum!"
The experiment the medical student mentions, where Darwin preserved a worm in fluid until it came to life, is mentioned in Mary Shelley's foreword to the novel "Frankenstein." The Darwin in question was Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of the famous Charles Darwin.
The brain originally intended for the monster was that of Hans Delbruck. Hans Delbruck was an actual person, a German historian, professor at the University of Berlin, notable for going beyond technical problems and linking warfare to politics and economics.
Originally in the script, after Igor drops the brain jar, he was to turn to the audience and quip: "Funny thing is, I tried!"
Director Cameo: [Mel Brooks] the voice of the original Dr. Frankenstein when Frederick sees the laboratory for the first time.
The shifting hump on Igor's back was an ad-libbed gag of Marty Feldman's. He had surreptitiously been shifting the hump back and forth for several days when cast members finally noticed. It was then added to the script.
Gene Wilder's performance as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein is ranked #9 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time.
Mel Brooks initially thought that the "Walk this way" gag was too corny and wanted it cut from the film. But, when he saw the audience's reaction to it one night at a screening, he decided to leave it in.
I remember seeing this film when it came out. My Dad took me. It was one of the few things we actually did together, and I remember watching it and not understanding a single thing. I knew it was funny, and I remember laughing occasionally at some of the silliness (Leachman killed me) but my Dad…I'll never forget the sight of my Dad literally slapping his knee and tilting back in his chair. His big guffaw mingling with the rest of the adults in the audience. But to see my father so ultimately happy and so filled with a raucous joy was something I'll never ever forget.
"My father's work was Doo Doo!" actually became a catch phrase in our family after that.
Later, as I got older, and I understood what I was looking at, I still, to this day, find myself slapping my knee and leaning back in whatever chair I happen to be in at the moment.
A classic film and one of the best comedies ever made.


Corn and wheat lower, soybeans mixed... As of 6:30 a.m. CT, corn futures are trading 3 to 4 cents lower, soybeans are mixed with old-crop contracts favoring the upside, SRW and HRW wheat futures are mostly 6 to 7 cents lower and HRS futures are steady to 4 cents lower. The U.S. dollar index is mildly weaker.
World markets recover, grains drop as Ukrainian tensions ease... Global equity markets have rallied from sharp losses yesterday, while gold, oil, wheat and corn futures have weakened following what could be interpreted as a de-escalation of tensions by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered some military units back to their bases after a training exercise that began last week. Some of the drills took place near the border with Ukraine, exacerbating fears about a possible Russian invasion of its neighbor. At a press conference, Putin said his country has no need to use force against Ukraine but retains the right to consider all its options, and it has no intention of annexing Crimea.
President Obama this morning will unveil his Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposals... The recommendations have been selectively issued over the past few weeks, so no major surprises are expected. They will include a push for a hike in the minimum wage, and Obama's belief that immigration reform is ahead. While the proposals will honor the spending caps set in the December budget deal, it will offer lawmakers an option for adding $56 billion if Congress can come up with other savings by ending some tax breaks and making other cuts. The $56 billion in new discretionary spending would pay for a proposed "opportunity, growth and security initiative" aimed at the creation of institutes to promote manufacturing, energy efficiency, expanding apprenticeships and universal pre-kindergarten education. His budget requests also will feature new proposals such as a major expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for childless workers and proposals to pay for these efforts via closing tax loopholes that do not reward work or help the economy. Of note, the White House will call for around $300 billion in new spending over four years on infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges, something it would pay for partly through a revamp of the tax code.
China in talks to buy Noble's grain arm... COFCO, China's largest grain trader, is in talks to potentially buy Noble Group's agribusiness arm, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters. China is trying to grow its presence in the global grain trade business with a goal of greater food security. COFCO bought a 51% stake in Dutch grain trading firm Nidera last week.
Ukraine sees more grain exports... As we reported in Evening Report yesterday, Ukraine has exported 24.7 MMT of grains since the beginning of July. The country's ag ministry said today it expects to export 8.7 MMT of grain through June. That would imply 2013-14 grain exports will be 33.4 MMT, which is 900,000 MT higher than its prior forecast.
HRW wheat conditions continue to deteriorate... According to state reports, the condition of the HRW wheat crop declined further in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas through February. The Oklahoma crop saw the largest increase in the percentage of crop rated "poor" to "very poor" compared to a month-ago. State statisticians now put 31% of the Oklahoma crop in the bottom two categories, a gain of seven percentage points from last month. Kansas now has 22% in the bottom two categories, a gain of two percentage points; and Texas has 45% in the bottom two categories, an increase of five percentage points from month-ago. Click here for state tables.
Lucas predicts U.S. will lose COOL case at WTO... During a recent interview with Oklahoma Farm Report, House Ag Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) said he will likely hold hearings on the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) issue and on California's animal welfare regulations that take effect next year. On COOL, Lucas predicted the U.S. would lose the pending case against the USDA rule brought by Canada and Mexico at the WTO. USDA argues that the new rule would bring the labeling program into compliance with the WTO's initial decision in the case. "I'm not an attorney, but I have a difficult time believing we'll win," Lucas said. "We'll probably lose the second one as we lost the first one. But the committee will look at that and be prepared for whatever the response needs to be." A WTO panel is expected to a deliver a confidential interim report in the case to the governments June 20, with a final report due July 22.
Surge in wholesale beef prices continues... Wholesale beef prices sharply extended recent gains, with Choice boxes surging $3.79 and Select boxes gaining another $4.69 Monday. Packers moved 145 loads of product on the day, which wasn't too poor considering current prices. The cash and product markets are showing no signs of topping, but traders appear content to keep April live cattle futures well below the cash market, suggesting they sense a short-term top will come at some point relatively soon.
Pork cutout extends gains... The pork cutout value was $1.03 higher yesterday to extend the recent price rally. At $105.17, the cutout value is historically strong, but pork is still cheap compared to beef. And while packers moved only 220.43 loads of product yesterday, there are no real signs of a retailers balking at current high prices.
Overnight demand news... Japan is seeking 111,779 MT of U.S. and Canadian wheat in its weekly tender.


Max Kelln, Olivia Lucas and Andrew Wheeler of Faegre Baker Daniels will share their expertise at the Indiana Chamber's 2016 Environmental Conference.
Max Kelln will co-present on how to evaluate whether a project impacts a "Waters of the U.S." and challenge an adverse jurisdictional determination, as well as how to determine when a plant change requires an air permit modification.
Olivia Lucas will speak on new source review (NSR) routine maintenance, repair and replacement compliance and the boundaries of EPA enforcement.
Andrew Wheeler will discuss how a new administration and a new Congress will impact environmental policy and what to look for in a testing contractor.


Same here. After last month i was expecting to have it by now but no sign just yet. It will probably arrive tomorrow now!
No mine hasn't arrived either.
Having said that I have another subscription that arrved 5 days later than usual! Along with a backlog of post, I seemed to get about 2 weeks worth in 2 days!!! Flipping Royal Mail!
Nope mines not here but i can't wait to see which names we'll recognise this month!!!!


It was a long list, and a long speech.
At 75 minutes, I understand it's the longest acceptance speech in at least a generation. It failed to provide soaring oratory or "morning in America" imagery, choosing instead to emphasize threats to the nation and Trump's distinctive populist appeal that "I am your voice" and "I alone can fix it. But it was still the best speech I've seen Trump give — and one unlike any other in recent history.
It's impossible to discern the effect it will have on undecided voters. But Trump's speech was about as much as the party could have hoped for coming out of a deeply contested primary process. Trump directly challenged Republican orthodoxy on free trade and foreign policy — to substantial applause. Certainly the delegates were more energized by his language about terrorism and unauthorized immigration, but he received sustained applause during his critique of NAFTA (which was negotiated by George H.W. Bush) and interventionist foreign policies (often associated with past Republican presidencies). He was cheered for his pledge to invest in public infrastructure and support child care for working mothers. In a break from past nominees, Trump declined to address social issues, aside from promising a Antonin Scalia-inspired Supreme Court nominee.
This is my sixth balloon drop. From my seat, this was the most energy in a party nominating convention I've seen.
In short, as campaign chairman Paul Manafort said in Cleveland, it's Donald Trump's Republican Party now. He's positioned himself, as he did to great effect in the primaries, as the only candidate willing to challenge the status quo and address the everyday concerns of Americans.
This is my sixth balloon drop. From my seat, this was the most energy in a party nominating convention I've seen. The convention itself wasn't particularly well organized, with numerous speakers deviating from their scripts with long riffs that threw the schedule out of whack. And there were some notable controversies (the first day conflict over the rules, Ted Cruz's non-endorsement speech, etc). But ultimately the convention was successful in energizing the base and presenting Trump in a positive light.
It's a long way to November. Democrats hold their convention next week. The three presidential debates will probably be the most watched in history. And both candidates have a penchant for saying things off the cuff that can make great fodder for political attack ads.
But it's clear the general election is on. Trump is betting that his populist appeals to disaffected Republicans this spring will transcend party lines and carry him to victory.
Cook is the dean of Boise State's School of Public Service.
Idaho GOP Chairman Steve Yates praised Donald Trump's acceptance speech.


The registration documents of the party Yes, Bulgaria will be filed with the Palace of Justice in Sofia on Friday.
According to the information, so far, 2,900 membership applications have been submitted.
By law, at least 2,500 members are needed in order for the registration to take place.
At the meeting of the National Council of the party on Wednesday, an Executive Council of the party was elected which, besides Chairman Hristo Ivanov, includes 13 parliamentary deputies.
They will bear the political responsibility for drafting the programme of the movement and the preparation for participation in the snap parliamentary elections in April.


Major depressive disorder is among the medical conditions with the highest negative impact on work outcome. However, little is known regarding evidence-based interventions targeting the improvement of work outcomes in depressed employees. In this paper, the design of a randomized controlled trial is presented in order to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant occupational therapy in employees with depression. This occupational intervention is based on an earlier intervention, which was designed and proven effective by our research group, and is the only intervention to date that specifically targets work outcome in depressed employees.
In a two-arm randomized controlled trial, a total of 117 participants are randomized to either 'care as usual' or ' care as usual' with the addition of occupational therapy. Patients included in the study are employees who are absent from work due to depression for at least 25% of their contract hours, and who have a possibility of returning to their own or a new job. The occupational intervention consists of six individual sessions, eight group sessions and a work-place visit over a 16-week period. By increasing exposure to the working environment, and by stimulating communication between employer and employee, the occupational intervention aims to enhance self-efficacy and the acquisition of more adaptive coping strategies. Assessments take place at baseline, and at 6, 12, and 18-month follow-ups. Primary outcome measure is work participation (hours of absenteeism and time until work resumption). Secondary outcome measures are work functioning, symptomatology, health-related quality of life, and neurocognitive functioning. In addition, cost-effectiveness is evaluated from a societal perspective. Finally, mechanisms of change (intermediate outcomes) and potential patient-treatment matching variables are investigated.
This study hopes to provide valuable knowledge regarding an intervention to treat depression, one of the most common and debilitating diseases of our time. If our intervention is proven (cost-) effective, the personal, economic, and health benefits for both patients and employers are far-reaching.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the medical conditions with the highest negative impact on work outcome, even higher than debilitating medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic heart disease . Depressed employees have an increased risk for both short-term [2–4] and long-term  sickness absence, and claim substantially more work disability pensions  than their non-depressed colleagues. Out of the ten most common chronic health conditions, depression is associated with the highest reduction in productivity in the workplace [1, 7].
Not being able to (fully) participate in the labor market due to depression can lead to subsequent economic and social deprivation . This, in turn, can have an added negative impact on the course of depression , initiating a downward spiral. Indeed, studies have demonstrated that employees who have experienced a depression-related disability episode are seven times more likely to have another mental health-related disability episode within 12 months [3, 4].
The financial burden of depression-related work disability for society is substantial, and will only continue to increase . In 2000, two-thirds of the total costs associated with depression were work-related ($51.5 out of a total of $83.1 billion) . Even when depressed employees are clinically treated for depression, they still incur 3.2 times higher absenteeism-related costs when compared to non-depressed employees . Moreover, these costs do not include costs related to productivity loss (presenteeism) which are higher than the costs of absenteeism and medical treatment combined .
Although the debilitating effects of depression on work-ability have been consistently demonstrated, little is known regarding evidence-based interventions targeting the improvement of occupational functioning in depressed employees [12–14]. In fact, a recent review  concluded that our earlier study  was the only study that evaluated an intervention specifically focused on occupational functioning in employees with depression. All other studies evaluated the effectiveness of antidepressants and psychotherapy, aimed at symptom reduction, with work as one of the outcome parameters. In this review, insufficient evidence was found for the effectiveness of standard clinical treatment on the improvement of occupational outcomes . These findings are consistent with other studies that have demonstrated that symptomatic improvement does not necessarily correspond to an improvement in workplace performance [16, 17]. Instead, functional improvement often lags behind symptom reduction [18, 19]. If we want to improve occupational outcomes in depressed employees, we need to develop additional interventions that target not only symptomatic, but also functional improvement.
Based on both scientific literature [20–22] and clinical expertise, we developed an occupational intervention that focuses on work-participation (defined as hours of absenteeism and time until work resumption) in depressed employees. Results from our previous randomized trial  evaluating this intervention (mentioned above) were promising: The addition of occupational therapy to standard clinical treatment resulted in a significant reduction in sick-leave days during the first 18 months after baseline assessment. Furthermore, the occupational intervention did not increase work stress, was cost-effective, and was highly regarded by patients. Unfortunately, results demonstrated that adjuvant occupational therapy had no additive effect on the reduction in depressive symptomatology.
Recently, we have developed an improved version of our earlier occupational intervention that is shorter (18 instead of 36 sessions) and which focuses mainly on coping and behavioral change at the workplace. There has also been a shift in the theoretical framework underlying this new occupational intervention. The earlier intervention focused on an extensive period of pre-vocational training before work resumption, an approach that is consistent with the traditional 'train-and-place' model . The new intervention, however, is based on the more recent 'place-and-train' model . Consistent with this latter model, the patient is now encouraged to return to the work environment as soon as possible. In this way, the patient's work situation is directly utilized as an integral component of treatment. First, the return to the work environment can serve as an 'exposure in vivo' to prevent avoidance of problematic work situations. Second, the patient can immediately begin implementing skills (acquired during the intervention) to actively cope with work-related stressors. This increases the patient's positive feelings regarding his or her ability to (fully) resume work. Third, by maintaining contact with the work environment (i.e., with supervisors and colleagues), the 'ranks are kept open': Increased contact with the workplace enhances understanding and social support from colleagues, which facilitates the employee's return to work. Finally, by having so called 'work visits', the new intervention aims to stimulate communication between employer and employee regarding the re-integration process. Previous findings from the physical health field have indicated that early communication between employer and employee lead to improved return-to-work rates [25, 26].
Although there is vast evidence that the place-and-train approach is more effective in helping patients return to work than the traditional train-and-place approach [27, 28], current research has solely focused on the effect of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), a place-and-train intervention that is specifically designed for unemployed patients with severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia). Consequently, work goals in these studies are set lower (working for at least 1 day) than those we seek to achieve in our study. To the best of our knowledge, our new occupational intervention is the first to apply the place-and-train model to improve work-outcome in employees with depression.
In addition to the improved design of the new intervention, the design of this study contains several improvements over our earlier study . First, we are including measures of at-work productivity in addition to measures of work participation. Second, we will expand our sample size in order to increase power, taking into account the increased number of baseline and outcome variables and the small to moderate effect sizes of our earlier study. Finally, we are including personality measures, work-place characteristics (e.g., perception of work load and work problems), and neuropsychological functioning in order to identify potential predictors of treatment effect. Considering that clinical symptoms are hypothesized to be associated with an underlying dysregulation of cognitive processes , assessment of neuropsychological functioning might provide a framework for objectifying the cognitive impairments (e.g., reduced concentration, problems with memory and planning) that are frequently reported by patients with depression.
The objective of this paper is to present the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant occupational therapy (OT), as compared to care as usual (CAU: for description, see Methods), on the work-participation of depressed employees. We hypothesize that patients who are receiving OT have a higher average reduction in hours of absenteeism and a faster return-to-work than patients receiving CAU only. Second, the effectiveness of adjuvant OT regarding work productivity, health-related quality of life, depressive symptomatology, and neurocognitive functioning is evaluated. We hypothesize that patients receiving OT have higher work productivity and a higher quality of life than patients receiving CAU only. Furthermore, we hypothesize no short-term ameliorating effect of adjuvant OT on depressive symptoms or neurocognitive functioning. However, over a more prolonged interval of time, we hypothesize that patients receiving CAU + OT will have a larger reduction in depressive symptoms and neurocognitive functioning than patients receiving CAU only. In addition, we aim to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of OT from a societal perspective. In order to identify the intervention's mechanisms of change (intermediate outcomes), we aim to examine the effect of OT on work-related coping, self-efficacy, and the patient's perception of the work environment. Finally, potential predictors of treatment effect are investigated in order to adequately tailor treatment in the future.
Our study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant occupational therapy to regular psychiatric outpatient treatment in patients with depression. Patients are randomized to 'care as usual' (control condition) or 'care as usual' with the addition of occupational therapy (experimental condition). The study includes a baseline assessment and follow-up assessments at 6, 12 and 18 months after start of treatment.
The trial is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Academic Medical Center and the University of Amsterdam. Patients voluntarily participate in the study, and are offered a gift certificate of 35 euro for participation at the last follow-up assessment. A signed informed consent form is obtained from each patient. Participants are informed of their right to withdraw their participation from the study at any time, without specification of reasons or negative consequences for their clinical treatment.
Participants are eligible for the study if they meet all of the following inclusion criteria: 1) diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder according to DSM-IV criteria; 2) at least 25% absenteeism due to the depressive disorder; 3) duration of absenteeism of at least 8 weeks or the duration of the depressive disorder is at least three months; 4) aged between 18 and 65 years; 5) possibility of returning to their own or a new job; 6) relationship between the depressive disorder and the work situation, i.e.; work is one of the determinants of depressive disorder and contributes substantially (> 25%), or depressive symptoms reduce productivity or hinder the return to work; 7) the participant agrees to the possibility of participation in the occupational intervention.
Participants are ineligible when they meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) diagnosis of bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder or depression with psychotic characteristics; 2) severe alcohol or drug misuse or dependence; 3) severe physical problems that make participation to the study impossible; 4) severe suicidality; 5) inpatient treatment is indicated; 6) current or recent (i.e., during the current depressive episode) therapy with a psychotherapist, psychologist, or occupational therapist whose content resembles the content of our occupational intervention; 7) current participation in a research study that disables participation in our study.
Occupational physicians present potential study participants for a telephone screening, where the inclusion- and exclusion criteria are globally assessed by an independent psychiatrist. Next, potential eligible participants for the study receive a standard three-hour psychiatric intake at the outpatient department of the Mood Disorders Program of the Academic Medical Center. In addition, a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV disorders  is administered, in order to check whether the participant meets the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and fails to meet the DSM-IV criteria of diagnoses mentioned in our exclusion criteria. After the psychiatric intake, eligible patients are asked to sign an informed-consent form. Those who give written informed consent receive the full baseline assessment.
After baseline assessment, participants are randomized to the control or experimental condition. All patients start care as usual; those randomized to the experimental condition also start occupational therapy. During care as usual, the 6-, 12- and 18-month clinical follow-up assessments are conducted by the treating psychiatric resident. When participants have finished care as usual, these assessments are conducted by an independent psychiatrist. Neurocognitive assessments are conducted by a trained researcher. During assessments, participants are asked not to mention their intervention status in order to preserve blinding of the researcher.
The first phase consists of an intake (one session), an occupational anamnesis (three sessions), and a video-observation (one session). During the intake, the patient's current work situation and problem areas are explored. In addition, the patient's treatment goals and expectations regarding the occupational intervention are examined. During the occupational anamnesis, the patient's education and occupational history are systematically analyzed, in order to identify recurrent ineffective coping patterns in stressful situations. During video-observation, the patient is recorded within a simulated work environment (i.e., engaging in role-playing), while the patient performs key tasks relevant to his or her job. Afterward, the recordings are viewed, and the patient's experiences regarding the current tasks, workload, and relationships with colleagues are discussed. In this way, the aspects of the job that the patient experiences as problematic are identified. After completing the problem clarification phase, the occupational therapist discusses the content and goals of the intervention with the occupational physician (OP) by telephone. The therapist also informs the OP that patients are required to work at least 2 hours per week when starting the second phase of the intervention.
The second phase consists of eight group sessions and four individual sessions. Central to this phase is the 'Quality of Work' (QW) model. The QW model is based on previous literature [20–22] and consists of five factors that affect work performance: 'Work Load', 'Autonomy', 'Relationships at Work' 'Job Perspective', and 'Work-Home Interference'. According to this model, whenever there is an imbalance between work demands and work capacity, problems in occupational functioning are likely to occur. In every group session (approximately eight participants), the QW model is discussed, and patients are taught how to evaluate both the positive and negative factors in their own work situation in accordance with the QW model. In this way, the model provides support for breaking the work problems down into specific, manageable pieces (as opposed to general, insurmountable problems, as perceived by patients). Based on these evaluations, each group member decides what dimension within the model is most important to change in his/her own work situation. This forms the basis for their individual work-reintegration plan. During group sessions, progress regarding each patient's work-reintegration plan is frequently evaluated. In addition, group sessions are used to prepare for the meeting with the employer (through role-playing) and to develop a prevention plan. The advantage of discussing the QW model in a group setting is that patients recognize they are not alone in their problems and that they can benefit from other participants' feedback.
Concurrently with group sessions, three individual sessions and a meeting with the employer take place. During individual sessions, the therapist tries to relate the presently occurring work stressors to the patient's recurrent ineffective coping-pattern (as discussed in the first phase of the intervention). If needed, the therapist provides help with filling out the QW model. In addition, the patient's progress with the work-reintegration plan is monitored during individual sessions.
During the meeting with the patient's employer (i.e., supervisor), the occupational therapist educates the employer regarding the content of the occupational intervention and the consequences of depression for work performance. During this meeting, the patient has the opportunity to openly discuss work-related difficulties with the employer, such as an excessive workload or problematic interpersonal interactions.
Within four to six weeks after the completion of the occupational intervention, patients receive a follow-up session to discuss potential problems during the work resumption process.
Care as usual consists of treatment by psychiatric residents in the outpatient clinic of the Mood Disorders department at the Academic Medical Center according to a treatment protocol consistent with the APA guidelines . Visits consist of clinical management, including psycho-education, supportive therapy, and cognitive behavioral interventions. Therapies are supervised by an experienced senior psychiatrist on a weekly basis. Pharmacotherapy is started according to a protocolized algorithm. If the patient's condition is deteriorating and outpatient treatment is no longer adequate, the patient may be referred to day treatment or inpatient treatment at the same Mood Disorders department. If the physician wishes to treat in a way that is deviating from the care as usual protocol, he/she is required to contact the research group.
The randomization is conducted by an independent research-assistant, who uses a computerized program based on the minimization-randomization procedure . In order to assess intermediate outcomes and potential predictors of treatment effect, two-thirds of the participants are randomized to the experimental condition, and one-third is randomized to the control condition. Randomization is stratified according to Hamilton score (≤ 17 or ≥18) and number of previous episodes (one or two, vs. three or more).
Based on previous results , we expect to find a difference of 25% in the main outcome variable between the experimental group and the control group. To achieve a power of 0.80, given a one-sided alpha of 0.05, an estimated effect-size of 0.30, and a control-to-experimental ratio of 1:2, we need at least 35 patients in the control condition and 70 patients in the experimental condition. Considering the high loss to follow-up in this type of research design, we decided to expand the sample size by 10 percent. Thus, the total number of participants included in this study should be at least 116. Power calculations are made with the program G-power .
Our primary outcome measure is work participation, defined in terms of absenteeism and work-resumption. The first is operationalized as the average reduction in hours of absenteeism over the three 6-month periods. The latter is operationalized as time until full return-to work (RTW) and time until partial RTW. Time until full (or partial) RTW is defined as the duration of sick leave due to depression in calendar days from the start of treatment until full (or partial) RTW. Full RTW is defined as working the full amount of contract hours in own or other work for at least 4 weeks, without partial or full recurrence. Partial RTW is defined as working an increment of at least 5 hours (when compared to the hours worked at baseline), for at least 4 weeks without partial or full recurrence. Data are derived from diaries that patients keep on a weekly basis during the 18-month study period.
Work productivity is assessed in two ways. First, participants are asked to record weekly their efficiency for the hours worked, on a scale of 1 ('not productive at all') to 10 ('very productive'). Second, the 25-item Work Limitations Questionnaire [34, 35] is used to assess productivity loss (presenteeism). The WLQ has demonstrated good reliability (all scales have alpha's above 0.90) and construct validity in both patient and employee populations . In addition to the WLQ total score, we are examining three subscales (the 'Output', 'Time', and 'Mental-Interpersonal' subscale) individually, since previous results have demonstrated a strong association between these subscales and depression-related work limitations [16, 36].
Severity of depression is measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (IDS-SR). The 17-item HRSD  is a semi-structured clinical interview that covers a range of affective, behavioral and biological symptoms. Scores on this clinician-rated instrument range from 0 to 56, where a score of ≥ 23 is qualified as 'very severe', 19-22 is qualified as 'severe', 14-18 as 'moderate', 8-13 as 'mild', and ≤ 7 as 'normal' [38, 39]. The HRSD has acceptable psychometric properties . The IDS-SR [41, 42] is a 30-item self-rated instrument to measure the severity of depression, with scores ranging from 0 to 84. A score of ≥ 39 is qualified as 'severe', 30-38 as 'moderate to severe', 22-30 as 'moderate', 14-22 as 'mild' and ≤ 13 as 'normal' . The IDS-SR has good reliability and validity [42, 43].
Health-related quality of life is measured with the MOS-SF 36 (Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form), a validated and widely used instrument for the assessment of health status [44, 45]. This self-report questionnaire contains 36 items regarding behavioral functioning and perceived psychological well-being during the previous four weeks. Responses to the 36 items can be aggregated into eight scale scores. Each scale score can be converted into a 0 to 100 scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of functioning. The Dutch translation of the MOS-SF 36 has demonstrated adequate psychometric properties .
Speed of information processing is measured with the Trailmaking Test [47, 48] part A and the Stroop Color-Word Test  part I. Selective attention is measured with the Stroop Color-Word Test Part III, corrected for part II. Divided attention is measured by Trailmaking Test part B, corrected for part A. Working memory is assessed by the subtest 'Letter-Number sequencing' of the WAIS-III . Executive functioning is assessed by the manual version of the Tower of London .
Medical consumption is assessed with the Tic-P (Trimbos/iMTA questionnaire for Costs associated with Psychiatric Illness) . The Tic-P is a validated Dutch questionnaire that is commonly used in economic evaluations of treatment in mental-health treatment. In order to calculate the indirect costs of both absenteeism and productivity loss, we are using data from the Work Limitations Questionnaire and weekly self-report diaries (self-constructed).
One of the central goals in occupational therapy is to teach patients how to actively cope with the problems they encounter work-related situations. Coping behavior is measured by the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) , adapted to specifically address coping behavior in work-related situations. For our study, we are including the UCL-subscales 'Avoidance behavior' (avoiding problematic situations, 8 items), 'Passive reaction' (feeling unable to do anything about the situation, being absorbed by problems, 7 items) and 'Active problem focusing' (approaching problems with confidence and in a goal-directed way, 7 items). All items are rated on a 4-point scale, ranging from 'seldom or never' (coded 0) to 'very frequently' (coded 4).
In our occupational intervention, an important mechanism of change is to provide patients with more perceived control over their work situation. In other words, our occupational intervention aims to enhance patients' belief in their capacity to deal with work demands, or self-efficacy. Work-related self-efficacy is measured by the 11-item questionnaire 'Expectations regarding work resumption' .
The 'Perception and Judgment of the Working situation' questionnaire (VBBA) measures the patients' perception of the working situation. The following VBBA subscales are evaluated in order to longitudinally assess changes in perception of the work environment: Work satisfaction, work tempo, work load (mental and emotional), relationships at work (with colleagues and supervisors), and work involvement.
To investigate potential predictors of treatment effect, a wide range of variables are included in this study. At baseline, the following variables are measured: Socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., age, education level, gender), clinical history (e.g., severity of depression, number of previous episodes), personality (e.g., neuroticism, extraversion), job characteristics (e.g., type of profession, years of work experience, number of contract hours, contract type) and a retrospective assessment of psychosocial work characteristics four weeks prior to sick leave (e.g., work load, variation in tasks, relationship with supervisor/colleagues). In addition, several aspects within the neurocognitive domain are assessed at baseline as potential predictors of treatment effect: Speed of processing is measured with the Trailmaking Test [47, 48] part A and the Stroop Color-Word Test  part I. Selective attention is measured with the Stroop Color-Word Test part III, corrected for part II. Divided attention is measured by the Trailmaking Test part B, corrected for part A. Working memory is assessed by the subtest 'Letter-Number sequencing' of the WAIS-III . Executive functioning is assessed by the manual version of the Tower of London .
Data are analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle, i.e., based on original intervention assignment, irrespective of the actual treatments received. Independent samples t-tests and χ²-tests are used to evaluate potential differences in baseline characteristics between the intervention and control condition. In case of significant baseline differences between groups, the propensity score method [55, 56] is used to adjust for these variables in the evaluations of the treatment effect. Missing independent variables are imputed using multiple imputation techniques.
To take into account potential biased outcomes caused by selective loss to follow-up, we use a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analysis approach, which, assuming missing at random (MAR) for missing values, gives unbiased effect estimates. MAR is a less restrictive assumption than missing completely at random, and allows loss to follow-up to be related to baseline characteristics that are incorporated in the regression model. GLMM comprises, among others, logistic regression analysis (dichotomous outcomes; e.g., proportion of participants who have returned to work), Poisson regression (count outcomes; e.g., hours worked), Cox regression for censored data (e.g., time to full and partial return to work), and linear regression (continuous outcomes; e.g., scores on depression scales). In all of these analyses, intervention is the independent variable, and a propensity score [55, 56] is entered as a covariate to adjust for potential confounders. Since work-productivity and perception of the work environment are conditional upon whether participants have returned to work, a pattern-mixture model analysis is applied for the analysis of these data [57, 58].
Predictors are assessed in two ways. First, predictors (e.g., Y) are assessed through the statistical significance of the intervention by Y interaction term. Second, predictors are assessed by using these variables instead of the intervention variable in the mixed model regression analysis restricted to the subgroup that was allocated to the occupational intervention condition.
Cost-effectiveness is assessed from a societal perspective. Therefore, both the direct costs (due to use of mental-health care) and indirect costs (due to production losses and absenteeism) during the 1.5-year follow-up are included. Both direct and indirect costs are estimated according to the Dutch guidelines for cost-analysis in health-care research . The indirect costs are calculated by using the Friction Cost Method .
This paper describes the design of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant occupational therapy, as compared to care as usual, on the work-participation of depressed employees. Considering that depression is among the top three disorders with the highest negative impact on work functioning, the lack of interventions targeting the improvement of occupational functioning is noteworthy. Only one previous study , also conducted by our research group, has evaluated the effectiveness of an occupational intervention in depressed employees. On the basis of this earlier intervention, we have developed an improved new intervention that focuses on an early return to the work environment and the acquisition of more adaptive coping strategies.
An important strength of our study is the wide range of outcome measures that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant occupational therapy. Few studies have included outcome measures on both the level of work-participation and work-functioning; even fewer studies have included potential predictors of treatment effect. To our knowledge, this is the first study to include measures to explore potential working mechanisms of treatment in this field. This assessment enables us to evaluate a comprehensive picture of the effect of adjuvant occupational therapy in depressed employees. A second strength of the present study is the extensive follow-up period. In their article on improving return-to-work (RTW) research, Pransky and colleagues  recommended that "research on RTW requires multiple longitudinal observations in order to fully understand the implications of the effect of an intervention targeting RTW" (p.456).
A possible limitation of our study is the lack of a waiting-list control condition. Thus, in the current study we are unable to compare our findings to a potential improvement in work functioning that might occur during the natural course of depression (i.e., spontaneous recovery). On the other hand, it is considered unethical to deprive patients of evidence-based effective treatment, especially over the course of an 18-month period. Previous studies have demonstrated that chances for relapse increase in untreated depression [62, 63]. Another possible limitation of this study is the use of self-report measures for sickness absence data, which may be susceptible to recall bias. In order to minimize bias, patients are asked to record the number of hours worked on a weekly basis. Previous findings have demonstrated that - when reported on a frequent basis - employee records correspond highly with employer records of absenteeism .
To conclude, this study hopes to provide valuable knowledge regarding an occupational intervention for treating one of the most common and debilitating diseases of our time. If our intervention is proven (cost-) effective, the personal and economic benefits for both patients and employers are far-reaching.
This study is financially supported by the Netherlands Foundation for Mental Health (Fonds Psychische Gezondheid) and the National Institute for Employee Benefit Schemes (UWV).
AS, MK and WO were applicants on the funding proposal. HH drafted the manuscript and is responsible for the data collection and coordination of the study. GdV designed the occupational intervention protocol. WO contributed to the study's coordination and data collection. AS and MK have commented on earlier versions of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.


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Kevin Sprouse Podium Sports Medicine
With a novel approach to the treatment of the athlete and active patient, Podium Sports Medicine provides cutting-edge, individualized care. Whether you prefer running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, CrossFit, or any other sport, you deserve a unique approach that takes into consideration personal goals and a desire to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
Dr. Kevin Sprouse is a Knoxville native, now working with elite athletes and active individuals around the world. Trained and certified in both Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science at Wake Forest University before attending medical school at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Virginia Tech. He then completed his Emergency Medicine residency in New York City, where he was elected Chief Resident. Following residency, he attained a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Greenville, SC.
The focus of his academic interests and practice has been the care of the endurance athlete, as well how exercise, diet, and movement effect the health and well-being of all active individuals. His patients have included professional and Olympic cyclists, runners and triathletes, and he now brings his experience and expertise in this field to Podium Sports Medicine.
In addition to his private practice, Kevin is the Medical Director for the Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team. His role requires seasonal travel to races that include Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, and the Tour de France. He works closely with the riders throughout the year to treat illness or injury and encourage optimal health and performance.
Kevin has also been on the medical staff for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Knoxville,	TN
Consultations, Nutrition, Bike Fit, Run Analysis, Biochemical Analysis
Triathlon, Road Cycling, Running, Mountain Biking, Duathlon, IRONMAN, Swimming
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6216 Highland Place Way, Suite 102

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Vísindavaka 2011 was held on Friday, September 23 in Háskólabíó. Around 4700 visitors attended this annual event involving a wide range of scientific and research organizations. IIIM continued its tradition with presenting several projects during Vísindavaka. This was a chance to meet IIIM staff in person, ask questions and learn more about our projects.
Research Scientist Jacky Mallett was presenting her recent work on Banking System modeling and simulation that raises questions about the accuracy of current monetary and economic theory.
Senior Programmer Guðný R. Jónsdóttir's project Conversation with Polite Computers was presented in the form of a poster and short sample video. The main goal of this project is to create autonomous computer characters that can interact with people in a humanlike manner.
Thank you for coming and see you at next Vísindavaka!


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Mark Patten BSC
Websites: IMDb and markpatten.tv
www.independenttalent.com
www.icmpartners.com
Mark was drawn into the world of cinema at a young age. His father worked in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and screenings of Saturday morning films, curated by enthusiasts in various theatres around the world, sparked an interest in the medium of cinema.
A keen photographer from the get go, led Mark to pursue an ambition of capturing moments through his lens. In 1990 while documenting both landscapes and portraits for The Environmental Agency on the South Downs a passion for the visual was established.
In 1992, London was calling, Commercial Production was in full flow and Mark found himself running the in-house film department for a director of a small production company. At a time when apprenticeships were scarce, he was being tutored by some of the best Commercial DP's in the business.
Having curated his style from the School of the studio floor, Mark was given the opportunity to travel with his childhood inspiration David Attenborough, for two months with a minimal crew he worked along side his mentor and collaborator Adrian Moat and photographed a BBC campaign for 'Life Of Mammals'.
From 2000 the opportunity to work with Ridley Scott Films saw the start of a long term relationship. The chance to be part of such a cinematic institution was instrumental in his career trajectory.
Mark progressed from commercials, to shooting promotional content for 'Prometheus' and 'The Counsellor'. In 2014 he shot second unit for cinematographer Darius Wolski on 'Exodus God of Kings' and then in 2015 on the 'The Martian'.
Continuing his relationship with Luke Scott, and backed by Producer Mark Huffum he was commissioned to shoot his debut feature 'Morgan'.
With the rise of the streaming networks, Episodic television captured a mainstream audience, In 2017 Mark was engaged to photograph the BBC/FX co production 'Taboo' by written by Steve Knight and produced by Tim Bricknall, for which he was awarded the BSC TV Award for best cinematography.
Other Credits include the BBC Drama 'McMafia' and more recently the DC character study 'Pennyworth'.
2019 saw Mark collaborate with Robert Lorenz on the US feature 'The Marksman'.
BAFTA Television Craft Award Nominee 2018 Taboo
BSC Best Photography in a TV Drama Award Taboo


Nevada Interfaith Association | The welcoming network of religious and spiritual leaders bringing communities in Nevada together.
The Nevada Interfaith Association (NIA) is a welcoming non-profit, multi-faith network of spiritual and religious leaders, civic, charitable, and other interested groups and individuals who come together to celebrate spiritual diversity and promote mutual understanding and respect. For all the differences that give each spiritual tradition its own unique legacy and vision, there is so much that we share. We invite you to learn more about the Nevada Interfaith Association by joining us at one of our events, subscribing to our newsletter, or becoming a part our fellowship today as a member or affiliate.
and updates on our own projects, programs and events.
Join us for the annual Nevada Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada. Click on the "Reserve Now" button below for more details and to make your reservation securely online today. Please RSVP by April 4, 2019.


Requested a quote for a custom stencil over the weekend, indicating a specific font. I received a response same day with sizing and an example of how it would look with cost. After ordering, the stencil turned up just two days later. Great service.
I wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your stencils. The quality is amazing, couldn't be better! I was so excited to receive the stencils so quickly. Now all I have to do is make the picture in my head get to the canvases!
The stencil arrived today and it's absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for all your help and excellent communication, we are so, so pleased with it, now I have to stencil it on 150 wooden hearts!!!
I received the stencil that you made for me recently and it's fantastic. I have already been creating great work from it. As ever thank you for the speedy work, It's much appreciated and Ill be back in touch soon.
Just to let you stencil has arrived & my wife is "over the moon". Thank-you.
If we require any further stencils, in the future, we'll contact you first.
We received your stencils in the post today, and would like to say a huge thank you! I know this wasn't an easy order to deal with but your stencils are great, we are so impressed.


Happy holidays, everybody. We believe in the spirit of giving, and now have a $248 prize pool, courtesy of the generous members listed in #discord-tourneys. There's a few things I need to list due to money being on the line here.
1. Lag can be a huge problem, as you know. If you play one game and the delay is consistently too much to the point where you're incapable of playing, please contact @Redcyber#6507, and he will spectate to see if it's actually unplayable. This typically consists of a consistent 7f+ game. Play as if it's a normal tourney match during his spectating. If playable, it will count towards the score. If not, Cyber will utilize an in-game message to call off the game, and the players will decide between a coin toss or playing it out in the delay. Remember that this is a netplay tourney, and that these things do happen. The goal of this is to ensure as fair of an experience as we can enforce. Please respect this system, and don't abuse asking about what's considered playable and what's not. If not, you will be disqualified.
2. Just as stated before, please remember that this is a netplay tourney. Things have a chance of going wrong, and while we hope for the best, Rev2 netcode and some player's internet isn't always ideal. Due to there being money on the line, I would like to remind you all that you're signing up for something that has the potential to be out of our control. It's regrettable, and one of the primary reasons we don't usually have a prize pool, and never have an entry fee. Due to Christmas, however, this is our fun way of giving back to you beautiful people. Just keep the possibilities in mind.
3. The prize pool consists of $248, about $250, donated by the community. You read that right. First will receive about $100, second $75, third $50, fourth $25. Typically prize discrepancies would be higher, but this is netplay, and we don't want too high tension of a scenario when money is on the line. Just as stated before, things can go wrong. We've decided this is the best way to create a real difference in placings without going too hard.
4. Signups will close half an hour before the tournament commences, so we can take time to seed and prepare. Certain matches will be assigned to be on stream, we won't randomly call you up. Please sign up early and be sure to remind your friends who might enter, since we hate to keep anyone out due to being a few minutes too late.
5. Money is being distributed through Paypal by @Motivated | Bounty#2345. Again, thank you do everybody who helped contribute to this pool, and pushing us to create a worthwhile holiday event for everybody in #steam-netplay.


MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A motorcycle struck a pole Tuesday, killing the driver, Memphis Police reported.
The crash happened at 1:07 p.m. in the 1000 block of Wichita in South Memphis.
The driver was taken to Regional One in extremely critical condition.


Prior to us purchasing this unit, we hired the Cat dealer to complete a TA inspection.
Upon arrival, all covers were removed from the machine and machine was completely washed.
Complete operational and visual inspection was completed.
Inspected the rear axle oscillation for play and it was good.
Inspected the loader control frame for play and it was good.
Verified the engine, torque, transmission and hydraulic pressures and all were within OEM specifications.
Installed a NEW fan and alternator belts.
Replaced the fuel tank vent.
Repaired the back-up alarm, horn and action alarm.
Installed NEW steering cylinder pins and bearings.
Repaired the loose steering column.
Completed miscellaneous electrical and wiring repairs.
Installed NEW heel wear plates on the bucket.
Cleaned out the HVAC system.
Completed required repairs in cab.
This unit is completed and is ready to go to work.


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Teaching Fellowship
Hackley School
Tarrytown, New York
Hackley School seeks to recruit, hire, train, and support a small cohort of talented early career educators to be Teaching Fellows.
The ideal candidate is an aspiring educator with a demonstrated interest in teaching and working with students, while also helping to broaden the experiences, perspectives, and identities present within Hackley's faculty. A college degree, not necessarily in education, is required. This program would also be appropriate for early career professionals looking to change fields and gain experience in education prior to seeking a full-time role.
Hackley is creating a 12-month program to run from July 1 through June 30 of the subsequent year. Beginning in July, Teaching Fellows will serve and be trained as members of the faculty for Hudson Scholars, Hackley's multi-year academic support and enrichment program for middle school students from the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns district. Teaching Fellows will be housed on campus for the majority of the summer. (Longer term subsidized school housing may subsequently become available, but is not guaranteed.) Fellows may apply for full-time positions at Hackley in a subsequent year should there be a suitable opening.
Once Hackley resumes classes in the fall, Teaching Fellows will begin a rotation designed to provide a broad exposure in different areas of a K-12 school. Teaching Fellows will work in different divisions and possibly different departments during the year, the specifics of which will be determined by the interest of the Teaching Fellow and the needs of the institution. Teaching Fellows will observe experienced teachers, work with mentors, and have the opportunity to gain valuable teaching and supervisory experiences. Once suitably trained, Teaching Fellows may be called upon to serve as substitute teachers on a short-term basis.
Beyond the classroom, Teaching Fellows are welcomed to coach and/or support non-academic functions, depending upon their background, interests, and Hackley's needs. Many of these roles come with additional compensation.
Interested applicants should submit the following materials to be considered for this program:
Cover letter, resume, and transcript
Written responses to the following supplemental questions (250 maximum word limit per prompt):
What intrigues you about teaching at an independent school? What hesitation do you have?
Describe an impactful educational experience - positive or negative - that influenced your desire to pursue a career in education.
Why are you attracted to Hackley's Teaching Fellowship?
Please send materials to Michael Wirtz, Head of School,at mwirtz@hackleyschool.org. Please mention Hackley School Teaching Fellowship in the subject line.
Additional Salary Information: Teaching Fellows earn a salary of $36,000 and are eligible to receive health insurance. Additionally, upon completion of the program, the Teaching Fellow would receive a $5000 taxable stipend towards student loan repayment or future academic studies. Teaching Fellows are eligible to receive subsidized school housing, depending on availability of suitable apartments. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided when classes are in session.
About Hackley School
About Hackley School: Hackley is an Equal Opportunity Employer, intentionally committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. We welcome candidates representing a full spectrum of race, ability, gender, national origin, religion, and sexual orientation. A Hackley education embraces both the open exchange of ideas and learning from varying perspectives, inclusive of the beliefs and identities reflected within the community. Qualifications for employment include a demonstrated commitment to these principles. Hackley is a nonsectarian coeducational K-12 independent school located in Tarrytown, NY, 20 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. Founded as a boarding school in 1899, Hackley enrolls around 840 students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 12, including 30 five-day boarding students in Grades 9 -12. With over 40% of our faculty residing in school housing Hackley combines the community cohesion of a boarding school with the stimulation of a day school in close proximity to one of the great cities of the world.
Connections working at Hackley School
Teaching Fellow Deerfield, Massachusetts
Deerfield Academy Yesterday
Teaching Assistantship Program Princeton, New Jersey
The Hun School of Princeton 1 Week Ago
Residential Life Lake Wales, Florida
The Vanguard School of Lake Wales Inc 1 Week Ago


I am a new Unix system admin. How do I find ouw who has recently use the Linux or Unix-like server? Which terminals they used, and when they logged in and out of the my server?
I am a Fedora Linux user (SysAdmin) and I would like to clear all the login information. How do I clear or remove last login information on Linux operating systems?


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Dianne Reeves
I went along to the Dianne Reeves concert a the State Theatre in Sydney expecting a good show. I'd listened to a few of her songs via her website and I thought she sounded good, but not exceptional. But as John Shand observed in his review in the Sydney Morning Herald. On record her voice was good, but the albums tended to be pleasant rather than exceptional. Inside 30 seconds of this concert the reason was obvious: hers is a phenomenal talent that has often been appallingly served by her recordings. Instead of just a "good show", I saw and heard one of the best live shows in my life. In fact, I'm struggling to think of anything better.
Her vocal range was terrific. As much as her upper range could soar, almost piercing your ears, her lower range could literally cause the theatre floor to vibrate.
Likewise, her musical range was also fairly broad. Of course there were a number of standards such as "Twelfth Of Never" and "You Go To My Head" (which almost made me cry) and I guess even Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" could now be declared a classic. But in explaining that throughout history jazz musicians have always "jazzified" the contemporary songs of their day, she led into a number by Joan Armatrading. There was also a number by Peter Gabriel and Chris, a work colleague who was there, observed there was also a refrain from a Joni Mitchell song, though he couldn't recall which. In fact, there were several times when I could also pick up recurrent themes from popular songs but, long before I could identify them, the musicians had moved on.
At the beginning of the show, she encoured audience participation which I always think is a little "cute" and sometimes foolish as the audience often, without musical knowledge, can't clap along to save itself. But even when she's "cute" – such as her decision to sing her "welcome message" in which she described visiting Taronga Zoo, feeling a little jet lagged etc – she never came across as cheesy. Instead, the audience connection and interaction seemed spontaneous and the two standing ovations were heart-felt.
As I wandered home I was on a total high, humming her final tune most of the way there. And this morning, the first thing I did was send an SMS to my friend Sue suggesting she MUST go and see the show. Quite simply, one of the best live shows I've ever seen.
P.S. It was a star-studded affair in the audience. Ros Packer, married to Australia's richest man was sitting a few rows in front of me. Though I didn't actually notice, I really like the idea of her clapping along, having the time of her life to a great artist.
RQ Restaurant
Briony's Wedding


Trainers, reports are coming in from players across the globe that weather data is missing from their games. This hasn't happened since we last reported on it here on January 3rd 2018. If this has happened to your game, fear not, you are not alone.
Interestingly, the problem started all around the world simultaneously. As of the time of this writing, we had problems confirming that any area of the world is unaffected. We'll update our readers via Twitter and Facebook once the weather system goes back online.


Well, we knew that this was coming, and I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, but we were hoping against all the odds that this wouldn't actually happen. Heather Glen has announced that they will be closing their doors come the beginning of December - yes, you read that right in less than 30 days Heather Glen Golf Links will be closing forever. The land that the course sits on has been under contract with D.R. Horton and was pending approval of the rezoning by the county so that the property could be developed for residential housing.
The process of the re-zoning is in full effect and the managers made the announcement that come the beginning of December, golfers will have to rely on their memories as they shut the course down. We are sad to hear this. Heather Glen is one of our most popular courses for locals and Myrtle Beach golf packages. The Glens Group - who manages the course along with three others (Glen Dornoch, Shaftsbury Glen and Possum Trot) will still maintain the course until it closes. So, with that being said, we recommend that everyone get out there and play a round or three at this fantastic 27-hole golf course.
Some of you might be thinking about your spring golf package. Don't worry! Those that have booked the Glens Package - we'll hook you up with another equally as fantastic course to play in Heather Glen's place. If you haven't booked your Myrtle Beach golf package yet, and you always place this course, perhaps now is your opportunity to place another Myrtle Beach golf course that will become a favorite. Give us a call and will discuss your options with you.
Regardless of whether you loved the course or not, we are always disappointed when a Myrtle Beach golf course closes and especially when one that offers 27 holes, and is a fan favorite among so many golfers. So, get out there, if you can and play a round at Heather Glen Golf Links. Soak it up and enjoy - you will be glad you did!


D&D Creative Advice & Worldbuilding. For DMs. By DMs.
/r/DnDBehindTheScreen is a subreddit for new and experienced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters to trade creative ideas and resources. A growing archive of hundreds of years of D&D experience. All in one place. Welcome Wanderer!


Are you searching for the best hardtail mountain bikes that are under $1500?
After carrying out thorough research, we've put together a list of the top five hardtail mountain bikes that won't break the bank.
They each have their own standouts and drawbacks that you should know about before making any decisions. Learn everything you need to know about them below.
This hardtail mountain bike comes in a variety of sizes. These vary from small and medium, to large and extra-large. The price increases the bigger the size.
The 29" wheels mean you can experience mountain biking smoother than ever. We also liked how the frame is constructed out of aluminium that's lightweight. As a result, it feels great to ride, and can take a good beating.
You'll notice shifting gears with this bike is incredibly easy. This is due to the combination of a Shimano TX50 front derailleur and SR Suntour XCT cranks. Furthermore, you can make use of the Shimano Acera 8-speed derailleur at the rear.
So, you have a wide range of gear options that are effective for going down and up hills more efficiently.
You receive the bike 85-90% assembled. Therefore, it will require a little work to put it together. Depending on how much experience you have with this kind of thing, it could take as little as half an hour. For others, it could take hours.
The company do, however, recommend taking it to a bike shop if you are unsure of how to assemble the bike.
The Diamondback Overdrive does include some exciting features. The 29" wheels and gear options are the ones that stand out. However, for the price of the bike, it may only be worthwhile for those who know they can assemble it themselves. Otherwise, it could add a cost of getting it done at a bike shop.
You can find this bike in three sizes – small, medium, and large. It's in a lower price range than the above Diamondback bike.
With this one, you get to experience riding with 27.5" wheels which make for a smooth feeling ride. They are fantastic at gripping the terrain to ensure you have as much control as possible.
This is enhanced by the SR Suntour XCT 27 coil spring fork. It has a total travel of 80mm, meaning it works to reduce any of the shock from riding over rougher surfaces.
The Suntour XCT crank work with the Shimano 3×8 speed drivetrain to provide you with a lot of gear options. Therefore, riding up and down hills has never been easier.
The bike is delivered to you in an almost fully-assembled state. You have to fit the seat, front wheel, and pedal – everything else is equipped and ready to go for you. However, if you don't have much experience with putting bikes together, you may require outside help.
May feel a little heavier than you would expect.
Considering how this is more of an affordable option, we love all the riding features it has to offer. We would recommend it mostly for beginners as a great way to get their foot into the door of hardtail mountain biking. More experienced riders may prefer something a little lighter.
The Raleigh Tokul 1 mountain bike uses SR Suntour fork suspensions that have an impressive travel of 120mm. This results in an incredibly smooth ride as it minimises the shock from any bumps.
Not to mention, the tyres are 27.5". these work in combination with the fork suspension to reduce any of the shock. They are excellent at providing you with a completely controlled riding experience.
Customers are loving how the bike feels to ride. A large part of this is due to the lightweight custom butted aluminium frame. It makes mountain biking over rough surfaces more enjoyable.
Regardless of the weather condition, you can be sure to always be able to rely on the brakes. The Raleigh Tokul 1 incorporates Tektro hydraulic disk brakes which provide you with the ability to stop extremely fast.
The bike is delivered partly assembled. Therefore, it will require a minimum of half an hour to construct. If you have no experience with putting bikes together, it may even take hours. Therefore, the company advises to seek out a bike shop to help out if you're not confident.
Raleigh have been in the business for 130 years. They've established an amazing reputation for themselves by manufacturing high-quality bikes, and the Tokul 1 Mountain Bike is no different. We especially loved how it brings together great riding features at an affordable price.
The Complete Hook model by Diamondback comes with a 27.5" wheels. We liked how the size of the wheels makes riding easier as they give you far more control over rocky terrain.
An SR Suntour XCM fork is used and it has a travel of 120mm. This works in combination with the wheels to ensure maximum support over bumpy surfaces.
The frame is constructed using aluminum materials that give a contemporary look to the bike.
Diamondback's Hook is the perfect option if you're looking for an all-round great mountain bike that comes at an affordable price. If you're looking to explore tighter trails and rougher surfaces, the Hook mountain bike will be a great choice.
It is effective at keeping you steady and in control the entire time. This is especially great for when you're going up and down big hills.
Tektro Aries mechanical discs brakes are used to provide you with all the stopping power you need on your rides. There's also a SRAM X3 rear derailleur that provides you with an 8-speed cog-set to use while riding.
Lastly, the bike is delivered with all the tools you need to effectively assemble it.
The large wheels and 120mm of travel from the suspension fork make riding over rough terrain a smooth experience. If you're after a lightweight, yet sturdy mountain bike, this is an excellent choice.
The Tokul 2 mountain bike is another model in the Tokul range by Raleigh. Although It's little more expensive than the Tokul 1 too.
You get an SR Suntour XCM suspension fork that provides you with a travel of 120mm of improved smooth riding. Tektro hydraulic disk brakes are implemented to ensure you have plenty of stopping power, regardless of the weather you're riding in.
There's a 1×9 Shimano Alivio drivetrain that gives you a wide range of gears to choose from. Having this variety while riding in areas that have all different kinds of terrains is very beneficial. You can pick the most appropriate one for the situation that can help you get up and down hills with more control.
Just like the Tokul 1, this Tokul 2 bike is delivered partly assembled. If you've had experience putting bikes together, it should only take 30 minutes to get it up and running. However, inexperienced customers would need to allow a few hours.
Alternatively, you may need to budget for an added cost if you want a bike shop to do it for you.
Anyone planning to ride across challenging surfaces will want to have a good range of gears to choose from. But you also want to be confident in being able to brake effectively to ensure you're riding safely too – and the Tokul 2 combines these features.
Hopefully, we've given you all the information you need to go out and pick the best hardtail mountain bike for you within $1500 price range.
Take into consideration all the upsides and flaws and see which one suits your needs best.


The puzzle of dark matter is one of the great conundrums of astrophysics.
Part of the puzzle is that it cannot be seen – "dark" in astronomy means invisible. So far, it cannot be detected. It can only be inferred. When you see concentric ripples in a quiet pond, you infer someone threw a rock in recently.
It's like that with dark matter. The movement of stars in galaxies and the movement of galaxies themselves cannot be explained unless there is a great deal more mass present than astronomers can see. Stars move within galaxies at speeds that would fling the galaxies apart unless there is immense amounts of undetected mass holding them together. So far, astrophysics has been unable to directly detect, let alone measure, what that mass might be.
That inability to detect dark mass gave rise to the idea that maybe we have gravity wrong. After all, if all galaxies are moving too quickly for the current understanding of gravity to explain, maybe the problem is the explanation. Maybe our theories of gravitation are wrong. Finding a galaxy or two where the stars don't move faster, where you don't need to infer dark matter to explain their motion, would disprove that idea.
There's a diffuse galaxy in the direction of the constellation Cetus, some 62 million light years away, NGC 1052-DF2.1 Several different teams of astrophysicists have been able to gather enough light from the diffuse galaxy to measure movement. And the stars in DF2 are moving slowly, so slowly that there is apparently little or no dark matter present. Initially, scientists were skeptical of the data, but a longer baseline of data has persuaded most astrophysicists: DF2 doesn't have much, if any, dark matter.
Now there is a second diffuse galaxy, also in the general direction of Cetus but a bit further away, which similarly doesn't seem to have dark matter. NGC 1052-DF4, much like its cousin, seems held together only by visible matter.
All of which makes it slightly more likely that dark matter is real. If the data for inferring the presence of dark matter varies, then it's not our theories of gravity that are broken. It's just that dark matter is very hard to detect.
Of course, it's more negative evidence. Direct evidence of dark matter still hasn't been found. And the theory that dark matter acted as the attractor to create galaxies doesn't look so strong; we now know of two galaxies – albeit diffuse, flimsy excuses for galaxies – that seem to have developed without any evidence of dark matter being present.2 We;;, perhaps it wasn't so much a theory as a supposition.
Dark matter, like the even more astonishing dark energy, are two of the great mysteries of science. Astrophysics continues to nibble away at them.
All of which is how and why no evidence can be good evidence.
Missing Mass: No WIMPs Here. Try ADMX?
Interesting – got me thinking about parallels with our current political situation.
The evidence against incompleteness in the understanding of gravity seems to be growing, but I still like MOND at an intuitive level. And note: "through rock" should be "threw a rock" in the second paragraph.
Thanks for catching the typo. Fixed.


text:
Q: How to project a JPA Tuple result into an entity I have a query like this
public List<Tuple> listReocurringUndroppedJobs() {

    CriteriaBuilder cb = entityManager.getCriteriaBuilder();
    CriteriaQuery<Tuple> cq= cb.createTupleQuery();

    Root<JobEvent> event = cq.from(JobEvent.class);
    Path<JobExecution> je = event.get(JobEvent_.jobExecution);
    Path<Job> j = event.get(JobEvent_.job);

    Predicate predicate = cb.conjunction();
    Predicate p1 = cb.equal(event.get(JobEvent_.event), "ENQUEUED");
    Predicate p2 = cb.gt(cb.count(event), 1);
    predicate = cb.and(p1,p2);

    cq.multiselect(je.get(JobExecution_.id),j.get(Job_.id));
    cq.groupBy(event.get(JobEvent_.event),j.get(Job_.id),je.get(JobExecution_.id)).having(predicate);

    TypedQuery<Tuple> tq = entityManager.createQuery(cq);
    //for (Tuple t : tq.getResultList()) {
    //  Long jeid = (Long)t.get(0);
    //  Long jid = (Long)t.get(1);
    //}

    return tq.getResultList();

It returns Tuples of 2 ids, jeid and jid.
These two ids identify uniquely another entity (let's say it's the composite PK of entity A), so instead of returning a list of Tuples, I'd like to return a list of A's.
Is there any way to do that in this same Criteria query? (of course, I know how to get these IDs and just issue another query, but I feel there must be the right way to project these IDs into another entity)

A: Ok, before try to add the predicate just try this.
CriteriaBuilder cb = entityManager.getCriteriaBuilder();
CriteriaQuery<Job> cq= cb.createQuery(Job.class);

Root<Job> job = cq.from(Job.class);
Join<Job,JobExecutions> jobExec = job.join("jobExecution");  <--Assuming this is the name of property
Join<JobExecutions,JobEvents > jobEve = jobExec .join("event"); <--Assuming this is the name of property

cq.select(job);
TypedQuery<Job> tq = entityManager.createQuery(cq);

If that works, it should you will be able to return Job objects and then you can fetch records from there, consider using job.fetch("jobExecution");
Then Add the predicate cq.where according to this new structure of retrieval

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


100% Calfskin; leather lining, laces, logo, round toeline, suede effect, solid colour, flat.
100% Calfskin, Textile fibres; leather lining, velcro closure, logo, round toeline, textured leather, solid colour, flat.
100% Calfskin; leather lining, zip, logo, round toeline, textured leather, solid colour, flat.


Hyland Park Assembly Of God is a Pentecostal church in Fayetteville Arkansas. This Assemblies of God church serves Washington County AR - Pastor Ronald D Jones.
Hyland Park Assembly Of God is a Pentecostal Church located in Zip Code 72701.