For the US, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is clearly a priority and it is being widely promoted. This is because US see it as an important vehicle to pursue economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. But when a leaked copy of intellectual property chapter of TPP was released by anti-secrecy group, WikiLeaks, it began to face a lot of opposition even in US despite of its high economic advantages for the country.
– It makes it easier for US pharmaceutical corporates to win bio-pharma patents (even in developing countries) and have longer patent terms.
– It extends the ability of US pharma companies to limit access to the scientific data that is vital for furthering R&D and develop new medicines.
– United States is also pushing provisions that would allow patenting of surgical procedures that currently is against US laws.
The provisions stated above reveals that there is not much concern about free trade. It highlights strong disagreement between the U.S. and its partners on issues including investor-state dispute settlement, intellectual property and the medicines.
All these provisions are going to supposedly raise the price of medicines and health care, which in turn will strain public health systems and totally cut off access to some essential medicines for a section of people. But these are, as yet, just speculations.
– Protection for companies that compete against government-backed businesses.
The leaked draft of the US's TPP copyright proposal reveals that parts of the TPP nearly mirror the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). So, it's important that TPP member countries retain the flexibility to update their laws that govern the fast-moving development of online platforms and not burden online service providers.
However, for US, TPP may provide an important framework to promote rules that can protect the free flow of data across borders via Internet. Thus, US e-commerce industry, especially SMEs, will be able to use the internet to access customers overseas with much ease.
Upon assessing the benefits of TPP to the U.S. in both economic and broader strategic terms, we see that US corporate interests are driving the agenda of the TPP.
Though initially US will have relatively small immediate economic benefits from liberalizing trade with the current TPP members but in the long term, it will greatly benefit. That's because US will design the rules for trade and investment in the most dynamic and fastest growing region of the world over the coming decades.
TPP agreement was not just devised to economically integrate an area with about $28 trillion annual economic output but also to overcome well-organized public resistance in dozens of countries against US corporates. Since many advancing nations such as China has been excluded from this treaty, it also suggests that real motive behind USA pushing TPP is to challenge their rise.
Consequently, TPP has certainly gone beyond the usual trade deals. It will shape the future of how people in the member countries would create, access, and share information. But TPP has not yet won the confidence of general public who consider it worse than the WTO's TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights) and has bogged it down. Ministers from the member countries including U.S. are facing a lot of opposition to the deal from lawmakers at home, an obstacle that will have to be overcome before the agreement is finalized. The set deadline for signing TPP has passed and talks are expected to continue in January 2014 though no new timeline has been set to reach an agreement on the TPP.
What is a Patent Landscape Report & How to create it?
Interesting News.. But, reading this article i feel there higher implications that US has in his vision, considering a long term perspective.
US had always been & wants to remain to be as a super-power economy dominating the world. By TPP, I have a feeling that the value of Dollar shall tend to rise. Thus, making the imports more costlier for the developing nations, creating a higher difference in per capita income of the people residing in US.
It seems to be a strategy by US to keep its economy crisis proof. After the great economic depression that US witnessed TPP seems to be a major step that US wants to take to bring the economy to a better position.
But, I feel this may have adverse impact on developing nations like BRICs.


text:
Public health nursing clientele shared with social assistance: proportions, characteristics and policy implications. Academic Article
This study was designed to determine (1) the extent to which public health nursing visits and social services income programs serve the same population (shared clientele), (2) whether shared and unshared clientele differ in their characteristics, and (3) whether those who use both these services are high users of other health and social services. A computerized record linkage showed that 17% of individual public health nursing clients were shared with social services. Shared clientele had more social, perinatal, emotional and mental health problems. It is these characteristics, rather than the simultaneous use of both services, that were associated with more public health nursing visits, days in care, and use of all other health providers. The trend away from in-home nursing visits may create a situation of unmet need. While health and social resources are expended on persons with children with greater risk circumstances, the question remains about the efficacy and efficiency of this mix of service for parents and children receiving social assistance.
Browne, Regina
Roberts, Jacqueline
Byrne, Carolyn
Underwood, Jane
Jamieson, E
Schuster, M
Cornish, D
Watt, Mary Susan
Gafni, Amiram Jacob
1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy (FoR)
Health Services Needs and Demand (MeSH)
Home Care Services (MeSH)
Logistic Models (MeSH)
Ontario (MeSH)
Public Health (Science Metrix)
Public Health Nursing (MeSH)
Referral and Consultation (MeSH)
Social Welfare (MeSH)
Canadian Journal of Public Health Journal
Logistic Models

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


During our Negros Oriental trip last November, we stayed at a pension house called White Knights in Dumaguete City. This year, for our 3D2N Negros Occidental trip, our first night was spent at White Hotel Bacolod. There must be something with the "white" thing in here, huh? Haha. So anyway, I want to share more about White Hotel Bacolod because we had a pleasant stay at this place and I definitely recommend this when you're looking for an affordable and nice accommodation in the City of Smiles—Bacolod.
White Hotel Bacolod is an ancestral house built in the 1950s. It was renovated and transformed into a hotel just last year. I came across their website when I was searching for places to stay in Bacolod and I instantly liked the place. Seeing that their prices were affordable too, my mind was fixed that we'll be staying there. I know there are other cheaper choices but I was just hooked with the vintage feels of the hotel.
Their website allows direct booking through their contact form. Since it was only going to be the three of us (me, Sheen, and Zayn), I planned on booking the Double Room which is good for 2 pax assuming that Zayn will be free of charge as he will just be sharing the bed with us. Their rates are Php 1,125 for the room only and Php 1,260 for the room with free breakfast for two.
Good thing I thought about searching the place on Agoda and discovered that the prices are cheaper there. Initially I booked the room for July 8-9 and was charged Php 964.13 inclusive of taxes, service charge, and yes, free breakfast. However, there were changes in the plans so I changed the dates to July 7-8 and was charged Php 1,106.68. I didn't mind the slight increase of the price because it was still a bit cheaper compared to when you're booking directly from their website. And booking via Agoda provides instant confirmation so it's very convenient instead of waiting for the hotel admin's response regarding your reservation. Riiiiight?
We arrived in Bacolod, July 7th, around 1:45PM and rode a taxi going to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel, I said that it was indeed really nice. There wasn't much time to appreciate the place since it was raining so we hurriedly went inside. And then, we were greeted with a pretty receiving area. See photo below. Nice noh?
My dear friend, Chad, was able to come with us on this trip (initially we planned on meeting at Cadiz the next day), so we asked the front office staff that we will be adding an extra bed. An extra bed costs Php 300 for the bed only and Php 400 for the bed with free breakfast. BUT! They were so kind that they upgraded our room to a Family Room for FREE! Yay! We were able to check in our room quickly and smoothly too.
Our room was really nice and though I was not able to take photos of their bathroom, I have to say that it's pretty good and clean. Basic toiletries such as towels, soaps, shampoo, dental kits, and slippers were provided too. The room also had a flat screen TV with cable but we were not able to enjoy it because we were dead tired after we went out for lunch slash dinner.
While Chad and I were taking photos around the hotel, the staff told us that we can go upstairs and take photos there too. Upstairs, you'll see the wall filled with picture frames with photos of, I think, the Dizon and Ramos families, the owners of the ancestral house. Other memorabilias were displayed too. I didn't notice if there were rooms at the second floor but based on their website, there are four rooms but they are still under renovation.
I stayed there too! Sobrang sulit for the price!!
So, yeah sure, why not pay a visit soon?
Beautiful place. Your photograph quality is fascinating. I can not wait until the day my family can travel and experience more of the world. Thank you for sharing!
This hotel is gorgeous! It's like you can't take a bad picture of it! I love finding deals that lower the prices!
Looks absolutely stunning! I want to visit now! Amazing pics - really helps sell it! Hope you had a lovely stay.


On Tuesday, November 8th, the Community Health Information (CHI) Center at St. John's Medical Center will host the Lite Lunch presentation "Living Well with Diabetes" with Chris Kroger, world class athlete and member of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol.
The discussion will include how to live with and manage Type 1 Diabetes while competing and training at an elite level. Other topics will be the social aspects of managing diabetes, racing before and after being diagnosed with diabetes, and how to keep diabetes from distracting you while pursuing your goals and dreams.
Chris will be joined by a panel of community members who also live with diabetes including a youth with Type 1 and other adults with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Come learn how these individuals have excelled while managing their diabetes.


The following core values will guide Greenwich Youth Lacrosse in programming and play, now and in the future. GYL believes its programs have the potential to develop not only lacrosse skills but, more importantly, character values that will benefit today's players in later years and other endeavors. It's not just about lacrosse.
INTEGRITY - Each member of GYL, whether player, coach, parent or volunteer should be honest in all aspects of play on and off the field, including honesty in the registration process. We seek to foster good character and fair play in accordance with the rules of the game.
EFFORT - Each member of GYL, whether player, parent or volunteer staff should try to do his or her best. We recognize that young athletes develop at different rates and stages, and not everyone may have the same ability in any given age group, but everyone can try to perform to the best of his or her ability.


text:
package io.maxthomas.dictum;

import java.util.Optional;

import org.inferred.freebuilder.FreeBuilder;

/**
 *
 */
@FreeBuilder
public abstract class ArgumentProperty implements FlatMetadata {

  ArgumentProperty() {
  }

  public abstract String getValue();

  public abstract Optional<Double> getPolarity();

  public static class Builder extends ArgumentProperty_Builder {
    public Builder() {

    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sam Cane - Will he make the RWC?
I have never been his biggest fan however, he is a 60 cap All Black in a key position and there is ample evidence to suggest that he was a key player for New Zealand. He certainly is held in high regard in NZ and by Hansen. Against South Africa in the last game of the rugby championship Cane fractured his neck in a collision with Francois Lowe and given the seriousness of such an injury is a doubt for the RWC and indeed any further involvement with the All Blacks.
The fact that, as Gregor Paul of the NZ Herald points out, the NZRU scrambled to resign Savea from Pau may suggest that they are slightly concerned that he may not feature again for some time. Savea himself doesn't really seem to be a classic 7, some fans calling for him to replace Read at 8 instead.
Is New Zealand's famous depth not that deep after all?
Will he make the RWC?
If not will NZ struggle as a result of playing comparatively inexperienced guys like Savea or Todd in such a key position?
Finally, if he does recover is there a concern that the injury will compromise his main strength, hard hitting tackles?
Re: Sam Cane - Will he make the RWC?
Always going to be hard push losing 2 world class flankers and expect no missed step. I think reads form has fallen slightly as the burden was passed to him as well. They have some good players and it is a conveyor belt to an extent but there are back row that match them and packs which surpass them.
Yeah I have to say I agree. I don't think NZ's pack is better than Ireland's nor England's and probably on a par with South Africa's. Wales, France and Argentina can all give NZ's pack a run for their money too.
Ardie Savea is a test match animal. Better than Cane in my view. The one outstanding player for NZ in their Irish test.
Even with backups like Savea, NZ have the best back row in the world. They may be pushed close by the likes of SA and England, but I still think they have the edge.
I think we're likely to see the Aussies, Scotland and Ireland get bullied in this position in World Cup year as their frailty in strength in depth is exposed. France May come good, as may Wales. Less so the latter.
Cyril wrote: I think we're likely to see the Aussies, Scotland and Ireland get bullied in this position in World Cup year as their frailty in strength in depth is exposed. France May come good, as may Wales. Less so the latter.
I think you're right - Cyril. Ireland only have O'Brien, Leavy, van der Flier, Murphy, Ruddock, O'Mahony, Stander, Conan, Beirne, for their backrow stocks.
Pot Hale wrote: Ardie Savea is a test match animal. Better than Cane in my view. The one outstanding player for NZ in their Irish test.
Savea has certainly improved this year and would be amongst the quickest 7's around, with ball skills and aggression to match. For me the single biggest thing we missed, particularly against Ireland was Canes aggressive defence, his driving back of players in possession.
That's the type of player you need for a ball hogging side like Ireland. If they want to hold the ball for long periods, hurt them for doing so, again and again, and that is Canes very best asset. I prefer the Savea type of player and in Canes absence he's really picked up from previous years. Personally I'd like to see them both there, Cane at 6 and Savea at 7 as we seem to be struggling to nail down our 6, despite having many putting their hands up.
Canes latest injury does look to have closed out the best of his career though, not a nice one at all. Certainly one of the hardest working and committed ABs weve ever had, like McCaw yields nothing at training yet didnt have parts of his game to come out from Mccaws shadow.
Savea might be a better bet for the world cup but the way the game is heading I'd sure feel more comfortable seeing Cane knocking guys over on a regular basis.
Sam Cane turns 27 this month. For some reason, I thought he was a couple of years older. It will be a great shame if he can't fully fit again. He hasn't ranked among the All Black great flankers but, at that age, you'd expect him to keep getting better, and easily able to make the 2023 World Cup, possibly even 2027 at a pinch.
Can you see cane returning from a neck fracture with the same levels of agression in defense?
"The youngster had crushed a disc and ruptured every ligament in his neck, and after a stay in a Perpignan hospital, was air-ambulanced back to Wales for an operation to remove the threat of paralysis. Before the procedure he was asked to sign a consent form, which explained that if anything went wrong he could end up in a wheelchair. He signed. "They took a bone graft from my hip, put a plate into my neck and basically screwed me back together. And when I woke up the first thing I did was wiggle my toes. I thought 'happy days'. I was very lucky, because all my training, lifting weights and that, had given me bigger neck muscles than the average Joe. That's what saved me."
Interesting article thanks. Felix Jones returned to rugby after a serious neck injury and played some good stuff too but I don't think he was every the same player again. Lydiate was awesome on the 2013 Lions tour. The guy woke up every hour to ice his leg so he could start v Ireland in the 2011 RWC, I wish someone had sabotaged his alarm clock.
Steve Thompson also had very similar I believe and made a good recovery to play for England in a RWC again.
yappysnap wrote: Steve Thompson also had very similar I believe and made a good recovery to play for England in a RWC again.
Not at the same level though, and the alternatives were Andy Titterall (about 5ft4 and 9 stone dripping wet) and Mark Regan (who was already drawing his pension).
I wish Sam Cane all the luck in the world in trying to come back from this. Admittedly I only had a tiny fraction of his ability, but having played for the North (of England) v South in a trial for the national U16s, I fractured 4 vertebrae in my neck the following season. As a player whose main strength was tackling (and workrate) I never really shook of the mental scars, and while I returned to playing at university and after I was never the same player.
Yes that was my main concern. His style of play is is similar and regardless of what happens he'll never be 'better' than he was, and its a huge physical and mental challenge to get back to his best form, particularly less than 12 months out from a Wcup. In his favour though is hes one of the most dedicated, resilient, focussed All Blacks weve ever had, the type that other players resent at training as he hits tackles and rucks as though it were a test match, every time. Dont know what his recovery schedule looks like but its gotta be tight regardless.
Yes to all of that. The good players all adapt though so all is not lost. McCaw was less physical in his twilight years and so became smarter, O'Driscoll was slower so became more defensive etc.
Cane reminds me a bit of Wilkinson in how dedicated and how seriously he takes the game. I think he would benefit from lightening up a bit.
I'd think in that case Geoff Addison would move to 15 and Larmour and Conway on the wings. We could be doing with a few more putting their hands up in the back 3, probably Bryne is closest.
Centers we are very well stocked with probably Aki and Chris Farrell the 2nd string behind Henshaw and Ringrose. Then we have McCloskey and Arnold as 3rd.
The best of the lot could actually be Tom Farrell, he won't be in the RWC frame but he's one of the most exciting talents I've seen in a long time. O'Loughlin at Leinster also seems to have stepped up a bit this year. as well so plenty of depth there.
I wouldn't have Arnold anywhere need the squad - off the top of my head there are 8 better centres in Irish rugby, and if you include those with potential many more.
I assume Mike Haley, unlike Addison, has failed to shine?
LondonTiger wrote: I assume Mike Haley, unlike Addison, has failed to shine?
Hmm haven't seen a lot of him, I do remember one game for Munster where he was very good, not sure how many games he has started though.
Addison has certainly impressed, he has things to work on definitely but he is exciting to watch.
Well in fairness Munster is like a black hole for talent. Seems to be where players go to die.
Collapse2005 wrote: I think he would benefit from lightening up a bit.
Thats what his team mates and at times Hansen have said after trainings. McCaw was the same. Had a reputation for stealing the ball all the time when he started.


text:
Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder that affects the motor or movement pathways in the brain. It is often difficult to diagnose, relying on symptoms that may appear in a number of different diseases. Early clinical symptoms may be mild such as trembling, rigidity and a general slowing down in movement. Many patients eventually have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks, leading to a severe disruption of the body's ability to move.
It is estimated that over 1 million Americans have Parkinson's disease. It affects 1 in every 100 persons over the age of 60. Parkinson's disease is not fatal, but it is progressive over time. The trend toward longer life expectancy makes it seem as if Parkinson's disease is becoming more common because more and more people are living with its sometimes dreadful course.
More people suffer from Parkinson's disease than suffer from multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy combined.
While there is currently no cure for this condition, progressive and appropriate therapy allows some patients to maintain a good function throughout their lives. Because Parkinson's has a wide range of early symptoms that are similar to other neurological conditions, diagnosis is often difficult.
Parkinson's disease starts in the cells of the brain that transmit the impulses that cause movement into the neurologic pathways. Dopaminergic therapy at a relatively early stage may be most effective in alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and may even have a long-term impact on patient mortality. Because much of the brain's movement pathways will be compromised before symptoms even show, the disease will remain undetected and untreated for a significant period of time.
Accurate, early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is important to determine optimum treatments and to give the patient the best possible outcome – and PET scanning can help.
PET/CT Imaging and Parkinson's Disease
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from a deterioration of the metabolic pathways in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Cells in this part of the brain produce dopamine, a chemical that transfers messages in the brain. Lack of dopamine disrupts the ability of the brain to direct or control movements normally.
Using an imaging drug that is like dopamine (18F-DOPA), the PET scan will show changes in these dopaminergic systems. In Parkinson's disease, the PET scan shows a characteristic pattern of reduced uptake for 18F-DOPA, and it begins to appear very early in the course of the disease.
This enables doctors to know if the gradually increasing symptoms that may be a tremor, gait disturbance, or others are the result of Parkinson's disease or some other cause. Therapy can be started at its earliest possible stage.
PET can indicate with a high degree of accuracy if a movement disorder is Parkinson's disease or another type of disorder.


One owner piano in immaculate shape and pristine condition. It is in the beautiful classic ebony satin finish, the cabinet is free of any damage and looks like new. The action offers full control and quick response and plays like a new piano.
Be the first to review "Steinway & Sons S Baby Grand Piano" Click here to cancel reply.


I have always been slightly intrigued and obsessed with the rock/grunge look! It's a look that I don't reckon I could pull off myself but secretly wish I could. Here is my current inspiration, courtesy of weheartit.com.
Loving the grunge look as well but don't think I could pull it off.
I am a total grunge LOVER!! Studs, leather, torn denim, black nails! I love it, it is easy to pull off if you just go for it! I love this look on blondes as well, dirty blonde haha just like the olsens! Love reading your blog, I you get the chance follow me!
I am such a fan of the dirty grunge look. I think it's easier to pull off when you do little bits at a time but to pull off a full look I think it just needs a lot of confidence - which I'm sadly lacking in to be able to strut around looking like this.
You've picked some gorgeous pics.
Hey lovely girl, Thanks for your comment. Loving the grunge pics so very cool. I reckon you could rock anything poppet. Wack on some black nail varnish, a few studded bracelets, denim shorts with black tights, a band t shirt tucked in and a black blazer, girlie grunge Abi Totts stylie lol.
im so glad this trend is back!


text:
NASA Science Mars Exploration Program
The Red Planet
Past, Present, Future, Timeline
Why Mars?
Planetary Resources
Erosion by Scarp Retreat in Gale Crater (Unannotated)
Measuring the Age of a Rock on Mars
Erosion by Scarp Retreat in Gale Crater (Annotated)
This mosaic of images from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows a series of sedimentary deposits in the Glenelg area of Gale Crater, from a perspective in Yellowknife Bay looking toward west-northwest.
Curiosity's science team has estimated that the "Cumberland" rock that the rover drilled for a sample of the Sheepbed mudstone deposit (at lower left in this scene) has been exposed at the surface for only about 80 million years. The estimate is based on amounts of certain gases that accumulate in a rock when it is close enough to the surface to be bombarded by cosmic rays. An explanation for that unexpectedly young exposure age comes from improved understanding of how the layers are eroding to expose underlying layers. The explanation proposes that the mudstone is being exposed by abrasion by windblown sand, indicated by arrows. The role for wind is strongly suggested by the undercutting of the Sheepbed layer below the Gillespie Lake sandstone.
The pattern here suggests that the Yellowknife Bay outcrop is being exposed by wind-driven scarp retreat -- the sideways erosion of a vertical face.
Mastcam took the images for this mosaic during the 188th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (Feb. 14, 2013). The 100-centimeter scale bars are about 39 inches long. A rock ledge about 8 inches (20 centimeters) high at the bottom of the scene -- where the Gillespie Lake layer meets the Sheepbed layer -- is about 50 feet (about 15 meters) from the rover's location when the images were taken. The midfield escarpment called "Point Lake" is about 118 feet (36 meters) from the rover's location. The outcrop on the near horizon, marked with a white X, is about 43 feet (13 meters) higher in elevation than the Sheepbed-Gillespie contact and at a distance of about 780 feet (240 meters).
The image has been white-balanced to show what the rocks would look like if ther were on Earth.
An unannotated version of the image is available.
<iframe src='https://mars.nasa.gov/embed/5776/' width='100%' height='400'  scrolling='no' frameborder='0'></iframe>
[51, 176]
This animation shows NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flying over NASA's Curiosity (shown in pink) as the rover lands on the Red Planet. The video is slowed down as the orbiter approaches...
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Flying Over Mars
[53, 200, 176, 178]
The highest concentration of boron measured on Mars, as of late 2016, is in this mineral vein examined with the ChemCam instrument on NASA's Curiosity rover on Aug, 25, 2016. Orange bars indicate b...
Boron in Calcium Sulfate Vein at 'Catabola,' Mars
The rippled surface of the first Martian sand dune ever studied up close fills this Nov. 27, 2015, view of "High Dune" from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover. This site is part of the "Bagn...
'High Dune' is First Martian Dune Studied up Close
[193, 192, 51, 176]
This map shows the route driven by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity through the 997 Martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission on Mars (May, 27, 2015).
Curiosity Rover's Location for Sol 997
This raw image of "Tintina," a broken rock fragment in a rover wheel track, was taken by Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam).
Rock "Tintina" Exposes "Yellowknife Bay" Vein Material
This 360-degree, full-resolution panorama from NASA's Curiosity rover shows the area all around the rover within Gale Crater on Mars.
Crisp View from Inside Gale Crater
[176, 51]
Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada gives a descriptive tour of the Mars rover's view in Gale Crater. The white-balanced scene looks back over the journey so far.
Curiosity at Martian Scenic Overlook
[53, 176, 193]
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory travels near a canyon on Mars in this artist's concept. The mission is under development for launch in 2009 and a precision landing on Mars in 2010.
Mars Science Laboratory at Canyon (Artist's Concept)
This chart illustrates how NASA's Curiosity rover talks to Earth. While the rover can send direct messages, it communicates more efficiently with the help of spacecraft in orbit, including NASA's O...
Curiosity Speaks and Orbiters Listen
This heart-shaped granite rock was spotted in JPL's Mars Yard just in time for Valentine's Day. Engineers were driving the Earth-bound copy of the Curiosity rover, informally named Maggie, for tes...
Rockin' Valentines!
At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity, will be integrated with a rocket-powered desce...
Curiosity Awaits Descent Stage
The left side of this 360-degree panorama from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the long rows of ripples on a linear shaped dune in the Bagnold Dune Field on the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp....
Full-Circle Vista With a Linear Shaped Martian Sand Dune
The sinuous rock feature in the lower center of this mosaic of images recorded by the NASA Mars rover Curiosity is called "Snake River."
'Snake River' Rock Feature Viewed by Curiosity Mars Rover
This composite image looking toward the higher regions of Mount Sharp was taken on September 9, 2015, by NASA's Curiosity rover.
Mount Sharp Comes In Sharply
[176, 193, 192, 51]
Engineers test the Scarecrow rover on a dunes obstacle course. This test was done in the Dumont Dunes in California's Mojave Desert, near Death Valley.
Dunes Obstacle Course
This set of images compares test images taken by four cameras on NASA's Curiosity rover at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory before launch.
Comparison of Curiosity Camera Fields of View
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover team aboard Air Force One during a flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Aug. 13, 2012.
President Obama Phones Mars Rover Team
This is how AEGIS sees the Martian surface. All targets found by the A.I. program are outlined: blue targets are rejected, while red are retained. The top-ranked target is shaded green; if there's ...
A.I. laser targeting
Engineers who designed the entry, descent and landing system for NASA's Mars rover Curiosity candidly talk about the new landing system, and describe the challenges of Curiosity's final mom...
Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror
[198, 176, 53]
This overhead view shows evidence of a successful first test drive for NASA's Curiosity rover.
Rover Takes Its First 'Steps'
In this image from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover looking up the ramp at the northeastern end of "Hidden Valley," a pale outcrop including drilling target "Bonanza King" is at the center of the scene.
Looking Up the Ramp Holding 'Bonanza King' on Mars
A Russian-built, neutron-shooting instrument on the Curiosity rover of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission will check for water-bearing minerals in the ground beneath the rover.
Detectors of Instrument for Detecting Water-Bearing Minerals
This image from the right Mast Camera (Mastcam) of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows roughly spherical features.
Spherules in 'Yellowknife Bay' (Unannotated)
This pair of graphs shows about one-fourth of a Martian year's record of temperatures (in degrees Celsius) measured by the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) on NASA's Curiosity rover.
Steady Temperatures at Mars' Gale Crater
This simulation shows the first test drive of NASA's Curiosity rover. This tool, called the Rover Sequencing and Visualization Program (RSVP) helps engineers plan the rover's drives, modeli...
Planning Curiosity's First Test Drive
The rover recently drilled two samples, and both showed the highest levels of clay ever found during the mission.
NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Finds a Clay Cache
For the first time, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter has caught the Martian moon Phobos during a full moon phase. Each color in this new image represents a temperature range detected by Odyssey's infrared camera.
Why This Martian Full Moon Looks Like Candy
Nominees include four JPL projects: the solar system and climate websites, InSight social media, and a 360-degree Earth video. Public voting closes April 18, 2019.
NASA Garners 7 Webby Award Nominations
NASA's Opportunity Mars rover mission is complete after 15 years on Mars. Opportunity's record-breaking exploration laid the groundwork for future missions to the Red Planet.
NASA's Opportunity Rover Mission on Mars Comes to End
In deploying its first instrument onto the surface of Mars, the lander completes a major mission milestone.
NASA's InSight Places First Instrument on Mars
After a five-year search, NASA has chosen Jezero Crater as the landing site for its upcoming Mars 2020 rover mission.
NASA Announces Landing Site for Mars 2020 Rover
Legacy Mars Site
Managed by the Mars Exploration Program and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA's Science Mission Directorate


Williams | Why Not Train A Child?
Maureen has an update on the Williams, just to tie up loose ends.
The Skagit Valley Herald has an article (Subscriber Content) which states that Prosecutors have dropped the charge of Homicide By Abuse against Larry Williams. Those who were following the trial may remember that the jury was deadlocked on that charge and were unable to return a verdict for it. The charge was officially dropped on Sept 23.
Sentencing was originally scheduled for Oct 8, but it has been postponed until Oct 29 at 9:30 AM.
Mareen also writes about this, here.
The Seattle Times also has an article here.
I totally did not expect any more drama in this trial until the verdict was reached but I was wrong. One of the jurors disclosed that his wife works for the Prosecutor's office during Jury Selection and both attorneys were fine with it then and accepted him. Today, he was asked to be Presiding Juror and he declined, saying that it made him uncomfortable. Then the Defense decided that they no longer wanted him on the jury and he was asked to leave. A new juror has been selected from the alternates and the 2.5 hours they had deliberated is now lost, as they need to start all over with the new juror.
Here is the story in the Skagit Valley Herald. The jury then asked to hear the 911 call and interview again.
Here is the story on King 5.
Maureen explains how to follow the trial in real time on Twitter.
At 4:30 PDT, the jurors were sent home for the weekend.
Thursday, September 5, 2013, saw Carri Williams defense team giving closing arguments and the Prosecution's rebuttal. Then the jury was sent out for deliberation and the No Contact Order for Larry, Carri and their 2 adult sons was lifted.
According to a tweet by Gina Cole, Dependency court will decide on dissolution of or limits on no-contact orders with the minor biological children. I hope that means that there is no risk of them gaining access to Immanuel. Here is her article in the Skagit Valley Herald about the Closing Arguments by Carri's Public Defender. As always, all stories have potential triggers and are not for the sensitive.
Here is the story on Komo News.
Here is the story on KiroTV in which they interview our own Maureen.
Here is a quick update from Maureen who promised more later. And here is the promised follow up post which goes into great detail.
I would also like to thank Cindy at Under Much Grace for her kind words. All the glory to God. I am grateful that He has chosen to use me in this small way. I also thank Maureen for her kind words. I am very thankful for her excellent reporting and am more than happy to promote it as the best source of information on this trial.
Today, Wednesday, Sept 4, 2013 the Prosecutor and Defense for Larry Williams gave their closing arguments. As always, anything to do with this trial has a serious *trigger warning* and the closing arguments are no exception. In fact, I can't stress enough how disturbing this whole thing is. I am having a hard time figuring out how to summarize without triggers. All I can say is that the jury was told how the charges work and given instructions on their options of what they can determine. By factoring in different degrees of the charges, they have over a dozen options. The closing arguments are a summary of what was shown and what each attorney wants the jury to decide. One of the Prosecutor's remarks was that they wanted to kill Hana's spirit and her pride. Very, very true.
Here is an article about the Prosecutor's closing arguments in the Skagit Valley Herald.
And here is a more in depth article in the Skagit Valley Herald which covers the whole day.
Larry just didn't know all that was going on, Ms. Forde said several times. "The evidence is overwhelming," she said, that "Carri Williams designed, planned, and implemented" all that happened in their home.
Why did this happen? Because Larry and Carri were unprepared, said Ms. Forde. They were both naive. They thought Hana and Immanuel would respond to the same disciplinary tactics that their other children had, and they didn't foresee the mental health problems of older, internationally adopted children.
This ties in with what I suspected from the moment I found out that they were following Pearl's teachings. My only quibble is that the adopted children did not have mental health problems. Quite the contrary. It was the biological children who were raised to accept the abuse and had been mentally broken down with Stockholm Syndrome. The adopted children were sane enough to recognize abuse and resist it.
Friday, August 30, 2013 was disturbing for me. *Those easily triggered should stop reading now*. Carri's testimony was about Hana's last night alive.
Carri Williams actually said that she believes that Hana unintentionally killed herself. I know that I am not the only one who is disturbed by this.
Here is the story in the Skagit Valley Herald. It boggles my mind that Carri says that she couldn't stand to watch Hana stumbling around, throwing herself to the ground so she turned away. Apparently it never crossed her mind to go outside and bring her in by force. Nor did it ever cross her mind to call paramedics, as she claims that she had done things like this before. Bear in mind that none of the family had seen a doctor since 2009 and Hana died in 2011.
Here is the story on King5 which contains some of Carri's testimony. Carri actually accused the prosecuting attorney of ripping her family apart. She clearly does not accept any responsibility, let alone guilt, in the matter at all.
Here is Maureen's detailed report.
Here is the 2nd part of Maureen's report.
Carri was the last witness, Defense rests. Court will rest for the long weekend and closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday.
As always, if I find more stories from this day, they will be added to this post.
Edited to add: There is quite a bit of video footage of Carri's testimony mixed into this tribute video.
Thursday August 30, 2013 saw yet another expert witness testifying that Hana had to be at around 15. This time it was a radiologist who analyzed xrays of Hana's bones, according to this article from King 5.
Then Carri Williams returned to the stand to be cross examined. She testified that Larry never ordered her to stop spanking the children and that if he had, she would have stopped because she believes in "Biblical gender roles," according to this article in the Skagit Valley Herald.
LIES LIES LIES!!! She said she only used a few suggestions from the book. All lies!!! She had EVERY stinking Pearl book they had from No Greater Joy ministries. She followed it to a T!! She always bragged about it. She talked us all into reading this book. She is lying through her teeth!!!! I Guess what can I excpect? Just irritates me so bad that she is so big on telling the truth when she is so full of lies herself!! This made me shake in my boots and wanna scream to the rooftop that she is soooo lying!
Also in this story is discussion of the application they filled out when they applied to adopt Hana and Immanuel. The Prosecuting Atty said that they did not put in the application that they spank, although Carri said that they did. It was not found on the application.
Maureen has a very detailed report again for which I am very thankful. It goes without saying that this is not for the faint of heart as pretty much nothing in this trial is.
They did not finish the cross examination before the day ended.
On Wednesday, August 28, 2013, finished his testimony in which he said that his wife came up with many of the ideas for the children's punishments and he did not remember about the rest. He also testified that they did not spank Immanuel until they thought that he could understand the rules. Then Larry stepped down and his defense rested. Then Carri's defense commenced, starting with her sister, mother and father taking the stand. Finally Carri took the stand where she testified that parenting decisions were shared. The morning was covered by this article in the Skagit Valley Herald.
Maureen also covers the morning session in a lot more detail.
Carri was back on the stand in the afternoon. She testified about the night Hana died among other things. I don't think I need to remind you that none of these stories are for the easily triggered.
And if you have not used up all your views of the Skagit Valley Herald you may read this article. They report that Carri admits to telling her children to lie after training them that lying was a very serious offense because she knew that locking Hana in the closet was wrong. If you cannot find a way to read it, Maureen gives a lot more detail anyway and includes a quote from the same article.
And here is Maureen's report on Carri's testimony. Maureen was unsure about gluesticks so I will assume that many are also. They are used in glueguns for crafts and come in 2 sizes, 3 inch and 12 inch. It is the 12 inch ones which are sometimes used for chastisements. I have a post about that here.
Tuesday August 27, 2013 saw both Joshua and Larry Williams take the stand. Maureen covers both stories in great detail in 2 separate posts.
Here is Maureen's post about Joshua who is the Williams oldest child. He is 19 or 20 and is in the Army, serving in Korea. His testimony was focused on if he had heard his parents arguing and if Larry was really the boss of the household. At first he said that he was but it appears that at some point things changed. In this post is the beginning of Larry's testimony. He admits to feeling ashamed and responsible because he did not intervene.
Here is Maureen's post about the rest of Larry's testimony. He said that every decision was Carri's. He had decided that the discipline was not working and wanted her to change but she would not. When asked why he didn't take things into his own hands, he explained that he wished that he had but Carri had him convinced by her track record that she knew what she was doing. He also went into the whole story of how and why they adopted the children and how the harsh discipline started.
In case anyone has noticed the change in my numbering, I thought I should explain. I started off numbering the first day of Jury Selection as Day 1 but since noticed that all the media was referring to the day of Opening Statements as Day 1. This causes confusion and I decided to change to reflect the common numeration. My URLs will continue to reflect my old numbering system to avoid a bunch of redirects.
After that witness, the jury was dismissed and motions were heard. The lawyers for Larry tried to dismiss the charges for various reasons. One of the reasons was problems with Hana's biological cousin. The problems and concerns had enough merit that the judge decided to strike his testimony which basically means that it has been deleted. The Skagit Valley Herald explains. You can also find the story on KiroTV.
Maureen is back in the courtroom and provides us with much insight from Monday's court session. Of course, the faint of heart will read at their own risk. I applaud Maureen for her dedication, her fortitude and her excellent writing.
Friday, August 23, 2013 the Defense started calling their witnesses. In the morning was testimony from a Forensic Anthropologist who estimated Hana's age to be 15 but could be between 13-17 according to Gina Cole. In the afternoon were character witnesses. Interestingly, a family friend claimed that she made unannounced visits to the Williams home. Since they lived behind a locked gate, there must have been some kind of announcement made before they entered the actual residence. Some people don't seem to understand how different people can be when outsiders are around. I sincerely hope that the jury does not fall into that category.
I have not found very much news from this day. Your best source of news may be #WilliamsTrial. As always, if I find more news stories about this day, I will add them to this post.


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The U.S. bishops announced last month their withdrawal from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights because the latter organization endorsed the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. The endorsement "clearly contradicts [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops] policy and compromises the principled positions of the bishops," said Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Stevens went on to become the court's most stalwart liberal vote, including defense of Roe v. Wade, so perhaps the bishops' reluctance to get involved these days is evidence of the maxim, once burned, twice shy.
The episode illustrates the difficulty in predicting how a court appointment will turn out.
Does Kagan's previous service within government provide clues to her judicial philosophy? Pragmatism is indicated.
In 1997, while serving in the Clinton White House, Kagan wrote a memo urging President Clinton to support legislation that would ban late-term abortions. The plan she supported was seen as a compromise at the time, but it was fiercely opposed by pro-choice groups. In any event, Clinton did not take Kagan's advice, the Republican Congress passed a more extreme version of the partial-birth abortion ban, and Clinton vetoed the measure.
To be sure, the Supreme Court will continue to grapple with social issues of the "guns, gays and God" variety. But an increasing percentage of the docket will be filled with business-related issues, as new technologies raise fresh questions that have not been previously addressed by the court. Hopefully, Kagan's experience of politics will have alerted her to the real-world consequences of the court's decisions in these areas.
Certainly, the ecological catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico has shown, yet again, that private businesses cannot be trusted to exercise sufficient care for the consequences of their risks. The Constitution's foundational objective to "promote the general welfare" requires a robust government capable of regulating companies and their practices and punishing those that fail to act responsibly. No company has a "right" to destroy the coast of Louisiana.
Of course, if history is any guide, the senators can ask what they want but it is no use guessing how a justice will actually perform on the bench. Dwight Eisenhower did not expect Earl Warren to become the liberal lion he became. George H.W. Bush did not foresee that David Souter would become a reliably liberal vote. Bill Clinton could not have guessed that Stephen Breyer would join, in part, the majority in Bush v. Gore. And neither the man who appointed him nor the bishops who suggested him foresaw that Stevens would become the leader of the liberal wing of the court for 30 years. His replacement, Elena Kagan, may prove just as unpredictable, no matter what we do and do not learn in the forthcoming confirmation hearings.


Brass is a metal that looks good with wood, is easy to work, and can be soldered. You can use it for specific parts or create entire automaton with it! If you are going to use brass, probably the first thing you'll want to do is cut some. It comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Let's take a look at some of the more common formats and how to cut them. Remember to wear safety glasses when using any of these techniques.
For smaller sizes of wire and rod, wire cutters will do the job. For larger gauges, you may need to use a larger pair of cutting pliers or bolt cutters for the really big stuff. With any of these tools, place the rod as far into the jaws as possible to make the cut. Some wire cutters leave the cut rod with a sharp, unsightly end. You will probably want to file, sand, or grind the end of the freshly cut rod so that it is flat.
Place the rod to be cut in a sturdy vise. Try to make the cut as close to the vise as possible to minimize vibration. The hacksaw is a two-handed tool. Place one hand on the handle and your second hand on the end of the hacksaw frame. The saw cuts when you are pushing the tool away from your body. Start the cut with short strokes using the part of the blade nearest the handle. Once there is a groove for the blade to sit in, use both your arms and shifting body weight to make each cutting stroke. Not much downward pressure is needed, and then only when pushing the saw. A long, steady stroke that uses the full length of the blade is preferable to short, frantic stokes. Pay attention and slow down as you come close to cutting through the metal so the saw doesn't cut something it's not supposed to.
You can use small and large metal saws to cut brass tubing. I'd recommend doing it in a small hobby mitre box or a groove you have cut into a piece of wood. Place the tubing in one of the mitre box grooves and begin the cut. As the saw makes its way through the tubing, it will begin to cut two walls at once. This can cause the saw to bind, making sawing difficult. To avoid this, slowly rotate the tubing away from you so that you are only sawing through one wall of the tubing at any given time.
You can buy special cutters designed to cut metal tubing. The tool is clamped to the tubing and a circular blade progresses through the metal. Fasten the tool where the cut is to be made. Spin the tool around the tubing several times. Turn the knob a little to bring the blade against the tubing, and rotate again. Repeat this until the tubing has been divided. Don't tighten the knob much or the tubing may end up with a crimped end. If this should happen, a tapered reamer can be used to spread opening. File the crimped end off or use a stationary belt sander to finish the edge. Cut the piece a little long to account for any amount that may need to be filed or sanded away.
Brass sheet can be cut with metal shears and snips. The type I often use are called aviation snips. These come in three varieties: right-cutting, left-cutting, and straight-cutting. These usually have green, red, and yellow handles respectively. Despite the name, the straight-cutting variety can be used to cut curves — outside curves at least. When cutting a circle, trim the corners off the piece repeatedly until it starts to look like a circle made of straight cuts. Then, make the final curved cut using the inside of the jaws. If precision is required, it's a good idea to cut outside of the desired line, then use a file to finish the job.
Straight cuts in brass sheet can also be made with a hacksaw. Place the brass between two sheets of scrap plywood and clamp all three pieces in a vise. The wood supports the metal during the cut. If you need to see a marked line on the surface of the brass, place a sheet of plywood on the back side of the brass only. Be mindful to only exert downward pressure when pushing the saw.
With practice, a jeweler's saw used in conjunction with a bench pin will allow you to cut very intricate shapes out of brass sheet. The V-shaped notch in the bench pin is used to support the metal on both sides of the blade. The saw is held vertically, with the handle on the bottom and the saw teeth facing away from you. You basically look down on the saw as you make a cut. Here are a few rules of thumb I've found helpful.
First, make sure the blade is taught in the saw frame and the slant of the saw teeth point down toward the handle. Rub beeswax or a commercial lubricant such as 'Cut Lube' on the back of the saw blade. With the metal resting flat on the bench pin, start the cut with the saw at a 45 degree angle, the top of the saw frame pointing away from you. Once a groove for the blade has been established, bring the saw upright so that it is perpendicular to the material being cut. Use long, slow, rhythmic strokes and don't force the saw. When cutting curves, turn and guide the metal into the blade. Never place a finger in front the blade — even if it is some distance away. These thin blades break often.
A handy motorized rotary tool can also cut brass rod, tubing, and sheets. See Tips article number 6, 21 Rotary Tool Tips and Tricks for Automaton-Makers, for details on how to use this tool to cut metals. Be sure to clamp the rod in a vise, put on heavy gloves, and wear eye protection.
This article only covers some of the many ways to cut brass. There are more techniques to discover used in a variety of trades and crafts! I hope you'll find and share them.
Warning: The topics covered in this column include the use of tools and materials that have the potential to cause damage to property and/or bodily injury. Your safety is important and it is your sole responsibility. Always read and follow the safety instructions that come with tools and materials you use. Wear safety glasses, use guards and other forms of safety equipment, follow safety precautions, and use good judgment. Seek the guidance of experienced outside sources whenever required.
Thanks for this, I have an almost unhealthy obsession with brass! Could you offer any advice on soldering to brass and what materials to use to do this? Whenever I've tried the solder never seems to stick.
Look forward to your next blog!
Brass is generally pretty easy to solder. Here's the key: preparation. You want to make sure your pieces fit together as closely as possible. The solder should only form the thinnest of films to join the two pieces. It shouldn't really be used to fill big voids. Make sure the pieces are also very clean. Use abrasive papers to make them bright, then clean them with alcohol. Add flux, then heat the metal (not the solder). Test the temp with a piece of solder until it flows. Use the heat to draw the solder through the joint (it moves toward the highest heat). I have had good luck with Tix brand solder and flux.
I appreciate all of the demonstrations of how to cut different types of brass. Like you explain there are a lot of different types of brass, so there are also a lot of different instruments that you need to cut it with. I think that before starting a project it would be a good idea to make sure that you have all of the necessary tools. Once you know you have all of the tools that you will need it will be much easier to get the job done.
Agreed! We try to include a photo in each article showing the tools and materials used.
It's interesting to know that when it comes to cutting brass that there are different ways to go about doing it, and each one will have it's benefits to it. I am glad you pointed out that when it comes to sawing the tubing that slowly rotating the tube to help only cut through one wall at a time. This will be helpful when it comes to the different crafts that I use brass for.
i have a 3mm thick brass plate. its 51mm wide. i cant cut perfect mitres by hand. So judging by your info above, it can be cut with a dropsaw?
Thanks so much for explaining these different methods so thoroughly. I also love brass as other Arya does. I am learning to metalsmith and brass is so affordable compared to silver, and especially gold. I find a lot of people, especially in the jewelry community are snobby about brass because it tarnishes. I love the look of different patinas that you can get on brass and copper. Additionally, some of my favorite contemporary metalsmiths use brass and I love the kind of ancient, yet modern looks they achieve.
Your tips about using a mitre box or groove in wood are very helpful as well as explaining how to use a tube cutter. I have a mini tube cutter, but I haven't spent much time using it and found it challenging. I want to make some tube beads and I am more confident to give it a shot.
I need to practice working more with my jewelers saw. I have to admit that that is the biggest thing that I struggle with and I break a lot of blades. I tend to be impatient so I would much rather cut with shears and clean the edges up with a file or grinder. I had no idea that there were different shears for cutting in different directions, but that totally makes sense.
My biggest struggle with using shears is cutting an angle cut into it without overcutting into the piece. An example is this morning I was cutting out some feather shaped pendants and I was trying to make little notches like real feathers have, It kept getting smaller and smaller as I cut too far. Do you have any suggestions?


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PRESS RELEASE: Paid content from Globe Newswire
Bell and Howell Launches New and Improved Website
Bell and HowellJanuary 11, 2022 GMT
Durham NC,, Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DURHAM, N.C., January 11th, 2022 – Bell and Howell, a leader in industrial automation and comprehensive service-focused solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting redesign of its website, https:///bellhowell.net. This revamp was focused on enhancing visitors' understanding of its broad solution portfolio and extensive service capabilities, as well as raising awareness about the cutting-edge technology that is used across the company's diverse operating divisions.
Bell and Howell has prioritized the navigational structure to organize and segment its services in ways that make sense. There has also been a focus on highlighting innovative new solutions in emerging fields. With businesses clicking over to the website to learn how Bell and Howell can help them, the website needed to efficiently provide that knowledge and be a resource for everyone.
"We're in the business of partnering with organizations and helping them grow, increase their workflow efficiencies, and be able to better serve their own customers," said Larry Blue, President, and CEO of Bell and Howell. "We wanted our website to be an extension of that mission and effectively educate and showcase our cutting-edge solutions that we provide to our customers each and every day. From our legacy mail production and printing divisions to our robotics, automated pickup solutions, and remote monitoring services, all our exciting developments are highlighted front and center, and we couldn't be more excited."
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The sophisticated service organization also sees a lot of potential to utilize the new website for promoting exciting events such as industry conventions and open houses as they resume in 2022. Bell and Howell encourages visitors to explore the new website and read about how they are enabling businesses to improve their operations and lower costs by leveraging Bell and Howell technology and service expertise.
About Bell and Howell
Bell and Howell is one of the largest and most sophisticated service organizations in North America, leveraging innovative technologies and unrivaled service capabilities to help its customers increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve their customer experience. Boasting a rich history and expertise in mechatronics and workflow efficiency, the company offers a complete portfolio of outsourced service offerings, as well as comprehensive solutions in production mail manufacturing and its new BH QuickCollect™ Solutions for automated order pickup. Headquartered in Durham, N.C., Bell and Howell has more than 800 highly skilled field technicians, 24/7 customer service and technical support centers, as well as advanced remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities. For more information, please visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
PR Bell and Howell pr@bhemail.com


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San Francisco with Kids
1 Golden Gate Park
2 Yerba Buena Gardens
3 San Francisco Zoo
4 Bay Area Discovery Museum
5 Fisherman's Wharf
6 Take a Cable Car Ride
7 Ferry Building
8 China Town
9 Alcatraz
San Francisco is a terrific vacation spot, but it is an especially great place for a family vacation. The smaller feel of the city with fewer tall buildings than other cities makes it more accessible and fun for children and parents.
There are many options if you go to San Francisco with kids. It is a city full of beautiful parks and green spaces, museums geared towards children, and of course the always fun cable cars keep things interesting for all ages. Then there is the famous Fisherman's Wharf with a myriad of amusements and attractions. It all combines to create a virtual vacation paradise for families, whether you're looking for fun or more serious pursuits.
With its many attractions and activities, Golden Gate Park is the ideal place to spend an afternoon with the family. Aside from its gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the iconic bridge, the park includes museums, botanical gardens and the Koret Children's Quarter—a recently built playground. You can take a paddle-boat ride on Stowe Lake and then have a picnic. If your youngsters enjoy science, spend the day at the Academy of Sciences with its planetarium, four-story rain forest and aquarium.
Yerba Buena Gardens
Located in downtown San Francisco, the park boasts a large playground, a bowling alley, ice skating rink, and Zeum, a museum dedicated to children. Yerba Buena Gardens also has a merry-go-round, a large open green space, and restaurants that will appeal to the whole family. In the summertime the Gardens play host to kid-friendly performances and concerts that are fun for everyone.
San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo sits next to Ocean Beach along the Pacific Ocean and is home to approximately 250 different species of animals. The zoo is home to endangered animals such as grizzly bears, the Sumatran tiger and the snow leopard. There is also the Primate Discovery Center with ten different species of rare monkeys, the African Savannah exhibit, the Gorilla Preserve, which is one of the largest zoo habitats in the world, and a six-acre petting zoo that toddlers and young children will love.
When visiting San Francisco with kids, try the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Located in Sausalito on the other side of the bay over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Discovery Museum is not only a great place for kids; it has some of the best views of San Francisco Bay. The museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibits for children that are both hands-on and interactive, making learning fun. Some of the great attractions for the kids include a tour of a real working fishing boat, a multi-level rock stream that they can play in and an art studio where kids can create their very own artwork as a souvenir of their vacation.
The iconic Fisherman's Wharf, known around the world, boasts many attractions that kids and their parents will love. Take your children to the Musee Mecahnique with its large collection of antique arcade games, the Wax Museum or the Hyde Street Pier Maritime Museum. There is also the Pampanito submarine and the Liberty ship Jeremiah O'Brien which are both available for tours. The Wharf itself contains a multitude of colorful street performers, though the "Bush Man" may be a bit frightening for small children, as he his famous for jumping out from behind a bush.
Take a Cable Car Ride
The cable cars of San Francisco are a National Landmark and a still-working public transportation system moving people all over the city. You can catch a cable car right outside Fisherman's Wharf or enjoy a ride along the Powell-Hyde line, which takes you to the top of Lombard Street, the most crooked street around. The cable cars give you the chance to see the sights of the city in an entertaining way that the kids will enjoy.
Ferry Building
If you go San Francisco with kids, take them to the Ferry Building. Originally built in 1898, the Ferry Building is loaded with shops and restaurants, and you can still see the comings and goings of ferry boats on the bay. You can pick up some authentic San Francisco sourdough bread at the Acme Bread Company, cured meat from Boccalone Salumeria, a little wine when the kids are asleep, or try some irresistible Mt. Tam cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery. You can even enjoy a sandwich while taking in the sights.
Chinatown is a fun and colorful area of San Francisco that dates back to the beginnings of the city itself. While loaded with shops that sell everything from food, spices, fortune cookies and cute little toys, you can also take advantage of Chinatown's culture and history and make it a learning experience for the children. The best time to visit Chinatown is during the week. Small children can become overwhelmed by the large crowds on the weekends.
Serving as a Federal prison from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz Island is now part of the Federal Parks Department and open for daily tours. Buy tickets ahead of time and then enjoy a ferry ride across the bay during which the kids can see sea lions playing and boats crossing the bay. The tour includes an audio tour of the old cells and is both entertaining and educational. Maybe it's because of the fascinating history; both children and their parents can enjoy the history of this infamous island prison.
Age:23 Editor
We are all living in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.


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New Product Names for Pickerings Modular Buildings
Pickerings has announced new product names for its range of modular buildings to distinguish and differentiate its products from others.
Its building regulation compliant modular building system is now being branded as Integrum. It provides an unrivalled specification and is available to hire or buy. As well as complying to building regulations Integrum can be provided to the highest rating of fire certified modular buildings in the UK. It is proving to be popular with customers in the education and industry & commerce sectors.
A new name has also been launched for what was previously called our Eco-Flex modular building. It will now be branded as Pickerings Prima modular building system. Ideal for temporary use Prima building modules can be delivered and installed very quickly on site and are popular as offices, canteens and welfare facilities for a large or smaller workforce with limited workspace.
For more information please see our Integrum modular buildings product page and Pickerings Prima modular building product page.


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Portal – ION (Album Review)
Posted on January 23, 2018 in Album Reviews, Reviews // 0 Comments
Portal – ION
Released: January 26th, 2018
Portal Line up —
Horror Illogium // Lead Guitar
The Curator // Vocals
Aphotic Mote // Rhythm Guitar
Ignis Fatuus // Drums
Omenous Fugue // Bass Guitar
Portal Online —
If you're a fan of extreme music of any bent, there is no doubt that you've heard of Portal; Australia's very own conduits of demonic energy and creeping, strangling fear. It's been five years since their last offering, Vexovoid, was pulled from the depths of the abyss and it seems that the group have undergone some ghastly transformations in that time. Whilst ION is very clearly Portal, it is of a more mutated, malignant nature.
Instead of being assaulted and smothered with the wall of noise, squalling and calculation that is their regular modus operandi, the listener is greeted with the ghastly, flowing dregs of the newly opened Portal. Whispers of wind, forgotten secrets and the ghosts of old drift around, caressing. That is until 'ESP ION AGE' begins — the wind shifts into a turbulent, primal form, tearing skin. The occasional respite is present, but it only brings the ethereal, frightening nightmare of The Curator's voice to the fore. 'Husk' continues the bone-chilling torrent of noise and vomitus. The first two tracks showcase a startling contrast of teeth grinding speed and technicality coupled with jarring pauses, disorienting the listener. Portal's vocals have always been the fuel of nightmares and this is no different; every slight instrumental lull pushes The Curator's voice straight to the front of the noise, where it lodges in your skull, slowly eroding the grey matter until only a dark unnamed sludge is left.
However, the most notable difference that one notices with this release is the production. In place of the muddied, claustrophobia inducing buzz that characterised the earlier albums, there is a razor like sharpness. Every single noise that Horror Illogium creates with his guitar is distinguishable and clear. There are two very distinct guitar tracks in 'Phreqs' yet one can clearly pick them apart and admire them separately. The same can be said for all tracks on the album, but 'Crone' also does this very well. A sinister keening and droning that is slowly overtaken by a tortured scratching, as if someone is trying to escape from a lightless cave but only succeeding in tearing off their fingernails. The riff reeks of decay and eventual desperation. For any Portal fan, the production will probably be the biggest difference that one will have to reconcile with, but for newcomers, I cannot say if the clarity makes the absolutely terrifying aspects of their music, such as the last half of 'Revault of Volts' where the guitar sounds like an electric chair in an inferno, more accessible, or more surreal.
Sometimes, the shortest songs are the most heart attack inducing. 'Spores' only take up two minutes of Earth time but it feels like one is trapped in a perpetual whirlpool of human offal and crude oil. The song is thick and relentless; the drumming of Ignis Fatuus never falters once it starts. It is small moments like this, where Portal show their extreme diversity and cunning, it is a momentous mood shifter from the preceding tracks, jerking the listener out of themselves and subjecting them to what I believe is what slithers through Portal's collective minds when they sleep. Oddly enough, next song 'Phathom' diverts all expectations and includes what appears to be the closest thing the band has ever done to what people consider to be music, but this is short lived as it transitions into the longest song on the album, 'Olde Guarde'. Clocking in at almost ten minutes, it is nothing short of a pilgrimage. Escaping the frenzied mania of the first half will only deposit the listener in a fetid swamp of distorted strings and animalistic lamentations that are more disconcerting and mentally terrorising than calming.
ION sees a departure from the traditionally obscure past of Portal, but this is only because something different is occurring. If previous albums were about the birth of a malignant god and the mutation of the mind, body and soul, this album is of another era entirely. ION is calculated to bring about nightmares and the disconnection of the mind. A roiling mass of noise and atmosphere, ION is as unique as it is horrific.
Portal – ION tracklisting
1. Nth
2. ESP ION AGE
3. Husk
4. Phreqs
5. Crone
6. Revault Of Volts
8. Phathom
9. Olde Guarde
Review: 5/5
ION is out Jan 26th via Profound Lore Records. Pre-Order here
Review by — Dylonov Tomasivich
#WallOfSoundAU
Aphotic Mote
Dylonov Tomasivich
Horror Illogium
Omenous Fugue


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Q: getCurrentPosition does not work with angularjs I try this (for get current user location when the page loads)
angular.module('ionicApp', ['ionic'])
.controller('MyCtrl', function($scope){
  if (navigator.geolocation) {
    navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(function(position){
      $scope.$apply(function(){
        $scope.position = position;
      });
    });
  }
});

and then for print:
{{position.coords.latitude}}

it just prints: position.coords.latitude
I am using ionic-framework. Why does my code not work?

A: Hi its work for me==========
if (navigator.geolocation) {
 navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(showPosition, showError);
} else {
 console.log("Geolocation is not supported by this browser.");
}
    var latLng = {};

  function showPosition(position) {
     latLng = {
     'lat': position.coords.latitude,
     'lng': position.coords.longitude
  };
   $scope.location_address = latLng;
  }

in HTML Side by print {{location_address}}
your above code in ionic problem to not accessing direct value without declaration.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In case you are trying to get rid of pests in your house, you need to consider carefully in case you have kids and/or pets. Lots of the chemicals which can be in pesticides may be dangerous to them. Get them out of the house for a few hours when you've got no other choice. While you might have been dwelling with pests in your house for fairly a while, there are methods that you can get rid of them. It may take a bit of trial and error to lastly eliminate them, but it may possibly work. The ideas here will assist you take your own home back.
Laundry detergent is a superb tool for stopping ants from entering your own home. They strongly dislike the scent of the chemicals utilized in detergent. Use this by placing the detergent in a spry bottle and using all of it lengthy the entrances to your doors and some other place ants might enter. If you're going to use a chemical-based pesticide, it ought to solely be used on the cracks and crevices. Don't spray the chemicals throughout your entire room. Whereas that will kill many of the pests that you're trying to get rid of, it also makes it onerous for folks to breathe.
Strive sprinkling borax around your private home to maintain bugs out. Borax is a chemical that may dry insects out internally, thus killing them. The good thing is that it is not harmful to people or pets in small quantities. If you are sick of insects in your house give this trick a strive. Family pests is usually a terribly vexing dilemma and conquering them can prove to be a real challenge. The secret's to learn all you may about effective methods and methods. Simply bear in mind the recommendation discovered above, and you can be effectively ready to do battle and win the battle on pests in decisive fashion.
When you've acquired a roach problem, don't hold a variety of cardboard in the closets. They love this permeable materials and will construct nests where they think you'll be able to't see them. Go for giant plastic bins which can be air tight to pack your issues away. Take them out of the closet once a month to brush, mud and verify for bugs. Controlling pests is like eliminating an unwanted houseguest – it can be very exhausting! That stated, a little bit bit of knowledge goes a good distance. Reading this article in full will be your first step in the direction of ridding your self of these pesky problems and returning to a standard life.
If your pest downside is noisy crickets, then your answer is as straightforward as duct tape. Lower off a strip and lay it with the adhesive facet facing up. Place in on the ground or ground near the place you hear the crickets. It should entice them, and they will get stuck on it. Look for patterns in your pest infestations. Are there sure occasions (or after sure walks) that your canine convey dwelling fleas or ticks? Are there particular occasions of the year where ants are typically a problem? Mark down these instances and places and prepare accordingly. Generally just changing a habits or preplanning can make all of the distinction.
If you happen to need assistance with eliminating your pest, give a name to the National Pesticide Info Center. You will be able to ask your questions about pesticides and learn how to use these products safely and efficiently. You also needs to ask about alternate options you should utilize against pest. When you recycle, that is likely to be one thing pests find attractive. Place your recycle bin outdoors in a secure container. If this is not doable, then rinse all the things you put in your inside bin. It is best to use sealed recycling containers everytime you eliminate your rubbish in order that you do not entice pests.
Guantee that your kitchen doesn't have grease issues. Grease is an everyday dietary staple of ants, roaches and a number of small flies. Drain flies actually breed in grease pans. So, remove all visible grease areas. Nonetheless, also cope with invisible grease underneath stoves and your counter tops. In case you own a canine, use it! Canines are the perfect things to have in order to preserve pests at bay. They are going to scare most furry pests away and will also discover them before people will. Pay attention to what your dog does. In case you see it scratching or sniffing around in an area so much, there could be a pest dwelling in that space so it's best to check it out!
Until it may be saved in the fridge, shield your meals from pests or from inviting them into your own home within the first place. Sealing them prevents this.


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COMAC attends 2020 Nanchang Flight Convention
C919 aircraft debuts at industry event
The opening ceremony of 2020 Nanchang Flight Convention was held on October 31st, 2020.
At Nanchang Flight Convention from October 31st to November 1st, 2020, ARJ21 Yichun of Jiangxi Air was showcased on the spot, and the C919 aircraft of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) made its debut at an industry event and conducted a demonstration flight.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Liu Qi, Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Director of Standing Committee of Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress, Mr. Yi Lianhong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Governor of Jiangxi Province, Mr. He Dongfeng, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of COMAC, Mr. Zhang Yanzhong, Chairman of Advisory Committee on Large Aircraft Projects of the State Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Mr. Hong Jiao, Vice President of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), jointly unveiled the convention. Mr. Wu Xiaojun, Member of Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Nanchang Municipal Committee, presided over the ceremony. Mr. Zhao Yuerang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of COMAC, made a speech. Mr. Guo Bozhi, Member of Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of COMAC, attended the ceremony.
Mr. Yi Lianhong, on behalf of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Jiangxi provincial government, extended congratulations on the convening of the convention and extended welcome to the guests attending the convention. He emphasized that Jiangxi would thoroughly implement the decision of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the spirit of the major instructions made by General Secretary Xi Jinping when he visited Jiangxi, accelerate the development of the aviation industry in Jiangxi towards being better, stronger and larger while facilitating the high-quality development and building a new development pattern, make every effort to enhance the advantages of Jiangxi in aviation manufacturing, intensify scientific and technological innovation, fully consolidate the major platform of Jiangxi Air, continually deepen foreign cooperation, and realize the aviation dream of Jiangxi as soon as possible with the support of all parties.
Mr. Zhao Yuerang pointed out that COMAC had always thoroughly implemented the spirits of major instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on trunk liner career, been earnest and down-to-earth, and made unremitting efforts to realize the Trunk Liner Dream. Jiangxi province was the cradle of Chinese aviation industry, and was also one of the closest partners in the trunk liner career. He hoped that both sides could go forward hand in hand, continually deepen the docking and in-depth cooperation, and promote the sound and steady development of the trunk liner career.
At the site of the flight convention, C919 AC105 which was conducting flight test in Nanchang stretched its elegant and vigorous posture with the blue sky as the background. Professional camera equipment was installed in the vertical stabilizer and the cockpit of the C919 aircraft, and relevant videos were displayed on the screen at the site in real time, so the audience could appreciate the flying posture of the C919 aircraft at a close range and from multiple angles.
C919 aircraft completed the maiden flight successfully on May 5th, 2017. At present, all the six flight test aircraft have been put into certification and flight test. ARJ21 aircraft was put into route operation on June 28th, 2016, and 38 aircraft have been delivered to the customers such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, Genghis Khan Airlines and Jiangxi Air. The aircraft have successively operated in more than 86 routes in more than 64 cities, and carried more than 1.3 million passengers.
It is reported that this flight convention was hosted by Nanchang Municipal People's Government, organized by the Administrative Committee of Nanchang National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, themed with "making the aircraft of Jiangxi province fly", and focused on displaying the good foundation, resource advantages and development status of the aviation industry in Jiangxi. COMAC would continually deepen its strategic cooperation with Jiangxi province, accelerate the construction of COMAC Jiangxi Production Flight Test Center, focus on the construction of Nanchang Aerospace Industry Town, and help the aviation industry in Jiangxi achieve high-quality and leap-forward development. (Editor: Li Xinyang, Photographers: Wang Jiliang, Chen Xiao and Wan Quan)
C919 aircraft made its debut at Nanchang Flight Convention and conducted a demonstration flight.
ARJ21 Yichun which had just been delivered to Jiangxi Air conducted a demonstration flight at Nanchang Flight Convention.
Lin-gang Special Area Aircraft Industrial Park officially launched 2020-10-23


I am Sean Kozak and this is my Music Tech Portfolio. On this page I will be displaying my passion for music listening and creating. I will share about myself, what I've learned, and how I will take this information to the next level or next step in school. Enjoy.


De VIXI Furniture is Indonesia furniture Manufacturer and designer furniture provides convenience for customers to order a custom design of luxury furniture. A custom furniture can be derived from previous models such as French style Louis or Victorian furniture unique wooden carvings of modern Baroque and classic Rococo furniture even contemporary design furniture. For coloring can choose natural color of wood, painted, gold leaf or silver leaf, combined with the French style or Italian furniture.
√ We have facilities and resources to make the design and realize your wishes. Powered by computer and professional staff to make 3D design and working drawings also make matters easier presentation to customers and certainly faster to be able to take a decision.
√ Material selection and preparation are also good timber before component manufacture and assembly processes, such as dry kilns and some treatments to be safe in the future usage of the products we make.
√ Professional carpenters and experienced decades of producing quality products will make us feel safe would be a good product and can be accounted for strong construction quality and neatness of the product.


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MSU professor's 'Rumba Sinfónica' to be performed by Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Cuban rumba takes the lead in Michigan State University composer Ricardo Lorenz's symphonic work, "Rumba Sinfónica," written in collaboration with Jorge Gomez, musical director of the hit Cuban music group Tiempo Libre. The piece, which debuted with the Minnesota Orchestra in November, will be performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Tiempo Libre at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit.
Rumba Sinfónica is a 30-minute sound travelogue exploring the full possibilities of a Cuban band and orchestra playing together and fusing the urban rhythms of past and present Cuban music with the sophisticated sounds of the classical symphony orchestra.
"It's a coming together of two worlds that rarely come together," said Lorenz, associate professor of music. "The styles are very rich on their own, and they're much richer together. And in the interspace of music, racial, social and cultural barriers don't exist anymore. Music dissolves differences."
Lorenz has wanted to do a project like this for many years. He experimented with mixing classical symphonic music with Latin sounds when he was composer in residence in the Armonia Musicians Residency Program with the Chicago Symphony from 1998 to 2003. But it wasn't until he met Gomez at Indiana University, where Gomez was offering a workshop, that "Rumba Sinfónica" became a reality.
"One of Tiempo Libre's great dreams has been to collaborate on a project," Gomez said, "that draws upon our twin musical inspirations -- the classical music that we studied in the great Russian-style conservatories of Havana and the celebratory Cuban sound which we enjoyed outside our study halls.
"We are glad to be part of this new work combining the elegance of the symphony orchestra with the irresistible, dance-inducing rhythms of Cuban music."
"Rumba Sinfónica" also has been performed at the Festival of the Arts BOCA in Boca Raton, Fla., and by the Minnesota Orchestra; the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa; the San Antonio Symphony; and the Portland Symphony in Portland, Ore.
Following the Detroit concert, the work will be performed May 31 at the Ravinia Festival outside Chicago and June 7 by the Dallas Symphony. The MSU Symphony Orchestra will perform the work Jan. 22, 2009, at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts. Tempo Libre will perform jointly with the orchestras at all appearances.
Lorenz said audiences and performers have reacted warmly to the composition, though the idea of bringing Latin music into a symphonic piece seems confusing at first.
"Every new idea will confuse people," said Lorenz, who began teaching at MSU in 2005. "If it doesn't, it's not new."
Recently, Lorenz was given the American Bandmasters Association/University of Florida Commission Award. The award, funded by a grant from the University of Florida band program, includes a commission honorarium to create a major artistic work for wind band to be premiered in Texas at the ABA Convention in March 2009.
To order tickets for the DSO performance, visit the Web at www.detroitsymphony.com.
Listen to a podcast interview with Lorenz at spartanpodcast.com.


Cabot Shores Adventure Resort - Adventure Resort is the place to explore Cape Breton's marvels.
Listed in Englishtown Cottages / Cabins.
It also offers a rustic lodge that serves as the focal point of Cabot Shores. Home to our fabulous cuisine and dining room, the lodge also offers a wonderful place for our guests to gather around the fire, play games, peruse our library, enjoy our games room or take part in an impromptu jam. The lodge also offers several rooms with ensuites that can accommodate four or more.
Cabot Shores Adventure Resort may be a suitable property if you are looking to stay near Tarbot, Jersey Cove, North River Bridge, Cabot Trail, St. Anns, Indian Brook, New Harris, South Haven, Boularderie East or Big Bras D'or.


The Nautica Fashion Heritage Crew Dress Socks - 5 Pack NAM191DR1 have a smooth knit feel with multiple pattern and solid options that include five pairs of socks. Nautica's Fashion Heritage Crew Dress Socks - 5 Pack is made of polyester/spandex.
The Nautica Big Man Surfwashed Colorblock Swim Trunk F84107 has a supportive mesh liner with pockets at sides and one at back with a fast-drying woven body. Nautica's Big Man Surfwashed Colorblock Swim Trunk is made of nylon/polyester.
The Nautica Tall Man Triblock Swim Trunk F81007 have hydrophobic water repellent action with pockets at sides and mesh liner. Nautica's Tall Man Triblock Swim Trunk is made of nylon/polyester.
The Nautica Solid Micro Stripe Dress Socks - 5 Pack 173DR60 wick moisture away from the skin for dry and comfortable wear and feel. Features reinforced heel and comfort toe seams. Nautica's Solid Micro Stripe Dress Socks - 5 Pack are made of polyester and spandex.


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Politics and Fiction Writing
Written by Drusilla on November 10th, 2012
I've been very much out of contact, I know. Beginning a blog presumes a commitment to… blog, to communicate and I haven't been doing that. For what it's worth, I gnash my teeth and feel guilty but I still don't blog.
For the last couple of months I've been distracted by two things, distracted to the point of not being good company for myself or anyone else including my unfortunate hero. First, there is the problem of my new book, currently entitled THE NIGHT GARDENER.
There's no question that the first draft of a novel is, for me, the literary equivalent of an obstacle course. Not only do I have to climb heights and leap into thin air, I struggle constantly against self-doubt and the fear that I have started something I won't be able to finish. Writing "Chapter One: THE NIGHT GARDENER" for the first time puts me face to face with the little girl who lost the election for school secretary by a mortifying margin. I still cringe when I think of it.
Self-doubt has a way of morphing from straight forward fear of the first draft into not wanting to exercise, being sleepy at two in the afternoon, craving stacks of buttered toast, and wanting to watch movies all day. It's probably a form of madness familiar to other writers, but it's also very isolating. I'm about half way through THE NIGHT GARDENER now. My harshest and most experienced critic says it's very good, and sometimes I believe she's right. Even so, at this stage I can't sit open the computer without fearing that the goose that laid the golden eggs has flown the coop.
Problem number two has been the interminable election, now thankfully a part of history. Anyone who follows me on Twitter or Facebook knows that I'm a lifelong Democrat, the child and grandchild of Democrats. When I was very young, I watched my first convention on a black and white TV. I remember seeing Eleanor Roosevelt escorted to the best balcony seat and waving to a tumultuous crowd. She had come to watch presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson make his acceptance speech. Years later, I developed a fierce long distance crush on his son and pursued him up and down Montgomery Street in San Francisco, trying to arrange an "accidental" meeting. I came close but that's a different kind of story!
So, anyway, I used to love the fray of politics, but this year has been enough to sicken almost anyone. Almost daily, my mood has soared one minute and taken a nose dive the next because someone has said the right thing or the wrong. I've listened to political talk radio way too much. I've made myself sick on a diet of hyperbole, distortion and innuendo. But now it's over and I'm pleased with the results. My blood pressure is subsiding, I'm exercising again and I will soon be able to stop eating toast and Vegemite all day.
As with almost every other worthy thing, it's hard to write a novel, to create a world on the page. It requires concentration and a willingness to go back to what is wrong-headed and clumsy and difficult again and again until it's right. Not perfect, but right. So, there you are. Politics and fiction writing have something in common.
In America we're still in the first draft, constantly reimagining what it means to be a racially, culturally inclusive modern democracy. This hasn't been done before and I'm not asking for perfection. In the same way, I don't require that my first draft be perfect. But in both my work and my nation, I want something good enough to build on, something to make better and better.
Filed under Life Matters, Writing | Tags: Drusilla Campbell, Election, Fiction, Politics, The Night Gardener


Take a good long deep breath, then think about all that you are letting go as you slowly exhale. Join us as we actively explore the world we breathe in-and-out every day. Our discussions and activities will cover the spectrum of the scientific to the spiritual and the musical to the magical.
Age appropriate programming will be provided throughout the week.


Some code originally derived from verge. Some parts were inspired by the research of Ryan Van Etten, released under MIT License 2013.
The bounds of the Layout viewport, as discussed in A tale of two viewports — part two; but honoring the constraints as specified applicable viewport meta-tag.
The bounds returned are not guaranteed to be fully aligned with CSS media queries (see What size is my viewport?).
This is not representative of the Visual bounds: in particular the non-primary axis will generally be significantly larger than the screen height on mobile devices when running with a constrained viewport.
The bounds of the Visual viewport, as discussed in A tale of two viewports — part one with one difference: the viewport size excludes scrollbars, as found on some desktop browsers.
Returns a plain object containing the properties top/bottom/left/right/width/height with respect to the top-left corner of the current viewport. Its properties match the native rectangle. The cushion parameter is an amount of pixels (+/-) to cushion the element. It adjusts the measurements such that it is possible to detect when an element is near the viewport.
inLayoutViewport(element, 100) is true if the element is in the viewport or 100px near it. inLayoutViewport(element, -100) is true if the element is in the viewport or at least 100px near it.