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'Housewives' say Bravo keeps the booze flowing
By Dana Schuster
Ramona Singer, Carole Radziwill, Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan and Bethenny Frankel Eugene Gologursky/Bravo
Aviva Drescher, who starred on Seasons 5 and 6 of "Real Housewives of New York," said the show's production team could sometimes go too far with their eagerness to liquor up the cast.
Aviva Drescher, Heather Thomas and Carole RadziwillFilmMagic
She recalled the time a producer phoned ahead of filming and asked her to take a shot of alcohol with castmate Ramona Singer during a reconciliation scene at a restaurant.
"I told the head producer, 'I don't want to do a shot. Can you just fill it with water?' " said Drescher, 47, who grew up with an alcoholic mother and says she had never taken a shot before. "And they said no.
"I was so weak and so intimidated by the production team, and I had just gone through all the negotiations of my contract for the second season and those were demoralizing," she said. "I took the shot. I felt tremendous pressure to do it."
She's hardly the only "Housewives" star who's had a problem with the alcohol served while filming.
On a May 9 episode of Bravo's "RHONY," Dorinda Medley showed up to dinner seemingly wasted, slurring her words and picking a fight with the Puerto Rico hurricane-relief team she was dining with in Miami.
After disinviting Medley to Puerto Rico, Medley's dinner companion and castmate, Bethenny Frankel, had a change of heart, but gave her a stern talking to during their private-jet ride to the islands.
"You're a drunk," Frankel said.
In December, New York's Luann de Lesseps, 53, was arrested for disorderly intoxication in Palm Beach, Fla., providing a major storyline for the current season. Meanwhile, on the "Real Housewives of Potomac," Monique Samuels, 34, was accused of wrecking her Bentley after allegedly downing four martinis post-filming on a May 6 episode. (Samuels was then seen drinking an entire bottle of wine by herself that same episode.) There's 54-year-old "RHONY" star Sonja Morgan, whom friends desperately tried to keep upright (and her nether regions covered) while she sloppily danced on a table during a 2015 trip to Atlantic City, cameras rolling. And then there's former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kim Richards, 53, whose substance-abuse issues were so severe and apparent on the show, she went to rehab before returning to the series — and relapsing again.
Kim RichardsVestral Ward/Bravo
Insiders say the stress of the show coupled with the free and flowing alcohol provided by producers and vendors is a dangerous combination. Some also wonder whether the series is exploiting cast members' legitimate substance-abuse issues for the sake of drama.
"When I see some of the drunk scenes, it's dark," said Drescher. "It's gone from being funny and giddy to being drunk and depressing and it makes me feel sad."
"There are certain scenes where I'm just cringing for everybody involved."
"Housewives" interviewed for this article say that while producers don't explicitly push them to drink during filming, booze is always available — at no cost — courtesy of restaurants, events or the production team if a cast member is hosting a party that's being filmed.
"At times, the producers would say, 'Well, we're not going to pay for Mr. Chow to cater your party because that's over budget. But you'll never hear them say, 'We won't pay for alcohol.' It's always readily available," said Drescher.
"Everything is free, so the women drink in excess," said Cindy Barshop, 53, who appeared on "RHONY" for one year in 2011. She added that the long shooting hours contributed to her co-stars' boozing.
It also happens on trips out of town.
"You request the kind of alcohol you want and it's there when you arrive to your villa," said Heather Thomson, 47, who appeared on "RHONY" for three seasons. "And if you run out, they get you more."
Other times, the pressure appeared to be more subtle.
Gretchen Rossi, who appeared on "Real Housewives of Orange County" primarily from 2008 to 2013, remembered an evening of filming at a dinner party where she got incredibly intoxicated.
"I woke up and thought, 'Gosh, I never specifically went up and asked for another drink.' My drink always seemed to be magically filled up," said Rossi, 39.
Slade Smiley and Gretchen RossiWireImage
"So I realized that, possibly, producers were in the background going to the server, 'It looks like Gretchen needs more alcohol.' "
When Rossi approached producers about the party the next day, they retaliated with detailed notes.
"One of the producers goes, 'Did anybody force you to drink? According to our notes here, you had two martinis, two shots of tequila . . .' They had literally documented every single drink I had. I found that to be very strange," she said. "It makes your stomach turn a little. It made me question what their intentions are."
All cast members are made aware that producers "aren't baby-sitters" when they sign up for the show, according to former "RHONY" star Kelly Bensimon.
"It said on the contract: Anything goes and you can't sue for defamation of character — because you wanted to be on the show, and wanted to be famous," she said.
Nonetheless, there have been moments when she thought the show's staff was taking it too far and ignoring a potentially serious situation for the sake of ratings.
Bensimon, 50, said that one night, while filming, castmate Morgan was drunk and unable to walk as her hair extensions were falling off her head.
"I was like, 'I need to bring this woman home. This is just not cool,' " said Bensimon. "The producers said, 'Don't help her, don't help her.'
"If someone is in a bad situation, I don't care if the cameras are rolling or not. I'm not going to let someone look bad because they are getting crazy. I know what's going to happen once the footage airs, so let me help them out," said Bensimon. She believes that her professional reputation was tarnished after appearing on the series.
"It almost ruined my life," admitted Bensimon, who barely drank on the show but was made to appear unstable, she said. "When I got off the show, people said I was crazy and unhirable."
Thomson similarly defied producers' requests for her to film with an inebriated Morgan in 2014.
"When we were in Saratoga at the horse race, Sonja had been drinking and the producers wanted us to go outside because she was leaving . . . and she was falling down with her suitcase," Thomson said. "I refused. I'm not going to put her vulnerabilities on camera . . . I felt like it was irresponsible. And the producer was unhappy that we wouldn't go outside."
"I think if [behavior like Morgan's] happens once or twice, they need to let the cameras run," said Thomson. "But if it's reoccurring, the producers may have to question if the cast member is right for the program."
Another Real Housewife of New York, who asked to remain anonymous, said that Morgan's behavior raised eyebrows again months later, when the women visited Atlantic City for shooting and Morgan was incoherent and trying to makeout with de Lesseps.
It was so bad, a meeting between some cast members and the production staff was called regarding Morgan.
"Bethenny said, 'I didn't realize how bad it was' and 'I didn't realize she's a f–king liability.' And [the producers] said, 'I know, I know.' But at the end of the day, they invite [Morgan] back every year," said the Housewife.
A Bravo spokeswoman told The Post, "The franchise follows the women in their real lives. No one is pressured to drink alcohol. If the network, production company or castmates have deemed that someone is putting themselves at risk in their overall lives, we have taken and will continue to take responsible action."
Sonja MorganGetty Images
Morgan, who didn't drink on-camera for most of the current season, told The Post: "I think I'm very funny when I drink. I'm very transparent on the show. For me, with my businesses [including a namesake clothing line], I can show people that I can drink, or that I don't have to drink. It's just good to show both sides."
A source said that Bravo has intervened in the past for cast members dealing with addiction. After the second season of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," the network paid for Kim Richards to go to rehab. She returned to the show afterward — as did her substance-abuse problems.
According to the same source, Taylor Armstrong, 47, also previously on "RHOBH," was encouraged by production to go to rehab after she appeared in a 2013 episode drunkenly calling castmate Kyle Richards, 49, to inform her that she was en route to the airport for an impromptu romantic getaway and had no idea where her 6-year-old daughter was. Armstrong opted not to go to rehab and appeared on the show for three more years.
Drescher said that, for the most part, the women who drink excessively on the show, drink excessively in real life, too. But real life becomes magnified — as do personal demons — when you land the Bravo gig.
"I think a lot of women in NYC who are [in their 40s and 50s] self-medicate with alcohol," said Drescher. "But then you throw in a reality show where you are basically a gladiator with tits, and you have the perfect recipe for a drinking disaster."
And a disaster for the women can be a win for the network.
"The producers just have two goals," continued Drescher. "One is to create a great television show. And two, if they can capture reality, that's TV gold. A lot of the time, it's not always 100-percent authentic. But when you catch somebody drunk, that's as real as can be."
But some insiders don't like that their "Real Housewives" franchise has transformed from a glossy show about rich women and their families into a real-time view of addicts' rapid decline.
"It's disappointing," said Bensimon. "I don't want people to think when they come to New York, it's going to be like that. It's embarrassing to me."
"You don't come to New York to get divorced, and end up at 40 broke and just drinking a lot. That's not chic."
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Simu Liu | From Fan To Marvel's Newest Superhero: Shang-Chi
Visit the Shang-Chi wiki page - "Being a full-fledged MCU superhero is an absolute dream come true, and I don't say that lightly." Simu Liu, the 32-year-old actor playing Shang-Chi can't wait for the world to see Marvel's newest superhero on the big screen. As MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies become more and more prevalent in our staple of movie-going experiences, many actors are clamoring for the ever-growing list of superheroes on the roster. "I was, you know, reading comic books from when I was a little kid. I was playing with action figures. I was watching all the movies, even the really obscure ones."
Liu is not alone. It seems every day, actors, both young and old announce via social media that they would love to be in a Marvel movie. Liu did this very thing. (See his original pre-cast tweet from 2014) Producer Kevin Feige's grand plan for Marvel's characters has even promoted some of the lesser-known superheroes to the well-known list. Take 'Guardians of the Galaxy' for example. Never a top-selling comic book, Feige found a filmmaker like James Gunn to showcase niche print characters in a way mainstream movie audiences adore. With this talent, the MCU is limitless when it comes to its pool of characters, even though many are not yet a household name.
Shang-Chi is an example of a character that is due for an update and a creative team willing to take on the task. Simu Liu's feelings on the matter are clear. "We're dealing with subject matter that comes from the 70s that parts of it are not the most suited to be modernized into 2021, so it was really critical that we take the core elements of the character that we think are the most important, but then to craft a new and fresh origin story that audiences have never seen before that really is progressive and make sense in the modern day, and I think we've done that."
Liu, never shy when it comes to passing credit on to others says "We have such an incredible filmmaking team, including but not limited to Destin Daniel Cretton, our amazing director and Dave Callaham our screenwriter both of whom are Asian-American, so they were really able to write to the Asian-American experience." This attention to diversity is another Kevin Feige trademark and it hits home for Liu. "I think that in the way Shang-Chi struggles with his relationship to his father, I think growing up in an immigrant household, I can definitely relate to that, you know juggling and navigating the expectations of my parents and trying to connect to them even across a cultural barrier and often times a language barrier, it was really hard for us and we got into a lot of arguments. There was a lot of tension because we just didn't fundamentally understand each other." Simu hopes to bring this life experience to his role. "I'm really really happy with the journey I took and I hope that Shang can take a similar journey in the movie where he can learn to accept all the parts of him including the parts that are darker that maybe represent his father's side."
As we start to approach spoiler territory, we'll just leave it right there. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is exclusively in theaters September 3rd. Get Your Shang-Chi Tickets Here!
Kris Kidd, Pop Culture Group
Simu Liu
Kris Kidd

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Special Issue of Energies entitled "2nd International Colloquium on Smart Grid Metrology (SmaGriMet 2019)" provides related scientific research, technology development, policy and management studies. It publishes reviews and regular research papers.
Intelligent cities applications and sensors.


text:
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using GuiLabs.Canvas.Renderer;

namespace GuiLabs.Canvas.Controls
{
	public class ScrollbarButtonStyle
	{
		public ScrollbarButtonStyle()
		{
			InitStyles();
		}

		private void InitStyles()
		{
			LightBorder = RendererSingleton.Instance.DrawOperations.Factory.ProduceNewLineStyleInfo(System.Drawing.Color.GhostWhite, 1);
			DarkBorder = RendererSingleton.Instance.DrawOperations.Factory.ProduceNewLineStyleInfo(System.Drawing.Color.Black, 1);
			Background = RendererSingleton.Instance.DrawOperations.Factory.ProduceNewFillStyleInfo(System.Drawing.Color.LightGray);
		}

		public virtual void Draw(ScrollbarButton Button, IRenderer Renderer)
		{
            ILineStyleInfo TopLeft;
            ILineStyleInfo BottomRight;

            if (Button.State == ScrollbarButton.ButtonState.Normal)
            {
                TopLeft = LightBorder;
                BottomRight = DarkBorder;
            }
            else
            {
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                BottomRight = LightBorder;
            }

            Rect R = Button.Bounds;
            int x1 = R.Location.X;
            int y1 = R.Location.Y;
            int x2 = R.Right;
            int y2 = R.Bottom;

            DrawBackground(Button, Renderer);

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            Renderer.DrawOperations.DrawLine(x1, y1, x1, y2, TopLeft);
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            Renderer.DrawOperations.DrawLine(x1, y2, x2 + 1, y2, BottomRight);
		}

		protected virtual void DrawBackground(ScrollbarButton button, IRenderer Renderer)
		{
			Renderer.DrawOperations.FillRectangle(button.Bounds, Background);
		}

		private ILineStyleInfo mLightBorder;
		protected ILineStyleInfo LightBorder
		{
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			{
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			{
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		{
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			{
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		private IFillStyleInfo mBackground;
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		{
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			{
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			set
			{
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}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We are excited that you have identified Sand Point Country Club as an employer of choice and wish to start exploring job opportunities at our club. Sand Point Country Club prides itself in service and hospitality, and looks for individuals who enjoy making and creating great experiences for our members and their guests. For a comprehensive list of our current job openings, please click here.


This version of Chicken Cordon Bleu with Dijon Cream Sauce is something that I will be doing more in the future. I usually cook this dish by baking, just like what I did in this previous recipe post. This recipe suggests to deep fry the rolled chicken. It was a good idea.
Here are the things that I like about deep fried chicken cordon bleu. First is the texture. The outer layer is crisp and has a nice golden brown color that made it look appetizing. The inside is moist and soft. The flavors are also great. I can taste the rich cheese which was complemented by the saltiness of the ham. The chicken blends in perfect harmony with the filling. The plus here is the Dijon Cream Sauce. It's creamy tart taste went well with the dish.
This recipe and the cooking video below should be able to help you in the process if you new to this dish or have not tried making this before. The method that I used to cook chicken cordon bleu for this recipe might not be conventional, but it worked well.
I enjoyed this dish a lot. It was even better when I had it with corn chowder. I suggest that you consider this pairing.
Send me a comment if you have questions. You can also message me in IG or send me an email through the contact link above. Happy cooking!
Try this Chicken Cordon Bleu with Dijon Cream Sauce Recipe. Let me know what you think.
Place a plastic wrap over a flat surface. Arrange a piece of chicken over the wrap, and then cover the chicken with it. Pound the chicken using a meat tenderizer tool until it flattens.
Sprinkle salt all over the chicken breast.
Prepare the filling by putting a slice of cheese and ham over the chicken. Roll the chicken to cover the filling and then seal it by inserting toothpicks into the rolled chicken.
Dip the chicken in beaten egg and then roll over the bread crumbs. Do this step twice to make the coating thicker.
Deep fry for 12 minutes in medium heat. Note. if you need to turn the chicken over to fry the opposite side, you can do so and cook it for 8 minutes. If you will deep while the chicken is fully submerged, 12 minutes should be enough, but feel free to cook no longer than 15 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the pot. Let it cool down. Slice into serving pieces.
Prepare the sauce by melting butter in a sauce pan. Add onion. Cook until soft.
Pour heavy whipping cream. Let boil. Add Dijon mustard. Stir and continue to cook in medium heat until it reduces to half. Add salt to taste.
Pour sauce over the chicken. Serve.
Hi, I never liked cooking, but thanks to you, I was able to prepare this last night. Maraming salamat sa libreng kaalaman! <3 I think I'll cook some more.
You are welcome, Sandy. Please feel free to browse around. If there are questions, let me know.
Hi thank you for posting your food recipe.i don't know how to cook and i tried to cook one of your food and follow the recipe how to cook it.i watched the video and read how to do it.the video it help me a lot how to cook in step by step.i hope matuto n talaga akong magluto.kahit hindi masyado masarap luto ko atleast ngayon makakapagluto n ako kahit paisa isa lng.


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Childhood Absence Epilepsy/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have similar symptoms and are often incorrectly diagnosed in children. There are many reasons as to why children are misdiagnosed, including failing to obtain a good history, or poor information from the family. The child's school teacher may have contacted the parents as they have noticed the child's lack of attention, 'blanking out' or daydreaming episodes in class, which are affecting the child's learning. CAE and ADHD need careful evaluation as they have different treatment options and the wrong diagnosis can make the child's symptoms worse or cause them to develop new symptoms due to incorrect medication being prescribed.
What is CAE and ADHD?
Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE)
CAE is a syndrome that occurs in 1 in 1000 children and is one of the most common types of early childhood seizures. The child presents around the ages of 5-9 years with frequent bouts of inattention and staring episodes, which can be described as 'blanking out' or daydreaming. The bouts last between 3-30 seconds and the child has no post-ictal state, they have no recollection of the episode and typically resume normal activity straight away. Other clinical features include automatisms which may take the form of eyes fluttering, chewing movements of the mouth or rolling eyes upwards. A child typically has numerous episodes a day which interferes with their ability to learn and process information. As the episodes are not dramatic, they tend to pass unnoticed by parents and caregivers for a long time before a diagnosis is sought.
ADHD shares the core symptoms of inattention, staring episodes or daydreaming. Other symptoms include easy distractibility, disorganization, forgetfulness and a tendency to lose things. Impulsive (hyperactivity) symptoms include fidgeting, excessive talking, noisy behaviour and interrupting others. Hyperactivity symptoms may remit as the child matures but the inattentive and staring symptoms often persist. Symptoms tend to be present for at least six months before a diagnosis is made.
Both CAE and ADHD could coexist in the same patient. If this is the case or the patient is misdiagnosed with CAE instead of ADHD and commenced on antiepileptic medications for CAE, then these medications may contribute to attention difficulties, irritability and hyperactivity because of the medications commenced inappropriately.
The Diagnostic Conundrum
With the core symptoms of inattentiveness, staring episodes or daydreaming being common in both conditions, how do you narrow your differential diagnosis and make the correct diagnosis? The key to making the correct diagnosis is rooted in the behavioural description of the patient. For this reason, accurate history taking, obtaining information from caregivers, and research are all of vital importance. If you do not have enough information from the parent who has brought the child to be seen but the teacher has reported the inattention, then ask for the main caregivers to keep a chart which documents the behaviour seen by:
How long event happened for
Description of symptoms (daydreaming, inattention, could they be roused during the episode)
What happened after the episode, how did it resolve and what was the child's behaviour like.
This will give you a clear indication of patterns in the behaviour and exactly how many episodes are occurring a day. An ADHD diagnosis is dependent on family and school assessments, behavioural history and clinical observation. A CAE diagnosis is made on similar reporting and an EEG may assist the diagnosis, but this EEG could also be unremarkable, so a detailed history and examination are the most important tool in differentiating between the conditions. CAE can sometimes be diagnosed in an outpatient clinic by inducing an absence seizure by the means of hyperventilation.
Another key feature which would help your diagnosis is to ask whether the child can be roused out of the staring and daydreaming episodes when they occur. In CAE if you try and communicate with the child or tickle them there will be no response until the episode ends naturally, whereas in ADHD the child will generally respond and refocus on you.
Using a differential diagnosis tool will help you organise the symptoms you have gathered from your history and see which symptoms are more likely to be represented by the conditions you are researching. ADHD appears a closer match than CAE for these symptoms using the Isabel DDx Generator with Likelihood Indicator, as hyperactivity isn't a feature of CAE, but it is of ADHD.
If you commence a patient on a medication for their ADHD or CAE and you get an inadequate response to that medication, then you should re-examine your diagnosis, especially if the patient develops new symptoms not seen previously. Ask the caregivers to maintain a behavior chart after medication has been started and if your diagnosis and medication is correct then you will see a reduction in episodes and an improvement in the symptoms described.
Differentiating between ADHD and CAE is extremely important, as the misdiagnosis delays appropriate treatment and resolution of symptoms. In children, an early correct diagnosis and timely management can improve social interaction, behaviour and prevent poor academic performance. Once the correct diagnosis has been made regular evaluations and follow are essential to ensure the child's condition improves and their medication is correctly adjusted as they grow. Increased clinical awareness will help resolve the diagnostic conundrum which exists between ADHD and CAE.
Have you read our white paper on why and how to improve diagnostic processes? Diagnosis is something we're really focused on improving, and we've expanded on our thoughts in this short download:
Mandy Tomlinson
Mandy has worked for Isabel Healthcare since 2000. Prior to this, she was a Senior Staff Nurse on the Pediatric Infectious disease ward and high dependency unit at one of London's top hospitals, St Mary's in Paddington which is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Her experience in the healthcare industry for the past 28 years in both the UK and USA means she's a vital resource for our organization. Mandy currently lives and works in Scottsdale, Arizona.


Down the centuries there have been many wars and atrocities because of this manipulation of religious feeling and allegiance. When that happens, religion becomes a counterfeit version of the real thing.
It has become fashionable to focus on the negative results of this perversion of religion, and condemn all religion because of it. A parallel would be to focus on negative results of those who use science for negative ends, such as the production of nuclear weapons, and then condemn all science. Or to condemn all political theory because fascist ideology (not religion) caused the biggest conflict of the 20th century, in fact the most devastating war in history.
Let's just have a brief look at some contributions of just a couple of religions. In an intriguing book Post God Nation? Roy Williams writes about how we, at least in the West, live off Judaeo-Christian capital.
Of course, some may question the contention that religion was the sole cause of all the items on this list, but surely it is beyond dispute that those inspired by religion contributed to each one.
Another author, the pre-eminent Baha'i scholar Dr. Moojan Momen, in his excellent book The Phenomenon of Religion separates out the three aspects of religion.4 It is worthwhile to look at these and see how each of these three have contributed so profoundly to human civilization and personal happiness.
The first aspect is the focus on the religious experience. Dr. Momen describes this as being the experience of the 'holy" and "sacred"—it is the personal experiential aspect of religion. To those who have experienced it, this is the most wonderful experience in the world. It usually arises as the result of the religious practices of prayer, meditation and selfless service to others — sometimes it arrives spontaneously.
This "religious experience" can be hard to describe, but let's have a go. When it happens we feel like we have gone from being a radio that has been slightly off the channel with all its static to one that is receiving a signal strong and clear. There's a feeling of a connection with the creator whose love and power is infinite. It is more inspiring than even the greatest music or other pleasures, and has been labelled down the ages as the experience of "grace".
People are hardwired to seek transcendence over the mundane aspects of physical existence, such as eating, keeping safe, reproduction, sleep and death. They yearn for something more, a purpose. To confirm this, just take a look around. Some people seek this transcendence by burying themselves in their work, or drowning out things via alcohol and other drugs, or by fanatically following a sports team, obsessively focussing on cooking shows and eating, or by travelling incessantly.
There's nothing wrong with those things in moderation—work, coffee, watching a good game, cooking a great meal, and visiting exotic places. But if taken to excess – effectively a bid for transcendence – they ultimately disappoint because they are a blind alley. They don't satisfy what I think is an inbuilt quest for the divine. But taking religious practice to excess is also an intoxicating diversion which involves neglecting the instruction to be moderate, and which can lead to, or cultivate strange and harmful habits contrary to the teachings.
Down the ages, people have rejected these diversions and have experienced grace via prayer, meditation and service. There have been thousands of written accounts testifying to this but we can be confident that many more millions of ordinary people in their usually unrecorded lives have had similar experiences.
That leads on to the second aspect of religion which, as Dr. Momen explains, is at the conceptual and doctrinal level. People want to clarify their relationship with some ultimate reality. Some choose science, a limited and often bleak choice. Religion, on the other hand, without rejecting science, provides the solutions to this desire and that, in turn, usually leads to positive outcomes by inspiring less selfish and more moral behaviour among its adherents.
By following the guidelines given to us by the divine messengers such as Krishna, Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and the Bab and Baha'u'llah, we establish a connection with the creator, and restrain the selfish material side of our nature, develop our spiritual attributes such as love, justice, patience, gratitude, persistence, and humility, and try to do our best to follow their guidelines for social behaviour, which adjust for the times.
And that brings us to the third aspect of religion as described by Dr Momen — the creation of social cohesion, establishing some form of social or institutional order.
Religion has the power to bind people and societies together. Throughout history, we have seen societies united and inspired by faith, functioning productively and peacefully. In fact, rather than seeing history as wars interrupted by peace, it is more accurate to see it the other way around — long periods of peace interrupted by wars.
These societies have used the power of religion to unite and not divide. They have created the greatest art, architecture and music that even today amaze, uplift and inspire humanity.
Author Alain de Botton,8 an atheist says that we should look to religions for insights into how to build a sense of community; make our relationships last; overcome feelings of envy and inadequacy; escape the twenty-four hour media; go travelling; get more out of art, architecture and music; create new businesses designed to address our emotional needs.
So what is religion good for?
In summary it gives individuals the spiritual methods (prayer/meditation and service) to experience divine grace, providing satisfaction without peer.
It provides teachings and guidelines that lead individuals to live virtuous lives with ever-deepening understandings of reality.
It gives us the unity, the social cohesion to build great civilisations based on law, and which produce the flower of thought—art, architecture, dance, music, literature, theatre, medicine and the other great sciences.
Aware as we should be of how such a force can be misused, we need to be fully conscious of the power of religion and recognise its oneness — that the truth underlying all religions is in its essence one.
…it becomes clear what religion can do for us in this particular time in history.
True religion, together with its sister branch of knowledge, science, can give meaning to the lives of all those on the planet.
It can also give us the vision of a united world society and the motivation to build that long-awaited peaceful and productive global civilisation.
This is a really deep and well-written piece. I'm glad that you were able to take the space necessary to explore all three aspects of religion so as to give a clearer answer. Great job!
A great article. Simple, objective, motivating and easy to understand. Some will say, 'it's only because you believe all that stuff' to which I would say, 'I do'.
As you note – all religions are in essence one. Any religion preaching hatred and division should be left alone.
The fact that I try but don't always step outside of myself awaking myself to the power of love, don't always overcome prejudice and don't always make sacrifices for the common good can never deny the fact that the religious beliefs I have freely chosen have led me to feel a truth I have not found anywhere else.


Colostrum is nature's superfood. GoodHealth Colostrum milk powder is made from New Zealand colostrum. It has a wide range of immune factors, it is rich in growth and repair factors and is sourced from pasture fed cows.
Good Health Colostrum Milk Powder is a delicious powder suitable for mixing into water or milk for a nutritious drink. Colostrum Milk powder provides nutritive bovine colostrum; this is the protein-rich first milk containing IgG antibodies. Good Health Colostrum Milk powder is sourced from strong, healthy dairy cows raised naturally on fertile pastures.
Colostrum has a wide range of immune factors to help balance and support a healthy immune system.
This Colostrum Powder is sourced from strong healthy dairy cows which are raised naturally on fertile New Zealand pastures.
Adults and Children take 1 to 2 spoonfuls daily (3gm spoon provided) or as professionally advised.


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"Second Act" Review: It's Jennifer Lopez And Vanessa Hudgens Great Chemistry That Counts
Bindhiya Nhi |Jan 17, 2019
Jennifer Lopez makes a comeback in the industry with Second Act after 3 years. However, this time is different due to her chemistry with Vanessa Hudgens.
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Director: Peter Segal
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Milo Ventimiglia, Leah Remini, Freddie Stroma
Rate: 3/5
Second Act is a romantic comedy directed by Peter Segal and released on December 21, 2018. The movie starred Jennifer Lopez as the lead role, besides Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini, and Dan Bucatinsky. The appearance of Jennifer Lopez in an all-stars cast surely cause anticipation from the fans. However, could Second Act live up to their expectations? Here's the review of the movie.
Jennifer Lopez is Maya, the main character in the movie. Because Maya does not have a college degree, she is not promoted to the supermarket where she works at. While she is still struggling at work, her lover Trey (Milo Ventimiglia) wants to get married. However, due to some unclear reasons, Maya is not ready for the marriage life. All of a sudden, Maya's best friend creates a fake resume together with made-up degrees for Maya in the hope that she is going to get a better job position. This tactic puts Maya into troubles as she lands on an executive post at an upmarket Manhattan beauty company which is headed by Anderson Clarke (Treat Williams). His daughter Zoe (Vanessa Hudgens) also plays a vital role in the company, and since the moment the two women meet each other, Zoe becomes Maya's antagonist. The movie follows Maya's exciting journey with an unexpected job and how she tries to keep her secrets about the fake resume.
Second Act Official Trailer.
As a spin-off of Working Girl (1988), Second Act also conveys the same message as the movie aims to tell the audiences what women really want in their life. However, maybe if you sit until the end of the film, you still cannot figure out exactly what a woman prioritizes in their life - among sexual freedom, an ideal job, an own space or just a happy family with their children. It may seem awkward, but that describes perfectly the complicated thoughts of a woman.
In fact, America is the dreamland where you can have all you want, and Second Act just focuses on women because they might have more difficulties in achieving their dreams than men. The strong point of the movie is that it is really relatable. American people believe that even a woodcutter can be elected to be a president, but in reality, only a prestigious university degree can be counted. The struggle is real, and that's how the movie tugs at the viewers' heartstrings.
We cannot talk about Second Act without mentioning Jennifer Lopez. We get used to know her as a singer with beautiful looks and excellent dance moves. However, when it comes to acting, it seems like Jennifer Lopez cannot get proper roles to challenge herself. She is stuck with rom-com drama with typical characters who eventually get what they want despite many hardships. Evidently, Second Act shares the same template with those movies, but this time Jennifer really makes it different. Her character on-screen has a daughter, and the way Jennifer interacts with the child is something beautiful. After a long time being separated because Maya gave her daughter up for adoption, they meet again. From the way she takes care of her daughter to how she looks at her with all the love from the bottom of her heart, those things are all emotional. Moreover, Vanessa Hudgens' appearance also helps create great chemistry between the two characters Maya and Zoe. Besides, the excellent performances from other stars like Charlyne Yi as the assistant and Leah Remini as Maya's bestie also make a significant contribution to the movie.
Jennifer Lopez knows that in this world, you cannot sit there and wait for the luck. She has to create opportunities for herself in this industry. After 3 years without joining any movie projects, Second Act might be that golden opportunity that she has been looking for all this time. Will filmmakers consider giving Jennifer more unique roles in the future after her exceptional efforts in Second Act? Maybe we just have to wait for a little more.
>>> Also check: Jennifer Lopez Oozes Glamour In A Golden Versace Gown At Her 50th Birthday Party
#Jennifer Lopez#Vanessa Hudgens#Second Act


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Sheriff's office investigating assault involving Tecumseh teacher, student
Tecumseh Middle School
By Sydney Dawes, Springfield
The Clark County Sheriff's Office is investigating the assault of a 13-year-old student at Tecumseh Local Schools.
The sheriff's office was called to Tecumseh Local Schools on Nov. 5 after a school district employee reported an assault, according to a sheriff's office incident report. No injuries were reported.
Superintendent Paula Crew this week said the the district is investigating the incident, which was reported in a classroom between a middle school teacher and student.
The teacher is on paid administrative leave, which is typical when there are reports of an incident with a minor in the classroom. The district is at the beginning of the investigation process, and that all staff, personnel and students who were involved with or have knowledge of the situation will be interviewed, Crew said.
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Sydney Dawes
Sydney Dawes covers crime, courts and government in Clark County for the Springfield News-Sun.


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Signing up allows you to use every feature we've built in for you. Once you've signed up, you can access exclusively curated Styleboards, design picks from India's top design influencers, and save everything you liked on your own user dashboard for easy access.
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As a community member on Home Canvas, you can browse for a particular décor theme, or even for different rooms in your house. With the Collections, you can browse a variety of looks curated with products from across Home Canvas, explore colour palettes for each room and even save Collections you like on your own user dashboard, so you can find everything you've liked in one place! We're taking the effort out of home décor, and leaving you all the fun!
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Our Membership Committee at Urantia Association International gladly invites you to participate in our "Global Member Survey" which will be launched during the first quarter of 2018.
What made you choose to be a member of Urantia Association International?
What drives you to be part of the Association? Do you feel part of our international family?
Are we serving you well at the international level? What can we do to help you more?
What can leaders in your country and city do to serve you and meet your expectations better?
How can we engage more effectively with younger readers and truth-seeking friends in your community?
Would you be interested in participating more actively in our outreach programs or international activities and projects?
The survey will give us a unique opportunity to start a conversation with you and use your valuable opinions, ideas and suggestions to keep our focus on our most important objective: to constantly improve the way we serve you.
Your responses to this survey will be anonymous and collected centrally by the Membership Committee of the Association. Feedback to our leaders and volunteers will be provided on a no-name basis and all the information you give us will be used to improve how we communicate with and support our independent and institutional members in every continent.
If you have any questions or suggestions about other aspects that the survey should include, please send them to Luis Garcia-Bory, Membership Chair [email protected] by 31st December.
We thank you in advance and very much look forward to your participation!


Tattoo and Body Piercing Artists in most Georgia counties are required by public health code to receive training in Bloodborne Pathogens and First Aid. We are specifically going to discuss the requirements for Chatham County where Code One's Savannah Training Center is located.
Code One has helped many artists obtain the required Bloodborne Pathogens and First Aid certifications through the American Heart Association.


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Бу́зовский се́льский сове́т () — входит в состав
Магдалиновского района
Днепропетровской области
Украины.

Административный центр сельского совета находится в
с. Бузовка.

Населённые пункты совета

 с. Бузовка
 с. Йосиповка
 с. Колпаковка

Примечания

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We are absolutely loving the color of this dress! That solid coloring is fabulous!! You could wear so many different colored necklaces with this one!! Get excited!
Cute, comfortable dress. Can dress it up or down. Looks great with booties or sandals. Great buy!


Music Theory - Basic, Intermediate, Advanced.pdf - Download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. Search Search... Download music theory workbook for all musicians or read online here in PDF or EPUB. Please click button to get music theory workbook for all musicians book now. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so don't worry about it.
22/11/2010 · During the summer of 1910, Arnold Schoenberg wrote his Harmonielehre (Theory of Harmony, Schoenberg 1922), which remains one of the most influential music-theory books…... Music theory books can be a frustrating thing. Sometimes you come across a gem, that explains things well and is easy to read. For instance, when I first started reading William Caplin's Sometimes you come across a gem, that explains things well and is easy to read.


An important early artillery fortification with an exceptional residential tower, Craignethan Castle is in a very picturesque setting overlooking the River Nethan.
Craignethan dates back to around 1530. The oldest part is a tower house built by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, the castle's defences include a caponier and a stone vaulted artillery chamber, which is rare in Britain.
Five and a half miles west north west of Lanark off the A72.


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Ülo Seppa (10 February 1933 in Tartu – 2015) is an Estonian lawyer and agronomist.

He was a member of Constitutional Assembly of Estonia.

In 2006, he was awarded with Order of the National Coat of Arms, V class.

References

1933 births
2015 deaths
20th-century Estonian lawyers
Estonian agronomists
Voters of the Estonian restoration of Independence
Recipients of the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 4th Class
Politicians from Tartu


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Candy Gourlay biography
Author Biography | Books by this Author | Readalikes
Candy Gourlay
How to pronounce Candy Gourlay: gor-LAY
Candy Gourlay was born in Manila during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. After working as a journalist for some years, she moved to the U.K. in her twenties. Candy is now a full-time writer across a range of mediums: short stories, blogs, web sites, journalistic features, and radio programs. Tall Story is Candy's first full-length published novel.
Books by this author
Candy Gourlay's website
This bio was last updated on 10/20/2016. In a perfect world, we would like to keep all of BookBrowse's biographies up to date, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's simply impossible to do. So, if the date of this bio is not recent, you may wish to do an internet search for a more current source, such as the author's website or social media presence. If you are the author or publisher and would like us to update this biography, send the complete text and we will replace the old with the new.
Books by Candy Gourlay at BookBrowse
All the books below are recommended as readalikes for Candy Gourlay but some maybe more relevant to you than others depending on which books by the author you have read and enjoyed. So look for the suggested read-alikes by title linked on the right.
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Frank Cottrell Boyce was born in Liverpool in 1959 to an Irish Catholic family. He graduated from Keble College, Oxford, where he continued his studies to receive a doctorate in English.
Boyce became a screenwriter, ... (more)
If you enjoyed:
The Unforgotten Coat
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Frances O'Roark Dowell
Frances O'Roark Dowell is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Dovey Coe, which won the Edgar Award; Where I'd Like to Be; the bestselling The Secret Language of Girls and its sequels The Kind of Friends We Used... (more)
The Second Life of Abigail Walker
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
We recommend 9 similar authors
View all 9 Readalikes
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Bestselling author Thrity Umrigar tells the moving story of two Indian women and the courage they inspire in each other.
The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book


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Antropofago to release second full-length
by Staff on May 29, 2015
Modern technical metal band Antropofago is set to release Æra Dementiæ, which was originally set to be released in 2014 but has been delayed until this year, August 14th.
Limited to 500 copies, Kaotoxin Records will release the album as a deluxe DigiSleeve double CD featuring an expanded version of Between Fear and Madness. Æra Dementiæ, features guest appearances by past and current members of Gorod, Insain, Nephren-Ka and Savage Annihilation.
Facebook.com/antropofago.deathmetal
Youtube.com/AntropofagoMetal
Twitter.com/antropofago_bdm
Tags: 2015, Antropofago, Gorod, Insain, Nephren-Ka, new album, Savage Annihilation, technical metal, Æra Dementiæ


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ROADMAP launches public information leaflet
University of Oxford-led ROADMAP project releases public leaflet
The acronym ROADMAP stands for: "Real world Outcomes across the Alzheimer's Disease spectrum for better care: Multi-modal data Access Platform".
Phase 1 of ROADMAP began in November 2016 and lasts for two years. October 2017, therefore, marks the halfway point of the project.
In Phase 1 ROADMAP's goal is to lay the foundation of an EU-wide data sharing space for real-world evidence (RWE) outcomes for better care in Alzheimer's disease.
By the end of October 2018, the ROADMAP consortium, a public private collaboration of 25 partners from Europe, coordinated by the University of Oxford and Novartis, aims to deliver guiding principles and recommendations on integrating available RWE to support healthcare decision making in AD treatment and research.
Read more (Department of Psychiatry website)
Oxford spinout trials revolutionary bioelectronic implant to treat incontinence
The first participants in a clinical trial of a bioelectrical therapy to treat incontinence have received their "smart" bioelectronic implants.
COVID-19 is a leading cause of death in children and young people in the US
A new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford's Department of Computer Science has found that, between 2021 and 2022, COVID-19 was a leading cause of death in children and young people in the United States, ranking eighth overall. The results demonstrate that pharmaceutical and public health interventions should continue to be applied to limit the spread of the coronavirus and protect again severe disease in this age group.
Three or more concussions linked with worse brain function in later life
Experiencing three or more concussions is linked with worsened brain function in later life, according to new research.
New blood test could save lives of heart attack victims
Researchers in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG) have developed a blood test that measures stress hormone levels after heart attacks. The test – costing just £10 – could ensure patients receive timely life-saving treatment.
COVID-19 increased public trust in science, new survey shows
A survey of over 2000 British adults has found that public trust in science, particularly genetics, increased significantly during the pandemic. However, those with extremely negative attitudes towards science tend to have high self-belief in their own understanding despite low textbook knowledge.
Gero Miesenböck awarded 2023 Japan Prize
Congratulations to Professor Gero Miesenböck, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG), who has been awarded the 2023 Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences, together with Professor Karl Deisseroth, for pioneering work in the field of optogenetics.


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Alec Baldwin Goes Inside His New Podcast 'Ben Steele, American' & More!
Emmy winning actor Alec Baldwin zoomed in to the show today to talk all about his fascinating new iHeartRadio podcast 'Ben Steele, American' which is now streaming! Ben was a US Army soldier during WW2 and survived the Bataan Death March in 1942. The podcast gets into all that and the wild life he lived after returning from the war here in America. Plus Alec previewed a new movie he's working on called '97 Minutes' he's working on which is a triller, talked fatherhood, his other podcast with his wife Hilaria and more! Check out the full interview below and a link to the first episode of his new podcast!


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Europeans weigh launching robotic mini-shuttle by 2020
In 2013, a Vega rocket will carry the European Space Agency's Intermediate Experimental Vehicle into space. The vehicle will then return to Earth to test a range of enabling systems and technologies for atmospheric re-entry, as shown in this artist's conception.ESA
June 14, 2011, 2:12 AM UTC / Source: Space.com
By By Rob Coppinger
A European-built robot space plane could be flying in orbit before the end of the decade if the project's planning discussions, which kick off this month, come to fruition.
The spacecraft would be Europe's civilian equivalent to the U.S. Air Force's unmanned X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, a robotic miniature space shuttle that has flown on two missions since 2010.
This European robot space plane would be an evolved version of European Space Agency's Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, or IXV, which is expected to make its first flight in 2013.
Planning for the space plane starts this month because the final industrial phase for the IXV is also under way, with the awarding of manufacturing and assembly contracts at the Paris air show, ESA's IXV project manager Giorgio Tumino said.
Tumino's team finished the IXV's critical design in May, setting the stage for the spacecraft's construction. [Video: Europe's IXV Space Plane]
"We have a very committed industrial team," Tumino told Space.com.
Europe's robot space plane
Like the IXV prototype, ESA's future robot space plane would fly on an unmanned Vega rocket from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The spacecraft could be used to monitor Earth or service satellites, then re-enter the atmosphere and land like an aircraft.
For the full-size spacecraft to fly in low-Earth orbit before 2020, its development, testing and production must be approved by 2015 by ESA's member states. This decision would follow three years of conceptual and preliminary vehicle design studies that could start next year.
The hope is that the planning that starts this month will lead to ESA member states approving the design studies in 2012, project officials said.
ESA's Vega rocket is slated to make its maiden launch later this year. A successful test flight would move the IXV prototype, a key milestone in the space plane project, closer to its own 2013 test.
Meet the IXV space plane
The IXV space plane weighs about 3,970 pounds (1,800 kilograms) and is 14.4 feet long (4.4 meters) and 7.2 feet wide (2.2 meters). It is described as a lifting body because its shape produces lift without the need for wings.
The vehicle has four thrusters and two body flaps at the rear to provide flight control. For comparison, NASA's space shuttle vehicle also has a body flap. The flaps are used during re-entry for pitch control, which determines whether the nose of the shuttle goes up or down.
The U.S. Air Force's X-37B robot space plane is larger than Europe's IXV. The X-37B vehicles, the second of which is currently in orbit, weigh 11,000 pounds (nearly 5,000 kilograms) each and are about 29 feet long (nearly 9 meters) and have a wingspan of 14 feet (4.2 meters).
Like Europe's IXV, the Boeing-built X-37B is used to test reusable spacecraft technologies, but it is also used for classified operations, with many experts suggesting it can perform orbital reconnaissance functions. [Photos: USAF Launches X-37B Space Plane]
The first X-37B launched in April 2010 and that vehicle, OTV-1, made an autonomous landing nine months later in California in December. The second X-37B, OTV-2, was launched in early March 2011 to begin a similar 270-day mission.
Europe's big test launch
When the IXV launches on its first test flight, it is expected to soar into orbit from French Guiana and then splash down in the Pacific Ocean two and a half hours later using parachutes. The robotic spacecraft is expected to re-enter the atmosphere at Mach 20, more than 20 times the speed of sound.
By performing maneuvers in the atmosphere during descent, the spacecraft should be able to slow itself considerably, to about Mach 2. Parachutes should then be open to slow the craft even further for a water landing.
The IXV will carry 600 sensors to record the effects of its atmospheric re-entry and descent on its heat shield and other systems, ESA officials have said.
ESA began the IXV project in 2005 with plans for a 2010 test launch, but by 2009 delays had set the flight back to 2012. It later slipped to 2013. In 2006, ESA officials said that the IXV's preliminary and detailed design and development work, manufacture, assembly and testing would cost about 100 million euros (about $144 million).
Originally managed by a new European joint venture company called NGL Prime, the project was moved to Thales Alenia Space when NGL Prime closed in 2008. This change in management also led to a redesign of IXV in 2009.
Tumino declined to give a figure for the latest total cost of IXV due to these industrial changes as final negotiations with industry were under way.
Follow Space.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
Photos: Air Force's 2nd Secretive X-37B Space Plane Flight
Surviving as a Man-Made Meteor: ESA's IXV Spacecraft
Vote Now! The Best Spaceships of All Time
By Rob Coppinger


text:
Hate, Malice, Revange – jest to debiutancki album amerykańskiej grupy grającej deathcore - All Shall Perish wydany 19 sierpnia 2003 roku przez wytwórnię Amputated Vein Records.

Lista utworów
 "Deconstruction" – 2:52
 "Laid to Rest" – 4:41
 "Our Own Grave" – 4:09
 "The Spreading Disease" – 4:32
 "Sever the Memory" – 5:12
 "For Far Too Long..." – 4:03
 "Never Ending War" – 6:25
 "Herding the Brainwashed" – 4:14

Twórcy
 Craig Betit – wokal
 Caysen Russo – gitara, wokal
 Ben Orum – gitara
 Mike Tiner – gitara basowa
 Matt Kuykendall – perkusja
 Zack Ohren – produkcja, inżynieria dźwięku, mastering, miksowanie

Przypisy

Bibliografia

Linki zewnętrzne
 Okładka

Albumy All Shall Perish
Albumy Nuclear Blast
Albumy muzyczne wydane w roku 2003


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Early View
Just Accepted
Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (2): 299-318.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.02.007
• Research Articles • Previous Articles Next Articles
A growing need for long-term condition and trend information across natural and anthropogenic landscapes is promoting interest in long-term permanent plot research. In this review, we introduced the 76-year history of management and research on forest dynamics in the Duke Forest, NC. This forest has been intensively studied since the early 1930s and has become a model system for ecological and environmental education and research in the eastern United States. We summarize and assess research in the Duke Forest on forest environment, the current network of long-term permanent vegetation plots, survey protocols, data management procedures, and major research findings from those long-term plot data. We also summarize more broadly the current status of long-term research on the natural dynamics of Piedmont forests of the southeastern United States. Lessons learned from the Duke Forest research site could inform the design of a world-wide, long-term network of research plots for monitoring and assessment of forest dynamics and trends in species composition and biodiversity.
Key words: Duke Forest, species diversity, forest succession, spatial pattern, disturbance ecology, long-term permanent plot, the eastern deciduous forests, Piedmont Plateau
XI Wei-Min, PEET Robert K. LONG-TERM STUDIES OF FOREST DYNAMIC IN THE DUKE FOREST, SOUTH EASTERN UNITED STATES: A SYNTHESIS (REVIEW)[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2008, 32(2): 299-318.
Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX
URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.02.007
https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2008/V32/I2/299
Fig.1 The locations of the Duke Forest in North Carolina and the seven mapped permanent plots (MPPs) and the 34 long-term permanent sample plots (PSPs) in Durham Division and Korstian Division of the Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA The sub-areas within the two divisions are the forest cover types. PSPs are the long-term permanent sample plots which were established in the early 1930s.Note the legends of forest cover types are not shown in this figure (Data source: the Duke Forest office, Duke University 2001)
Fig. 2 Old-field succession on Piedmont and four-stage forest succession model and hypothesized tree species diversity curve (as shown in solid line) over time.
Fig.3 Photographs illustrating major forest landscape types in the Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA. Photographs are by Weimin Xi Upper left: This sign shows the 100-year land use history and various management practices have been conducted after the 1996 Hurricane Fran for this damaged area, including salvaging, chopping, site preparation burning, and planting of loblolly pines. Upper right: This 2001 photograph shows a typical oak-dominated upland hardwood stand (PSP 10) in the Duke Forest. The majority of upland hardwoods is second growth and is significantly influenced by soil type, physiology and past disturbance. Lower left: This 2001 photograph shows the Graveyard plot loblolly pine stand of Duke Forest. The Graveyard plot was an even-aged (ca. 80-year-old), post-agriculture loblolly stand in transition to hardwood dominance. Lower right: The mixed-aged lowland alluvial hardwood forest. Lowland forests (or bottomland hardwood areas) occupy mainly mesic/hydric sites
Fig.4 3D visualization of long-term forest stand dynamics in the Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA (The images are created by Weimin Xi) The upper right and upper left graphic images together show visualization of forest stand dynamics in the Bormann plot of Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA. The lower right and lower left show 3D visualization of forest stand dynamics in PSP 17 plot of Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA. These 3-Dimesion graphic images were generated using our improved Stand Visualization System (SVS), which originally developed by the Pacific Northwest Research Station of the USDA Forest Service with data from field survey records of the forest stand from 1950 to 1997 for the Bormann plot, and 1933 to 2001 for the PSP 17. Note in the upper right image of Bormann plot, there are some fallen trees by the 1996 Hurricane Fan. These images provide a representation of dynamics of stand conditions in both plots over a 47-year and 67-year period. The Bormann plot is 1.96 hm2 in size (140 m long and 140 m wide), and the PSP 17 is 0.04 hm2 in size (20.1 m long and 20.1 m wide)
Fig.5 Depletion curves illustrating differences in mortality rates of trees from two upland, mixed-aged, mixed-species stands
[1] Abrams MD (1992) Fire and development of oak forests. BioScience, 42, 46-353.
[2] Baker-Brosh KF (1996). The Genetic Consequences of Self-thinning in Two Populations of Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda L. PhD Dissertation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
[3] Baker-Brosh KF, Peet RK (1997). The ecological significance of lobed and toothed leaves in temperate forest trees. Ecology, 78, 1250-1255.
[4] Barker AA, Foster DR (2006). Sustaining long-term research through changing times at the Harvard Forest. In: Irland LC, Camp AE, Brissette JC, Donohew ZR eds. Long-term Silvicultural & Ecological Studies - Results for Science and Management. Yale University, New Haven, USA, 41-52.
[5] Billings WD (1938). The structure and development of old field shortleaf pine stands and certain associated physical properties of the soil. Ecological Monographs, 8, 437-499.
[6] Bormann FH (1953a). The statistical efficiency of sample plot size and shape in Forest Ecology. Ecology, 34, 474-487.
[7] Bormann FH (1953b). Factors determining the role of loblolly pine and sweetgum in early old-field succession in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Ecological Monographs, 23, 339-358.
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[1] ZHAO Chang-Xing, ZHAO Wei-Jun, ZHANG Xing-Lin, LIU Si-Min, MOU Wen-Bo, LIU Jin-Rong. Analyses of intraspecific competition and facilitation of Picea crassifolia in Pailugou Watershed of Qilian Mountains, China [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(9): 1027-1037.
[2] DONG Liu-Wen, REN Zheng-Wei, ZHANG Rui, XIE Chen-Di, ZHOU Xiao-Long. Functional diversity rather than species diversity can explain community biomass variation following short-term nitrogen addition in an alpine grassland [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(8): 871-881.
[3] ZENG Kai-Na, SUN Hao-Ran, SHEN Yi-Chun, REN Ming-Xun. Pollination network and seasonal dynamics of Yangshan Wetland in Hainan Island, China [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(7): 775-784.
[4] PENG Xin, JIN Guang-Ze. Effects of plant characteristics and environmental factors on the dark diversity in a broadleaved Korean pine forest [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(6): 656-666.
[5] CHEN Li, TIAN Xin-Min, REN Zheng-Wei, DONG Liu-Wen, XIE Chen-Di, ZHOU Xiao-Long. Effects of nutrient addition on plant diversity and above-ground biomass in alpine grasslands of Tianshan Mountains, China [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(3): 280-289.
[6] HAO Jian-Feng, ZHOU Run-Hui, YAO Xiao-Lan, YU Jing, CHEN Cong-Lin, XIANG Lin, WANG Yao-Yao, SU Tian-Cheng, QI Jin-Qiu. Effects of the second generation wild boar grazing on species diversity and soil physicochemical properties of coniferous-broad-leaved mixed forest in Jiajin Mountain, China [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(2): 197-207.
[7] ZHANG Yi, CHENG Jie, SU Ji-Shuai, CHENG Ji-Min. Diversity-productivity relationship of plant communities in typical grassland during the long- term grazing exclusion succession [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(2): 176-187.
[8] SONG Yu-Han, ZHANG Peng, JIN Guang-Ze. Characteristics of shrub leaf carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry and influencing factors in mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forests at different successional stages [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(9): 952-960.
[9] SHI Jiao-Xing, XU Ming-Shan, FANG Xiao-Chen, ZHENG Li-Ting, ZHANG Yu, BAO Di-Feng, YANG An-Na, YAN En-Rong. Latitudinal variability and driving factors of functional diversity in Pinus thunbergiicommunities across sea-islands in Eastern China [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(2): 163-173.
[10] CHUAN Hui-Yan, JIA Dong-Rui, PU Jiang, ZHANG Cui-Ping, LI Shu-Ying, ZHOU Yuan-Qing. Structural characteristics of Keteleeria davidiana forest communities in Xinping, Yunnan [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(2): 207-212.
[11] YI Hai-Yan, ZENG Yuan, ZHAO Yu-Jin, ZHENG Zhao-Ju, XIONG Jie, ZHAO Dan. Forest species diversity mapping based on clustering algorithm [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2020, 44(6): 598-615.
[12] CHEN Shi-Ping, YOU Cui-Hai, HU Zhong-Min, CHEN Zhi, ZHANG Lei-Ming, WANG Qiu-Feng. Eddy covariance technique and its applications in flux observations of terrestrial ecosystems [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2020, 44(4): 291-304.
[13] WANG Yan-Hong, LI Shuai-Feng, LANG Xue-Dong, HUANG Xiao-Bo, LIU Wan-De, XU Chong-Hua, SU Jian-Rong. Effects of topographic heterogeneity on species diversity in a monsoon evergreen broad- leaved forest in Pu'er, Yunnan, China [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2020, 44(10): 1015-1027.
[14] DING Wei,WANG Yu-Bing,XIANG Guan-Hai,CHI Yong-Gang,LU Shun-Bao,ZHENG Shu-Xia. Effects of Caragana microphylla encroachment on community structure and ecosystem function of a typical steppe [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2020, 44(1): 33-43.
[15] WANG Yu-Bing,SUN Yi-Han,DING Wei,ZHANG En-Tao,LI Wen-Huai,CHI Yong-Gang,ZHENG Shu-Xia. Effects and pathways of long-term nitrogen addition on plant diversity and primary productivity in a typical steppe [J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2020, 44(1): 22-32.
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Murky Intentions and No Measures: Last week I studied SB 1, a huge bill titled to suggest it paves the way for Connecticut becoming an Innovation Center. The bill talks about creating a new quasi-agency that performs functions already are performed by existing agencies, renovating communities to provide a lifestyle attractive to younger professionals, and expanding access to technical education programs. Nowhere does the bill state the results these costly changes are intended to create and the measures the State can use to evaluate success. The logic is that if we copy the activities and environment of successful innovation centers, we will become innovators. The question is whether these investments address the critical barriers to innovation. For example, does beautifying our communities change young professionals' behavior if they still cannot afford the cost of living in Connecticut? The lack of measures eliminates accountability and explains why government programs never die.
Businesses can also launch projects without clear intentions. It is common for managers who are feeling strapped for cash to direct their sales force to get more sales. A sale is the result of a customer identifying a need that your product can satisfy. There are many obstacles that can prevent sales and most of them are outside the control of a salesperson. Weak products, noncompetitive pricing, ineffective marketing, and lack of sales productivity can all be a problem. Without measures that clarify where issues lie, sales initiatives can fall flat and frustrate an organization.
Allocating Inadequate Resources to Be Successful: Connecticut has many unfunded mandates that direct agencies to take an action without identifying where the resources will come from to carry out the act. This can be an environmental regulation where the agency lacks equipment or expertise to consistently enforce a new regulation or a call center that has been tasked to deliver a new customer service without clarifying the existing services to be discontinued.
Resource allocation is the most common reason I observe for strategic plans failing in small businesses. The underlying cause is often that executives lack clarity on how their human resources are being spent. Executives will assume a staff can juggle a key initiative without delegating at least some activities tied to customer product and service delivery. The result is that businesses miss opportunities to grow due to an inability to adequately identify the tactics that will obtain the goal.
As always, feel free to comment. Please take a deep breath and stay engaged in the electoral process.
Failure to recognize how fast customers will evolve: Companies are sustained by learning to time product introductions to a market window. A proven process to capture customers' future preferences and strategies is a given requirement. Even the best market intelligence, however, will only render a hazy outline of how your product offerings need to evolve. Understanding key material, tool, and process trends provides more clarity on product cycles. Intuitive customer understanding and the ability to predict schedules and cost, however, is the "secret sauce" for a winning product program. And while the biggest prizes are awarded to disruptive products that leapfrog the competition, ideas cannot be so innovative that customers fail to understand their value. Apple is recognized for the graphical computer interface and personal audio player; but was not the first to market either of these products.
Reluctance to lead change: I have seen executives who desire organizational change stumble when they did not factor how they need to change. When people are presented with a new idea, over half the population will respond by rejecting the idea until it can be proven to their satisfaction that it's a good idea. While clear communication regarding what the change is, why change is needed, and how the organization will benefit is vitally important, leading by action is equally as important. Allowing employees to participate in planning change, working to build trust, and involvement in demonstrating the changed behavior will help achieve success.
Inadequate reallocation of resources: Executives worry how change in their business might unsettle customers' willingness to buy. Businesses will often attempt to maintain both old offerings and services while the replacements are being developed and introduced. The decisions businesses make regarding capabilities, skill development, and capital are impactful. How often have we seen?
The ability to forecast capital requirements and cash flow is an invaluable skill. The discipline to release high-skill employees from marginal product lines without disruption will lower stress on the organization.
I have seen attitudes toward strategic planning jaded by these missteps. The rewards of management team learning to be proficient at planning, however, make learning worthwhile.


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About Ourselves
General Contents and Philosophy
Psychosomatic Energetics® (PSE) is an alternative-medicine healing method which considers body, mind, and spirit to be inseparable human elements. It innovatively combines concepts and theories stemming from ancient healing arts and empirical medicine of non-European world cultures (e.g. Yoga, ancient Indian Chakra theory, Traditional Chinese Medicine) with complementary medical knowledge from Western society (e.g. Somatic Psychotherapy, Homeopathy, Kinesiology).
PSE users strive for a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of physiological and psychological disorders. According to PSE, such disorders are often the result of blocked life energy. If life energy no longer flows smoothly and cannot be adequately taken up, this leads to an energetic deficiency state, which has negative repercussions for health and well-being.
In PSE's view, the cause of insufficiently available life energy is very often to be found in energy blockages. These blockages originate in unresolved, repressed (and thus subconscious) conflicts which tie up energy. PSE's job is to diagnose these blockages and then eliminate them via the use of patient-individualized compound homeopathic agents. Once the blockages have been "dissolved", life energy is harmonized, thereby stimulating spontaneous healing powers.
Since conflict resolution takes time, discipline and patience is necessary – on the part of patient and therapist alike. The successful application of PSE calls for a clearly standardized procedure, to which the trained therapists dedicate themselves. When necessary, PSE can be applied in conjunction with either orthodox-medical therapies or a great many alternative-medical procedures. PSE considers its place in the context of an equilibrating alternative-medicine discipline.
PSE and its practitioners are not ideologically tied down, and favor a liberal and enlightened stance; they are open to alternative-energy and energy-medicine techniques, as long as they have proven themselves in practice by a significant number of users.
Research into synergies and the exchange of experiences with other specialists form an important core constituency of activities of the International Society for Psychosomatic Energetics (IGPSE). The society and its members are dedicated to the determination of a serious, broadly supported, sound and practice-related medical science, and stand for a tolerant and open mental attitude.
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The Most (and Least) Common PIN Numbers and Numeric Passwords. Is Yours One of Them?
Tech consultancy company DataGenetics has analyzed the popularity of numeric passwords. What they found confirms previous research that most of our four-digit PINs (e.g., for credit and debit cards) are way too predictable. Check if yours is one of those mentioned in their report.
The data analysed came from exposed password databases. Data Consultancy filtered the results to just those that were exactly four digits long [0-9] and found nearly 3.4 million four-digit passwords. These are used as a proxy for users' four-digit PIN codes. There are 10,000 possible combinations of digits from 0000 through 9999, and each of those were represented in the dataset.
So out of the 10,000 possible combinations for four-digit codes, which is the most popular? You guessed it: 1234. An alarming ~11% of the 3.4 million passwords are 1234.
The top 20 passwords account for nearly 27% of the total.
Looking at the list at right, you'll see that the numbers are all familiar, easily predictable patterns, such as 0000, 4321, and 1010.
If you're using the keypad to make a PIN pattern (e.g., 2580 going straight down), chances are hackers can guess that quickly too.
Other high frequency PINs are years and dates (e.g., MMDD).
Expanding the analysis to all-numeric passwords (not just four-digit ones), guess which are the most popular? Yup, 12345 for 5 digits, 123456 for 6 digits, and so on. (Ranked at #17 for the ten-digit password is 3141592654—the first digits of Pi, so that's at least a little more imaginative).
What about the least popular PINs? At the bottom at #10,000 is 8068—but that's not a great idea for your new PIN now that it's been exposed. The twenty least popular PINs don't appear to have any predictability.
The moral of the story, as with every password topic, is that we're pretty bad at choosing truly random passwords and PINs. In the case of your credit or debit card PIN, having one that's too common would obviously be an issue if a thief steals or finds your wallet, but ATM card skimming also means thieves don't need your physical card to get into your bank account.
If your PIN number is too predictable or popular, see our article on PIN security and how to come up with new numbers that are more secure.


Lo-doc loans have had a bad name since the GFC when thousands of Americans were sold loans they had no way of repaying. But, there are times when lo-doc loans are the solution to those who cannot get finance.
Typically, in Australia, a lo-doc loan is a solution to would-be borrowers who will not or cannot substantiate their income. Often this is because they do not have the two years' worth of financial statements that lenders require.
Normally the preserve of the self-employed, here are some examples of when I have used lo-doc loans. Could they apply to you?
Many lo-doc loans also have quite competitive rates – especially if you are borrowing less than 80 per cent of the property's value.
If you want to buy a property but have always thought it was too hard, please get in touch – it may be easier than you think.


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The Blocksmith Case Study
As an educator, I like how Blocksmith facilitates students creating their own unique 3D productions as opposed to being relatively passive consumers of information. This is a big hit with the kids!"- Ken Price, Marsing School District
Big things are happening at Marsing Elementary School in Marsing, Idaho, where virtual reality has become a staple of their after-school program. Originally a four-day-a-week school, Marsing has been able to secure multiple grants to expand its after-school program into Friday, allowing students an optional fifth day of learning. Beginning last September, Ken Price secured the J.A. and Kathryn Albertsons Foundation grant which bolstered Marsing's after-school program — but that's not where Ken's virtual-reality-in-the-classroom dreams started.
As Ken says, it started simply with a shared idea between him and another instructor. They had both noticed that the virtual reality market had been growing exponentially, and they saw its potential in the classroom.
So Ken started exploring the idea. A quick search led him to the Idaho Virtual Reality Council, who pointed Ken in the direction of Markus Nigrin, the CEO of the Boise-based company, Blocksmith. The two got to talking, and Ken started to realize the full potential of Blocksmith. Because the Marsing After-School Program was already experimenting with coding and robotics, and he knew virtual reality would fit perfectly with the students.
The Start of Something Special
Funded through the State Department of Education, the STEM Action Center and the 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, Ken focused on innovating the after-school program by bringing students the interactions and learning opportunities they couldn't find during the regular school day.
"I knew we had something in Blocksmith when our 3-5th graders quickly began building their own 3D creations after 20 minutes of being introduced to the program. We heard lots of oohs and wows, and we saw students sharing with each other how they built their own 3D scenes with racing cars, burning buildings and other unique elements."
With the Blocksmith system, students learn how to create games and experiences for virtual/augmented reality. A fun and exciting journey for students and teachers alike, Blocksmith allows learning environments to create, share and experience the wide world of virtual reality, offering students unique opportunities to learn and explore. The Blocksmith learning system introduces students to the world of virtual reality, preparing them for the not-too-distant virtual future.
"The most important thing," says Ken, "is if the kids will like it. It's an afterschool program, and after being in school all day, we've got to be able to entertain them — and they love it!"
Through the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, Marsing Elementary School was also able to provide regional development to four other after-school program grantees. Centering around virtual reality, the development allowed the other programs to come in and see how big of a hit Blocksmith is with after-school learners, and the other programs were blown away.
"The goal of the regional development was to show the other instructors that it's doable. Teachers don't have time to be trained on new programs and systems," says Ken. "But when a group of teachers can come in on a Friday and have 3-5th graders teach them the Blocksmith software, you know you're onto something special. Of course, it takes some time, and you need the right setup, but it's worth it. It's where the future lies with coding and programming. We have no idea what applications are ahead with this stuff, but our learners need to be ready."
Blocksmith isn't just a hit with students. Across the nation, educators are diving into the virtual world, discovering exactly how influential VR can be in the classroom. John Barenberg, Marsing's after-school instructor, had this to say about his experience with Blocksmith:
"I am writing to give you some of my impressions of using Blocksmith with the kids. Our kids love websites where they get to build and play, and Blocksmith fits right in with this. Blocksmith also takes kids to a new level beyond other websites in that it allows kids to do problem-solving and higher order thinking. It allows for creativity, Art, Science, Math — all aspects of STEAM. Then, for our kids, they can use it with VR! It is one way that we can integrate VR into what we are doing, and the kids love it because it's something they created and then get to see!
We have been using code.org, scratch and other websites, and they are great resources, but Blocksmith allows kids to take ownership in what they are doing and allows for creativity using computer science. This, in turn, may help kids lead toward a computer science or other STEAM job in the future!
I also like how much the girls are into doing this! I very much encourage our young ladies to get involved in this as much as they can, and not think of it as a "boy" thing. I want them to love it at whatever level they want!
You never really know where this will lead some of these kids in their future!"
Scott Slonim of the Blaine County School District had a similar Blocksmith experience with his students.
"We were supposed to build motorized Lego cars today. We were going to come back to Blocksmith in two weeks. The kids groaned. They wanted to continue building and making games, see them in VR. So we will do cars later, and we continued with Blocksmith!"
Engaging in the Virtual World
Virtual reality is here to stay. With a market expected to exceed $75 billion by 2021, today's students need to be prepared for tomorrow's technological future. Just like the call for elementary internet skills in the early 2000's and today's push for coding literacy, virtual reality needs to make the same impact on our student's educations as it is making on today's industries. By preparing them today, we're ensuring their future success.
If you want to learn more about Marsing's success or you're ready to give your students the tools they need to succeed in the virtual future, check out the Blocksmith Enrichment Program
or watch the Blocksmith Webinar where PCS Edventures and the CEO of Blocksmith, Markus Nigrin, dive into exactly how an early adoption of virtual reality can prepare your students for tomorrow's virtual future.
We are at the tip of a new technological dawn, and virtual reality is leading the charge — are you and your learners ready for the future of virtual reality?
A Year of STE(A)M Enrichment
STEM for SEL Support
Enriching Out-of-School Programs with STE(A)M
The Many Uses of Building Bricks
Revamp Classroom Management with STEM
← Back to STEMpower


Track the MLB ballparks that you have visited! Gorgeous, full-color map showing all team stadium logos at their ballpark locations. Makes a great baseball gift - either framed or unframed!
Includes the MLB's newest stadium...Atlanta Braves move to SunTrust Park!
This is a "Tracking" Map which shows all of the logos on the print in black & white. Included are color logo stickers for each team. When you visit a ballpark, just peel-&-stick the color logo on the print to designate that you've been there.
I am very happy with this purchase and can't wait to fill the gray and white stadiums with the colored stadium stickers. It looks great hanging on my wall!