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South County Magazine
Columnes
Law & Legislation
Photography by Diana Schmitt, Accent Portraits by Diana
Playing the Percentages and Paying It Forward with Sheri Normandin, Pacific Sotheby's International
Jody Robinson
The last time I spoke with Sheri, she was crushing customer service one real estate client at a time in Orange County, managing expectations and maximizing her results.
I noted that it was rare to find something that you were both talented in and passionate about; in fact, despite corporate spending reaching the $100 billion mark last year in training and $1 billion plus in "employee engagement," a Deloitte Study showed that less than 35% of the U.S. workforce actually felt engaged at work.
That means 68% of Americans feel the opposite, or something close to the opposite of Sheri, every day at the office. "I go beyond what is expected, which changes with each client. Selling or buying a home can be an emotional experience, and making it as positive as possible is my goal."
Pacific Sotheby's International has made it their business to enrich the client experience: in fact, even moving beyond borders. "It's easy to feel satisfied when you're working toward a shared goal," Sheri notes, "when your job title is literally Agent of Change, you start to look at everything with renewed meaning."
34122 Chula Vista Drive, Dana PointA certification that enables realtors like Sheri to build and gift homes to impoverished people around the world, the Agents of Change title comes with a certain set of responsibilities. Every home sold by an agent like Sheri means a donation is given toward constructing the next home on the list; the next home that will inevitably change the lives of those that move into it. Since 2017, Pacific Sotheby's has already raised over $150,000 to fund the building of homes in Tijuana, Mexico. One of the poorest communities, in one of the most impoverished cities in the world.
Earning top sales awards is one thing. And one thing that Sheri does well, I might add. But "top marks are that much more rewarding when they're earning floors, and windows, and walls for a family that needs them." I couldn't agree more. With a background in negotiation and marketing, Sheri navigates the fluctuations of the market as only a consummate professional would, full time. Having an agent who is bound and determined to help you find the right space is the main difference between buying a house, and finding your home. A disparity much like that between those who feel engaged at work and those who don't.
"Not all agents can provide that vision. I look for areas I can make the process easier for my clients and actively take things off their plate to reduce stress." The market can feel out of reach for both buyers and sellers, regardless of what kind of market it is at the time. "The needs of a buyer are vastly different than those of a seller," she says. "Attempting to forecast what may or may not happen over years to come takes an intuition built from years and years of closely paying attention. That's where my mission to provide hyper-responsive customer service comes in."
28412 Camino La Ronda, San Juan CapistranoAnd her attention to detail pays off. "Down to the last dial and knob, the paint color and the cabineture - each detail means the world to my clients. Additionally, knowing that each decision they are making impacts a family in an impoverished area drives my passion for each day's work."
"I'm also uniquely situated to welcome folks in as well, since I was exactly where they are when I first came to Orange County to buy a house for myself," says Sheri. "Whatever their individual goals, I'm deeply interested in helping my clients find their way into the home they'll call their own."
Latest from Jody Robinson
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Bahia Resort Hotel. Family-friendly fun on the beach
Home Safety Advisors: Helping Seniors Live Safely in Their Own Home Longer!
Make Money from Your Property with Point Design, Inc.
The Perfect Workout: 20 Minutes to Reverse the Effects of Aging
Home Safety Advisors Specializing in safe, accessible, comfortable walk-in tubs for seniors
Action Duct Cleaning Company
Destination Dining
South County Magazine is distributed to residents and businesses in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills and Aliso Viejo via direct mail through the USPS and is available on high-foot traffic distribution and stand locations in the aforementioned communities.
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All content is © 2014-2018 South Country Mag All rights reserved.


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2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, but we have kept fighting for the freedom of software users everywhere. We need your support now to carry on this work next year. If you are in a position to do so, please donate to us today.
We also need your help to spread the word, so do not forget to tell your friends and family about our work and fundraising efforts. Thank you so much from everyone at the FSFE!
European Free Software Policy Meeting 2017
Written by Polina Malaja
Building on the experience from last year's successful pre-FOSDEM meeting, the Free Software Foundation Europe and OpenForum Europe recently continued the tradition of bringing together active Free Software groups a day before the FOSDEM event, in order to discuss public policy related actions at both the EU and the national levels. This year, the meeting focused on encouraging exchanges of views between individual citizens and decision-makers, by providing practical first-hand information on topics relating to Free Software in public policy.
The session started with Sebastian Raible (parliamentary assistant to Julia Reda (a Member of the European Parliament)), who gave a presentation about Free Software developments from the perspective of the European Parliament. He explained the progress of the Free and Open Source Software Audit (or FOSSA) programme, which was extended for another three years at the end of 2016, and explained that one of the main changes to the programme is that now it includes a new "bug bounty" incentive scheme, rewarding the discovery and reporting of new software bugs. Participants highlighted their concerns over the methodology of FOSSA, and the need to focus on its aim, namely, support for the security of the Free Software projects.
Next, Pierre Damas (Head of Sector, Digital Services at the Directorate General of Information Technologies of the European Commission) shared with the group some of the Commission's plans for updating its Open Source Software Strategy, identifying the key barriers and motivations for adopting it in practice. According to Pierre Damas, although within the Commission Free Software is technically now treated equally with its proprietary counterparts, there remains a lack of political will to back up the mainstream adoption of Free Software technologies within the EU institutions. According to him, the next step for the updated Open Source Strategy in the Commission is the "digital transformation" of areas such as "cloud", big data, and the "Internet of Things".
Jaana Sahk-Labi (from the Estonian Permanent Representation to the EU) presented Estonia's national framework for supporting the implementation of Free Software. Estonia is considered to be the leader in e-Government at the EU level, and is planning to highlight e-Government topics during its presidency of the Council of the EU, in the second half of 2017. One of the main challenges for the Estonian government in the upcoming presidency will be the right approach for future-proofing "no legacy" policies that continue after the term of Estonia's presidency has come to an end. Consequently, Estonia is preaching for a digital revolution in the EU institutions.
Laurent Joubert (from the French government) presented the Open Source Contribution Policy Template which has been drafted by numerous representatives from governments, non-governmental organisations, companies, international organisations and academic sector as a part of the Open Government Partnership. The aim of this template is to provide an easily shareable and ready-to-use template for governments – as well as other public administrations - to set up a policy for code contributions made by civil servants, which have to be open by default. The ultimate goal of such a policy is to facilitate, share and reuse the code developed by and for public administrations.
The speakers' presentations were followed by a round table discussion, engaging the participants in considering the possibility creating a dashboard, which would serve as a tool for advocacy groups to assess best practices and policies for supporting Free Software and Open Standards (OS) in Member States. Part of the discussion was dedicated to finding ways to evaluate the existing national or regional policies which support Free Software. A couple of identified indicators of "openness" were: the level of Free Software usage; and the fact of using global analytics of online procedures. In addition, certain other criteria will also need to be taken into account: transparency of how Free Software is adopted in the public sector; the implementation of the policy in practice; and product maturity. The participants agreed to start working on listing the parameters which would describe "best behaviour" on the part of government, with a view to developing concrete steps or actions to support governments to achieve this.
The meeting was a stepping-stone, paving the way for a bigger collaboration on how to promote public policies supporting Free Software across Europe. We hope to continue the collaboration and to coordinate our actions in order to collectively make a difference on the policy level.
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Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to control technology.
Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives. It is important that this technology empowers rather than restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use, understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other fundamental rights like freedom of speech, freedom of press and privacy.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Providing a unique way to present a gift of wine, this rustic wooden wine box is perfect for sharing favorite bottles with fellow aficionados. Made with burnt wood for a convincing worn vintage look, this wine case features a swing clasp for a secure closure and added antique appeal. A chalkboard label allows personalized messages to be written and adds to the reusable convenience. Also suitable for use as a decorative piece, this stylish wine box makes a great accent for any wine-drinking setting. Marking a serious appreciation for fine wine, this wine bottle carrier is an essential accessory for every connoisseur.
RUSTIC WOODEN WINE BOX: A wine bottle carrying box with burnt-wood finish and chalkboard label.
VINTAGE-STYLE DESIGN: Distressed-look finish and swivel latch clasp closure create a convincing antique look.
DECORATIVE GIFT BOX: Makes a perfect presentation for a gift of a bottle of fine wine or champagne.


Campbell Construction is hiring general Laborers.
We have a great team and want employees who desire to be exposed to all construction trades.
No Construction experience is necessary but must have a good work ethic and a sense of promptness.


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PLANT BASE CAMP
by AdministratorPS
"Three weeks after converting to a herbivorous diet, Adams regained his vision. Three months later, the nerve damage to his extremities disappeared and his diabetes went into remission. He's since lost 35 pounds, lowered his cholesterol by 30 points and has gained more energy and clarity of mind. Most significantly, he reversed the adverse effects of his Type 2 diabetes."
~ New York Post article entitled "My vegan diet saved my eyesight — and my life", talking about New York Mayor Eric Adams.
AdministratorPS
PlantStand newsletter
comin' atcha
We ♥ you! Watch for our newsletter. Sincerely, PlantStand
Copyright © 2023 PlantStand
DAILY INSPIRATION ARCHIVE
COPYRIGHT 2023 PLANTSTAND 💚 | SITE DESIGN BY GREENSKY & CO.
What is the PlantStand Community?
The PlantStand Community is a group of people just like you. People who want what's best for their health and their future, and are committed to making that happen.
They know that the best way to transform ourselves is with support. And we are here for you too.
The plant based food movement is renewed and empowered through other like-minded people. People who become the gateway to overcoming the difficulties that arise when moving towards a plant-based diet.
The names here are a support line, a way to keep moving.
BE A PART OF THE PLANT-BASED COMMUNITY
The Daily Inspiration is three unique snippets of useful information designed to inform and inspire you just when you need it most: every day!
The sections are defined this way:
Body: Plant-based diet related. Nuts and bolts for your body chemistry.
Head: Plant-based lifestyle related. Ready to build into your day.
Heart: Spirituality and wellness related. Take a deep breath and listen to your inner voice.
CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR A NEW ROUND OF INSPIRATION
"Throughout human history, all large, successful populations of people have obtained the bulk of their calories from starch."
– Dr. Gil Weitzman
"Trust comes after action."
GINGER INTERFERES WITH GROWTH OF CANCER CELLS
Ginger root has been valued for thousands of years both as a versatile cooking spice and a trusted herbal remedy for nausea,
headaches and joint pain. A close relative to turmeric, ginger has similar antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects – and may even
activate the molecular mechanisms that cause cancer cells to extinguish themselves.
In one study, ginger inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed, a process known as selective cytotoxicity.
A University of Minnesota animal study showed that gingerols, a group of compounds found in ginger, resulted in 75 percent fewer tumors and smaller tumor sizes.45 While more study is needed, many scientists believe that ginger can inhibit many types of cancer – including breast, prostate, colon, liver and lung.
Add fresh or powdered ginger root to recipes, mince fresh ginger to use in a tangy salad dressing, juice it into an energizing "ginger shot" or even steep it into a refreshing tea. No matter how you "slice" it, this sweet and spicy herb should be part of your cancer-protective regimen.
– Deirdre Rawlings Doctor of Naturopathy, PhD in Holistic Nutrition


Inland Jet Kawasaki Engine rebuild includes.
Kawasaki Jet Ski engine repair comes with 1 year limited warranty.
Once you place Kawasaki Jetski engine rebuild order you will get a confirmation email with instruction on how to send in engine and an authorization #.


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Last season, we dived deep into one of Arsenal's biggest problems which made them not only underperform but fall well short of their rivals towards the top of the table and that was Arsenal's midfield. We dived into how there wasn't a fixed solution at the time but Arsenal has gone on their way to addressing those issues, with Thomas Partey coming in.
Granted, the Ghanain hasn't had a great start to the season with him not reaching the heights that have been expected of him. But that doesn't take away from the fact that he is one of Arsenal's undroppable players and the Gunners seem to function poorly when he isn't playing. Here we'll be looking into what makes Thomas Partey such an astute signing for the club and why he's so important for Mikel Arteta.
Style of Play:
Partey at Atletico was a monster, he was aggressive on and off the ball with Simeone using him as something of a shield to protect the back 4 and sustain pressure. At Arsenal, he's been used in a multitude of roles ranging from filling in at fullback ala Xhaka, or being a lone 6 in a 433 (this failed) but one thing has been consistent with him and that's his passing and ability on the ball.
The Ghanaian is a risk-taker, and his passing showcases that with him trying for the more difficult pass rather than choosing the easier option. This at times doesn't end well, as Arsenal loses possession and has to retract into shape but he's done extremely well with how he uses the ball. His between-the-line passing is his strongest attribute, which is why he is usually at the base of Arsenal's midfield.
Now you see him
In this above scenario, Chelsea has initiated a high press and is looking to win the ball back quickly to have an opportunity at goal. Mari plays the ball into Partey's feet, and he easily dribbles past his marker in Jorginho, ignoring the marked passing lane to his right as he's nimble with his feet. Evading the first press and getting Arsenal out of their defensive third and he's done this time and time again, which almost none of Arsenal's current midfield players doing this as effectively as Partey.
Dribble out of space
His ability to find players in advanced positions and early is very underrated. Partey has this knack of forcing those difficult passes into teammates in the 14 Zone (Central Area) which is one of the most crowded spaces in football. When he has the time and the patience to look around, he can pick players out with ease. Look at this pass when Arsenal played Norwich at the Emirates. Any other midfielder would look for the safe option but Partey sees an opportunity and absolutely fizzes the ball into Saka's feet (our favorite passes) from which coincidently, Arsenal scores from.
He has options
Fizzed into Saka
This was one of Arsenal's biggest issue in midfield: they didn't move the ball quick enough and needed someone who would be more than happy to consistently find his teammates in dangerous situations. Partey does this really well, and It helps Arsenal sustain pressure as well. Different midfield types have their own plus points, and having all-rounders is a really good way to become a team that is good with and without the ball. The Ghanaian defends space really well but rather than chase the ball down, he prefers to defend in space and not allow opponents to gain too much ground as not everyone is Kante (elite).
This helps Arsenal get back into space and reduce the space that was previously left behind by their players going forward. Now lets get into the analytical side of the story.
Analytical Look:
The analytical side of his game supports what we had to say when we looked at his style of play. Partey is a midfielder that is not a pure defensive midfielder, he's more of a connecter between midfield and the attack, with his passing being one of the key areas Arsenal utilize him for. Here's a summary of what his stats tell about us
He's an extremely progressive passer of the ball with 5.51 per 90 statistical data showcasing it
He is also able to carry the ball into the middle/final third if given space with 1.10 dribbles per 90 completed.
He doesn't press much (this season, could be because of Arsenal choosing not to press either.)
61 percentile for Shot Creating actions, which is decent but can be improved
Although statistically he shoots alot, but honestly he should stop doing it cause he's not good at it
Partey is right foot dominant with almost 1626 passes made with it compared to just 424 with his left at Arsenal.
Arsenal needs Thomas Partey, just as much as he needs them. They're a perfect match with his qualities outshining those of his teammates making him unique to the club and If played right, one of their best players. He must be played into form, as when that happens you can expect him to go up a level, as we believe there is more to come from him.


The following lists were extracted automatically from the VerbNet XML files.
Primary frame names are flat phrase-structure representations of the frames, intended to be generalizable across classes. Some of the names include dot-extensions that indicate a thematic role type or underscore-extensions that indicate a complement type. These extensions can be used to subdivide frame types or ignored to use more general frame types. The names are a revision of the previous naming system, in which frames had both descriptive primary names and more specific secondary names that subdivided the frame types. The downloadable .xml files of the classes include the old primary and secondary names in the "secondary" feature, for those who still wish to use the information. The web pages do not display them, but they are included here for reference.


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Graziella Moretto (Santos, 15 de mayo de 1972) es una actriz brasileña de cine, teatro y televisión.

Es conocida por su actuación en la película Ciudad de Dios.

Carrera

Televisión
 2014 - Uãnuêi, varios personajes (cuadro de Fantástico)
 2008 - Três Irmãs .... Valéria
 2008 - Dicas de Um Sedutor .... Carolina
 2008 - Casos e Acasos .... Suzana
 2006 - Minha Nada Mole Vida .... Fabiane Mendonça
 2007 - O Sistema .... Regina
 2006 - Paixões Proibidas ....  Ângela de Sousa
 2006 - Belíssima .... Madalena
 2005 - A Grande Família .... Kely
 2005 - Carga Pesada .... Marinês
 2004 - El color del pecado .... Valfreda (Beki)
 2003 - Os Normais .... Maristela / Patrícia
 2002 - Ciudad de los hombres ....mãe do João Victor
 2002 - Ilha Rá-Tim-Bum .... Hipácia
 2001 - Estrela-Guia .... Heloísa Lima
 2000 - Aquarela do Brasil .... Calu

Cine
2008 - Feliz Natal .... Fabiana
2007 - O Signo da Cidade .... Mônica
2007 - Não por Acaso .... Mônica
2004 - Viva Voz .... Karina
2003 - O Martelo de Vulcano .... Hipácia
2002 - Ciudad de Dios .... Marina Cintra
2001 - Domésticas .... Roxane

Teatro
1998 - Morus e Seu Carrasco
2001 a 2003 - Terça Insana2006 - O Beijo no Asfalto2007 - A Graça da Vida2016 - O Homem Primitivo''

Referencias

Enlaces externos

 Graziella Moretto en Adorocinema
Sitio brasileño sobre "Os Normais"
 Sitio oficial de la actriz

Actrices de televisión de Brasil
Actrices de cine de Brasil
Actrices de teatro de Brasil
Nacidos en Santos

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Jump into your panzer tank and run down George Bush before he escapes or shoot at him with your cannon. ARROW KEYS to move. A to fire.
This game gives bad names to people that lie george bush! But very fun!
Welcome to MuchGames.com, largest gaming social community on the net. With over 20,000 games to play, you should never get bored again. We add new games like Weapons Of Destruction every day. Play games, rate them, post comments, add them to your favorites, share them and chat with other online gamers.


"Something New!" proclaimed this ad from the May 30, 1908 issue of the Peekskill Highland Democrat. "Right on the Beautiful Croton River, where Cool Breezes blow even on the warmest days."
This ad must have been the beginning of a publicity campaign, because about a month later the New York Times 1 published a short article about the Nikko Tea House.
"One of the novel features of the big development at Harmon, Westchester County," wrote the Times, "is the Nikko Tea House perched on the precipitous bank of the Croton River . . . The tea house is of rustic construction, and is surrounded by a dense grove of pines and cedars, in which are many picturesque summer houses. . . ."


One of the most familiar voices in Denver is about to sign off for the last time.
In October, three weeks after Ernie Bjorkman, an institution in Colorado television, signed a new annual contract worth close to a quarter of a million dollars, he was told he was being let go by KWGN, the CW affiliate in Denver, a victim of consolidation with another station.
Across the country, longtime local TV anchors are a dying breed. Facing an economic slump and a severe advertising downturn, many stations have cut costs drastically in the last year, and veteran anchors, with their expensive contracts, seem to be shouldering a disproportionate share of the cutbacks. When station managers are forced to make cuts, hefty anchor salaries are a tempting target.
In Chicago, the 23-year anchor Diann Burns was laid off from WBBM. In Boston, the renowned sports anchor Bob Lobel was let go by WBZ. In Houston, the 26-year veteran Carolyn Campbell was dismissed from KHOU.
When the anchors depart, they take decades of experience and insight with them. "Basically, you replace someone who knows City Hall with someone who can't find it," said John Beard, who lost his job at KTTV last December after 26 years as a news anchor in Los Angeles.
Almost all of the country's 1,300 television stations with network affiliations have a face, or a pair of faces, that represent their news operations better than any logo or commercial can. Many years after signing off, the larger-than-life characters are still fixtures of newscast lore, like Bill Beutel in New York, Fahey Flynn in Chicago and Ann Bishop in Miami.
While some anchors in top markets can still command million-dollar salaries — like Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons on WNBC in New York — the positions are becoming more vulnerable to the market forces that are roiling local TV, analysts say.
"There is certainly an erosion of longtime anchors happening at many stations across the country, for a very simple reason: economics," said Al Primo, a television news consultant who developed the "Eyewitness News" format in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr. Primo says anchors' salaries now seem "out of sync with the reality" of budgets. As stations record lower revenue, managers are trying to adjust anchor salaries accordingly.
"We've been aggressive in our cost controls," said Peter Diaz, the executive vice president of the Belo Corporation, which instituted a companywide wage freeze at its 20 TV stations in mid-November. Although anchors have separate contracts, they have been asked to participate in the freeze, and many have agreed, he said.
Local TV, although it lacks the glamour of the network nightly news or the prestige of print newspapers, remains the most popular single source of news in the United States. Slightly more than half of the population watches local news regularly, according to the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, while only 34 percent read a newspaper each day and 29 percent watch a network evening newscast.
But the ratings for the broadcasts have gradually eroded over the years. The typical late newscast now reaches 12 percent of viewers watching TV in a given market, down from 21 percent 10 years ago.
The news departments are not alone in feeling the squeeze. Advertising is falling sharply, partly because of cutbacks in spending by automakers and car dealerships, which represent the single largest category of advertiser for broadcasters.
Until mid-November, a trade association for stations, the Television Bureau of Advertising, had expected total commercial revenue to be flat compared with 2007. It revised the forecast, however, and predicted a 7.1 percent decline. The group expects a 7 to 11 percent decrease in revenue next year. Already, the financial pressures are trickling down to newsrooms.
"The conditions are as bad as I've ever seen, and I've been on TV since 1980," said Rich Rodriguez, who is 54 and has anchored newscasts for 20 years, most recently at KSEE in Fresno, Calif. He was laid off in October. When the station's general manager asked him to take a 25 percent pay cut, Mr. Rodriguez refused. He was fired the same day his first grandchild was born.
"It's scary for people over 50," he said.
Many stations — and viewers — still place a premium on the gravitas that older anchors provide. But confronted by the era of always-available news and information on the Internet, local stations are being forced to rethink their mission.
On the Web, users can assemble their own newscast from an around-the-clock buffet of options, making anchors seem somewhat superfluous, especially to younger viewers. Perhaps as a result, station layoffs are in the news almost every day now, said Tom Petner, who edits the television industry newsletter ShopTalk.
"The industry is moving from star players to more of a team sport," he said.
News is still a profit center for many local TV owners; it represents about 40 percent of an average station's revenue. But as that revenue shrinks, local news operations have automated many of their technical operations and spread their staffs ever more thinly.
Mr. Papper says longtime anchors at top-rated stations in local markets are at little risk of being laid off. But "if I were a very highly paid anchor of a No. 3 station, I'd be really nervous," he said.
Looking forward, Mr. Bjorkman, the Colorado newsman, says he doubts that many TV anchors will manage to stay in the same market for decades. He expects more mergers, consolidations and cost-cutting as local news grapples with competition online and on digital channels.
His last day in local TV will be Dec. 31. Presciently, Mr. Bjorkman, 57, started taking veterinary technician classes two years ago, acting on a decades-old dream of working with animals. While Mr. Bjorkman has been performing his veterinary internships, some residents have recognized him, and a few have wondered whether he was working undercover on an investigative reporting assignment.
He has explained to them, this will be his new full-time assignment. He finished his course work in September, two weeks before he found out he would lose his anchor job. "I'm ready to reinvent myself," he said.


"The form of an arch is quite stable for spanning distance. It's not so good for building several hundred meters straight into the air," says John Oschendorf of MIT. In order to compensate for the limitations of their aesthetic choice, the architects of the Gateway Arch needed a good deal of reinforced concrete to make it stable at a height of 630 ft. This explains the very tiny cars that carried attendees of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference to the top of the steel structure on Friday evening. It also explains why, once we got there, I could feel it swaying gently in the wind.


text:
Does vitamin D combat Covid?
Sun, Jan-10-21, 06:53
It's cheap, widely available and might help us fend off the virus. So should we all be dosing up on the sunshine nutrient?
In March, as coronavirus deaths in the UK began to mount, two hospitals in northeast England began taking vitamin D readings from patients and prescribing them with extremely high doses of the nutrient. Studies had suggested that having sufficient levels of vitamin D, which is created in the skin's lower layers through the absorption of sunlight, plays a central role in immune and metabolic function and reduces the risk of certain community-acquired respiratory illnesses. But the conclusions were disputed, and no official guidance existed. When the endocrinology and respiratory units at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS foundation trust made an informal recommendation to its clinicians to prescribe vitamin D, the decision was considered unusual. "Our view was that this treatment is so safe and the crisis is so enormous that we don't have time to debate," said Dr Richard Quinton, a consultant endocrinologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Soon clinicians and endocrinologists around the world began arguing about whether sufficient levels of vitamin D might positively impact coronavirus-related mortality rates. Some considered the nutrient an effective treatment hiding in plain sight; others thought of it as a waste of time. In March, the government's scientific advisers examined existing evidence and decided there wasn't enough to act upon. But in April, dozens of doctors wrote to the British Medical Journal describing the correction of vitamin D deficiencies as "a safe, simple step" that "convincingly holds out a potential, significant, feasible Covid-19 mitigation remedy".
In the Newcastle hospitals, patients found to be vitamin D-deficient were given extremely high oral doses of the nutrient, often up to 750 times the daily measure recommended by Public Health England. In July, clinicians wrote to the journal Clinical Endocrinology to share their initial outcomes. Of the first 134 coronavirus patients given vitamin D, 94 had been discharged, 24 were still receiving inpatient care, and 16 had died. The clinicians hadn't clearly associated vitamin D levels with overall death rates, but only three patients with high levels of the nutrient died, and all of them were frail and in their 90s.
Increasingly, others followed the lead of the Newcastle doctors and began taking the vitamin themselves. During the first months of the pandemic, up to 1,000 NHS staff received free wellness packs – including vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc – from a voluntary initiative called the Frontline Immune Support Team, after informal demand from clinicians. And as sales of vitamin D supplements significantly increased, some doctors informally recommended it to patients. In a letter, the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin advised its members to take the nutrient, though it was not made official policy. "We believe that vitamin D3 deficiency is a major risk factor for severe coronavirus infection, for which there is accumulating evidence," the letter said. "People born with darker skin receive less UV light in the deeper layers where D3 is made, and so are prone to more severe D-deficiency at the end of winter in northern latitudes than their fairer-skinned counterparts."
By April, Public Health England had revised its vitamin D guidelines, wary of people's reduced exposure to the sun during lockdown. Whereas once it had suggested only taking small doses in the winter, now it advised everyone to take a daily dose all year round, which was the pre-existing advice only for people of colour, those in care homes and children aged one to four. But it didn't run an information campaign to inform the public of the change, nor tell those at greater risk to increase their intake, and the majority of people remained unaware of the nutrient's potential effect.
In 1940, when Churchill's government feared people were particularly at risk of the musculoskeletal condition rickets, margarine companies were ordered to fortify their products with vitamin D "to safeguard the nutritional status of the nation". (Back then, the nutrient was universally thought only to impact bone and muscle health, rather than having any effect on immune or metabolic health.) Margarine was fortified with vitamin D until 2013, when the government decided that fortification was unnecessary "gold-plating". It became industry standard to include the nutrient within other fat spreads, but for six years there has been no legal obligation to do so.
To the former Brexit secretary David Davis, the failure to fortify a wider group of foods seems unacceptable. Like clinicians at the height of the first wave of the pandemic, he couldn't understand why vitamin D wasn't being pursued as a viable coronavirus treatment. Davis is a Conservative MP with a molecular science degree. In May, he urged the health secretary, Matt Hancock, to review the evidence and consider a free supplement scheme to reverse vitamin D deficiencies, citing the letter sent to the BMJ. Up to 40% of the population is estimated to be vitamin D-deficient this winter. Davis, who is 71, and who takes a high-strength vitamin D supplement daily, hoped the scheme could help mitigate risk, particularly among those most susceptible – the elderly, the obese and people of colour.
While he implored the UK government to take action, studies were continuing around the world and evidence of vitamin D's efficacy was growing. A French experimental study at a nursing home with 66 people suggested that taking regular vitamin D supplements was "associated with less severe Covid-19 and a better survival rate". A study of 200 people in South Korea suggested that vitamin D deficiency could "decrease the immune defences against Covid-19 and cause progression to severe disease". Preliminary research by Queen Elizabeth Hospital foundation trust and the University of East Anglia found a correlation between European countries with low vitamin D levels and coronavirus infection rates. Broadly, countries closer to the equator have been less affected by Covid-19 than those further away from it, though Brazil and India are notable exceptions. Another study, at Singapore General Hospital, published in the journal Nutrition, found that treating patients with a combination of vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin B12 was associated with a "significant reduction" in the worst outcomes.
A number of other studies made similar reports, though it is only a Spanish study, conducted in early September, that came close to incontrovertibly proving low vitamin D levels have a pivotal role in causing increased death rates. There, 50 patients with Covid-19 were given a high dose of vitamin D, while another 26 patients did not receive the nutrient. Half of patients who weren't given vitamin D had to be placed in intensive care, and two later died. Only one patient who received vitamin D required ICU admission, and they were later released with no further complications.
To Davis, all of this emerging research pointed towards vitamin D's efficacy, which made the apparent reluctance across the world of governments, philanthropic organisations and the private sector to fund high- quality studies seem curious.
"All the observational studies show strong vitamin D effects on infectiousness, morbidity and mortality," Davis says. "This disease exists seriously above 40 degrees latitude, because that's where the UV light disappears in the winter." All of this evidence together, he says, makes it "very, very plain that vitamin D has a material effect".
Still, both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and Public Health England, having reviewed the potential ability of vitamin D to reduce the risk of coronavirus, continued to announce that there was insufficient evidence to take action. The research was deemed to be of poor quality – not quite enough of it, not quite convincing enough. When the announcements came, Davis grew more frustrated. "If you've got something that could potentially save tens of thousands of lives – worldwide, hundreds of thousands, if not millions – and you say there's not quite enough evidence, but it's indicating in a positive direction, then you do something about it, don't you?"
In October, Davis made an unlikely alliance with Rupa Huq, the remainer Labour MP and a former sociology lecturer, who is also increasingly convinced of the merits of vitamin D, and the pair began to pile pressure on the government.
A month earlier, Davis had written an article for the Telegraph claiming that correcting Britain's vitamin D deficiency could save thousands of lives. Huq later wrote in the Times that loudly telling people to take supplements should be "an obvious piece of advice". She pointed to countries where vitamin D levels are high, such as Finland (which fortifies dairy products with the nutrient) and New Zealand (which, since 2011, has prescribed vitamin D to all-aged care home residents, and where people live a more outdoorsy life), and said it was no coincidence that coronavirus cases and deaths in both countries had been rare. They have both also highlighted how black, Asian and ethnic minority people – who have higher levels of melanin in the skin, which tends to reduce the creation of vitamin D from sunlight – have been disproportionately affected by the virus, including an overwhelming disparity among doctors.
For UK public health experts, perhaps wary of overstated claims of vitamin D's benefits, the case for downplaying the link to coronavirus initially mostly depended on retrospective studies and there was no official call for more research. One such recent paper considered by Nice, using vitamin D levels measured up to 14 years ago, found no link between vitamin D levels and more severe illness or mortality from Covid-19, but in another paper the lead author called for high-quality trials to ascertain whether vitamin D plays a beneficial role in the prevention of severe coronavirus reactions. "For now, recommendations for vitamin D supplementation to lessen Covid-19 risks appear premature and, although they may cause little harm, they could provide false reassurance leading to changes in behaviour that increase risk of infections," they concluded. This baffles Davis and Huq. And they believe that now is the chance to begin to erode the UK's deficiency.
Hancock agreed to meet with Davis and Huq a fortnight after the Spanish study was published. The health secretary had previously claimed, wrongly, that government scientists had run a trial on vitamin D that showed it did not "appear to have any impact", when in fact no such tests had taken place. In a meeting on 8 October, Hancock revealed he was facing resistance from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) clinicians, but that he was nonetheless minded to change government course, later saying publicly there were "no downsides" to vitamin D supplements.
"Hancock had been adamant there was no link for a long time," Huq says. "But you could see the penny drop and he agreed to do public health messaging recommending vitamin D." In the meantime, coronavirus deaths continued to rise and, in the US, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said vitamin D deficiency impacted people's susceptibility to coronavirus infection and: "I would not mind recommending – and I do it myself – taking vitamin D supplements."
Hancock was adamant there was no link, but you could see the penny drop
At the end of November, the government announced it would offer four months of free vitamin D supplements to all those in care homes and shielders – some 2.7 million people – beginning this month, with the prison service also providing free supplements to all prisoners. Hancock also ordered Nice (which sets NHS clinical guidelines) and Public Health England to produce recommendations on vitamin D for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus. The issue now seems so urgent to the DHSC that it has suggested people purchase their own supplements to ensure they have sufficient levels, ahead of the deliveries of the rations. "A number of studies indicate vitamin D might have a positive impact in protecting against Covid-19," Hancock said.
However, Nice again ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and Covid severity, but, for what is believed to be the first time, PHE's nutrition committee said vitamin D "may provide some additional benefit in reducing the risk of acute respiratory infections." While Nice belatedly called for more research.
Without the action of Davis and Huq, many vitamin D advocates believe the government wouldn't have acted as they eventually did. But Huq, who also takes vitamin D tablets every day, has mixed feelings. "I feel, rather disappointingly, the government has dragged its feet on this. But I am pleased that there has been movement, however late in the day, and hope the advent of coronavirus vaccines will not now blow them off course."
There remains marked frustration over a relative failure to fund vitamin D studies. "Our problem has been that major funding bodies haven't supported clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation to prevent Covid-19, despite the fact that several different research groups in the UK submitted proposals," Adrian Martineau, a professor of respiratory infection and immunity at Queen Mary University of London, who was able to launch a charity-funded clinical trial in October to investigate whether vitamin D protects against Covid-19, tells me. He was only able to get his own trial off the ground "because charities and philanthropists gave us financial support and stepped in where the government didn't".
Writing in the Lancet in August, he said: "It would seem uncontroversial to enthusiastically promote efforts to achieve reference nutrient intakes of vitamin D… There is nothing to lose from their implementation, and potentially much to gain." Although extremely large sustained doses of vitamin D can cause toxicity, it is otherwise harmless.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and writer, has been disappointed over an absence of leadership to ensure people of colour have sufficient levels of the nutrient. "Structural racism absolutely has an effect," he says. "But it should not be at the forefront of the conversation. The message should have been: 'Everyone take vitamin D and cut out the junk food.' I think it's a no-brainer, because there is no harm from vitamin D and it's cheap. It's pretty scandalous that this hasn't been dealt with until now."
Davis now believes there will be increasing government focus on immunological health. "Covid kills you if you've got a weak immune system," he says. "That's why vitamin D has a much more general purpose effect than, let's say, vaccines. We're going to win this battle in the long run. I just feel for those who have died unnecessarily."
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...-d-combat-covid
JEY100
To Good Health!
Plan: P:E/DDF/LC-DrWestman
BF:45%/31.1%/25%
I was waiting for Dr Aseem Malhotra to appear in this long, sad story. He's been promoting the need for Vit D for years.
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BawdyWench
Making it happen!
Plan: High-Protein Keto
Location: Rural Maine
I'm surprised, but I suspect my primary care physician believes there's something to Vitamin D because at my last physical she asked specifically for a Vitamin D test when I had other routine blood tests. In the past (same practice, different doctor) I had to almost beg to have a Vitamin D test done.
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Ms Arielle
Plan: atkins
Finally heard a news bit on vitamin D and covid. On the radio.
Figure there will be a run on it, so we are stockpiling bottles.
No mention of the Spain study. Too bad as it was stunning in its conclusion. Patients not treated with D3 specifically but a metabolically available version. Far fewer to ICU, and no deaths. No time to give D3 once covid hits.....too late. Need the bioavailable stuff which gets working quickly, within 24 hrs, not the days and days for D3 to convert to the available form .
My take away was beef up on D3 and zinc, vit C and Mag BEFORE getting exposed. Selenium is good too.
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Mon, Jan-11-21, 08:49
Gypsybyrd
I'm good enough!
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Ms. A - exactly my thought so I'm glad I have a couple of bottles on hand.
Even if it does not help with COVID, I don't see that it would hurt anything.
One of our members here who got COVID said part of his treatment, per his doctor, was Vitamin D. He ended up with less severe symptoms according to his post.
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Yes, vit D3 acts like a hormone and helps the body react to an infection with a healthy immune response, not an over reaction.
I use the analogy of an allergy like a peanut allergy. Most people can eat them with no noticeable effect, but some with a suspectable immune system hyper reacts, which can be lethal. Same with covid as I understand what I've been learning via material posted by MDs and nurses. Over reaction due to poor immune system is driving up severe responses.
Better to boost immune system to reduce over reaction and give it a fighting chance.
Zinc apparently needs quercitin, not sure on spelling, to facilitate transfer of Zn into cells for use. Green tea also via also helps with transfer.
We need to get educated about vit D3 , Vit C, zinc etc.......will be a while for 70% to get vaccinated, which will also help beat down this virus.
Recently learned testosterone levels, below normal, plays a negative effect on immune response. I'm going hit my endo with that question.
I'm not a doctor..... Dig into this your self.....become your own advocate.
s93uv3h
Plan: Atkins & IF / TRE
Ivor Cummings on Vitamin D Status and Viral Interactions.
Ep74 Vitamin D Status, Latitude and Viral Interactions: Examining the Data 4-29-20
D is for Debacle - The Crucial Story of Vitamin D and Human Health 12-10-14
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Tue, Jan-12-21, 15:43
Just caught a news segment reporting but D3 sales are up but no real evidence vit D3 is helpful. A little support for getting a blood test and getting the minimal dosage of D3
All from a doctor. Ignorance unbecoming.
Today received the newest version of Dr. Michael Eades Newsletter, now named Friday Reflections. His blog has not posted the newsletter, so if you want to read it, add your name here: https://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/ Newsletter Sign-Up: https://www.proteinpower.com/newsletter-sign-up/
As with everything he writes, the newsletter is long, thoughtful and on a wide range of topics not only medical, but had this on Covid:
Since the majority of people who do poorly with Covid-19 are elderly with one or, in many cases, more co-morbidities, the best way to protect oneself is to be young with no co-morbidities. While the co-morbidities can be dealt with--the fountain of youth is a challenge.
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I believe the new vaccines are going to be a winner. I've been watching fairly closely and haven't seen any reports so far of horribly unfavorable outcomes. Most of the complaints are a little pain at the injection site and perhaps some fever. Believe it or not, but these are not really side effects. They are an indication the vaccine is stimulating the immune system against Covid-19.
Having said that, the government is paying billions of dollars (billions with a B) to the companies making these vaccines, so the bottom line is not far from the minds of Big Pharma executives. Consequently, they are not going to go out of their way to promote any other remedy that might alleviate fear of the virus and cause people to forgo their vaccines. In fact, based on what I've seen, it looks more to me like they are trying to suppress information about any steps that one might take to lessen one's chances of getting Covid-19 or minimize symptoms should one contract the virus.
Aside from age, the three disorders that seem provide SARS-Cov-2 a fertile field to do its damage are obesity, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Of the three, high blood sugar seems to be the most problematic. As anyone knows who has been on a low-carb diet, these three issues are easily treated simply by cutting carbs. Especially elevated blood sugar. In most people it drops like a rock soon after the start of a low-carb diet.
A new paper has come out you might be interested in reading. It is titled The dark side of the spoon - glucose, ketones and COVID-19: a possible role for ketogenic diet? and available at the link in full text. https://translational-medicine.biom...967-020-02600-9. It can be fairly technical in parts, but I think it is at least worth a scan and quick read of the not-so-technical parts.
You can also give Relationships between hyperinsulinaemia, magnesium, vitamin D, thrombosis and COVID-19: rationale for clinical management a read. https://openheart.bmj.com/content/7/2/e001356 The paper provides a rationale for taking vitamin D and magnesium while working to lower your insulin levels. And we all know what we have to do to lower insulin levels, right? The first thing, of course, is not eat a bunch of sugar and carbs, which will send it up. Second thing is to cut carbs over the long term to get insulin and blood sugar down.
I recently read an interesting blog post from a UK physician [David Gromes] showing the difference in deaths since the start of the pandemic between white and BAME (Black African and Asian Minority ethnic groups) physicians who work for the National Health Service (NHS). http://www.drdavidgrimes.com/2020/1...of-doctors.html
[Graphic omitted]
As you can see, there is no overlap in the age at death from Covid-19 for white NHS physicians and BAME NHS physicians. Since NHS physicians are paid similarly there should be no major socioeconomic differences in the two groups, and no real occupational exposure differences. The implication the author of the blog wants readers to draw is that the primary difference between the two groups is skin color. It is well known that darker skinned people have more difficulty making vitamin D from the sun than do people with lighter skin color. The extra melanin in the darker-skinned individuals hampers the absorption of UV radiation and thus the production of vitamin D. And, God knows, the UK doesn't get a lot of intense sunshine year round, so a darker skin would be a real disadvantage in that climate in terms of vitamin D production.
There could be other factors the author of the article doesn't provide. Typically obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes are more common in Blacks and those from the Asian subcontinent. These data aren't provided.
Finally, on the vitamin D front. Vitamin D is an inexpensive supplement that may well help in the prevention of Covid-19. I take it daily during the winter when the sun's rays are low and much of the UVB is absorbed by the atmosphere. If you take it, take it with a little fat of some kind, as vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and will absorb much, much better in the presence of fat.
Here is an excellent YouTube video on what the scientific studies show so far on vitamin D and Covid-19. Professionally done and filled with good information. I watched the whole thing myself. All the studies are linked at the bottom in case you would like to check them yourself.
Last edited by JEY100 : Today at 04:24.
#10 ^
Plan: Atkins, Dr. Westman
Stats: 267/170.6/145
I began taking vitamin D a few years ago when I was diagnosed with copd. It is one of the vitamins that help with lung health. I see a hematologist yearly and he checked my D levels along with my yearly blood work, found I was low and told me how much D to take to raise my levels to normal. I take 4,ooo iu per day I believe and take it with a meal. I also try to get outside in the sunlight during the spring and summer for a least 30 minutes during the hours between 11-2:00. I buy it over the counter but my husband has a prescription for D prescribed by one of his doctors. He takes one high dose pill a week. I take my gel caps daily. I heard Dr. Fauchi say in an interview that he personally takes Vitamin D and C. I have not been taking extra C but may add it. Some vitamins might interfere with any other medications you are taking so you might need to check to make sure you have no interactions. If you are wondering about your levels, on your next doctor visit ask to get your levels checked. Taking the 4,000iu ( 2 gel caps of 2,000each)is keeping me in the correct levels now.
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Mothercare's trading momentum has stalled in the first quarter but the retailer insisted its performance was in line with expectations.
UK like-for-like growth has slowed to 1.3% in the first quarter compared to a rise of 5.1% in the previous quarter. Online sales were up 23.9% against 31.8% growth in the fourth quarter of last year.
UK total sales fell 0.9% in the 15 weeks to July 11 compared to a 1.5% rise in the previous quarter.
Total group sales dropped 5.2%, down on the 1% fall recorded in the previous quarter.
Mothercare is undergoing a turnaround plan under chief executive Mark Newton-Jones after a period of falling sales and profits. In its 2014/2015 year Mothercare halved its statutory loss before tax from £26.3m to £13.1m.
In the first quarter, international retail sales fell 1.3% in constant currencies compared to growth of 11.4% in the previous quarter "as increased levels of economic risk impact consumer confidence".
Mothercare trades from 1,299 overseas stores covering 2.97m sq ft.
The retailer said its UK store rationalisation programme delivered a 5.3% reduction in space in the quarter. It also refurbished "a number" of stores across various locations. Mothercare has 180 UK stores.
Newton-Jones said: "Overall our trading is in line with expectations with the UK making a good start to the year and international performance seeing some macro volatility as anticipated.
"Trading across our international business has been more volatile as we have previously highlighted with increased macro headwinds impacting consumer confidence in a number of our markets.
"Our strategy in the UK is continuing to deliver results. We have delayed the end of season sale to take advantage of well controlled stock and the warm weather to sell more at full price.
"As a result margins are improving without adversely affecting like-for-like sales.
Meanwhile an interim examiner has been appointed by the High Court to Mothercare Ireland, which is a franchise of the main group.
The Irish business employs 276 people in 18 shops. The retailer told the Irish Examiner that the court protection and examinership will enable it to restructure the company, save as many jobs as possible and minimise shop closures as it struggles under the weight of unprofitable stores.
It is thought Mothercare Ireland has debt obligations to Mothercare UK and has had to negotiate an extension of credit terms.
It will continue to trade as normal during the examinership process, it said.
Mothercare has halved its statutory loss before tax from £26.3m to £13.1m as it makes "good progress" with its turnaround.
Mark Newton-Jones has admitted it has been a "hell of a year" and is still "early days" as he bids to turn around the buggy and babywear retailer.


text:
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Källor

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text:
A Zooniverse Project Blog
Archive by Author | Meg
Planet Four on Planet Three
The Planet Four team has participated in a couple of outreach events over the past few months. We wanted to share the links with you.
Michael, Candy, and myself from the core Planet Four team with Zooniverse Co-PI Laura Trouille were featured on a Live Chat/webinar with the Science Friday team today (Monday April 27) . It was great combo of tea discussion, answering questions from the viewers, and demos. You can find the recorded video on Facebook live; https://www.facebook.com/scifri/videos/158389675615673
A few weeks later, I was interviewed on the BBC Sky at Night's May episode talking about Planet Four and the other projects that make up the Planet Four organization. If you're living in then UK, the episode is available online for stream in BBC iplayer. It also happened to be the 800th episode of the Sky at Night, and it was also the first episode where all the presenters, Sky at Night crew, and interviewees were all working from home.
In these challenging times, I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for their contributions to all three Planet Four projects. We appreciate the time, effort, and energy you are contributing.
in Ridges, Site News
New Planet Four: Ridges Search
Today we have a guest blog by JPL research scientist Laura Kerber, our lead researcher on Planet Four: Ridges. Laura studies physical volcanology, aeolian geomorphology, wind over complex surfaces, and the ancient Martian climate.
Greetings to you in these apocalyptic times! I hope that you and your families are doing well in isolation, or wherever you find yourselves to be.
Over the last few years, Planet Four: Ridges has ranged far and wide across the Arabia Terra, from Nili Fossae near the future landing site of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, all the way to the plains of Meridiani Planum, near where little Opportunity lost its life in a 2018 global dust storm after 15 beautiful years of adventure. Along the way, you all have discovered many other treasures, including polygonal fracture networks, networks of dark lines, patches of desiccation polygons (mud-cracks) and many other fascinating features, each of which could seed a study of its own.
Your polygonal ridge discoveries are now being incorporated into a journal article, which has been undergoing many iterations as we prepare it for submission.
In the meantime, thanks to hard work by Meg Schwamb and Michael Aye, a new part of Meridiani has been opened up to us to search, just to the east of where we had been looking:
Figure 1. The broad region of study. The aquamarine dots are where you found Meridiani ridges in the last campaign. The turquoise squares are the footprints of the images that we'll be looking through this time. The orange line is the fictional traverse of Mark Watney in the novel "The Martian" by Andy Weir. The yellow star is the location of the Opportunity rover. The background is from the Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter, which gives us topography (blue is low and red is high).
On our last foray into ridge hunting, we learned that Meridiani has two distinct kind of polygonal ridges. There are regular polygonal ridges, which have straight connectors and enclose polygonal shapes (commonly found in northern Arabia Terra near Nili Fossae), and Meridiani ridges, which are often arcuate, enclosing circles or fractions of circles, and intersecting each other like tattered lace. While individual polygonal ridges are thin, Meridiani ridges can have wide, flat tops, or can appear splintered. There is a new tutorial to explain these two ridge types.
Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to range around our new region of Meridiani, looking at images and classifying them into those that have regular polygonal ridges, those that have Meridiani ridges, and those which have neither (of which there are many!) I encourage you to use the "Done and Chat" button, hashtags, and collections to point out strange or mysterious things that you encounter on your way. There is a link on each image at the bottom (click the tiny "i" after clicking "Done and Talk") that can take you to the source CTX image if you are curious about the area. Also don't be afraid to zoom around on the Mars version of Google Earth (with the CTX global image layer on) and tell us what you find that way.
During this pandemic, many of us are cooped up in our homes with nowhere to go. Luckily, despite not being able to travel the Earth as we are used to, we are all free to fly over the vast empty deserts of planet Mars.
Whether you are a long-time Planet Four Ridge Hunter or you're just joining us now, have fun exploring Mars and happy ridge-hunting!
in Live Chat
Planet Four Team + Science Friday Live Chat – Today (Monday April 27) at 4pm EDT/9 pm BST/1 pm PDT
The Planet Four will be participating in Live Chat/webinar with the Science Friday team today (Monday April 27) at 4pm EDT/9 pm BST/1 pm PDT . The webinar is open to the public and you can ask some of the team questions, see demos of the projects, and more. We'll be highlighting all the Planet Four projects. You can find connection details and more here.
If you can't make our live chat, there were will be a several others this week from other projects from around the Zooniverse as well. Also we'll post a link to the recorded video when it's available. And as always, the team is available on Talk, so feel free to jump in on any of the Planet Four projects Talk and ask the science team questions there too.
Introducing the Planet Four Organization
The team has been blown away by the classifications that have pouring in over the past several weeks. We know it's a difficult time around the world right now, and we wanted to thank you for taking time out of your day to help explore and study the Red Planet. The Planet Four science team has been working from home, and currently there are two papers drafts the team is focusing on: one paper examining the Planet Four derived wind directions compared to Martian climate simulations and the other paper exploring polygonal ridge distributions including Planet Four: Ridges classification data.
Today we're pleased to announce the launch of the Planet Four organization. Organizations are a recently added feature for research teams with multiple projects on the Zooniverse platform. Now, there's a place with links to all the Planet Four projects, plus links to the blog and our social media accounts, all in one place. You'll be able to quickly see the status of each project and collective statistics about all three Planet Four projects.
Check out the new Planet Four organization webpage at http://www.planetfour.space.
Launching Planet Four 2.0
Today we have a post by Candy Hansen, principal investigator (PI) of Planet Four and Planet Four: Terrains. Candy also serves as the Deputy Principal Investigator for HiRISE (the camera providing the images of spiders, fans, and blotches seen on the original Planet Four project). Additionally she is a member of the science team for the Juno mission to Jupiter. She is responsible for the development and operation of JunoCam, an outreach camera that involves the public in planning images of Jupiter.
We are delighted to be back in business with Planet Four on the Zooniverse's Project Builder platform. Thanks to all of your previous work the science team has been busy in the hiatus.
As you know we published our first paper. It describes the catalog of YOUR measurements that we have compiled, and the statistical analysis applied. We are now able to query the catalog to get the measurements of fans, directions of fans, assessment of when seasonal activity begins and how it develops, for example. This is allowing us to address the scientific questions that we laid out when we conceived this citizen science project.
As a result, the second paper is well underway. Like wind socks the fans tell us the direction of the wind at the time they emerge. We are comparing the wind directions predicted by a regional scale atmospheric model with the actual measurements of fan directions. Sometimes the predictions agree very well (typically in early spring), and sometimes they don't. When the predictions don't agree we are analyzing why – for example, is there local topography affecting the wind direction? Or is it because it is late in the spring and some areas of ground may be frost-free? Or, and this is the most important, is the model lacking enough sophistication to reproduce the observed winds? Your measurements are our guide to the actual on-the-ground environment, so if the results don't agree, we know we need to improve the model.
Our third paper is also almost finished. Particles in the fans land on top of the layer of seasonal dry ice. As time goes on the dark particles warm up and sink into the ice. We can use your measurements of fan lengths to quantify this process. Fan lengths slowly decrease with time as particles gradually sink.
We are looking forward to being back in business with your help, to tackle the next science question on our list: how do Mars' dust storms affect seasonal activity? We will be posting the latest images from Manhattan, Ithaca, Inca City and Giza first because we have the longest time history for those locations. Then we will add other locations to fill in some of the other longitudes.
It's great to be back working with you! Please know that we value your generous contribution of your time, our most valuable commodity. Check out the new and improved Planet Four at www.planetfour.org.
in Ridges
Ideas on the Formation of Resistive Polygonal Ridges on Planet Mars
Today we have a guest post from Planet Four: Ridges volunteer, Bill Hood (geocanuck). Bill Hood is a semi-retired Canadian geologist who has spent 40+ years in the mineral exploration business as a contractor, consultant and prospector. When not wandering around in the mosquito-infested swamps of northern Ontario or the grizzly-prone mountains of the Yukon, he can be found residing in a small town near the city of Winnipeg. A self-confessed Star Trek fan, Bill occasionally argues that it is mineral exploration that will drive human exploration of space, and is rumoured to have already started Mars Palladium Corp. Bill spotted the NASA P4R news release in early 2017, and has been addicted to Mars images/geology ever since.
It appears customary on Planet Four, that after one does a talk or presentation involving Planet Four: Ridges material, a blog is in order. On January 8, 2020, I did a talk titled "Ideas on the Formation of Resistive Polygonal Ridges on Planet Mars" at a meeting of the Manitoba Mineral Society here in Canada. The Society meets monthly in the city of Winnipeg in the local planetarium building, so there's a slight crossover with the astronomy crowd.
My presentation comprised three main parts: 1) fun facts about Mars, 2) Planet Four: Ridges and the science arising from it, and 3) my ideas on the formation of polygonal ridges. After a brief run-through of the basic geography of Mars, locations of all the landers, and some fun images of faces, structures and items that look like they could only have been constructed by beings with opposing digits or sharp teeth, I outlined how the Zooniverse Planet Four websites functioned to generate Mars data. Next, I outlined some of the science interpretations coming from this data, including the abstract for the talk by Aditya Khuller, Laura Kerber et al, at the 2018 American Geophysical Union convention, as well as a proposed paper titled "Polygonal Ridge Networks in Arabia Terra, Nili Fossae and Nilosyrtis: Evidence for Groundwater Influence", presently in preparation by the same authors. I then summarized the basic hypothesis of this work to date, which suggests that "Nili" type polygonal ridges on Mars have resulted from burial, compaction and faulting of shallow-basin, clastic sediments, with subsequent groundwater flow and mineral deposition along these polygonal-oriented fault/fracture systems. Subsequent erosion exposed these hard, resistive ridges on Mars. Terrestrial models from the North Sea basin and resistive ridges exposed across the Middle East seemed to be an entirely plausible analogy.
But being a person of contrary character and residing in the frozen environs of rural Canada, I explained to the members of the society that I had difficulty being convinced by the proposed ridges formation argument. When I looked at Mars images, I saw glaciers and pingos and permafrost patterned ground that looked like something out of Arctic Canada, while my on-line Zooniverse friends, most residents of warmer climates, saw a world of palm trees and torrid deserts. As I told my friends in the local Mineral Society on that cold January night, it was clear that I had not just a responsibility, but a Canadian national duty, to advocate a "permafrost hypothesis" for polygonal ridges on Mars.
From my observation, it appears that the "Nili" type polygonal ridges, named for a future type locality in the Nili Fossae region of northeast Arabia Terra on Mars, comprise a range of polygonal oriented resistive ridges, as well as irregular or semi-circular ridges which enclose the margins of ridge areas. It appears that these polygonal ridges are forming in the subsurface, within the basal clastic sediments in local craters, valleys and basins, just above the unconformity at the top of the older Noachian cratered basement rocks on Mars. The similarities to ice fracture patterns and permafrost patterned ground were fairly obvious. So I presented a couple dozen slides, both from Mars and Earth, pointing out fracture pattern similarities, with the caution that there were scale differences and the obvious sub-sediment vs. sub-aerial disparities.
I concluded my talk showing a series of hypothetical cross-sections illustrating a possible process for forming these unusual polygonal ridges in the sub-surface on Mars. The basic idea I am presenting is that a sub-surface permafrost cap may have formed a confined groundwater aquifer. Evidence of sub-surface artesian flow is rather obvious in many Mars images, but the question of what triggered this flow is important. I'm suggesting that the accumulation of aeolian sediment may have formed a thermal blanket which allowed remnant geothermal heat to erode the permafrost cap, triggering artesian flow from the aquifer into basal clastic sediments above the unconformity and into overlying ice-wedge fractures in the permafrost. Having a long residence time, these groundwaters would be at maximum total dissolved solids, so mineral deposition would be significant on evaporation/sublimation.
So that's my Planet Four blog. I'll conclude with one takeaway, which is that if this ridge process consumed all the subsurface ice, the Nili ridge areas may not be the best places to send future Mars colonists. I can also advise that the members of the Mineral Society asked that Mars be added to the summer field trip schedule.
Early Warm Wet Mars
Cooling Mars. Permafrost.
Confined Aquifer. Aeolian Deposition.
Thinning Permafrost. Artesian Flow.
Open Aquifer. Evaporation/Sublimation.
Induration/Lithification of Basal Sediments/Fractures.
Erosion. Variable Exposure.
in CTX, Site News, Terrains
New data on Planet Four: Terrains
Planet Four: Terrains is back from hiatus. We've come up with a new set of images to search on the site. These CTX images will continue our trend of searching further northward and covering gaps in our coverage.
The figure above shows the newly uploaded CTX images on the geologic map of the Martian south polar region. The blue is the south polar layered deposits (SPLD). This is where most of the spiders are located, but we've already learned through Planet Four: Terrains that there are spiders also outside the SPLD, so that's why the search region expands well beyond the SPD. The red rectangles show you the CTX images that we've currently uploaded to the site. The bright green rectangles are the second half of the dataset.
Our current plan is to write a summary science paper with a final catalog from the spider search over the past several years, after we get through both sets of CTX images. We'll look at the soil thermal inertia and other properties and see if we find a links or correlations to where spiders are visible. We think this we'll wrap up this phase of Planet Four: Terrains, but we already have some ideas where we might take the project next.
Thanks for your help! Dive in today at http://terrains.planetfour.org!
Help beta test the new Planet Four
In May, the original Planet Four project was paused. Since then the team has been working on a new version of the project utilizing the Zooniverse's latest web tools. Great news! We're nearly ready to launch the new and improved Planet Four on the Zooniverse's Project Builder Platform.
Before we launch the site live, we need your help! We're ready for you to take a sneak peek at the site and let us know what you think. We have developed two different styles for the classification interface, and the team is having trouble deciding between the two. We'd like you to try them out and let us know what you think. The team will be looking at performance of the two different classification interfaces and your feedback to figure out which design is the right one for the new Planet Four.
If you can spare a few minutes, please map fans and blotches in one or both of the workflow styles and let us know what you think. Try it out at www.zooniverse.org/projects/mschwamb/planet-four
in Meetings, Science, Uncategorized
Building the NASA Citizen Science Community Meeting
Greeting from Tucson Arizona. I'm here with Planet Four PI Candy Hansen at the Building the NASA Citizen Science Community Meeting. The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers engaged in successful citizen science projects, citizen science experts and platforms supporting citizen science projects (including representatives from Zooniverse), the NASA Science Mission Directorate, and researchers interested in applying citizen science to their research problems.
I gave an invited talk (my slides are included below) highlighting science results and the success of Planet Four and advertising Planet Four: Terrains and Planet Four: Ridges. It's exciting that people in the planetary and astronomical community see Planet Four as a successful project. That is in large part due to the contributions of the Planet Four volunteer community. It was great to talk about Planet Four's first paper and also mention the science team is working on three other publications right now based on the first fan and blotch catalog.


90% Silver State Inside Out Coin Bracelet. These bracelets are made using actual silver proof coins that have been turned inside out! If you look closely you can see that the reeded edge of the coin is on the inside of the coin. These bracelets come standard with 1.5mm black leather cord. They are made with an adjustable sliding knot making them full adjustable. The inside out coin measures approx. 1" in diameter. What a great way to carry around a piece of your home State around with you!
**1999 States wholesale for $5 more and retail for $10 more, this is due to the cost of the coins being higher. 1999 States are: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.


By road: Nycklabacken is located at Fölene between Södra Härene and Herrljunga. From the E20 by car, turn off at Södra Härene towards Herrljunga. At Fölene church follow the sign marked "gravfält". You can park on the burial ground.
Nycklabacken, like Lundskullen is located along Nossan. The agricultural landscape is plenty with rock carvings in the form of cup marks, lots of stone settings and mounds found on smaller impediments in the landscape and a few stone chamber tombs. Finally, particularly in the south, there are plenty of stone mounds located on the higher surroundings.
In summary, the landscape around Nycklabacken and all the way to Södra Härene and down towards Vårgårda is very rich in ancient remains. It shows a rich settlement during the Bronze and Iron Ages.
You can read more about Nycklabacken on Bengans Historiasidor.
The ancient remains on Nycklabacken.
The burial site contains about 200 remains: 18 mounds, 149 round stone settings, 1 triangular stone setting, 2 three-point stone graves and at least 27 standing stones.
Three of the standing stones form two sun lines and show the summer solstice and winter solstice. They stand as a separate group just east of six wide standing stones.


text:
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    android:shape="rectangle">
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: rebol parse rule with compose/deep and append function This works great (thanks to Sunanda's suggestion How can I parse [a / b] ? syntax error in Rebol?):
attribute: copy []
class: copy []
definition-rule: compose/deep [some [set class word! 'is 'defined 'by
[some [copy attribute to (to-lit-word "/") thru (to-lit-word "/") ]]
copy attribute to end]]
parse [Customer is defined by First Name / Last Name / Email] definition-rule

but I now need to add some append instructions (append output class)  and it doesn't work any more:
attribute: copy []
class: copy []
definition-rule: compose/deep [some [set class word! (append output class) 'is 'defined 'by
[some [copy attribute to (to-lit-word "/") thru (to-lit-word "/") ]]
copy attribute to end]]
parse [Customer is defined by First Name / Last Name / Email] definition-rule

A: The problem here is that the compose is eating all the expressions in parentheses. You are happy for it to eat the (to-lit-word "/") but you seriously do not want it to eat the (append output class) because that is intended for the parse dialect.
There is probably a cleverer approach, but this should work: remove the compose by doing the lit-word work outside of the parse rule...
attribute: copy []
class: copy []
output: copy ""
fs: to-lit-word "/"   ;; define a forward slash lit-word

definition-rule:  [
    some [set class word! (append output class) 'is 'defined 'by [
        some [copy attribute to fs thru fs]
    ]
    copy attribute to end]
    ]

parse [Customer is defined by First Name / Last Name / Email] definition-rule
== true

I am not entirely sure what you are trying to do with this code, but it you want to extract the set of attributes at the end, then consider this change:
attribute: copy []
attributes: copy []
class: copy []
output: copy ""
fs: to-lit-word "/"   ;; define a forward slash lit-word

definition-rule:  [
    some [set class word! (append output class) 'is 'defined 'by [
        some [copy attribute to fs thru fs (append/only attributes attribute)]
    ]
    copy attribute to end (append/only attributes attribute)]
    ]

parse [Customer is defined by First Name / Last Name / Email] definition-rule

print ["==" class mold attributes]

== Customer [[First Name] [Last Name] [Email]]

A: I repost code in comment as it isn't readable, what I wanted to do exactly was this:
attribute: copy []
class: copy []
fs: to-lit-word "/"
output: copy ""

definition-rule:  [
    some [set class word! (append output join class "|") 'is 'defined 'by [
        some [copy attribute to fs thru fs (append output join attribute ";")]
    ]
    copy attribute to end (append output attribute)]
]

parse [Customer is defined by First Name / Last Name / Email] definition-rule
probe output

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Desperados Baseball and Softball Club Torino is proud to present the1st DESPERADOS Baseball and Softball World tournament.
We are looking for 6 softball and 6 baseball teams, form all over the world!
During three days (7/8/9 September 2018), you'll have the chance to play baseball and softball, in an international baseball stadium, with clubs coming all over the world and challenge your team and yourself to win the beautiful tournament prizes.
But not only, there will be welcome and Farwell parties, where beers, music and friends will play beautiful extra time.
You also will have the opportunity to visit our beautiful royal city, plenty of museums and interesting architectural sites.
Our staff will be happy to help to find an accommodation solution suitable for you: free backpacking, special price youth hostel or 4 stars hotel are available.
You are warmly invited to join us, download tournament regulations and application form to be submitted to info@desperadosbaseball.com within 31 March.


Lauren London was practically body shamed on social media, but her comeback was everything.
Zara, the popular clothing, and shoe brand, recently released a new ad this February to promote their latest jean collection, Body Curve Jeans. The tagline to this ad is "Love Your Curves." Well, loving curves is not what has the internet in an uproar. Find out exactly why Zara has been feeling a little heat over this ad.


Fairfax County, Virginia is advantageously located right across the river from the nation's capital. Its location offers it the unique advantage of having access to all that our capital has to offer in addition to its own unique opportunities. For those with a more refined taste, Fairfax County and our capital hold cultural events, offer a rich nightlife, theater, music venues, wineries, breweries, and shopping.
If an adventure for the family is what the traveler seeks, instead, Fairfax County will not disappoint. With roots deeply embedded in history spectacular museums transport the visitor back in time, and the civil war battlefields tell the story of the sacrifices that ended slavery eventually uniting our nation. For those seeking more than just a historical endeavor, the parks offer breathtaking views, hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, and fishing for the whole family. The opportunities for adventure do not stop there. After taking in all that nature has to offer, families can relax and unwind on a zip lining course, mini golfing, or swimming at a water park.
With its vast opportunities and great location, it is no wonder Fairfax County's population has grown to 1,081,726. Population growth also means an increase in the housing market. More homes being constructed leads to more roofs needing to be built and repaired. As Fairfax County caters to all types of homeowners each home is unique with specific roofing needs. BRAX Roofing's specialty is identifying the individual needs for each type of home and working closely with the homeowner to meet their needs. With our free estimates, promotions, discounts, and dedication to our customers a roofing remodel or repair does not have to stop the homeowner from enjoying all Fairfax County has to offer. Contact us to find out what we can do for you!


My daughter-in-law, Anne ran the New York City Marathon today. It was her first full marathon. She has been diligently training for this special run. She finished the race in four hours and 7 minutes. That is impressive. She is awesome and I am in awe of her.
Ross and I are contemplating a personal trainer. A woman who lives in our "Active" Adult Community will put together an exercise program for us which would be geared to our individual levels of fitness. We can hire her by the hour, a couple of times a week, to get us started and motivated.
I'm not sure if I want to have my own sessions or share the hour with Ross. Maybe we'll try it together for the first time and see how it goes.
Last week I talked Ross into walking down to the club house. In the past, whenever I would suggest that particular route, he would balk. I think it's because he knows it's a mile down and a mile back and two miles is a long walk.
So, when I asked him to come for walk with me this time, I assured him that we would take our time, that there would be no rush and that it would be at a nice leisurely pace.
I also promised him a rest on the benches by the lake before we headed back.
We made the round trip without even a huff or puff.
No, I don't have delusions of either one of us ever running a marathon, but I think we have a few more walks, even if they are leisurely ones, left in us.
Today is the day that we gain an extra hour.
We caught the final lightness of the day, by the bay at the municipal dock.
Beautiful pictures. I am trying to start a daily morning walk routine too. :) Coming in from NaBlpPoMo.
Thank you for visiting. I wish I could stick with a routine. I start with lots of ambition, but I can easily get waylaid.
A two mile walk sounds really nice. I don't do two miles or even near that, but my usual walk it all uphill (well, downhill on the way home), so I think that makes up for the lack of length.
I would say an uphill walk, even if it is only one way, is a good workout.
Gorgeous photos! Good luck with the trainer!


I have always been the kind of person who goes all out for a fancy dress party. Getting dressed up with your friends and trying on outfits can be great fun. The only problem is, sometimes the event itself can be a bit of a letdown. This year I decided to set myself the challenge of throwing a fashionable fancy dress party. I wanted it to be special, luxurious and dripping with gorgeous dresses and sharp suits. I had a Great Gatsby type vision in my head, so that's what I went for. Here's how I did it.
Hiring a cheap venue. This means less mess in your home and more fun for you. You can rent a cheap community hall with plenty of parking so that your guests will be able to turn up and get straight into the party spirit. If you are wanting to serve alcohol, then you should try asking at your local pub. Many of these will let you hold your event there for free if your guests are ordering drinks from the bar.
Try to keep some sort of order to your event without it being too regimented. For example, if you want to play grown up party games to encourage some silly fun then pick a set time when this is going to happen and let everyone know. You can then make sure that it doesn't get forgotten. If you've spent money on game or outfit props, you don't want them to go to waste.
Designing some stylish invites. This was the easy part. Just find a website that allows you to design your own invites and get creative on the computer. You don't even need to make these yourself. Just opt for somewhere that will do the hard work for you. Most companies will fold cut and score your cards and even supply envelopes. You just need to send them out! You could also search Etsy sellers for someone who creates invites in a style that suits your theme.
Setting a basic theme. I did this simply by stating my theme idea on the invites. Give your guests some wiggle room. Not everyone will want to stick to an exact dress code. They might not be able to find the outfits you had in mind either. Try suggestions like doodysfancydress.co.uk as a basic starting point for those initial ideas. My theme was the roaring 20's. A time of long flowing dresses, stylish hair and decadent headpieces. Watch some movies that are set in this era to get a basic idea of where to start if you choose this theme.
Food and Drink. I wanted everything to tie in together. When it came to choosing food and drink, I knew that I had to choose some luxurious looking canapes that fit my theme. To save time and avoid having to make all of these by hand, I simply bought some party packs of canapes and fresh foods that were ready made. I then added some healthy salads, fresh fruits and vegetarian dishes to the mix.