Don't get me wrong. I understand. I've heard lots of young folks and Army guys and others. The comments were about ME! The books audience ought to be more of us from the pews than will likel read it and should read it. The most telling part of the book was the comment about languages. Spanish is a better choice!
I should have just said I like what you're saying IN SPITE of myself!
The language thing is a symptom of an old, white guy / church that really doesn't know about people who aren't real.
After reading "My Birthday Confession" I read the Vine daily devotional and knew that you both are listening to the same God.
They might have been so enraptured with the sight of the Christ-child that they would not have cared to go away again to their own dull work in the fields. Some people in their ecstasies feel disinclined to devote themselves longer to the prosaic things of this common work-day life. Peter wanted to stay on the Transfiguration Mount; earthly life, with its toils and struggles, would be too tame, he thought, after such ecstatic visions. And surely no human eyes ever gazed on a more glorious vision than that these shepherds beheld that night. Yet they went back to their lowly toil, and no doubt they were just as faithful shepherds after that as they had been before.
We need to learn a lesson here. All our spiritual enjoyments ought to make us only the more diligent and faithful in the duties of our ordinary callings. It is not a true devotional experience which draws us away from our daily duty. The nearer we get to Christ the better should we do all our work. Our love for communion with God and with His people should never make us negligent in the doing of the tasks that the common days bring to us. After our most heavenly experiences on the Sabbath or in the closet of prayer, we should return to our work ever with fresh earnestness and zest.
God gives us our spiritual raptures, our glimpses of His face and His glory, our foretastes of celestial joy, our fragments of heavenly vision, for the very purpose of making us stronger and braver for duty. It will be sad indeed, then, if they make us less fit for life here with its burdens and cares. We should seek to bring the heavenly visions down and give them reality in our lives, that others may see the beauty too, and be cheered by it. Our hours of communion with Christ should leave some gleams of brightness on our faces as we come to walk again in life's dusty ways.
Have a good trip with/for the book.
Confirmation is always a blessing, brother!


Daniel Vigneron of Howald, Luxembourg, was elected to a one-year term as president-elect of Kiwanis International in June 2018 at the 103rd Annual Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas.
Daniel has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Vielsalm for 32 years and has served as club president twice. He also has served as Kiwanis International-European Federation president and is a former Kiwanis International trustee. He has also served as governor of the Belgium-Luxembourg District.
He is a George F. Hixon Fellow and a Walter Zeller Fellow.
Daniel is a technical manager for a real estate company. He holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Liege.
Daniel's wife, Faby Gregoire, is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Bastogne. They have three children and four grandchildren.


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text:
Q: Geometric contractibility of noetherian rings Let $A$ be a noetherian ring. Let us define $A$ to be  $n$-contractible if

*

*All locally free sheaves of rank $\le n$ over $\text{Spec} A$ is trivial.

*There exist a non-trivial locally free sheaf of rank $n+1$.

Note that all $\ge 1$-contractible normal noetherian domains are UFDs and convesely. All the PIDs and local rings are infinitely contractible. By the extremely nontrivial Quillen–Suslin theorem, all the polynomial rings over a field are also infinitely contractible.
Questions:

*

*Example of a $1$-contractible UFD. Examples of $k$-contractible UFDs for small $k$ are all welcome.

*Examples of infinitely contractible UFDs other than PIDs, local rings and polynomial rings.

*Can we (expect to) categorize rings by their degree of contractiblity? Can we (expect to) find some criterion which will tell the order of the cobtractibility?

A: Examples for 1 and 2 are well known. A general hypersurface in $\mathbb{C}^3$ is a UFD by Noether-Lefshcetz theorem. If the degree is sufficiently large, its second Chow group (codimension 2 cycles) is large by a theorem of Mumford. So, there are are rank 2 projective modules which are not free by Serre construction. Any affine open subset of $\mathbb{C}^2$ (or more generally any affine smooth rational surface which is a UFD over complex numbers) is infinitely contractible, since the second Chow group is zero.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Cómo establecer variables con nombres dinámicos desde array? Pido su apoyo para logra generar la asignación de valores a una variable en JavaScript; el detalle es que el nombre del la variable viene desde un Array:
var idInputs01 = ["D01", "D02", "Gr", "PAtm", "Tb", "Tf", "CpCv", "Rp", "Rh", "Le", "Ld", "Pf1", "Pd"];

    var contador = 0;
    idInputs01.forEach(function (X) {
      alert("X= " + X + "\ninput" + contador + "= " + parseFloat(document.getElementById("input" + contador).value));
      window[X]= parseFloat(document.getElementById("input" + contador).value);
            contador = ++contador;
    });

La idea es que (por ejemplo) se genere la variable "D01" (que és lo importante de mi consulta) y se le asigne el valor de input.
la instrucción "alert" si me presenta los valores correctos de nombre de variable y valor:
X=D01
input0= 8.171
... pero cuando mas adelante consulto el valor de la variable "D01" el resultado es "undefined"; es decir el window[X] no funciona (como yo esperaba).
Algún consejo?
Gracias de antemano al foro.
Saludos desde México.

Gracias por su interes.
(Complemento)
El contexto del problema es el siguiente:
Tengo 15 inputs con su respectivo valor introducido por el usuario en la pagina HTML.
Estos 15 valores seran usados en una subrutina para realizar calculos, ya hice la siguiente forma de programacion:
var D01 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input0").value)
var D02 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input1").value)
var Gr = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input2").value)
var PAtm = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input3").value)
var Tb = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input4").value)
var Tf = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input5").value)
var CpCv = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input6").value)
var Exp1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input7").value)
var Exp2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input8").value)
var Rp = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input9").value)
var Rh = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input10").value)
var Le = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input11").value)
var Ld = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input12").value)
var Pf1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input13").value)
var Pd = parseFloat(document.getElementById("input14").value)

Como ven es un código repetitivo.
Por esto quiero sustituir este codigo con lo que presenté arriba:
    var idInputs01 = ["D01", "D02", "Gr", "PAtm", "Tb", "Tf", "CpCv", "Rp", "Rh", "Le", "Ld", "Pf1", "Pd"];

var contador = 0;
idInputs01.forEach(function (X) {
  alert("X= " + X + "\ninput" + contador + "= " + parseFloat(document.getElementById("input" + contador).value));
  window[X]= parseFloat(document.getElementById("input" + contador).value);
        contador = ++contador;
});

Tengo 3 memorias de calculo mas con diferente numero de datos y estoy programando de tal forma que pueda cubrir esa numero variable de datos.
Espero haber explicado mejor el problema a resolver.
Gracias.

A: Lo que buscas son Maps.
var miObjeto = {
    'variable': 'valor',
    'otraVariable': 'Otro Valor'
};

Si quieres agregar una nueva variable es tan facil como
miObjeto['nuevaVariable']='nuevo valor'

A: creo que de esta forma es mas fácil recorrer tu array para poder manejar los indices y los valores...
var idInputs01 = ["D01", "D02", "Gr", "PAtm", "Tb", "Tf", "CpCv", "Rp", "Rh", "Le", "Ld", "Pf1", "Pd"];
var contador = 0;

$.each(idInputs01, function(index, value){
//alert("Indice:"+index+"Valor:"+value+"Contador:"+contador);
contador++;
});

comentame si es asi para poder ayudarte con el resto...


text:
Homestatements
Call for immediate release of 13 civilians, including NDFP peace consultant, illegally arrested and detained
Case: Arbitrary/illegal arrest and detention
Violations of the rights of arrested or detained persons
[Includes violation of Miranda rights, right to counsel and visit by a human rights organization, among others]
Illegal search and seizure
Planting of evidence
Date of Incident: March 4, 2015
Place of Incident: Solomon Street, North Olympus Subdivision, Caloocan City
Victim/s: Emmanuel Bacarra, 51; Rosalia Reboltar-Bacarra, 52; Roy Baldostamo, 44; Manolito Estrella, 53; Emmanuel Villamor, 47; Monette Alcantara, 39
Place of Incident: Celia Subdivision, Deparo, Caloocan City
Victim/s: Osias Abad, 64, house care taker
Place of Incident: Strauss Street, North Olympus Subdivision, Quezon City
Victim/s: Ruben A. Saluta, 67, consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to the peace negotiations with the GPH, with the assumed name of Lirio Magtibay [Document of Identification Number ND978240]; Presentacion E. Saluta, 55, wife of Ruben Saluta; Alexander Raymund Birondo, 64; Winona Birondo, 56; Ruben Rupido, 59; Joseph Cuevas, 33
Perpetrators: Combined elements of the Major Crimes Investigation Unit (MCIU) of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), PNP Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), Intelligence Service Group Philippine Army (ISG-PA) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Account of the Incident:
On March 4, 2015, combined elements of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) simultaneously raided three houses in Quezon City and Caloocan City in the guise of implementing "Oplan Paglalansag", a campaign of the PNP to go after illegally held firearms. The raid ended up with the arrest of 13 civilians, including a duly-accredited peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Arrests in Quezon City: NDFP peace consultant and five others
At around 9:45 p.m. on March 4, 2015, 10 men with long firearms and in fatigue uniforms and blue shirts with "CIDG" printed on the back barged inside a rented house in Quezon City and arrested NDFP Consultant Ruben A. Saluta. Arrested with Saluta was his wife Presentacion Saluta whom he was visiting. Also arrested were four other persons—Alexander Raymund Birondo and his wife Winona Birondo, Ruben Rupido and Joseph Cuevas. Cuevas sub-leased the rooms in the house to save on costs of rent.
The armed men broke the front and back doors as some 40 other armed men took posts outside. The team, headed by a certain Col. J. A. Daza, went upstairs and pointed guns at the occupants. They repeatedly shouted: "Lie down! Do not look at our faces!" While the Saluta and Birondo couples, and Joseph Cuevas were downstairs, some members of the raiding team were on the second floor.
Saluta was bodily searched and seized his sling bag. Inside the bag were his medicines and his JASIG Document of Identification (DI). "Is this real?" the search officer asked. When he answered in the affirmative, the person turned to his superior and said "Sir, this person is a consultant." Ruben Saluta was questioned in the presence of his wife Presentacion and Alexander Birondo.
Winona Birondo and Joseph Cuevas were asked to accompany members of the raiding team, supposedly to witness the search. It was only at that point the men mentioned having a search warrant, which was not however shown to any of the occupants. The search purportedly yielded several firearms and explosives, which surprised the house occupants who had never seen, knew, or possessed said firearms and explosives. They questioned the results of the search and asserted the items did not belong to them, aside from the fact that it had been more than 30 minutes since the raiding team moved freely around the house without any member of the household.
Ruben Rupido, another sub-lessee, arrived while the raid was on-going. He was on a street near the house when members of the raiding team accosted him. He was brought inside and saw his housemates held at gunpoint.
The raiding team asked Ruben Saluta to sign two lists of alleged items recovered during the search. He signed the first list with items that truly belonged to them. He however refused to sign the second list that included explosives, a rifle, and a .357 magnum.
At around 1:25 a.m. of March 5, Saluta et al were brought to the CIDG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Ruben Saluta, Alexander Birondo, Ruben Rupido, and Joseph Cuevas were detained at Anti-Organized Crime Division (AOCD-CIDG) holding cell while Presentacion Saluta and Winona Birondo were detained at the Major-Crimes Investigation Units (MCIU-CIDG) holding cell. At around 1:00-2:00 p.m., their mug shots and fingerprints were taken. All those arrested repeatedly requested for lawyers but were ignored. At around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. they were brought to the Prosecution Office at the Quezon City Hall of Justice for inquest.
Arrests in Caloocan City: seven other civilians
Those arrested in the two other houses in Caloocan City were: Osias Abad, Emmanuel Bacarra, Rosalia Reboltar-Bacarra, Roy Baldostamo, Manolito Estrella, Emmanuel Villamor, and Monette Alcantara who had no common link except of being independent sub-lessors and sub-lessees of each other. They all underwent similar experience with that of Saluta's group
Osias Abad, a house caretaker, was watching television when he heard loud banging on the front door. When he opened the door, he saw armed men with guns trained on him shouting, "Lie down! Lie down!" Abad was handcuffed and made to lie down the floor. He was only allowed to sit later when he told the men he has hypertension. He saw several police and soldiers going up and down the stairs.
Abad was shown a list of items such as guns, which the men said they were looking for. Abad told them they would not find any guns in the house as there are none. While Abad was being interrogated, the armed men searched the house. The armed men later said they found a gun. Abad said the gun was not his.
After an hour, Abad saw the members of the barangay tanod. The police forced Abad and the barangay tanod members to sign the list of items supposedly found during the search. Photographs of the barangay tanod with the guns were taken. Abad was placed under arrest because of the guns and explosives purportedly found in the house. He protested, insisting he had no knowledge of the guns and explosives, and asked that he be accorded his right to call a lawyer. He was brought to the CIDG- Anti-Organized Crime Unit office-Camp Crame.
In another house in Solomon St., North Olympus Subdivision, Caloocan City, Emmanuel Bacarra, Rosalia Reboltar-Bacarra, Roy Baldostamo, Manolito Estrella, Emmanuel Villamor, and Monette Alcantara were arrested after a similar raid was conducted by the same unit of police and military.
At around 10:00-10:30 p.m. of March 4, 2015, Baldostamo heard commotion outside the house. When he opened the door, uniformed men with long firearms and bonnets on their faces barged in, pointed their guns at him and ordered him to lie face down. His legs were kicked at by a SAF member when he tried to move them.
The other armed men proceeded to the second floor and entered the room of the Bacarra couple and another room where Villamor and Alcantara were. One of the armed men directly pointed a gun at Bacarra's head; while Villamor and Alcantara were told to lie down as their hands were cuffed at their backs with plastic wires. The four were then ordered to go to the ground floor as several armed men remained at the second floor.
All five were questioned. Villamor asked the armed men for a search warrant and if barangay officials or the home owners' association president are with them. He was told the men had a search warrant and that the barangay officials were outside the house.
Meanwhile, Estrella was then on his way home when a police vehicle stopped and several armed men accosted him and brought him to the house at around 11:30 p.m.
From the time they entered the house, the armed men conducted "search". After nearly an hour the barangay officials arrived. Reboltar-Bacarra and Alcantara volunteered to accompany them upstairs supposedly for a search. But the two women already saw laptops, cellular phones, compact discs, flashdrives, documents, grenades, guns and explosives allegedly recovered from the search. The armed men directed the barangay officials' attention to the guns, two grenades and nine explosives devices and blasting caps. The women protested the "planting" of said confiscated items.
The six civilians demanded for their right to counsel. They all refused to sign the inventory list of items as many of them were planted. The barangay officials obliged to sign the lists.
At 1 a.m., all six were handcuffed and brought to Camp Crame. They were then detained at a 3×4 meters detention cell at the CIDG-NCR office. At around 7:00 p.m., Bacarra's group with Abad was presented before the Office of the City Prosecutor's Office of Caloocan City for inquest. The group insisted for a lawyer of their choice. Through the help of the Inquest Prosecutor, they contacted the Karapatan National Office, which in turn alerted a lawyer who represented them during inquest. The seven decided to waive their right under Art. 125 and avail the right to preliminary investigation. They were then all brought back to Camp Crame. At around 10:30 p.m., paralegals of Karapatan and a lawyer of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) were able to talk separately to the 13 arrested persons.
Planted evidence, false testimony
The raiding teams were supposedly armed with a search warrant issued by the Quezon City RTC Branch 78 for illegal firearms. When they did not find any of those fictitious items listed on the warrant, the members of the raiding team 'planted' guns and explosives and labeled them 'evidence'. All three houses were searched and the raiding teams hauled their belongings. The police-AFP operatives also 'invited', a euphemism for arrest, the 13 residents of the three houses. To justify the baseless and bungled operation, the police later filed false charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the 13 arrested, including Saluta.
It was the testimony, a ridiculous tall story, of a certain Roger Reyes Rodriguez that linked together the three separate households.
Rodriguez claimed he met Saluta in Antique province through his uncle. Saluta supposedly recruited him as gun for hire in Manila. The tale goes: Rodriguez went to Manila, contacted Saluta who gave him a gun he didn't like. Saluta brought him to the house where the Bacarras were staying and offered him another gun, which Rodriguez again refused. Saluta then brought him to the third house where Osias Abad resided and offered another gun that Rodriguez finally liked. Rodriguez's incredulous sworn affidavit became the dubious basis of the search warrants improperly issued for the Quezon City and Caloocan houses.
After spending almost a month at a cramped holding area at the CIDG-Anti-Organized Crime Unit in Camp Crame, all 13 were transferred at the Custodial Center-Camp Crame on April 2. Many of those arrested are in their 60's and suffering from various ailments.
These incidents show the continuing violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), with the arrest of another NDFP peace consultant, and the rampant practice of illegal arrest and detention, incriminatory machination, and illegal search and seizure by state security forces in the country. As of December 2014, Karapatan documented 700 victims of illegal arrest and detention under the BS Aquino administration, among them 15 NDFP consultants.
Recommended Action:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for/on:
The immediate release of the 13 arrested persons.
The end to the practice of illegal arrests and detention, planting of evidence and trumped up criminal charges.
The Philippine government to respect previously signed agreements with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, specifically the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and to honor the rights and immunities of duly-accredited persons; and the immediate resumption of the stalled peace talks.
The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments' provisions.
You may send your communications to:
H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel Street,
San Miguel, Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I,
Emerald Avenue, Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building,
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura Street, Manila
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email: [email protected],
Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Building, UP Complex,
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman
Sec. Manuel Roxas
Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government
DILG NAPOLCOM Center,
EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Fax: 5-0332
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC)
5/F Erechem Building, Rufino corner Salcedo Streets,
Legaspi Village, Makati City
ICRC Contact Number(s):
+632 892-8901 to 04,
+632 819-5997 (Fax)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Harry and Meghan shake up royal tradition in star-studded wedding
James PHEBY with Robin MILLARD in London
AFP• May 20, 2018
Prince Harry drove his bride to an evening reception himself in an open-top E-Type Jaguar with the number plate E190518 -- the wedding date
Prince Harry drove his bride to an evening reception himself in an open-top E-Type Jaguar with the number plate E190518 -- the wedding date (AFP Photo/Steve Parsons)
Windsor (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle on Saturday in a royal wedding like no other, mixing British pomp and African-American culture in front of a celebrity congregation and cheering crowds.
The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in St. George's Chapel in a historic ceremony, sealed with a kiss, which brought the biracial US TV star into the heart of the British monarchy.
As more than 100,000 people packed the sun-baked Windsor streets and millions watched worldwide, Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family were joined inside by stars including Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Elton John, George Clooney and David Beckham.
The couple held hands throughout and exchanged vows in a Church of England service modified to reflect the bride's heritage and strong sense of independence.
Firebrand US pastor Michael Curry delivered a full-throttle address invoking slaves and the power of love, and a gospel choir sang classics "Stand By Me" and "This Little Light of Mine".
Markle began her walk down the aisle alone with her 10 bridesmaids and page boys walking behind her flowing white silk dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller at the French fashion house Givenchy.
Her father had been due to meet her half-way but after he pulled out due to heart surgery, Harry's father Prince Charles stepped in to escort her to the altar.
Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, looked visibly moved during the wedding.
With the words "I will", 33-year-old Harry, and US former actress Meghan, 36, declared they would love, comfort, honour and protect each other.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared them husband and wife -- sparking huge cheers from crowds watching on big screens outside.
The newlyweds later toured Windsor in an open-topped carriage, waving and smiling to the thousands of flag-waving well-wishers lining the streets.
The bride's father Thomas Markle followed the wedding on television and voiced regret he was unable to attend, TMZ reported.
"My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there," he told the US celebrity news website.
- Diana's ring -
For the evening reception at nearby Frogmore House, attended by 200 close friends and family, Meghan changed into a sleek lily white halterneck silk crepe gown by Stella McCartney.
On her finger she wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring formerly owned by Harry's mother Diana, a gift from her new husband.
Harry drove his bride to the party himself in an open-top E-Type Jaguar with the number plate E190518 -- the wedding date.
In another of the numerous personal touches, the prince hand picked flowers for Markle's bouquet from their home at Kensington Palace.
Her five-metre veil also contained floral designs from her native California and all 53 Commonwealth countries.
"You look amazing," Harry told his bride as she arrived.
He and his brother Prince William -- his best man -- wore the blue doeskin frockcoat uniform of a major in the Blues and Royals, the regiment Harry served with in Afghanistan during his 10 years in the British army.
The couple grinned during Curry's dramatic address about the power of love, in which he quoted civil rights icon Martin Luther King.
"I'm talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world," the African-American preacher intoned.
There were no political leaders among the 600 guests but many celebrities, including Idris Elba, James Blunt, Tom Hardy and James Corden.
Some of Markle's former co-stars in US hit television series "Suits" attended, as did Harry's ex-girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas.
The newlyweds kissed on the chapel's West Steps after the wedding before starting their procession, to the delight of the crowds.
"It's been a historic, epic day," said Leslie Owusu, from nearby High Wycombe.
"It's a union of different cultures, you've got America and England and a fusion of two people that love people and life."
- Meghan's speech -
Hundreds of street parties and public screenings were held around Britain where the wedding is a welcome respite for a country still burdened by austerity and divided over Brexit.
Revellers also packed into bars to watch as far afield as Sydney, Hong Kong and Markle's native Los Angeles, for what is likely to be the last big British royal wedding for a generation.
In Windsor, thousands of fans bagged their spots by dawn, bearing rugs and picnics, Union Jack flags and patriotic paraphernalia, and the bubbly was flowing freely.
"It made me really emotional when I saw them coming past," said Helen Oliver, 50.
The queen hosted a lunchtime reception at the castle, where Elton John performed, Charles and Harry made speeches and the guests ate pieces of lemon and elderflower cake.
In another break with convention, Meghan was due to speak at the evening bash.
"She's got her own voice, a personality, and I think all that made a huge impression on everybody," said Shrabani Basu, a Commonwealth historian.
The couple met on a blind date in July 2016 and had a whirlwind romance, criss-crossing the Atlantic as she continued filming "Suits" in Toronto.
Harry was scarred by his mother Diana's death in a Paris car crash in 1997 when he was just 12, and he had to mourn in the full glare of the world's media.
His wedding featured a hymn used at Diana's funeral, at which he and William had walked behind her casket.
Sixth in line to the throne, Harry is one of the most popular royals, while Markle, a divorcee, is seen as a breath of fresh air for the monarchy.


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Home Yukon Food & Drink Beverages Coffee Mugs and Something Larger
Produce Your Own Enjoyment
Premium Suds
Coffee Mugs and Something Larger
by Peter Jickling
Mug shots: on the left is my favourite type of coffee mug, on the right is the standard mug; Riders suck Photo: Peter Jickling
I've consumed coffee nearly every day of my life since I was 20 years old and I still don't have a favourite mug.I've drank from mugs that bragged "#1 Lover" and "Life is richer in New Westminster"; I've drank from mugs that had little porcelain moose turds at the bottom; and I've even drank from a semi-circular mug that cheekily proclaimed, "You asked for half a cup".None of these receptacles stole my heart.But shortly after moving back to the Yukon in the fall of 2008, I realized that I did indeed have a favourite type of coffee mug.Upon my return I lived with my parents and habitually started my day with Bodum-fresh Birdsong Blend. And each morning I instinctively reached past the standard mugs for a particular specimen that I enjoyed drinking from. It wasn't the logo that I liked (it had worn off); it was the form of the object.A standard mug — you probably have eight in your cupboard — is 7.5 cm wide at its base and 8 cm wide at its rim; its height is 8.5 cm. Filling it to within a centimetre of its rim will produce a volume of 250 ml. As a frame of reference, a medium Tim Hortons coffee is about 400 ml.Make no mistake, the standard mug is a fine coffee-drinking instrument, but it pales in comparison to my preferred type.At its base, my favourite style of mug has a 5.5 cm diameter, and at its rim its diameter is 9 cm. It also stands 9 cm tall. Leaving a centimetre at the top, its volume will just squeak over 300 ml.So why do I prefer the latter type of mug to the standard variety?Firstly, 300 ml of coffee is more satisfying than 250 ml.This isn't to say that a coffee mug should aim solely for volume maximization; once a mug gets too big it begins to look goofy. Also, if a mug is really large it eliminates the need for a top-up — and pouring yourself a refill is one of the true pleasures of drinking coffee.Secondly, because the standard mug has nearly the same width at the top and bottom, its outer edge is virtually vertical. However, my favourite kind of mug is 3.5 centimetres wider at the top than the bottom. This gap is bridged by an aesthetically pleasing curved edge that expands the mug outward as its height increases.Lastly, a standard mug has a wimpy handle; it is neither as wide nor as thick as the handle on my favourite style of mug. Furthermore, I can only fit two fingers into the handle of a standard mug but I can place three fingers into the handle of my chosen mug.The result is that I can grab my preferred coffee mug with satisfying gusto, whereas I have to be annoyingly dainty when handling a standard mug.There are those who poo-poo the importance of carefully designing the objects we live with, but they do so in favour of shortsighted utilitarian calculations. The fact remains that if you pour identical coffee into two containers I will enjoy the experience of drinking that coffee out of one container more than the other.And if the importance of design holds true for something as small as coffee mugs, imagine how important it is when the scale is multiplied.
Headline Story Jicklings Jabberings Coffee Addictions Issue: 2014-09-11


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Opinion - Challenges facing Burma following Aung San Suu Kyi's release
by David Calleja, Dec 7, 2010 | Destinations: Myanmar
In Charlie Chaplin's satirical look at World War 2, The Great Dictator, the comic genius lampoons Adolf Hitler in his memorable role as Adenoid Hynkel, leader of the Double Cross. More touching, however, is his character of a Jewish barber fleeing a German concentration camp for the Austrian border and getting mistaken as Hynkel. Refusing the title of emperor, all he wants is peace and an end to unnecessary fighting. His impassioned plea of asking everybody to stop fighting is not only a cinematic masterstroke for its time, but is still relevant today. Chaplin's final call for everybody to lay down their arms for the true meaning of democracy is moving.
Wouldn't it be great if such a storyline could be replicated so that a country like Burma could be rid of its tyrants and dictators? Imagine the country's military leaders and armed forces agreeing to lay down their arms for the sake of peace, and begin talking openly with monks, civilians, and political opponents - particularly the recently freed Aung San Suu Kyi - about developing a real framework for democracy; one acceptable to all Burmese, where the constitution would allow for the military to serve Burma in the spirit intended by the nation's founding father of independence, General Aung San, rather than have the national army fighting several wars at once with its own people. If Senior-General Than Shwe would take the time to watch The Great Dictator, he may just learn something about the consequences of his vanity and obsession with ruling with an iron fist.
Burma is a land with resolute, friendly residents who can do little more than watch as their once bountiful lands are stripped bare of its natural resources. Its 'new' parliament will be dominated by the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) after their emphatic victory in farcical circumstances, claiming more than 75 per cent of the votes.[1] The few parties representing ethnic minorities will not be able to forge an effective alliance, although the possibility of the USDP courting an ethnic party for token representation may yet still arise. A quarter of the seats in Burma's parliament are reserved for the military, where a minimum of 75 per cent parliamentary majority must be secured for any changes to the constitution must be made. Yet there is one voice of hope that gives us all something to savor - the release of Aung San Suu Kyi on November 12.
We are all likely to have seen images beamed live around the world showing her supporters flocking to the gates of her residence in Rangoon, ready to hear the address of a woman they had been denied for so long. But at the same time she is aware of the threat posed by the military, with spies watching her every move. One guarantee is that Aung San Suu Kyi does not get fazed easily; she has a job to do and she will complete it. Her message for the crowd was to be brave and work together to achieve positive change, for she could not do it alone. The atmosphere surrounding her arrival, coupled with the massive weight of expectation, was a sight not seen since Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech in Cape Town in 1990 following his release after 26 years imprisonment jail sentence. Like Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi is a wonderful orator, eloquent, brave and inspiring.
As much as we would like to think, Aung San Suu Kyi's release from detention is not a "Mandela moment." Firstly, the path to a true democracy in Burma has not been established. The military leadership's "discipline-flourishing democracy" is little more than a smokescreen for their plans to remain in power. Individuals who have borne the brunt of poverty and suffering for enough years can easily tell the difference between window dressing and genuine reform. In South Africa, President F.W. De Klerk accepted the reality that black majority rule would eventuate, and negotiated for changes that went beyond window dressing. Secondly, the apartheid policy discrimination in South Africa had clearly segregated individuals along the clear lines of race, making it more obvious as to what laws needed redressing. Aung San Suu Kyi herself noted, "it is Burmese discriminating and oppressing Burmese."[2]
In declaring her number 75 in their annual Top 100 Global Thinkers List, Foreign Policy noted that following her release, "(Aung San Suu Kyi) made a remarkably levelheaded call for long-term reform of the sort that comes from within: "value change," as she put it, "not regime change."[3] This reflects the need for Burma and the rest of the world to take a deep breath, consult, and then get on with the job without resting on laurels. Like her father General Aung San, she is a leader who speaks of political unity and who speaks of Burma's people like a large family, while recognizing the sensitivities facing ethnic minorities who have suffered immensely as a result of the junta's war against them. The world's longest ongoing civil war, between the junta and the Karen National Union (KNU) shows no sign of stopping, human rights abuses against the Shan people continue to occur at an alarming rate, and the Rohingya people in Arakan State are discriminated against as a consequence of not being allowed citizenship rights. Most of the estimated 200,000 Rohingya population in neighboring Bangladeshi camps such as Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar Plaza are undocumented[4] and would only consider returning if Aung San Suu Kyi were leader of Burma, for they chances of more equitable treatment would be higher than compared to living under the military junta.
In an era where the fast dissemination of news and exiled communities transport details quickly, Aung San Suu Kyi finds herself speaking for the voiceless and stateless. She has lost none of her poise, eloquence and charm to inspire ordinary Burmese civilians and leaders worldwide. Her release comes at a time where multimedia and Internet technology is as its peak and will only continue to grow. This is an opportunity to spread her message calling for cooperation from all sides even further; to the Pentagon, 10 Downing Street, and to the United Nations Security Council. What defines Aung San Suu Kyi as a visionary is her willingness to embrace new ideas from those who have known freedom during her incarceration, new ways to reach out to the younger generation, all the while keeping to her core message of working together for a common goal - achieving democracy without violence.[5] With the simple message of working together, she brings the international community into focus reminds to be part of a force for democracy, peace, reconciliation and genuine change; and it needs a peaceful army of millions, for one person cannot be so influential. She has extended this message of friendship to the military regime who kept her in house detention for 16 of the last 21 years. In an exclusive speech to the Washington D.C.-based periodical Foreign Policy, Aung San Suu Kyi added that her idea was not a new one but rather one as old as humanity itself - "working together to improve any situation"[6]. This will mean re-registering the National League for Democracy and having the right to investigate concerns about the electoral process. This is where the political will of the new administration will be tested. When asked what question she would pose to Senior-General Than Shwe, Burma's reclusive military leader, Aung San Suu Kyi simply replied, "it would be good if we could talk to each other."[7]
So how will the new administration respond? Will they play mind games or accept the invitation? In the days leading up to her release, USDP secretary-general U Htay Oo reportedly said that the military wants "to co-operate (with the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi) for the betterment of our country,"[8]. These words, while not a direct endorsement of for an all-inclusive roundtable discussion, at first glance appear to be the most positive statement delivered in some time. However, nothing has been heard from Senior-General Than Shwe on the matter, a man who seethes at the mention of Aung San Suu Kyi's name and has never fully explained why. It is not clear whether his feelings are shared by the USDP or indeed other members of the military. Regardless of their personal feelings towards Aung San Suu Kyi, it will not stop officials from harassing civilians, in particular the most at risk, as typified by the recent targeting of HIV/AIDS patients at a clinic on Rangoon's outskirts.
Just one day after Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to a health clinic highlighting the need to give greater attention to the issue of HIV/AIDS in Burma, authorities ordered the facilities to close and threatened residents and staff with eviction. Upon the surfacing of details that the clinic's owner, Phyu Phyu Tin, was a colleague of Aung San Suu Kyi's in the National League for Democracy, came calls of "political" motivation for the center's closure. After international exposure, authorities relented, saying that the residents could stay on. This incident has become a source of embarrassment, for it demonstrates just how out of touch authorities are. What does this say about the authorities' attitude towards vulnerable people? More importantly, what will become of the patients once they have moved? They will be added to the growing list of Burma's forgotten people, whose lives will slip through the cracks of ill-equipped and understaffed government-run hospitals.
Despite all of this, the junta has failed to dampen her willingness and enthusiasm, and the joy of watching Aung San Suu Kyi undertake the role she undoubtedly misses the most; as a mother. One of the more wonderful moments since Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom is the time she has spent catching up with her youngest son, Kim Aris. Mizzima Television showed footage of mother and son taking a stroll through Bogyoke (General) Aung San Market in downtown Rangoon last Monday, with hundreds or thousands of onlookers cheering her every step. In one poignant moment, a woman greeting Aung San Suu Kyi to fulfil a lifelong dream of meeting her idol, could not be spoiled even with the presence of the sign "Government Registered Jewelry Shop", a sign that the presence of government is unshakable in Rangoon.[9] But this cannot take the gloss off the 5 minute visit that traders and customers alike, living in fear for so long, will treasure forever. In a world of political scandals, public relations stunts and seemingly pre-scripted interest by politicians worldwide, this one bit of footage is a reminder of what politics should really be about; connecting with the people.
Aung San Suu Kyi is regarded in a light that most leaders in western countries dare dream of. This is because she cares genuinely for the people who have stayed loyal to her, without casting aside anybody who has made life difficult. Her vision is simple; a peaceful, democratic and fair Burma where restoring the country's past does not involve the use of force. The time has come to end this ongoing bickering, which innocent residents pay the ultimate price for. The ban on the National League for Democracy must be lifted so that representatives of Burma's diverse community can hear what each other has to say without bias or fear. Aung San Suu Kyi needs to be present simply because she will always be the voice of hope, one that adds weight to the drive for national reconciliation and peace. And if the new administration really wants to, they can become part of a force of good and not evil by adhering to the words mentioned in The Great Dictator's closing speech.
[1] Democratic Voice of Burma, Final election results announced, 18 November 2010, http://www.dvb.no/elections/final-election-results-announced/12942 Viewed on 21 November 2010.
[2] Doherty, B. (2010), Change to come from the people, The Age, Saturday 20 November 2010, http://www.theage.com.au/world/change-to--come-from-the-people-20101119-18131.html Accessed 22 November 2010.
[4] Thai Burma Border Consortium, Burmese border refugee sites with population figures: September 2010 - http://www.tbbc.org/camps/2010-09-sep-map-tbbc-unhcr.pdf, Viewed on 20 November 2010
[5] Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinkers, December 2010, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/29/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=0,42 Viewed on 1 December 2010.
[7] Interview with Zoe Daniel, Aung San Suu Kyi thanks Australia, ABC Radio - A.M. WITH TONY EASTLEY, Monday 15 November 2010, 8.03am AEST, http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s3066062.htm Viewed on 28 November 2010.
[8] Davies, J., Uneasy Burma awaits Suu Kyi, The Age, 9 November 2010, http://www.theage.com.au/world/uneasy-burma-awaits-suu-kyi-20101108-17kgr.html Viewed on 18 November 2010.
[9] Mizzima Television, Aung San Suu Kyi and her son take a stroll through Bogyoke Market, 30 November 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juFKtLSLrgg, Accessed 1 December 2010.
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Nash County, North Carolina facts for kids
U.S. county
Bellamy's Mill
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 610: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Francis Nash
Largest city
543 sq mi (1,410 km2)
2.4 sq mi (6 km2) 0.4%%
177/sq mi (68/km2)
UTC−5 (Eastern)
UTC−4 (EDT)
2nd (until 2020), 1st (from 2020)
Nash County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 95,840. Its county seat is Nashville.
Nash County is now a part of the Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, instead of the Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Adjacent counties
Major highways
Nash County was formed in 1777 from Edgecombe County. It was named for American Revolutionary War Brigadier General Francis Nash, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Germantown that year.
In 1855, parts of Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston, and Wayne Counties were combined to form Wilson County, North Carolina.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 543 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 540 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.4%) is covered by water.
Franklin County - west
Johnston County - southwest
Wake County - southwest
Wilson County - south
Edgecombe County - east
Halifax County - northeast
Warren County - north
I-495 (future)
NC 33
1790 7,390 —
1800 6,975 −5.6%
1810 7,268 4.2%
1820 8,185 12.6%
2019 (est.) 94,298 −1.6%
As of the census of 2000, 87,420 people, 33,644 households, and 23,920 families resided in the county. The population density was 162 people per square mile (62/km2). The 37,051 housing units averaged 69 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 61.94% White, 33.93% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. About 3.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 33,644 households, 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were not families. About 25% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was distributed as 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,147, and for a family was $44,769. Males had a median income of $32,459 versus $24,438 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,863. About 10.30% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.
Map of Nash County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Rocky Mount (part)
Nashville (county seat)
Dortches
Momeyer
Spring Hope
Whitakers
Zebulon (part)
Battleboro
Ferrells
Mannings
North Whitakers
Oak Level
South Whitakers
Nash County, North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.


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Soros Calls Cryptocurrencies 'Typical Bubble' Based on Misunderstanding
© AP Photo / Kevin Wolf
DAVOS (Sputnik) - Renowned investor George Soros on Thursday called cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, a speculation that is based on misunderstanding, during an informal dinner on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
"Cryptocurrencies are a typical bubble, which is always based on some kind of misunderstanding. Bitcoin is not a currency, because a currency is supposed to be a stable store of value, and the currency that can fluctuate 25 percent in day cannot be used, for instance, to pay wages, because wages could drop by 25 percent in a day. So it's a speculation, it's based on misunderstanding," Soros said in Davos, Switzerland.
The value of bitcoin, a pioneer in the cryptocurrencies market, surged in 2017, jumping up to about $20,000 in December amid debates on its reliability as an investment, but then tumbled below $10,000 last week.
READ MORE: George Soros Brands Trump 'A Danger to the World' at Davos, Sets Twitter Afire
© AFP 2019 / ALEXANDER NEMENOV
Bill on "Cryptoruble" Introduced in Russia's Lower House of Parliament
Cryptocurrencies, or digital currencies, have no material form. An unlimited number of anonymous sources can issue and use such currencies. Central banks worldwide have treated the phenomenon with caution, although some have started exploring the possibilities it offers and even developing their own cryptocurrency.
Recently, Venezuela launched its own state cryptocurrency, which, as the country's president Nicolas Maduro says, is backed by oil. Also, the Bank of England could give approval on the introduction of a national cryptocurrency in 2018. The body reportedly established a special research unit years ago, in order to study the issue of introduction of a pound-linked cryptocurrency.
Telegram May Enter Cryptocurrency Fray to Challenge Visa, MasterCard
US Cybersecurity Agency Accuses North Korea of Cryptocurrency Cyber Heist
Bubble Trouble: South Korea Considers Ban on All Cryptocurrency Exchanges
'Bubble Is Bursting': Analysts Predict Global Slump of Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin Trap: Cryptocurrencies May Trigger New Crunch
Pyongyang-Linked Hackers Attacked Cryptocurrency Exchanges in S Korea - Report
cryptocurrencies, bubble, George Soros, Europe


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Navy Carrier Lincoln Back from Record-Setting 295-Day Deployment
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Seaman Tyler Morris, from Paradise, Calif., reunites with his family during the homecoming of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Danielle A. Baker)
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
Thousands of sailors are in San Diego after completing the longest carrier deployment since the end of the Cold War.
The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln arrived at Naval Air Station North Island on Monday, marking the end to a 295-day round-the-globe deployment. The flattop deployed from Virginia on April 1 as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
The carrier spent about seven months in the Middle East after the strike group was ordered to the region to temper Iranian aggression in May. Its deployment was extended several times as the Navy worked to repair a broken carrier that was set to replace it.
The strike group left the Middle East just weeks before the U.S. took out a top Iranian general, resulting in retaliatory strikes on U.S. forces in Iraq.
Related: Navy's Top Admiral Has No Apologies Over Carrier Lincoln's Extra-Long Deployment
Families told Military.com more than seven months into the carrier's deployment that multiple extensions were taking a toll. They not only missed their loved ones on Halloween, when they were supposed to return, but Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
Many also carried out cross-country moves without their sailors as the ship's homeport moved from Virginia to California.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday last week defended the decision to keep the Lincoln at sea much longer than planned. Several factors contributed to the decision, he said at the annual Surface Navy Association meeting outside Washington.
"That's sometimes how it goes," the CNO said. "I don't make any apologies for that. … If I had a better solution, I would've offered it."
With some families worried the Lincoln crew's experience could become the new norm as the Navy shakes up its deployments with harder-to-predict schedules, the carrier's commanding officer said they should not assume they'll have the same experience.
"This certainly was outside what anybody would characterize as normal," Capt. Walter Slaughter told Military.com as the carrier headed back toward the U.S. "There were extraordinary circumstances."
Rear Adm. Michael Boyle, Carrier Strike Group 12's commander, said in a statement that the carrier strike group's presence made a difference in some of the world's most critical waterways, "deterring aggression through strength and readiness."
The ships traveled more than 64,000 nautical miles since April, including transits through several choke points, such as the straits of Gibraltar and Hormuz and the Suez Canal.
"They can return home knowing that their service to our Navy and our nation made a positive difference," Boyle said.
Slaughter said tensions were high when the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Middle East in May. That started to decrease as time went on, he said.
"Having a carrier strike [group] on station certainly is a message that we're concerned about what's going on in that part of the world," he said.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group replaced the Lincoln in the region.
-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.
Read more: Carrier Lincoln Is Finally Headed Home. But Families Say the Navy Broke Trust
Related Topics: Military Headlines US Navy Topics Gear and Equipment Deployment


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New Biomarker Test Can Detect Alzheimer's Neurodegeneration in Blood – Neuroscience News
Summary: A newly developed blood test can detect brain-derived tau (BD-tau), a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration.
sources: University of Pittsburgh
A group of neuroscientists led by a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researcher developed a test to detect a novel marker of Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration in a blood sample.
A study on their results was published today in Brain.
The biomarker, called "brain-derived tau," or BD-tau, outperforms current blood diagnostic tests used to detect Alzheimer's-related neurodegeneration clinically. It is specific to Alzheimer's disease and correlates well with Alzheimer's neurodegeneration biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
"At present, diagnosing Alzheimer's disease requires neuroimaging," said senior author Thomas Karikari, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Pitt. "Those tests are expensive and take a long time to schedule, and a lot of patients, even in the US, don't have access to MRI and PET scanners. Accessibility is a major issue."
Currently, to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, clinicians use guidelines set in 2011 by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association. The guidelines, called the AT(N) Framework, require detection of three distinct components of Alzheimer's pathology—the presence of amyloid plaques, tau tangles and neurodegeneration in the brain—either by imaging or by analyzing CSF samples.
Unfortunately, both approaches suffer from economical and practical limitations, dictating the need for development of convenient and reliable AT(N) biomarkers in blood samples, collection of which is minimally invasive and requires fewer resources.
The development of simple tools detecting signs of Alzheimer's in the blood without compromising on quality is an important step toward improved accessibility, said Karikari.
"The most important utility of blood biomarkers is to make people's lives better and to improve clinical confidence and risk prediction in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis," Karikari said.
Current blood diagnostic methods can accurately detect abnormalities in plasma amyloid beta and the phosphorylated form of tau, hitting two of the three necessary checkmarks to confidently diagnose Alzheimer's.
But the biggest hurdle in applying the AT(N) Framework to blood samples lies in the difficulty of detecting markers of neurodegeneration that are specific to the brain and aren't influenced by potentially misleading contaminants produced elsewhere in the body.
For example, blood levels of neurofilament light, a protein marker of nerve cell damage, become elevated in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and other dementia, rendering it less useful when trying to differentiate Alzheimer's disease from other neurodegenerative conditions. On the other hand, detecting total tau in the blood proved to be less informative than monitoring its levels in CSF.
By applying their knowledge of molecular biology and biochemistry of tau proteins in different tissues, such as the brain, Karikari and his team, including scientists at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, developed a technique to selectively detect BD-tau while avoiding free-floating "Big tau" proteins produced by cells outside the brain.
To do that, they designed a special antibody that selectively binds to BD-tau, making it easily detectable in the blood. They validated their assay across over 600 patient samples from five independent cohorts, including those from patients whose Alzheimer's disease diagnosis was confirmed after their deaths, as well as from patients with memory deficiencies indicative of early-stage Alzheimer's.
The tests showed that levels of BD-tau detected in blood samples of Alzheimer's disease patients using the new assay matched with levels of tau in the CSF and reliably distinguished Alzheimer's from other neurodegenerative diseases. Levels of BD-tau also correlated with the severity of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain tissue confirmed via brain autopsy analyses.
Scientists hope that monitoring blood levels of BD-tau could improve clinical trial design and facilitate screening and enrollment of patients from populations that historically haven't been included in research cohorts.
Current blood diagnostic methods can accurately detect abnormalities in plasma amyloid beta and the phosphorylated form of tau, hitting two of the three necessary checkmarks to confidently diagnose Alzheimer's. Image is in public domain
"There is a huge need for diversity in clinical research, not just by skin color but also by socioeconomic background," said Karikari.
"To develop better drugs, trials need to enroll people from varied backgrounds and not just those who live close to academic medical centers. A blood test is cheaper, safer and easier to administer, and it can improve clinical confidence in diagnosing Alzheimer's and selecting participants for clinical trial and disease monitoring."
Karikari and his team are planning to conduct large-scale clinical validation of blood BD-tau in a wide range of research groups, including those that recruit participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, from memory clinics, and from the community. Additionally, these studies will include older adults with no biological evidence of Alzheimer's disease as well as those at different stages of the disease.
These projects are crucial to ensure that the biomarker results are generalizable to people from all backgrounds, and will pave the way to making BD-tau commercially available for widespread clinical and prognostic use.
Additional authors of this study are Fernando Gonzalez-Ortiz, BS, Przemysław Kac, BS, Nicholas Ashton, Ph.D., and Henrik Zetterberg, MD, Ph.D., of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Michael Turton, Ph.D., and Peter Harrison, Ph.D., of Bioventix Plc, Farnham, UK; Denis Smirnov, BS, and Douglas Galasko, MD, of the University of California, San Diego; Enrico Premi, MD, Valentina Cantoni, Ph.D., Jasmine Rivolta, Ph.D., and Barbara Borroni, MD, of the University of Brescia, Italy; and Roberta Ghidoni, Ph.D., Luisa Benussi, Ph.D., and Claudia Saraceno, Ph.D., of RCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
Funding: This research was supported by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskåpradet; #2021-03244), the Alzheimer's Association (#AARF-21-850325), the BrightFocus Foundation (#A2020812F), the International Society for Neurochemistry's Career Development Grant, the Swedish Alzheimer Foundation (Alzheimerfonden; #AF-930627), the Swedish Brain Foundation (Hjärnfonden; #FO2020-0240), the Swedish Dementia Foundation (Demensförbundet), the Swedish Parkinson Foundation (Parkinsonfonden), Gamla Tjänarinnor Foundation, the Aina (Ann) Wallströms and Mary-Ann Sjöbloms Foundation, the Agneta Prytz-Folkes & Gösta Folkes Foundation (#2020-00124), the Gun and Bertil Stohnes Foundation and the Anna Lisa and Brother Björnsson's Foundation, among other sources.
About this Alzheimer's disease research news
Author: Anastasia Gorelova
Contact: Anastasia Gorelova – University of Pittsburgh
Image: The image is in the public domain
So see
OriginalResearch: open access.
"Brain-derived tau: a novel blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's disease-type neurodegeneration" by Thomas Karikari et al. Brain
Brain-derived tau: a novel blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's disease-type neurodegeneration
Blood-based biomarkers for amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau show good diagnostic accuracies and agreements with their corresponding CSF and neuroimaging biomarkers in the amyloid/tau/neurodegeneration [A/T/(N)] framework for Alzheimer's disease.
However, the blood-based neurodegeneration marker neurofilament light is not specific to Alzheimer's disease while total-tau shows lack of correlation with CSF total-tau. Recent studies suggest that blood total-tau originates principally from peripheral, non-brain sources.
We sought to address this challenge by generating an anti-tau antibody that selectively binds brain-derived tau and avoids the peripherally expressed 'big tau' isoform. We applied this antibody to develop an ultrasensitive blood-based assay for brain-derived tau, and validated it in five independent cohorts (n = 609) including a blood-to-autopsy cohort, CSF biomarker-classified cohorts and memory clinic cohorts.
In paired samples, serum and CSF brain-derived tau were significantly correlated (rho = 0.85, P < 0.0001), while serum and CSF total-tau were not (rho = 0.23, P = 0.3364). Blood-based brain-derived tau showed equivalent diagnostic performance as CSF total-tau and CSF brain-derived tau to separate biomarker-positive Alzheimer's disease participants from biomarker-negative controls.
Furthermore, plasma brain-derived tau accurately distinguished autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease from other neurodegenerative diseases (area under the curve = 86.4%) while neurofilament light did not (area under the curve = 54.3%). These performances were independent of the presence of concomitant pathologies. Plasma brain-derived tau (rho = 0.52–0.67, P = 0.003), but not neurofilament light (rho = −0.14–0.17, P = 0.501), which was associated with global and regional amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangle counts.
These results were further verified in two memory clinic cohorts where serum brain-derived tau differentiated Alzheimer's disease from a range of other neurodegenerative disorders, including frontotemporal lobar degeneration and atypical parkinsonian disorders (area under the curve up to 99.6%).
Notably, plasma/serum brain-derived tau correlated with neurofilament light only in Alzheimer's disease but not in the other neurodegenerative diseases. Across cohorts, plasma/serum brain-derived tau was associated with CSF and plasma AT(N) biomarkers and cognitive function.
Brain-derived tau is a new blood-based biomarker that outperforms plasma total-tau and, unlike neurofilament light, shows specificity to Alzheimer's disease-type neurodegeneration.
Thus, brain-derived tau demonstrates potential to complete the AT(N) scheme in blood, and will be useful to evaluate Alzheimer's disease-dependent neurodegenerative processes for clinical and research purposes.
#Biomarker #Test #Detect #Alzheimers #Neurodegeneration #Blood #Neuroscience #News
Alzheimers Biomarker Blood Detect Neurodegeneration Neuroscience News Test


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Panel Kills Public Defender Changes in Idaho – Don't Blame the Defenders!
By Chuck Peterson on November 24, 2014
Posted in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, News, Politics
From the Idaho Statesman tonight:
"Four years ago, a report from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association found that Idaho is violating its Sixth Amendment obligations to defendants. Public defenders across the state were being given too many cases, and some defendants weren't meeting their attorneys until they were in the courtroom. The report also said that defendants
When it comes to SGT Bowe Bergdahl, let's be happy he is back in the US
By Chuck Peterson on June 25, 2014
SGT Bowe Bergdahl's "disappearance" is not necessarily desertion.
Once upon a time I served as an Army JAG officer – a Trial Defense Services lawyer – defending the men and women of the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson against criminal charges. Viet Nam was over, but there were traces of its wrath daily in the halls of the building in which we were housed. A service member who had served honorably in Viet Nam, but "left" a little early on arrival to the States without having "processed out." Or the occasional soldier who had never reported for that flight to "Namland," and somehow evaded detection for a dozen years or so.
The first question for the Staff Judge Advocate in each case was whether a crime had been committed and if so, which crime?.
Did the soldier go AWOL (absent without leave) or was he or she a deserter? Does it really matter?
The Convening Authority (a General who serves as the grand decision maker in these matters) in Bowe Bergdahl's case will have much to weigh when it comes to making that call. He may decide that SGT Bergdahl deserves the benefit of the doubt, and simply permit him to be discharged.
From my experience as a military lawyer, such decisions are generally made after carefully considering the soldier's service, as well as the circumstances surrounding his or her "disappearance" from the unit. Add to that the fact that SGT Bergdahl's release was negotiated on behalf of the United States with full knowledge that he was reported to have walked away from his unit.
Even so, not every person who walks away is a deserter. Desertion is a separate offense that requires proof of an intention to permanently remain away or avoid hazardous duty. The military treats desertion very seriously – and it can result in the death penalty during wartime. AWOL is not nearly as serious, and there are administrative, non-judicial means of punishing that conduct which might be more appropriate here.
But did SGT Bergdahl intend to remain away? That question is more difficult to answer, and the process used by the military to investigate such a case is similar to a grand jury proceeding, but better. SGT Bergdahl and his lawyers will be present to hear the evidence to be considered by the investigating officer and they can cross-examine the witnesses. He can have and needs the best lawyers he can get. And those lawyers should ideally include both military and civilian counsel. After all – at some level this is a political case that may be pursued more out of a feeling we traded away five really bad guys for one possible deserter than because we believe SGT Bergdahl committed a crime.
I trust the military justice system. I like the checks and balances within the system and I like the way it tries to avoid politics. Still, SGT Bergdahl's case is political. Remember that Rose Garden press conference with the President and Bowe's parents? Politics.
We always say nobody is guilty until proven so, but the popular presumption echoed by talking heads across the cable news outlets is that he ran away from his unit. The presumption of innocence will have to fight for space, and that will take help.
Let's just try to reserve judgment for now and find joy that he is back in the states.
Beware the Feds and Fraud – prison time and big fines remain the norm!
Back at it for the new year and I couldn't help but pass along a link to a news article today concerning wire fraud and the sentence imposed by Judge Winmill. Check the story here.
Apparently the defendant in the case had wired money from his employer's bank account to pay his personal mortgage and other stuff. Taking money from someone else to pay your debts never works out well in the long run. While we may diverge on some questions of law – there is universal agreement that theft is morally wrong – and the law makes it a felony. The Feds take a very dim view of this!
The defendant in the case was sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay $607K in restitution. That sounds like a lot of mortgage payments and personal stuff that he must now account for! But my point here is simple – any federal felony is likely to result in serious consequences, including federal prison and big fines or restitution. And there is no parole in the federal system – if you get a three year sentence you serve three years, less any "good time" credit you earn.
So get help immediately if you are contacted by authorities about any claim you have taken money that does not belong to you. AND DO NOT TALK TO INVESTIGATORS without FIRST having talked to a lawyer. Whatever you tell the investigators will limit your options going forward. We frequently have folks who contact us and claim that they did not steal anything, but they have said things to investigators that make their claim of innocence look like a lie. You can't outsmart or outplay the investigator – so wait to explain your side until you have a lawyer.
And then there is the obvious: do not steal!
Criminal Cases Require Lawyers with "attention to detail, an energetic investigation and a coherent plan of defense"
By Chuck Peterson on October 23, 2013
Posted in Assistance of Counsel, Constitutional Law, Criminal Defense, Hire a Lawyer, News, Politics, Trials
The news tonight declares that Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel has won a new trial because his criminal defense lawyer did not do enough to provide an effective defense. Robert F. Kennedy was his uncle. Mr. Skakel was convicted of the murder of Martha Moxley in 1975. She was beaten to death with a golf club after she and friends attended
Thanks Idaho Statesman – Peterson Lawyers Focussed on Criminal Defense
By Chuck Peterson on September 9, 2013
Just a quick thanks to the folks at the Idaho Statesman for their recent coverage of Peterson Lawyers – or "Dad and Daughter at Law." Click the link to see the article and learn more about us if you haven't done so.
We really had a great time with their reporter, although those low, wide-angle shots don't do much for me (or Courtney)! Still, there is a point to all that jazz – I think that lawyers should focus on being problem solvers, not just advocates. Here's the point, placing your case in the hands of twelve people is risky and frightening. So a solution that makes the best of a bad situation is often the best solution.
On the other hand, there is no substitute for experience. Any legal matter placed in the hands of someone with actual trial time stands a better chance of success.
If you have a legal matter and need some help, give us a call.
Thanks Best Lawyers in America – we appreciate the recognition
For years we have been happy to be recognized for our work by inclusion in the annual edition of Best Lawyers in America. This collaboration of U.S. News & World Reports, the New York Times, Washington Post and others selects lawyers and law firms that are leaders in their areas of practice.
For 2013 that recognition went a little further in our primary practice area as criminal defense Lawyer of the Year in Boise.
For 2014 we were again recognized by Best Lawyers in America for our representation in the criminal defense area.
Thanks Best Lawyers – and thanks to our clients, lawyer friends and foes, and the occasional jurist who provided their input. And thanks Courtney and Patty for all you do to make it fun to be a lawyer.
Remember: the Judge is NOT Bound by the Plea Agreement
By Chuck Peterson on February 28, 2013
Posted in Criminal Defense, News, Politics
You may recall that last summer, local politico John McGee was ordered to spend at least 44 days in jail before being eligible for either work release or the Sheriff's Inmate Labor Detachment. This was not how the sentencing was expected to go. McGee had a plea agreement! A deal!
We lawyers warn our clients that the judge is not bound by the agreement but I have occasionally soft pedaled that truth. After all, a judge going beyond what the parties recommend is extremely rare. When that happens, there is usually a deafening silence followed by the "whiskey, tango, foxtrot" moment.
It apparently happened that day last July. McGee was to be the beneficiary of a deal that was negotiated by the prosecutor and defense counsel. That deal called for McGee to do five (5) days in jail, not 44 and certainly not 88 as the court ordered. Mr. McGee actually served 44 days before his release, but that result depended upon the good graces of the court and the good actions of the former State Senator.
Maybe Judge Cawthon had simply had enough of the McGee's misdeeds, this time while on probation following the mother of all plea agreements for his plea to DUI in 2011. The Court said it was simply making McGee accountable to the same degree any other public servant should be accountable. McGee had promised to obey the law, at least until July when his probation would have ended.
Actually, the take away here has nothing to do with the pratfalls of Mr. McGee. He has completed his service and done so with dignity. He didn't go nuts or whine about that unexpected jail sentence.
Just remember this – the Judge is really NOT bound by the plea agreement. He may go above or below the anticipated sentence. Mr. McGee, the prosecutor and defense counsel all expected that Judge Cawthon would follow their recommendation. He didn't, and McGee was cuffed and lugged away to begin his sentence while he and those around him could only wonder why it hadn't gone as planned.
I had this happen to me and it hit me and my client hard. The deal called for my client to plead guilty to a felony in exchange for a recommended sentence of 3 years fixed and 5 years indeterminate. He pleaded guilty. The State recommended 3 fixed and 5 indeterminate. I argued my client was much misunderstood, but had done what needed to be done.
The Court imposed a 20 year sentence – 8 years fixed and 12 indeterminate. That was 8 years and four months ago. My client is now out, and he served his time honorably as evidenced by the fact that the parole commission sprung him before topping out at 20 years. But when he arrived in court that morning neither he nor I expected him to leave for an eight year prison term.
My point here is that even the best agreed upon sentencing recommendation may run into a wall. Judges, lawyers and defendants do not always play from the same sheet of music. When this one was over, Mr. McGee served his sentence honorably, and the Court may permitted him to leave jail at 44 days. And nothing here is intended to infer anything about the court or the lawyers. They simply saw it differently. Mr. McGee made decisions and he had to live with them. The same is true in every case.
SuperLawyers not withstanding – there are no guarantees in most plea agreements.
So what about that plea bargain they have offered you? Or your loved one? Will the judge follow the agreement or not? Find out what you can do to make it more likely you get the benefit of the bargain by checking other posts in this blog on sentencing. You can also start by reading the post just prior to this one on humility!
Army Will Seek Death Penalty in Bales Court-Martial
By Chuck Peterson on December 20, 2012
The United States Army has announced that it will seek the death penalty in the murder trial for SSG Robert Bales. Bales is accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan, 9 of which were children. In a news story published today, that writer points out that although 16 servicemen have been sentenced to death since 1986, none been executed since 1961. The case is particularly news worthy in the Northwest because Bales is being held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, outside Tacoma, Washington.
I have not posted anything to this blog since October, in part because I was appointed lead counsel in a death penalty case in Canyon County about the middle of that month. For sixty days I worried about whether the county would in fact seek the death penalty. While prosecutors cogitated on the complexity of imposing the ultimate sanction, we did research and read reports and went to a seminar to "update" ourselves on all the issues. As I write this, and am headed today to see my client, the death penalty has been taken off the table. The case will go forward without the ax hanging over our client's head.
For that, I am thankful.
Every case, whether routine or extraordinary, presents unique challenges. Here are two tips for lawyers and clients when dealing with the stress of criminal trials:
First, get a good grip on the facts alleged by the prosecution.
Second, develop a good understanding of the legal theories in play.
A recent attempt to settle a drug case was made more difficult by the fact that the prosecutor "knew" my client had been involved with another defendant in a similar case.
"You know that he sold drugs to X," he told me as we tried to come to a favorable resolution instead of trying the case.
I did not "know" that to be true, and neither did the prosecutor. He assumed it was so, and X likely said it was, but that did not make it true. My client denied he had ever sold drugs to X, and that disputed "fact" made it nearly impossible to settle the matter. Sometimes the facts that the prosecutor alleges simply cannot be reconciled with your (or your client's) position. When that occurs, and neither side will change positions, trials happen.
I mentioned above the time required to "update" myself with respect to the death penalty. That article I linked to indicates that 9 of the 16 death penalty cases in the military system had been overturned on appeal. I personally have been co-counsel to three persons who had been sentenced to death at trial. I was not the trial lawyer in the case, but rather served as one of their lawyers in federal habeas cases. These cases are brought as a last resort to stop the execution.
In each case, and after years of work, all three of these clients ended up with a life sentence and avoided the death penalty. The real key in each case was my having teamed up with other lawyers who specialized in this type of matter. The learning curve was far too great for me to have handled the matters by myself, and I was fortunate to work with really bright lawyers who knew and understood the complexities of the law in the area.
My point is this – the law can be very complex in its application to particular facts. If you are facing a criminal charge you may generally understand the law, but that is not the same as really understanding the law's application to your case. Get a lawyer who will spend the time to get a grip on that part of the case.
So back to work. I have thousands of pages of investigative reports to read and motions to file, and there are only four shopping days to Christmas. That assumes the world does not come to an end tomorrow. I am not betting on the Mayans.
If you have a case and want to talk, give us a call. Courtney's off to Chicago, Patty's trying to balance the checkbook, and I may soon settle down for a long winter's nap… but go ahead and call anyway. And enjoy the holidays!
The "Velvet Shiv," McKay and I are in Bloomberg Businessweek?
By Chuck Peterson on August 22, 2012
"Hey, isn't that you in that article in Businessweek about the defense of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed."
Yes – that is me, but the story is about David Nevin, the "Velvit Shiv." The picture above adorns the story detailing our pal David Nevin's current and past work. The photo is from another terrorism case – the US vs. Sami Al Hussayen, in which the Shiv, his partner Scott McKay and I are shown walking out of the courthouse after a jury acquitted our client.
Kind of nice to see the picture in Businessweek, and kind of surprising at the same time.
Here's the thing from the article that I liked. Nevin is defending Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, self-proclaimed 911 mastermind. Why would anyone defend KSM?
That's the crux of being a criminal defense lawyer. We represent even the most despised because the judicial system relies on every person being able to find counsel. So Nevin is doing the same thing that John Adams did in representing the British soldiers in Boston. Morris Davis was the chief prosecutor at Guantanamo. He calls it like this:
"You have people questioning your patriotism or your commitment to the country because you're defending the enemies of your country," said Davis, who teaches at Howard University School of Law in Washington. "But if our system is going to work, we need people who are going to take on the unpopular cases and fight them hard. History looks back favorably."
Local attorney Klaus Wiebe said it the way I believe it:
"To be a criminal-defense lawyer, you have to really have two attributes," said Klaus Wiebe, the former public defender in Ada County, Idaho, for whom Nevin once worked. "You really have to be for the underdog. The power of the government is so extreme that your client is always the underdog. And you also have to be willing to get your ass kicked fairly regularly and not give up."
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Nevin will not go gently into that dark night and his client will have the best possible defense. I am proud to say that I have been there with him before and know how tough an advocate he is.
Twenty years ago this week, Nevin and I joined up with Gerry Spence to visit a tiny cabin on Ruby Ridge and defend two men accused of murder. It seems only fitting that Businessweek should feature Nevin's work defending a man who is likely the most hated reminder of the attacks on 9/11.
The justice system depends on lawyers who are willing to handle impossible cases and despised clients. Without such lawyers, the system is a sham, and the results of proceedings in such a system would be meaningless.
Charged with a crime? Need advice? Call us. Like our pal, we always defend.
In the news: Peterson Lawyers join Gerry Spence's firm in suit against Scentsy
We don't usually report on cases that we are involved in, but our lawsuit against Scentsy has garnered questions and news coverage throughout the Northwest. Our client Eva Marosvari came up with an product line for Scentsy – they market this line as Scentsy Buddies. They asked her to develop the product and she did so. When the time came


Table 4: NOS for cohort studies.
NOS generates a quality score, maximum of 9 points, based on assessment of 3 study characteristics: patient selection methodology (maximum of 4 points), comparability of the study groups (maximum of 2 points), and outcomes measures (maximum of 3 points). The total score ranged from 0 (bad) to 9 (good).