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Latest UX industry insights
Left to their own devices
As ever, more activity to report on this month regarding the continuously evolving landscape that is mobile tech. Stories of Galaxy S4 demand heavily outstripping supply abound in the race for worldwide brand domination as Samsung continues its efforts to overtake Apple as the leading mobile phone brand. Supply constraints invariably point back to component providers, struggling to keep pace with speed and volume of demand. This time it looks like memory chips are the root cause. Elsewhere, Nokia weighs in with the announcement of two new devices to the Lumia stable. The first is the high end Lumia 928 with its unique selling point is its 8.7Mp PureView camera with a Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2.0 lens, Optical Image stabilization and Xenon Flash offering enhanced photographic and video capture. Nokia claims it captures 'bright, blur-free photos and videos, even in low light conditions'. Meanwhile Nokia's Asha 501 launch is focused around making in-roads into the highly lucrative 'affordable' smartphone market. The term 'Asha' meaning 'hope' in Hindi is no coincidence, given the company aims to capture an increasing share of the commonly referred to emerging markets. Nokia already holds a 26% market share of the Indian market against Samsung's 22% according to 2012 figures. In India alone consumers are expected to buy as many as 30 million smartphones in 2013, an increase of 100% over 2012 making it the second largest mobile market in the world. But it doesn't stop there, with other developing markets in Africa, South East Asia and Latin America following a similar upward trajectory. Further ahead, Samsung is rumoured to gearing up for a launch of the S4 mini at some point in late July, which might be just in time to crash Apple's iPhone 5S launch. And, surely iPad5 will be making an appearance at some point in the next 3-4 months? Things definitely do appear to be hotting up for summer!
Making the world a smaller place
When the internet went down earlier this month in Syria (around 19 hours or thereabouts), official sources blamed cable faults, whilst critics referred to this as deliberate ploy to disrupt online opposition activity. This got me thinking. Not only about the root cause of the outage, but also regarding what the world wide web actually looks like from a infrastructural perspective? Can it all really truly be down to cables running this way and that like a sprawling mass of fibre optic digital spaghetti under our seas and oceans? Well, turns out it is pretty much that, as my salutary research testifies. Here's how. Under the sea lies a multi-billion-dollar network of high-power cables through which 99 per cent of global internet traffic travels. More recent cables can deliver multiple terabits of data (1 terabit - 1,000 gigabit of capacity), that roughly equates to sufficient bandwidth for up to 20 million people at current usage rates. One cable between the US and the UK carries 3.2 terabits of data per second - the 7,600 mile journey takes 0.00072 seconds (compare this to the average human who takes 0.0003 seconds to blink) - this really is blink of an eye stuff! This speed equates to data moving at a staggering 38,000,000,000 miles per hour, if my maths serves me right! It goes without saying that failures can be catastrophic. One cable failure , between Sicily and Egypt, left more than 50 per cent of India without power in 2008, sending the country's computer industry and stock markets offline for hours. Apparently, sharks can also be attracted to the cables by the electric current being passed within them. The cables therefore also need to be shark-bite proof. To do this, the fibre-optic cables are encased in 6 outer layers, moving from an outer polypropylene yarn down to a gel-filled tube which ultimately houses the fibre optic cables (each the width of a human hair). Fascinating stuff indeed… Take a look at what this sub-aquatic spaghetti sprawl of cables for yourself.
Cloudwatching with Adobe
After nearly a decade, Adobe announced, at its MAX conference earlier this month in LA the end of its Creative Suite and its replacement with a range of Creative cloud only apps and services. Adobe then followed this up with the announcement of the end of its web design and prototyping tool- Fireworks. This means that the next generation of Adobe products for 2013 will be delivered under a cloud-based subscription model. Apparently Adobe is also simplifying its pricing structures to go with this. The death of Fireworks, whilst not a surprise to many, as it was widely anticipated in certain circles, will surely lead to a liturgy of fond memories of many an hour spent wiling away a button design or creative asset (from my own perspective that is - not least because it was relatively easy to use and navigate around! The core reasoning behind this change, according to Adobe, is the overlap in functionality between Fireworks, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Edge Reflow. It will be interesting to see what happens if there's a strong wave of opinion expressed in the design community and whether Adobe will allow this to wash over them. Certainly time and tide waits for no-man/woman (pardon the successive puns) as we head for the cloud. Interested to find out more? The Next Web: Yes, Adobe is killing Fireworks: Only plans security updates and bug fixes.
Youtube-paid media channels coming to a screen near you
Youtube's recently launched a pilot scheme, under which a small number of content makers will offer paid subscriptions channels starting at $0.99 (£0.64) a month. Each channel will offer a free 14-day trial and many will have discounted annual rates. YouTube, which is owned by Google, said the launch was part of an effort to enable "content creators to earn revenue for their creativity". Whilst the initial stable of around 50 channels is considered to be relatively niche currently, some bigger hitters have stated clear intentions to offer program content when the service goes fully live. For example, expect to see Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie and a host of other Sesame Street characters in full episode format coming to your screen soon. Subscription payments will be collected using credit card or via Google's own Wallet service. The arrival of paid channels on YouTube means Google joins Netflix, Hulu and Amazon in offering subscription-based alternatives to traditional pay-TV. If you ever needed further proof of channel convergence between the web and TV, this has to be it. And, Google appears extremely well placed to exploit this opportunity, not least given its gigantic infrastructure and inherent scaling advantages that come with this in terms of content hosting, delivery and billing. Clearly this marks a great step forward in Google's efforts to monetise their acquisition, having bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.65bn. And, Google has been making great strides into positioning itself as a more attractive proposition to potential advertisers, via its increasing inclusion of professional content (TV shows and full length films) to sit alongside its vast content arsenal of amateur video creations. YouTube says a billion people around the world use the service every month. Earlier this year, Google were quoted as saying, "If YouTube were a country, we'd be the third largest in the world after China and India." Just think what a small cut of the subscription revenue for Google would look like on such a massive base as this (I think a 50/50 split is muted between content provider and Google at this juncture). I, for one, would certainly like a cut of that. Who wouldn't?
Next post:Latest industry insights


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Home / Fanboying! / Homecoming Premiere! Getting Julia Roberts By The Skin Of My Teeth! Also Dermot Mulroney! Shea Whigham! And More!
It's a wonderful night on the streets of La La Land.
While I hate doing movie or television premiere's anymore there are a few people one has to try for.
Yesterday was the Homecoming premiere, the new Amazon series with Julia Roberts and well it's Julia Roberts so I had to try.
The crowd wasn't too bad and Scotty was on the scene and so I joined him.
After moving a bit we settled in, and talked about the comedic genius of Shelley Long and how I wish I didn't have to leave the house. You know the usual.
Them Dermot Mulroney arrived and was super nice.
I had My Best Friend's Wedding with me, so he signed that.
Then about 15 minutes later Julia Roberts arrived. She came over and madness ensued. I was clobbered with boards but managed to get my Notting Hill poster signed which made me really happy.
Julia must have signed about 20 on our side. and then she wen to the other barricade and signed more. I ran over but couldn't get anything.
Still, I got my poster signed so I was happy. Julia isn't out much and I can call that poster done!
Throwback Thurs! Julianne Moore! I Pour Myself A White Russian After Meeting The Big Lebowski Star! Autographs!
Awesome Anushika Recounts How Grey's Anatomy Star Ellen Pompeo Schooled CB and Exclaimed "Don't you play with me CB! I will turn around and walk away!" Autographs! Photos and More!
I Had Fun Storming The Castle After Meeting Billy Crystal! Autographs! Heat Stroke! And More!


Product type: Silicone Alkyd Epoxy-Ester Copolymer Coating.
Product benefits: High Solid content, low V.O.C., hard yet flexible film, high gloss with excellent gloss retention, self priming on many surfaces, self leveling film, excellent adhesion to prepared surfaces, resistant to many alkalis, highly water-resistant, resistant to chalking, fading & chipping, resists peeling & cracking, weather-resistant, resists the effects of high heat.
Thinner:Blue Water Marine 974 Thinner is a must have with this product! Thin 15-25%.
Revolution Marine Paint does a better job protecting and keeping fiberglass, aluminum, steel and wooden surfaces looking good longer than typical marine enamels. It lasts as long or longer than two-part urethanes and will not chalk like typical epoxy. While gel coat and many marine enamels are quick to chalk and fade, require regular cleaning, waxing and buffing to maintain their appearance Revolution maintains its color and gloss longer. It provides a bright, smooth "lively" protective finish years longer. When impacted or abraded it will not crack or spider-web like epoxy or gel coat. It stays clean longer and scuffs are easily buffed to a high gloss finish.
It is the first product of its kind recommended for use above and below the waterline on virtually any boat or vessel regardless of materials often eliminating the need for antifouling bottom paint in fresh water (it is not antifouling). It has been formulated to outperform both typical topside and antifouling bottom paints on trailered and boats in fresh water. Even better; it increases the speed of most vessels by as much as 10% saving money in fuel and time in transit! Independent test data confirms its spectacular performance, longevity and durability; achieving more than a 40 year lifespan in constant submersion accelerated durability testing.
The exceptionally beautiful finish must be seen to appreciate. The cured film has a unique soft, smooth glossy appearance; considerably smoother than typical paint yet slip resistant in nature! It is easy to apply, lasts longer and saves money in maintenance and on fuel. It provides a high level of corrosion resistance topside or under the waterline. It inhibits the growth of marine fouling organisms keeping surfaces clean and smooth.
SUNDRIES: Sandpaper-80 grit for repairs 120 grit for rough sanding-180 grit for finish sanding. Mohair or wool roller covers, roller frame, roller tray and natural bristle brushes. Rubber gloves, canister type air filter for spray applications.
Thinner: Blue Water Marine 974 Thinner is a must have with this product! Thin 15-25%.
Wood: See SM-664D Etching Primer.
Slip Resistance: For added slip resistance add 8 ounces TS-630 Pro-Tex, 1 lb Tred-Tex or Gaco-Grip.
Accelerate/Harden: See TS-160 Accelerator/Hardener. Refer to Application Instructions Sheet, Product Data Sheet, label directions or contact us for additional information.
All applications should begin with the removal of hardware, ventilators, bang irons and decorative name plates. After that, the steps to prepare a boat for paint or a clear coating are only slightly different from those taken with wood, fiberglass, aluminum or steel. The difference between an amateur and professional application is often preparation. The smart painter puts most of his effort into preparing the boat for painting. The old saying is true that 99% of a good paint job lies in preparation and 99% of paint failures are due to poor preparation. This is a statistic you do not want applied to your project! Do not cut corners when preparing your boat for paint!
Previously painted boats: Best results will be achieved when most or all old paints have been completely removed and primer applied to all surfaces, however, paint in good condition may be sanded with 100 grit sandpaper and de-waxed with 973 Dewaxer. An orbital palm sander or dual-action rotary sander will be less strenuous than hand sanding. Sanding will reveal areas that are blistered or flaking requiring removal. Such areas should be repaired if needed and properly primed. Hand sand to feather the repair to the level of the rest of the existing paint for best results. Scrapes, scratches and divots may be filled with painter's glazing compound prior to painting. Trowel it into the blemish with a putty knife allowing it to set up before sanding smooth. All repairs and glazing compounds should be primed and sanded before proceeding with paint.
Preparation on Fiberglass & Aluminum: Loose scale, peeling or cracking paint, corrosion, dirt, grime, oil, grease and wax all must be thoroughly *removed. Always clean thoroughly before making any repairs or sanding. Wax removal is critical and should be done with SM-695 Etching Cleaner or a commercial wax remover. Where silicone polishes are present be sure to use a blended solvent polish remover to remove silicone. A second application of cleaner is helpful. Once cleaned, gouges and scrapes may be filled with epoxy putty. Build up the epoxy above the surrounding surface so that it can be sanded smooth. Epoxy filler is hard so power sanding is advised. A dual-action rotary sander achieves the best results however a good orbital palm sander is acceptable. Rough sand the patch with 80 grit then switch to 120 grit sandpaper to achieve the final contour. Once repairs have been completed sand the entire area to be refinished with 120 to 180 grit sandpaper then clean with a pre-paint cleaner or recommended solvent.
Preparing Raw Wood (Unpainted): Bare wood should be sanded with 80 grit paper before the application of Primer. Select SM-664D Primer to fill, build and create a smooth easy to adhere to surface. It has an unusually high amount of solid material, sands beautifully and locks our air and moisture. Recommend allowing primer to dry for 2-4 hours before sanding with 120 grit paper. Often repeated coats are applied to achieve a smooth finished surface. Repeated primer coats and sanding may be continued until the grain has been filled and the surface is completely smooth. Recommend 180 grit sandpaper for use in finish sanding. The use of other primers is acceptable.
Fasteners in wood hulls are always countersunk below the surface of the planks. It is necessary to fill these countersinks in order to achieve a completely smooth finish. Surfacing putties are preferred over epoxy or polyester putties because epoxy putties can be harder to remove should it ever become necessary to remove a plank for repair.
Carvel planked boats require a seam compound. Traditional seam compounds are never applied until after the hull has received a primer base coat. Traditional seam compounds should never be applied to bare wood, however, polysulfide seam compounds must be applied only to bare wood. Apply polysulfide seam compounds into the seam prior to applying primer.
Preparing Wood (Previously Painted): Paint in good condition should be sanded with 120 grit paper to knock off the gloss. Orbital palm sanders or dual action rotary sanders make *sanding large areas much easier. Sanding usually reveals paint that has blistered or flaked requiring scraping the hull and sanding to bare wood. Such areas should filled, primed and sanded smooth.
The inevitable sunken fastener holes, scratches and dings should be filled with painter's glazing compound - not to be confused with glazing putty used to keep glass in home windows. Marine glazing compound is a fine putty intended for repairing small surface blemishes prior to painting. Apply to the blemish area with a putty knife, allow it to cure thoroughly then sand surface to a smooth finish.
Deteriorating Paint should be completely removed from the hull before repairs or primer is applied. Power sanding is preferred over paint remover. This process is referred to as "wooding down." Once the old paint has been removed prepare the hull as if it were new bare wood.
Preparation on Steel: Proper surface *preparation is vital. Previously painted surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned and free of residues, oily film, and loose paint chips. All rust, loose scale and contaminates must be thoroughly *removed prior to the application of primer. Preparation should include wire brushing by hand, mechanical grinding and or sand blasting of all surfaces. Rust free and galvanized metals should be treated with TS-695 Etching Cleaner . Once all surfaces have been carefully prepared, rust, oil, grease and contaminates removed, the application of recommended primer should be applied without delay to prevent new corrosion.
Primer: Aluminum, fiberglass, existing epoxy and gel coat are "hard to paint" surfaces requiring an etching primer. SM-664D Etching Primer is recommended for use on all gel coat, epoxy, raw fiberglass and wooden surfaces. Aluminum: SM-664D Etching Primer or TS-780 Mono Epoxy Primer. You will find the Etching Primer provides outstanding adhesion, build, sandability. Its use on aluminum and fiberglass result in better adhesion of the finish coat than can be obtained by any other process. It may applied with a brush, roller or sprayed. Using a roller speeds up the work and provides a higher film thickness than spraying. Apply a minimum of one evenly applied coat to all areas that will be painted. Film build is high making sanding surprisingly easy. Use Etching Primer as filler by simply building it up with a brush, allowing it to dry then sanding it smooth. When spraying Etching Primer it will likely need to be thinned with Blue Water Marine 974 Thinner. Do not substitute with other thinners. We recommend using SM-664D Etching Primer, as an intermediate primer coat before the application of Revolution. Epoxy primers, which produce superior hardness are well liked on steel and fiberglass. Apply two or more coats of epoxy primer.
Finish Coats: Fiberglass, Aluminum & Steel: Professionally applied spray coat applications yield superior results, however Revolution levels exceptionally well in brush and roll applications. Unless you are experienced with spray equipment the best way for the do it yourselfer is to apply Revolution is by roller coat. When properly thinned in appropriate temperatures (SM-101 Thinner 15%-25%) Revolution levels exceptionally well. It had a good defoamer "bubble popping additive" so the need for tipping is eliminated. Aside from spraying, which offers the best film thickness control, rolling is often the best way to achieve the recommended wet film thickness, 2 mils WFT (Wet Film Thickness). The recommended DFT is 3.4 mils. NOTE: Applications applied too thickly may not adhere or level properly, run, sag and take days, or even weeks to cure. Always adhere to the manufacturers recommended WFT and DFT (Dry Film Thickness)!
Revolution must always be stirred or shaken thoroughly before use. It may be brushed, rolled or sprayed utilizing conventional and HVLP spray equipment. The solid content is exceptionally high so thinning will be necessary in most applications. The amount of thinner required will vary depending on ambient temperature, type of equipment used, method of application, humidity, color and amount of control desired and tip size in spray applications. We suggest beginning with minimum dilution at first and increasing dilution as needed subject to your individual application requirements.
Revolution may be built up to achieve a higher DFT where desired. Two, three or more thin coats are acceptable to achieve the recommended DFT. Boot and bottom stripes should always be applied over top of the recommended DFT. For best results recoat within 24-48 hours or sand between applications. Allow top coat film to cure thoroughly before allowing it to enter full service duty. The recommended minimum cure time is 7 days under most conditions. DO NOT allow newly applied paint to get wet for a minimum of 48 hours. The dry cured film may be wet sanded and buffed to remove runs and blemishes.
INCOMPATABILITY ISSUES: Revolution belongs to a classification of coatings referred to as "long-oils". While long oils may be applied over virtually any surface or existing coating they may NOT be over coated with products that include high percentages of lacquer, xylene, toluol or similar "hot" solvents. Our guaranty is void unless applied at the recommended thickness and used only with recommended Supermarine cleaners, thinners, accelerator/hardener and primers. When painting over preexisting primer or paint be sure it has cured before proceeding.
SOFTNESS OR WRINKLING: Strictly adhere to manufacturers recommended minimum and maximum WFT and DFT. When Revolution has been applied too thickly the coating may not catalyze properly which may lead to extended dry and cure times, softness of the film or a failed application. Runs and sags: If you get runs or sagging it has most likely been applied to thick. This product may be different than what you may have used previously. Recommend doing a small test before committing to the entire project. Testing the product will give you a feel for the product resulting in fewer problems.
DRYING PROBLEMS /SLOW CURING: Revolution is catalyzed by oxygen rather than chemically. The full cure may take longer to achieve than expected. The curing process should be allowed to be completed naturally or with the addition of TS-160 Accelerator/Hardener before entering full service duty or film failure may occur. When you cannot mark it with your fingernail you know it has cured enough to enter full duty service. When the film remains soft after 48 hours it has likely been applied too heavily. Dark and MT colors are typically slower to dry and cure. Using SM-160 A/H forced drying (adding heat such as oven baking) or increasing air movement across the curing film are ways to speed dry and cure times. Allow more time (weeks if needed) until the film has cured. If after several weeks the film is still soft it will likely require removal and replacement. The use of TS-160 Accelerator/Hardener is optional. It's use increase hardness, chemical resistance and speeds cure times.
Revolution (SM-1000) Marine Paint is a revolution in modern marine coatings technology. The single stage (no-mix) formula produces a remarkably attractive finish that must be seen to appreciate. It has a unique soft, smooth appearance yet it is deceptively hard and durable. The low odor formula produces a nontoxic finish that is forgiving and easy to apply. It self-levels like no other marine paint in brush and roll applications and is easily sprayed. The exceptionally smooth finish may improve vessel speed by as much as 14% saving fuel and time in transit. Independent tests confirm compelling increases in vessel speed and fuel economy. Chosen for use on the Queen Mary! Choose Revolution when you want to achieve an exceptionally smooth, highly attractive long lasting protective finish above or below the waterline. It offers outstanding adhesion, excellent leveling properties and gloss retention, high flexibility, hardness, UV and chemical resistance.
Withstands intense UV, high heat (400F), corrosive chemicals, acids, alkalis and staining agents. May be wet sanded and buffed. Acceptable for brush, roll or spray applications. Dry to the touch in 1 hour, recoatable in 6-12 hours - temperature dependant. Dries hard in 24 hours. Dark colors may dry and cure slower. Sand between coats after 48 hours. Covers approx. 400 square feet per gallon when applying 2 coats. See label and application instructions for further information. Available in 90 colors, gloss and satin. May be applied to existing paint in sound condition without primer. Colors, excluding white and clear, are considered custom and therefore non returnable.
NOTE: Revolution is not recommended for submersion periods longer than 7 days. For extended underwater submersion we recommend SM-266 Supreme Urethane.
Out performs Awlgrip for less money.
Superior durability, appearance and gloss retention.
Brush, roll or spray application.
Acceptable for long term water submersion.
Blue Water Marine 974 Thinner is a must have with this product! Thin 15-25%.
Note: Darker Colors and Safety Colors containing MT or SC in the part number are an additional $5 which is displayed after choosing that color.
Shipping: Ships within 2-4 days of order.
Great paint and a good internet experience!
Happy with finding a bottom paint for my aluminum bass boat. The paint was applied approximately six months ago and so far I am impressed!
Read product advertising and it sounded like exactly what I wanted. I am a second generation automotive painter so I had the skill set to and equipment to spray it. Printed off and followed the tech data sheet to the letter except I used a 2.5mm nozzle on an HVLP gun I use for gel coat because this paint was too thick to spray out of my 1.4mm..... Looked really good after application. Waited the recommended cure time of 7 days before putting boat back in the water. However it scratches easy but touches up easy....... All in all I wish I had used gelcoat instead just for the durability factor.


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TM Hotel Cork (Glanmire) Too Strong for Killester
Tony McGaharan | |
Irish - Women's
The atmosphere in the arena was expectedly electric. Killester managed to hang within one point in the first half but they had no answer for a second half onslaught led by the Cup Finals MVP, Grainne Dwyer.
The Arena's rings are infamous for their unforgiving nature. This was reaffirmed by a low scoring first half of basketball (Glanmire 25 – 24 Killester). We had the usual oustanding performances from the Dwyers, with Grainne taking home the ridiculous and awesome Gold basketball as her MVP award.
[Can you imagine how those one-on-ones go at the Dwyers' home? I mean, as the oldest in my family, I know that seniority carries weight (just ask Paddy McGaharan from Belfast Star). I'm putting my money on Niamh. Regardless who would win, it would make for a pretty interesting spectacle.]
Niamh tallied a convincing 11 points, 8 boards, and 2 steals while her younger sister balled out with a Double-Double (21 points, 10 rebounds).
Rockall played less than half the game, presumably because she is still recovering from a recent injury. I don't believe the stat-line gives an accurate reflection her impact on the game; she brought a new dynamic to the Glanmire side during her 18 minutes of action.
Scannell played like a seasoned Vet: 2-3 from the field, including an important 3-pointer early in the game, 6 rebounds, and a solid contributor on the defensive end. I'd say Jess's Father, Coach Scannell, was proud of his daughter's performance tonight.
Looking at Killester, you were just waiting (perhaps, hoping) for them to find some sort of offensive rhythm. It never happened.
I'm a fan of Sullivan's assertive play from the point guard position; she often wills her way to the basket and makes something out of nothing. Tonight, she had some great shimmies to get past her defender but was more-often-than-not denied at the rim. Not only were the rings as tight as Kyle Hosford's handles, Glanmire's interior help defense was always on time.
Killester's American, Robin Murphy, suffered a similar fate. The talented forward didn't connect on the majority of her close-range jumpers. Sullivan and Murphy combined for a harsh 5-35 from the field. In these instances, you'd have looked to Mimi Clarke to bail you out from the three-point line. However, even she struggled to find form and was 1-5 from deep.
Despite the spread, both teams fought hard for 40-minutes. Team Montenotte Hotel Cork wrote off their poor start by controlling the game on both ends of the floor in the final two periods. And, deservedly-so, Coach Scannell's side are taking the silverware home to Cork for the second consecutive year.
Full Stats Available Here
Photos from the Women's Cup Finals
Grainne Dwyer receives MVP Award, 2015
Glanmire Celebrate Victory
Table Officials were on the ball
Freethrows
Maguire for Killester
Shots were falling for Glanmire
Sullivan from deep
BICupFinal
Grainne Dwyer
Jessica Scannell
National Cup
Niamh Dwyer
TM Hotel Cork
About Tony McGaharan
Co-founder of The Courtside Collective, Tony has been a player, scorekeeper, referee, coach and MC. A true fan of the game! In 2009, he coached women's basketball in Sweden for a season with the Umeå Comets ("Udominate"). He then returned home and worked with PeacePlayers International, which uses the game of basketball to bring young people together from divided communities. Tony has since joined Google and has worked in Dublin, Singapore, and now London. He is now working to create a new basketball league to provide a better basketball experience for ballers in central London and with the added goal of engaging young people in the sport.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – New places to eat and drink could soon arrive at Dallas Love Field.
On Monday afternoon, the Dallas City Council's Government Performance and Financial Management Committee approved a new plan.
Airport administrators say they need the additional places for travelers to eat and drink because the city has been losing out on potential sales.
It's a problem the City of Dallas has noticed.
People won't grab a bite to eat or something to drink if they think it will take too long.
So now, the city says it has a plan to increase food and beverage options at Love.
Expanding the patios at both the Chili's and Cantina Laredo restaurants, replacing the Billy Bob's store with the airport's second Fly Bar, adding a sit-down restaurant in the existing art gallery, and adding drink kiosks at each end of the terminal.
Liz and Troy Conlin of Dallas say they've noticed the problem.
"The lines at Chick-Fil-A and Whataburger were super long. So we ended up going somewhere it was maybe our second and third choice just because the lines were really long where we wanted to go," said Liz.
By law, money the city raises at the airport must stay at the airport.
The full city council will now consider the plan late next month.
Duebner says some of the additional places could open in time for spring break in March.
As another example of growth at the airport, a new parking garage is set to open by November 1.


Cannabis use and abuse correlates in a homogeneous South African schizophrenia population.
In South Africa, the exact prevalence of cannabis use/abuse among the general population, as well as among individuals with mental disorders, has not been formally studied, but it is generally believed to be high. Peltzer and Ramlagan recently reviewed cannabis use trends (over a period of 12 years) in the South African population, by sourcing data from surveys, specialised alcohol and drug treatment centres, cannabis-related trauma unit admissions, and arrestee studies. (15) They concluded that cannabis was the most common illicit substance used, with current self-reported cannabis use of 5-10% among adolescents and 2% among adults. Furthermore, it was higher among men than women, higher in urban than rural areas, higher in the urban provinces of Western Cape and Gauteng than the other provinces, and higher among coloureds and whites than other racial groups.
In view of the paucity of existing data, the purpose of this study was therefore to try to identify the demographic and clinical correlates of cannabis abuse in a large South African schizophrenia group. To limit confounding factors, a decision was made to use an ethnically homogeneous population.
From 2002 to 2005, participants were recruited from inpatient units and outpatient community clinics in the larger Cape Town metropole as part of an ongoing genetic study. Inclusion criteria were: (i) a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-IV-TR criteria: and (ii) Xhosa ethnicity (with 4/4 grandparents reported to be Xhosa). Men and women aged 18-65 years at all stages of illness were included.
Interviews were supplemented by hospital/clinic chart records and collateral information from family members, where available. Patients were also questioned on their use of substances of abuse, and a urinary drug screen was performed on all participants. Use/abuse of cannabis was defined as using cannabis more than 21 times in a single year, based on the DIGS criteria. The urinary drug screen was specific for detecting cannabis use in the last 30 days. The test strip used was the One Step Marijuana Test Strip produced by Acon Laboratories, which has high sensitivity and specificity.
For the purposes of this study, the following demographic and clinical correlates were retrospectively investigated: cannabis use/abuse, age at start of cannabis use/abuse, duration of cannabis use/abuse, age, gender, marital status, level of education, employment status, smoking status, and alcohol abuse and dependence.
For the purposes of statistical analysis, patients were divided into two groups: (i) cannabis users/abusers; and (ii) non-cannabis users/abusers. Descriptive and comparative study analyses between the two groups were performed using independent Student's t-tests and chi-squared tests. The statistical package used was Microsoft Excel with WinStat.
All patients provided written informed consent, and the ethical guidelines as stipulated by the Committee for Human Research of Stellenbosch University were strictly adhered to.
The original study recruited 547 participants, of whom 52 were excluded owing to insufficient data regarding their history of cannabis use/abuse. Based on a history of use/abuse and/or positive urine test, 245 participants were grouped as cannabis users/abusers (CUA); this group included one participant who denied cannabis use/abuse but who tested positive on urine cannabis testing. Two hundred and fifty participants were grouped as non-cannabis users/abusers (NCUA).
The study group consisted of 410 male and 85 female participants, with an overwhelming majority of males (98.8%; N=242) among the CUAs. Among the NCUAs, 67.2% (N=168) were male and 32.8% (N=82) were female. The gender distribution difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Table I shows additional demographic variables.
Table II summarises the illness variables.
The current prevalence rate of cannabis use/abuse for the whole sample was 49.5%. Ninety-five participants (CUA=94, NCUA=1) had a positive cannabis urinary drug screen on interview. The screen revealed no positive tests for any of the other drugs of abuse (methamphetamine, opiates, cocaine, methaqualone). On interview, 17 participants admitted to lifetime methaqualone use, and one each to cocaine and opiates.
The mean age at start of cannabis use/abuse was 20.2 years (SD 7.36, range 9-52). Data on the length of time that participants used/abused cannabis were available for only 41.2% (N=103) participants. Of these, 40.2% (N=39) had used/abused cannabis for [less than or equal to] 1 year , 6.2% (N=6) for between 1 and 2 years, 7.2% (N=7) for between 2 and 3 years, and 52.5% (N=51) for [greater than or equal to] 4 years. Table III presents additional substance variables.
Statistically significant differences between the two groups could be documented for all of the positive symptom subscores as recorded on the SAPS. With reference to negative symptom subscores as recorded on the SANS, the only difference reported was that for the avolition/apathy subscale, with significantly higher scores for the CUA group (p<0.0001). Table IV presents full clinical variables.
Of particular note was the apparent reliability of participants' responses with reference to their use/abuse status. Only one participant denied any use/abuse on history and was subsequently found to test positive on urine screen. A 'no' therefore represented a strong negative predictor of cannabis use/abuse. Of the group who admitted to be positive for cannabis use/abuse, only 94 (38.3%) were confirmed positive on urine testing. Taking into account that (i) having a history of cannabis use/abuse does not mean that one is currently using/abusing cannabis; and (ii) our group was heterogeneous in terms of hospitalisation status, this was not an unexpected finding. Therefore, our findings raise the question of the value of actual testing (v. only taking a history) for cannabis use/abuse in our setting, taking into account our severely financially constrained health system.
Our dataset replicated previous findings about associations between cannabis use/abuse and male gender, single status and increased rates of relapses and hospitalisations. (3,7-9) In contrast, employment status and educational levels were not found to be correlates for cannabis use/abuse; (7,20) however, this could have been influenced by the overall low level of formal employment for our total sample which, unfortunately, was in keeping with a high national unemployment rate. Also deeply worrying was that a third of the participants who were unemployed were not receiving a social grant.
The absence of methamphetamine use/abuse in our sample, in view of the current high prevalence rates of methamphetamine use/abuse in the Western Cape, is notable. (26) Possible explanations for this could be that it only appeared to become a popular drug of abuse towards the end of 2004, and our sample of patients was assessed between 2002 and 2005. Secondly, cannabis has for generations been regarded as a traditional drug among the indigenous southern African populations, and its use has therefore possibly been associated with low moral blameworthiness. (27) Thirdly, the relatively higher costs of methamphetamines might have made cannabis a more favourable option.
In keeping with previous data, cannabis use/abuse was shown to be associated with a significantly increased prevalence of positive symptoms that included hallucinations, delusions, formal thought disorder and bizarre behaviour. (3,10,11) However, it should be noted that more of the cannabis use/abuse group were inpatients at the time of the assessment, although the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.
In our study, the mean AIMS score was lower (but not statistically significant) for the cannabis use/abuse group. These findings were expected as this sample overlapped with that reported on by Niehaus et al. whose results suggest that cannabis abuse might be protective against involuntary movements. (28) Muller-Vahl proposed that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) protects against movement disorders by stimulating release of dopamine from dopaminergic projections from the substantia nigra ending in the striatum. (29) It is known that deficiencies of this pathway may cause movement disorders.
Possible limitations of this study included the following: (i) assessment instruments were not translated into Xhosa; (ii) the assessment relied on historical information with possible recall bias; and (iii) the group sample was mixed with regard to hospitalisation status and, therefore, stage of illness.
Strengths of this study included the use of (i) a large, ethnically homogeneous population; (ii) validated structured clinical interviews; and (iii) multiple sources of information.
The prevalence of cannabis use/abuse in our study population was found to be significant and comparable with previous international studies. Cannabis use/abuse started mainly in the teenage years, was more prevalent among males and was found to have a negative association with outcome, in terms of the degree of symptomatology as well as rates of hospitalisations and relapses. The prevalence of co-morbid alcohol and nicotine abuse was also found to have a positive correlation with cannabis use/abuse. Taken together, our findings underscore the clear need for a targeted dual diagnosis service to improve outcomes for our clients. Finally, our study results also seem to suggest that the practice of urine cannabis testing appears to add little value in routine management of known schizophrenic patients. A thorough interview with reliable collateral information would seem to be sufficient to exclude substance abuse in the majority of such cases.
(1.) Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Office. Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. Rockville, MD, USA: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, 2007.
(2.) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2008 World Drug Report. Vienna: United Nations, 2008.
(3.) Faris C, Brems C, Johnson M, Wells R, Burns R, Kletti N. A comparison of schizophrenic patients with or without coexisting substance use disorder. Psychiatric Quarterly 2003; 74: 205-222.
(4.) Kovasznay B, Fleischer J, Tanenberg-Karant M, Jandorf L, Miller A, Bromet E. Substance use disorder and the early course of illness in schizophrenia and affective psychosis. Schizophr Bull 1997; 23: 195-201.
(5.) Bartels S, Teague G, Drake R, Clark R, Bush P, Noordsy D. Service utilization and costs associated with substance use among rural schizophrenic patients. J Nerv Ment Dis 1993; 181: 227-232.
(6.) Green B, Young R, Kavanagh D. Cannabis use and misuse prevalence among people with psychosis. Br J Psychiatry 2005; 187: 306-313.
(7.) Salyers M, Mueser K. Social functioning, psychopathology and medication side effects in relation to substance use and abuse in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2001; 48: 109-123.
(8.) Swartz M, Wagner H, Swanson J, et al. Substance use in persons with Schizophrenia: Baseline prevalence and correlates from the NIMH CATIE Study. J Nerv Ment Dis 2006; 194: 164-172.
(9.) Mueser K, Drake R, Ackerson T, Alterman A, Miles K, Noordsy D. Antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, and substance abuse in schizophrenia. J Abnorm Psychol 1997; 106: 473-477.
(10.) Caspari D. Cannabis and schizophrenia: results of a follow up study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 1999; 249: 45-49.
(11.) Buhler B, Hambrecht M, Loffler W, Van der Heiden W, Hafner H. Precipitation and determination of the course and onset of schizophrenia by substance abuse--a retrospective and prospective study of 232 population-based first illness episodes. Schizophr Res 2002; 54: 243-251.
(12.) Andreasson S, Allebeck P, Engstrom A, Rydberg U. Cannabis and schizophrenia: a longitudinal study of Swedish conscripts. Lancet 1987; 2: 1483-1486.
(13.) Van Os J, Bak M, Hanssen M, Bijl R, de Graaf R, Verdoux H. Cannabis use and psychosis: a longitudinal population-based study. Am J Epidemiol 2002; 156: 319-327.
(14.) Arseneault L, Cannon M, Witton J, Murray R. Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: Examination of the evidence. Br J Psychiatry 2004; 184: 110-117.
(15.) Peltzer K, Ramlagan S. Cannabis use trends in South Africa. South African Journal of Psychiatry 2007; 13(4): 126-131.
(16.) Koen L, Uys S, Niehaus D, Emsley R. Negative symptoms and HIV/AIDS risk behavior in schizophrenia. Psychosomatics 2007; 48: 128-134.
(17.) Koen L, Kinnear C, Corfield V, et al. Violence in male patients with schizophrenia: risk markers in a South African population. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2004; 38: 254-259.
(18.) Nurnberger J, Blehar M, Kaufmann C, et al. Diagnostic interview for genetic studies. Rationale, unique features and training. NIMH Genetics Initiative. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1994; 51: 849-859.
(19.) Guy W. ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology, revised. Rockville, MD, USA: National Institute of Mental Health, 1976: 534-537.
(20.) Kavanagh D, Waghorn G, Jenner L, et al. Demographic and clinical correlates of comorbid substance use disorders in psychosis: multivariate analyses from an epidemiological sample. Schizophr Res 2004; 66: 115-124.
(21.) Veen N, Selton J, Van der Tweel, I, Fella W, Hoek H, Kahn R. Cannabis use and age at onset of schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 2004; 161: 501-506.
(22.) Linszen D, Dingemans P, Lenior M. Cannabis abuse and the course of recent onset schizophrenia disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1994; 51: 273-279.
(23.) Caspi A, Moffitt T, Cannon M, et al. Moderation of the affect of adolescent-onset cannabis use on adult psychosis by a functional polymorphism in the catechol-O methyltransferase gene: Longitudinal evidence of a gene X environment interaction. Biol Psychiatry 2005; 57: 1117-1127.
(24.) South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Trends: Updates Jan 2002-December 2006. Cape Town: Medical Research Council, November 2002-May 2007.
(25.) Niehaus D, Koen L, Laurent C, et al. Positive and negative symptoms in affected sib pairs with schizophrenia: Implications for genetic studies in an African Xhosa sample. Schizophr Res 2005; 79: 239-249.
(26.) Stein D, Seedat S, Herman A, et al. Lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders in South Africa. Br J Psychiatry 2008; 192: 112-117.
(27.) Gastrow P. Mind-blowing: The Cannabis Trade in Southern Africa. Cape Town: Institute for Security Studies, 2003.
(28.) Niehaus DJH, Du Plessis S, Koen L, et al. Predictors of abnormal involuntary movement in an African schizophrenia population. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2008; 20(3): 317-326.
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* Significance at p<0.05 level.
Koen, L.; Jonathan, R.; Niehaus, D.J.H.
Pain, madness and the limits of medicine.
University of the Free State medical students' view of at-risk drinking behaviour and psychoactive substance use.


Verses 1 and 1a played on piano by Ron Klusmeier.
for all the ways I hurt my friends and so cause hurt for you.
I shove my friends around.
push others to the ground.
the good things that are mine.
who life should treat just fine.
who count on love from me.
about the love you give.
about the ways we live.
Create clean hearts within us all, and your whole world renew.
and gifts us with your name.
for all the ways we hurt our friends and so cause hurt for you.
We often hurt ourselves and one another through insensitive actions. God declares this to be offensive behaviour. This song is a prayer to help children bring to God their feelings of alienation. It is a prayer of confession and a plea for forgiveness, beginning with thoughts of an individual nature, and ending with a more corporate petition (the refrain words change from "me" to "us").
Many adults choose not to talk about the realities of alienation and fragmentation with children. Sin is very seldom mentioned in contemporary religious songs for children. Yet by the time they reach their teenage years (if not before), large numbers of young people will have been or will be in serious crises where they see themselves as unclean, unworthy, unacceptable human beings. Naive pictures adults perceive of untroubled, carefree childhood are not useful tools for coping or helping.
This song identifies sin in an inclusive way so that it isn't specifically identified with sexual activity, the abuse of drugs or alcohol, or rebellion against parental and/or school authority. Sin is whatever rejects, or causes one to reject, one's own worth as a person created in God's image. It is whatever tramples over others or destroys their worth in their own eyes. Sin treats others as cheap, expendable, worthless. Sin misuses and abuses creation's gifts. We identify and name sin in order to break its power over us.
Read the story of the woman condemned to die for her sin. Jesus asked who was without sin (John 8:1-11). Naming the particular type of sin isn't necessarily important for children to be able to understand the story. The point was that the woman was powerless and without friends, and Jesus gave her another chance.
Even though we forgive people, we may not be able to continue to live with them in family or community. An integral part of the forgiveness process may be 'letting go' and children may have a hard time understanding this concept.
Forgiving doesn't mean putting oneself back into a position where the same mistreatment is likely to be repeated. Where family breakdown has occurred, children may need to know themselves as forgiven by people on both sides of the breakdown but, more likely, they will need help learning to forgive.
God offers a forgiving love and this song directs us to that love. God speaks to us through Jesus whose life was an example of offered and freeing forgiveness. We are drawn into a faith community that knows it lives by being forgiven and that practices lively and life-giving forgiveness.
Such forgiveness seeks to include those shut out and to free those who are trapped and imprisoned. Because we know ourselves as accepted, included, and liberated, we hope and work for the reconciliation and enabling of others. Freed from sin's power, we live new lives of capability and creativity.