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It might be time for Big Finish to embrace the inevitable and let Collinsport move away from the early 1970s.
At the moment, age isn't a problem for every DARK SHADOWS actor involved in the Big Finish series, but time has a way of forcing the issue. Listening to THE LUCIFER GAMBIT, it was a little unnerving to hear NANCY BARRETT playing a flirty young Carolyn Stoddard. There was no masking the age difference between her and the actor playing Collinsport's new sheriff, and the effect was unintentionally creepy. This might sound a little unfair to Barrett, but it's the situation that's unfair. The DARK SHADOWS phenomenon forces the original cast to return to their youth, swimming against a current that gets more resistant each year.
Ironically, the latest episode of Big Finish's DARK SHADOWS series is centered on people coping badly with fading youth. In THE LUCIFER GAMBIT, Amy Jennings returns to Collinsport after an extended absence, a little bit older and a great deal wiser. After intercepting a telephone call meant for an absent Prof. Stokes, Amy answers a cry for help that leads her into a supernatural domestic squabble between a dead woman and her living husband. And that's about as much as I can say without wading further into spoiler territory.
Written by ERIC WALLACE, who previously wrote the DARK SHADOWS audio dramas THE WICKED AND THE DEAD and KINGDOM OF THE DEAD (as well as MR. TERRIFIC and TITANS for DC Comics,) THE LUCIFER GAMBIT is one of the more energetic episodes of the series. It involves a bit of deception, an interesting new monster and a few threads that connect it to the year's other DARK SHADOWS mysteries. It's difficult to discuss in any great detail without spoiling the proceedings, but it's a fun story.
Where things begin to fray around the edges are with the casting decisions. There are no bad performances here, but the chemistry between the actors often feels wrong. STEPHANIE ELLYNE does fine work as Amy Jennings, replacing DENISE NICKERSON for whatever reason. I wish I could say the casting change made me miss Nickerson, but it didn't. SHEILA STEAFEL is also fun as the episode's villain, and it's an impressive feat of planning that allows for brief appearances by NANCY BARRETT and LISA RICHARDS. There's a lot of added value here for DARK SHADOWS fans.
But the differences in ages, both real and fictional, throw off the proceedings on more than one occasion. Barrett sounds her age when she's flirting with the younger actor; Steafel also sounds her age while playing a character married to a much younger man. One is intentional, while the other is an example of reality creeping into the story. This is further confused by the dangerous obsession with youth that drives the plot. This dissonance doesn't feel intentional, but it certainly feels weird.
Now, I'm not suggesting we change the locks and give the original cast of DARK SHADOWS their walking papers. On the contrary: I think it's time to put their experience to better use. Listening to this episode, I wondered what it would be like to hear Barrett playing the matriarch of Collinwood in the present day. This led to questions about the fates of Maggie Evans, David Collins and yes, even Barnabas.
A leap forward to the present might even dull the sting of recasting actors we've lost over the years. Or, at least, explain their constant absences from the series.
Granted, this would probably create a dozen other problems, such as trying to figure out how things like smart phones would function in the kinds of stories told by DARK SHADOWS. But maybe it's time for that.
THE LUCIFER GAMBIT is available on CD and digital download from Big Finish.
Posted by Cousin Barnabas at 5:59 PM
Labels: Big Finish, Eric Wallace, The Lucifer Gambit
Travis Woodman said...
Great article! I was just having the same thought if TV or Big Finish started Dark Shadows back up in 2013, with aged Carolyn and David, living with their spouses and children at Collinwood. Quentin and Barnabas nearby. Willie is retired, Maggie and Joe living in Collinsport. Victoria could even return from the 1700's, only aged a few years from the 1970's, and then she should could be the one displaced from time.


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The 'initial decision-maker' is referred to nine times in the General Conditions and twice in the AIA Owner–Architect Agreement. While this function of the architect's representative is often used during construction, it is rarely referred to as the initial decision-maker and the concept is poorly understood.
For example, in the construction of a remodeled building, the fire alarm contractor requested a change order to pay for a software upgrade to an existing fire alarm panel that was being reused and expanded. The claim was referred to the architect's representative for review. Taking stock of the fire alarm specifications, the representative saw the electrical engineer had clearly included any upgrades to the existing panel software under the summary paragraph. It was clear and unambiguous—the new software was already included in the contractor's work. The contractor recognized its responsibility and withdrew the claim. The resolution of this claim was a decision in favor of the owner and architect based on the information in the specifications. However, most decisions have much more challenging criteria.
In another claim, the electrical contractor brought the following issue to the architect's rep for review. To protect maintenance workers, the electrical code requires a lockout switch in plain view of the equipment requiring service. The switch was not shown on the drawings. The decision-maker decided in favor of the contractor and included the switch in a change order on the basis that other lockout switches required by code had been shown on the drawings, but this one was not.
The role of initial decision-maker was created by the AIA committee to prevent minor claims that could be resolved with simple research of the contract documents from becoming a drag on progress or embroiling the project in more expensive forms of mediation or dispute resolution. Architects are often best-suited to act as initial decision-makers because they are already informed about the plans and specifications, and are familiar with the project. With this knowledge (and provided facts are available), they should be able to produce a clear and concise decision more expertly than an outsider.
The decision-maker must endeavor to be honest and fair when deciding claims—not showing favor to one or the other party— according to AIA B132, Owner-Architect Agreement (section on fairness). In AIA background writings, the role of initial decision-makers is referred to as a quasi-judicial function—referring to the challenge of providing evenhanded interpretations of the documents, even when their own interests and the interests of the client are involved. This is stated by Patrick Mays in The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice Quasi-Judicial. Decisions are final unless the contractor or the owner demand mediation or arbitration.
When finding in favor of the contractor against the owner, based on research that uncovers errors in the contract documents, the architect's representative is harming their employer. When the representative finds against the owner in a claim based on hidden conditions, the decision-maker harms his or her client. Even though these situations will test the architect's commitment to being equitable, the decision-maker must not try to tip the outcome in favor of one or the other. This will only lead to more expensive methods of dispute resolution, slowing progress, and dissolving the architect's effectiveness in settling claims and disputes.
The architect is served best by a representative for construction who has an established relationship of trust with contractors and a thorough knowledge of the plans and specifications. The architect's representative should stick to strict constructionism when interpreting the documents. It is either there or it is not there. Using terms like 'design intent' to cover up errors and omissions will not work. Design intent is intended to prevent a deliberate or accidental dumbing down of the design, but it is rarely useful for interpreting the contract documents to settle a claim or dispute between the owner and the contractor.
Paul Potts is a writer, copywriter, and specification writer and has worked in the construction industry as an independent contractor and construction administrator for architects, engineers and owners in Michigan. He can be reached at paulpotts1@comcast.net.


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Parsha sheet: Matos/Massei – Coping with Exceptions
by Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer | posted in: 04 Bamidba, Parsha, Parsha Sheet | 0
Where is the allusion to the 3 weeks?
The parshas of Matos – Massei always come out during the three weeks. The allusions to "Golus"-exile in Massei are quite apparent. The travels of the Jews in the desert laid "groundwork" for travels Jews would have to do in the future. Massei also has the laws of the unintentional murderer whose punishment is "Golus"-exile clearly alluding to our state of exile that we mourn during the three weeks. but where is the allusion to the "Golus" in parshas Matos?
Oaths & Vows
The bulk of parshas Matos talks about the events that were going on at that time prior to Moshe's death. Finishing up the unfinished business of taking Vengeance on Midyan and what to do with the 'booty' and how much to give as a tax for Holy purposes. This is followed by the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of the tribe of Menashe getting their inheritance in that area on condition that they help the Jews conquer the land of Israel. What is totally out of place is the very opening of the Parsha – the laws of "Nedarim v'shavuos" – vows and Oaths. why is it here at the beginning of this parsha?
Are they good?
Regarding the whole idea of vows and oaths there are several serious questions: If the added abstinence and restrictions are something positive, why weren't those added restrictions made part of the regular normative halacha, just like the Lords of Kashrus and the other things that the Torah restricted? If those radded restrictions are totally unnecessary, or even harmful, why did the Torah empower the person to make the Vows and make it obligatory upon himself? Furthermore, why does the person who takes on these added restrictions need to take a vow? Let him simply abstain from whatever he wants without taking a vow! We have a contradiction the words of Chazal whether it is a positive thing for a man to take on extra restrictions or if it's 'sinful'. Sometimes the differences of opinion are on the very same page in the Gemara (see Nedarim 22A and Taanis 11a). How do we resolve these conflicting views presented in the Gemara? How can someone actually hold that to take on vows and oaths is a bad thing if when doing so a person has gained a positive commandment to uphold his words and gained two extra negative Commandments not to violate his commitment and to not delay in carrying it out? If he gained extra Mitzvahs how could it be a 'bad thing'?
Hataras Nedarim
The hardest idea to understand about these laws of vows and Oaths is how seemingly easy it is to get out of it! This is alluded to in this week's Parsha: "…. he shall not defile his word" – he not – but others do! Those others aren't just anybody, it has to be to be a wise man or 3 people that comprise a Beis Din. why can't it be just anybody? Any factor that he claims that if known at the time he made the Vow he wouldn't have made the vow is legitimate to make the vow retroactively a mistake and hence non-binding. This would never work in any monetary obligation! we would say to a person "it makes no difference what you were expecting, if you wanted it to be contingent you should have said so!" why is there this great leniency by vows and Oaths that would never work in monetary law to render something a "Mekach Taus" – a deal or commitment made under false pretenses? The greatest difficulty is: why is it that if a person makes his vow "by the knowledge of the public"(al daas Rabim) he cannot undo it? If it was made under false, pretenses what difference does it make whether he made it "on the knowledge of the public" or not ?
Normative Halacha vs Nedarim
Normative halacha guides us down the "golden mean" as the Rambam explains in this fourth chapter of his 8-chapter introduction to Avos. The Torah meant for us to indulge and to consume because that is what puts the components of reality in their proper place and pushes forward the cycle of life (see more on this in Even Shesiya parshas Shemini). We are meant to indulge in all that is meant to be incorporated in the "Tzelem Elokim" and through that find its proper place in the cosmos. That is good for us, good for the object consumed, and good for the overall Cosmic balance. Whatever the Torah prohibited to us is not meant to be integrated and finds its proper place by being 'pushed away' by us or by being used for whatever it's permissible to be used for. The Talmud (Yerushalmi kiddushin) says: "man is going to be judged for all that his eyes saw, and he did not partake of". This is of course with the basic under understanding that what he saw was permissible for consumption and that he consumed it for the proper intent of being healthy and using it to serve Hashem. With this we can understand why the ones who take on extra restrictions through all forms of oaths and even 'Nezirus' are criticized by Chazal and the "Nazir" has to bring a 'Korban Osham" for having abstained from wine that the Torah has permitted. Abstaining from what is meant to be consumed leaves those components of the universe unrefined and dislocated where they were meant to be ultimately. The human being is also lacking in his own composition as his form would have been 'completed' by having consumed whatever he was meant to consume. For this reason, those who take on added restrictions are called 'sinners' as they are sinning against themselves and against reality. With these ideas the Maharal explains the Gemara (Nedarim 22A) "he who makes a vow is as if he built a sacrificial platform and he who upholds that Vow is if he sacrificed on it (which is prohibited since we are meant to only bring our sacrifices in the Beis Hamikdash)". A platform is what separates an individual from the rest of people. The person taking a vow is separating himself from the general populace and from the universal good. After taking on these vows he should immediately annul them and rejoin the general population who live by normative Halacha. If he follows through with his vow it is as if he "sacrificed on it" – finalizing his deviation from the "whole".
The Rule vs the Exception
The Rambam writes in the Moreh Nevuchim (section 3 Chap 34) that the laws of Torah are like the laws of nature. Everyone would agree that the laws of nature are good for the totality of reality and the overwhelming majority of all the entities that fill reality. However, there are some in the minority who are deviant for whom nature is not good such as people who may be sun sensitive or who have allergies to all types of microbes that are vital for the cosmic balance. Their problem does not make nature "bad"! It is they who are in an unfortunate situation and can't handle what is good for the entirety of the cosmos. So also, explains the Rambam, the laws of the Torah are good for the entirety of the cosmos and for most people in most generations. If there are ever isolated people, times, or places, that have a hard time with the laws of the Torah, that does not detract from the Torah being the absolute truth and the absolute good. There are some individuals and isolated circumstances that have their particular problems and cannot appreciate or live by the laws of the Torah that is good for the whole.
The Torah is greater than nature and seeks to help everybody, even those who have deviant passions or special needs that cannot live by the golden mean and walk the "tight wire of Halacha" because they will fall. The Torah has a way forward for them and allowed these individuals who have special needs to make vows and to take on added restrictions. If they do it a countermeasure to their challenges, then it is called that they are "holy" because they did it to keep themselves "in bounds"! Because on the "tight wire of the golden mean" they would surely Fall.
Rules are Forever- Exceptions aren't
Halacha is the "rule" and the vows are the "exceptions to the rule" for those people who themselves have special needs that separate them from the general populace. The difference between "rules" and "exceptions to the rules" is that "rules" are real, consistent, and unchanging. The "exceptions to the rules" are flukes that will not endure. This explains psychologically why a person who needs to abstain more than what Halacha demands, because of his passions that are out of control, must make a vow! Because without vows this course of action would not last! The Torah is empowering the special individualistic path which a person needs for special needs. Because the Torah empowers the vows with the special added Mitzvahs, that's why it lasts and gives a spiritual legitimacy to this special path he had to take on for his special needs.
Getting back to the Rule
With this the Maharal explains why it is so easy to get out of a vow in a way that would never work in trying to get out of a monetary commitment. Monetary commitments are the "rules" of the Torah, Vows are "exceptions to the rules" which are not meant to last, and that's why they're relatively easy to annul! It is annulled by declaring it a "mistake" – that if you would have only known then what you know now you would have never made the vow. This is legitimate because it should have never existed in the first place! You go to the wise man or three simple people comprising a Beis Din, why? Wisdom represents the "whole". "Hashem with wisdom founded the Earth" (Mishlei 3:19) "…all with wisdom you made" (Tehillim 1o4:24). The Rambam refers to the golden mean as "the path of wisdom". Wisdom sees the whole picture and wisdom dictates the path of the golden mean. The wise man is bringing him back to the "rule", back to reality as a whole. It is the "wise man" that has to clarify that it was a mistake and enable him to get out of his particular circumstances and rejoin the "rule". In absence of a wise man, three people can comprise a Rabbinical court. The number "three" also represents the whole – the two extremes and the middle that holds the two extremes together. The wise man or the the panel of three help the person get out of his individual separate state of mind that he had at the time that he made the oath and to rejoin the Whole.
Neder al Daas Rabim
With this the Maharal further explains why when The Vow is made "by the knowledge of the masses" it can never be undone – because now it's not an exception to the general population! It is connected to general population and therefore can never be rescinded as the general rule cannot be rescinded! Since he is connected it to the masses it is now a rule, and not an exception to the rule, and therefore it is stands forever. He further explains a more general idea: this is why one opinion versus the opinion of the majority – the majority rules. The way the majority thinks is in sync with reality as they are the majority they are more like the "rule" whereas the individual is a "deviation from the rule".
Rava bar Bar-Chana & the Vow at Sinai
With these ideas the Maharal decodes the fantastic ideas alluded to in one of the fantastic adventures of Rava bar Bar-chana (Bava Basra 74). His guide said: "let me show you Mt. Sinai". When they got there, it was surrounded by white scorpions the size of donkeys and he heard a Heavenly voice ring out "woe to me that I vowed and now that I vowed who will absolve the Vow for me?". Rava bar Bar-chana went back to the Rabbis and reported what he experienced. They were angry with him and were critical of his judgment because he should have immediately responded "the vow is absolved" for it was the Vow to cast the Jewish people in Exile! He defended himself by saying that he was afraid it may have been the Vow to never flood the Earth again. The rabbis told him that such a Vow Hashem would never regret making and say, "woe to me that I vowed". The Maharal explains that going to Mt. Sinai represents ascending to the level of Torah. The level of Torah is so far removed from the human level and that's what it means that it was surrounded by "scorpions the size of donkeys". Scorpions are poisonous and destroy the life force. Donkeys have a bite that break bones. This represents how Torah is so beyond human body and spirit, and it is the Torah that is the wisdom that encompasses all and that commanded the golden mean. Hashem says, "woe to me that I vowed" and Rava bar Bar-chana should have actualized the abolition of that Vow which was the vow of Exile. Exile is an exception to the rules of geopolitical sociology and is unsustainable! A nation with a strong national identity, like the Jewish people, who don't assimilate with their host country, will inevitably go back to their Homeland! The geopolitical crisis of exile should have naturally corrected itself within a short amount of time and certainly not have lasted over 1900 years! This aberration should have corrected itself long ago! The Golus is against all the rules of Nature and is fueled by something that is totally unnatural – our sins! Deep down we just want to do Hashem's Will and the sins that we do are exceptions to the "rules" of our good nature and unswerving dedication to Hashem. Why does the exile last so long? Because it is backed up by a vow. Hashem made that vow because this was the bitter medicine that we needed in our 'exceptional' state that needed this 'exceptional treatment'. Golus is an exception to the rule that is not meant to endure is meant to be annulled as soon as possible. we are supposed to have learned our lesson, be humbled, and get back to the land of Israel as quickly as possible, and without the vow it would have happened naturally already, as all aberrations correct themselves naturally. Rava bar Bar-chana was afraid that that Vow was the Vow to never flood the Earth again. The rabbis, who were the majority and hence more in touch with the "rule", were saying that the vow not to flood the earth is like a vow made "by the knowledge of the masses"! It is not an exception to the rule, but a vow supporting the rule! Hashem made that Vow to support the Earth and that is a vow that should not be undone and will never be undone.
Golus will correct itself!
The Torah discusses the laws of Oaths and vows at the beginning of our parsha as Jewish people were preparing for a type of set back similar to Exile: they're going to live without Moshe who is forever the Rebbe of the Jewish people. The Divine Providence has it that we read this Parsha during the three weeks where we get in touch with the sad reality that we are in Exile. We have to come to the realization that all these setbacks, such as exile, are exceptions to the rule. As long and strong as they seem, their strength is like the strength of a vow. It's an exception to the rule that eventually will be annulled. It was dished out to us because of our deviant circumstances, that we sinned and we "went out of balance", and sadly it had to be prescribed and reinforced with a vow, so it should last as long as we need it. It's not meant to be a permanent State and certainly not our Eternal Destiny. It is just up to us to accelerate that process of not needing it anymore and then our situation will naturally revert to our redemption speedily in our days- Amen!


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California Coho Salmon in Dire Straits
By Turtle Island Restoration NetworkDecember 28, 2009Uncategorized
The collapse of Central California Coast coho salmon population is imminent, according to a report by the National Marine Fisheries in late December 2009. Numbers of returning coho may be too low to support a viable population.
For the last three years very few nests, or "redds," have been found in Marin County's Lagunitas watershed, where 80 percent of Central California's coho salmon live. The salmon live three years, half in the coastal streams and half in the Pacific, then return at the end of their lives to spawn. The salmon reproduce in three groups, each returning every third year, so that in three years, all three groups have returned and spawned. When, for three years in a row, numbers are drastically low, the entire population is at risk.
Rain was good in early December, and some coho made their way up Lagunitas Creek from Tomales Bay. But since then, few have been sighted.
Paola Bouley, of the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, says more rain may bring fish up the streams. "We have a one-month window to get some good storms. But basically, we need to increase productivity by improving the habitat in the watershed. We need to install woody debris to slow the streams and provide shelter for the fish. We need to reduce human impact at the streamside and prevent runoff of toxic chemicals. If we can produce more fish, they have a chance at survival. It's a numbers game. So far this year 44 redds have been counted. Since 2000 the annual average has been 247."
SPAWN recently received a California Fish and Game grant to increase the amount of woody debris in the streams. The group is also pushing hard at the county level to reduce the pressures of human development in the watershed. There is a county supervisors' meeting on January 21 to discuss a salmon enhancement plan for the San Geronimo Valley. SPAWN is hoping people will attend and speak out. "The county has the primary jurisdiction over land use," says Bouley. "They have the power to make things happen in the watershed."
A concerned human population is the coho's greatest hope, says National Marine Fisheries Biologist Charlotte Ambrose. "In Marin County you have a community of people who care. We need that across the range. The time is now to find hope, and find out what actions need to be taken."
NMF is releasing a much-awaited Salmon Recovery Plan at the end of January, with the priority to "increase the probability of survival for every individual," says Ambrose. "For instance, we're asking, 'What can we do for the fish at each life stage? What can we do for adults? What can we do to decrease the likelihood of incidental catch by steelhead fishermen? What are the needs of the fish at each stage of life? What does increasing water release do for each age group?'"
The real story, she says, "is as the population decreases, you have a decreased ability of the individual to survive the pressures of the environment, both natural and human. Fewer survive to spawn, and the decline feeds on itself. The coho are in an extinction vortex."


Bitcoin prices are in a bubble that will burst in the near future because the cryptocurrency has many inherent flaws, Allianz Global Investors said in a report.
Bitcoin has fallen sharply since leaping 2,000 percent in the 12 months through December to a record high above $19,000. The cryptocurrency was trading near $8,700 on Wednesday, according to CoinDesk's bitcoin price index.
Allianz has 498 billion euros ($615 billion) in assets under management, according to its website.
The cryptocurrency "ticks all of the boxes that we consider to be essential criteria of any asset bubble," including a fivefold surge in trading volumes over the last five years, lack of financial regulation and the launch of related financial instruments such as bitcoin futures, the Allianz report said.
Neither does bitcoin have any intrinsic value because it does not have a claim to the assets of a government or company and does not generate any income, Hofrichter said. He added that bitcoin is also not a viable currency because of high transaction fees, high price volatility and inability to be used as a store of value.
From an environmental, social and governance perspective, Hofrichter said bitcoin is also unattractive because of the high level of energy required to produce the cryptocurrency. Estimates of bitcoin's total electricity consumption are difficult to measure and subject to debate, but what's clear is mining the cryptocurrency consumes a lot of power.
In less than 10 years, bitcoin has evolved quickly from being a fringe asset often used by criminals into a globally traded asset. CME, the world's largest futures exchange, and its competitor, Cboe, launched bitcoin futures in December, and more than 200 "cryptofunds" now exist for investing in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, according to financial research firm Autonomous Next.
However, like many business leaders and analysts from traditional financial institutions, Allianz's Hofrichter said the blockchain technology behind bitcoin "clearly has potential merits," such as lower costs on verifying transactions.
"It is this aspect of cryptocurrencies in general – and not the specific cryptocurrency du jour – that we as an asset-management firm find to be the most interesting," Hofrichter said.
Bitcoin is the first application of blockchain technology, which eliminates the need for a third-party intermediary such as a bank by quickly creating a secure and permanent record of transactions between two parties.
Start-ups and major corporations alike are working on projects to apply blockchain to businesses such as financial services and supply chain management. Some companies, including IBM and Accenture, have many employees dedicated to researching blockchain.
"These are numbers that are just going to grow as the technology works itself into more mainstream use cases," said Matt Markiewicz, managing director at a company behind a blockchain-focused exchange-traded fund, Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol ETF (KOIN).


With friends like these who needs Jack'd. I personally don't take offense to No Homo though I do think it plays into tropes and toxic masculinity. However. Funny is funny and this made us laugh.
Watch: Singer Rio Covers India Arie's "Brown Skin"


The three dimensional organization of the complete photosynthetic apparatus of the extremely halophilic, bacteriochlorophyll b containing Ectothiorhodospira halochloris has been elaborated by several techniques of electron microscopy. Essentially all thylakoidal sacs are disc shaped and connected to the cytoplasmic membrane by small membraneous ldquobridgesrdquo. In sum, the lumina of all thylakoids (intrathylakoidal space) form one common periplasmic space. Thin sections confirm a paracrystalline arrangement of the photosynthetic complexes in situ. The ontogenic development of the photosynthetic apparatus is discussed based on a structural model derived from serial thin sections.


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text:
Technical Lead, Digital Collections
Yale University Library — New Haven
Salary: 75,000 - 105,000
The Technical Lead, Digital Collections will manage the day-to-day operation of the Yale Library Digital Collections System. This position will provide operational and technical consulting excellence by partnering with clients to design, develop, implement, support, and provide training for ingest workflows and digital collections technology solutions. This position will oversee, monitor, and administer the functional and technical components of these tools, including digital collections specific platforms.
The position will require a successful candidate to create mutually beneficial relationships to provide consultative support for the respective user communities. The successful candidate will be technically adept, hands‐on, a self‐starter, passionate about technology, communicative, and collaborative. The position will work closely with the associated product owners and the library's senior leaders with strategic responsibility for these service domains. The Technical Lead is a member of the Yale University Library IT department, reporting to the Director of Client Services and IT Operations.
The Technical Lead will:
Manage ingest processes and queues, ensuring that collection content and associated metadata meet repository requirements.
Serve as the primary point of contact for technical support of current and future digital collections.
Provide ownership for the resolution of system failures and change management activities.
Provide project management support for digital ingest workflow process harmonization throughout the YUL and for digital collections migrations.
Manage and support digitization workflow platform, Goobi.
Manage and support legacy digital collections systems until their deprecation.
Work in collaboration with collection owners, digitization units, and Digital Preservation group to ensure that content is accessible and preserved.
Provide day-to-day and long-range administrative oversight of the YUL digital repository and associated systems.
Provide resource planning and infrastructure monitoring to optimize system performance for steady-state and bulk ingest activities.
Respond to client issues, including account handling, client communications, and answering queries from client and other in-house departments.
Coordinate staff service roles and responsibilities as digitization and repository services evolve.
Collaborate with the LIT Software Engineering and DevOps teams, as well as Yale central ITS, to ensure that appropriate stability, security, backup and software support are available for existing systems.
Develop and maintain technical and workflow documentation related to the digital repository.
Keep up to date on technology trends related to digitization, object repositories and metadata, digital archiving, and digital preservation.
Bachelor's Degree in a relevant technical field and a minimum of four years of related technical experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Skill/Ability 1:
Excellent customer service skills, flexibility, and a strong commitment to innovation, creativity, and excellence. Proven ability to provide customer satisfaction, needs, and confidence in services.
Demonstrated business systems analysis and project management skills. Ability working to assess client requirements, matching technology to business needs.
Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and independently with various groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing team environment.
Demonstrated ability in developing, implementing, and supporting production ingest workflows for digital repositories.
Strong analytical, organizational, and facilitation skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
Hands-on experience working with cloud platforms including AWS. Knowledge of applications in the digital repository and preservation space (e.g., Goobi, Preservica). Knowledge of Unicode, XML, and other standards for library collection data's electronic representations such as METS, MODS, MARC, EAD, etc. Familiarity crafting and executing SQL queries.
https://bit.ly/YaleCareers-67266BR
Published: Monday, August 23, 2021 18:25 UTC
Last updated: Monday, August 23, 2021 18:25 UTC


So, awhile back I made some tartlet shells. I actually made about a dozen, froze them, and periodically (when I've had a bad day or just need something sweet), I pull one out of the freezer, toss some whipped cream, some ganache, peanut butter, or caramel sauce in the shell, and top it with some heated frozen berries, fresh fruit, or nothing at all.
This is an easy, quick way to wash away all the negativity of the day. I can't say that a lot of people have enjoyed these, because, well…. I've been nourishing my Inner Fat Kid, and have been eating them all. Gotta love it!
The recipe is from Greatest Ever Chocolate, from Parragon Publishing. My friend in South Africa got this book for me for Christmas last year. I've only tried two or three of the recipes, but so far they haven't steered me wrong!
Sift the flour and cocoa into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.
Stir in the sugar. Add enough of the water to mix to a soft dough. Cover and chill for 15 minutes.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and line 6 tartlet pans. Prick the dough with a fork several times, and line with a little crumpled foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until the dough is crisp. Let cool completely.
Melt the semisweet chocolate. Spread out the chopped nuts on a plate. Remove the pie shells from the pans, spread melted chocolate on the rims, then dip in the nuts. Let the chocolate set.
Arrange the prepared fruit (strawberries, peaches, kiwi, berries, etc) in the tartlet shells. Melt the apricot jelly with a tablespoon of water and brush is over the fruit.
Alternatively, fill the tartlets with ganache, whipped cream, peanut butter, caramel sauce, etc. and top with the fruit of your choice. Eat right away, or refrigerate (if you use apples, bananas, or other fruits that oxidize quickly, brush with the apricot jelly or lemon juice to prevent browning).


text:
import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
import { withTheme } from '@material-ui/core/styles'
import PropTypes from 'prop-types'

import Immutable from 'immutable'
import ProviderHelpers from 'common/ProviderHelpers'
import NavigationHelpers from 'common/NavigationHelpers'

import selectn from 'selectn'

import useIntl from 'dataSources/useIntl'
import usePage from 'dataSources/usePage'
import useProperties from 'dataSources/useProperties'
import useUserStartpage from 'dataSources/useUserStartpage'
import useWindowPath from 'dataSources/useWindowPath'

function HomeData(props) {
  const [isUnmounting, setIsUnmounting] = useState(false)
  const { intl } = useIntl()
  const { computePage, queryPage } = usePage()
  const { properties } = useProperties()
  const { computeUserStartpage, fetchUserStartpage } = useUserStartpage()
  const { windowPath, pushWindowPath } = useWindowPath()

  const pagePath = `/${properties.domain}/sections/Site/Resources/`

  useEffect(() => {
    queryPage(pagePath, " AND fvpage:url LIKE '/home/'" + '&sortOrder=ASC' + '&sortBy=dc:title')

    // Get user start page
    fetchUserStartpage('currentUser', {
      defaultHome: false,
    })
  }, [])

  const _computeUserStartpage = ProviderHelpers.getEntry(computeUserStartpage, 'currentUser')
  const startPage = selectn('response.value', _computeUserStartpage)
  // Redirect to start page (but not when accessing /home directly)
  if (isUnmounting === false && windowPath.indexOf('/home') === -1 && startPage) {
    window.location = startPage
  }

  // Access Buttons
  const accessButtonsEntries = selectn('response.entries', _computeUserStartpage) || []
  const accessButtons = accessButtonsEntries.map((dialect) => {
    return {
      url: NavigationHelpers.generateStaticURL('/explore/FV/sections/Data/'),
      text: `Access ${selectn('properties.dc:title', dialect)}`,
    }
  })
  if (accessButtons.length === 0) {
    accessButtons.push({
      url: NavigationHelpers.generateStaticURL('/explore/FV/sections/Data/'),
      text: 'Get Started!',
    })
  }

  // Sections
  const _computePage = ProviderHelpers.getEntry(computePage, `/${properties.domain}/sections/Site/Resources/`)
  const page = selectn('response.entries[0].properties', _computePage)
  const sections = (selectn('fvpage:blocks', page) || []).map((block) => {
    const { area, title, text, summary, file } = block
    return {
      area,
      file,
      summary,
      text,
      title,
    }
  })

  return props.children({
    accessButtonClickHandler: (url) => {
      setIsUnmounting(true)
      NavigationHelpers.navigate(url, pushWindowPath, true)
    },
    sections,
    properties,
    computeEntities: Immutable.fromJS([
      {
        id: pagePath,
        entity: computePage,
      },
      {
        id: 'currentUser',
        entity: computeUserStartpage,
      },
    ]),
    primary1Color: selectn('theme.palette.primary1Color', props),
    primary2Color: selectn('theme.palette.primary2Color', props),
    accessButtons,
    intl,
  })
}

// PropTypes
const { object } = PropTypes
HomeData.propTypes = {
  theme: object,
}

export default withTheme(HomeData)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Fungal Biology at McMaster University
Enemy at the bat cave door
McMaster Team Discovers Widespread Drug-Resistance Amongst Strains of Aspergillus Fungi in Hamilton, Canada
Xu Lab Reveals the Rapid Adaptation Potential of the White-Nose Syndrome Pathogen
International Team Identifies Patterns of Melanin Production Variation and its Potential Impact on Fungal Pathogen Virulence
Publication on triazole-resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus in Hamilton, selected as a 2018 Editor's Choice by the Canadian Journal of Microbiology
JP's BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jianping (JP) Xu attended Jiangxi and Nanjing Agricultural Universities, where he obtained his B.Sc. in 1985 and M.Sc. in 1988. After working for a few years in China, he furthered his graduate studies at the University of Toronto, where he obtained another M.Sc. in 1993 and his Ph.D. in 1997, working with Dr. James Anderson, on the genetic structure of natural populations of the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus. In 2000, Dr. Xu completed post-doctoral training at
Duke University and joined McMaster University as an assistant professor in the Department of Biology. Over the years, his lab has enjoyed close collaborations with researchers both within and outside of Canada. He is currently a tenured full professor where he teaches microbiology, genetics, field ecology, and evolution at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. His research interest include: molecular ecology, genetics, molecular biology, medical mycology, population biology, genomics, mushroomology, conservation biology, microbial ecology, and molecular epidemiology. He has published broadly in national and international peer reviewed scientific journals. He currently serves on the editorial board of Acta Edulis Fungi (Board Member), Genome (Associate Editor), Mycology (Associate Editor), Mycopathologia (Associate Editor), and Mycoses (Associate editor). He sits on several committees within and outside of McMaster University. He is the Associate Chair of Biology (Graduate Studies) and a member of McMaster University Biosafety Committee. Dr. Xu has been the
recipient of diverse grants and awards, including the Young Scientist Award of the Genetics Society of Canada.
When he is not doing science, he race walks. He has won several races and holds a few age-group national records. His fastest time in the 10K race walk stands at 49:40 (Penn Relays, USA, 2014), in the 5K category his record to beat is 23:58 (Athletics Ontario Championship, Canada, 2013). He runs occasionally, attending the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996. In 2013, he ran the Shanghai International Marathon in a chip-time of 2:56:06.
ResearchGate jpxu@mcmaster.ca Publication list


text:
Indian solider made plumber after video goes viral
NEW DELHI: The BSF Jawan had vented out his emotions in a video about the deplorable plight of the soldiers. He told how badly the Jawans are treated by the corrupt administration which came as a huge eye-opener for many.More recently, the BSF lashed out claiming that the Jawan featured in the video has a record of being 'indisciplined' and an 'alcoholic'. The jawan has now said that he has been forced by the senior officials to take down the video. Now, he has been shifted to plumber's job. "Constable Tej Bahadur as an individual has a difficult past. From initial days of his career, he needed regular counselling , BSF said in a statement. The soldier deployed at the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir has revealed the ugly truth about the severity of the climates they have to work in and the meager and insufficient food that they get. He said that sometimes the soldiers even have to stay empty stomach because of the pathetic quality of the food that is provided by the administration to them. The soldier has appealed to the border security forces to initiate an inquiry into the matter and take necessary steps as soon as possible. He blamed the officers for their corrupt practices because of whom the soldiers were not getting the amenities that they are entitled to. The government provides for the necessary items for the Jawans but the immediate officials sell them off for their personal benefits, he claimed.
BSF BSF Jawan Indian solider Indo-Pak border Jammu and Kashmir made plumber soldiers Video viral	2017-01-11
Tags BSF BSF Jawan Indian solider Indo-Pak border Jammu and Kashmir made plumber soldiers Video viral
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LONDON: Prince William has "tentatively welcomed" an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding a BBC ...


text:
Category / scapegoat
March 11, 2015 March 11, 2015 by crmayes
Lifestyle choice: a brief note
Australia, biopolitics, biopower, community, consumerism, ethics, governmentality, health, lifestyle, politics, power, public health, race, scapegoat, security
lifestyle, lifestyle choice, lifestyle choices, Philip Ruddock, public health, remote communities, Tony Abbott
I'm currently completing a book manuscript called 'The Biopolitics of Lifestyle'. So when Tony Abbott made his comments that Aboriginal's living in remote communities are making a 'lifestyle choice', I thought "great, I may need to write another chapter".
This is not simply a poor choice of words, but reflects a governmental rationality that seeks to place responsibility on to individuals. Education, health, welfare, employment all become 'lifestyle choices' for which the individual is responsible.
The affluent, gainfully employed, highly educated sections of society make good 'lifestyle choices', while the poor, sick, Indigenous and asylum seekers are characterised as making bad 'lifestyle choices'.
Abbott is not the first to use this phrase to justify . In 2002, Philip Ruddock described asylum-seekers as making 'lifestyle choices'.
"In the main, people who have sought to come to Australia and make asylum claims do not come from a situation of persecution; they come from a situation of safety and security," he said.
"They may not be able to go back to their country of origin but they are making a lifestyle choice." The Australian, 'Ruddock blames "lifestyle" refugees' by Alison Crosweller and Megan Saunders
This governmental rationality shifts responsibility away from governments and communities, and on to individuals. It also serves to trivialize some claims (living in a remote community or seeking asylum) by comparing them to frivolous consumer lifestyle choices (Pepsi or Coke, holden or ford, apple or pc).
Of course, when we talk about the Australian Lifestyle of ANZACs, footy, beach, sun, boats, and weekends, things get very serious. Governments use this notion of lifestyle to build monuments, go to war, and demonize minorities. But that is another matter all together.
In the current context the rationality of 'lifestyle choice' shifts responsibility onto individuals in remote communities and justifies the Western Australian government's decision to cut services and remove people.
November 10, 2011 March 3, 2015 by crmayes
Tragedy and Anger in Happy Valley
anger, Facebook, football, media, Penn State, riot, scapegoat, sexual abuse, state college, tragedy, violence
"Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides"
– William Shakespeare, King Lear
"This is one of the saddest weeks in the history of Penn State"
– Rodney Erickson, Interim President of Pennsylvania StateUniversity
I will not recount the details of what has occurred at Penn State over the past 47 years to lead to this point of 'sadness'.* And I do not think it is an exaggeration to appeal to Shakespeare or the notion of tragedy to make sense of the fall of mighty men, the unravelling of moral pillars and the tearing of identities. This is not just about football or Penn State. If these events are isolated to either, then a narrative that allows us to create distance from the actors will cover the many lessons of this tragic drama.
A danger is to isolate victim and villain, innocence and guilt, and wounded and perpetrator to self-contained individuals. To be clear, the role of victim intensely belongs to the boys who suffered sexual abuse under the care of a senior football administrator. I do not want to reduce or take away from that. But the victimization does not end with them. Rather it emanates in concentric circles. Similarly the perpetration of the crimes can be isolated to an individual. But this also does not end with them. Rather it emanates in concentric circles, which expand to exhaustion and overlap with the expanding circles of victimization. In this area of overlap there is confusion, anger and frustration. Perhaps a lot of the students and wider Penn State community feel positioned between the overlapping waves of the expanding circles of victimization and perpetration – far removed from the either actions but effected by both.
From my observations, a bulk of the student body are experiencing deep confusion over these events, their place in them, who is to blame, and what can be done. Emotions for this institution, community, football and coach run deep. To see these sources of identify and selfhood scrutinized is extremely troubling.
As the seeds sown 47 years ago have revealed their bitter fruit this week, some students and alumni have turned their anger and confusion toward the messenger – the media. Viewing the media as the only participants in this drama standing to gain, students have directed uncontrolled emotion toward them. Culminating in a riot.
In response to the riot, the Penn State Facebook page requested students vacate the downtown area. However, a number of comments to the two messages (on the right), supported the students rioting and suggested the media presence justified, if not required violent action. For example:
Adam: tell the media to vacate. not the students
Nicole: So glad they are making a point of attacking the media, what goes around comes around media!!!
Brian: Should have thought about that before handing the legend over to the mob media. Penn state gets what they asked for tonight.
Tarrie: What a shame that a brilliant career is ending over this. I can't believe that this honorable man is as deeply involved in this as the media is making out. I've been a Penn State fan for as long as I can remember and I"m 52 years old. I think you should protest, protest and protest. Let your voices be heard loud and clear.
Mardizone: show luv for JOE PA yall…shame on da media!!!!!! shame on PSU!!!!
David: Susan, the media is what caused this. The media is the one who villified Joe Paterno. The media is the reason his career was called to end. The media is the reason his legacy has been entirely destroyed. The media is entirely at fault.
Susan: My son has just been pepper sprayed trying to help a girl that tripped-thanks b of trustees and media.
Kvision: Joe Paterno did not deserve to be fired! All those that are protesting against him are victims of the media and miss information. This is what the media does because they have no morals either. They are about making the buck just like Penn State.
As is clear from these comments there is a lot of anger and confusion. While it is important that certain actions are taken quickly and decisively, it is also important the quick solutions and answers do not satisfy the need for deeper inquiry. Slow thought and careful consideration is crucial in order to learn from errors of the past. Some of us may be victims or perpetrators of these errors, and some of us may be an uncomfortable mixture of both. However, it is important that artificial stories are not grasped for as quick remedy to our discomfort. Time has unfolded what plaited cunning hides, and likewise time should be allowed for somber rumination, sensitive dialogue and ethical consideration.
*Most major US newspapers have adequate summaries – NY Times, USA Today, FOX News or Centre Daily Times


we are planting the seeds for a thriving, connected future.
The blossoming of the snowdrop flower is a sign that winter is coming to an end and spring is right around the corner. Able to thrive in cold environments, snowdrops produce their own heat, melting the surrounding snow for others to grow. The snowdrop has become a symbol of hope, rebirth and a bright future, the belief that a new warmth will enter our lives.
The Snowdrop Movement aims to enrich the lives of disaster victims and communities in developing countries by working to create a wholesome and sustainable synergy between key aspects of life.


Manchester City ran riot last season in the Premier League as they secured as many as one hundred points by bulldozing past their opponents and clinched the league title.
However, City have been far from the standards they had set during the previous campaign and there is a lot of room for improvisation.
Their latest league outing ended in a 2-1 loss at the hands of Newcastle United at St. James' Park during which their weaknesses resurfaced.
Apart from the left-back position, the central defensive midfield area is expected to be one of the areas of concern for manager Pep Guardiola.
The blue half of Manchester lack options in terms of the task of cushioning their backline and have relied heavily on Fernandino for a couple of years now.
City have been linked with Everton's Idrissa Gueye and apart from the defending Premier League champions, Arsenal and Paris Saint-German have also been associated with him.
It has been claimed by The Sun that an offer of £25m from PSG has been rejected by the Toffees, although Gueye is keen to leave the Goodison Park.
Intriguingly, Guardiola has made it very clear that his camp wouldn't bring fresh faces to the Etihad Stadium in January as he is satisfied with what he has in his artillery.
Therefore, any move for Gueye is likely to churn out only in the summer and it would make a lot of sense if City manage to make the 29-year-old sign on the dotted line.
Gueye is a no-nonsense midfielder who is renowned for his tough tackling skills and his ability to break opposition's attacking moves.
The Senegalese international got himself acquainted with English football after his move to Aston Villa from the ranks of Lille in the summer of 2015.
In the subsequent season, he switched to Everton after the Lions were relegated from the top flight and he has been a huge asset for his current club.
He has brought a lot of resilience in the middle of the park for Everton and owing to his passing range, he has helped his teammates in making transitions from defence to attack.
Gueye has featured on 20 occasions so far this season in the Premier League and has managed to muster 4.2 tackles, 2.4 interceptions and 1.3 clearances per game on an average.
By the turn of the next campaign, Fernandinho will be 34 and in order to get a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, Gueye could be an exciting choice for Guardiola's side.


text:
Soccer: Orban's billion-dollar spending yet to bring Hungary revival
By Marton Dunai
FILE PHOTO: International Friendly - Hungary v Uruguay
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - A video celebrating the inauguration of Hungary's Puskas Stadium shows Prime Minister Viktor Orban kicking a football across town from his office balcony above the Danube right onto the pitch in the newly-built national football arena.
The $650 million, 65,000-seat venue was officially opened last week and was built to be ready for next year's continent-wide European Championship – a tournament Hungary could miss.
The government has spent more than $2 billion on football since Orban took power in 2010, with nearly $400 million in 2018 alone, according to budget data summarised by the Hungarian Football Association. That dwarfs previous spending on a sport that has failed to respond to the investment.
The International Monetary Fund put the country's economic output at about $160 billion last year – meaning one in every 400 of those dollars financed football.
Hungary has hosted the 2017 World Aquatics Championships as well as a number of other international sports events and some see Orban's efforts as part of a 'soft power' approach.
"He considers sports a breakout point, a great tool to enhance the country's image abroad," said Agoston Mraz, director of the Nezopont Group, a think tank close to Orban's ruling Fidesz party.
"It is connected to everything: a multiplying effect in the overall economy, tourism, media, and so on.
"It is a lot like Formula 1 and the Hungaroring (race track) was in the 1980s. Its positive effect was a lot deeper than immediately visible, which justified the billions spent on it.
"The effect of these events benefits the country in many, many ways."
However, the investment has yet to pay dividends on the football field with the national team still struggling.
After a promising start to Euro 2020 qualification faded, Hungary must now enter the playoffs, where they travel to Bulgaria in March for a knockout match, with the winners facing Iceland or Romania for a place at the tournament.
Long gone are Hungarian football's glory days of global dominance in the 1950s, or even their more modest achievements in the late 1970s and '80s when they reached the World Cup.
Since then, the fortunes of the national team and Hungary's club sides have been in decline for over 30 years.
During that time, their appearance at Euro 2016, when they reached the last 16, has been Hungary's only major tournament. Clubs have also failed to advance beyond the group stages of the Champions' League – and have reached even that phase only twice.
Orban, a decent club player and lifelong football fan, has considered it a personal mission to turn that around.
He elevated sports to front and centre in his government's priorities and has made lavish funds available for football to create a world-class infrastructure.
He even founded a football academy and a professional club in his home town Felcsut, which have received more than $130 million in state funds and private gifts according to official filings.
Peter Kreko, an analyst at the Political Capital think tank, believes it has been a mistaken approach.
"State money follows a logic of power, not one of efficiency and professionalism," Kreko said.
"The failure was coded into this system... The country is hostage to its leader's hobby. He can continue doing this until voters notice – and they are starting to grasp the enormity of the funds that yields them nothing but permanent frustration."
DOZENS OF STADIUMS
Under Orban hundreds of local pitches, a dozen new arenas nationwide, and the big national stadium have been inaugurated, training facilities have been built and oaths sworn.
The Puskas, named after Ferenc Puskas who starred for Real Madrid and played for the 'Magnificent Magyars' following the Second World War, officially opened last week with a friendly against Uruguay and was a culmination of that process.
The Puskas was built on the precise location of the People's Stadium, a drab Communist-era arena where Hungary played as they reached their peak, appearing in the 1954 World Cup final.
Club matches with 60,000 fans were not uncommon whereas today the most popular team, Ferencvaros, averages 7,600.
Demolished in 2015, the People's Stadium concrete was recycled in the new stands and the centre circle was preserved in the exact same location.
Although the stadium's hefty price tag drew heavy criticism – especially as early plans for a multi-functional arena hosting facilities for several sports were abandoned to create a football-only pitch – the government has defended it as necessary, along with all other spending on the sport.
"Football is the most popular sport in Hungary," said Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, on Thursday.
"We would prefer better football of course, but a lot of this money goes to non-professional sport and to youth football. If we ever want a very good national team, we have to support youth football. And let's hope for the best in the playoffs."
Orban, speaking on Hungarian Radio on Friday, said all the country's major construction projects faced criticism before they were realised.
"We may have argued, fought, whether we need the stadium or not, but in the end, when we got it, we were all happy.
"I know the debates that surrounded these projects over the centuries. The same thing happened with the Chain Bridge, the Parliament building, theatres...
"I am never fazed by controversy during development," he said. "Once you make a decision you stick by it, because once you carry it out everyone will applaud. We saw that in the last few days."
($1 = 303.3200 forints)
(Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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