The name resonates with creating, designing and manufacturing high-end foam-coated furniture without any support of wood or spring.
NEW DELHI: After foraying into the Indian market, Michel Sels, one of the founders of Belgian furniture and design company Sixinch Design, says while it is early to talk about expansion plans in the country, they can join hands with some Indian designers to add 'desi' dimensions soon.
Sels added the designers can "create iconic Indian pieces" with a "Sixinch twist".
Founded in Belgium in 2003, the company is known for blending innovation together with progressive design. The name resonates with creating, designing and manufacturing high-end foam-coated furniture without any support of wood or spring. The company has entered the Indian market in partnership as Sixinch India, a franchise owned by Namrata Seth and Gagan Deep Bhatia.
"We are just entering so it is difficult to judge how we will fare in the Indian market. I can only judge by my experience with other countries...yes there are differences but on the other hand they are similarities," he said.
"But I think what we will need to do is constantly work with architects and designers, I think that is the most important and there is entry level market of restaurants, bars, museums, special pieces for customers. And then I think we can set up corporation with Indian designers and see what they can do with the product," Sels told IANS.
He added: "We are not talking about designing but we are talking about product itself. We will be like this is the product, these are the technicalities, these are the options for colours and then maybe they can take some of iconic Indian pieces and try to put Sixinch twist towards it and make something that people identify with us."
When asked about the say of the other partners under the union, he asserted that they all have the creative freedom.
He shared: "That depends on the partners, what we do is that we back up all the technical information and tell them about all the limitations we know of. The big part of the arrangement is that they have every freedom. We don't limit them. We are here to support them."
The brand is also known for creating customised products, and uses technology to merge the designer with quirky trends and colours. It has expanded its base with manufacturing units in countries like Portugal, Japan, China, US, the Philippines, Italy, Belgium, and Russia with a distribution network spanning 40 countries. In India, the company has a factory set-up here in Chhatarpur.
Sels shares that there are never hiccups to explore a new market with cultural difference.
He said: "With the product that we have we have a market in almost every country we just have to place it into the right environment and then the market will explore itself".
As far as cultural change and weather conditions are concerns, Sels notes that the partners help them figure these small details about the country, and set them in the right direction.
On being asked whether they would also rope in Bollywood celebrities to get the eye balls, he mentions that stars like Shahid Kapoor and Imran khan, have bought the products for the personal use, adding that it is thing to be proud of.


This is an excellent Rolex Vintage Daytona Cosmograph ref-6265 in stainless steel with Oyster bracelet(CX10).
Manufactured in the year 1975, this model has got a very beautiful sigma dial build in.
Very wanted collectors item - investment piece.
Legendary gentleman race car driver chronograph with tachymeter scale.


Method of preparation: 1 pyramid cup and infuse 3 minutes at a temperature of 90. The pyramid format enables faster and higher infusion, offering a unique experience of aroma and flavor. This format allows infusing tea bags better than traditional bags because the ingredients have more room to move and preserves the nutritional properties of the plant. The new format of individually enveloped pyramids of allows you to carry them anywhere hygienically and very comfortably.


text:
Q: Transaction problem in RStudio for tweet apriori analysis I want to use the apriori algorithm to apply association rules between words on the tweet database I have with RStudio. However, the code below gives an error on a million rows of data, while working on a small number of data. I needed your help as I couldn't understand what caused the error.
TweetTrans <- read.transactions("../input/tweets/output.csv",
                            rm.duplicates=FALSE,
                            format = "basket",
                            sep = ",",
                            encoding = "UTF-8")

The Error is:
Error in validObject(.Object): invalid class "ngCMatrix" object: row indices are not sorted within columns
Traceback:
1. read.transactions("../input/tweets/output.csv", rm.duplicates = FALSE,
 .     format = "basket", sep = ",", encoding = "UTF-8")
2. as(data, "transactions")
3. asMethod(object)
4. new("transactions", as(from, "itemMatrix"), itemsetInfo = data.frame(transactionID = names(from),
 .     stringsAsFactors = FALSE))
5. initialize(value, ...)
6. initialize(value, ...)
7. callNextMethod()
8. .nextMethod(.Object = .Object, ... = ...)
9. callNextMethod()
10. .nextMethod(.Object = .Object, ... = ...)
11. as(from, "itemMatrix")
12. asMethod(object)
13. new("ngCMatrix", p = c(0L, p), i = as.integer(i) - 1L, Dim = c(length(levels(i)),
  .     length(p)))
14. initialize(value, ...)
15. initialize(value, ...)
16. callNextMethod()
17. .nextMethod(.Object = .Object, ... = ...)
18. validObject(.Object)
19. stop(msg, ": ", errors, domain = NA)

A: Here are some ideas for how to find a rogue line in the data file.  The input to read.transactions should be a text file the looks something like
A, B, C
B, C
C, D, E
D, A, B, F

where A, B ,C, etc are the names of the items (probably longer than one character each!)
So you could read in the file using readLines...
data <- readLines("../input/tweets/output.csv")

Each element of data (one per line of the file) should be a string of the form "A, B, C" etc, as above.
You could then use functions (e.g. from the stringr package) to check if any lines contain unusual characters, or have an odd format.  Without seeing your file, it is hard to say how to do this, but you might, for example, look for quotes in odd places (str_detect(data, '\\"')) or characters that are not letters, digits , spaces or commas (str_detect(data, "[^\\w\\d\\s,]")).
Another thing you could try is to write a for loop to take each element of data (or perhaps larger chunks if that is too slow), save it as a file, try reading it with read.transactions, and see where it crashes.
for(i in seq_along(data)){
   writeLines(data[i], "dummyfile.csv")
   trans <- read.transactions("dummyfile.csv",
                              rm.duplicates=FALSE,
                              format = "basket",
                              sep = ",",
                              encoding = "UTF-8")
   }

The value of i when it crashes will give you the problem row number.  It might take a long time to run, though!

A: I ran into a very similar problem: the same error got triggered when trying to cast a list to a transaction object.
I also couldn't easily figure out what lines in the data caused the issue, as it seems to be triggered by a combination of transactions and not necessarily by any individual one, but I managed to track down the source of the problem in this assignment (source):
p <- new("ngCMatrix", p   = c(0L, p),
  i   = as.integer(i) - 1L,
  Dim = c(length(levels(i)), length(p)))

My R got pretty rusty over time and I couldn't find an immediate way to patch the code, but I came up with an alternative solution for constructing the ngCMatrix object:

*

*Assume you have the data in a data.frame following some sort of (user, item) format - in your case it would most likely be (tweet_id, term/word)

*Create a unique incremental ID for every user and item and add it to your data.frame

*Use those ID to create the sparse matrix and - optionally - enrich it with the labels for item and user to make it more interpretable

*Finally, cast the sparse matrix to a transaction object

Example (I implemented mine with data.table, but a traditional dataframe implementation would be very similar):
library(Matrix)
library(data.table)
library(arules)

DT <- data.table(user = c('A','A','B','B','A','C','D'),
                 item = c('AAB','AAA','AAB','BBB','ABA','BBB','AAB'))

# Create user_ids
unique_users <- unique(DT$user)
users <- data.table(user=unique_users,
                    user_id=c(1:length(unique_users)))

# Repeat for items
unique_items <- unique(DT$item)
items <- data.table(item=unique_items,
                    item_id=c(1:length(unique_items)))

# Add indexes to original data table (setting keys helps with performance)
DT <- merge.data.table(x=DT, y=users, by='user')
DT <- merge.data.table(x=DT, y=items, by='item')

# Create the sparse matrix
mat <- sparseMatrix(
      i = DT$item_id,
      j = DT$user_id,
      dims = c(nrow(items), nrow(users)),
      dimnames = list(items$item, users$user)
    )

# transform to arules 'transactions'
txn <- as(op, "transactions")

Please note that this doesn't help understanding what caused the issue, but rather provides a workaround to solve it. In my data.table implementation the code is pretty performant, taking only a few seconds to process over 30M transactions on a laptop-sized machine (2 CPUs, 16gb RAM).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Applications are invited for appointment as Post-doctoral Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences (Ref.: 493861), to commence as soon as possible for six months, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance.
Applicants should possess a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology or a related discipline. The appointee will be responsible for a research project involving organelle biology and energy dynamics in plant and animal cells. Expertise in confocal studies is desirable. Enquiries about the research project should be sent to Dr. Lim at bllim@hku.hk.
The University only accepts online application for the above post. Applicants should apply online and upload an up-to-date C.V. and a cover letter. Applicants should also arrange three reference letters to be sent to Dr. Lim (e-mail: bllim@hku.hk) directly by the referees. Review of applications will start as soon as possible and continue until February 15, 2019, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.


Ambient envelopes from all sides, surrounding you with pure and natural energy, light and sound. The light source in this particular can erupted from ruby fruit combustion on a sunny day. Bushels of blackberry, boysenberry, black currant, and sweet cherry will blossom across your taste buds between layers of lactose and refreshing tart hoppiness. This fruited sour IPA combines a spectrum of flavors into a balanced liquid light source of Ambient energy. Contains lactose. Hops: Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra. 7% abv.
American Light Lager brewed with corn and a subtle amount of hops for a crisp refreshing flavored beer you can crush all day. 3.9% abv.
Hazy and hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe it's bound to brighten your weekend. 6% abv.
Classy casual is someone who wears sneakers to dinner or a tuxedo shirt to a party. Somehow that person still looks classy as anything, is up for anything and the person you want to be around. There's another way of being classy casual – while holding any beer that is classified as a Belgian. Belgian dubbel is a complex mixture of dark fruits and specialty malts that goes down nicely and gives you that classy casual feeling we all crave. 6.5% abv.
Our second single-hop New England double IPA. Same soft creamy grain bill as Star Command but this time we used huge doses of the unmistakable Citra hop throughout the process. The nose on this one is as intense as the flavor. Notes of citrus and tropical fruits. 8.5% abv.
A crisp, classic take on one of our favorite styles. Full of citrus, caramel and hop character. 5.5% abv.
Traditionally brewed March lager that is unfiltered and crystal clear, with notes of biscuit and light chocolate. 6.1% abv.
A crushable double dry-hopped hazy pale ale. Generously dry-hopped with Idaho 7 and Citra this hazy pale is bursting with refreshing notes and aromas of orange, mango, pineapple, apricot and citrus. 5.8% abv.
This beer has bright tropical fruit and citrus notes up front that are met with a comparable nose. Brewed with Nelson, Motueka and Mosaic hops, we were able to create a smooth but rich flavor. Lancaster wild flower honey gives this beer a semi-sweet taste, and a partial rye build gives it a semi-dry bite. We're especially proud of how this brew turned out, it is undeniably delicious. 7.2% abv.
This barrel-aged coffee beast is jacked up on gratuitous amounts of cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, lactose and unrefined sea salt. Lots of roast and dark chocolate play along nicely with bourbon, coffee and vanilla. The lactose helps balance things out and the sea salt adds a layer of smooth salinity that ties it all up. 12.7% abv.


text:
NFL Will Consider Changes to Marijuana Ban -- For A Price
Gary Phillips Contributor
I write sports at Forbes.com, The Athletic, Sporting News & Jets Wire.
A close up of a football with a marijuana plant.
As more states continue to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes, the NFL is starting to change its tune.
The league, which currently bans marijuana use, is almost ready to consider changes to its testing policy, according to NBC Sports' Mike Florio. Under the current policy, players are subject to suspensions following two positive tests. The first positive test puts a player in the NFL's Stage Two intervention program, which means increased testing for up to 24 months.
The NFL, however, has grown tired of its players missing games over a substance that the public increasingly no longer considers serious. A softened stance, meanwhile, would be beneficial to players, who could freely turn to marijuana for pain relief instead of getting hooked on opioids.
This should be common sense for the NFL — something that happened a long time ago for the well-being of its players — but the league is not considering these changes because a bunch of kind-hearted souls are running the show. Instead, Florio reported that the NFL is hoping to use marijuana as leverage during collective bargaining:
The NFL realizes that there's no longer any good reason to keep the best football players from playing football over marijuana. But the NFL isn't yet willing to make dramatic and wholesale changes to the marijuana testing policy because the NFL hopes to dangle the changes within the context of collective bargaining, securing a concession from the union in exchange for softening a policy that badly needs to be softened.
The current CBA is set to expire in 2021, meaning any changes won't be immediate. Florio added that it's unlikely the NFL would try to change the policy outside of CBA negotiations, as it wants to get something in return.
However, Florio also mentioned that most players know how to avoid testing positive. Florio said that roughly 95 percent of players know their way around getting caught, which means there wouldn't be much reason for the union to make a major concession during CBA talks.
Whatever happens, the good news is that thoughts of changing this archaic policy are at least being discussed, finally. As the societal stigma surrounding marijuana continues to disappear, so too should a system that encourages players to turn to far more dangerous painkillers.
It would be great if the league wasn't trying to extract something in return for that change, but this is the NFL we're talking about.
I cover the Yankees, Jets, MLB, NFL and more for a variety of outlets. In addition to Forbes.com, I am a contributor at The Athletic and Sporting News. I am also the man...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In the Opener for the Panthers they traveled to cross-town Hartford and got the Game 1 win 3-2.
Behind 4 strong innings for Garrett Matthews (10 K's) and a Save from Tommy Swanson, the Panthers let it get close before closing the door for the win.
Andrew Chisek, Eric Kehrer and Jordyn Angelo chipped in hits for the Panthers.
The win lands the Panthers at 1-0 on the young season.


text:
Hot Or Not? Honda Shows S2000 Modulo Climax Concept At Tokyo Auto Salon
Evan McCauslandwriter
Most of Honda's show cars for this year's Tokyo Auto Salon are fairly typical - a gussied-up Kei car here, a tricked-out N-ONE there, and so one. One, however, stands out from the crowd of decked-out microcars, and for good reason: it's an S2000.
Meet the new S2000 Modulo Climax. We're not exactly sure how Honda arrived at that particular name (and we're not sure we want to know), but Honda has used the Modulo name on several ranges of body kits and exterior dress-up accessories - and this particular S2000 sports both.
Undoubtedly, the new front clip is the biggest change from a stock S2000 roadster. The new nose is longer than before, giving way to a hexagonal grille opening that's bisected by a large chrome crossbar, which sweeps into the corners of the fascia. A new tonneau cover provides enclosed fairings for the rollbar hoops, while a pair of canard-like winglets are placed on the corners of the rear decklid. The rear bumper fascia is revised to incorporate two large air outlets, while the diffuser is whittled away to make room for two large exhaust tips. Modulo also appears to have contributed a set of chromed 10-spoke alloy wheels, although Honda makes no mention of their size or construction.
Interior amendments aren't quite as extensive as those applied to the S2000's exterior. The stock seats are replaced by new leather-clad, Modulo-branded bucket seats, which boast inserts and contrast stitching color keyed to the car's exterior paint. The shift boot and steering wheel are privy to similar stitching, as are the floor mats, which appear to be made from a woven, mesh-like material that resembles carbon fiber.
What can we make of this? Some Honda faithful are proclaiming the S2000 Modulo Climax as the second coming of the S2000 - or, for that matter, a good hint at what the company's forthcoming sports roadster will look like. An interesting theory, perhaps, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Although the S2000 Modulo Climax is but a concept at this point in time, Honda says the car simply previews a new range of accessories it has in store for its discontinued roadster.
Is it unusual for an automaker to offer these sorts of parts three years after a vehicle was dropped from the lineup? Perhaps, but it's not unprecedented - in fact, Modulo recently offered a range of add-ons for the Beat and NSX, which ended production in 1996 and 2005, respectively.
But what say you? Does Honda's new range of Modulo parts only improve upon the S2000's looks, or do they make it look a little like a Daihatsu Storia? Send your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: Honda


The invasive demon shrimp (Dikerogammarus haemobaphes) has been found at two new locations in the Lea Catchment.
The Environment Agency has confirmed the presence of demon shrimp from samples taken from the River Lea near Amwell and the River Stort at Sawbridgeworth. The demon shrimp from the Pono-Caspian region of Eastern Europe is a voracious predator which can significantly affect native species and have a devastating impact on fisheries. The introduction of demon shrimp can significantly alter the aquatic ecosystem.
At present control measures in place are only able to slow the spread of this species. Able to survive for 48 hours out of water on damp surfaces it is important that any river user that enters the water or has equipment that enters the water follow the Check, Clean, Dry protocols advised by the Non-Native Species Secratariat to prevent the further spread of this and other invasive species through the Lea Catchment.
More information on the demon shrimp can be found here.


text:
No Ignition Switch Fix for Cadillacs
Cadillac Ignition Switch Update | 04-2017
In April of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from General Motors Co. to review a lower-court ruling from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed some victims' families to sue the company over defective ignition switches. This lack of intervention from the Supreme Court means that the Second Circuit's ruling, which said that GM should have divulged the ignition-switch defect when the company's operations were sold in 2008 during the bankruptcy process, stands. This decision potentially exposes the company to billions of dollars in potential new wrongful death and personal injury claims.
GM recalled over 2.5 million vehicles in 2014 for an ignition switch defect that allows the switches to slip from the run position, cause cars to stall and disable certain safety features such as air bags. General Motors admitted that employees knew of these problems for over a decade.
Read About Other Auto Defects >
As the number of models and vehicles recalled for faulty ignition switches grows, General Motors continues to struggle to find an adequate solution to the problem. Readers may recall an initial recall of a number of General Motors (GM) models in February 2014 for ignition switch complications. Now, the same mechanical problems have been found to plague Cadillac automobiles, resulting in GM's recall of the Cadillac CTS and SRX models. This particular recall is somewhat unique in the sense that it has advanced despite the fact that GM has yet to develop a solution for the ignition switch defect. The newly recalled Cadillac vehicles join the 7.5 million GM automobiles recalled in June.
GM has been accused of knowing about their ignition switch problems since at least 2004, and the media has reported that the company may have known that the ignition technology did not meet the minimum safety standards prior to having green-lighted them for use in their vehicles. The corporation is facing numerous investigations on account of these allegations, with the objective of establishing a clear interpretation of why GM did not issue a recall earlier. As of 1 April 2014, the firm has linked the ignition defect with 13 deaths and 31 accidents, although GM only includes head-on collisions in which the airbags failed to deploy. They, for instance, did not include a second fatality in a 2006 car crash because the death of a second woman, sitting in the back seat, was attributed to a failed airbag deployment. In a June 2014 report, international news media agency Reuters concluded that the ignition switch problems are responsible for the deaths of 74 victims, although the exact figures continue to be disputed.
The automaker has been targeted by numerous lawsuits and these are expected to grow in number. Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for repair costs, diminished resale values, and the loss of their vehicles. General Motors has agreed to pay compensation to the families of those who have died as a result of faulty ignition switches; victims who suffered personal and material injury may also be eligible for recompense.
GM has not yet found a way of fixing the faulty ignition switches. The ignition failure is attributed to a defective switch detent plunger, which is a tiny metal pin with a spring attached on one end. This detent plunger is supposed to hold the ignition in place, whether in "run" or "accessory" modes. Designed to supply torque to maintain the ignition in position, some GM plungers cannot supply the force necessary to keep the switch in place. As a result, if the affected vehicle is subjected to several bumps or if the key is accidentally hit by the driver's knee, the car can turn off and the power-assist to the steering and brakes will shut down. Additionally, the defective ignition switch may also be responsible for disabling the automobile's airbags.
As a temporary resolution, GM has issued a stop-sale order for affected Cadillac models, which include the 2003–2014 CTS and 2004–2006 SRX crossovers. There is some confusion over which models and years suffer the ignition problems, as GM soon corrected its recall to clarify that the new 2014 models do not have the mechanical complication. As it turns out, the 2014 CTS sedan does not include the defective switch, while the 2014 CTS Coupe and Wagon versions do. This latest muddle only adds to General Motor's disordered handling of the issue.
Ignition Switch Recall: Makes and Models
Chevrolet HHRS
Pontiac G5S
Oldsmobile Intrigue
Buick Lacrosse
Buick Lucerne
Cadillac Deville
Buick Regal LS & GS
Cadillac DTS
Pontiac Grand Am
Cadillac SRX
Contact Pope McGlamry
If your current vehicle has been recalled, it is important to follow up with your dealership to resolve the issue. Faulty vehicle parts can result in severe injury or, worse, death. If you or a family member have fallen victim to a faulty ignition switch or any other defective vehicle component, the expert legal team at Pope McGlamry P.C. has the tried experience and thorough knowledge to represent your interests in court. Contact us today to schedule a free case review and consultation at our Columbus and Atlanta, GA offices.


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Trade Show Industry Grows Impressive 4.6 Percent in Q1 2015
Rachel Wimberly
The severe winter weather in much of the U.S. didn't put a damper on the trade show industry, with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research's quarterly CEIR Index Report tracking growth to be 4.6 percent in Q1 2015, compared with the same time period in 2014.
It is the highest increase since the second quarter of 2007, in other words, before the recession hit.
"The performance in the first quarter was remarkable considering that the east coast was frequently paralyzed under severe winter weather," said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates.
Just a few of the shows that saw impressive results in the first quarter of this year included International CES, held in January in Las Vegas, with more than 176,000 attendees; International Plastics Showcase, held in March in Orlando, with more than 2,000 exhibitors; and World of Asphalt and AGG1 2015, which was held in March in Baltimore, Md., and broke records in attendance, net square footage and exhibitors.
The first quarter of 2015 also marked the 19th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
While the growth of the exhibition industry lagged behind the GDP during most of last three years, the exhibition industry in Q1 2015 outperformed the macro economy as real GDP gained 2.7 percent year-on-year.
CEIR tracks four metrics and the strongest one was in Real Revenues, which rose an impressive 7.3 percent, followed by Net Square Feet – increasing by 4.1 percent.
Exhibitors increased 3.3 percent, while Professional Attendance, which could have been influenced by the severe weather, still rose a relatively strong 3.7 percent.
The industries that saw the most growth were Building, Construction, Home & Repair and Government, both of which had seen particularly challenging times in the past few years.
"We are very encouraged to see that the exhibition industry is continuing its upward climb. While industry growth has been moderate, the strong performance of Q1 is certainly offering positive indicators for the near future," said CEIR President and CEO Brian Casey, CEM.
He added, "After two challenging recessions, it's wonderful to see this kind of performance despite the impact of weather."
Click here for information on how to purchase the complete CEIR Index Report, which analyzes the 2014 exhibition industry and provides a future outlook for the next three years.
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Because we are family-owned and can operate on narrower margins, we are able to offer the best in value and service in our stores, and you have our assurance you purchase through a company that stands behind its product. We've got the largest supply of mattresses on hand at our Vacaville store and we've been in the same location and in Vacaville longer than any other mattress sellers!
If you ever have problems or questions, you'll know where to find us. We've been around since 1991, and we are not going to vanish when you need us.


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Pictures are too blurry to be commented upon.
Kindly post bit clear view snaps.
Do you have only one discus in your tank?
Can see one pleco as its tankmate.
Tell us more about food, water-changes etc.
would not allow the others to eat at all , so ended up loosing them all. what do i do ??
I lived in margoa few years ago.
Coming back to the tank, I would suggest you to move the pleco out and the sand too. Use a bare bottom tank for better maintainance and to grow out your Discus.
please have the discus shifted to another tank let him grow big.


Greg Gianforte has 68 videos in the C-SPAN Video Library; the first appearance was a 2016 Debate as a Gubernatorial Candidate. The year with the most videos was 2018 with 35 videos. Most common tags: Montana, Election 2018.
* The first paragraph of this page uses material from the Wikipedia article 'Greg Gianforte', which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Footnotes and parentheticals have been removed.


text:
SONNY THURNALL
In March of 1962 a country music sensation began. As a Kindergartener, Sonny Thurnall began his music career performing for his class. He learned to play the drums in 7th grade and went on to represent his high school in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA). ISSMA offered performance opportunities for students where Sonny helped his high school earn 36 medals, 12 plaques and 13 trophies. After graduation, Sonny became a backup drummer for Johnny Paycheck and The Roadhouse Band in Mississippi. Much later he returned to his hometown of Danville, Indiana where he started performing as a vocal artist to full houses at local venues in the Indianapolis area.
From there Sonny went on to sing with multiple bands throughout the US.
He also performed for weddings, anniversaries, holidays and gatherings.
Sonny has won 3 national Karaoke championships.
In 2015, Sonny took 2nd place performing at a Showcase Indy contest. Sonny then performed as a country music headliner for Showcase Indy, selling out all his shows in the 2015-2016 tour.
After the tour completed Sonny concentrated on releasing his first single
IF IT AIN'T COUNTRY. The song made its debut in the United States and Internationally in 2016. Sonny has fans from 170 International countries as well as all over the United States.
In 2016, Sonny made a debut with "If it Ain't Country." In the time since Sonny has become known in over 170 international countries as well as in the United States.
In September of 2017, Sonny recorded his first album, HELL TO PAY in Nashville. For the album he had the honor of working with great musicians, Brian Nutter, Dow Thomlin, Doug Grieves, Gary Sadkar, Andy Hull and Jim Marchuk.
Sonny worked with great producer Gary Sadkar. He recorded If it Ain't Country at CTM Studios on Music Row. It was mixed and mastered by Mark Mosley. He recorded Hell to Pay album at Cupid Studios in Nashville.
County Q mixed and mastered the engineering on this album.
2018 has been a busy year for Sonny.
February 2018 was a very big month for Sonny. Sonny performed at the Country Radio Seminar being held in Nashville on February 5-7th. As one of the Country Music debuting new artist, he met radio programmers and DJ's and performing a few of his songs from his new album for them. On February 22nd, Sonny was at the Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville for a celebration of his album HELL TO PAY release. His first single ALCOHOLIDAY climbed to number 20 on the UK Hot Disc Top 40 Charts and remained on the chart for 18 weeks. His second single STUPID MONEY released in March is at Number 17 and was on the charts for 16 weeks. Both can be heard on CMR Nashville out of UK.
In Sept and Oct Sonny recorded a song and video called "Lady in the Moon." As well as Stomp On. Sonny recorded with Susie Marshall and Spike jones. Spike worked with Prince along with many other top artists.
Sonny has 2 hits on the charts. Sonny just released his next single, "Lady In the Moon" that is being promoted by Cardinal Records.
November 2018 Sonny Signed with Nashville Entertainment Record Label.
Sonny is anticipating in February he will release his 4th, Stomp On.
Sonny received some very sensational news, Lady In the Moon debut at #34 on the HotDisc Charts Nov.11,2018.
Sonny Reach #9 on HotDisc Christmas chart in Nov. 2018 and #30 on Dec. 1st.
Sonny will be releasing his first single in America. That will give him 4 top 20 hits in the UK at that time {we are hoping}. As he introduced on Music Row along with all radio stations that report to music row charts.
Sonny can be heard on the Radio in Texas and soon to be everywhere. You can also see his videos along with other recordings on YouTube, Vimeo, and Amazon.
What a blessing that I work with around 23 different staff now, some daily. All doing something to get me to the real music world. They are all around the world. With their help, my shows, novelties and CD sales, it will soon pay off, when Sonny's music is heard in America
Sonny will always say, "It is always about the fun for me and entertaining. Giving people something to go home with other than just a show. Give them something to talk about, to remember. Let them leave knowing they will come back to see me again." "I am a musician. I am a singer. But I will always be just Sonny Thurnall from Danville, Indiana…. a farmer's son"


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Q: Do these sentences make sense? I want to know these sentences below make sense.
And what part of the sentence is wrong.

*

*The senator urged a tax cut.

*The senator urged for the tax cut.

*The senator urged against the tax cut.

*I urged him to turn to Christ and commit his life to him.

A: When "urge" is used as a transitive verb, the object is usually a person that you are trying to persuade.
Your 4th sentence is a good example of this: "him" is the object of the transitive verb, and the prepositional phrase in the rest of the sentence describes what you are persuading him to do.
Your 1st sentence is incorrect, because the object (tax cut) is not a person you are trying to persuade. Your 2nd sentence is the correct way to fix the 1st sentence if there is no object. You could include an object as follows:

The senator urged his colleagues to approve the tax cut.

The 2nd and 3rd sentences are correct uses of "urge" as an intransitive verb. The prepositional phrases after "urge" describe the matters that the senator is pushing for/against.


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Session 2J
Home, Sweet Home: Ecological and Evolutionary Factors Influencing Organismal Performance and Species' Distributions
Moderated by Janneke Hille Ris Lambers
3:30 PM to 5:15 PM | Moderated by Janneke Hille Ris Lambers
Add to my favorites Assessment of the Intestinal Parasite Burden of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) in South Puget Sound
Sarah Michelle Colosimo, Senior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences Mary Gates Scholar
Marine mammals are federally-protected species of interest, however their parasites are vastly unexamined. A lack of data regarding this host-parasite relationship hinders the understanding of ecosystem interactions, which poses consequences for successful conservation and management of marine mammals. To better understand the impacts of parasites on their marine mammal hosts, my research assessed the intestinal parasite burden of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) in south Puget Sound. Harbor seal scats were collected under permit from the Commencement Bay floating dock haul-out site each month during and after the pupping timeframe. Non-invasive fecal floatation methods were used on scats to quantify the abundance and diversity of parasites from July 2017 to February 2018. An increase in prevalence of parasites within the population is expected following the weaning of seal pups as they begin feeding on invertebrates and fish implicated in parasite lifecycles. This research establishes baseline data on the intestinal parasite assemblage of Pacific harbor seals within Puget Sound, and the data will later be used in conjunction with molecular diet analysis to deduce the source of parasitic infection. My research can be used to assist with conservation efforts of harbor seals and can be broadly applied to other marine mammals within and outside of Puget Sound, serving as an example for future studies that consider the relationship between marine mammal hosts and their parasites.
Add to my favorites In situ Effects of Variable pH on Bivalve Shell Integrity in Puget Sound, WA
Abigail Ames, Senior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, Oceanography Mary Gates Scholar, Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Awardee
Jacqueline Padilla-Gamino, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
Lindsay Alma, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
Puget Sound is renowned for its biological productivity, but seasonal upwelling feeds this system with waters rich in dissolved CO2 and consequentially accelerates the acidification of these ecosystems. In this region, aquaculture of bivalves has important economic and cultural roles that are threatened by ongoing changes in climate and water chemistry. For mussels and oysters, shell strength and integrity are the first defense in combating biotic and abiotic stressors but exposure to low pH can drastically weaken calcium carbonate shells. This study examined the effects of variable pH on the shell strength of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida. M. galloprovincialis and O. lurida were attached to ORCA buoys at three sites in Puget Sound, at either 5m or 20m depth on the buoy tether for three months. This spatial diversity exposed the bivalves to naturally occurring variations in pH which were continuously measured in situ by the ORCA buoys. The resulting shell strength was measured using an Instron Universal Testing Machine by puncturing a small hole in each shell. These results were evaluated using a two-way ANOVA between sites and depths. We expected that both species will have much weaker shells at deeper depths where pH is generally lower. This study can provide physiological thresholds of economically and ecologically important species under current and future oceanographic conditions.
Add to my favorites Intertidal Murder Mystery: The Case of the Juvenile Manila Clam
Abigail Ilene Moosmiller, Junior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences Mary Gates Scholar
Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, are a widely used species in Washington shellfish aquaculture. Juveniles in particular have high mortality rates due in part to predation, but the extent of this predation is unknown. This study investigates the prey size range and preference shown by the crabs Hemigrapsus nudus, Metacarcinus gracilis, Cancer productus, and Romaleon antennarium when preying on R. philippinarum. To test if crabs prefer to prey on larger clams due to their higher food content, we placed crabs and clams together in microcosms and measured mortality rates of the clams. It was found that all crabs could eat all tested clam sizes. Cancrid crabs preferred to eat larger clams; R. antennarium ate the most clams. In contrast, H. nudus had no preference for a particular clam size. Based on these results, countermeasures against juvenile Manila predation should have a special focus on cancrid crabs, and further research on the reasons behind the trend of cancrid preference for larger juveniles should be considered.
Add to my favorites Interannual Variations in Marine Bird Communities of the San Juan Channel in Relation to Climate Patterns
Rachael Helen (Rachael) Cumberland, Senior, Biology (Physiology) Mary Gates Scholar
Rebecca Guenther, Friday Harbor Laboratories
Within the complex San Juan Channel (SJC) ecosystem, marine birds play a fundamental and dynamic role. Due to their interactions with several trophic levels and climatic factors, seabirds are important indicators of environmental health. Their necessity to be monitored is further compounded by the fact that the SJC has recently experienced abnormal sea surface temperatures and conditions due to the Marine Heat Wave in 2013 – 2016. Thus, our goal was to monitor how the marine bird communities have been impacted by these climatic changes. We first characterized the Fall of 2017 by collecting survey data on community composition and temporal and spatial densities. Then, we contextualized 2017 within the past 10 years of survey data. In order to highlight the specific species that have large influences on the overall bird density, we focused on 5 main species: the Glaucous-winged Gull, Brandt's + Pelagic Cormorant, Common Murre, Surf + White winged Scoter, and Pacific Loon. We found that 2017 had the lowest total bird density in the past decade, as well as a complex mixture of temporal and spatial trends from previous study years. Additionally, we were able to highlight the significant connections between marine birds and three climatic indices - North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), and Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Our findings indicate that these communities are impacted by both local and global water and air conditions. However, many of the migratory birds, such as Common Murres, are perhaps impacted greater by changes in their remote habitats, such as their breeding grounds and migratory routes. Additionally, Common Murres proved to be a main driving species behind annual density trends, even frequently masking other more minute density trends in less abundant birds. Further research is needed to understand the relationships between species-specific densities and other climatic patterns.
Other Friday Harbor Laboratories mentored projects (4)
Add to my favorites Drawing the Line Between Success and Failure: How Environment Determines Tree Germination
Cole Dean Lysgaard, Senior, Biology (Plant) Mary Gates Scholar
Janneke Hillerislambers, Biology
A seed's successful transition to a seedling depends on the suitability of the surrounding environment. All plants need water, sunlight, favorable temperatures, and soil nutrients to survive. On top of these essentials, interactions with other organisms through competition, herbivory, or disease may also have an impact. The goal of this study is to assess which factors influence tree germination in Washington's temperate forests. Are there essentials without which seeds fail to complete the pivotal transition between embryo and tree? This question was explored using data collected since 2014 in a 25.6 hectare plot located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (WA). The dominant trees here, including Western hemlock and Douglas fir, were the focus species of this study. Forty seed traps distributed throughout the plot collected falling tree seeds so that they could later be identified to species and counted in the lab. Germinants and seedlings were recorded within a square meter adjacent to each seed trap, along with environmental factors such as soil moisture and sun exposure. Regression analyses were used to assess whether germination rates (the proportion of seeds that successfully germinated) were influenced by environmental factors, other organisms, seed densities, or year. While analyses and data collection are ongoing, results thus far indicate a negligible role for soil moisture and sunlight in germination. On the other hand, the presence of other vegetation decreased germination, while the presence of nurse logs increased it. Germination is an important and delicate life stage for every tree, and through their influence on it environmental factors may shape the species composition of these communities. Identifying relevant factors may also provide some ability to anticipate how these trees will respond to the warmer and drier conditions expected to define climate change in the Pacific Northwest.
Other students mentored by Janneke Hillerislambers (2)
Add to my favorites Factors Influencing Epiphyte Distributions in Temperate Rainforests
Laura (McKinley) Nevins, Senior, Biology, University of Puget Sound
Carrie Woods, Biology, University of Puget Sound
Non-vascular epiphytes have been determined to grow in a non-random distribution in the canopies of Acer macrophyllum in the Hoh Rainforest, Washington. Nitrogen (N) source has been suggested as a potention driver of the distribution, and stable isotopic analyses were used to consider the influence of this factor. Three epiphyte species, the lycophyte Selaginella oregana, and bryophytes Rhytidiadelphus loreus, and Neckera douglasii, and four trunk dwelling species, Selaginella oregana, and the bryophytes Hypnum subimponens, Leucolepis acanthoneuron, and Metaneckera menziesii, were selected for analyses on the basis of their distribution on five host trees. Samples of plant tissues, as well as canopy and trunk soil were analyzed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry to identify the N source of each species. N source varied significantly by species and growing location. δ15N values of all bryophyte species confirmed an atmospheric N source. Results for the lycophyte S. oregana varied significantly in response to its relationship with R. loreus, which grows above it in mats in the inner canopy. Selaginella oregana appears to use canopy soil N in the presence of R. loreus, and atmospheric N in its absence on the trunk. These findings suggest the role of niche partitioning in the coexistence of S. oregana and R. loreus within the canopy, and illustrate the likely ability of S. oregana to vary its N source based on competition for the resource. No study of this kind has been conducted in the Hoh Rainforest to date, and this work highlights the intersection of abiotic and biotic factors in determining epiphyte species distributional patterns in the temperate forest ecosystem.
Other Biology major students (25)
Add to my favorites Elucidating Species Boundaries in the Eviota atriventris Species Complex
Dara Suzanne Yiu, Senior, Biology (General), Aquatic & Fishery Sciences Mary Gates Scholar
Luke Tornabene, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, College of the Environment
The exceptional biodiversity in the Coral Triangle is partially attributed to the elevated rates of evolution that occur in the shallow reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Its current geographical location and complex oceanographic history have facilitated rapid speciation in many lineages of coral reef fishes. The processes causing these unique evolutionary patterns can be closely studied in Eviota (Gobiidae), a widespread lineage of rapidly diverging marine fishes. Their restricted dispersal capabilities, short generation time, and specific habitat preferences have facilitated repeated exploitation of novel niches and thus catalyzed their high species diversity. Here, we examine morphological and genetic diversity in relation to biogeography in the Blackbelly Dwarfgoby, the Eviota atriventris species complex. This study analyses E. atriventris from nine localities across its range spanning the Indo-Australian Archipelago to determine whether recent speciation has occurred at fine scales across the Coral Triangle. Our combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis examines differences in meristic, coloration, morphometrics, and gene sequence data from seven mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Results show strong divergence in mitochondrial DNA sequences in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (eastern) populations, as compared with a western haplotype from Indonesia. This suggests that lineages within E. atriventris are geographically and genetically isolated. However, evidence from nuclear gene sequences show few differences between groups, and morphological data to support the separation of these populations are inconclusive. These similarities imply that eastern and western haplotypes may be in the early stages of speciation. Due to phylogenetic evidence and lack of geographic overlap, these lineages may be considered separate species under some species concepts. This study illustrates challenges in separating and defining species concepts for closely related species with conserved morphology.
Other students mentored by Luke Tornabene (1)
Add to my favorites Thermal Niche Variation among Strawberry Poison Frogs (Oophaga pumilio) in Contrasting Habitats
Juana Maria Rivera Ordonez, Senior, Environmental Science & Resource Management (Wildlife Conservation), Biology (Ecology, Evolution & Conservation)
Justin Nowakowski, Wildlife Science
Anthropogenic habitat modification is one of the most widespread and immediate threats to terrestrial biodiversity. One of the effects of this threat is the alteration of local microclimates, to which ectotherms are particularly sensitive. The shifts in spatial distributions seen following conversion, where some species decline while others persist in these modified habitats, may be in part explained by a change in the thermal conditions. However, understanding how thermal biology may affect species responses to habitat conversion has been addressed by relatively few studies. Here we examined how the change in the thermal conditions may affect the response of the poison frog, Oophaga pumilio to habitat modification by measuring three aspects of its thermal niche: field body temperatures, preferred body temperatures, and upper thermal maxima. We measured body temperatures in the field and behaviorally selected temperatures in the laboratory to determine if individuals in warm, pasture habitats have higher field temperatures and select for higher body temperatures than individuals found in cooler forests. Additionally, we measured upper thermal maxima to determine if individuals from altered habitats exhibit higher tolerances than those in forest remnants. Our results showed that individuals found in altered habitats have higher body temperatures than those in forest and also preferred higher body temperatures on average than those from forest. However, while there was considerable variation among individuals in thermal maxima, we found no significant difference of thermal maxima between individuals from the two distinct habitats. These results suggest that this species may be able to experience acclimation and/or selection on preferred body temperatures as individuals are exposed to novel temperature regimes in altered habitats but may not be able to cope with increasing temperatures if high daytime temperatures frequently approach their upper thermal tolerances.


text:
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The Crisis in Syria: Our Generation's Never Again Moment – Insight into Omar Alshogre's story
Scott Blender
In recent weeks, two guest speakers came to Harriton to share their stories. Stories of horror, pain, survival, and unforgettable experiences were discussed and explicated upon at this discussion.
Mouaz Moustafa and Omar Alshogre revealed their stories of the ongoing crisis in Syria; Omar shared his experience of survival and overcoming abuse, police brutality, and near-death circumstances.
Having learned English only several months ago, Omar retold his horrific experience in prison with great detail and juxtaposition, forcing the audience to put themselves in his experience and relive what he lived through. At the age of 15, Omar participated in political talks and protests, where he was first thrown into prison for his political views against the Syrian Arab Republic.
Later, at the age of 17, Omar was again arrested, along with his cousins, for their political beliefs and peaceful protesting. Descriptions of how they tortured him were given in full length by Omar: how his nails were forcefully removed, how he was tortured and interrogated, and how Syrian police hung him and his cousins to mutilate and electrocute them.
Worst of all, Omar discussed how he was separated from his cousins and relocated across various prisons, until finally arriving at the worst of all, Sednaya, where he remained until his freedom. Living in a 4' by 4' cell, Omar had barely enough space to squat and stand, as he was surrounded by 40-50 other prisoners in one cell. Each day was a battle to survive, and Omar was willing to fight this battle of survival.
Each day he received little to no nourishment, less than a ¼ cup of water, and thus, Alshogre decided to save his rations, trading with others to collect a large stockhold of food. Eventually, he traded and collected enough rations to have a "feast," a feast that met his wildest dreams.
He dreamt about how he would eat and eat and eat and how he would savor every bite of food he took. Little did he know, as he dreamt about his food, his cellmate–one of his closest friends–would eat all of his food. Terrorized by this action, Omar did not know how to react and sought vengeance for this heinous act; he wished for his friend to die and to pay for stealing his food.
Seeing his reaction, prisoners and other friends within his cell donated food to Omar and helped him regain his "fortune."
After a short while, prison guards rounded up Omar and his cellmates for their weekly killing and beating; one "volunteer" had to offer his life in order to save the other prisoners, and in this instance, due to the immense guilt Omar's friend felt from his action, had offered his life to save Omar's and his other cellmates.
After this, Omar realized the true power in friendship and felt remorse and pain for the death of his friend, even though his food was stolen.
Life in Sednaya was brutal, torturous, and merciless. Guards would rape, beat, and abuse detainees in unimaginable ways, tormenting them and ridiculing them in the process. Omar was forced to count and mark dead bodies in the prison as one of his "jobs," where he saw his friends and relatives piled up in rooms where they were beaten and tortured.
Weekly executions were common and most prisoners ate or drank blood with every bite of food or sip of water they took. The horrific tragedies occurring in Sednaya, and prisons like it, were retold by Omar in great detail, mesmerizing the audience how he was still able to stand.
According to Omar, each week he looked forward to a certain event: his weekly beating and torture. According to him, this allowed him to get out of the restrictive space in his cell and freely move and stretch his body. He cherished these moments, which "helped him survive through prison as your body needs motion to survive."
His fellow prisoners also aided in his survival and took care of Omar during his captivity. During his captivity, the rest of his family was killed besides his younger brother and his mother. The remaining survivors of his village fled to Turkey with his mother, who at the time, had connections in Turkey for business.
During his prison experience, Omar suffered from malnutrition and tuberculosis, which made it evidently harder for him to survive. Omar recounted how his tuberculosis actually came to his rescue, when he was threatened by guards to be executed.
His execution was eminent until he proclaimed of how contagious his disease was, allowing enough time for his mother to raise enough money to pay for his freedom. She paid the necessary cost for his bribe and had his younger brother, Ali, rescue him and escort him to Turkey.
He was escorted through Greece and Europe, only to reach the borders of Turkey and be denied entry due to his mother's inability to recognize him. In Malmo, Omar was able to receive hospitalization and was given the necessary treatments he needed for tuberculosis and malnourishment.
Alshogre then moved to Sweden after receiving the medical attention he needed. There, he and his brother adopted the native language and established new lives and futures. Omar was able to attend high school and graduate to receive his diploma as he stayed with a Swedish foster family.
Once he was fully recovered and integrated into Swedish society, Omar visited his mother and reunited with her and his remaining village members and family.
Now, Omar travels around the Nordics and the United States, lecturing at schools, universities, and has hosted TED Talks and other events. His ability to survive, accompanied by his tuberculosis and the help from his fellow cellmates, allowed him to overcome some of the worst situations a seventeen year old could face, and speak out for the crisis ongoing in Syria.
Omar wants people to remain strong and faithful no matter how bleak the circumstances may be and shares his story as means to convey his message of survival.
Thanks to Omar, millions of people are able to learn about the horrific conditions that occur in Sednaya and other Syrian prisons for political prisoners. He is an inspiring young man, and hopes that by sharing his story, he can directly assist in efforts to help the Syrian Civil War.
Omar encourages everyone to write letters of hope; these letters, Omar claims, can let Syrians know that they have our support, that they have companions overseas dedicated to helping their cause.
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The development of the Lunar Lamp began as an exploration into the potential of aluminum foil. The ubiquitous material can be easily manipulated to capture of plethora of textures however I found the most interesting is inherent to the material crumpling. Given the multitude of randomly created facets the surface functions well as a lighting reflector.


Random question that I'm sure will generate some heated debate.
Disregarding software manuals, would there be a reason, other than avoiding leaving a single word on a line, to use a soft return? I write only product manuals (e.g. Insert tab A into slot B for honziwiggle products.) I know that there are benefits to using soft returns for software manuals, but, again, I don't write software manuals. Please help settle this debate.
I'm on digest, so replies to the list and my email would be appreciated.


Left ventricular hypertrophy is 1 of the most frequent cardiac manifestations associated with an unfavorable prognosis. However, many different causes of left ventricular hypertrophy exist. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic value of common electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters to differentiate Fabry disease (FD), amyloidosis, and nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) from hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and aortic stenosis (AS). In 94 patients with newly diagnosed FD (n = 17), HHD (n = 20), amyloidosis (n = 17), AS (n = 20), and HC (n = 20), common ECG parameters were analyzed and tested for their diagnostic value. A stepwise approach including the Sokolow-Lyon index, corrected QT duration, and PQ interval minus P-wave duration in lead II to overcome P-wave abnormalities was applied. A corrected QT duration <440 ms in combination with a PQ interval minus P-wave duration in lead II <40 ms was 100% sensitive and 99% specific for the diagnosis of FD, whereas a corrected QT duration >440 ms and a Sokolow-Lyon index ≤1.5 mV were found to have a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 100%, respectively, for the diagnosis of amyloidosis and differentiation from HC, AS, and HHD. Moreover, a novel index ([PQ interval minus P-wave duration in lead II multiplied by corrected QT duration]/Sokolow-Lyon index) proved to be highly diagnostic for the differentiation of amyloidosis (area under the curve 0.92) and FD (area under the curve 0.91) by receiver operator characteristic analysis. In conclusion, a combined analysis of PQ interval minus P-wave duration in lead II, corrected QT duration, and Sokolow-Lyon index proved highly sensitive and specific in the differentiation of FD, amyloidosis, and HC compared to HHD and AS. Analysis of these easy-to-assess ECG parameters may be of substantial help in the diagnostic workup of these 5 conditions.


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Ian Talmage's experience as a patient and carer has left an indelible mark on his life and his career.
By Lucy Fulford on Jan 7, 2019
When senior pharma leader Ian Talmage had his health, he, like most of us, thought he was "indestructible." But after surviving two cancer diagnoses, as well as caring for his wife through two cancers of her own, he has gained a new-found perspective. This has included a great appreciation for the work his colleagues do every day and a belief that pharma needs to promote overall wellness and not just manage disease.
"I realized that what we do is very personal, because when we're talking about things more substantial than the common cold, we appreciate that our future relies on the work of some very impressive individuals creating something that can target very specific cells to potentially restore your health," he shares.
"I became very aware of how hugely influential and beneficial the pharma Industry is – built on amazing research, translating theory into practice, and practice into products. That was a significant learning, moving from promoting the use of medicines to becoming a beneficiary."
Ian, Senior Advisor Global Strategic Marketing at Bayer Pharma, had long been working in the pharma Industry when, 15 years ago, he was hospitalized with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, requiring colon surgery followed by chemotherapy.
More recently, he had to contend with a second blow to his health. "Sitting in the garden, I suddenly realized that my eyesight wasn't as good as it had been an hour previously," he says. "The following morning, I woke up with double vision, instability and hearing problems and within a couple of days I was diagnosed with a brain tumour."
After undergoing a raft of diagnostic procedures, Ian was admitted to hospital for biopsies, underwent intense chemo, an autologous stem cell transplant and growth hormone treatment. "Again, I benefited from what research scientists had achieved with respect to both diagnostics and therapeutics, helping me get through a second crisis and essentially be here today," he says.
"I learnt a lot through my troubles, understanding what an astonishing group of people I work with – including those in the labs, our Development colleagues, those working to secure access and registration, our manufacturing teams, to the people who enable information about new interventions to be shared with our customers. The different functions all come together to help us get these innovations to patients, and being a part of this industry is something I am very proud of."
His experiences have had a direct effect on his working practice, informing a more open, pragmatic approach towards healthcare communication. "The first thing I tell people when I'm talking marketing is not to surprise either the health professional or the patient.
"The reality I learned was that when I received a drug, if there was a side effect, I would discover it. If it surprised me, it was much harder to handle, but if I was warned, I understood it and could take measures to ease the symptoms. So, in terms of the execution of my job in the communication of the attributes of products, it made me realise that being crystal clear as to both the benefits and side effects enables everybody, from patient to payer to HCP, to understand the net benefit."
This, he says, also enables people grappling with significant diagnoses to make judgements as to whether important pharmaceutical interventions are right for them, if the balance between the effectiveness and the side effects is worth it. "I'm very conscious of the fact that it's critical to build up trust with our different customers. When I think that some 80 per cent of us are likely to be impacted by disease, we're really saying it is people like us that we're communicating with."
Preserving health
It is this 80 per cent that Ian has also become impassioned about pharma helping, through keeping people healthy for longer, rather than just treating disease. "If you look at epidemiological data, the vast majority of us are likely to die of an illness rather than of old age," he says. "We have, as an industry, focused on helping those with ill health – if a person succumbs to something hostile, we try to provide a solution that will enable them to get better. I think, as time has progressed, we are now shifting to preserve good health for as long as possible."
The increasing focus on keeping healthy, going to the gym and wearing health monitors is something he believes pharma must embrace, with collaborative work and pharma-tech partnerships offering the chance to build a truly transformative healthcare system harnessing the best of big data and pharma's inventions. "We need to bring together diagnostics, from watches and monitors, to the major diagnostic equipment like MRIs and CTs, as well as to pharmacological interventions. By bringing these together we will move more certainly toward integrated care and with it deliver on the promise of improved outcomes for patients."
This could resemble the way airline alliances work together for more convenient, comfortable and cost-effective travel. "Our 'One World' could see pharma companies create alliances with diagnostic companies in order to provide a more comprehensive care solution for people, so that we are not just treating patients, but we are looking after people and helping to keep them healthy for as long as possible." he explained.
While acknowledging that pharma firms need to maximize the clinical potential of their products to best support patients, Ian firmly believes this can align with pharma's role as part of the continuum of care, running from prevention to diagnosis and treatment. "Are we going to be relegated to simply developing the innovation, and undertaking the lab work, passing responsibility for supporting the patients to others? Are we going to be waiting for a person to fall ill, or are we going to participate in preserving their health?
"How we want to position ourselves as an industry, is a critical question. We need to get ourselves to the point where we are recognized to be a critical part of the solution. We need people to see the contribution that pharma makes to their lives, and that means getting involved in not just the management of illness, but the maintenance of wellness."
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Cue Jeopardy Theme:
Hussein execution imminent, lawyer says
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Saddam Hussein could be hanged as early as Saturday, one of the former Iraqi dictator's lawyers told CNN on Friday.
"Different sources" said the death sentence would be carried out Saturday morning, defense attorney Najib al-Nuaimi said from Doha, Qatar.
"I think the Americans will accompany him onto the execution stage and I think they will have a pre-recorded film that will be released [Saturday] evening if they carry out the sentence in the day," he said.
Although Mitch, who originally locked in January 2007, moved his pick a bit earlier, to tomorrow as well.
Mark your dead pools for Saturday, 3PM Central time (midnight Baghdad). Here's why; Ronald Reagan and the Pope both passed away moments after the NARN show let off the air. Now, you'd be right in saying that there's no comparing Hussein with either of those two great men, or comparing the natural deaths of two men after long, rich lives to the execution of a genocidal Napoleon. That might well throw my prediction off. But I gotta start somewhere.
My first prediction was a very slightly educated guess. Here, I have tradition on my side.
Whenever it will be, it will be soon, and allow the Iraqi's to move on.
ToonBituaries
On Ford:
and the Godfather (of Soul):
President Gerald Ford; 1913-2006
via CBS:
Gerald R. Ford, who picked up the pieces of Richard Nixon's scandal-shattered White House as the 38th and only unelected president in America's history, has died, his wife, Betty, said Tuesday. He was 93.
"My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age," Mrs. Ford said in a brief statement issued from her husband's office in Rancho Mirage. "His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country."
His presidency was at an awkward time, but he carried the country admirably.
A small bit of trivia, he was the last surviving member of the Warren Commission tasked with the investigation of the John F Kennedy Assassination.
Thank you, President Ford, for your service. May you rest in peace.
Lights Please . . .
Thanks to Buhl, with credit to Charles Shultz. From 'A Charlie Brown Christmas':
"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."
"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
- Linus Van Pelt
Enjoy your Holiday weekend!
Good and/or Evil!
According to Raw Story, Drudge was a little miffed at this picture: Of course, back in the early days, no one seemed to have a problem with these angles:
If You Love Hockey
Just look at this picture:
Whether you like hockey or not, can't you just feel the intensity.
One of many on CNNSI's 'Most Interesting Pictures' of the year.
Lernaean Hydra
Lernaean Hydra from the Wiki:
In Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra was an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast that possessed numerous heads— the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint— and poisonous breath (Hyginus, 30). The Hydra of Lerna was killed by Heracles as one of his Twelve Labours. Its lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid, though archaeology has borne out the myth that the sacred site was older even than the Mycenaean city of Argos, for Lerna was the site of the myth of the Danaids. Beneath the waters was an entrance to the Underworld, and the Hydra was its guardian (Kerenyi 1959, p. 143).
And the one in Iraq:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army has replaced al Qaeda in Iraq as "the most dangerous accelerant" of the sectarian violence plaguing Iraq for nearly a year, according to a Pentagon report.
Attacks by Iraqi insurgents and sectarian militias jumped 22 percent from mid-August to mid-November, and Iraqi civilians suffered the bulk of casualties, according to the quarterly report released on Monday.
The average number of attacks reported each week jumped during that period from nearly 800 to almost 1,000, the report said.
I'm still waiting for someone to play the roll of Heracles.
Over the weekend we heard of Evan Bayh's departure and Sen. Edwards' likely entrance in to the 2008 Presidential sweepstakes.
I have started a new sidebar entry in an attempt to keep track of these contenders. Once a candidate forms an exploratory committee, or states publicly they plan to do so, they will be added to the list. Should they drop out, that will be noted, and they will remain on the list for a brief period of time before they are dropped.
Electoral Vote has already formed a nice compilation of potential candidates, so be sure to stop by and review their take on this crucial race for our country's future.
My Marine is Home!
Well, not home in Minnesota, but on dry land in California where his home is. The Corporal will be hanging out through the holidays until his orders come through. The next stint is looking like a 13 month deploy as a member of the Iraqi' security contingent. Boots on the ground as they say. He is also talking about being a member of the 'Bomb Squad'.
I am making a few changes with my career in the Marine Corps. I am making a move into the EOD field (explosive ordnance disposal). I'll be on the bomb squad! Yeah!
Talk about a parental buzz kill.
But for now he is safe and sound. I can't worry just yet about that which I can't control.
As always, I'll keep ya posted.
Getting It!
Since the war in Iraq began, the military's objective has been self governance and self security by the Iraqi people. In order to achieve this goal, training of local forces, and redevelopment of damaged infrastructure needed to take place. But one area that has gone unreported by the media, but not unnoticed by the local resurgency, is the need for economic stability, and jobs, jobs, jobs. Seems the resistance knows this, and the military planners do not:
A suicide bomber targeting laborers killed 71 people Tuesday in Baghdad and wounded 220, Iraqi officials said.
A pickup truck loaded with about 440 pounds of explosives pulled into central Baghdad's Tayaran Square as hundreds of unemployed Iraqis holding picks and shovels gathered seeking a day's work.
The truck driver signaled that he had jobs -- prompting people to crowd around the pickup before he detonated his bomb, said an Iraqi Interior Ministry official.
Commenter Steve shared more with me recently:
The "new" issue of the day I see is get some factories going over here to put people to work. I surmised years ago that when people are unemployed they sit around thinking how terrible their lives are and they are moved to acts of violence. It happens over and over in places like the Balkans, Iraq, and even in the US. Simply put: people that are employed don't have the time nor do they have the inclination to take up arms and fight. Seems like a no brainer to me, but we haven't put that into practice much.
Disgruntled and idle Iraqi citizens can easily be moved by the terrorist recruitment system. There is no doubt that Security is key to making the employment opportunities more readily available, and I must believe that training is ongoing. But we need to put the citizens to work, to keep them busy, and have them feel success. Steve now believes the military powers are 'Getting it":
The Iraq news today seems to be one of finally "getting it" and one of re-trenchment. The "getting it" is that the powers that be have finally realized that when there's 70% unemployment, all those out of work people are a ready-made breeding ground of insurgents. So now we're finally going to concentrate on helping to rebuild the Iraqi economy so people can work. It never ceases to amaze me that they come to this "realization" when the facts of the issue have been identified throughout history. If the folks living in depressed areas of MN/USA had full employment, good education and a glimmer of hope for their future, would they participate in gangs, crime and drugs? Certainly not in the numbers they are now. Our society tosses these people under the bus then can't understand why they live the way they do. Amazing. Over here in Iraq we put all the former Government employees out of work, fired the soldiers and police, didn't create new jobs and wonder why they fight us.
We will need to see a brief up tick in forces to restabilize and secure economic centers and work more diligently in getting the Iraqis back to work. As more and more of them feel success and see the potential future that is available to them, the recruitment ability of the terrors cells will be effected. Violence could very well subside, and the need for the larger security forces, specifically international one, may diminish.
In my teaser post, a comment states:
Damn few leaders were talking about true reconstruction as part of our "winning strategy". Despite many billions simply vanishing, it's taken all of our resources to start fixing Iraqi basic infrastructure that has crumbled under years of war and UN sanctions. The sad thing is that investors need security to start putting up factories...and security is almost impossible to find. Especially, as pointed out above, in the middle of a widening civil war.
I fear, once again, we started too little, too late, and with the wrong priorities.
I'm not convinced it is too late, and if the military planners start finally 'getting it' there is hope they can work towards rebuilding the economic infrastructure as well as the security infrastructure. But I will agree the clock is running out, and if there is going to be a chance at success in Iraq, things need to start happening pretty quickly.
Busy Busy!
Things have been hectic both at work and home. I can't even blame the holidays.
I am working on a post regarding Iraq, and why we have seen violence at job centers recently. Not only is the Iraqi and coalition forces recognizing the importance of a strong employment system, but the resurgents recognize how that will impact their recruitment ability. More on that as I cull through my material.
We Three Kings?!?
Watchya Cooking?
Was he getting ready for some Holiday Cheer (Strib):
The case of the self-described engineer and his fermenting corn is headed to the county attorney.
"In my 18 years, I don't think I've ever even seen a still, except on the 'Beverly Hillbillies,' " said Maplewood Police Lt. Dave Kvam, who raided the apartment Friday.
Police have more questions than answers because they haven't yet talked to the apartment dweller about the still and fermenting corn. He didn't appear to be home Monday.
Kvam said he will forward the case to the Ramsey County attorney's office later this week for possible prosecution. In Minnesota, an unauthorized still is prima facie evidence of illegal alcohol production.
Kvam said it's possible, though unlikely, that the man has a federal license to produce ethanol, which is essentially the same as moonshine. It also seems unlikely that such a license would be granted for operation in an apartment, he said.
Come on, if you can brew some beer, why not a little shine for a bump now and then. *laughing*
Say it Ain't So, Dennis!
MNPublius shares:
Kucinich To Announce '08 Presidential Run Tomorrow
There was obviously going to be a peacnik candidate, but Kucinich, again. Isn't there someone, anyone else out there to represent the Left of Wellstone Democrats.
The Dems have a chance to win the White House, I hope they are careful to not blow this chance by failing to realize what the electorate wants. The vast majority want a redeployment and change of course in Iraq. I don't think they want to evolve into a pacifist nation, though.
Cry Me a River!
Rudolph is whining:
Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph laments in a series of letters to a newspaper that the maximum-security federal prison where he is spending the rest of his life is designed to drive him insane.
"It is a closed-off world designed to isolate inmates from social and environmental stimuli, with the ultimate purpose of causing mental illness and chronic physical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis," he wrote in one letter to The Gazette of Colorado Springs.
Rudolph wrote that he spends 23 hours a day in his 7-by-12-foot cell, his only exercise confined to an enclosed area he described as a "large empty swimming pool" divided into "dog-kennel style cages."
"Using solitary confinement, Supermax is designed to inflict as much misery and pain as is constitutionally permissible," he wrote in a letter.
So is he expecting to be treated better than his victims. Seems to me he already is, so as Ann Landers would say " Quit yer Beefin' "
One of the main premises behind these Super Maxs is to isolate these notorious killers and have them wallow in solitude. I am a little concerned that the Gazette would give him any print at all, and embarrassed for myself for even bringing it up. Oh well.
Last word from me on Rudolph. What a whiner!
Remember The Rule of Threes
Living in the frozen Tundra of Minnesota, we know cold well. But for those of us following the events in the Pacific Northwest over the last few days, we have a new perspective. While his wife and kids were rescued a couple days ago, James Kim was not so lucky (watch the CNET tribute). Feeling the reality of their seclusion, Kim felt the need to venture out, and seek help. Many of us 'dads' probably would have done the same thing, considering the patience already displayed by the family. However, sometimes the survival instinct still rooted in our primordial minds overrules the actions an arm chair quarterback, with hindsight, might have taken.
Rick Sanchez, on Anderson Cooper's 360 Blog, shares:
Probably every one of us who has seen the tragic story out of Oregon has wondered what they would do if faced with same situation as James Kim and his family. I'm no different.
I've discussed it with my colleagues. I've discussed it with my wife. So now I'm heading into the Rocky Mountains to find out what it is really like to be in the kinds of unbelievable conditions James and his family faced -- the freezing cold, the snow, the wilderness.
I may be a day or two behind in commenting on this tragedy, but it was the Rule of Threes that Rick pointed at that seemed like advice we should all be aware of:
1. You can survive for three hours without shelter
2. You can survive for three days without water
3. You can survive for three weeks without food
And now I know where the priorities should be:
If you have to make a choice between food, water and shelter from the cold, then shelter wins out in a big way.
Remember the rule of threes!
You can read the almost 3000 'thoughts and condolences' to the Kim family here, and leave your own if you choose.
McCain Picking a Dirty Fight?
McCain makes some moves:
According to a source close to the McCain operation, the candidate has lined up Terry Nelson to serve as campaign manager (if a formal bid is announced), and Republican National Committee Communications Director Brian Jones has committed to lead the press effort for a national bid.
Who is this Nelson guy:
Nelson, along with Karl Rove protegé Scott Howell, produced a controversial ad in Tennessee's 2006 U.S. Senate race between Democrat Harold Ford, Jr. and Republican Bob Corker in which a white woman seductively invites an "off-camera" Ford to call her.
Oh, and there's more:
He was supervisor over James Tobin, the convicted New Hampshire GOP operative who schemed to jam Democratic phone lines in the 2002 election season.
McCain could loose me if this is how he starts his campaign. Going negative out of the box is a sign, to me, that even the candidate feels they couldn't win on their own merits. I struggle to find a scenario where I could support a Hillary Candidacy, if nominated, but the Republican's are obviously set on creating just the right set of circumstances.
The electorate is moderating, and many of us are a bit fed up with the dirty pool in politics. Isn't it a bit early to disenfranchise us?
Test Matchups
Rasmussen grocery lists a variety of General Election Match ups:
Clinton (D) 46% Giuliani (R) 46%
McCain (R) 48% Clinton (D) 43%
Giuliani (R) 50% Edwards (D) 41%
McCain (R) 47% Edwards (D) 43%
Giuliani (R) 47% Gore (D) 44%
McCain (R) 48% Gore (D) 41%
Giuliani (R) 48% Obama (D) 39%
McCain (R) 47% Obama (D) 39%
Edwards (D) 51% Romney (R) 34%
Obama (D) 48% Romney (R) 33%
Edwards (D) 50% Huckabee (R) 33%
Obama (D) 50% Huckabee (R) 31%
McCain (R) 49% Vilsack (D) 32%
Vilsack (D) 39% Romney (R) 35%
What's interesting, is that even though McCain is in a great postion to hold off Hillary, the GOP doesn't want him:
As expected, McCain struggles with conservatives. Among conservative voters, the Arizona Senator is essentially even with Gingrich, far behind Giuliani.
However, the other RINO, Giuliani, has surged past Hillary in recent polling:
While there has been no change in the McCain-Clinton match-up, Rudy Giuliani (R) has opened a five-point lead over Clinton, 48% to 43%. In the previous survey these New York politicos were tied at 46%.
So my Right Wing readers, could you plug your nose and vote for one of these RINOs, or do you have something else up your sleeve to attract a more conservative candidate, giving the Dems a better shoot at returning to the White House. What a dilemma you are in. Stick to your values and lose, or compromise them and have a shot.
ISG:The Way Forward: A New Approach
The bipartisan 'Iraq Study Group' has released its report. Just a year ago it may have been called 'cut and run', but today, I would call it common sense. Some details via CNN:
"It's clear the Iraqi government will need U.S. assistance for some time to come, especially in carrying out new security responsibilities. Yet the U.S. must not make open-ended commitments to keep large numbers of troops deployed in Iraq."
Other items of significance:
-- move most U.S. troops out of combat roles by early 2008 transitioning into more of a supporting roll
-- encourages the administration to explore fresh diplomatic options to solve the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
-- recommends direct talks between the United States and Iran, as well as Syria. The President has been chilly to this idea.
-- "Iraq's neighbors and key states in and outside the region should form a support group" to help Iraq achieve long-term security and political reconciliation -- "neither of which it can sustain on its own,"
The report concludes with comments addressing the new majority in congress, and the potential conflicts that will exists with a President of another party:
"What we recommend demands a tremendous amount of political will and cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government," the report says. "Success depends on unity of the American people at a time of political polarization."
The report concludes: "Foreign policy is doomed to failure -- as is any action in Iraq -- if not supported by broad, sustained consensus."
There are other reports out there, and I am sure the polipundits will cherry pick what they want to believe out of the report that supports their predetermined conclusions. But the bipartisan ISG, co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Democratic Rep. Lee Hamilton, just may have the most credibility.
A PDF of the report will be available at their website during this morning's 10:00 AM CST Press conference. Some reading material for my lunch break.
Making Nice!
See, Pelosi isn't the Wicked Witch of the West she is made out to be. Via Roll Call, RawStory shares this nugget:
In what is described as a "random act of bipartisan kindness," incoming Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has reportedly offered her Republican predecessor Dennis Hastert prized office space during the 110th Congress, according to a report in today's Roll Call.
The article in the "Heard on the Hill" gossip column by Mary Ann Akers suggests that Pelosi will not house the controversial former Speaker of the House in a less desirable space. While he loses the office with a balcony he has occupied, Hastert will take over the coveted office of the outgoing Republican chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, who is retiring at the end of the 109th Congress.
The office provides a favored view of the National Mall. Roll Call also presents the possibility that the move could result in some controversy among House Democrats.
So either this is a sincere gesture to promote bipartisanship, or a reminder of the old adage; 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!'
Bolton Bolting!
Faced with an unfriendly congress, and unrealistic confirmation chances, John Bolton will resign:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unable to win Senate confirmation, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his temporary appointment expires within weeks, the White House said Monday.
Bolton's nomination has languished in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than a year, blocked by Democrats and several Republicans. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Republican who lost in the midterm elections November 7 that swept Democrats to power in both houses of Congress, was adamantly opposed to Bolton.
Critics have questioned Bolton's brusque style and whether he could be an effective public servant who could help bring reform to the U.N.
A Civil War?
My favorite in a bunch of on topic 'toons at Cagle. Even our own Strib drawer was in the mix.
More on Iraq
Commenter Steve who was in country had some more analysis on the Doctor's Iraq post.
Actually serving over here in Iraq I can tell you that much of what was written by the doctor is true. We could go on for hours about how we win wars only to lose the peace, and why that happens time and again. We keep electing incumbents and the even the same "types" of people over and over yet we expect different outcomes. Having been "in country" for almost a year now, and working alongside Iraqis, I can tell you that we can not even begin to understand the people of the Middle East. Our experience of Democracy is not what they can or will ever understand. We have to shift our thoughts and see things through their prism.
and some agreement with disbanding the Army int he early days.
We committed a grave error by invading in the first place, by disbanding the Iraqi security forces (Army and Police), and by tossing out all the government officials who knew how to make things work. And of course we didn't have any clue about how to win the peace. This was supposed to be a "revolution" that sprang up from our ground assault. Revolutions only work when they come from the grass roots, not from an outside source. Outside armies like the French came in after we had already won our Revolutionary War. After the way we acted in Gulf War I (with Prez Bush I) who could blame the Iraqis for not trusting us to help them toss out Saddam? Thousands died believing America's assurance of support in 1991. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
You may have read the post, but be sure to read the comment thread as well.
Bird Huntin'
The Doctor and I went back to Iowa for another round of pheasant stalking. Saw more deer than birds on Saturday, which doesn't mean we didn't see many birds. Just that we saw a lot of Deer.
I didn't even fire my gun on Saturday. Clive was successful later in the afternoon and dropped his first bird of the season. Sunday was a bit colder, but we were determined. Than it happened in a flurry with a flush. I lowered my gun and beaded on the nice size rooster. BAM! One shot and it dropped like a rock. Below is a pic with the fantastic habitat we hunted in the background.
That was probably my last trip of the year. Doc will be down for family events over the holidays, so he gets one more shot at 'em.