Love,Love, Love these notes. Another very proud moment for the team and Platinum.
From start to finish, Jeanette and her team provided exceptional service. Our realtor highly recommended Platinum Estate Sale to handle our moving sale and we feel so fortunate that we had the opportunity to work with this team. They were professional from the very first phone contact and provided detailed information on the entire process. We started out as acquaintances but ended up becoming friends and trusted this team of devoted workers to the very end. In fact, we left for our out of state move and left Jeanette in charge of meeting the movers for items that needed to be picked up. If you are looking for a reliable estate sale team, look no further, Platinum Estate Sale is the one.
When I decided to have an Estate Sale I took a recommendation from a friend. The recommendation was to use Jeanette, the owner of Platinum Estate Sales of Distinction.
My friend is very particular so I didn't bother to even call another company, I knew I was in good hands. I am so happy that I used Jeanette.
I cannot say enough about how the process went. We went out of town for a few weeks while Jeanette and her crew did their magic. I came back to a home that was beautifully staged and set up for a sale. I didn't really realize how much hard work goes into these sales. When you use Jeanette's services, all the work I saw happening justifies using an Estate sale company. I could have never done this myself. I have a big home and the time, thought and care that went into this was so greatly appreciated.
Jeanette's crew is equally as polite and fun to work with. While I am happy to move on to the next adventure in our lives, we spent so much time with all of them my husband and I will miss them.
We wanted to thank you for the fantastic job that you and your wonderful crew did on our estate sale! We will certainly recommend Platinum Estate Sales to anyone who needs to clean out their home.
I recommend, without hesitation, Platinum Estate Sales of Distinction (Jeanette McBeth) for handling everything related to selling items from an estate as well as preparing the house for the sale of the house.
Earlier this year a bachelor cousin of mine passed away and I offered to handle his estate. To say the least, his house was in disarray, with probably 50 years of antiques and his stained glass studio (he was a stained glass artist.) Jeanette and her crew took several days to prepare everything for the sale and I was amazed at everything she found hidden in boxes and attics, the way it was laid out for the sale and the research she conducted to price each item.
Her database of potential shoppers was amazing. The three day sale was professional with people lined up hours before the opening. The net proceeds we received exceeded our expectations.
Her crew also cleaned the house after the sale (3 roll-off boxes needed!) Her crew are both hard working, polite and thorough.
I recommend that you have Platinum handle any estate sale. It is much better to have experienced professionals manage it!
Michael was at our Batavia condo this morning and removed our big and heavy platform bed. He did a great job and we were so pleased to have his help. He is also a great guy with a fun personality.
We are very thankful to you and your associates this Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holiday!
I attended your estate sale in Inverness yesterday (Saturday). I also have to say that I was very impressed with how the sale was run and with the pricing of the items in the sale. I truly wish I would have known about your company when we cleared out out parents' house 8 years ago.
Our home recently sold and we were faced with having to move after 24 years in a months time. This allowed very little time to find a place to live not to mention clear a 5000 sq. ft. home of all its belongings. We found Platinum Estate Sales of Distinction to be the perfect solution to this overwhelming task.
I have to admit that when we met with Jeanette the owner and she told us they have a solid history of selling 95% of contents we were a bit skeptical. Well...... we were pleasantly surprised, because they did exactly that. In addition we had to do nothing. Jeanette and her staff came in and handled everything from set up, sale, and delivery of the items purchased seeing they went out the door with no damage to our home.
Jeanette had the home very well staffed during the sale to protect the home and it contents. We had several neighbors drop by the sale that have plans of downsizing to see what kind of company draws this many people to a estate sale.
We would recommend this company to anyone downsizing or needing to clear a home.
You are a true delight. Not only did you sell 95% of the contents of my home in Geneva, you also left it spotlessly clean. Along with all of that, the contact you gave to me lead to the sale of my home and closing inside of one week. Highly recommended, have any interested person contact me.
Just a short note to let others looking for exceptional estate sale services to give you a call!
You are the absolute best! My brother and I thank you for all of the kindness, compassion and care with handling our parents items. It means the world to our family anyone can conduct a sale these days; it takes a special person to do it such care & compassion. Feel free to use our family for a referral anytime.
WOW! my wife and I were most impressed with your services. We were in such a difficult situation as are many other families, yet, you took care of it all for us. We have since re-located and are much more comfortable and looking forward to our new lives.
My family and I wish to send you a huge THANK-YOU for all you have done for our family. Please use me for a high recommendation anytime.
Thank you so much, we thought we found all of our Aunt's treasures hidden away yet who would have thought to look there for more cash! Your honesty and professionalism made a huge difference in our sale. You and your team treated her items with such respect & dignity, this meant so much to our family. You are so caring and give such a personal touch to the sales you conduct, we searched other companies before hiring you and are most pleased, we would recommend you to all. Please feel free to use us for a reference.
Wow, is the 1st word that comes to mind. My bother and I could not believe the entire contents sold, it's amazing! Your compassion and advice were most valuable. Doing this from another State was proving difficult - until we met you, you gave us the confidence to go ahead with the sale after over a year of deliberation, thank you again.
My family and I wish to thank you for the wonderful job you and your team performed at our estate. You went above and beyond the "normal" estate sale. Staging and selling in March for the realtor, (the home was terribly cluttered), assisting our family in finding movers and packing for the movers, assisting the family in furniture placement in the new home, and finally... conducting the final sale of our belongings! Everything was beyond our imaginations, the sales were so conducted so professionally and we found little to no interruption in our daily lives as this went on. It must have been difficult to work around our schedules yet, you managed to make us all happy. Thank you and my best to you and your family, please feel free to use us as a reference at any time.
I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Such a difficult time for me, foreclosure, divorce and moving, what a time it was. I wanted to send a note for you to post on your site so everyone knows what a wonderful person you are and how much time & effort you put into your sales! Highly recommended.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, the home looks wonderful. It seems like yesterday our family could not imagine clearing out the contents of our parents home and then we met you. Not only did you produce a most profitable sale you and your team did a fantastic job clearing out the home and leaving it ready for the Realtor. The home sold quickly and now we can get on with our lives. Such a struggle losing parents yet, you made it an easy transition. We cannot thank you enough for all you did.
What a pleasure you are to deal with and your team... absolute sweethearts. Conducting this sale was difficult, a hoarders home at best! We cannot thank you enough for taking such great care of the home and it's contents, the profits will allow our family to keep our father in a quality home for many more years.


Install webroot without disc is now possible due to cloud technology. Webroot is a computer security software program for Microsoft Windows users that combine software as a service cloud protection with traditional Antivirus and anti-spyware desktop technologies. Built into the suite is a two-way firewall, a registry cleaner, Email anti-spam, secure browsing, anti-phishing and a password management service. The suite was initially released on July 26, 2010, as the 2011 version of the product.
Services one can get during Install webroot without disc .
User Guide for Install webroot without a disc.
How can I install webroot without a disc in my devices?
For easy install, Mac users need to open www.webroot.com/safe on a browser(Safari) and Download Webroot Secure Anywhere Installer.


This site is for general informational purposes only and contains many observations and/or opinions of our staff and those of third parties who have submitted information and articles to the site either of their own accord or at our request. At no time do we claim to be advisors and the information on this site is not promoted as such. We accept no responsibility or liability for information on this site that is incorrect or deemed misleading - including, but not limited to: spelling errors, broken hyperlinks, out of date voucher codes and so on. No-one is perfect but we are trying our best. Be aware products and situations change regularly and that even though best efforts are made to keep the site up to date, some of the information may now no longer be valid.
In short, this site is for personal use. The information is not designed to be used for any purpose or to influence its users in anyway. By using this site, browsing the information and/or using the various facilities available you agree that you do not hold us liable for anything you may come across on the site. You are responsible whether you choose to use or act on the information provided and you are responsible for any outcomes that may occur from that. If you choose to base a purchase or action on information from this site (either provided by our staff or by third parties) then it has been your choice to do so. You didn't pay us for advice and we didn't twist your arm.
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2. Simulate the animation of fluttering butterfly.
3. Support unlock sound settings,you have ten nice ringtones to choose.
4. Support set pin password via keypad lock screen for lock security.
5. Support customize unlock text,device name and operator name.
7. Support display notifications such as unread messages ,unread mail,missed call and so on in lock screen.
10. Support Pattern lock for lock security.
11. Support change clock/date text color,text size and text fonts.
13. Support change themes for setting background.
14. Blur wallpaper with unread notifications.


text:
Being Together in Community Again: What Every Congregation Needs to Know
Amy Asin
Last year, we talked about it being a High Holidays like no other. And this year we are faced with the same opportunity – to create something that has never before existed.
Don't Wait: Life Lessons for the High Holidays from 88-Year-Old Reb Murray
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Meet 88-year-old Murray, an astounding man. Quiet, sometimes reserved, Murray became my father-in-law 31 years ago, when God softly whispered to me, "Don't wait." I confess I didn't appreciate him fully until recently.
What Greetings are Appropriate on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
Here are the appropriate greetings for the Jewish new year and the Day of Atonement.
Cry No More, a Prayer for Yom Kippur
This prayer is about having compassion for ourselves while repairing the damage we've done to self and others. I wrote it after my first Yom Kippur in Jerusalem, my first in Israel as an oleh chadash (a new immigrant).
An Alternate Un'taneh Tokef
Rabbi Joseph Meszler offers a new take on an old prayer for these Days of Awe.
5 Things to Avoid on Yom Kippur in Favor of a Spiritual Workout
Jane E. Herman
To devote ourselves to an accurate accounting of the soul, it is customary to refrain from five specific activities related to our bodies on Yom Kippur.
The Music of Avinu Malkeinu
Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky
In the game "Truth-or-Dare," I choose "truth" nearly every time. I'm not much of a dare-taker. Thus, if you and I were playing "Special Edition Truth-or-Dare: High Holy Days," I would confess that the prayer Avinu Malkeinu provides me with both my second-favorite liturgical moment and my second-greatest pet peeve of the year's liturgy. (Note: Even though I may have to repent for it, I will leave you in suspense about my favorite liturgical moment and my greatest liturgical pet peeve. Also, "Special Edition Truth-or-Dare: High Holy Days" is fictional, although I hereby declare copyright in the event Mattel or Hasbro comes knocking at my door.)
A New Beginning and a Chance to Become Our Better Selves
Rabbi Sharon G. Forman
During the 10 days of repentance and especially on Yom Kippur, we struggle with ourselves, shedding our flaws and the parts of our spirit that detract from our holiness.
Please Join Us, But Not Just on the Days of Awe
Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal
We want you to come to High Holiday services, but we want you to come back, too -- when it's less crowded and when we can welcome you and show you what we're all about.
Returning to the People – and the Parents – We Want to Be
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
I don't want to raise my children in a home with yelling. And yet, when I slip in a way that's human and understandable, I fail both myself and my children.
URJ.org
Torah Commentary
(-) Yom Kippur
Counting of the Omer
Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Bunny Official Trailer from Theo Rosenthal on Vimeo.
When a young and lonesome vagabond gets caught trying to steal food, he must use all his wits to escape the clutches of the farmer's daughter who caught him.
Theo Rosenthal is a recent NYU Tisch Film School graduate currently freelancing as a video editor and music supervisor in New York City. At a young age, growing up in Berkeley, California, he developed a love of stories, specifically folk tales and myths that his parents would read to him. This love of stories quickly grew into a love of film, and in high school he began making his first films. After getting into NYU's film program he packed up and headed east. His undergraduate career culminated in his thesis film Bunny, an adaptation of a folk tale, and he now spends his time balancing his creative pursuits and freelance work.


text:
Summit Medical Center Recognized for Excellence in Patient Satisfaction
Summit Medical Center Recognized for…
NewsPatient Care
Summit Medical Center was recently recognized for their excellence in patient satisfaction scores among hospitals across the nation.
At its annual Centers of Excellence Award Ceremony in Las Vegas last Month, NueHealth presented Summit Medical Center the 2016 Excellent Patient Satisfaction Score award for hospitals. This award was based on overall satisfaction scores from surveys administered to patients following their visit to the facility.
NueHealth partners with independent providers in managing 60 physician-owned hospitals and surgery centers across the nation, including Summit Medical Center.
Nationally, patient satisfaction has become a top priority in hospitals, as it is directly tied to reimbursement and quality patient outcomes. Patients are surveyed by a third party on a variety of factors related to their hospital experience, including nursing care, pain management and cleanliness.
Summit Medical Center has consistently scored high in all areas of the patient survey, with an average of 95% of patients giving the hospital the highest possible rating in 2016. Patient comments consistently cite the caring staff and the cleanliness of the facility in their reviews of the hospital.
"Of all of the awards given to a hospital, this one recognizes the complete stay experience for our patients," CEO Dennis Jack said. "I could not be more proud of the staff at Summit Medical Center to receive this recognition."
Summit Medical Center recently celebrated the second anniversary of its opening in 2015. The hospital features 16 private rooms, four modern operating rooms, two medical procedure rooms, a fully equipped radiological suite and an onsite lab and pharmacy. Physicians provide specialized services and surgeries in Orthopedics, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat), gynecology, gastroenterology, general surgery, pain management, pediatrics, oral surgery and plastic surgery. Summit Medical Center also has anesthesiologists and a pathologist on staff.
Categories: News, Patient CareBy Lori Klatt May 5, 2017
PreviousPrevious post:The Ongoing Case for Stress ReliefNextNext post:The Quest for Better Mental Health


text:
Q: Get element from SWT page and do click on it I used SWT Browser in Java project.
I load page in SWT Browser. I can not edit this page.
I want put mouse on
...
 element (which looks as example below, he has changing class name from 'active' to 'activeHover' when mouse is on it) and store them in Java object, then manage click on it by Java application.

        Sell
        Indicative

            min

        7041.2

I used Filter to get mouse event on SWT Browser display
display.addFilter(SWT.MouseDown, new Listener() {
    public void handleEvent(Event event) {
        System.out.println(">> MouseDown " + event);
    }
});

This 'event' which is returned on event have only this informations:
>> MouseDown Event {type=3 Browser {} time=344032562 data=null x=477 y=1302 width=0 height=0 detail=0}

But how get this element and do click on them when I want ? I must delegate to click action from Java code.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Glowing Skin with Neesya Skincare!
Remember that I've received Neesya's beauty product sometime Christmas? The product was good and allergy free for me!
In fact, I've made a little survey before I agreed to write for them. Neesya Skincare, a Malaysian beauty brand that have yet to exist in East Malaysia but a few outlets can be seen in West Malaysia, such as Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
The three products received have the same effect - Brightening! Who doesn't want a clear bright skin? Even ladies who love outdoors wanted their skin to look radiant and dark spots free (less).
Similar as leave-on mask for a few minutes after massaging lightly.
Exfoliation process that enhance the skin brightening effect, a few application that allows the dark spots appear lighter.
Easy application twice a week and we shall have healthy glowing skin!
The essence was not oily, skin absorption of the product was fast too!
Illuminating Essence act like a skin booster that hydrates our skin and hydrating skin is one of the important step to take note in our daily skin routine. In fact, hydrated skin will make us look younger and even made us feel younger! They always say I look younger compared with my age. (Yippi!) No more dull and dehydrated skin!
I have used a few overnight mask and found it radically one of the best invention for lazy people.
We applied the mask and go to sleep and we still get radiant skin, such an intensive overnight treatment for us to recharge our tired skin. We doesn't have to wait for the time to past to rinse our face.
Just like the previous two products, it brighten our skin complexion, help to diminish skin discoloration, revitalise complexion and restore skin hydration.
That's all for my review on the products. The pricing of Neesya products are reasonable, with such a beauty technology and affordable price, all of us can have translucent skin now!
By the way, we can purchase the product via online and enjoy special promotions as well!
Happy Valentines Day and Happy Chap Goh Meh to you & loved ones!


@spacepluk changing the build directory solved it. Thank you!
@Sarbot it's a big package but it should build with 50Gb free. Make sure you're actually building in the volume that has the free space, Some AUR helpers build in /tmp by default.
How much disk space is needed to build this package? I still get an disk space error with 50GB free. :o Since I'm on a Laptop with just 128GB SSD I want to ask before I removed everything and it still wouldnt fit ;). How much of the space is available after installation (by removing package files etc)? But I'm glad that there is a Linux version packed for arch!
@HunabKu This looks like an upstream problem.
Hi, i have this warning twice on each project load and on each script recompilation.
I disabled VR in package manager - built in, no change. This warning seems comes from gcc lib version difference.
@spacepluk you were right,Thanks a lot!
@wolfyrion It seems to work here. Maybe you had an old Unity.tar.xz in your build folder?


Born in Washington DC and raised in Maryland, Raef has shared his music with faith-based communities across the world. In the early 2000s, he sang tenor in a college a cappella group and played his acoustic guitar at local coffee shops. Raef was introduced to the national stage after his trio rock-band "Great Seneca" toured the United States as part of the "Voices for Change" initiative. Shortly afterwards, Raef joined the "Poetic Vision Tour" - a band of traveling musicians and poets dedicated to inspiring a spiritual and cultural renewal. More recently, Raef started working with Awakening Records and in 2014 released his debut album "The Path" , a collection of songs that reflects his identity as an American Muslim and his journey throughout the years.
12:45 the Imam's on the minbar, talking about something like "Fiqh Az-Zakat"
I stand up, you stand up, prayer's about to start "Qad, Qaamat es-Salaah"
Parody of Rebecca Black's "Friday"


What is Conservative Pain Management (CPC)?
Chronic back pain, sciatica, or an unhealed accident injury can stop you from living an active life. Traditional medical treatments for pain management rely on medication to cover up pain symptoms. This provides only temporary relief, and can lead to a cycle of prescription painkiller dependency. Conservative Pain Managements are integrated pain management solutions that are all natural and drug-free. By combining chiropractic care with physiotherapy, manual therapy and acupuncture, we manages pain symptoms by directly addressing their underlying cause.
The first step to managing chronic pain is to identify the underlying cause. For example, many patients with chronic back or neck pain may be suffering from a herniated disc in their spine. Patients who struggle with chronic headaches may have an untreated whiplash injury. Identifying the underlying cause allows Chiro Pain Care Center to create a customized treatment plan specifically targeting a patient's unique pain management needs.
Chiropractic adjustments are an important part of our pain management solution. Many patients have one or more Subluxations/ Joint Complex Dysfunction in their spine or joints. These Dysfunction/Misalignments continually irritate the nervous system, creating blockages and compression that triggers back pain, neck pain and headaches. For example, a car accident injury such as whiplash may cause a misalignment of the cervical spine. As long as the neck remains out of alignment, patients will continually struggle with neck pain and headaches. Regular adjustments help maintain proper alignment, manage a patient's pain without the need for medication.
Adjustments, manual therapy and acupuncture are also effective for treating chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia. While we cannot cure these conditions, Conservative Pain Management plan that will reduce or eliminate the need for medication and steroid injections. Manual therapy, including myofascial release, targets muscle tissue deep within the body. This helps reduce swelling and inflammation that triggers chronic pain. Many of our patients who suffer from constant aches and pains report a significant improvement after just one treatment. Regular treatments can significantly improve overall health and enhance mobility.
Acupuncture Pain Management has also proven to be one of the most effective treatments currently available for back pain. We find that this evidenced-based treatment naturally complements Chiropractic Adjustments, Physiotherapy and Manual Therapy. The insertion of thin, sterile needles into pressure points throughout the body helps stimulate the nervous system and support a naturally balanced body. As an added benefit, patients enjoy improved digestion, heightened mental concentration / focus, and a better night's sleep.
Our whole body approach to care not only manages chronic pain, but can also reduce the risk for future injury and illness. By restoring balance to the body, Conservative Pain Management protocols support your body's natural ability to heal itself. Our integrated approach to managing pain helps patients feel their best each and every day.


text:
Millionaire Chess… it's a go!
Apr 7th, 2014 by Daaim Shabazz
Post by Maurice Ashley.
GM Maurice Ashley has quelled the suspense surrounding the Millionaire Chess Open by posting the shortest, but most authoritative announcement. After the announcement of the initial 65 players registered by March 31, there was some speculation to whether the tournament would happen. In his letter to the public Ashley stated that,
For us, that moment will be Monday morning, April 7, when we will announce our final decision to the public. Will Millionaire Chess take flight or be left in the hangar to sit idly by? Should we leave this battle to others as chess continues to struggle for relevance in a bleak American landscape? Is this all worth the risk?
That question has been answered and certainly a follow-up is forthcoming. The Chess Drum will be contacting Millionaire Chess for further details. Amy Lee has just released a statement on why the Millionaire Chess organization has decided to move forth.
The Millionaire Chess Open may be seen as "just" a tournament, but there's a business side to it and, despite all odds, I still believe there's enormous potential to be tapped. I view this as an exciting new venture, and I know I am in it for the long term. My ambition is way beyond one Open Tournament a year, and my target area is not just the USA. I consider the money I put in as a long term investment in an enterprise that I see potential in on top of being passionate about. I am totally prepared to take the financial risk, just I have in the other businesses I've been involved in.
Read Amy Lee's
"MC Decides To Move Ahead!"
Millionaire Chess' Official Announcement
Posted in Drum Majors, Media Stories, Millionaire Chess, Tournaments, USA | 17 Comments
17 Responses to "Millionaire Chess… it's a go!"
on 07 Apr 2014 at 10:44 am1 GM Freeman
Just 65 players? I wonder how many of those players are splitting the prize money with each other.
on 07 Apr 2014 at 4:04 pm2 Daaim Shabazz
There will be a lot more than 65 players playing in this by October.
on 07 Apr 2014 at 12:16 pm3 Boyd Reed
I hope this tournament succeeds – or, at least, doesn't lose so much that the MC partners pack it in after one edition.
I have always felt that a "super-open" like this (or HB Global) has to have multiple editions to determine whether they can fail or succeed. Many players will take a "wait-and-see" attitude the first time around. However, if the event goes off as planned and prizes are paid as promised, the players will come for future editions.
Thanks to Maurice Ashley, Amy Lee and Millionaire Chess for having faith. Now, let's see if the chess community will too.
Looking forward to it. This was the first step. Having the courage to execute the vision. I will try all I can to promote the event.
I agree that the "pulling of the plug" of the HB Global was premature. There was an excitement about that event, but of course Maurice had to agree to the terms of the sponsor which included having it in Minnesota. Even still, it was a rousing success from a player standpoint and the next year would have gotten 2000 players.
Hopefully, players will see this step in faith as a show of confidence and register for the event. Maurice and Amy must keep the optimism going… and we have to do our parts!
Discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/22gc4s/millionaire_chess_open_tournament_1_million_cash/
on 08 Apr 2014 at 9:35 am6 RJT
Amazing decision by Maurice & Amy. I'm really excited now. By taking the gutsy move of committing to the event, and guaranteeing the $1M prize fund, the low number of entries actually becomes an attraction – I order no more Class A players to enter. lol
Seriously – I'm encouraging everyone to get on board, recruit your friends, your students, currently inactive players, etc. It's going to be an event to remember.
on 08 Apr 2014 at 11:25 am7 Quentin
RJT, I agree with you on the low numbers being a reason I feel MORE people will sign up to play. I think it's going to snowball into a success.
Trust me, even some of the "haters" are going to sign up to get a chance to win some of that nice prize fund . 🙂
on 08 Apr 2014 at 2:12 pm8 Guy
REMARKABLE NEWS! In terms of monetary reward, chess needs a remake. It's certainly one of the primary reasons why many young chess talents have stopped playing right after H.S. and in some cases even earlier. Ask them why they stop playing and they will tell you, there's no money in chess. Can you blame them? It's about time that a well-known chess personality has decided that it's time to confront that opinion. However, we know that change is something that people tend to warm up to gradually, but it's necessary if we want to exterminate the old cliché that there's no career in chess. Let's support GM Ashley and Company!
on 08 Apr 2014 at 11:12 pm9 Daaim Shabazz
Millionaire Chess MATRIX Video – Reload Before The Revolution
Video by Millionaire Chess.
on 09 Apr 2014 at 3:18 am10 steve perry
Let me put things into perspective for those who are worried about the 70+ players that are currently signed up for this tournament. Chess players are notorious for signing up late or just prior to the last deadline. To give you a perfect example of this, currently there are only 52 players signed for the World Open which takes place in early July. And yet come tournament time, there's always over 1,000 players who end up entering.
I play in lots of tournaments and will play in this one but won't sign up until a day before the first deadline. Why? It's just the way I always do it…as do the vast majority of tournament players.
on 09 Apr 2014 at 6:38 am11 Daaim Shabazz
Million Chess announces the tournament is officially a go! We're so excited and social media was the first to find out about the announcement. For media and anyone else interested in reading our press release, please find our "Million Dollar Chess Tournament Makes First Move" publication here. We encourage you to share it on your social media channels!
For Immediate Release: April 7, 2014
Million Dollar Chess Tournament Makes First Move
Launching the Highest Stakes Open Tournament in History on October 9-13
Las Vegas, Nevada – The Millionaire Chess Open, a groundbreaking chess tournament offering the biggest prize fund in chess history for an Open event, will checkmate the competition October 9th at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
The very first event, which boasts a million dollars in prizes, is being billed as a game-changer for a sport that has been struggling to capitalize on its huge fan base of amateur players.
"Chess is ready for this kind of bold undertaking," says Maurice Ashley, an International Grandmaster and a partner at Millionaire Chess, the company hosting the event. "The game has seen a dramatic uptick in interest recently, and this tournament is designed to ride that wave. With the incredible explosion of scholastic chess as well as the massive increase in the number of online players, we believe there is an opportunity to capture huge market share."
The tournament will feature the use of many high-tech novelties, never before seen at a chess competition. Some of these innovations, currently being worked on by the Playful Systems Lab at MIT's Media Lab, include algorithms that predict moves by a specific player, in essence hacking the mind of a grandmaster. Organizers expect the technologies to find wider applications in the areas of neuroscience, psychology, stress management, and human performance.
Millionaire Chess intends to revolutionize the chess world and while seven Grandmasters have already registered early, the tournament hopes to bring in thousands of amateurs from around the world and of all ages.
"We understand that chess suffers from a perception problem," says Ashley. "Most people think the game is just too difficult or too slow to capture the public's attention. But chess has been around for over 1500 years for a reason. It's that enduring fascination that we believe our company can tap into, and we expect this tournament will help take chess to the next level."
Amy Lee, an entrepreneur who is a partner at Millionaire Chess, sees the project as a launching point for other undertakings.
"The Millionaire Chess Open is just the first step in our business branding itself as a global events and PR company," she said in a recent interview. "We're thrilled by the enthusiastic response we have gotten so far. It makes us confident that our vision to change a game like chess is an idea whose time has come."
About Millionaire Chess
Founded in 2013 by International Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and Entrepreneur Amy Lee, Millionaire Chess is the highest-stakes open tournament worldwide with a record setting prize fund. On October 9-13, 2014, thousands of participants will come to Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada to play and hundreds of thousands will watch online. This unprecedented tournament will electrify chess fans worldwide. To learn more about Millionaire Chess, visit http://www.millionairechess.com. To receive updates on the event, join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/millionairechess or on Twitter at: @highstakeschess
Karla Shannon – PR Manager
contact@millionairechess.com
on 11 Apr 2014 at 11:56 am12 Andrew
While GM Ashley must be commended for his bold approach to chess events, I simply see the event as a potential disaster from a financial perspective if players are frugal. With most of the U2200 to below sections, realistically only 25% of the players have a shot of obtaining money at the event. Those 25% comprise underrated juniors, potential sandbaggers or inactive players, and foreign players. For the adult stuck at the same rating for the last 10 years, the event is simply too costly with no real potential of a monetary return. One could play for an entire year locally for the cost of one event. In addition, when one figures in entry fee, food, lodging and travel, one could be talking $1,500 or more. Chess players typically are not big earners in society thus the entry may be too high. In addition, it creates a massive incentive for foreign GM's over 2730 FIDE to join. That amount is a very large amount. Someone will indeed win the giant prize but if players realize their chance to do so is limited, the entries simply will not cover the prizes. I think it is a bold concept but one likely to be short-lived.
on 11 Apr 2014 at 2:09 pm13 Guy
I THINK PLAYING THE LOTTERY OR THE SLOT MACHINE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A FINANCIAL DISASTER. YET, IT IS A MONEY-MAKING BUSINESS THAT IS NOT ABOUT TO GO BASNKRUPT. CHESS PLAYERS KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ENTER IN AN OPEN CHESS TOURNMENT, ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE PLAYERS WILL MAKE SOME MONEY. I THINK IT IS THE SAME AS IN GOLF OR TENNIS. SO, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN CASHING -IN THAT KEEPS THESE PLAYERS COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE SIMPLY PLAY CHESS BECAUSE WE EXPERIENCE AN ADDICTIVE SATISFACTION THAT CANNOT BE FULLY DESCRIBED IN WORDS; IT IS A FEELING YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE YOURSELF. EVERY YEAR THE TURN OUT FOR THE WORLD OPEN AVERAGES ABOUT THE SAME AND ONLY A FRACTION OF THE PLAYERS GETS DIVIDEND FOR THEIR HARD WORK. You would think the players who didn't make anything from the previous year would not return. The fact is they do come back. IT WILL TAKE TIME, BUT IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE A HIT FOR the first two years, LIKE ANY other START-UP, I BELIEVE IT WILL EVENTUALLY WORK OUT.
on 11 Apr 2014 at 6:16 pm14 Gild
The MC prizes are the best deal for the entry fee.
Let's compare:
MC 100,000/1000=100X, 50 players with prizes.
World Open 20,000/305=65X, 10 players with prizes.
Chicago Open 10,000/205=48X, 10 players with prizes.
Philadelphia Open 7,000/225=31X, 10 players with prizes.
Even the lower sections in the MC has 40x return and 50 players with prizes.
I hope this will help players make a good decision.
on 12 Apr 2014 at 2:22 pm15 Kimani A. Stancil
Great Move! I wish this tournament all the success in the world!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Guy's response in all capital letters. If most players were wise, they would allocate their money to smaller events with peers, but unfortunately most people believe they are underrated and see the dollar signs. As with the lottery which you quoted, they say it is a tax on those who do not understand statistics as is the same with big money tournaments in general. I wish all the competitors the best of luck.
Even when you're thinking about making an investment, there's a certain amount of risk that you have to be prepared to accept, but at least the intent is to get back more than you invest (capital Gain). In this case, I have to agree that you need to exercise good (wise) judgment in making that decision. But if I like a certain type of ice scream that happens to be overpriced to some consumers, whether I decide to buy it or not, has no correlation with having to be wise. The intent here is personal gratification which is unique to each individual. A lot of players will not make the sacrifice to pay 1k for a tournament, simply because they think its absurd. That's fine, but can we say that unwilling participants are wiser than the players who are willing to make the sacrifice for the purpose of self-gratification? I am not so sure. Anyway, this argument may be futile since MC will go on with or without cynics. Keyboard is working now (~_ ~)


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NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts
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NACCHO #closethegap Suicide: Lifeline calls for specialist hotline to address high Indigenous suicide rates
"There are some communities out there were there are a multitude of both state and federal services and showing very little for all the effort and the money,"
"The question is why? And I think part of the answer is that there needs to be much more involvement of Aboriginal people through governance structures that are appropriate to have a say how those resources are used.
"It's important because many Aboriginal people will not be comfortable ringing a general service and speaking to a non-Aboriginal person.
"There needs to be, and I have seen this over my almost 40 years now in Aboriginal affairs, a specific service that is culturally appropriate."
New South Wales parliamentarian and former state Labor leader Linda Burney said the Federal Government should seriously consider the proposal.
Ms Burney, who is a Wiradjuri woman and will be making a tilt at federal politics in the upcoming election, said a national, Aboriginal-led initiative was needed to address many of the issues surrounding mental health and disadvantage.
"Child suicide was a growing problem in indigenous communities. Children's exposure to family violence was a "major contributor" to the mental health of young people. services needed more funding for mental health, with remote communities having limited access through Aboriginal Medical Services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
"We must be delivering services to the people, not (forcing) them to come to the services because Aboriginal people in remote communities are on the lowest incomes in the country."
Sandy Davies, the deputy chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation :Picture above : Indigenous children up to 14 years were nine times more likely to kill themselves than non-indigenous children
ABC Central West By Gavin Coote and Kia Handley
Crisis support service Lifeline is calling for the Commonwealth to support an Aboriginal-specific arm of the hotline, to tackle the high rates of suicide in Aboriginal communities.
Lifeline Central West, which covers about one third of New South Wales, has proposed establishing a national call centre in the central west city of Dubbo run by Aboriginal counsellors.
It has written a letter to the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion, asking for financial support for the so-called YarnUp Confidential service.
It was hoped the call centre would take up to 70,000 calls per year and create 118 new Aboriginal jobs in Dubbo, costing about $10 million to run annually.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released this week showed suicide rates among Indigenous people were about twice those of non-Indigenous people.
Lifeline Central West executive director Alex Ferguson said the rates would only continue to rise unless the Commonwealth took urgent action.
Mr Ferguson said while similar services were run locally in some communities, there was a need for a unified service based on the Lifeline model.
"Look at the scorecard and I think you'll find their policies are either misdirected or failing," Mr Ferguson said.
"At the moment we don't have dialogue and we need to have a dialogue within the Aboriginal community and the broader regional communities.
"The idea is simply to put an Aboriginal feeling, a wash, a spirit through the Lifeline model, so that we can actually have Aboriginals working with Aboriginals under a properly trained and structured environment."
'They don't trust us, in many cases they don't like us'
Mr Ferguson said many Aboriginal people did not feel comfortable conveying their concerns to non-Indigenous counsellors.
"They don't trust us, in many cases they don't like us, and that's why the YarnUp model is based on Aboriginals working with Aboriginals, but doing it in a very structured way, which is the Lifeline training and telephony model," Mr Ferguson said.
Mr Ferguson said there had been an "uninspiring" response from the Government, and was disappointed it had not offered an alternative solution.
"Nobody has put up anything else to either push YarnUp our of the way and or has actually ever criticised the content of YarnUp," Mr Ferguson said.
"By the time you keep going around this sort of 'it's not in my backyard' type argument, there is the continual flow of death and the resultant trauma in the community."
The Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the broadly supported the model and will next week lobby the Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion for a trial.
But he said many local organisations were already doing similar work and there was a risk of duplicating services.
"I was in Bourke a couple weeks ago and there was another group there that has got a mental health program for school-aged students," Mr Coulton said.
"This is not an empty field, there are a lot of people out there in this space.
"But I think the Lifeline model has worked well and I think to extend that into a specialised service for Aboriginal people will be I think a worthwhile exercise."
Need for national, culturally appropriate approach
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By nacchomedia • Posted in Aboriginal children, Aboriginal Health Communications, Aboriginal health in the news, Aboriginal male/mens Health, Alcohol and other drugs, Close the Gap, Closing the Gap, Federal Government News, Health Promotion, Ice drug, Members NEWS, Mental Health, NACCHO CEO, Prevention, Racism and Aboriginal Health, SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, Suicide prevention, TeleHealth, Womens Health	• Tagged Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Youth suicide, Indigenous Health, Lifeline
One comment on "NACCHO #closethegap Suicide: Lifeline calls for specialist hotline to address high Indigenous suicide rates"
debk67
For far too long, Governments have taken away the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and said this was to protect them and look after them, now they take away funding or state there is no funding available to support what is one of the most disadvantaged groups in Australia. We send so much money overseas to help our neighbours, we provide funding and or tax cuts to support big corporations and all in the meantime our First Nation People suffer. Family and Community are a vital part of being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and every time we lose a child, an aunty, an uncle etc.. Community suffer greatly. As a front line worker in mainstream services who works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, I see more services closing their doors due to not having funding and support from both Federal and State Governments and we are sick of hearing we need to assimilate into mainstream services, Trying to find a specialised service for a client to offer support to meet their needs is like finding a needle in a haystack. Needs are different due to Cultural and Spiritual beliefs. Time to change and do the right thing, help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to help each other by providing funding for training of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, increase in services to support them and this will help reduce morbidity, feelings of hopelessness within communities, feelings of not being part of the wider society due to beliefs and attitudes from long ago by what is suppose to be a civilised society and Close The Gap and bring about equality in Physical Health and Well Being that Meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and not tell them what they need to do, start listening and work beside them to enable this to happen.
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Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction. This species is noted to be declining in Colombia and western Ecuador, owing to the clearance of subtropical forest, which has been severe and rapid on Andean slopes (Juniper and Parr 1998). Anecdotal evidence, based on the frequency of sightings, suggests that the species has declined in Piñas, southern Ecuador, over the past c.15-20 years (M. Sanchez per D. Díaz in litt. 2011). It is also said to have been extirpated from formerly occupied areas such as the Andean slopes of Cauca and Magdalena Valleys in Colombia, again owing to habitat loss (Juniper and Parr 1998). In Venezuela the species is scarce and local, being largely confined to the western slope of the Mérida Andes and Sierra de Perijá, with occasional records in Táchira (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2011). These areas have experienced rapid deforestation over at least the past 24 years for cultivation and livestock farming. Surveys in north-western Peru in the late 1990s appeared to detect a marked decline in the population since 1993 (Rosales et al. 2007), although this species is known to be nomadic and its local numbers may fluctuate.
BirdLife International (2019) Species factsheet: Pionus chalcopterus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/04/2019. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2019) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/04/2019.


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Introduce your child to a world of adventure with their first wooden train set, allowing endless opportunity for learning and creativity. Each set contains an engine and two carriages, along with eight pieces of curved wooden track. Set the scene with the accompanying figures, trees and buildings and send your child on a journey of imagination.


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Rocket Attack Targets US military Base in East Syria
US occupation forces in Syria
Live News - Middle East - News - Syria - Top
A military facility housing US occupation forces in Syria's oil-producing eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr has come under a rocket attack from nearby areas.
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American troops in the Middle East, said in a short statement that the rockets were launched at around 9:32 p.m. local time (1832 GMT) on Thursday, and targeted US-led troops at the Green Village base.
It further said that the projectiles failed to impact anything inside the base, Press TV reported.
Earlier, Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units – better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi – reported that several rockets struck the vicinity of the US-controlled al-Omar oil field.
The Arabic-language Radio Souryana station also reported that several explosions were heard inside the US-run base, and attack helicopters flew overhead at a low altitude in the aftermath of the attack.
The development took place two days after local residents of a village in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, in cooperation with government forces, prevented a US military convoy from advancing through their villages.
Syria's official news agency SANA reported that a convoy of six armored vehicles was forced to turn around and head back in the direction it came from after locals in al-Buladiyah village aided by government forces stationed at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the area blocked the road.
Syria US
Kremlin on US Aid to Kiev: Direct Way for Escalation That Will Not Change Events Course


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#InHouseTwitter
July 28, 2017 Jennifer RomigLeave a comment
In-house counsel and anyone who works with them—such as, say, outside counsel—will be interested in the new hashtag, #InHouseTwitter, started this summer by @J_Dot_J. J.J.'s Twitter bio tells us she is an "employment/cyber-security lawyer, mom to a 2-boy wrecking crew, endorsed as 'not half bad.'" She has shared some pithy—sometimes salty—advice from her in-house perspective and prompted an honest and growing discussion from other in-house counsel as well.
#InHouseTwitter is active at 4 p.m. Central on Thursdays. Follow the hashtag for announcements of upcoming topics. Most recently J.J. prompted a long thread on relationships with outside counsel:
Let's do this, #InHouseTwitter. Maintaining working relationships with outside counsel ("OC"). Thoughts? Pointers? Things to avoid?
— J.J. (@J_Dot_J) July 27, 2017
The responses varied from the positive…
My comments echo what I've said here previously. Trust. Responsiveness. Practical, business-oriented advice. Respect. #InHouseTwitter https://t.co/ehxNsWZKR7
— kp (@gokpkd) July 27, 2017
….to the negative
Oh, and do not send me a bill for a summer associate spending 15 hours to research something that is on page one of my org's bylaws.
— Shannon McMinimee (@SMee2096) July 27, 2017
with many nuanced observations and anecdotes in between.
Non-Verbal Persuasion
July 25, 2017 July 25, 2017 Jennifer Romig1 Comment
This guest post summarizes the authors' presentation, "Beyond Words: What Business Schools Can Teach Us About Non-Verbal Persuasion" at last week's Association of Legal Writing Directors Biennial Conference held at the University of Minnesota Law School.
By Erin Carroll, Georgetown Law, and Shana Carroll, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
The practice of law places great emphasis on words. Yet, how we communicate transcends words. Studies confirm that when we (lawyers and non-lawyers alike) speak, our tone, volume, pace, stance, gestures, and expression may convey more to our listeners than the words we use.
Most law schools teach oral presentation skills during the 1L year in the context of the appellate argument or the meeting with the supervising attorney. But often these skills are afterthoughts to a focus on written work. And even in teaching these skills, professors may unduly home in on the substance of arguments rather than on the way they are delivered and how listeners receive them.
Given the realities of legal practice, law schools would do well to conceptualize presentation skills more broadly. Law professors should consider the range of situations in which students will present and how those presentations could be more effective, putting aside their substance.
Business schools can serve as a model. Business school curriculums generally recognize that innumerable interactions in the working world are indeed presentations. Pitching clients, negotiating deals, running an effective meeting, and reviewing employees, for example, qualify. They all offer opportunities for speakers to consider and shape how they want the listener to understand their message.
This is no less true for lawyers. Lawyers—at least those in the private sector—are also businesspeople, bringing in clients, doing deals, and interacting with colleagues. Public sector lawyers, too, negotiate, interview, and supervise. Interactions that fall into any of these broad categories can be bettered by adroit presentation skills.
Accordingly, we urge our business and law school students to think about how they can use their voices and their body language to drive home their intended meaning. That means focusing on volume, pace, tone, emphasis, stance, and an array of other paralinguistics (the qualities of how something is said rather than what is said) as well as gestures and expressions.
First, to familiarize our students with the multitude of means by which we communicate to our listeners, we have done the following exercises:
Ask students to find a video of a speaker they find particularly effective or ineffective. Have them post the video to a discussion board along with a description of why that speaker was effective or not. To the extent a student's description is generic, press the student to substantiate it by indicating particular paralinguistic qualities or aspects of body language.
Alternatively, have students watch a video in class, identify these qualities, and discuss them. We have used this video of the 1992 presidential debate between Bill Clinton and George Bush, and this video of a press conference given by Tony Hayward, the former chief executive of BP, just weeks after the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
For either exercise, create a list of the different paralinguistic qualities and aspects of body language that can impact meaning. These could include: volume, pace, inflection, facial expression, movement, and fluidity. Professors might also discuss the importance of congruence between body language, paralinguistics, and message in conveying meaning.
In our classes, once students have some comfort with identifying and critiquing the presentation skills of others, we give them the opportunity to experiment. Here are a couple of things we suggest:
Start with a quick, kinesthetic exercise that gets students to hear the range of sentiment their voices can convey and see how their body language can impact meaning. We accomplish this by asking students to pretend they are ordering a ham sandwich. Students line up around the perimeter of the classroom and one by one come up to a podium at the front. Once they get there, we shout out a descriptive word like "despondent," "angry," "elated," or "frustrated." Students must then try to express that emotion when they say the following sentence: "I would like a ham sandwich with the works." All sorts of sentences could be substituted here, but we like that this exercise uses something that feels a bit silly as a means of easing nerves.
Students are then ready to try out those same skills in a more serious scenario. Pass out slips of paper that include a couple of sentences that students might actually say in an upcoming presentation. For example, if oral arguments are approaching, short excerpts from student briefs could be used. Once students have their "script," they get a couple of minutes to prepare to present it. During that time, students can think about what meaning they want to convey to the listener and how they can use volume, pace, tone, emphasis, gestures (and any other skills the class has discussed) to best do it. Students could be encouraged to experiment with different variations to identify which approach works best given their objective. They could also be placed in pairs or small groups and allowed to practice and get feedback from one another. Students could then be asked to volunteer to share their version with the class.
Of course, there are many, many other exercises that emphasize paralinguistic and nonverbal communication skills. These could include, for example, exercises on articulation or stance. What will be most helpful depends, of course, on the students' and professors' goals.
Regardless, law professors should keep in mind just how broad presentation skills are, how often students will use them in practice, and the variety of ways to teach them. We want to ensure that we are helping students improve their ability to persuade beyond simply teaching them to make a well-reasoned argument.
Listening begets listening
Thanks to Professors Alexa Chew and O.J. Salinas for their guest post below on fostering an open dialogue on diversity and inclusion in law schools. They will be presenting on these issues this week at the Association of Legal Writing Directors' 2017 conference.
Law schools throughout the country continue to face issues related to diversity and inclusion. Students may feel unwelcome or marginalized at their law schools, and these feelings can impact their academic performance. This isn't news, and most people want to foster a more inclusive law school environment.
But what might be news are the details of these students' individual experiences or the scope of these negative experiences within a student body. This matters because a precursor to making a law school more inclusive is understanding how students are feeling excluded. It also matters because if you're not hearing those details, you might think that your school doesn't have an inclusion problem. Or worse, you might be unknowingly contributing to it.
Whether you know it or not, your school probably does have an inclusion problem.
There is likely a group of faculty and staff at your school who know this well because they hear more than their share of students' unhappy stories. Being one of those "go-to" folks is a blessing and a burden. It is a gift to be trusted with the intimate details of someone's misery, to be present with another person's vulnerability, to hear things before they need to be shouted. But it can also take an emotional toll on the listener. This is especially true when the student's experience overlaps with the listener's—for example because both are racial minorities or the first in their family to attend college.
A thing about burdens, though, is they get lighter when more people take them on. Not only that, but sharing burdens builds community.
Research suggests that the differences or misunderstandings that divide us can be lessened when we speak to each other and get to know each other a little more. Inviting students to share their stories and listening to those stories can improve those students' well-being, especially if they feel that they haven't been listened to in the past.
Here are some ideas for helping to invite these conversations:
In an individual conference or office hours, you might ask a student open-ended questions about how school is going. Listen to the answers non-judgmentally. Observe the student's body language. Put on your lawyer hat and ask follow-up questions based on what you've heard and seen. (But remember it's not an interrogation!)
In class, you could share a personal anecdote that suggests you have some experience with feeling like you don't fit in. Explain that it's common for law students to feel like they don't belong. The reasons might be diverse, but the feeling of being an outsider is shared. This common ground can form the foundation for further conversation.
In class, you could issue a more explicit invitation to students–let them know that you are genuinely interested in their law school experience. Let them know that they can feel free to talk with you about non-academic concerns. (But be aware of reporting requirements at your institution. If you get the sense that a student might want to disclose information that must be reported, for example to your institution's Title IX office, you'll need to stop the conversation and advise the student of your duty to report certain information. This might be welcome news to the student, or it might not. The student can then make an informed choice about what else to share with you.)
Host a forum where students share their stories related to diversity and inclusion. A physical forum can foster real-time dialogue about students' experiences and potential actions to address their concerns. The presence of faculty, staff, and administrators at a forum can expand the conversation by signaling that these issues matter and should be taken up by the whole community.
As readers of this blog surely know:
Listening begets listening—the more you practice, the better you get.
When it comes to conversations about diversity and inclusion, you might be afraid of saying the wrong thing. That's a reasonable fear, and we've both said the wrong things during these conversations. It doesn't feel great. But sometimes there isn't a right thing to say. Sometimes the best you can offer is your time, your attention, and your ear.
If you are attending the ALWD Conference this week, we invite you to attend our session on Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm, where we will be hosting a conversation about these issues. The 2017 ALWD Conference is dedicated to discussions surrounding diversity and inclusion, as reflected by its theme: Acknowledging Lines: Talking About What Unites and Divides Us.
Thanks again to Alexa Chew and O.J. Salinas of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill:
Alexa Chew is a Clinical Associate Professor of Law at UNC Law. You can also find her on twitter at @aznchew.
O.J. Salinas is a Clinical Associate Professor of Law at UNC Law. You can also find him on twitter at @ojsalinas.
July 16, 2017 July 16, 2017 Jennifer RomigLeave a comment
The most e-mailed story on the New York Times this morning is The Lawyer, the Addict.
The short version is that a Silicon Valley patent lawyer who had been #1 in his law-school class died on his bathroom floor from a drug-related infection. His ex-wife found him. She also found his phone, which indicated his last communication with anyone had been a conference call at work. That is the "heartbreaking" and "haunting" detail many are talking about, discussing the competitive workaholic winner-take-all culture of law school and BigLaw practice.
Another detail is equally haunting:
For the last two years of his life, every time Peter and I were together — whether it was back-to-school night, our son's cross country meets or our daughter's high school graduation — people would ask me if he was O.K. They asked if he had cancer, an eating disorder, a metabolic disorder, AIDS. But they never asked about drugs.
Neither friends, nor law-firm management, nor the lawyer's own ex-wife could conceive that this man had, for years, been consuming through various means "Vicodin, Tramadol, Adderall, cocaine, Xanax, crystal meth and a kaleidoscope of pills."
People just can't believe that a professional so seemingly successful could be a serious drug addict. And even if they could believe it, there are other barriers pointed out by an ABA Lawyers Assistance official quoted in the article:
Law-firm leadership…doesn't really know what signs to look for when it comes to addiction. And when it's happening, she said, they are so busy themselves, "they just don't see it."
So everyone is reading this article and talking, talking, talking about it. To honor the work of this lawyer's ex-wife in revealing these details and spending so much effort to bring this story forward, it's crucial to change and improve the profession. As lawyer Kendall Burchard said on Twitter:
Practicing atty, aspiring atty, or a family member/friend-read the article. Could be you or colleague, recognizing signs could save a life. https://t.co/xUOjNpiHAn
— Kendall Burchard (@ktburchard) July 16, 2017
The question is, how to recognize signs and how to try to help. Listening is of course crucial. But someone, somewhere along the line, has to speak up in a way that is likely to help, or at least unlikely to prompt denial and more isolation and covering up. Please share comments on how to do that, here or on social media or really anywhere, with anyone in the legal profession. What the experts say about "how" will be a subject for another post.
Emotions in writing
Listening and speaking can be empathetic. Even reading (reading literary fiction, that is) is connected with empathy. But what about writing? And specifically, what about legal writing? The textbooks concur that writers are supposed to harness not only logos and ethos but also pathos in their appellate briefs and other persuasive writing. But what about the pathos—the emotion—in everyday legal writing?
Ever since learning about IBM's Watson Tone Analyzer, I've wanted to try it on some legal writing. I wanted to find out what a "robot" like Watson has to say about the voice and emotions in contrasting legal-writing samples. Here's what Watson can do:
The [Watson Tone Analyzer] service uses linguistic analysis to detect and interpret emotions, social tendencies, and language style cues found in text. Tones detected within the General Purpose Endpoint include joy, fear, sadness, anger, disgust, analytical, confident, tentative, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional range.
As shown below, Watson offers an overall document-level analysis, and it highlights sentences that score particularly high on certain emotional indicators.
For this exploration, I chose the idea of an email sample because emails should be relatively short. Also, email is so prevalent in law practice. It's a constant, quotidian part of life for many, many lawyers. Email doesn't stop to ask, "Is this a good time to talk?" It just arrives. And it can have a major impact on the emotions of the recipient. ""When it comes to emails that are negative in tone, it makes you angry," Professor Marcus Butts told Time Magazine, in an article about why email puts workers in a nasty mood—especially when checking email after normal business hours. The effect of such emails spills over: "Being angry takes a lot of focus and our resources and it keeps us from being engaged with other things."
Given email's potential emotional impact on the daily lives of lawyers, this post explores what the Watson Tone Analyzer had to say about two mocked-up emails. The two versions below both have the purpose of forwarding discovery requests to a client. The first version uses more formal language, and the second more conversational language. What does the Tone Analyzer say about these different versions? And in a more realistic situation, could the Tone Analyzer be useful to lawyers working on their communication skills? Following the text of the two emails, the post compares and contrasts how the Watson Tone Analyzer processed these emails.
Dear Ms. Smith,
Enclosed please find the Request for Production of Documents received yesterday (December 16, 2016) ("the Requests") in the Acme v. Client matter. The Requests entail 136 different items, comprising five basic categories:
(1) foundational corporate documents for Acme;
(2) documents related to negotiation of the lease in question between Acme and Client;
(3) calendar items and email sent and received by three key employees during the negotiations, Jane Doe, John Smith, and Jamal Jones;
(4) documents related to discussions with Third Party Industrial; and(5) accounting records related to the lease between Acme and Client.
(5) accounting records related to the lease between Acme and Client.
After reviewing these Requests, please respond providing a convenient time next week for a phone conference to review them and discuss response strategies.
Antoine Associate
Antoine J. Associate
Law Firm LLP
Citytown, RH
Dear Janel,
This message follows up on discovery in Acme v. Client. Yesterday we received another round of document requests. I'd like to set up a call with you next week to discuss them after you've had a chance to review them.
There were 136 individual requests, which are enclosed with this e-mail. The requests fall into five basic categories:
(1) foundational corporate documents for Acme
(2) documents related to the lease negotiation between Acme and Client
(3) calendar items and email sent and received by three key employees during the negotiations, Jane Doe, John Smith, and Jamal Jones
(4) documents related to discussions with Third Party Industrial
Please take a look at the requests and then let me know when would be best for you to discuss them next week.
So how did Watson analyze the emotions in these two messages?
Tone Analysis of First Sample:
The dominant emotion in this message was perceived as anger. Indications of disgust, fear, joy, and sadness were "unlikely."
The sentence-level analysis indicates that the anger emanates from plain, descriptive language (what the requests entail) and the final request ("please respond…"). The pink highlighted sentences below were flagged as moderately angry wording:
The language in this message was viewed as both analytical and confident, but not tentative. The analytical content is highlighted here in blue, with the dark blue being more intensely analytical than the light blue:
Interestingly, the confidence score appears to come solely from the signature block containing the words "Law Firm." (The same is true of the second sample, where "Law Firm" were also the only text flagged for confidence. But the second sample's overall confidence score at the document level is 0.00 (unlikely) compared with .63 (likely) for this first sample. More on that later.)
The same text can be studied in more depth for its social tendencies including openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional range. For example, the language "Enclosed please find" was ranked as conscientious but not open, extraverted, or agreeable. That language also scored high on emotional range. That same language was also flagged for showing anger.
Among the five items in the email's numbered list of documents, item (3) seemed to be an emotional hot spot for Watson, scoring relatively high on all five of the emotional parameters. This result was notable because item (3) is the only item in the list that included individual people's full names.
Here are the metrics for agreeableness, which form an interesting contrast with the second sample below. The greeting and sign-off are in light green, indicating moderate agreeableness. The only line with strong agreeableness was that same item (3) listing calendar items and emails sent by specific individuals by name. (In contrast, the second sample below tried to be friendlier and succeeded, as indicated by the more strongly agreeable opening and closing passages.)
Tone Analysis of Second Sample
The second email was meant to be more friendly. What it accomplished, according to Watson, was slightly lessening the anger score and raising the joy score. The joy score is still "unlikely," but it's at .49 instead of 0.18 in the first sample. Although it's less angry and more joyful, it also completely lost its confidence score.
Despite the overall attempt to use friendlier language, anger still emanated from the email, specifically the sentence enclosing the discovery requests:
But joy came from the revised beginning and closing words:
The message did not rank on sadness, fearfulness, or disgust.
Watson's evaluation of the language looks for analytical, confident, and tentative language. The more informal email's language was also measured as analytical and confident, like the more formal first sample. Unlike the formal sample, it was also somewhat tentative. The source of this tentativeness was a sentence about what the writer "would like to do":
Not surprisingly, that same sentence was also ranked as agreeable:
Quantitatively, the informal sample contained more agreeable language, ranking 0.89 on agreeableness compared to 0.67 for the first sample.
What did I conclude from analyzing these two samples using Watson's Tone Analyzer? Like many AI analysis, it seemed to confirm what I think I already know.
Legal information is not inherently happy, at least not in a litigation setting. The most "angry" language in both messages was the language simply describing the scope of discovery.
Language that is more tentative and less confident may also be more agreeable. This correlation raises many questions: does tentative language compromise clarity? If so is it worth it to sound more agreeable? Different writers, readers, and situations will of course require different decisions.
Watson's Tone Analzyer may be helpful to some writers on a limited basis. As with any computer analysis of language such as Flesch-Kincaid readability scores, writers should ask whether the computer analysis could help them. I don't see legal writers building Watson's Tone Analyzer into a checklist for every email. But it could be a worthwhile exercise just on a couple of messages, to see what predominant tone Watson diagnoses.
And as with any computer analysis of language, take it with a grain of salt. I tested Watson on litigators' favorite nastygram conclusion:
"Govern yourselves accordingly."
The results are below but here's a summary: Its predominant language was sadness (?????). Its most notable social tendencies, according to the Tone Analyzer, were extraversion and agreeableness.
The "govern yourselves accordingly" analysis notwithstanding, a "robot" such as the Tone Analyzer could create an interesting exercise for trying different words and seeing how they measure. So . . . govern yourselves accordingly.
Note on use of Watson: these screen shots were taken on April 25 and 26, 2017. The metrics appear to have changed slightly from tests about six months earlier on identical language. Thus a final lesson is to know your tool and stay updated. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples if relying on quantitative analysis of language.
More theory, please
July 3, 2017 July 3, 2017 Jennifer RomigLeave a comment
Theories and frameworks for listening abound—how to define it, what the process is, and how to understand it. At our recent CLE on listening skills, my co-presenter Jennie Grau displayed and briefly discussed three theoretical listening frameworks for understanding and defining listening. Those three frameworks are elaborated further in the postscript to this post. The TL; DR is that theoretical models of listening have moved from a simple and linear to complex and multi-faceted, becoming ever more unwieldy. (Cf. evolution of some legal rules such as a sixteen-factor test for whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor).
The CLE was offered to lawyers in the Omaha area, sponsored by the Nebraska Bar and International Listening Association in conjunction with the ILA's annual convention. In written feedback after the CLE, one of the attorneys commented that they would have liked even "more theory."
This was an intriguing comment. Why did this person want more theory?
I believe a subset of practicing professionals in any field are drawn to the theory of that field. They want to feel like they deeply understand the tools they use: those tools' possibilities, limitations, histories, and alternatives. They don't just want to be skillful at what they do, but to understand why they are skillful. They may pursue theory in order to improve their skills, or simply because, for them, adding a layer of theory helps them enjoy using their skills. An affinity for theory certainly does not extend to all professionals, and that's fine.
But for readers who fit the bill and for the individual who wrote "more theory," this post is for you. If you don't want more theory, please stop reading here!
Precisely because a workable definition has to be reasonably concise, the International Listening Association adopted a streamlined definition of listening:
The process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal messages
What is the actual point of all these definitions and frameworks? If you Google "better listening," you will get results such as "10 Steps to Effective Listening" and "5 Steps to Listen Better." These may generate clicks, but it's not clear they are grounded in research or meaningful analysis.
This type of "quick fix" for listening is extremely common, Professor Andrew Wolvin notes in the introduction to Listening and Communication in the 21st Century. And t,his is where theory can help, he says. A strong theoretical basis for listening can help answer whether a purported "quick fix" actually works and, perhaps, why. Wolvin lists several benefits of theory, quoting Steven Littlejohn in Theories of Human Communication. The list below builds upon that list and explores some connections between general listening theory and legal communication specifically.
1. Organize and summarize knowledge
Communication scholars—several of whom I met at the ILA conference—are constantly monitoring the contours of the field. Just as one example, later this year professors Graham Bodie and Debra Worthington will publish The Sourcebook on Listening Research, reviewing (among other things) "a variety of theoretical models for assessing the cognitive, affective, and behavioral facets of listening…alongside 65 measurement profiles."
Within the legal academy, we also have some incisive, practical scholarship on teaching listening, including a wealth of clinical scholarship. Broader connections can be found in the scholarship on professional identity and cultural competence. As in the general non-legal field, there is more emphasis on speaking and writing. For example, a 2016 paper in the Legal Writing Journal used an anthropological approach to investigate what lawyers do in their daily lives. The method focused on reading and writing but did not include an investigation of listening. This is an understandable scope limitation, partly because of the following observation:
Even in the smallest workplace, email exceeded face-to-face communication and phone calls as the means of communication, which meant that these attorneys were writing constantly.
So theory helps to reveal where the knowledge is, and where the gaps or opportunities are as well.
2. Focus on variables and relationships
As shown in the anthropological study of lawyers above: when we added email as a constant communication channel, what did that new variable do to existing modes of communication? How did it enhance and detract from relationships? According to Sherry Turkle, even the presence of a smartphone—and even when it's unused and face down on the table—reduces empathy in a conversation.
Within the legal field, there are ongoing discussions of these new variables: for example, how texting and digital communications generally intersect with lawyers' ethical duties. See, for example, the Nebraska lawyer whose Facebook messages responding to a client's inquiry via Facebook did not satisfy his duty to communicate.
3. Clarify what we observe (and give tools for observation)
Observing listening is extremely difficult because some of the process is hidden from view. Listening theory can help. For example at the International Listening Association's Conference, I attended Professor Sherry Wien's talk where she had painstakingly analyzed and coded every moment of every interaction between Joan and Peggy on all seasons of Mad Men. Using these tools, she produced observations about these characters that could ring very true in many legal workplaces. As I listened to Professor Wien's talk, I wished that other lawyers had been there to laugh and learn from her approach.
On the more directly practical side at the ILA conference, a management communication firm shared their efforts to develop and scientifically validate a training survey on listening styles. Dana Dupuis of Brio Enterprises presented on the evolution of her consulting firm's proprietary Hear? Hear! Listening Assessment. The problem with any type of listening survey, as Dupuis stated, is that people's responses about their own listening aren't always reliable. And there's a very specific reason for this, she said:
Listening in particular is prone to social desirability bias.
That means people think that being a good listener is socially desirable. And their drive to do things that are socially desirable means—intentionally or not—they will give survey answers showing that they satisfy that ideal. Thus, if you survey people on their listening habits, you are likely to come up with a population of amazing, empathetic, skillful listeners. Dupuis has modified the Hear? Hear! Assessment to minimize this social desirability bias through the question design, with contributions from Professor Graham Bodie of Louisiana State.
4. Enable predicting outcomes
Students of innovation in the legal industry may take note here. There are many ways to listen, from individual one-on-one focus to organizational listening through feedback, surveys, and in-person visits. Does a certain level of organizational listening affect client retention? On the individual level, how does the proportion of time spent listening versus talking affect how a typical client perceives their lawyer?
5. Provide a forum for communicating research and ideas
The field of legal communication often seems to parallel the general field of communication, with lots of emphasis on speaking and writing, some on reading, and the least of all on listening. But law reviews and academic conferences do provide a forum for listening-related research within the larger conversation about legal communication. For example the Legal Communication & Rhetoric journal I'm so fond of has featured Professor Barbara Gotthelf's article, The Lawyer's Guide to Um. What's the function of "um" in speech, and how do listeners react? The possible answers—which she grounds in both communication research and practical experience—are not as obvious as you might think.
6. Help establish norms of performance
What is bad listening, and what is good listening? What are the norms expected in human communication, and how do they overlap or differ in personal and professional life? Theory about listening helps to ask and answer these questions. For example, research shared at the ILA conference suggested that 38 percent of survey respondents could not go more than 10 minutes without checking digital media. The new norms of communication performance are in flux.
7. Generate change
This may be the most controversial. I'm not actually sure a strong listening theory can help generate change, at least not directly. But after attending the ILA meeting and reading some of the articles and books grounded in scholarship rather than platitudes and talking with listening scholars such as Debra Worthington and Andrew Wolvin and Laura Janusik and others, I've come to the conclusion that listening theory does absolutely enrich the big conversation about what communication is, and what it could and should be.
Selected Listening Frameworks
(There are many, many more, such as the well-known HURIER model in Judi Brownell's listening text. The frameworks here are just one small slice of listening theory.)
The SIER Listening Process
This model is an example of a very basic model of the listening process, formulated by Lyman Stiel in the 1980s:
The SIER model reflects a linear process of listening. Subsequent models added much more context.
Andrew Wolvin Model
Professor Andrew Wolvin's model is an example of a more contextual model, and it's not linear. Rather, it's a series of overlapping circles, with the top circle containing key "Influencers":
Behind that circle are five contextual factors, all potentially influencing one another:
Alan Ehrlich's Model of Speech Understandability
Trying to name every potential influence on the listening process is not possible, but Alan Ehrlich has made a serious effort. His visual model of speech understandability branches out to factors such as speaking style, accent, dialect, language choices, formality, non-verbals, vocal delivery, gender and sexual orientation, and interpersonal issues such as power and attitude. And those factors then branch out to perhaps a hundred more sub-factors: