text:
package org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.impl;

import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

import org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.util.ThreadPauser;
import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;

import org.springframework.beans.BeansException;
import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContextAware;

import org.alfresco.model.ContentModel;
import org.alfresco.repo.security.authentication.AuthenticationUtil;
import org.alfresco.service.ServiceRegistry;
import org.alfresco.service.cmr.dictionary.DictionaryService;
import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef;
import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeService;
import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AccessStatus;
import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AuthenticationService;
import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.PermissionService;

import org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImportCompletionHandler;
import org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImportStatus;
import org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter;
import org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.source.BulkImportSource;

import static org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.util.LogUtils.*;

/**
 * This class implements multi-threaded Bulk Importer logic.
 *
 * @author Peter Monks (pmonks@gmail.com)
 *
 */
public abstract class BulkImporterImpl   // Note: this class is only abstract because of the shenanigans required to make thread pooling work
    implements BulkImporter,
               ApplicationContextAware
{
    private final static Log log = LogFactory.getLog(BulkImporterImpl.class);

    private final static int    DEFAULT_BATCH_WEIGHT = 100;
    private final static String SCANNER_THREAD_NAME  = "BulkImport-Scanner";

    private final ServiceRegistry       serviceRegistry;
    private final NodeService           nodeService;
    private final DictionaryService     dictionaryService;
    private final PermissionService     permissionService;
    private final AuthenticationService authenticationService;

    private final WritableBulkImportStatus          importStatus;
    private final ThreadPauser                      pauser;
    private final BatchImporter                     batchImporter;
    private final int                               batchWeight;
    private final List<BulkImportCompletionHandler> completionHandlers;

    private ApplicationContext appContext;

    // Transient state while an import is in progress
    private Thread scannerThread;

    public BulkImporterImpl(final ServiceRegistry                   serviceRegistry,
                            final WritableBulkImportStatus          importStatus,
                            final ThreadPauser                      pauser,
                            final BatchImporter                     batchImporter,
                            final int                               batchWeight,
                            final List<BulkImportCompletionHandler> completionHandlers)
    {
        // PRECONDITIONS
        assert serviceRegistry != null : "serviceRegistry must not be null.";
        assert importStatus    != null : "importStatus must not be null.";
        assert pauser          != null : "pauser must not be null.";
        assert batchImporter   != null : "batchImporter must not be null.";

        // Body
        this.serviceRegistry       = serviceRegistry;
        this.nodeService           = serviceRegistry.getNodeService();
        this.dictionaryService     = serviceRegistry.getDictionaryService();
        this.permissionService     = serviceRegistry.getPermissionService();
        this.authenticationService = serviceRegistry.getAuthenticationService();

        this.importStatus  = importStatus;
        this.pauser        = pauser;
        this.batchImporter = batchImporter;
        this.batchWeight   = batchWeight <= 0 ? DEFAULT_BATCH_WEIGHT : batchWeight;

        this.completionHandlers = completionHandlers;
    }

    /**
     * @see org.springframework.context.ApplicationContextAware#setApplicationContext(org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext)
     */
    @Override
    public void setApplicationContext(final ApplicationContext appContext)
        throws BeansException
    {
        // PRECONDITIONS
        assert appContext != null : "appContext must not be null.";

        // Body
        this.appContext = appContext;
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#getBulkImportSources()
     */
    @Override
    public Map<String, BulkImportSource> getBulkImportSources()
    {
        return(appContext.getBeansOfType(BulkImportSource.class));
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#start(java.lang.String, java.util.Map, org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef)
     */
    @Override
    public void start(final String                    bulkImportSourceBeanId,
                      final Map<String, List<String>> parameters,
                      final NodeRef                   target)
    {
        BulkImportSource source = appContext.getBean(bulkImportSourceBeanId, BulkImportSource.class);

        start(source, parameters, target);
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#start(org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.source.BulkImportSource, java.util.Map, org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef)
     */
    @Override
    public void start(final BulkImportSource          source,
                      final Map<String, List<String>> parameters,
                      final NodeRef                   target)
    {
        // PRECONDITIONS
        if (source == null)
        {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Bulk import source bean must not be null.");
        }

        if (parameters == null)
        {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Bulk import parameters must not be null.");
        }

        if (target == null)
        {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Bulk import target nodeRef must not be null.");
        }

        if (!nodeService.exists(target))
        {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Bulk import target nodeRef " + String.valueOf(target) + " does not exist.");
        }

        if (!AccessStatus.ALLOWED.equals(permissionService.hasPermission(target, PermissionService.ADD_CHILDREN)))
        {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("User " + authenticationService.getCurrentUserName() +
                                               " does not have permission to add children to target nodeRef " + String.valueOf(target) + ".");
        }

        if (!dictionaryService.isSubClass(nodeService.getType(target), ContentModel.TYPE_FOLDER))
        {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Target '" + String.valueOf(target) + "' is not a space.");
        }

        if (importStatus.inProgress())
        {
            throw new IllegalStateException("An import is already in progress.");
        }

        // Body
        if (debug(log)) debug(log, source.getName() + " bulk import started with parameters " + Arrays.toString(parameters.entrySet().toArray()) + ".");

        // Create the threads used by the bulk import tool
        scannerThread = new Thread(new Scanner(serviceRegistry,
                                               AuthenticationUtil.getRunAsUser(),
                                               batchWeight,
                                               importStatus,
                                               pauser,
                                               source,
                                               parameters,
                                               target,
                                               createThreadPool(),
                                               batchImporter,
                                               completionHandlers));

        scannerThread.setName(SCANNER_THREAD_NAME);
        scannerThread.setDaemon(true);
        scannerThread.start();
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#pause()
     */
    public void pause()
    {
        if (!importStatus.inProgress())
        {
            throw new IllegalStateException("No import in progress.");
        }

        if (pauser.isPaused())
        {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Import is already paused.");
        }

        if (info(log)) info(log, "Pause requested.");
        pauser.pause();
        importStatus.pauseRequested();
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#resume()
     */
    public void resume()
    {
        if (!importStatus.inProgress())
        {
            throw new IllegalStateException("No import in progress.");
        }

        if (!pauser.isPaused())
        {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Import is not paused.");
        }

        if (info(log)) info(log, "Resume requested.");
        pauser.resume();
        importStatus.resumeRequested();
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#stop()
     */
    @Override
    public void stop()
    {
        if (importStatus.inProgress())
        {
            if (info(log)) info(log, "Stop requested.");

            // Note: this must be called first, as the various threads look for this status to determine if their
            //       interruption was expected or not.
            importStatus.stopRequested();

            if (scannerThread != null)
            {
                scannerThread.interrupt();  // This indirectly whacks the entire import thread pool too
            }
            else
            {
                if (warn(log)) warn(log, "Scanner thread was null.");
            }
        }
        else
        {
            throw new IllegalStateException("No import in progress.");
        }
    }

    /**
     * @see org.alfresco.extension.bulkimport.BulkImporter#getStatus()
     */
    @Override
    public BulkImportStatus getStatus()
    {
        return(importStatus);
    }

    /**
     * Spring "lookup method" that will return a new BulkImportThreadPoolExecutor
     * each time it's called.
     * We have to go to these extremes because:
     * 1. We need to be able to stop an entire import (including all of the worker threads)
     * 2. Java's ExecutorService framework only offers one way to do this: shutting down the entire ExecutorService
     * 3. Once shutdown, a Java ExecutorService can't be restarted / reused
     *
     * Ergo this stuff...  *sigh*
     *
     * @return A new BulkImportThreadPoolExecutor instance <i>(will not be null, assuming Spring is configured correctly)</i>.
     */
    protected abstract BulkImportThreadPoolExecutor createThreadPool();

}


Bearing Failure: Causes and Cures. anneal the ring and ball materials. • The resulting loss in hardness reduces the bearing capacity causing early failure.
reason ball mill bearing overheat - visicomcouk. bearing and vibration analysis articl ball bearing lubrication in centrifugal pumps it turns out that bearings fail for two main reasons common causes and cures .
Maintenance technicians should be aware of these differences – and should know the common causes of, and remedies for, bearing overheating. Electric Motors The ball bearings used in most electric motors are pre-greased, shielded ball bearings.
Precision ball bearings are designed to have a long and useful Ii€e. Assuming the application is correct to begin with, ... identifying and analyzing 12 primary causes of bearing failure. Each characteristic is described in detail and is shown in diagram form, accompanied by a color photograph.
Pulverizing Ball Mill Failures – Machinery Lubrication Magazine PDM Tech (Oil Analysis [OMA] Level I, Level I Vibration, … Focus on Ball Mills Ball mills, or pulverizers, are critical to the operation of any coal-fired boiler.


text:
Shahid Kazemi Stadium ()  is a football stadium in Tehran, Iran.  It is the home stadium of Persepolis F.C. The stadium, which holds 15,000 people, was opened in 2013.
Inside the complex, there are training areas. There are also a sauna, steam and weight rooms, a restaurant, conference rooms and offices.

Record of Results

Persepolis
Persepolis's complete competitive record at Kazemi Stadium is as follows:

See also
 Persepolis F.C.
 Derafshifar Stadium

References

Football venues in Iran
Stadium
Sports venues in Tehran
Association football training grounds in Iran

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
At Pinehurst, a focus on knickers, a slam, and the Big Five
Golf's US Open will feature paeans to Payne Stewart, Tiger Woods' quest for another major, and foreigners on US soil
By Nathaniel Hoopes Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor
To casual golf fans, he was just the guy in the funny pants. But on Father's Day, 1999, in Pinehurst N.C., Payne Stewart gave the golf world a moment of euphoria.
On the last hole of the '99 US Open, he sank a 15-foot par putt to clinch victory - the longest putt ever converted to win America's national championship. Stewart's eyes lit up. He pumped his fist.
Then, in an act of class, he rushed over to his deflated opponent, Phil Mickelson, who was awaiting word on the birth of his first child. He cradled Mickelson's head in his hands, pulling him close. "You're going to be a father!" he reminded him.
It was a memorable scene, one that the golf world will relive many times when the US Open returns to Pinehurst Thursday. The sinewy fairways of the North Carolina course have not hosted an Open since Stewart died in a bizarre plane crash in October of '99, just months after his victory.
Besides the poignant tributes to the man who wore knickers, though, there are plenty of other story lines at the 105th playing of America's national championship this weekend. Could this be the season Tiger Woods wins a "grand slam" (the Masters, US Open, British Open, and PGA Championship all in the same calendar year)? Talk of a "slam" has been quiet so far because no player has dominated the men's professional major championships the way Tiger did from 1999 to 2002.
But anytime Tiger wins the Masters (the season's opening major), the possibility that "this could be the year" certainly becomes a talking point in clubhouses and on putting greens. Expect Tiger to be especially hungry for another victory: He missed a 36-hole cut in May at the Byron Nelson Classic, his first in nearly 7 years. With his record in the majors - 9 victories, third all time - no one will be counting him out.
Besides Woods, everyone will be watching the other members of the "Big Five" - an elite group that has separated itself from the rest of the pack: America's Mickelson, South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and Vijay Singh of Fiji. Els and Goosen have taken home four of the past 10 US Open trophies (two apiece), proving that foreigners can - and do - conquer America's national championship. Goosen is the defending champion. Look for both to be in contention this week.
Singh has been the tour's most consistent player over the past two seasons and is currently the leading money winner. He was challenging in the '99 championship at Pinehurst but fell short on Sunday.
Pinehurst No. 2's fast, elevated greens and closely cropped chipping areas will favor a player with a delicate touch and good imagination with a wedge. Mickelson, known for his confidence around the greens, seems to have a game well-suited to the layout.
Outside the Big Five lurks a strong cast of international contenders still seeking a first major championship. Among them: Australian Adam Scott, Irishman Padraig Harrington, and Spain's Sergio Garcia (who is coming in hot after winning last weekend at the Booz Allen Classic).
A group of experienced Americans - Justin Leonard, Kenny Perry, David Toms, Chris Dimarco, and 2003 US Open winner Jim Furyk - also stand ready to upset the pre-tournament favorites. Regardless of the outcome, the memories of Stewart - and another Father's Day finish - promises to make for a weekend of good theater amid the North Carolina pines.
Martin Kaymer becomes first German to win US Open golf title
Rory McIlroy wins British Open
Golf goals: Making room for athletes with disabilities
https://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0616/p02s02-usgn.html

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This book provides an up-to-date review of the general principles of and techniques for confirmatory adaptive designs. Confirmatory adaptive designs are a generalization of group sequential designs. With these designs, interim analyses are performed in order to stop the trial prematurely under control of the Type I error rate. In adaptive designs, it is also permissible to perform a data-driven change of relevant aspects of the study design at interim stages. This includes, for example, a sample-size reassessment, a treatment-arm selection or a selection of a pre-specified sub-population.
Essentially, this adaptive methodology was introduced in the 1990s. Since then, it has become popular and the object of intense discussion and still represents a rapidly growing field of statistical research. This book describes adaptive design methodology at an elementary level, while also considering designing and planning issues as well as methods for analyzing an adaptively planned trial. This includes estimation methods and methods for the determination of an overall p-value. Part I of the book provides the group sequential methods that are necessary for understanding and applying the adaptive design methodology supplied in Parts II and III of the book. The book contains many examples that illustrate use of the methods for practical application.
The book is primarily written for applied statisticians from academia and industry who are interested in confirmatory adaptive designs. It is assumed that readers are familiar with the basic principles of descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and statistical testing. This book will also be suitable for an advanced statistical course for applied statisticians or clinicians with a sound statistical background.


Carefully weighted and ergonomically designed to fit the physician's hand, no other curette has this patented design. Acu-Curettes are always razor sharp and ready to use. The handle is ribbed for maximum control, even when wearing gloves. Individually wrapped in a peel-apart sterile pack.


This product adopts the light gauge steel as the structure, the renovative wall panels as the enclosure components and the cladding and different types of paints as the finishing material while is using the standard modular system to arrange the layout.
The main structure can be assembled by bolts to achieve the fast and easy erection. Under normal circumstances, the EASY HOUSE has long performance life for over 20 years.


Have you ever stepped inside a heart? Taken a glance through the tunnels of an artery? Well, I'm hoping your answer is 'no', but I can tell you that my class got close to the experience with Google Expeditions.
I had never used a virtual reality headset or been given the opportunity to try one until Google visited our school about three months ago and we got to try out some Google viewers during a biology lesson. We were given these cardboard boxes with eye holes, seemingly ordinary from afar but up close... well, we weren't disappointed!
As our teacher talked us through the importance of the circulatory system, we were spinning around in all directions inspecting the front, back and sides of a 3D virtual model of a skeleton. The visuals were full of detail and I immediately became fully immersed in the lesson.
Our teacher used a tablet to guide us through places of interest - which appeared in our headset as little arrows. We travelled into the capillaries with red blood cells floating by us and, as individuals, were told to find white blood cells. Soon 24 girls were all pointing towards nothing, exclaiming they 'found' it first.
The most interesting part of our tour took place inside the heart. I was standing in a ventricle just below the aortic valve. We stopped to discuss the different parts of the heart and their functions, using all we could see.
If I was given the chance to take the Google Expedition in another subject, I would definitely choose Physics to explore the unexplorable, eg: space. However, some of my classmates preferred the idea of Google Expeditions in Geography, to see the world's greatest natural phenomenons up close, such as volcanic thunderstorms.
By the end of the experience I was impressed with the VR headset and was anxious to learn more with it. I remember my mouth being permanently stuck in a 'wow' expression with every new sight. Even now, I can easily recall information with vivid images.
I would recommend this for other schools because no one is left out of learning.


It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (cue the music)!
Apparently I was all talk. See for the first time ever I was so excited for today…everyone's been at each other (alot!) and momma needs a schedule!
Mike wouldn't wear his new shirt, but combed his hair without being asked (you don't understand…this is huge!).
Anna got her braces off yesterday, she looks like a young woman and it hit me like a brick wall that she's going to be in high school next year.
He did look up for one split second.
It's all good, but as usual, it's all going too fast.
So using (or stealing…however you choose to look at it) the sentiment of my friend Elizabeth….Happy New Year!!! Here's to a fabulous year!


Q. How are the organizations selected to become part of 12by12by12?
A. Each 501(c)(3) organization is carefully reviewed on key aspects of effectiveness, being a change agent, fiscal responsibility, and a strong steward of donor contributions.
Q. Does 12by12by12 take a portion of my contribution to organizations I support from the website?
A. No. Each dollar you contribute goes directly to support the organizations and causes you care most about.


Stay 7 nights from £955 p.p. (Low Season) and from £1,925 p.p. (High Season) in a Deluxe Room, including breakfast.
Belmond Governor's Residence, located in Yangon's elegant Embassy Quarter, is a Colonial-style mansion dating back to the 1920s and was once the residence of the ruler of Burma's southern states. The pretty landscaped gardens feature ceramic pools with floating lotus flowers, whose centrepiece is a fan-shaped swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers, while guest rooms and suites are decorated with cottons and silks and have a mini-bar, desk, sitting area, satellite television and complimentary internet connection, with either an inner courtyard, garden or pool view. Admire the views from the opulent Mindon Lounge whilst sipping a refreshing glass of lemongrass juice, enjoy a pampering spa treatment at the Governor's Oasis spa and shop for souvenirs, including handcrafted art, at the hotel's boutique and gift shop.
30 minutes from Yangon Airport by private car transfer.
All guest rooms and suites feature air-conditioning, a mini-bar, tea and coffee-making facilities, a hairdryer, writing desk, bathrobes and slippers, bathroom amenities, a personal safe, satellite flat-screen television, DVD/CD player, telephone, iPod docking station, complimentary wi-fi internet access and a twice-daily maid service.
Facilities: Deluxe Rooms are generously sized and decorated in cotton and silk. Each one offers double or twin beds, with an extra bed available for a third guest. Features include a sitting area with writing desk, internet access and a satellite flat-screen television. The en suite bathroom boasts underfloor heating and a large terrazzo bath.
Facilities: Deluxe Garden View Rooms have stunning views across the lotus garden and fan-shaped swimming pool. Adorned with luxurious cottons and silks, these guest rooms provide guests with a double or twin beds, a sitting area with satellite flat-screen television and a large marble bathroom with underfloor heating.
Facilities: Governor's Rooms combine traditional materials and motifs with modern luxuries and facilities. Teak and silk are present throughout, while typical Burmese patterns mix with contemporary designs. Hi-tech amenities include flat-screen televisions and wi-fi internet access. King-size or twin queen-size beds feature a beautiful canopy made of carved teak with silk shade screens at the feet of the beds. Silk-panelled doors lead to the en suite bathrooms, which come with double sinks and walk-in showers.
Facilities: Junior Suites are appointed with exotic fabrics and overlook the lotus garden. Each one offers a bedroom with a double bed and a large living room, as well as a spacious bathroom boasting a deluxe terrazzo bath. In-room facilities include satellite flat-screen televisions and complimentary wi-fi.
Facilities: This Junior Suite provides two connecting bedrooms, one with a double bed and the other with twin beds, plenty of space and a large bathroom featuring a deluxe terrazzo bath. The accommodation is ideal for a family of four or two couples travelling together. Suite amenities include satellite flat-screen televisions and complimentary wi-fi.
The hotel boasts three restaurants, serving an array of delightful cuisine to suit all tastes. Additionally, there is the relaxing Kipling Bar - named after the novelist and poet, Rudyard Kipling, who was born in India in 1865 - which serves fine wines, signature cocktails, tea and coffee.
Setting: The romantic signature restaurant at Belmond Governor's Residence, Mandalay Restaurant overlooks the private garden and lotus pond.
Setting: This open-air, palatial lounge overlooks the swimming pool and gardens and is a perfect location for a relaxing evening.
Setting: Cuisine is served in a spacious lounge that overlooks the hotel's lush gardens and ponds.
Welcome to a city of giant pagodas gleaming with gold, peppering the skyline for miles around. A place full of history and hope, following years of military rule. Choose from two complimentary bicycle tours, fastidiously routed to avoid crowds and encounter unique sights. As popular as the pagodas, Yangon's markets are a wonderful place to potter and browse handmade keepsakes, stunning fabrics, all manner of food and scenes of local life. In total contrast, the lustrous greens of Gary Player's Pun Hlaing Golf Club are under an hour away - the hotel will gladly arrange transport and tee-off times.
The hotel's position in the leafy Embassy Quarter places guests a stone's throw from Yangon's top cultural and historical attractions. The glorious Shwedagon Pagoda, for instance, gilded with over 8,000 solid gold slabs, the thought-provoking National Museum, glittering Myanmar Gems Museum and bustling Bogyoke Market, laden with trinkets, gemstones and beautiful handicrafts. Even the hotel is a historical treasure, taking guests back in time with its colonial architecture and intriguing past.
Step inside The Governor's Oasis, a sublime spa hidden in this legendary Yangon hotel. Choose from a menu of top-to-toe treatments and exclusive spa packages, using organic ingredients and modern techniques. A unique spa experience that promises to dissolve tension or pain and revitalise body and soul, so you'll leave with a complete sense of harmony. Will it be a body wrap, manicure, massage or reflexology? Whatever you choose, it will be pure bliss!
Excursions with a private car and Guide can be arranged to places of interest nearby, including Bago, Burma's ancient capital. We recommend you take an escorted trip by classic 1940s bus to the local food markets, then return to the hotel for a cooking lesson, followed by a lunch comprising the dishes you have helped to make.
Receive up to a 15% rate reduction when staying for 2 nights or longer.


Genes have been getting the heat for causing cancer, but this general opinion has some serious pitfalls.
In the case of breast cancer, scientists have identified that mutations in Breast Cancer Genes (BRCA) align with higher risks of cancer, but they're no guarantee. In the case of BRCA 1 mutations, it's predicted that 55-65% of women will have breast cancer by 70 years of age. For BRCA 2, experts figure that 45% of women with this mutated gene will have cancer by age 70. The risks of cancer are obviously higher with these mutations, but they're still around 50%. And these are the risks up through age seventy. Seventy.
Organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society make a point to address that genetics may play a pivotal role in cancer risk and screening is imperative. We would presume that these cancer "charities" would know what they're talking about, but there's a serious conflict of interest. The millions of dollars they're making each year go to cancer research. As in studying and producing new chemical therapies and poisonous pills to be used as "cancer treatment" (for some serious cash).
Which really sounds like some crazy conspiracy, right? But if there's anything that can convince us of the insanity of modern cancer treatment, it's mammograms.
Of particular interest is ionizing radiation, because a mammogram works by way of ionizing radiation. Potent and concentrated ionizing radiation. Which means that this "vital cancer screening tool" may also be responsible for causing it.
Various institutions have conducted reviews, analyses, and studies on mammograms which conclude that mammograms are not the life-saving tool they're touted to be. On the contrary, they find that mammograms put women at risk of overdiagnosis, overtreatment, receiving a false-positive (and all the unnecessary medical procedures and emotional suffering that come along with it), and a higher risk of developing breast cancer. All of that, plus almost no impact on the mortality rate of breast cancer.
According to the Institute of Medicine's report, diagnostic medical radiation (ie. mammograms) lack standardized doses and procedures, guidelines, and federal oversight. Moreover, they note that the physicians ordering up ionizing radiation are lacking education on the risks and implications of this toxic medical tool.
But it's certainly worth the risk if a mammogram can detect your cancer, right? Well, according to M.D. (and N.D. and D.O.) Doctor Ben Johnson, mammograms are only "sensitive" to around 52% of breast cancers tested on. Meaning that they're able to detect a little over half of cancers, while leaving the other half of existing cancers undetected. So breasts which actually have malignant tumors can go undiagnosed. But then breasts without cancerous growth can send mammogram analyses into a flurry and provoke unnecessary (and emotionally and physically harmful) procedures.
In addition, an analysis of nearly 90,000 women ages 40-59 showed that annual mammograms didn't reduce deaths from breast cancer anymore than physical examination or adjuvant therapy. But while women are being educated on how imperative cancer detection is, these very relevant and crucial bits of information somehow miss the discussion.
Studies show that early detection via mammograms ain't the life saver that they're advertised to be. But preventive services like cancer screening still have an important role in detecting and diagnosing cancer. As it turns out, there's a great list of alternative options that don't tote the toxicity.
Blood testing is another method for determining cancer. There are simple testing options like at-home saliva hormone tests which can reveal issues like estrogen dominance, estrogen deficiency, progesterone deficiency, and androgen excesses or deficiencies. For more serious testing needs, there's the ONCOblot test. This test is able to find the the cancer marker gene ENOX2, and can even tell what kind of cancer cell it is (the organ of origin). It's one of the most specialized tests on the market, and it's poison free.
Perhaps the greatest option is thermography. It uses safe infrared technology to find "hot spots" that signify cancerous growths; and it can find these cancer spots well before a lump has formed. Here it excels above mammograms, because a mammogram can only detect growths after they're already 5-8 years in development. Moreover, a study by the American Journal of Surgery has pinned thermography's sensitivity rate (proportion of correctly identified positives) at 97%. Thermography is brimming with pros. Of course, it comes with a con because the FDA has yet to approve it so that it can be covered by insurance (a rather convenient coincidence). Until that happens, this test is something that would have to be paid out of pocket.
But if you need a diagnostic test that can be covered by insurance, you're in luck. Ultrasounds and MRI's are diagnostic radiologic technologies with great potential against breast cancer. MRI's are overlooked compared to mammograms because they can miss precancerous calcifications, and they may not always be able to tell a cancerous abnormality from a non-cancerous one. Of course, they outperform mammograms in their ability to analyze dense breasts, and to reveal suspicious breast lesions.
Ultrasounds are another viable option. A study from the Journal Of The National Cancer Institute concluded that ultrasound imaging and mammography were on par with their rate of sensitivity. They were also very comparable with their specificity rate (proportion of correctly identified negatives). Of course, this study also showed that ultrasound had a higher rate of recall for additional and testing, and a significantly higher number of false-positives where biopsies were performed. However, these numbers showed significant reductions from the end of year one to the end of year three. Therefore, an ultrasound from a technician skilled in breast ultrasound imaging poses great potential.
The easiest way to avoid a cancer diagnosis is to attempt (or at least attempt to attempt) to prevent it in the first place. One of cancer's greatest nemesis is the food that you put in your mouth. It's old advice you've heard a thousand times, I know, but there'a reason that diet is so important to our health. The entire point of eating is to give our bodies the energy and nutrition that our biological processes require. Processed foods and convenient eats can take care of hunger, but they'll never be able to provide our bodies the energy and nutrition they so desperately need. Mothers can take this a step further by using this healthy diet to promote breastfeeding. Without a doubt, expert analyses show that breastfeeding reduces risks of breast cancer.
Lifestyle is another vital factor in cancer prevention. Without a doubt, a sedentary lifestyle comes with outrageous health risks. Some sort of physical activity is required in order to keep our body functioning and performing. Exercise enhances circulation, thereby increasing the blood's transportation of oxygen and nutrients to our trillions of cells in need. Physical activity also promotes the production of feel-good hormones and endorphins. This plus exercise's positive impact on our body and self-esteem is not something to overlook. Stress and anxiety wreak havoc on the body, and studies only show that it's impact on health goes deeper and deeper.
Furthermore, the branch of science of Epigenetics stresses that genetic changes can be provoked by the mind. Committing to an uplifted mood and positive mindset is paramount to cancer prevention. The huge bonus is that deliberately minimizing stress and anxiety will make you happier. Which is usually a great and life-changing thing.
If you need help creating the diet and lifestyle that cancer can't stand, then look into our Thrive Online Holistic Health Program.
Ash Stevens is a writer who doubles as a pretend philosopher and a wannabe shaman. When she isn't writing her soul out on her blog, she's listening to the great minds (or great comedians) on YouTube, soaking up sunshine, or having yet another fascinating conversation with herself (she gives excellent advice, you know). Find her on Twitter or Facebook and make a new friend!


For eight years, Indie Bible helped me tour the country by giving me opportunities that would have otherwise been unknown to me. I always had a nice run of gigs thanks to my college show agents but I needed that extra support for local venues in and out of each city.
Starting as an independent, touring songwriter, Indie Bible supplied me with over 32,000 venues, festivals, and college listings from Florida all the way up to Seattle. Back then, this info was given to me over a number of paper back books.
As I start to plan more road time in 2016, again without the help of a booking agency, I'm finding that I have the Indie Bible at the touch of my fingertips with their hyperlinked eBooks. With the elimination of all those pages, they have also lowered the cost by 70%.
By signing up to their monthly newsletter, you'll also get updates on submitting your music for radio airplay, music blog reviews, interviews and some pretty awesome features.
I highly recommend you checking out the newsletter and the online version for FREE. Clicking HERE will bring you to the summary page of all that the Indie Bible has to offer. Any purchases made through this link will also supply Head Above Music with a referral free for introducing this information. Those earning will fund the upkeep of this site.


text:
Stage musical
Broadway-Bound Michael Jackson Bio-Musical Gets Title And Chicago Dates
The previously announced Michael Jackson stage musical has gotten a name and a pre- Broadway premiere date: The newly titled Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough will begin performances in Chicago on October 29. The musical, inspired by the life of the late King of Pop and featuring a book by Lynn Nottage , will run through December 1 at Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (formerly the Oriental Theatre). Playwright Nottage has won two Pulitzer Prizes for drama, the first in 2009 for Ruined and the second in 2017 for Sweat . The title and date was announced today by producers the Michael Jackson Estate and Columbia Live Stage. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is set to arrive on Broadway in 2020. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough – currently in development and named after the hit song from Jackson's classic 1979 album Off The Wall – will include a score consisting of Jackson songs. Christopher Wheeldon, a 2015 Tony Award winner for An American in Paris ' … [Read more...] about Broadway-Bound Michael Jackson Bio-Musical Gets Title And Chicago Dates
Filed Under: Business Broadway, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Lynn Nottage, Michael Jackson, Theater, chicago musical broadway, chicago the musical broadway, musical chicago broadway, chicago broadway musical, broadway musicals in chicago, broadway chicago musical, broadway musicals chicago, michael jackson music
'Transparent' Wins Two Golden Globes With Best TV Series & Best Actor – Comedy Or Musical
2nd Update, 7:14 PM: "This is about changing people's lives, this is about freedom," said Jeffrey Tambor tonight backstage at the Golden Globes after accepting the the Best Actor in Television Series – Comedy or Musical award. "Jill (Soloway) transformed my life and changed my life. I was given this role called Maura Pfefferman and it's been the most transformative role and the most challenging," the actor remarked of his transgendered role on Transparent . "I'm 70 years old, this doesn't happen every day. This was not for the reviews, the rewards, but to get it right." Tonight's GG win was the first for the 6-time Emmy nominated Tambor. The actor also held nothing back in his praise of Amazon Studios . "Amazon and Joe (Lewis) were behind me," he said of the Jeff Bezos formed company, "they have guts and they have taste." Tambor's remarks on the studio and its support echo those of Soloway late last year . Today's wins were the first major awards for Amazon with the series … [Read more...] about 'Transparent' Wins Two Golden Globes With Best TV Series & Best Actor – Comedy Or Musical
Filed Under: Uncategorized Amazon Studios, Golden Globes, Transparent, best tv series on tv, best tv series ever, best tv series on hulu, best tv series right now, chrisley knows best tv series, the best tv series to watch, best tv series out now, list of best tv series to watch, best tv series to watch on hulu, fx best tv series, neon best tv series, the guardian 50 best tv series, best tv series popularity, top and best tv series, grab the best tv series, rotten tomato best tv series, best tv series like house of cards, best tv series out just now, best tv series like shadow and bone, best tv series like walking dead
Amanda Seyfried Confirms Broadway Musical Plans With Evan Rachel Wood Amid 'Thelma & Louise' Reports
The Dropout star Amanda Seyfried appears to have confirmed she's working on a Broadway -bound musical with Westworld 's Evan Rachel Wood amid reports that the duo are workshopping a stage adaptation of the 1991 film Thelma & Louise . The movie starred Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as pair of friends on the run from the law. In a red carpet interview with E! News at the Critics' Choice Awards, Seyfried said, "I wanna go to Broadway. I wanna sing, and I think I'm finally getting to that point where it's gonna happen." She added, "You should hear Evan Rachel Wood sing. My god." Deadline's sister publication Variety first reported the Thelma & Louise project after actor Mo Brings Plenty accepted a Globe on behalf of the absent Seyfried and said she was "deep in the process of creating a new musical." Seyfried has appeared in a number of movie musicals, including Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Les Misérables, and Wood starred in … [Read more...] about Amanda Seyfried Confirms Broadway Musical Plans With Evan Rachel Wood Amid 'Thelma & Louise' Reports
Filed Under: Uncategorized Amanda Seyfried, Broadway, Evan Rachel Wood, Thelma & Louise, mary alice evans office of planning, greatest showman musical broadway
Actors' Equity Disputes Strike's Impact On Michael Jackson Musical's Canceled Chicago Staging – Update
February 14, 2019 by deadline.com
Update, with Equity statement Actors' Equity isn't shouldering the blame for the cancellation of a pre- Broadway engagement of the new Michael Jackson jukebox musical, saying any delays caused by the recent Equity strike were "modest." "It's incredibly disappointing that the actors and stage managers who are currently working to develop this project were not informed about a major production change before a public media announcement was made," said Brandon Lorenz, Communications Director, Actors' Equity Association in a statement. "The developmental lab that was scheduled for this production was delayed by 12 working days during the strike. It is difficult to understand how a modest delay in February would impact a run that was scheduled for late October." Earlier today, producers for Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough canceled a pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago , blaming "scheduling difficulties" caused by the recently ended Actors' Equity strike. Don't Stop … [Read more...] about Actors' Equity Disputes Strike's Impact On Michael Jackson Musical's Canceled Chicago Staging – Update
Filed Under: Uncategorized Broadway, Chicago, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson, video official thriller michael jackson, 2cellos youtube michael jackson, 2cellos do michael jackson, doctor to michael jackson, moonwalkers film michael jackson, moonwalker lyrics michael jackson, moonwalkers michael jackson, moonwalker michael jackson film, moonwalker video michael jackson, michael jackson ukulele, michael jackson 4k, tucker carlson about michael jackson, chicago girl michael jackson, africa michael jackson, debbie rowe i michael jackson, nmaahc michael jackson, top 5 michael jackson songs, me and you michael jackson, atef michael jackson, letta mbulu and michael jackson
'Days Of Wine And Roses' Musical Adaptation Sets Off-Broadway World Premiere With Kelli O'Hara & Brian d'Arcy James
A new musical adaptation of the classic 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses will make its world premiere Off Broadway this May in an Atlantic Theater Company production starring Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James in the roles made famous by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. With a book by Craig Lucas ( Prelude to a Kiss, Longtime Companion ) and music & lyrics by Adam Guettel ( Floyd Collins ), Days of Wine and Roses will begin previews on Friday, May 5, for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 25, at the Linda Gross Theater. Michael Greif ( Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal ) directs. Additional casting and an opening date will be announced at a later date. Adapted from JP Miller's Blake Edwards-directed 1962 film and original 1958 teleplay, which chronicled the downward spiral to alcoholism of a young couple, Days of Wine and Roses will mark the first collaboration between Lucas and Guettel since their acclaimed musical The Light in the Piazza , which … [Read more...] about 'Days Of Wine And Roses' Musical Adaptation Sets Off-Broadway World Premiere With Kelli O'Hara & Brian d'Arcy James
Filed Under: Uncategorized Brian d'Arcy, days of wine and roses, kelli o'hara, Off-Broadway, World Music Day Poster, world music day 2017
'Rocketman' Wins Oscar For Best Original Song: Elton John & Bernie Taupin Share Award Stage For First Time
February 9, 2020 by deadline.com
UPDATED with video Did anyone really think Hollywood wouldn't choose a song called "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" as the year's best? The song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin from the film Rocketman won the Oscar for Best Original Song, beating out four songs from Toy Story 4, Breakthrough, Frozen 2 and Harriet. "Being here with this guy, I don't have words for it," said Sir Elton's longtime songwriting partner, lyricist Taupin. "It's justification for 53 years of just hammering it out and doing what we do." Said John, "Thank you Bernie, who has been the constant thing in my life, when I was screwed up, and when I was normal…" The win marked the first Oscar for Taupin, and the second for John (who won for The Lion King 's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" with lyricist Tim Rice in 1994). On a night when Oscar producers felt compelled to include a montage of great movie songs past and recruit Eminem to perform the 18-year-old trophy winner "Lose … [Read more...] about 'Rocketman' Wins Oscar For Best Original Song: Elton John & Bernie Taupin Share Award Stage For First Time
Filed Under: Uncategorized (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again, Bernie Taupin, Elton John, Oscars, Rocketman, best underrated elton john songs, best elton john love songs, best elton john piano songs, best elton john rock songs, best elton john songs ever, best elton john songs youtube, best original song oscar 2018, best original song oscar, oscar winning original songs, best elton john songs to learn on piano, 1950 best original song oscar, best elton john song ever, best original song oscar 2019, best known elton john songs, best original song oscar 2017, best original song oscar winners, oscar predictions best original song 2019, oscar nominations best original song 2019, oscar best original song
"Honoured and Humbled": Winner Crowned At Set the Stage With Tash Sultana
November 28, 2022 by au.rollingstone.com
Aspiring artists were offered the opportunity of a lifetime as they took the stage outside Platypus' Pitt St store to perform in front of Aussie music icon Tash Sultana and the Lonely Lands team for Set The Stage with Tash Sultana , thanks to Platypus and New Balance. Tash is an internationally renowned singer-songwriter, producer, engineer & multi-instrumentalist & entrepreneur who has been dubbed one of the hardest-working musical exports in Australia. Tash is the co- founder and director of Lonely Lands Agency which has become one of the country's major independent booking agencies. After entering by filming a performance of an original song and submitting it to the Platypus site , competitors battled it out on-stage outside Platypus' Pitt St Store for their chance to support New Balance ambassador Sultana at two of Tash's major 2023 shows curated by Lonely Lands Agency, of which Sultana is also the co-director & co-founder. "It's all about … [Read more...] about "Honoured and Humbled": Winner Crowned At Set the Stage With Tash Sultana
Filed Under: Uncategorized setting the stage, Sets Stage, Setting Stage, triple crown winner, tash sultana
Age-Defying Red Hot Chili Peppers and Post Malone Impress in Auckland
January 23, 2023 by au.rollingstone.com
As the sun set over Auckland on Saturday night, 40,000 revellers packed into Mt Smart Stadium to catch a glimpse of two of modern music's most popular acts, and the night packed a punch that will be a lasting memory for those who made the most of it. Post Malone couldn't have been a better fit to get the party started. Constantly joking with the crowd, he showcased an energy that matched the enthusiasm he has for his craft. Bouncing between his well-known hits, including "Stay", "I Fall Apart", "Rockstar" and "Circles", he casually demanded attention, belting out his surprisingly deep lyrics with endearing ease. "Thank you guys so very f***ing much for hanging out with me tonight. This is so very fun. Cheers!" he exclaimed at one point, and everyone in the crowd had no reason not to believe him. As he punched through cigarettes while constantly being himself – this is a man renowned for his love of tobacco after all – he easily won the Auckland audience's … [Read more...] about Age-Defying Red Hot Chili Peppers and Post Malone Impress in Auckland
Filed Under: Uncategorized concert red hot chili peppers 2018, sick love red hot chili peppers, snow red hot chili peppers tab, trashing red hot chili peppers, memorabilia red hot chili peppers, red hot chili peppers tour 2019, best red hot chili peppers songs, lonely view red hot chili peppers, lonely view red hot chili peppers lyrics, way red hot chili peppers, higher ground red hot chili peppers, halftime show red hot chili peppers, tabs red hot chili peppers, venice queen red hot chili peppers lyrics, don't forget me red hot chili peppers, ballads red hot chili peppers, catholic schoolgirls rule red hot chili peppers, tour red hot chili peppers 2018, chord under the bridge red hot chili peppers, hey oh red hot chili peppers
MTV VMAs Reveals DJs & Performers For 2022 Trophy Show – Update
August 18, 2022 by deadline.com
2ND UPDATE, 7:30 AM: MTV said today that a pair of Video Vanguard recipients — LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj — and current seven-time VMA nominee Jack Harlow are set to emcee the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards next week. See below for the lineup of VMAs performers announced so far. UPDATED, August 15: Blackpink, Jack Harlow, Lizzo and Måneskin have joined the performer lineup for the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. PREVIOUSLY, August 5: The first batch of performers is set for 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Coming to the stage later this month will be Anitta , J Balvin , Marshmello x Khalid and Panic! at the Disco . The annual Moon Person trophy show is set for August 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Kendrick Lamar, Jack Harlow & Lil Nas X coming into the show tied for the nominations lead with seven apiece. Next up are Doja Cat and Harry Styles with six each and Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd with … [Read more...] about MTV VMAs Reveals DJs & Performers For 2022 Trophy Show – Update
Filed Under: Uncategorized Anitta, J Balvin, Marshmello x Khalid, MTV, MTV Video Music Awards, Panic! at the Disco, VMA's, billboard who should perform at the 2020 mtv vmas, vma mtv, most mtv vmas awards
There Was a Little Part of David Crosby in All of Us, Whether We Knew It or Not
In my many years of seeing live music, few sights were as dispiriting as the first time I saw David Crosby up close. In the early Eighties, he played a solo show at New York's Town Hall. Walking onstage, looking a little overweight, unkempt and shaggy in an untucked shirt and baggy pants, he plopped down on a wooden chair. His voice was a bit raspier than we'd heard on his records, and the blissed-out smiles and stage patter he was known for were MIA. At one point, he yawned and looked at his watch, as if he were prepping for a nap. In those way-pre-Internet days, no one knew what was happening with anyone. But when it was revealed a short while later that he was a serious drug addict, the performance made a sad amount of sense. So when Crosby died last week , at 81, the news was both shocking and not. One of rock's legendary libertines, he'd packed several lifetimes' worth of adventure and misadventure into those eight decades — including, not long after the show I saw, … [Read more...] about There Was a Little Part of David Crosby in All of Us, Whether We Knew It or Not
Filed Under: Uncategorized david mcalmont have yourself a merry little christmas, cleary david little, crosby david here if you listen, crosby david if i could only remember my name, david crosby about graham nash, david crosby best songs, bing crosby david bowie, the man who knew too little 1997, little drummer boy david bowie, david bowie little drummer boy


text:
L is for Love
By Unknown 00:30 1 comment
I'm a Final Fantasy fan, to the point I have so many versions of the music form the game. I'm actually thinking of the version from the Potion 2 CD, not from the actual game, but as with K, the lyrics should be the same.
Susie found it on her pillow the night after their third date. It was a small silk bag of a rich blue color and tied off with a pink ribbon. At one end of it was the name 'Johnathon Maynard'. Susie immediately felt creeped out, why would John leave a gift, with his name on it, on her pillow? And how did he even get into her house while she was sleeping? Shit, did he take something?
She bolted upright, but then it dawned on her that the handwriting wasn't his. She left it on her pillow as she made sure all the doors and windows were locked. Alarming. But nothing was out of place and her laptop and iPhone were where she left them.
The only thing different was the silk bag.
When she picked it up it felt empty. On the back of the name card was written 'love will grow'. Strange. Inside the bag was a single seed.
It wasn't like any she had seen before, a rusty red color. It was round, but had a dent on one side that from a certain angle made the seed look like a heart.
She planted it in an empty Jiffy jar, put it on the window sill in the kitchen because that was the room with the most light, and took care to water it everyday.
The day of their two month anniversary, Susie noticed that the first bit of green was sticking up above the soil. She stared at it in wonder while the coffee maker gurgled, turning the peanut butter jar cum plant pot around in her hands. Growing things had never been something she was interested in, but staring at this little sprout and feeling the sense of pride in her chest she couldn't help but wonder why gardening hadn't appealed to her earlier.
On their date that night, Susie decided John had long term potential.
The plant grew, from a barely there bit of green to a stem two inches tall. When the first leaf unfurled, Susie learned that John could read her moods. Could tell when she was upset, and while maybe not knowing why, he knew exactly how to make her feel better. This was officially a serious relationship.
It took awhile for the stem to bud. Susie watched it in fascination. Since first planting the seed she had joined online gardening communities and planted several other plants, flowers and herbs. But this John flower as she had taken to calling it was only just budding while other flowers she had planted after this one had already bloomed.
Susie had posted a bit about the John flower, skipping the point about it just appearing on her pillow, and now posted a picture of the bud. It wasn't green, but instead a burnt orange color and the bud was covered in a white fuzz that made it hard to see the skin. No one could figure out what flower was growing on her kitchen window sill.
The same day the bud appeared, Susie decided that it was time to introduce John to her parents.
The bud didn't bloom for months, just sat there on the stem. Susie watered it, gave it fertilizer, but the bud didn't open and she was beginning to wonder if maybe she was growing a vegetable instead and the bud did swelled a little. But it never grew larger than a grape or lost the fuzz. Susie was beginning to think maybe that was it, the plant was done growing and would die soon. But it never did.
But almost a year after meeting John, he proposed. And when she got home the John flower had bloomed. It wasn't orange like she had expected, but a deep pink that turned to red in the center. It was also huge, the grape sized bud had revealed a flower that had a diameter of a hand span and a half.
What really caught Susie attention though was the card that was propped up against the stem. It was in the same handwriting as the card that had come with the seed, but instead of saying John's name it said 'Your love has bloomed'.
I think it would be kinda nice to have a visual representation of your love life.
Awww, that is a beautiful story.


Paul Joseph Harrington, 54 of Long Valley, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday April 8th. Visitation will be held on Monday April 13th from 3-7pm at the William J. Leber Funeral Home, 15 Furnace Rd(corner of rt. 206), Chester, NJ. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday April 14th at 10:30am at St. Luke Parish in Long Valley. The interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester following the service.
A graduate of Seton Hall Prep and Kean University, he was the owner of Clyde Paul Agency and previous owner of Hilltop Home Improvement. Paul was larger than life. When Paul entered a room his presence was noticed and his booming voice was heard. He enjoyed his work, playing golf, spending time with his fraternity brothers and friends and especially spending time with his wife, children and family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years Susan (Paul) and his cherished children: Lisa Hamm and her husband Bill, Joe, Katie, Patrick and Kelly Harrington. He is also survived by his brother Dennis and sisters Pegeen Lightner, Jane Smith, Patty Razor, Kathy Constantino and Mary Jennings, along with many nieces and nephews, in laws and father in law Clyde Paul. He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret and William; and his bothers, Joseph, John, Michael and Bill.


In January 2019 I will turn 40. I am blessed to have made it this far in years and I am also very proud of how far I have come as a person (both literally and metaphorically) so I have decided to mark this occasion in a special way.
I have carefully put together a special list of 40 challenges to pursue during the year: my 40 before 40 quest. Honestly, it took a while to think of things that are actually important to me and not just challenges that I thought I should include. The temptation was to include sky diving and marathon running but I resisted and made sure that as strange and eclectic as these challenges may appear to others, they all speak loudly and clearly to me. Compiling the list was a challenge but it was also a lot of fun and I would highly recommend this process to everyone! It really helps you to understand yourself a little better and that has to be a good thing!
Many of these challenges will take me out of my comfort zone. Some of them are things I have always wanted to do, other challenges are about reconnecting with activities I enjoyed when I was younger, others are about me taking better care of myself or simply having fun!
I wanted to share my list here and will keep track of my progress via this blog too. I would love any recommendations for books to read to make up my 40 (challenge 15 ) and if you can offer any advice around other challenges, this would also be gratefully received!
40. Drink champagne in celebration of something special!
If you have a milestone coming up in your life that you would like to mark in a special way, think about making your own list of challenges. If you do- I would love to hear all about it!


text:
PAOK Eliminated in CEV Champions League
-- PAOK Eliminated in CEV Champions League --
CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUALIFYING (LEG 2)
20-Nov Skra Bełchatów 3 - 1 PAOK (6 - 0)
PAOK was defeated for a second time by Belchatow in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the CEV Volleyball Champions League and was eliminated from the competition.
After winning the first leg 3-0 in Thessaloniki, Belchatow was victorious at home against PAOK 3-1 set to qualify for the next round of the CEV Volleyball Champions League. The Greek Champions had a high mountain to climb after their heavy first leg defeat at home and they were unable to pull off a comeback in the second leg. PAOK fell behind 1-0 after the first set, but drew level in the second set. However, Belchatow was too strong for the Dikefalos tou Vora in the final two sets and comfortably won the match 3-1.
PAOK will now continue in Europe's' 2nd tier Volleyball competition, the CEV Cup, along with Olympiacos. The CEV Champions League will continue without a Greek representative for this season.
Image Source: gazzetta.gr
Tagged: Other Greek Sports, CEV Champions League, Skra Belchatow, PAOK VC, Volleyball
Newer PostPanathinaikos Gets the Job Done in Thessaloniki
Older PostMitroglou Scores Twice in Benfica's Big Win


text:
If a Bee Be I
If a bee, I'd see the world with many eyes.
If a bee, the world would seem a bright and endless sky.
If a bee, a special treat for me
would be to sip sweet nectar
from blossoms on a tree.
If a bee, I'd spend most nights and all cold winter long
with many, many, many other bees
very much like me.
In January the Associated Press reported North American honey bee hives seemed to be surviving in greater numbers this year, news that prompted some to hope worrisome Colony Collapse Disorder was abating. But in late March, an updated AP report found that this Spring again, for the fourth year in a row, American beekeepers were finding as many as a third of their hives mysteriously empty of worker bees.
What is so worrisome about CCD is that modern agriculture is hugely dependent upon industrious bees as pollinators of money making crops. Without efficient pollination, fruit and seed production plummets. Without plentiful harvests, Americans would see much higher food prices and much less abundance in grocery stores.
Current thinking is that Colony Collapse Disorder is a recent development in the ecology of bees, but the scientific literature does list similar "disappearances" in the 1880's, 1920's, 1960's, and most recently in Pennsylvania in 1996. (See USDA/ARS. Also see USDA/NAL.)
Researchers are currently investigating a number of possible causes including pesticides, pathogens born by mites, viruses, and fungi. The most suspicious connections reported so far have been correlations up to 96% between bee samples from CCD hives and viruses born by the varroa mite, a creature accidently introduced into the U.S. in 1986. (Again see USDA/ARS.)
Succeeding research into such viruses, as reported by AP and researchers from the USDA and the University of Illinois in late August 2009, suggests one "picorna-like" virus that can be transmitted by the varroa mite causes a breakdown of RNA in bees.
As reported in the Associated Press story: "If your ribosome is compromised, then you can't respond to pesticides, you can't respond to fungal infections or bacteria or inadequate nutrition because the ribosome is central to the survival of any organism. You need proteins to survive," per May R. Berenbaum, head of the department of entomology at U of I.
Unfortunately, that news prompted beekeepers to heavily spray for mites last Fall only to find a discomforting build up of suspect pesticide residue in the honey and pollen of newly collapsed hives this Spring. Frustrated beekeepers want to do something to save their hives, but definitive answers are just not in yet. And so, research continues.
If a bee be I, I'd love to find the endless sky
safe for me to fly.


It has the same functionality as any other Leica M. And when I say it's got the same functionality as any other Leica, I mean… There isn't much functionality. It's a Leica!
Of course, he's talking about the fact that the Leica M 262 has fewer features than its predecessor (no live view or video functionality) but he's quick to point out that any Leica M is about simplicity. By taking out the video and live view functionality the Leica M 262 has become closer to the ideal camera that digital Leica users have wanted all along.
The Leica M 262 is also notable for replacing the brass top plate with aluminum and shifting from a black paint finish to the classic black chrome seen on the M6. These two changes combined to inspire the ire of Leicaphiles around the world who loved the worn in look of brass showing through in all the right places. Black chrome won't show the signs of wear as elegantly as brass and it's a more durable finish. Switching to aluminum shaves a few grams off the camera's weight and that's never a bad thing.
Kai spends a bit of time talking about the new shutter sound and frankly, I think this is a major win for the Leica M 262. The new shutter definitely sounds a bit quieter than the M 240 (and light years ahead of the M9) but it can't hold a candle to the new Fuji X-Pro2 which has the sexiest focal plane shutter I've heard. Still it's good to see Leica making improvements to the shutter mechanism. Stealthy is good!
Leica M (Typ 262) at B&H.
Leica M (Typ 262) at Leica Store Miami.
There's no denying the excellence of Leica M cameras and the Leica M 262 is really as close to perfect as any digital M to date. But it's still based on the 3 year old M 240 and it's starting to feel a little anachronistic. I mean, just look at the size of that thing in Kai's hands! Sure, it's managable but its hulking size is almost inexcusable considering Sony's diminutive and excellent A7 series of full frame cameras.
Don't get me wrong, Sony's buttons, dials and menus are a nightmare to use compared to the elegant simplicity of the Leica M 262. And while may be better digital cameras on the market today, nothing compares to Leica as a pure photographic tool.