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Company/Products Hardware Research and innovation
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: 'Fix the gilts, fix Mycoplasma'
There's a lot we think we know about Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) under field conditions, but there's a paucity of peer-reviewed literature to support much of the conventional wisdom we swine veterinarians apply to the management of M. hyo as well as its role in porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC).
By James F. Lowe, DVM, MS, Dip ABVP (Food Animal)
Lowe Consulting Ltd, Mahomet, Ill.
Associate Professor and Head, Integrated Food Animal Management Systems
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine
Our inability to accurately assess infection dynamics limits our ability to design evidence-based M. hyo-management strategies for gilt populations. The result has been many divergent and sometimes conflicting approaches to controlling M. hyo in modern production systems.
In my experience, however, it's possible to achieve effective M. hyo control, but it depends on five critical, key messages. They focus on the status of gilts at the time of entry to the sow farm because control of M. hyo-associated PRDC late in finishing won't be achieved until the M. hyo infection status of gilts at the time of entry is adequately managed.
That's why I like to say, "Fix the gilts, fix Mycoplasma."
Key message 1
The number of pigs infected at weaning determines the disease load from M. hyo in growing pigs.
The first step toward understanding the potential impact of an infectious disease in a population is to understand the root mechanisms of the disease source and its transmission. M. hyo is a slow-growing organism with a long incubation prior to the emergence of clinical signs, so infection early in life is an important factor in disease progression. Without sufficient time for the organism to grow in the host before marketing, clinically important disease doesn't occur. For disease to occur in the population, increased transmission early in the growing period is important.
Shedding sows means infected pigs.
While it's possible piglets could become infected with M. hyo from horizontal transmission during transport or immediately after weaning, this appears to be unlikely. The dam is the most logical source of infection in pigs at weaning for most diseases, and M. hyo is no exception. It's logical to assume from available evidence that controlling this transmission link is the key to improving clinical outcomes in late finishing pigs.
Females that are infected in the 200 days prior to farrowing are likely to shed to their piglets.
Even if infection rates in piglets at weaning are low, some sows are shedding M. hyo to their piglets. This raises the question of why some sows are more likely to shed M. hyo than others. There's clear evidence in the literature that animals that are within 200 days of M. hyo exposure and infection are capable of infecting other pigs.1 In other words, any female infected within the last 200 days is capable and likely to infect her offspring, but those infected more than 200 days previously are not likely to do so. Thus, the ability of a sow to shed M. hyo is strongly dependent on the post-infection interval.
Research has not definitively established M. hyo reinfection and shedding patterns, but it's speculated that once animals are M. hyo-infected, they are unlikely to be reinfected or to shed the organism again. This assumption suggests that if the herd does not have new exposures to M. hyo for at least 200 days, shedding will stop. In the case of M. hyo-elimination programs, herd closure for extended periods of time has been shown to stop sow-to-piglet transmission.
Gilts are the most likely animals to be infected in the 200 days prior to farrowing.
In typical breeding herds with continuous or intermittent introduction and removals, new animals are the most likely to be infected within 200 days of farrowing. There are two potential ways for this to occur either before or after introduction into the herd. In the first scenario, naive gilts are introduced into an infected herd and become infected during the gestation period. In the second scenario, gilts are recently infected prior to arrival and have not cleared the organism prior to farrowing. Both scenarios have the same clinical outcome, which is transmission to first-parity litters and late-finishing PRDC in susceptible animals.
Vaccination is not effective when used as the sole or primary tool for disease control.
There is clear evidence that conventional, killed M. hyo bacterins do not alter the transmission rates of M. hyo in populations.1,2 An M. hyo bacterin may minimize or prevent clinical signs of M. hyo in pigs,3 but it doesn't prevent infection or reduce the number of infected pigs in a herd setting.
Although M. hyo bacterins remain a valuable tool for mitigating clinical enzootic pneumonia or PRDC, they will not solve the root cause of M. hyo infection or minimize the impact of M. hyo on profitability.
Gilt acclimation scenarios
The objective in commercial swine herds is to have gilts that aren't shedding M. hyo at the time of farrowing to reduce the rate of M. hyo infection in their offspring. Practically speaking, there are four scenarios for replacement gilt (RG) introduction in commercial swine herds that need to be managed to minimize the impact of M. hyo on the downstream pig flow.
In all four scenarios, it's critical that acclimation addresses all other microorganisms that can cause production-herd losses. The strategies outlined below are exclusive to M. hyo and need to be incorporated into an individualized, whole-herd, evidence-based acclimation plan that considers other conditions and constraints.
Scenario 1 — M. hyo–naïve RGs, M. hyo–naïve breeding herd
This is the simplest scenario to manage. In this case, the acclimation program needs to be preceded by a period of isolation and testing to ensure RGs are M. hyo-free. This can be a challenge because all M. hyo-testing strategies suffer from relatively low sensitivity and specificity.
However, coupling incoming-RG monitoring with a comprehensive source-herd monitoring strategy can produce confidence in the naïve status of RGs. No additional acclimation processes are necessary.
Scenario 2 — M. hyo–naïve RGs, M. hyo–infected breeding herd
This scenario is increasingly common due to the steady increase in M. hyo-naïve sources of replacement breeding stock. It's critical that gilts are exposed to M. hyo no later than 200 days pre-farrowing, which is at least 90 days prior to breeding.
RGs have to be delivered at less than 90 kg (200 lbs) of bodyweight to the acclimation barn so there's enough time from exposure to farrowing while still maintaining target breeding weights. In addition, because it's difficult to maintain a consistent M. hyo source for exposure, a continuous-flow acclimation barn is almost always necessary to achieve successful exposure.
Exposure can take from 1 to 30 days after entry, so extended acclimation times produce more consistent exposure patterns than very short acclimation periods. Introduction of RGs no heavier than 25 kg (55 lbs) is necessary to allow for isolation and testing before entry into an acclimation facility.
Scenario 3 — M. hyo-infected RGs, M. hyo–infected breeding herd
You would think this scenario is easy to manage, but it's actually the most complex. For this model to be successful, RGs need to be exposed using the same time line as for Scenario 2. This is often more difficult than expected because M. hyo-infected herds have variable rates of M. hyo shedding from sow to pig. This means the timing of exposure is not consistent in the RGs coming from that herd.
To ensure M. hyo infection occurs early enough during the development period, RGs have to be delivered to the acclimation barn at less than 90 kg (200 lbs) of bodyweight to ensure there's enough time between exposure and farrowing while still achieving target breeding weights. In addition, it's difficult to maintain a consistent M. hyo source for exposure, so for successful exposure, a continuous-flow acclimation barn is almost always necessary.
Again — as in Scenario 2 — exposure can take from 1 to 30 days after entry, so extended acclimation times produce more consistent exposure patterns than very short acclimation periods. The introduction of gilts no heavier than 25 kg (55 lbs) is necessary to allow for isolation and testing before entry into an acclimation facility.
Scenario 4 — M. hyo-infected RG, M. hyo-naïve breeding herd
Avoid this scenario at all cost. The introduction of M. hyo-infected gilts into an M. hyo-naïve population will induce an outbreak of acute M. hyo in the breeding herd and the resulting pig flow because RGs will shed M. hyo to naïve animals after introduction.
If M. hyo-positive gilts are to enter an M. hyo-naïve herd, they need to have enough time to clear the infection. The only way to reliably prove they aren't still infected is to wait until they no longer have any M. hyo antibodies. Animals that are still M. hyo carriers will always have an antibody titer. (The converse is not true; all antibody-positive animals are not infected because there's a period between the time that M. hyo clears and antibodies decay to below detectable levels.) Other diagnostic modalities have a high false-negative rate — a low sensitivity — and aren't useful for determining infection status.
For detailed information on managing M. hyo, see A Contemporary Review of Mycopolasma Hyopneumoniae Control Strategies.
1. Pieters M, et al. An experimental model to evaluate Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae transmission from asymptomatic carriers to unvaccinated and vaccinated sentinel pigs. Can J Vet Res 2010;74:157-160.
2. Meyns T, et al. Comparison of transmission of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in vaccinated and non-vaccinated populations. Vaccine 2006;24:7081-7086.
3. Okada M, et al. Evaluation of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae inactivated vaccine in pigs under field conditions. J Vet Med Sci 1999;61:1131-135.


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LT Frank A. Erickson at Ford Island Control Tower (Pearl Harbor), December 7, 1941
Ford Island Control Tower, Pearl Harbor
From the Ford Island control tower, LT Erickson watched in horror as men drowned in the harbor. Boats tried to rescue the sailors, but they could not get through the flames. The frustrated Erickson remembered an article about new kind of aircraft called the helicopter. Helicopters could hover over a position, making them perfect for flying to swimming sailors and hosting them to safety. LT Frank A. Erickson spent the rest of his career in the United State Coast Guard making his dream of rescue helicopters real. He was, in many ways, the father of Coast Guard helicopter rescue.
LT Frank A. Erickson was the early morning duty officer for Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor. From his post in the Administration Building on Ford Island, LT Erickson watched the morning flag- team prepare to hoist the colors. Following that, he would be relieved. Suddenly, bombs began to fall near the southern end of the base. As LT Erickson turned toward the shipyard, he could see torpedo bombers attacking the USS California, which was moored near the Administration Building. The phone rang immediately and the agitated NAS commander, CAPT James M. Shoemaker, asked, "What the hell kind of drills are you pulling down there?" LT Erikson convinced the captain it was a real attack. A few minutes later, CAPT Shoemaker drove from his home on the island and took charge.
LT Erickson was on the crew of the USCG Taney. He flew the ship's J2F Duck seaplane. However, the Taney was far away, in Honolulu Harbor. He would not be able to reach it during the attack. Instead, LT Erickson was told to go to the landplane control tower, Building S-84, and take command. Running through bomb shrapnel, made it to the tower and began to operate it. Enterprise CAG "Brig" Young went to the control tower after landing his SBD Dauntless that had been damaged by friendly fire. Young later wrote, there was only a single officer on duty, and he was a Coast Guard officer. LT Erickson had a very small command.
Five months later, LCDR Erickson was posted to Floyd Bennett Field in New York. He was quickly sent to the Sikorsky Aircraft plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he was to learn to fly helicopters and act as liaison between Sikorsky and the Coast Guard. (His training made him Coast Guard Helicopter Pilot No 1.) While at Sikorsky, he wrote a series of influential reports arguing that helicopters would be useful for many activities, including convoy support, police operation, and, of course, rescue. In 1943, CDR Erikson became executive officer of the Coast Guard Air Station at Floyd Bennett Field. He later became commanding officer for a year before being released to work on research full time. He continued to work on helicopter issues for the remainder of his Coast Guard career. In the picture that follows, he is flying with a passenger—Igor Sikorsky.
In 1942, when he was at Sikorsky, German U-Boats were sinking large numbers of merchant ships, particularly in the gap in the middle of the ocean route, where land-based aircraft could not provide cover. Erickson pushed the idea of operating helicopters from merchant ships to go on patrols and even drop depth charges. Operational tests quickly demonstrated that the idea was feasible. Helicopters perform exactly that service for the Navy today, although operating from Navy ships instead of merchants. However, by late 1942, the need for helicopters to do anti-submarine missions became a low priority because escort carriers with significant air groups were becoming available.
This gave Erickson a chance to develop rescue concepts. He demonstrated that helicopters could pick people up with slings, although the power of current helicopters limited the rescue weight to 130 pounds. In the figure that follows, Erickson is at the controls. The person being "rescued" is Igor Sikorsky.
Erickson believed that helicopters could perform rescues in almost any weather. He personally demonstrated this in 1943, when the USS Turner exploded near Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Blood plasma was desperately needed, but weather conditions had grounded all flights. Asked if he could deliver the plasma by helicopters, Erickson gave a big smile and said, "Yes, Sir!" Despite challenging conditions, including the need to leave the plasma pickup site backwards under zero-visibility conditions, Erikson succeeded in delivering two cases of badly-needed plasma. This was the first helicopter rescue mission in history.
Although the potential for rescue helicopters was now well established, funding was thin. Ironically, it was an application that had not been anticipated that kept the helicopter group in operation during the war. Ships in port needed to calibrate their gun control radar systems. Helicopters, with their ability to fly in the confined space of the harbor and hover if necessary, were ideal for the task. Erickson and other helicopter pilots that he had trained flew many radar sighting missions, keeping demand high for the helicopter group.
Frank A. Erickson, Pearl Harbor
Frank A. Erickson spent most of his remaining Coast Guard career working on helicopters. He retired as a captain. Today, we think nothing of helicopters saving people at sea under the most challenging conditions. Yet the idea was born when a young Coast Guard Lieutenant watched in horror from the land plane control tower (Building S-84) as men died in the water around Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Beard, Barrett Thomas, Wonderful Flying Machines: A History of U.S. Coast Guard Helicopters, Naval Institute Press, 1996.
LT Connie Braesch, "Coast Guard History Day—Honoring Captain Frank A. Erickson, July 1, 2009.
Lt. Frank Erickson, Report on his Experience in Pearl harbor, December 7, 1941. http://www.uscg.mil/history/docs/PH_Erickson_Report.asp
United States Coast Guard, "Captain Frank A. Erickson, USCG" http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/EricksonFrankBio.asp.


I have noticed that BlogSnob has started to put adds for commercial products/companies in thier listings. When I signed up with BlogSnob, it was meant for advertizing other blogs. I don't like that they just changed the types of ads, but even if they did, I should get some of the money that they get.
I removed them too. They are sucking lately.


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Innovators, entrepreneurs to vie for prizes at La. Tech competition
The News Star
RUSTON – Entrepreneurs and innovators from across north Louisiana will pitch ideas in an attempt to win cash prizes at the "Won in One" idea pitch competition at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 in University Hall on the campus of Louisiana Tech University.
Like contestants on the popular television show "Shark Tank," the presenters pitch their ideas with the goal of impressing the audience and a panel of business experts who will judge and select the most appealing opportunity. The audience will also weigh in by voting for their favorites.
Competitors have only one minute to share their idea in a way that is exciting, informative and financially appealing. After all have presented, scores are tallied and prizes are announced.
In addition to competing for prizes, contestants gain feedback on their venture, identity potential collaborators, attract prospective investors, meet other trendsetters and connect to resources supporting the development and growth of their ventures.
Won in One competitors wanting to improve their pitch before the competition can attend a free session on successfully communicating with investors, customers, employees and vendors at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 in University Hall.
Shane Puckett, instructor and director of debate at Louisiana Tech, will provide an overview on conveying messages persuasively to generate the support needed for growing new or existing companies. Puckett has coached national debate champions and TEDx presenters as well as taught numerous speech classes. He also advises entrepreneurs and student teams on how to understand their audience and address their needs in order to communicate and inspire action.
Won in One provides the entrants an opportunity to present their concepts in a way that is exiting, informative, and financially appealing. The competition is a component of the I-20 Corridor Regional Accelerator and, despite the competitive elements of vying for prizes, contestants and spectators engaged in energetic conversations about their ideas, the commercial potential and the resources available to support their success.
Registration for a limited number of competitor spaces is available at https://woninoneideapitchcompetition2015.eventbrite.com. Spectators who also register in advance will be eligible for door prizes.


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When it comes to Facebook, you can count on one thing –- CEO/Founder Mark Zuckerberg is not afraid to lose preconceived notions and instead move hundreds of millions of people in an entirely new direction. And sometimes his ideas work, which is one of the reasons why the Palo Alto-based social web company has been able to constantly reinvent itself.
For first three years of its life, the company was merely a social network, but then it transformed itself in quick succession into a social web platform and then a social aggregator of the web. Today, the company launched its "social inbox," a new kind of messaging system that is the first public manifestation of the new new Facebook.
Facebook's newest core competency is communications — a way to become even more indispensable in our daily web lives.
About four years ago, I wrote a column for Business 2.0 that essentially asked for what Facebook has done with this new social inbox:
E-mail ought to be reinvented to meet the needs of our always-connected lives. That means there's still a mega-opportunity to reinvent the entire medium. E-mail has become a crutch, a way of passing the buck. In today's inboxes, all e-mail messages are equal. In reality, of course, some are more equal than others. Spam, alerts, and calendar items all need to be treated separately. A smart inbox would — all in one interface — catch spam in junk filters, display the wine reminder in an IM, move company news to an RSS feed, and intelligently negotiate appointment requests with your calendar in the background.
Facebook has not only reinvented the idea of the inbox, but it has gone one better: it has done so by moving away from the traditional idea of email. One of the reasons why Yahoo (s yhoo) and Google Mail (s goog) have struggled to become entirely social is because it is hard to graft a social hierarchy on top of tools of communication. If you look at Gmail – it has most of the elements that are available in the new social inbox, but they are all discrete elements and give the appearance of many different silos, being cobbled together.
Facebook did the exact opposite – it imagined email only as a subset of what is in reality communication. SMS, Chat, Facebook messages, status updates and email is how Zuckerberg sees the world. With the address book under its control, Facebook is now looking to become the "interaction hub" of our post-broadband, always-on lives. Having trained nearly 350 million people to use its stream-based, simple inbox, Facebook has reinvented the "communication" experience.
Soon after the announcement, my Facebook account was upgraded: I have a new email address, I have my inbox connected to the SMS on my mobile phone, and I have Facebook messages. The new inbox doesn't look any different from the old Facebook inbox, except now I can email the outside world and folks can email me directly. I can check a small box and send a message as an SMS and receive replies.
All the "messages" look essentially the same. The social graph acts as a gatekeeper against spam – only friends or friend-of-friends can email me. Others, when they email me, will see their emails end up in a folder called (what else): "Other." It is not email as you and I know it — and I like it. Will this be my main email client or service? Not likely! But it has the utility to send messages outside of Facebook's walled garden.
A few weeks ago, in a conversation with Slide CEO Max Levchin, I mused about how Facebook has essentially become the address book of our ever-connected lives. Thanks to seemingly frivolous tasks such as throwing sheep, poking people or simply wishing others happy birthday, the company has built an effective, socially relevant and meaningful map of relationships.
Facebook knows who our friends are, where we can find them and how much we communicate with them. The address book status allows the company to essentially become a communication hub for all sort of services. So, when looked at from that perspective, the launch of the new Social Inbox is not a surprise, and in fact it is a prescient move by Facebook.
Facebook as a service is amazingly effective when it focuses all its attention on what is the second order of friends – people you would like to stay in touch with, but just don't have enough bandwidth (time) to stay in touch with. Those who matter to you the most are infinitely intimate, and as a result you communicate with them via SMS, IM Chat and voice. So far, this intimate communication has eluded Facebook. The launch of the new social inbox is a first step by Facebook to get a grip on this real world intimacy.
For an alternative take, check out Dan Gillmor's thoughtful and cautionary essay on the Social Inbox.
Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Location: The Epicenter of Mobile Innovation
Monetizing the Social Web Isn't One Size Fits All
Could Privacy be Facebook's Waterloo?
Why Google Should Fear the Social Web
Slide Cuts Ad Staff, Shifts Focus
Amazon, Facebook, Google & Uber: Why predicting the future is risky business
With "Sponsored Data" AT&T is double dipping. And that's just dirty
27 thoughts on "Meet The New New Facebook"
Jorge Ledesma says:
Great post OM, I can wait to listen to the next TWiT with you, alongside the usual suspects, I sincerely hope you're on soon.
Thanks Jorge.
I can't help but feel like this is a devolution to the days of Compuserve or AOL. Didn't we do all this then?
BTW: "a way to become even more indispensable in our daily web lives" – You presume everyone is like you. They aren't. I've seen college kids scaling way back on FB in the past 12 months, it's losing it's allure to many.
It is, perhaps not 100%, but, largely dispensable. Certainly, replaceable. All things must pass.
Armand says:
I don't think so. I'd rather think Facebook is here to stay. Zuckerberg has put social netwroking to another level. Sure, like everything else some people will move away from it for all kinds of reason but there's something about human nature, something that deeply defines us: We need to connect with each others! That's why I wouldn't count on Facebook's devolution.
Bourgoise Pig says:
Considering that 99% of the content on Facebook is flash games, ads, trivia, and friend invites and posts from phishing bots posing as "friends," it is no wonder that Facebook is AOL reincarnated.
As Facebook discourages thoughtful, lengthy discourse in favor of two-three sentence (trivial) wall posts, and as the "walled garden" locks out business email senders such as Amazon order confirmation and UPS, why would I want to rely on Facebook for serious communication?
Never store serious, mission-critical data on Facebook – especially when that data gets automatically shared with "friends."
Steven Mautone says:
Om, isn't Facebook messaging almost identical to Google Talk + Gmail + Google Wave? It doesn't seem revolutionary to me. I've been using Priority Inbox for a while now, and so at this point it does a pretty good job of putting a hierarchy to my messages. I can SMS, chat, and even make voice/video calls from my Gmail box.
I think today's announcement was HUGE for Facebook's growth, but it's getting too much press as "an email killer" when in fact we've already seen all of this technology.
I really like your review. You hit the mark, without the over-hype and drama that most other journalists are spinning.
I think you are right about this messaging being much like what Google has been offering. The beauty of this inbox is that is will be seamless and you won't even notice any difference in the usage experience. I think this is the redefining of the "experience" of communication vs Google Mail Platform.
I tend to disagree. Today I can send email, chat or SMS from the same Google window. And with the integration of Google calendars and mobile I have all the features of facebook without having a social media group tagging things and showing them to friends.
But does Facebook offer spell check, priority inbox, anti-virus, or privacy to only pass out your address to those you want to have it?
Eric, I think the new Facebook Messaging is more of a competitor to a services like KIK Messenger,Yahoo Messenger, or AIM. It's not meant to compete with Google… that's just the media hype it's been given.
With integration into Windows Live, it's providing more support to Microsoft's competition with Google Apps, but Facebook remains a personal product, not a business system.
Pingback: So is it Facemail or Facewave? « excapite
Jack C says:
I'm sorry, but that dog won't hunt, Monsignor.
Your quote decries how poorly the e-mail of old was at sorting incoming mail (~"all e-mail is not equal"), but you then go on to suggest that FB will *solve* this issue? FB, the company that does a poorer job of sorting signal from noise than any other service I can think of today. The solution, to aggregate various incoming data into a main inbox and an other inbox, and where all the different sorts of messages look the same?
Good points, but what FB has done is constrained email to friends and friends of friends, which has already increased the utility of the email system and has eliminated some of the ills of spam. I think this is one product from FB where signal might be stronger than you think.
As I point out, FB is good at stuff which pertains to friends and one more layer beyond that. Anything other than that, it becomes noisy. I wasn't looking to be impressed by the new inbox, but it was a pleasant surprise, mostly because it doesn't mess with what is a good simple experience.
But presumably you talk about different things with your close friends, right? You don't simply have one single ongoing stream of consciousness conversation. Lumping every conversation with a friend into one conversation is the opposite of what I'd want.
Overwhelmingly, I have simple, one-topic, consecutive conversations with *strangers.* With friends, however, I have complex, multi-topic, concurrent conversations.
If ever there was a time to throw around the whole, "Not in DNA" meme, this is it.
Harshad Joshi says:
their sms service is very well integrated…facebook can morph as a good microblogging tool using mobile sms/mms.it has got an integrated photo/video sharing facility that twitter dosent have right now.
facebook has a bright future ahead, but it needs to take care of not to peep into peoples privacy too much.
Semil Shah says:
Nice summary and look forward. Even if this new project and direction minimizes SPAM, that will be a terrific contribution!
Facebook failed 'business at the speed of trust' and this is evident with confusing and changing account default settings. For this blunder, people will be reluctant to adopt any 'solution' or aggregation to enhance communication. The second reason is that there is no professional technical support provided. Any person who has tried to resolve a technical issue knows what this is like. One wonders about the safety and security of the back end solutions.
On the other side, I could be wrong here and people will pile in and trust, adopt and use the new Facebook solution.
We are probably only in the first inning of more new and exciting technology, especially considering the advent of 4G networks.
We live in an interesting time.
Dinesh Vadhia says:
I tend to agree with what Melanie says. Initially FB focused on high school and college kids and then the fuddy duddy's joined in. Kids today are moving on and once the news spreads that FB is uncool then watch FB come under severe pressure. It is interesting that with Messages, FB focused on kids because it knows that is where the huge number of its users are and most of them use SMS and IM. Tumblr is catching on.
hotrao says:
In some ways it reminds me Google wave, but I wish for Facebook it doesn't follow the same path.
I agree with Google CEO that this new Facebook features aren't a threat to Google activities, because the target is different (Google is a quite serious email provider and most of all is more secure than Facebook) and though messaging is integrated with Facebook, IMHO Google is more usable.
Again, I understand FB need to cover a gap and use his vast "installed base" (or addressable market), but it would have better consolidate and strengthen his features before getting into a such complex addon, with no (substanntial) innovations and more risks for privacy.
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Mahesh says:
Good post Om, takes a practical stand and not a hyped-up one. Wondering, does this 'new' feature open potential channels for the revenue stream (something that's hard to tell in the case of FB), or would sponsored content still be the main channel.
Murlu says:
On paper, it sounds great but the only problem I have with it is that FB is taking a grab at being basically everything on the web.
What happened to the fun of seeking out new content – now it's all being aggregated into one place; the web is started to lose the wild west feel – sterilization to fit the masses.
Don't get me wrong; the net is a tool that everyone should have access and ease of use but it seems like the more it progresses the more it loses its allure. FB is just one of those entities that's helping it along in some ways.
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Deek says:
@Om
Am I the only one that feels that newsfeed from Facebook is not useful? It contains 3 main things: B'day wishes, Pix, Links (likes).
Socialgraph is not enough because my interaction (or profile) on Facebook does not give enough information to target me with relevant content. I can go one step further and say that facebook does not even know who my real friends are. I believe that a new Social graph is required, or maybe a time-sensitive social graph, or maybe an instant social-graph that knows what content I want to see at what time.
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Minuteman Press Wins Five Print Awards at
2018 Graphic Excellence Award Competition
April 24, 2018- Lawrence, KS Minuteman Press, celebrating 25 years this year of being Lawrence's premier printer, has won five awards at Graphic Excellence Award Competition. The Minuteman Press team will be attending the 2018 Awards Gala, hosted by Printing Industries of MidAmerica, the evening of April 26 to accept their awards. They will be joined by other printers from around the region to celebrate the printing industry and above excellence print work at Arrowhead Stadium- Tower Club.
"Minuteman Press Lawrence is proud to receive these awards and bring quality printing and graphic design to our longtime local customers," said Kristi Bisel Burgess, owner. "It is exciting to have the team recognized for the quality work they do by our industry peers."
List of winning entries:
-Digital Printing- Books for 32 pages (Prosoco Polished Concrete Look Book)
- Digital Printing: Miscellaneous (Minuteman Press Monthly Thanks)
- Digital Printing: Posters (El Diablo by Greg Smallwood)
- Digital Printing Posters (Cottins Farmers Marker Posters)
- Printers Self Promo: Individual pieces (Minuteman Press Promotional Package- best in category winner and will go on to compete nationally)
PIA MidAmerica's Graphic Excellence Competition (GraphEx) was created in 1989 to recognize the outstanding abilities of print producers to transform paper and ink into outstanding forms of communication. Since the industry is comprised of very diverse companies, the competition has over 300 categories in three different divisions. The categories reflect products such as: annual reports, brochures, letterheads, newsletters, direct marketing, presentation folders, cross media campaigns, and much, much more. Divisions are determined by size of company. Division I – 1-25 employees; Division II – 26 – 75 employees; and Division III – 76+ employees.
For more information about Minuteman Press Lawrence: http://www.minutemanlawrence.com/
Minuteman Press Franchise in Lawrence, Kansas Scores Big with Refurbished Branded Pop-A-Shot Basketball Game
http://www.shop.minutemanpress.com/franchise/2017/06/27/minuteman-press-franchise-in-lawrence-kansas-scores-big-with-refurbished-branded-pop-a-shot-basketball-game/
CadreLawrence Newsletter- March 2016
Good afternoon CadreLawrence Newsletter Subscribers! It's time for our weekly link to the CadreRadio show, with host Mike Logan. If you are new to the CadreLawrence Newsletter, welcome! CadreLawrence is a faction of people in the Lawrence and Douglas County communities that engage in the support and active promotion of economic development. CadreLawrence believes in supporting job creation, and efforts to grow additional property taxes and sales taxes, with hopes to over time rebalance the tax base. This newsletter runs weekly mid-week, and highlights the CadreRadio show which airs Tuesday mornings at 9:00 on 1320 KLWN, as well as other items of interest that are true to our mission. As always, consider providing feedback or ask questions by contacting us at info@cadrelawrence.com.
This week, Mike had two Foundation Award winners in the studio. First up was Dee Bisel with Minuteman Press. Mike and Dee talked about their employment growth in 2015, going from 5-8, and also about their 27% increase in sales last year. This is Dee's 23rd year in business with Minuteman Press! Minuteman Press is in the graphic arts business, and all employees are cross trained in just about all areas of their business.
Mike and Dee talked about the typical call that Minuteman Press may receive, whether it be for a brochure for their business, a logo for their business (designed for only $198!), a direct mail piece, banners or signs for their business, or if they need a complete marketing product line. Minuteman was the #12 printer in the country to be certified as 'green printer,' a process that is done every 2 years. Dee talks about how grueling the process is, and how proud they are to have been re-certified 4 times. There are only 55 shops in the country that have this certification, the only franchise of any franchise that is certified, and also happens to be the smallest certified green printing shop in the country!
Dee and her company is very active in the community, so active in fact that they were also the recipient of this year's Footprint Impact Award, showing the footprint and reach that they have in the community. Dee talked about her involvement with Junior Achievement and Sertoma 48 BBQ, to name just a couple. She also promoted an event where Minuteman Press is the lead sponsor a lunch & learn for non-profits about how to raise more money for your non-profit, at the Peasley Center on March 27th. If you are interested in attending this lunch & learn, give Minuteman Press a call!
Minuteman Press is located at 1404 E 24th Street, Suite B in Lawrence. They can be reached at 842-2656 or at www.minutemanlawrence.com.
Dee ended her segment of the show with how important she feels that it is to BUY LOCAL! This is a message that CadreLawrence can agree with!
Next up was Kevin from Good Energy Solutions, who was the first Foundation Award winner that has won two awards in consecutive years! Good Energy Solutions grew their employee base from 18 to 22 in 2015, and Kevin spoke that demand may continue to continue this trend! This company is in the business of solar power installation, wind power installation, energy management, LEDs and efficiencies, and other electrical services. Kevin spoke about work that they have done both in their market, and outside of their general market of NE Kansas.
Mike and Kevin talked about how solar panels have come down in cost, and how better the product is for commercial and consumer uses are today than in years past. Kevin talked also about how companies, consumers, and even communities can use tax credits to make solar investment possible. Mike and Kevin also talked about how the company consults with its potential customers, to determine where your energy is being used. They then help you lower your uses of energy through efficiencies such as LEDs and others, and then work to supplement the energy production through a solar system. Visit Good Energy Solutions online at www.goodenergysolutions.com!
Click here to listen to the show!
Minuteman Press Initiates Lawrence Holiday Light Recycling Drive
Partners with Southeast Enterprises
Lawrence, KS December 2015 – Minuteman Press, Lawrence's only certified Sustainable Green Printer, is partnering with Southeast Enterprises to bring several holiday light recycling bins to the city. This drive will keep hundreds of pounds of wire, plastic, and light bulbs out of local landfills. The company has partnered with Southeast Enterprises which employs over 170 people with developmental disabilities. The employees clip the light bulbs from the wire. The wire then goes to City Scrap Metal to be recycled.
"Minuteman Press strives for sustainability not only in everyday business but in the community. We are excited to bring the holiday recycle drive to Lawrence. Please consider recycling any broken or old holiday lights at one of the drop-off locations," said Dee Bisel, owner of Minuteman Press. The company will be regularly emptying the recycle bins and taking the strands of lights to Southeast Enterprises.
"Southeast and its Kansas City community partners, now with the help Minuteman Press and the addition of Lawrence, are excited to build on the success of last year's drive in Kansas City and hope to collect and recycle over 40,000 pounds of holiday lights," said Megan Gurera, Business Development Director for Southeast Enterprises.
The holiday recycling drive is happening now through January 16, 2016. The large blue bins can be found at these Lawrence locations:
Menards- 1470 West 31st Street, inside the store
Clinton Parkway Nursery- NW corner of Clinton Pkwy and Wakarusa
Optimist Christmas Tree Lot in front of Hy-Vee on 6th St.
Optimist Christmas Tree Lot in front of Checker's Grocery on 23rd St.
Minuteman Press- 1404 East 24th St.
For more information about the Thinkin Green Holiday Recycle Drive, visit http://kcrecyclelights.com/.
WhatTheyThink
Why be a Certified Sustainable Printer
By John G. Braceland
Sustainability is how biological systems endure and remain diverseand productive. Long-lived and healthy wetlandsand forestsare examples of sustainable biological systems.
Being a sustainable printer is all about reducing your environmental impact while benefiting from the continuous improvement. This the third article on The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP). In this article I'll focus on printing companies that have chosen to become certified under the SGP guidelines.
I interviewed four companies: CP Flexible Packaging, GFX, Minuteman Press, and Sentinel Printing. As with the SGP Sponsors interviewed last month there were a few common themes amongst the organizations:
1) A strong interest in protecting the environment
2) SGP's focus on continuous improvement
3) A desire to see the printing industry get greener
Each company saw different opportunities for certification. The certification does take time and most companies took about a year to go through the process. If you have a Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement Culture it is easier. With more than fifty companies certified it is still an exclusive group that sets these companies apart from the competition.
CP Flexible Packaging:
I spoke with Scott Hammer, who is the Director of Sustainability. CP has a long history in environmental endeavors. Scott has been on the Board of SGP as well. The SGP certification was a natural extension for their environmental philosophy. One of the aspects of the process that all printers find beneficial is the annual improvement project. CP has received gains from each project, such as reducing water usage, increasing production speeds, reducing waste and reducing dumpster pulls by increasing recyclables.
Scott is seeing more RFP's that include sustainable practices. With their SGP certification they can put in a long list of practices that have all been certified. They have had to educate their employees on the importance and impact that sustainability has, which is an ongoing process.
GFX:
Mark Taylor is VP and COO of GTX. He told me that during the "Green Push" in 2006-2007 there was a lot of "green washing" going on. GTX wanted to be able to demonstrate to their clients that they were walking the talk.
Previously they had begun Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma training. The SGP certification really fit into this. Printing is not necessarily an environmentally friendly process. The paper mills had similar issues until they set some standards for themselves. Mark sees SGP as a similar set of standards for the printing industry. Even such things as being compliant with government regulations is not assured unless you really dive into them the way SGP certification requires you to.
Some of GTX's benefits from certification are a 30% to 50% reduction in landfill impact, 25% less water usage and energy reductions. One of the areas they are focusing on now is square foot of materials they are using vs. square foot sold. These types of projects help to foster an environment of continuous improvement, something every company I spoke to has mentioned as a benefit. The activities become part of the culture rather than a separate program.
Minuteman Press:
If you think that something like SGP certification is only for large companies with big staffs, think again. Dee Bisel, the owner of a Minuteman franchise in Lawrence, KS, will prove you wrong. Minuteman has 4 full time and 3 part time employees. They were the 12th company to achieve SGP certification. Around the time of the great recession Dee was looking for ideas to set Minuteman apart once the recession was over. SGP looked like a good way to provide differentiation for a small company. With only a few employees implementation is easy. However, all the procedures were a challenge. With no procedures in place before they started this aspect of the certification almost caused them to quit the process.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Being in a college town Dee took advantage of the University of Kansas and started an intern program. She had two interns working 20 to 30 hours a week for six months to work on procedures and statistical measures. Both interns took off two days from school during the audit to make sure Minuteman got their certification. Now each year Dee has one intern work one semester to continue their journey.
Some of the benefits for Minuteman is a great safety record with zero accidents, a 15% increase in sales and a 5% reduction in materials. She makes sure if you Google green printing in Kansas, Minuteman shows up. Dee is pushing for SGP certification to be specified in more RFPs.
Sentinel Printing:
Glen Boehmer, President of Sentinel Printing is passionate about SGP and its importance to the printing industry. He feels that printing needs to change its reputation about sustainability and SGP is the way for the industry to do this. When they started the process it became clear they had a lot to learn. Glen feels that SGP is logical, smart and safe and that Sentinel should have been doing this all along. They are the only firm on Long Island to be certified.
SGP certification was a lot harder that Glen thought and it helped their company to get organized. Along the way they have reduced energy, water, waste and engaged the community in sustainability.
He is a strong believer that the process to be leaner is one of self-discovery and that life is about continuous improvement. It has allowed Sentinel to be respected and viewed in a positive light, something that is hard to put a dollar figure on.
SGP was started in 2007 by four of the industries trade associations. Many people have contributed to getting it off the ground. Like any organization it has had its ups and downs. However, it is now posed to continue to grow and help transform the printing industry.
If your organization would like to learn more about SGP certification, you can go to the SGP website www.sgppartnership.org or contact Martine Padilla, Executive Director of SGP at 310-809-6124 or martine@sgppartnership.org.
John G. Braceland is Managing Director for Graphic Arts Alliance a member run purchasing cooperative. He is also President of JB Solutions, a company that creates and manages purchasing cooperatives in various industries. Previously, he was President and owner of Braceland Brothers, a multi-plant printing company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.
Please offer your feedback to John. He can be reached at jbsolutionsllc@comcast.net.
MINUTEMAN PRESS CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARS IN BUSINESS
Company Thanks Customers with Drawing: Grand Prize Wins
Lunch for Their Office and $200 Donation to Favorite Local Charity,
Twenty Runner-Ups Receive Personalized Memo Pad and Flash Drive
Lawrence, KS March 1, 2013- Locally-owned Minuteman Press, a
business-to-business printer and mail house, is celebrating 20 years in
business this month. Since opening its doors March 1, 1993, the business
has grown to over 1,000 customers. In 1998, the business moved its
location from a building at 611 Vermont to its current location of at 501 Gateway Dr.
Its staff has over 150 years of combined graphic arts experience and has been recognized for excellence, quality, ethics, giving and volunteering in the Lawrence community.
"This is an exciting time for Minuteman Press as we celebrate 20 years of
business in Lawrence. I want to thank our staff for their hard work
and dedication. We so appreciate our customers for their business, loyalty and friendships. This important milestone would not be possible without them," said Dee Bisel, Owner.
The company wants to show its appreciation by rewarding customers who place an order in the month of March. Those customers will be entered into a drawing. At the end of the month, twenty lucky winners will receive personalized note pads and a flash drive. The grand-prize winner will win lunch for their office provided by Biggs BBQ (up to twenty people) and a $200 donation to a local charity of the winner's choosing.
About Minuteman Press, Lawrence. KS
Minuteman Press of Lawrence, KS is proud to be the FIRST Sustainable Green Printer (SGP) in Kansas and woman -owned. Along with being a certified SGP Printer, the facility is also a small business, certified by the State of Kansas as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).
WICHITA, Kan.August 10, 2012 -- Two Kansas businesses – Minuteman Press in Lawrence and Martinizing Dry Cleaning in Wichita – have been honored for their efforts in environmental stewardship.
The two companies were winners of the 2012 Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award, given by the National Steering Committee for the Small Business Ombudsman/Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs. Only five such awards were given nationally.
"The Kansas Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, SBEAP, a program hosted by K-State's Pollution Prevention Institute, nominated these two small businesses for national awards based on the pro-active steps they have taken to reduce their environmental releases and stay in compliance with environmental regulations," said Nancy Larson, PPI director.
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/story/PPI_awards081012.aspx
WICHITA, KS AUGUST 8, 2012- Dee Bisel of Minuteman Press, Lawrence, Ks received the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) award in the category of Small Business Environmental Stewardship at the 2012 Kansas Environmental Conference on Wednesday, August 8 held at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita, KS. This award was announced on May 8, 2012 at Arlington, Virginia. Minuteman Press of Lawrence was one of only five companies in the USA to receive this prestigious award.
Bisel and her staff also received the 2012 Pollution Prevention Award from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
http://www.kdheks.gov/sbcs/environment_conf.html
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, March 27, 2012 – Dee Bisel of Minuteman Press in Lawrence, Kansas will be recognized as the Kansas City Executive of the Year at the PIA MidAmerica Graphex Awards Gala in Kansas City on May 10, 2012.
Bisel will be the 56th such executive honored with this award, which is presented annually to an industry leader who has shown exemplary skills in managing their company and giving back to the printing community.
"Dee is well deserving of this recognition, and more importantly, she was selected by her peers who recognize the skills and dedication it takes to run a successful small business," said Joe Polance, PIA MidAmerica President. http://www.piamidam.org/industry-news/252-bisel-selected-as-kansas-city-executive-of-year
LAWRENCE, KS DECEMBER 15, 2009 -- The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SM) welcomes the addition of Minuteman Press, Lawrence KS as the twelfth printer to become a certified SGP Printer.
Since opening the certification program just over a year ago, the SGP Partnership has received a steady flow of applications from facilities wanting to be recognized for their sustainability efforts. In addition to the 12 certified SGP Printers, there are more than 50 SGP Applicants working through the certification process.
http://www.sgppartnership.org/
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Join us October 12, 2019, for a great day of running/biking, eating, shopping and having fun. 2019 marks our 9th year of the Scenic Byway Half Marathon, Relay, 5K, Bicycle Fun Run and Kids Fun Run! Come Run the River!


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Q: Diverging barplot with extreme values hides bars with small values I'm trying to create a diverging barplot with ggplot. On one side of the y-axis, I want to plot bars with large values, while on the other side, I want to plot bars with small values. I already have some code which creates the type of plot that I want, however the high values on the right side of the y-axis seem to squish the y-axis on the left side of the plot, causing the bars with small values to be hidden. See my code below for an example:
library(tidyverse)

# Create example data
df <- data.frame (Name  = c("D1","D2","D3","D4","D1","D2","D3","D4"),
                  Variable = c("group_1","group_1","group_1","group_1","group_2","group_2","group_2","group_2"),
                  Value = c(10, 20, 5, 12, 21558091, 20952575, 17442644, 20340241))

# To create divergent bars, the values of one group will be assigned as negatives
df <- df %>%
  mutate(Value = ifelse(Variable == "group_2",
                        Value,
                        -1*Value))

# Create the plot (plot1)
ggplot(df, aes(x = Name, y = Value, fill = Variable)) +
  geom_bar(stat = "identity") +
  coord_flip() +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = c(-30, -15, 0, 5000000, 10000000, 15000000, 20000000, 25000000),
                     labels =  c(30, 15, 0, 5000000, 10000000, 15000000, 20000000, 25000000)) +
  ylim(-30, 25000000)

# Bars from group_1 cannot be seen due to the squished y-axis on the left side

# Forcing the ylim to a small region shows that the group_1 bars are in fact present (plot2)
ggplot(df, aes(x = Name, y = Value, fill = Variable)) +
  geom_bar(stat = "identity") +
  coord_flip() +
  ylim(-30, 10)

The first plot from the code above does not show bars from group_1 due to the squished y-axis on the left side:

By forcing the ylim to be restricted to the small portion of the left side of the plot, you can see the group_1 bars (second plot from code above):

My desired output should work with extremely large values on the right side and small values at the left side of the plot. If there is no real solution for this problem, what could be some alternative to compare such small and extremely high values?

A: One option is to use facets with free scales to separate the bars based on the sign of Value, then mask the fact that you're using facets. Example below:
library(tidyverse)

# Create example data
df <- data.frame (Name  = c("D1","D2","D3","D4","D1","D2","D3","D4"),
                  Variable = c("group_1","group_1","group_1","group_1","group_2","group_2","group_2","group_2"),
                  Value = c(10, 20, 5, 12, 21558091, 20952575, 17442644, 20340241))

# To create divergent bars, the values of one group will be assigned as negatives
df <- df %>%
  mutate(Value = ifelse(Variable == "group_2",
                        Value,
                        -1*Value))

ggplot(df, aes(Value, Name, fill = Variable)) +
  geom_col() +
  geom_blank(aes(x = Value * 1.1)) + # Fake scale expansion
  scale_x_continuous(expand = c(0, 0)) +
  facet_grid(~ sign(Value), scales = "free_x") +
  theme(panel.spacing.x = unit(0, "cm"),
        strip.text = element_blank())

Created on 2021-03-24 by the reprex package (v1.0.0)

A: Multiply the group 1 values by a large number, and then scale the y-axis labels by the same factor.
library(tidyverse)

# Create example data
df <- data.frame (Name  = c("D1","D2","D3","D4","D1","D2","D3","D4"),
                  Variable = c("group_1","group_1","group_1","group_1","group_2","group_2","group_2","group_2"),
                  Value = c(10, 20, 5, 12, 21558091, 20952575, 17442644, 20340241))

# To create divergent bars, the values of one group will be assigned as negatives
mult <- 10^6 #multiplication factor
df <- df %>%
  mutate(Value = ifelse(Variable == "group_2",
                        Value,
                        -1 * Value * mult))

breaks <-  c( 5000000, 10000000, 15000000, 20000000, 25000000)
# Create the plot (plot1)
ggplot(df, aes(x = Name, y = Value, fill = Variable)) +
  geom_col() +
  coord_flip() +
  scale_y_continuous(breaks = c(-breaks, 0, breaks),
                     labels =  c(breaks / mult, 0, breaks))

Created on 2021-03-24 by the reprex package (v0.3.0)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Nigerian First Lady Patience Jonathan reportedly demanded the arrest of the woman who has been leading protests denouncing the government's response to terrorist kidnapping of more than 200 16-to-18-year-old girls on April 15.
Nigerian First Lady Patience Jonathan reportedly demanded the arrest of the woman who has been leading protests denouncing the government's response to terrorist kidnapping of more than 200 16-to-18-year-old girls on April 15. Jonathan reportedly even accused the demonstrators of making up the incident and working with insurgent group Boko Haram, the group that after two weeks, has finally claimed responsibility for the abductions.
Ndirpaya says First Lady Patience Jonathan accused them of fabricating the abductions. "She told so many lies, that we just wanted the government of Nigeria to have a bad name, that we did not want to support her husband's rule," she said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. She said other women at the meeting cheered and chanted "yes, yes," when Mrs. Jonathan accused them of belonging to the Boko Haram terrorist network. "They said we are Boko Haram, and that Mrs. Nyadar is a member of Boko Haram.
The BBC reports that Jonathan seems to have acted out of spite, because she had "reportedly felt slighted that the mothers of the abducted girls had sent Ms Mutah to the meeting."
What we request is maximum cooperation from the guardians and the parents of these girls. Because up to this time, they have not been able to come clearly, to give the police clear identity of the girls that have yet to return.
He added that the government has found it impossible to negotiate with captors who haven't identified themselves — an excuse no longer relevant, now that Boko Haram has taken responsibility for the kidnappings, per Agence-France Press. AFP said on Monday that it has possession of a 57-minute long video in which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said, clearly, "I abducted your girls."
Yesterday, Secretary of State John Kerry called the incident "an unconscionable crime," saying that "We will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and hold the perpetrators to justice. That is our responsibility and the world's responsibility."


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Symphonies 1 & 5
1. Symphonie in C- Dur, Op.21- Adagio molto - Allegro con brio 09:28
Andante cantabile con moto 08:06
Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace) 03:49
Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace 06:44
5. Symphonie in c- moll, Op. 67 - Allegro con brio 07:57
Andante con moto 10:04
Allegro 05:39
Total Time 01:03:37
Digital Booklet - only with album
Symphonies 1 & 5 9,99 € | download
01 1. Symphonie in C- Dur, Op.21- Adagio molto - Allegro con brio 09:28
02 Andante cantabile con moto 08:06
03 Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace) 03:49
04 Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace 06:44
05 5. Symphonie in c- moll, Op. 67 - Allegro con brio 07:57
06 Andante con moto 10:04
07 Allegro 05:39
Gustav Kuhn, a conductor who is in demand internationally (and currently to be heard regularly at the Opéra national de Paris), has made headlines above all for his Tiroler Festspiele Erl, where he performed Wagner's Ring cycle within twenty-four hours in 2005. With the Haydn-Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento, of which he is principal conductor, he is now recording Beethoven's symphonies exclusively for col legno. What does it sound like?
"No one could shape Goethe's quotation from Götz so suggestively into a large symphonic work as Ludwig van Beethoven did at the beginning of his Fifth Symphony. And hardly anyone has transformed Beethoven's angry desperation into music with such ineluctable intensity as Gustav Kuhn and the Haydn-Orchester." (Peter Vuijca, Der Standard, Vienna)
The Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento is a formation that is now rare in the world of music: an orchestra composed of the players typical in a Haydn symphony. As artistic director of the orchestra since 2003, Gustav Kuhn emphasizes precisely this unusual feature. The climax of this new artistic direction is a recording of all nine Beethoven symphonies on modern instruments. "The emotional states of the music can be performed just as well on modern instruments as with a philological interpretation of the scores," says Gustav Kuhn. "Joy, innocence, seriousness, tenderness... it's not the end of the world if I express it with gut or steel strings or some other way."
Haydn Orchester von Bozen und Trient
Kuhn's explosive Beethoven-cosmos!
"Only one face": Following their price-winnig recording Schubertlieder, the Tyrolean Musicbanda Franui have now taken up Johannes Brahms' German Folk Songs.
Jasminka Stancul now pre-sents her second CD with col legno: Mozart's Concertos 9 & 27, again accompanied by the equally fabulous Haydn Orchestra under Gustav Kuhn.


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Home Saudi Arabia General Information 3 Indian friends lived together, died together in Dammam
3 Indian friends lived together, died together in Dammam
The three friends, all of age 22 were living their lives to the fullest and were celebrating the National Day of Saudi Arabia at Al-Khobar when they met death while they were returning back.
The three Indian childhood friends named Muhammad Shafeeq, Ansif, and Sanad, belonged to the southern Indian state of Kerala. They were born and bought up in Dammam.
Same School, Same Class, and the same graveyard
They had their schooling together at the International Indian School of Dammam. They spent their childhood and early teens together and now lie in graves near each other!
The reports claim that their car lost control at the road which is parallel to the Dammam Al Khobar Highway and just near Dhahran. The car hit some other cars, flipped, and turned upside down causing the immediate death of all three friends.
The social workers of the Nas Vakkam, Jaafar Kondotty, and Shaji Wayanad, facilitated the burial procedures. A large number of people were spotted at the Dammam Medical Complex morgue and at Dammam cemetery to offer funeral prayers and rituals at 2 p.m. on Friday.
The people, the families and acquaintance mourned at the death of the perfect trio: the trio who had lived and eventually died together!
Shafeeq who came from the Malappuram district had completed his education and was now working along with his father named Saidalavi Haji at a commercial establishment.
Ansif, who had hailed from the Wayanad district, was graduating from Bahrain while Sanad who came from Kozhikode was aiming for higher education as soon as travel restrictions were to be uplifted due to Covid-19 outbreak.
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Drama graduate 'excited' after finding new role on healthcare apprenticeship
A former drama student has revealed how caring for her mum when she was growing up in Islington inspired her to pursue a new role in healthcare.
Sharney Boakye-Yiadom, 26, began a Healthcare Assistant Level 2 Apprenticeship with Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Capital City College Training (CCCT) in May.
"My mum was placed in a children's home when she was 14 because she had no family to support her. Growing up I saw how this had affected her emotionally," said Sharney.
"I would reassure her and encourage her to not to let the past define her. That closeness gave her a lot of comfort and happiness through the years, which made me want to help others as well."
Becoming a Healthcare apprentice
Sharney studied Performing Arts at Westminster Kingsway College when she left school and went on to graduate with a BA (Hons) Drama Studies from the University of Northampton.
She said: "From secondary school to university everything I did in my life was about performing arts, but when COVID hit I began thinking about what other things I could do."
Sharney began volunteering and was employed as a Care Mentor for Sister System, a charity in Tottenham helping girls in care, before working for Graceful Care in Ealing.
"I've always been a people person. I like talking to people and began mentoring young women in care. I started to build a rapport with them, finding out about their mental health and how they're feeling and helping them in their daily lives," she said.
"I began to think about how I can support someone, what purpose I can bring to them and how I can shine a light on them. It was then that I thought maybe there's something health related I could do."
Sharney gained a place on her apprenticeship after taking part in the Prince's Trust's Get Into programme, which helps young people aged 16-30 secure jobs in various job sectors.
CCCT works with the Trust to run a 15-day programme providing basic certified training to work in the healthcare sector, as well as employability skills including CV writing, job applications and interviews with employers.
Representing at NHS careers and training conference
Last month Sharney shared her apprenticeship at an NHS careers and training conference hosted by CCCT attended by representatives from healthcare, education and local government.
At the event, Laura Horton, Senior Head of Operations at the Prince's Trust, explained more about Get Into and the Trust's careers advice programme for young people aged 16-30.
She said: "We're really passionate about getting our young people in front of an employer at the end of the programme, as some of them haven't been able to get through traditional routes of NHS employment.
"We have a really fantastic success rate with 90 per cent of the young people who completed these programmes going on to get offers. We put this is down to that extra bit of prep at the start, so they fully understand what they're going into and feel supported."
The conference also included a talk by Jennie Stone, Apprenticeship Relationship Manager at Healthcare Education England, on the recruitment, upskilling and skills gaps facing the NHS.
She explained that the demand for NHS services was rising and a lack of funding had led to a reduction in services and Trusts were struggling to recruit and retain staff.
She said: "There is a wide range of apprenticeships including higher and degree level apprenticeships. Not only can they support the NHS address skills shortages, but they are an excellent means of attracting new talent, developing and upskilling existing staff and retaining the workforce within the NHS."
Rachel Roberts, Programme Manager for Skills and Employment at the Greater London Authority explained more about the Mayor of London Academy's programme to help those hardest hit by the pandemic get into work to help London's economic recovery.
At the conference at WestKing's Victoria Centre, speakers and guests took part in workshops looking at the recruitment challenges, skills gaps and upskilling in the healthcare sector.
Jackie Chapman, Managing Director of CCCT, said: "The thing I like most about my job is hearing from people like Sharney. We come across so many people who just don't know what their options are, or how to access support.
"Our staff make a real difference to people's lives every day by helping them understand the various routes available to get their dream job. It is not always a straight path, but you just have to be willing to make the journey to succeed."
If you're interested in working in the NHS, CCCT offers a range of healthcare and business administration apprenticeship within the health service. Apprenticeships are paid jobs that are open to all ages and typically involve four days at work and one day of study a week, so you will be earning while you are learning. Apply now.
Mum overcomes COVID and family loss to achieve healthcare apprenticeship
Skills Minister declares UK is 'hungry for skills' and urges employers to back apprenticeships


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Jaume Sallés i Figueras (o Figueres) (Sant Vicenç de Castellet, el Bages, 1884 - Tolosa de Llenguadoc, 1975) fou un sindicalista i polític català.

Era propietari de terres, fou un dels fundadors i directius de la Unió de Rabassaires, de la que en fou vicepresident del comitè central a la Comarca del Bages el 1924 i tresorer el 1926. El 1931 fou escollit tinent d'alcalde de Sant Vicenç de Castellet i fou un dels comissionats de la Unió de Rabassaires que va pactar amb l'Institut Agrícola Català de Sant Isidre.

A les eleccions de 1932 fou elegit diputat al Parlament de Catalunya dins les llistes d'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, on desenvolupà una intensa activitat dins les comissions d'agricultura i de contractes de conreu a favor dels pagesos no propietaris de les terres que treballaven i formà part de la comissió de la Llei de Contractes de Conreu el 1933. En acabar la guerra civil espanyola va marxar a França, d'on ja no va tornar.

Referències

Enllaços externs
 Biografia
 Joaquim Aloy, Jordi Basiana i Pere Gasol La República a Manresa en un clic (1931-1936)
 Jaume Sallés a memòriaesquerra.cat

Militants d'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
Diputats al Parlament de Catalunya per ERC
Persones de Sant Vicenç de Castellet
Sindicalistes catalans del sud
Polítics bagencs
Morts a Tolosa de Llenguadoc
Activistes catalans del sud contemporanis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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My Gallery > Oil Paintings > Pink roses, June sunshine.
I was painting outside in the sunshine again today at Smallhythe Studio for a demonstration during SEOS. This time Pink roses from our garden. So enjoyable to do a still life painting en plein air!


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Any MonthJanuary February March April May June July August September October November December
July 17, 2019 • 67 minutes
Me And My Town – Anyone Can Whistle (with Madeline Botteri and Joel DeCandio of The Sondheim Project)
The failure of Anyone Can Whistle is legendary. It closed after 9 performances. Madeline Botteri and Joel DeCandio, of The Sondheim Project, join Kyle in discussing how the first song of the show helps (and doesn't help) set the stage for what's to come.
July 17, 2019 • 2 minutes
Season 4 Trailer – Anyone Can Whistle
The trailer for the upcoming season on the troubled Broadway show Anyone Can Whistle.
June 26, 2019 • 49 minutes
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) – Film Review (with Janet and Lucia of Repodcasting)
Kyle invites on Janet and Lucia of Repodcasting to discuss the film version of Forum, and figure out who would star in it if it were remade today.
Funeral Sequence / Finale – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Federico Tedeschi)
Federico Tedeschi returns to wrap up our season on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. We discuss the weirdness of the Funeral Sequence, the appropriate way the Finale ends, and then have the return of the game How Many Tonys Was This Show Nominated For?
That'll Show Him – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Paul Matwychuk)
Philia's only solo song is one that shows how clueless she is about her whole situation. It might be a song that Sondheim fans disregard, but there are a few things worthy of consideration. Paul Matwychuk also discusses with Kyle about whether there might be a way for Philia to be portrayed differently, and whether the show should ever be revived.
June 5, 2019 • 64 minutes
That Dirty Old Man – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Zina Lee)
The character of Domina is usually considered a shrewish old woman who wrecks the fun for all the other characters. But perhaps there is more to her than that two dimensional depiction. Zina Lee joins Kyle to discuss her song, the treatment of women in the show, and whether gender swapping should be encouraged in the modern theatre.
May 29, 2019 • 51 minutes
Bring Me My Bride – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Christine Chen)
Miles Gloriosus is a brutish man who would be called "problematic" in our modern times. However, is there more to him than meets the eye? Christine Chen joins Kyle in discussing whether Miles is more bluster than barbarian. Also, at the end, there's a conversation about their favourite Sondheim show of all time.
I'm Calm / Impossible – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Elizabeth Keep)
There are no gibbering fools on this week's podcast. At least no more than usual. Elizabeth Keep joins the show for the first time to discuss the two songs I'm Calm and Impossible. Are they funny? Do you need to see the staging for them to work? Those and other fraughter things are to be expected this week.
Everybody Ought to Have a Maid – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Matt Sampson)
Is Forum sexist or does it just feature sexist characters? Matt Sampson return to try and answer that questions, while also playing his piano to show how clever Sondheim can be, even with a generic list song.
May 8, 2019 • 56 minutes
Pretty Little Picture – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with William C. White)
Pretty Little Picture is certainly a witty song, but is it funny? William C. White returns to offer his opinions on a song that Sondheim considers one of his best. They also debate whether Zero Mostel or Nathan Lane sing it better.
Lovely – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Gus Gowland)
The song Lovely appears twice in the show. The first is between two lovers, and the second is between two liars. Gus Gowland, UK-based musical theatre composer, joins the show to discuss which works better. Gus and Kyle try their best to be winsome while also making reference to the 1980s sitcom Perfect Strangers.
April 24, 2019 • 61 minutes
Free – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Erik Stadnik)
Is freedom the necessary essence of democracy? Maybe or maybe not. Erik Stadnik returns to discuss how Pseudolus not only desires freedom but also desires to be looked at as a man. Pseudolus wants to be a real person. Perhaps Sondheim was trying to give characterization to caricatures.
Love, I Hear – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Karen Unland)
Love is a theme in many songs. For Hero this might just be the first time. Karen Unland returns to discuss young love and whether Sondheim is able to capture it effectively. Especially considering that he didn't find love until he turned 60.
Overture / Comedy Tonight – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Federico Tedeschi)
Federico Tedeschi returns to the podcast to discuss Plautus, Roman drama, and a little farce. The new season is here! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the first Broadway musical that Stephen Sondheim was (finally) able to write both lyrics and music. Comedy Tonight is the most famous song from the show. On this episode Federico and Kyle discuss whether it holds up, if it's actually funny, and the differences between the original and the revivals.
March 20, 2019 • 49 minutes
Gypsy (1962) – Film Review (with Matt Mort)
I force Matt Mort to watch the 1962 film Gypsy to wrap up our conversation of the musical this season. We spend a few minutes talking about the movie and then spend the rest of the episode discussing my eccentricities and existential crises.
Rose's Turn – Gypsy (with Layan Elwazani)
The moment we've all been waiting for. Mama Rose comes to the realization that she's been forcing her children onto the stage not for their benefit but for hers. But, can we also feel sympathy for her? Layan Elwazani returns to delve into that question, plus play the game How Many Tonys Was This Show Nominated For?
March 6, 2019 • 56 minutes
You Gotta Get a Gimmick – Gypsy (with Erik Stadnik)
Sometimes you just need to shake it 'til you break it. Erik Stadnik returns to discuss burlesque dancers needing a gimmick. This song is all about the visuals, so does it work to to just listen to? Listen to find out! Plus, weirdly, MMMBop is referenced.
"Original Cast Album: Co-Op" from Documentary Now! *BONUS EPISODE* (with Eric Matthew Richardson)
John Mulaney and Seth Meyers co-wrote an episode of the IFC show Documentary Now! In it they parody the classic documentary about the musical Company. Kyle invites on Eric Matthew Richardson to discuss their thoughts about what worked, what didn't, and wonder if anyone is going to understand it.
February 27, 2019 • 68 minutes
Together Wherever We Go – Gypsy (with Matt Sampson)
Who knew a seemingly simple song could have so many different recordings? Matt Sampson calls in from Durham, North Carolina to offer his insight on a song sung by a trio of amigos. Or, could it be that it's actually Rose psychologically manipulating people to her whim? Also Kyle struggles to recall an anecdote from the seminal 1994 film The Little Rascals.
Everything's Coming Up Roses – Gypsy (with Eric Matthew Richardson)
Eric Matthew Richardson is a composer who lives in Chicago. He may or may not have some radical things to say about Everything's Coming Up Roses, the song that closes Act 1 of Gypsy. Certainly he is knowledgable about the song and the history of the show. Plus, we hear some audio snippets from Arthur Laurents as he discusses not only Gypsy, but what makes a good musical director.
All I Need Is the Girl – Gypsy (with Adam Kostanuick)
Adam Kostanuick returns to discuss why Tulsa's song in Gypsy may or may not be needed. Plus we delve deep into what Harris tweed is and why Kyle should consider buying a jacket made from it.
February 6, 2019 • 65 minutes
If Momma Was Married – Gypsy (with Darby Turnbull)
Darby Turnbull calls in from Melbourne to discuss his life as an actor and creator, plus offers insight into If Momma Was Married. What some may disregard as a fluffy song is actually a deeply layered character piece where two sister talk openly about their mother and wish for a better future.
January 30, 2019 • 55 minutes
You'll Never Get Away From Me – Gypsy (with Federico Tedeschi)
Federico Tedeschi is an Italian student who has a deep love for Stephen Sondheim. After researching who made the music for Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd he discovered an entire body of work that he happily consumed. In this episode he discusses with Kyle how Europeans aren't as interested in musical theatre as they are with other art forms, how this song is necessary for the whole show, and how Rose may be a tragic figure.
Mr. Goldstone / Little Lamb – Gypsy (with Isaac Bernier-Doyle)
Isaac Bernier-Doyle returns to the show to explore two (somewhat?) contentious songs. Kyle certainly discovers that he likes a certain song less and another song he begins to appreciate more. Also, what would happen if Mr. Goldstone were combined with Little Lamb as Sondheim once considered? It's a fascinating alternate universe. How do you like them egg rolls?
Trunk Songs and Cut Songs (Baby June and Her Newsboys, Dainty June and Her Farmboys, Broadway, Nice She Ain't, Smile Girls) – Gypsy
An episode where it's just Kyle! We explore many of the different "trunk songs" and a couple of the cut songs from Gypsy. This is an evolution from the Great American Songbook, which Jule Styne would have been greatly familiar with. Plus, you'll learn how Jule and Kyle share a special connection.
January 9, 2019 • 37 minutes
Small World – Gypsy (with Nathaniel Claridad)
Nathaniel Claridad brings his experience as an actor, a director, and a (reluctant) producer to discuss Small World. This is a song in stark contrast to Mama Rose's first song, Some People. Instead of the brash chutzpah that has already been shown, this song is soft and intimate. Each actress to portray Rose has had a slightly different approach to singing it and the discussion turns to whether it works better to be sung sweetly or sensually.
Some People – Gypsy (with Karen Unland)
Some People is a song sung by a desperate woman. Or, perhaps, it could be looked at as an ode to the entrepreneur. At any rate Karen Unland returns to the show to discuss how Rose's first song of the show informs her character and how–depending on the performer–it can change the interpretation we have of them.


BLOCKHEADEDNESS - blockheadedness n. The state or condition of being blockheaded.
CHILDLIKENESSES - childlikenesses n. plural of childlikeness.
CHONDROSKELETON - Sorry, definition not available.
THICKHEADEDNESS - thickheadedness n. stupidity.


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Home / News / Four Borders Expedition Report
Four Borders Expedition Report
By Col 24 May 2010
Back in 2006, 8 students from Universities across the UK embarked on a 10-week expedition to Siberia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. Our mission was two-fold: in Mongolia we explored rivers that have never before been kayaked while in Siberia we tackled big volume rivers through long and remote gorges which took up to a week each to complete. It wasn't always easy: droughts, crashes, vodka, arrests, near deportation, vodka, smuggling, bribery and more vodka were just some of the things we were faced with. However, we eventually found some amazing first descents in Mongolia, including clean waterfalls, fast slides, boulder garden rapids and committing canyons. And we successfully took on some of the hardest and longest multi-day rivers in some of the most remote parts of the Siberian Altai. Articles about the Four Borders Expedition have been published in Paddles, April 08 issue and Canoe Focus, April 2008. More stories and photos on the Four Borders Expedition website. Lowri Davies is best known as one of the World's top female freestyle kayakers, including winning titles such as European Champion and British Champion (4 times); and has been a member of the British Team 7 times. In 2007, Lowri was selected as the only female in an 8-strong team of top white water paddlers for the British Universities Kayak Expedition to explore some of the wild rivers of Siberia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. You find out what Lowri is up to now on her website


ARE YOU THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CASINO MOVIE BUFF?
Welcome to Find 50 films - how well do you know your movies? We're upping the ante when it comes to finding the world's biggest casino movie buff.
Now is the time for the real high-rolling cinemagoers and self-proclaimed movie buffs to prove that they are the best film fanatics of all time and win some great prizes along the way! We bet you can't find all 50!
There are some great prizes up for grabs for those who complete the challenge or hit major milestones along the way. The prizes range from free drinks to an all expenses night out for you and a few mates at any one of our eight Caesars Entertainment EMEA UK casinos, the choice is yours.
Disclaimer: This movie quiz will most definitely consume your whole afternoon, day or even your week - so play at your own risk.
Step 2 - Examine the scene and attempt to identify a film with a casino in it by the image clues.
Step 3 - Click on the image when you're ready to roll the dice and take a guess. Type in your guess in the box provided. Just say what you see.
Step 5 - …Cry with rage or shout with joy (subject to step 4's result).
House Tip: Don't forget to save your progress so you can bank your answers and return to the quiz later should you manage to tear yourself away.
Not into movies? That's not an issue. If you only dabble in the odd film here and there, you can still do well. All you have to do is say what you see and, if the odds are on your side, you may guess the film correctly. Have a flutter and see how you do.
Remember, each of the 50 films contains a casino related scene; you'll need to think outside the box to get them all.
If you're really spinning your wheels, give us a shout on our Twitter page and we'll help you out with a clue. Yes a clue, not the answer! That'll be too easy. We're here for you when the chips are down.
Remember, try not to share too many of your answers - keep your cards close to your chest. When asking us for help, screenshot the dots of corrects scores and not the list! We need your best poker face.
Alternatively, send an email round the office or give your friends a shout on your WhatsApp group.
Don't leave your victory to chance by forgetting to save your progress. Make sure you create your account so that your answers can be saved.
Don't be surprised if your partner thinks you're crazy when that answer finally comes to you at 3am in the morning and you shout 'James Bond!' sitting bolt upright in bed.


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3 Trump Crazed Rioters Convicted Of Attacking Police With Pepper Spray
Three participants in the Capitol riot were convicted by a jury this week of criminal charges stemming in part from their usage of pepper spray against police during the violence, including in the area of the Lower West Terrace, where a substantial amount of the brutal violence unfolded and several officers who have subsequently been outspoken regarding what happened were injured.
The newly convicted rioters are Peter J. Schwartz, Jeffrey Scott Brown, and Markus Maly, who are in their 40s and 50s. It doesn't seem as though these men knew each other ahead of the riot, but they worked together in using pepper spray against police and were put on trial together on similar charges. Schwartz's wife, Shelly Stallings, also participated in the violence and previously pleaded guilty rather than going to trial. Schwartz helped kickstart that arm of the violence, stealing pepper spray originating with the D.C. city police department, which was among the law enforcement agencies responding to the scene. According to the Justice Department, Schwartz helped hand out the spray and used some himself. "Wielding a large MK-46 canister and carrying a wooden tire thumper, Schwartz began indiscriminately spraying O.C. spray at any retreating police officers he could find," a press release says. Besides using pepper spray, Schwartz also threw a folding chair at police.
Alongside other interactions that afternoon, Maly also at least briefly helped Schwartz distribute the pepper spray, in addition to using his own chemical irritants against the police. All three of the co-defendants were apparently eventually inside the Lower West Terrace tunnel, where rioters at times used so-called heave-ho motions against cops, moving their bodies in rhythmic unison in attempts to break through police lines. According to Virginia news coverage, Maly spoke during the recently concluded trial, denying that he pepper sprayed police, and his defense also downplayed the assistance he provided Schwartz. The same coverage notes authorities took him into custody after the jury reached its verdict. All three were individually convicted of charges including assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers using a dangerous weapon, a felony offense that carries up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Dates for these newly convicted rioters to be sentenced aren't yet publicly available.
capitol riot
trump riot
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