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Aging In Prison
Reentry after a life sentence
'Aging In Prisons' Multimedia
Ina May and The Farm
Coachella, WSJ 2016
NYC Fashion Week
Asthma In The Bronx
Select Portraits
Bishop Briggs
Jessica Earnshaw
Jamestown Revival's Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance walk to the artist compound on April 18, 2015. Mr. Clay and Mr. Chance grew up together in the small Texas town of Magnolia. This year is their Coachella debut.
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal, as part of their story 'Behind the Scenes at Coachella With Jamestown Revival.'
Mr. Chance takes a dip in the hot tub.
From left, Mr. Clay, Ed Benrock, and Mr. Chance in Los Angeles between Coachella weekends one and two. Jamestown Revival wrote its first full-length album, 'Utah,' and has since moved back to Austin, Texas, after signing a record deal with Republic Records.
Mr. Chance in rehearsal in Los Angeles.
An aerial view of Coachella.
Mr. Clay and Jamestown Revival perform at the Outdoor Theatre at Coachella on April 18, 2015. The band performed both weekends.
Jamestown Revival performs at the Outdoor Theatre at Coachella. The band has been on the rise since the beginning of last year, selling out shows in New York and Los Angeles.
Mr. Chance on stage.
The Coachella campground. Coachella tickets sold out in less than an hour when they went on sale online earlier this year.
The crowd at Coachella.
Festival-goers walk through the grounds on Friday night weekend two at Coachella.
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My photographer friend (who by the way takes great photos, visit her blog: http://www.artsybelleimages.com/) asked me to do a Lady Bug Lens Scrunchies. I told her I had been wanting to do one too. I wanted something to help my baby focus to the camera. She also wants it for her kids clients, as she find it difficult for getting little kids to look at the camera. Sometimes she becomes a clown just to catch their attention, hehehe.
So here's my own version and I will be trying this on our Family Portraits this holiday. I hope this would work, hehehe.
And yes, my next Lens Scrunchies would be a Lady Bug for my friend.


Bridgend Ravens travel to Bargoed Park on Friday evening for a massive Principality Premiership clash (KO 7:15pm).
The sides are level in the current league standings, each with 17 points from their opening nine games as the battle to retain places in the Principality Premiership intensifies.
Bridgend's last outing against Bargoed was a narrow 36-38 reverse in a pre-season game at the Morganstone Brewery Field. They met just a few months earlier as Bridgend ran riot in a 68-35 victory. Bargoed's recent record against Bridgend is a good one though with three wins in their last five dating back to 2013.
It was a weekend to forget for both teams in the last round of games. Bridgend were thumped in a poor performance at Carmarthen Park. Two Will Holley penalties were all that the travelling contingent had to cheer about as the Quins deservedly took home five points; 44pts to 6 on the scoreboard. Bargoed made the long trip to North Wales to face RGC for a 40pts to 7 defeat.
Cai Evans makes his first start of the season for the Ravens at full back in a back three alongside new recruit Ashley Evans and Mike Powell. Nathan Edwards and Morgan Jones pair up in midfield, with Ryan Evans and Chris Williams at half back.
Rhodri Apsee, Iestyn Merriman and Cai Lewis comprise Bridgend's front three. It's a welcome return for Shaun O'Rourke from injury in partnership with Chris John. Adam O'Driscoll, Tom Morgan and Dafi Davies continue as a back row.


Slate Digital Virtual console - any good?
Been trying this on my tracks which are very broadly in an alt-folk genre and I'm still not really sure either way? It uses a lot of processing power having it on every track and the difference seems to be quite subtle, but perhaps it adds just enough to justify it? Or am trying to convince myself that I'm hearing a difference because the interface is pretty . Also would you use it on a softer style of music rather than tracks of a rockier/heavier genre?
Honestly, my opinion is that it is decent but it's subtle and depending on what you already own there are probably other things you could spend your money on that would make a more significant difference.
Do you think its genre dependent? Would you use it on all genre's - for example classical or folk?
If you think about it, it's emulating a console. And consoles sit in recording studios and get used to recording *everything* that comes through the front door - from singer songwriters to full bands to orchestras, metal to folk music. If their quality was really genre dependent, they'd be badly designed!
The idea is just that consoles add something - call it glue, unity, crosstalk, harmonic distortion or sonic character - that makes mixing a bit easier. And you lose that in the digital world where everything is coldly presented exactly as it was recorded.
So if you use an emulation across all your channels and mixbuss and it sounds a bit better and makes it a bit easier to get on with the mix, it's doing its job. Depending on your own taste, personal biases and working methods, you might find that a "Neve" or "SSL" or "Trident" or whatever works best for you.
Personally, I've tried the Waves NLS system, Sonimus' SSL, and Airwindows console series. I don't know what I'll feel about it all in a year, but where I am at the moment is that Airwindows' system is best, because it does the least. I still use NLS on individual tracks or busses when I want character and to dirty something up, but Airwindows Console 5 does the job for me in giving the mix a bit more width and depth and cohesion. It is, however, particular about how it's set up so it's not for everyone.
Thanks - that' sensible advise all round I think. The main reason I was checking is that my Reaper projects crash about 5 times everytime I try and open them and I suspect it's down to having so many instances of the Slate console in each session. So I was kind of wondering if it's worth the hassle and if there's really any benefit. Still not really sure either way to be honest.
It's your money at the end of the day but reading what you've written in this thread about how you think it's subtle, can't tell if it's worth it, and that it causes you crashing... my first reaction is there's probably a better way to spend £100+ right now instead of buying this plugin.
I think you may be right. Grief vs benefit ratio seems a bit onesided at the moment and I think there's maybe a fair bit of hype about the pros of the virtual consoles. A similar sound could possibly be achieved using a virtual tape vst perhaps?
The main advantage to a large format console is workflow.
Sound is a component but it isn't the most important thing and certainly there are certain tools available that can give you a certain tone- the main thing though was the ability to group and manage tracks in sensible ways.
That stopped being so important once we had the ability to save session s and have endless numbers of busses and routing combinations with DAW's.
I have all of the Slate plugins, including VCC- I don't use VCC and haven't for quite a while.
A couple of decent bus comps are more useful IMHO.
Excellent advice all round. Thanks all!
Sorry for bringing up an old thread and stepping in on this, but am intrigued to hear your thoughts on what would be money well spent in regards to plugins, @guitarfishbay?
Well depends on what you need and what you want to do. Also how much you want to spend! Lots of companies have versions of the same stuff at different price points.
If you're fairly new to stuff I'd stick with things that improve functionality or give you something you can't already get. Fabfilter is a good place to start for functional, and Slate or Plugin Alliance for character compressor/channel strip type stuff.
The good thing is most companies do demos these days, so you can usually try something out to figure if it works for you.
Great stuff, thank you, mate.


I stumbled upon Gabriel Stunz's amazing work on the pages of Encens while searching for inspiration photos for my Instagram account. And then, I eagerly googled him up. After seeing his previous collections, I instantly fell in love with his work. Thanks to Facebook I was able to track him down and easily convince him to do an exclusive interview for my blog. Getting to know people whose work I greatly admire is one of the many perks of being a blogger.
Finally, after multiple correspondence, here's the unedited version of the entire interview we had via email. So get-to-know one of the names that I hope we will be seeing more of in the future.
Briefly tell us your background as a designer. Where did you get your formal training? And where did you work prior to starting up your atelier?
I come from a marketing and business-oriented background having studied in Germany and graduated in Paris, France. Having an affection for the creative process and the material, I have been through the various product-related departments: merchandising for Calvin Klein Underwear in Hong Kong, sales at Comme des Garçons and Damir Doma in Paris and lastly designing at Tim Hamilton in New York.
What best describes your aesthetic as a designer?
Clean and minimalistic involving classic tailoring and mixing it with fluid elements. Functional without the obvious practical details.
Where do you normally draw inspiration when starting a collection?
It really depends on my mood. The inspiration comes from any visual, audio or sensual input.
Which is more important for you: the process or the end product?
(It's) difficult to say. The process is a very intimate cycle while the product is a reduction of all influence and emotions.
How important is it to have a concept when creating a collection?
It's important not to limit one's self while creating. Having a concept allows you to frame your ideas and help as guidelines in case you get lost.
When did your fascination with fashion started?
Very early, around the age of 10-11.
So what was your fashion sense like growing up as a young teen in Germany? Where did you shop? Did you make your own clothes?
I partially grew up in Germany and France due to my French mother and my German father. Since I was born, I was surrounded by art and antique furniture and I frequently travelled between these two countries which exposed me to different cultures and traditions. All these pieces have sharpened my senses and forged a strong vision of balance.
During my youth, I went through many phases including styles in terms of fashion. I always felt like clothes found me as I didn't have a particular shopping routine nor did I look out for "IT" items. I kept continuously modifying and altering my clothes to create an individual and distinguished style.
There are so many struggling young designers out there. What's the best way to survive the jungle out there?
I believe in continuity. With all the conversations I have had with suppliers, manufacturers and others, it seems that just trying to be out there on a regular basis is the key. Of course, it takes time until you will be recognized, so stamina and patience might be helpful too.
More and more young designers have been collaborating with high street labels in order to put their names out there. Would you sacrifice the quality of your work to gain more exposure?
I don't think so. At this moment, the structure of my label is too small and fragile to handle huge exposure as it implies a rise in sales. Of course, the financial benefits might be interesting but right now I only care about building a proper base for my label with a distinct quality.
I have stumbled upon your work through Encens magazine. How did you end up on my favourite magazine?
I started working with Encens during my time in New York at Tim Hamilton. Ever since we met, there has been a very close bond. And they have been very supportive of my ideas and work ethics and have encouraged me in my endeavor to realize my vision.
Your last collection has a very strong sense of androgyny. Have you always been intrigued with this kind of style?
Yes, I have always wanted to think of my clothes as unisex, but for commercial reasons chose to offer them as menswear.
Do you have any items from your previous collections that you consider your "signature" piece?
The Blazers with sewn on scarves.
Do you think people nowadays are more liberal in terms of dressing compared in the past? Since you are originally from Germany, would you be able to stroll around wearing a skirt or a man-dress over there?
Very much so, especially men are opening up these past years. Germany is not known for having the best-dressed people but I think slowly even very avant-garde fashion finds its followers.
You mentioned to me that you are currently working on a new menswear collection to be hopefully launched in Paris this June. What should we expect from your new collection? Will it be similar to your previous one?
I had to withdraw myself for a while from my intentions in fashion due to a family tragedy. Only a few weeks ago I have decided to launch a small and compact collection for Spring Summer 2015. (I'm) sort of reviewing my evolution but also confronting it to a more mature and more accomplished vision translated through a strong mix of fabrics and detailing.
Special thanks to Gabriel Stunz for making this interview possible. You have been very accommodating from the very beginning of our correspondence. Amidst your busy schedule, you still found time to answer all my lengthy questions. I extremely appreciate your effort. Hats off to you and I am absolutely thrilled to see your latest collection in Paris this June. More power to young designers like you!


Today Extra television interview of Georgia Murch. Hosted by Sonia Kruger and Ben Fordham.
Watch the 9NOW segment here.
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Quixote didn't charge the windmill because he thought he would defeat it, but because he concluded it was the right thing to do.
.. Likewise, if we want to be legitimate actors in the world, Unamuno would say that we must be willing to lose the fight. If we abandon the common-sense belief that deems only winnable fights worth fighting, we can adopt Unamuno's "moral courage" and become quixotic pessimists: pessimists because we recognize our odds of losing are quite high, and quixotic because we fight anyway. Quixotic pessimism is thus marked by a refusal to let the odds of my success determine the value of my fight.
.. Contemporary windmills might look like a small town getting a Walmart, or like kindergartners getting free iPads. Common sense fails us in two ways: first and most often, it uncritically believes that technology equals progress, and second, even in cases in which people recognize the potential harm to the community, they generally don't believe that they can resist it.
.. Cultivating moral courage amounts to learning to shift our attention away from those who confuse criticism for action toward our own judgment of what is worthwhile, based on thinking a whole lot about what kind of world we would like to live in and the kinds of people we'd like to be.
It is worth noting that Quixote went mad from reading books, and this is precisely the type of crazy that Unamuno supports. We may not be able to improve the world, but we can at least refuse to cooperate with a corrupt one.
.. We can similarly transform ourselves into quixotic pessimists — the kind who are called dreamers, idealists or lunatics — by reading more, rejecting common sense and reinterpreting what constitutes a waste of time.


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The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at UCL is an academic department of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of University College London located in London, United Kingdom. The Institute is situated in the Cruciform Building, formerly the main building of University College Hospital, in the Bloomsbury district of Central London.

Originally named the Cruciform Project, its aim is to facilitate the interface between fundamental biological research and its application both to the discovery of new medicines and to clinical practice. The Institute now comprises more than 200 scientists, many of whom are of international standing.

History
WIBR was established in 1995 as an Institute within UCL based in the Cruciform building, which underwent a £50 million renovation in order to create a modern infrastructure. Substantial grants to carry out the work were obtained from a number of funding bodies, notably The Wellcome Trust, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and The Wolfson Foundation and Charitable Family Trust.

The Institute Director was Prof. Salvador Moncada from 1995 - 2012. The current Institute Director is Dr. Beverley Clark

Research
Research areas of the Institute include:
Molecular Nociception
Circuit Neuroscience
Neural development, plasticity and repair
Drug Discovery
Cortical Processing

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise the 75% of the Institute's research was rated 4* (world leading) or 3* (internationally excellent).

Education
The Institute provides teaching for both undergraduates and postgraduates via both internal and external programmes.  Since 2010 a popular and very successful MSc in Drug Design is offered to life science graduates in biological sciences, chemical sciences and pharmacy.

See also
UCL Partners
Francis Crick Institute

References

External links
UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research
UCL School of Life and Medical Sciences

University College London

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Advance Auto Parts Forum
Auto Parts Company Forums
Advance Auto Parts 20% Off Through 9/10
By APF,
September 7, 2017 in Advance Auto Parts Forum
20% OFF THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10. ENTER CODE J72 IN CART
Auto-Wares Announces 2021 Suppliers Of The Year
Auto-Wares Group of Companies has named its 2021 Supplier of the Year award winners, recognizing six companies for outstanding performance and collaboration through the past year.
The awards were presented at the Auto-Wares Group of Companies year-end sales meeting. More than 300 people attended the virtual meeting.
BBB Industries received top honors, being named overall 2021 Auto-Wares Supplier of the Year.
The BBB team delivered outstanding performance in all categories, including sales, field support, marketing, fill rate and technology, despite all the challenges 2021 brought us.
"It's a real honor to accept this award on behalf of the entire BBB team," said Kim Nolan, BBB's SVP of sales – traditional. "It was a year that presented some unique challenges for everyone, and we couldn't be more pleased to receive this coveted award for the outstanding efforts of our entire team. A special thank-you to the entire Auto-Wares organization for supporting BBB and embracing our products and programs in all the product categories we supply. You push us to be better and for that we are grateful."
Other Auto-Wares supplier award winners included:
Rising Star Supplier of the Year – Sunsong Data & Technology Supplier of the Year – Dorman Sales & Marketing Supplier of the Year – DRiV Rep of the Year – Cindy Ford, SMP; Corbin Coons, DRiV; Patrick Mulrooney, NA Williams Auto-Wares leadership and stores and sales teams voted on the awards.
"Auto-Wares could not be more proud in awarding the Supplier of the Year award to BBB industries for their continued hard work and dedication to the aftermarket and Auto-Wares, and congratulations to all of this year's award-winning suppliers." Tim Stone, director of product at Auto-Wares.
The post Auto-Wares Announces 2021 Suppliers Of The Year appeared first on Counterman Magazine.
ASE Kicks Off 50th-Anniversary Celebration
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has kicked off a yearlong celebration of its growth and many milestones achieved since its founding in 1972 by industry leaders who sought to recognize competent professional technicians and the repair facilities where they are employed.
For half a century, ASE has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals, becoming the renowned independent nonprofit organization striving to uphold and promote high standards of vehicle service and repair.
From its initial offering of four automobile tests in 1972, ASE today offers 57 tests and certifications from automobile and medium-heavy truck to transit and school bus, collision repair, parts, military and others. More than a quarter of a million individuals currently hold ASE certifications in these areas of the transportation industry.
ASE recently unveiled a special logo in recognition of its 50th anniversary and encourages industry organizations to feature the commemorative logo as a way to show their support of ASE. Throughout the year, ASE will share historical information, conduct special programs and showcase ASE-certified service professionals and the essential work they perform to keep America's vehicles safe and on the road.
The post ASE Kicks Off 50th-Anniversary Celebration appeared first on Counterman Magazine.
Recalls Are A Fact Of Life In The Auto Industry
Vehicle recalls are critical to the safety of our customers, our families and our delivery drivers each time they get behind the wheel. When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or a vehicle manufacturer determines that a safety risk is present in a vehicle, a recall is issued, alerting vehicle owners to the potential danger. From there, it's up to the manufacturer to come up with a solution to the problem, and to make that solution available to vehicle owners free of charge.
Recalls cover a wide range of faults, and some are more obvious than others. One of the most well-known and wide-reaching modern safety recalls is the current Takata airbag recall, affecting more than 67 million vehicles in North America. Defective airbag inflators in Takata-equipped vehicles can cause injury or death when they explode during deployment. Other recalls have become the stuff of legend, like the Ford Pinto's "exploding" gas tank in the 1970s, or the Toyota Camry and Mazda 6 models that were infested with spiders in the 2010s … yes, SPIDERS!
Whatever the cause, once a safety issue is identified, it's quickly made public to the consumer. Even if the manufacturer doesn't have a remedy yet, registered owners are notified that a problem potentially exists in their vehicle. This interim notice gives the consumer a prompt heads-up that a problem has been identified, explains the nature of the recall, and reassures them that they will be notified when a solution is available. In the meantime, manufacturers may issue warnings not to operate the vehicle, or to carry passengers, if the defect is severe. Some manufacturers involved in the Takata recall have issued warnings to their customers advising them not to drive the vehicle until recalls have been completed.
Recalls can affect a vehicle at any time in its lifecycle, but for new vehicles, recalls must be completed before the initial retail sale. For vehicles with critical recalls, the manufacturer also may issue a "STOP SALE" directive, in which affected vehicles on dealership lots are not sold until the recall repair is performed. There is no federal law governing the sale of "open recall" USED cars, but most states have statutes against car dealers offering these vehicles for sale. Private sales are not restricted.
Manufacturers work closely with NHTSA and state motor vehicle departments to identify and contact owners of affected vehicles. In New York, our annual safety and emissions inspection certificate includes a notification of any open recalls found for the VIN being inspected. The open recalls don't affect the outcome of the inspection, but it's a convenient way of notifying owners of their safety status.
When a recall remedy is available, the consumer can arrange with their local dealership to have the repair performed free of charge. In some instances, if a consumer has previously paid to have a repair performed, and that condition later becomes a recall, the manufacturer may reimburse the cost of the prior repair. Sounds like yet another good reason for our customers to hold on to their receipts!
While vehicle recalls don't really affect the aftermarket, product recalls of consumer goods are a common occurrence. Tires, fire extinguishers and child safety seats are all categories that have been subject to recalls in recent years. Aftermarket manufacturers also may determine that a batch of their product does not meet their minimum standards, or a design or manufacturing defect poses a possible safety risk. In these cases, the manufacturer will issue a bulletin "recalling" certain part numbers or production runs of their product. Additionally, some aftermarket parts like tires and wheels, brake hoses, mirrors and lighting are required to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, as issued by NHTSA. When these products are identified, the affected merchandise usually is returned for credit to your DC, and then sent back to the manufacturer for analysis and/or disposal.
Recalls sometimes can be difficult for the general public to understand. We all give our fair share of advice over the counter, but we are NOT lawyers, and this article does not constitute legal advice. If your customers want more information about a vehicle recall, or to check the recall status of their vehicle, they can access the manufacturer's website, or reach out to NHTSA at Safercar.gov with their VIN. NHTSA also has Safercar mobile apps available for iPhone and Android users.
The post Recalls Are A Fact Of Life In The Auto Industry appeared first on Counterman Magazine.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions, scallions and garlic and cook for 6-7 minutes, until softened and slightly browned.
Add the vegetable stock, sage and thyme to the pot. For easiest removal, tie the sprigs of thyme and sage together before adding with kitchen twine. Cover and let cook for 20 minutes.
Taste the soup, and season with salt and pepper as desired. Stir in the veggies and cover again. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Let cool slightly and then serve with buttered snowflake rolls.
My kids love soup and on time-pressed nights when I just can't figure out what to eat, a recipe like my Onion Vegetable Soup is just the ticket for a fast, easy and tasty meal.
Back when I was a vegetarian, the number one soup I missed was French onion. Since that's made with beef stock, it was decidedly unvegetarian friendly. So, I did the next best thing: I made a pseudo-onion soup with vegetable stock, lots of onions and veggies.
The key to getting the flavor right here is to buy a good vegetable stock. Avoid the ones that are heavy with tomatoes and carrots as that will skew the flavor in the wrong direction. The onions are slightly caramelized in the cooking process as well, which makes the flavor rich and onion-y … perfect for any evening.
This soup, which serves two adults or one adult and two kids, is really simple to make. You start with a sweet onion, a shallot and a couple cloves of garlic. They cook up fast in a little oil and then you add the vegetable stock and herbs.
That mixture boils for 20 minutes, and then you add salt, pepper and frozen veggies and cook for just a few more minutes. Cool it just a bit and you are totally ready to serve.
What's your favorite fast soup?


The Deacon is the latest success from the engineers at Carthum Conglomerate, designed as a remote repairing ship that can keep up with fast moving fleets including those containing the extremely popular Confessor-class Tactical Destroyer. Managing to miniaturize the powerful remote armor repairing systems from their best-selling Guardian Logistics Cruiser onto a frigate-sized hull was no simple task, but Carthum was able to release the Deacon in nearly record time and under-budget thanks in part to extensive cooperation with researchers from the Lai Dai megacorp.
Carthum ships are the very embodiment of the Amarrian warfare philosophy. Possessing sturdy armor and advanced weapons systems, they provide a nice mix of offense and defense. On the other hand, their electronics and shield systems tend to be rather limited.
You can write a summary for the Deacon here.
Further information about additional or recommended skills to pilot the Deacon for a specific or its common role(s) can be written here.
Make sure to maintain distance from hostiles: web hostiles by DDs or jam by EWars to help speed tanking the incoming damage.
You can add any notes on tactics here.
You can write additional notes for the Deacon here.
This page was last modified on 31 May 2017, at 21:27.


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Dal 4 luglio 2022 assume la carica di portavoce di governo all'interno del governo Borne II.

Note

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Ministri della V Repubblica francese
Portavoce del governo francese
Politici del Partito Socialista (Francia)
Politici de La République En Marche


When I was a kid, my mother loved to take pictures of me reading books. Curled up in the recliner on Christmas morning, reading a new book while still in my pajamas; stretched out on a towel on Wrightsville Beach; laying across the floor at Grandma Hamm's house. All with a book in my hands.
I didn't realize just how many times she'd taken photos like this until I graduated from high school, and she gave me a present: A photo album that chronicled my life so far. All 18 years of it. And on almost every other page, I'd find these sorts of photos.
My favorite, though, is one that my mother didn't take. That's because she's in it. It's from 1995. We were at my Uncle Gary and Aunt Deborah's house, probably for Thanksgiving. I love it because of our matching smiles, dorky glasses, and the way we both have one hand placed on the big book open between us. Mostly I love it because it says so much.
I couldn't tell you what the book was, but I do remember the comfort, the safety, of being curled up next to my mom on a couch, reading a book. I've loved reading for as long as I can remember—even when I wasn't technically reading, but as I listened to her as she read us The Berenstain Bears books, my brother Jay and I on either side of her.
It started with the Berenstains. Later, we had Laura Ingalls, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden. And then: Margaret. Steph. Deenie. Sally J. Freedman. Karen.
If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, you might have recognized many of those names. They're all characters from Judy Blume books. By the time I became familiar with these girls, I'd outgrown the nighttime ritual of Mom sitting at the end of my loft bed, reading me Little House on the Prairie books or her old Trixie Belden's.
But it was because of my mom that I did get to know them. And when I say get to know them, I mean exactly that. Like so many other young girls, I devoured Judy Blume's books—always finding something in each protagonist that I would identify with so deeply, so intensely, I'd think, How did she know? or, It's not only me!
Then, in high school, I snagged Mom's paperback of Summer Sisters. I fell in love with it. I fell in love with Vix, the main character. I obsessed over Caitlyn, her "summer sister," just like Vix did—and resented her, too. It felt real.
I've read Summer Sisters almost every single summer since that first reading. I took it to Wrightsville Beach, the summer after Mom had died, when it was just Dad and me. I sat on the balcony of our hotel reading it, just like Mom had sat reading books so many different summers when we had visited, all as a family. Reading it was like taking a vacation from my heartbreak. I didn't feel sad or angry or confused. Everything felt right again.
I owe my mom and Judy Blume for that gift. From my mother, I have my love of reading, a lifelong comfort. When I want to talk to my mom sometimes so badly that my chest actually hurts, I can pick up a book and feel okay again—or at least not think about it anymore. And obviously, so many women have Judy to thank for writing the stories she has, for sharing these characters that so many of us can find ourselves in, even if it's in a small way.
Last night, I had the absolute thrill of meeting Judy Blume. She finally made a movie out of one of her books, Tiger Eyes. Out of all of her books, she had to make a movie out of the one I never read! The movie played at a theater nearby last night, and Judy Blume was there for a Q&A session following the screening.
She was wonderful. She was down to earth, kind, and full of joy. She choked up talking about how meaningful this story was to her. She talked about her son, Larry, who directed the movie, with such love in her voice. When the Q&A was over, even though she had made a comment about how exhausted she was from all of her traveling and weekend's events, she still stayed and talked to the people (mostly women), who were lined up waiting to meet her. My favorite was the woman, probably my age or younger, who was standing behind me, clutching a beat up paperback of Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself. She'd had her mother FedEx it to her so she could have Judy sign it.
As for me, I stood clutching Mom's now very worn paperback of Summer Sisters. I nervously handed it to one of my lifelong heroes and asked her if she would sign it, telling her it had been my mother's.
No one but me knew that at that moment, I felt as content as I did sitting on a hotel balcony reading my mother's old paperback. No one but me knew that for just that quick moment, meeting Judy Blume, I felt like I could almost hear my mom laugh again. Almost. And it was enough, almost.
I think of Davey, the protagonist of Tiger Eyes, so distraught over the death of her dad, but yet still so strong. At the end of the movie, she dives in the ocean and swims. You know she's going to be okay.
Thanks to a little help from Judy Blume, so many of us know the same.
Hopefully you have submitted this to the #JudyBlumeProject ladies. Such a heartwarming story to read about one of our film screenings. Judy is hard at work with her new book and we know that posts like these keep her going through the difficult task of writing. Thanks for sharing it. For anyone wishing to see Tiger Eyes, it is now available in the US & Canada on digital streaming sites like iTunes, Amazon Instant and Youtube Movies.
Tears! I have tears! Thank you so much to the @TigerEyesMovie staff for pointing out this beautiful post on the #JudyBlumeProject thread on Twitter! It absolutely should be a part of the #JudyBlumeProject. We'd be honored if you'd apply our badge to this post (it is available at http://thekitchwitch.com/ scroll down--you know how Judy is against censorship? Don't let the swear jar get to you, it's a back-to-school doozy today, but as always hilarious!), and then we'd be thrilled to link it to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Judy-Blume-Project/448595131881886), where you can read the other posts to date, and via the Twitter feed. Great one today!
After a rather quiet summer, I have a very exciting back-to-school series (guest post by author, Jim Denney) in four parts coming out later today to get the ball rolling on the project again!
Thanks so much for reading and sharing this! I will add the project badge to the post.
We're delighted to, Alison! Thank YOU!
How Much Was Mine to Keep?


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Send a parcel to New Zealandfrom only £25.91
Collection and drop-off service available
Get parcel cover worth up to £50 included
Protect your parcel up to £5000 with extra cover
Send up to 70kg on selected services
Top Prices
New Zealand is a home away from home for many Britons thanks to its English heritage, its love of rugby, and its gift for awkward humour. Situated in the Pacific Ocean, however, often makes the prospect of sending a parcel to New Zealand - or sending to Australia nearby - a slightly daunting one.
Posting to New Zealand
Thankfully, Parcel2Go work with renowned international courier services to make shipping to New Zealand from UK as quick and easy as possible. As always, you can rely on us to get the lowest prices for our customers when posting to New Zealand. Simply enter your parcel details in the quote box above to get an international delivery quote and find the cheapest postage to New Zealand.
Our top cheapest prices to New Zealand
Express (1-3 Day Delivery)
DPD Air Express
Delivery to New Zealand within 4-5 working days
Collections are made 9am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
There is zero standard protection included in the cost of this service but you can opt to protect your parcel up to a maximum of £10,000.00
Economy (3+ Day Delivery)
DPD Drop Off International
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Landmark Drop Shop
Delivery within 9-13 working days.
Collections are made 8am - 8pm, Monday to Friday.
What else do you need to know...
Do I need to deal with customs when sending from the UK to New Zealand?
Don't let the 'ex-British Colony' status fool you — you'll still need to deal with international customs and import taxes when sending a parcel to New Zealand.
That doesn't mean that it has to be difficult, though. We make everything easy by sending you over all the necessary documents you need to make sure that your parcel gets through customs without any trouble.
How much does it cost to send a parcel from the UK to New Zealand?
Despite being halfway across the world, postage to New Zealand from the UK starts at as little as £25.91 when you book through Parcel2Go. We communicate with all of our couriers to get cheap parcels for all of our customers, and with loads of options available on all our services, it's easier than ever to get postage to New Zealand.
How should I address my parcel for delivery to New Zealand?
It may come as something of a surprise to know that New Zealand's postal system is somewhat unique compared to the rest of the world, especially the UK. Basically, there are three types of address in New Zealand: urban, rural, and PO box. These address types are not to be combined. To ensure your parcel is addressed correctly, check with the New Zealand Post's addressing guide, or, alternatively, you can consult the Universal Postal Union's overview.
What items can I send?
The general rule with New Zealand is that you can send anything that would be acceptable to mail here in the UK. For a general overview of those restrictions, you can visit our prohibited items list.
However, one thing that's worth noting is that the Kiwis have a couple of odd rules regarding things like:
Iron and steel;
Coal and fossil fuels.
Certain variants of these items are strictly prohibited, while others are permitted in small quantities. Check with New Zealand's customs office for a full breakdown of your options.


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Jun 12, 2020 11:00 PM EDT By Angelica Davis
Royal Scare: Prince Charles Taking Big Risk, Leaving Lockdown Despite COVID-19!
There is no stopping Prince Charles from fulfilling his royal duties despite the risks of the coronavirus disease.
Following his coronavirus scare last March, the heir to the throne and his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, will be the first royals to emerge from the lockdown to carry out an official engagement next week.
To recall, the Prince of Wales tested positive from COVID-19 after suffering from mild symptoms. Clarence House eventually announced that he "was in good health" seven days after recovering from the dreaded virus. Duchess Camilla, on the other hand, tested negative from coronavirus
Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla Leaving Lockdown To Meet French President
In the latest royal family news, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall -- who are currently self-isolating in their home in Scotland -- have set a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Clarence House.
"The President of the French Republic will visit London on Thursday 18th June 2020 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle's 'Appel' to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during WWII," an official statement from the Clarence House read.
Boris Johnson Joining Prince Charles In Welcoming President Macron
Furthermore, the 71-year-old royal and his wife will welcome the world leader together with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to mark the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's appeal for the French resistance during the Second World War.
"On behalf of Her Majesty's Government, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will formally receive President Emmanuel Macron at Clarence House with a Guard of Honour found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards," the statement furthered.
Meanwhile, Downing Street mentioned that the French President will be exempted from the U.K.'s quarantine restrictions since he is undertaking business. Moreover, as a representative, Macron is not required to undergo a two-week self-isolation.
"As we set out in the guidelines when they were published, the French delegation will fall within the exempted category of representatives of a foreign country or territory traveling to undertake business in the UK," a spokesperson of PM Johnson mentioned.
Although the royal couple is "pleased" to be welcoming President Macron in the U.K, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla will still be carrying out engagements remotely and will not return to regular public duties due to lockdown regulation.
In more related royal family news, during the onset of COVID-19, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been staying in their Georgian country house in Anmer Hall in Norfolk, England with their three kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and youngest son Prince Louis.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been at the forefront of the royal family in dealing with the coronavirus crisis through a series of virtual conferences with health workers and frontliners.
Meanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is isolating alongside Prince Philip, who had just celebrated his 99th birthday in Windsor Castle. According to reports, the royal couple had a simple lunch together to mark the Duke of Edinburgh's remarkable milestone.
READ MORE: Prince William, Kate Middleton Are A Disappointment, According To Royal Fans
TAGSroyal family Royal family news coronavirus COVID-19 Prince Charles camilla parker bowles Duchess Camillla Queen Elizabeth II UK PM Boris Johnson
(Victoria Jones/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)


Welcome to the Western Medical Corp!
We are pleased to offer convenient online booking for appointments. Use the button below to book your next appointment.
Western Medical Clinic Medical Corporation - Western Medical Clinic serves the Westman area. We currently have 13 physicians and 1 internal medicine doctor on staff.
At the moment our physicians are not accepting new patients. To find out more information on future intakes, please contact our reception desk at (204) 727-6451 and select option 3 or email westmed@westernmedicalclinic.ca.


Although you may not like me saying this, one of the most important things you can do to improve your health TODAY is to drink more water. Statistics show that the average American is dehydrated, which is an interesting statistic in a nation that is blessed with an abundance of clean water. Now, many of you like to tell me that you simply can't live without your coffee, diet soda, or other chemically laden toxic carbonated beverage. You also like to tell me that water is simply boring and not enjoyable. If what I say sounds familiar, bear with me and give this nectar of life a chance. You won't regret it. Seriously.
Think about this: our bodies are made up of about 60% water, so it stands to reason that water is an important thing to consider when it comes to your health. Your body is begging you to drink enough water each day to efficiently balance your body fluids. Body fluids are responsible for life functions such as digestion, nutrient absorption, creation of saliva, circulation, transportation of nutrients, elimination of toxins, and maintaining your body temperature. Without water, our entire systems would completely shut down in a matter of about 3 days. Water is the cornerstone of life. Every living organism requires water to survive and we are certainly no exception.
How much water, you may ask? Well, that's a great question of which the answer varies depending on your age, activity level, season, sun exposure, current health status, and a variety of other factors…but a good rule of thumb is to take your current weight in pounds, divide it by 2, and that number is the minimum ounces per day you need to consume to stay properly hydrated.
For example, if you currently weigh 140 pounds, you would need to drink at least 70 ounces of water per day.
Now, that may seem daunting at first, but trust me, it's not as hard as you think.
Super Tip: To make sure you drink enough water each day, measure out your daily required volume in the morning so you visually know how much you have consumed vs. how much you still need to drink before the day is over.
As for the flavor of water, if you don't think you like plain water, try infusing your water with natural flavors like cucumber, basil, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, or peach. Simply add the fruits, vegetable, or herb to the water and let it sit for at least 30 minutes for the flavor to blend in the water. Feel free to get creative on this and experiment with which flavors you like the best. Try to avoid the commercial flavor packets, as many of those are laden with chemicals and preservatives, which goes against our overall goal of acquiring health and well-being.
If you're a die-hard carbonated beverage drinker, stopping cold turkey may be too great a challenge. If that's you, try weaning yourself off by reducing the soda/pop consumption by one or two cans a day, which you replace with your water. Another approach is to force yourself to drink at least 8 ounces of water first before you drink your soda. This is a very effective technique as it helps dilute the effects of the chemicals from the soda in your system and you may find that since your stomach is already full of water, the carbonated beverage isn't even needed anymore.
Either way, you will be amazed at how much better you feel simply by replacing your soda/pop with water. The average can of cola has enough sugar, chemicals, additives, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, and a variety of unpronounceable ingredients to completely jeopardize your immune system for 8 hours. Put another way, it takes your body 8 full hours to recover from the toxic ingredients for each can or bottle you drink. So, if you drink more than 3 cans per day, your body never fully gets the opportunity to recover. Typical side effects you may experience include headaches, bloating, skin disorders, blood pressure issues, tooth decay, anemia, trouble sleeping, frequent colds, kidney issues, osteoporosis, heart disease, and obesity…just to name a few. Trust me, you really want to drink water instead if you truly want to feel better and live a healthy life. Thirsty now?
Stay tuned. In our next blog post we will discuss the different types of water and which are the best for you and why. Until then, I raise my glass of cool refreshing water to you. To Your Health.


Here are detailed driving directions to Oberlin Municipal Court: A detailed map can be found here.
Use the Ohio Turnpike. Exit at #135 (Baumhart Road). Take Baumhart Road South to State Route 511 East. Follow State Route 511 to the City of Oberlin to Main Street (Main Street is also State Route 58). Take a right at Main Street to 85 S. Main Street (our location) on the East (left hand) side of the road.
Use the Ohio Turnpike. Exit at #140 (State Route 58). Take State Route 58 South to the City of Oberlin. State Route 58 in Oberlin is Main Street. The court is located on the East (left hand) side of the road at 85 S. Main Street.
From Cleveland and points East-Northeast of Cleveland. Take State Route 2 west to State Route 58. Take Route 58 South approximately 8 miles to Oberlin. Route 58 is Main Street in Oberlin. The court is located at 85 S. Main Street on the East (left) side of the road.
From Pittsburgh and points directly south of Cleveland. Take the Ohio Turnpike to State Route 480 West. Follow Route 480 until it ends. The road then turns into State Route 10. Exit at State Route 511. Take State Route 511 west to Oberlin and Main Street (Main Street is also State Route 58). Take a left (south) on Main Street to 85 S. Main Street (our location) on the East (left hand) side of the road.
Take I-71 to the State Route 250 (Ashland) exit. Take a left on State Route 250. Follow State Route 250 to State Route 58. Travel north on State Route 58 until you reach Oberlin. You will pass through Sullivan, Huntington Township, Wellington and Pittsfield Township. Upon entering Oberlin State Route 58 turns into Main St. Our location is 85 S. Main St. on the East (right hand) side of the road.


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The 1667 papal conclave was convened on the death of Pope Alexander VII and ended with the election of Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi as Pope Clement IX. The conclave was dominated by factions loyal to the cardinal nephews of Alexander VII and Urban VIII. It saw the continued existence of the Squadrone Volante, or Flying Squadron, that had emerged in the 1655 conclave. The conclave also saw Spain and France, the two largest Catholic powers at the time, both support Rospigliosi's election as pope. Ultimately, Rospigliosi's election was achieved when the French ambassador bribed Flavio Chigi, Alexander's nephew, to support Rospigliosi. Following the conclave all the parties believed they had elected the pope that they had wanted.

Background
After his election Alexander VII had initially been opposed to nepotism, refusing to name a cardinal nephew. Members of the College of Cardinals urged him to reconsider appointing members of his family to positions of power, and he eventually relented, naming fellow members of his Chigi family to the papal government and appointing a cardinal nephew.

The diplomatic relationship between France and the Papal States became worse while Alexander was pope. France had invaded Avignon in 1664 after a confrontation between France's ambassador to the Holy See and papal troops. The French forces left Avignon only after an apology was rendered by Alexander. Cardinal Mazarin, the leader of the French government, further urged Alexander to create more French cardinals, but he did not do so. During his pontificate Alexander created 40 new cardinals with 33 of them being Italians.

Within the College of Cardinals a faction of cardinals that was not loyal to any of the Catholic monarchies were called the Squadrone Volante, and had risen during the conclave of 1655. The name, which translates as Flying Squadron, was given because of their support of candidates who they believed had the best interest of the papacy in mind rather than candidates supported by the secular monarch. Christina, Queen of Sweden, who had abdicated the Swedish throne and moved to Rome before converting to the Catholic Church, served as the secular supporter of the group, and became particularly close to Decio Azzolino.

Conclave
When the conclave opened it had 64 cardinal electors present. At the time of Alexander's death, the College was at its then-maximum capacity of 70 members. Between the time of his death and the opening of the conclave on 2 June 1667, two of the cardinals had died, and four members had yet to arrive in Rome. Since the conclaves of 1605, the College had consistently maintained 60 or more members take place in the conclave, and crowding had become an issue. The College debated whether it would be appropriate to hold the conclave in the Vatican given concerns about crowding and deaths of cardinals in previous conclaves, but older cardinals insisted on holding the conclave there.

Alexander VII had created 34 of the cardinals present during the 1667 conclave. Of that group, 10 did not accept Flavio Chigi, Alexander's cardinal nephew, as their leader because his lifestyle was considered unseemly. Sixteen of the cardinals present in the conclave were creations of Urban VIII, and they all agreed to follow the lead of Antonio Barberini, one of Urban's nephew. The conclave was dominated by the parties loyal to the cardinal nephews, and electors who were loyal to various monarchs or were members of the Flying Squadron remained divided, splitting evenly between the two larger parties headed by the nephews. The French had eight electors who were loyal to them, and the Spanish had six, while the Flying Squadron had eleven.

From the beginning of the conclave, Giulio Rospigliosi was considered to be the papabile with the strongest chances. He was not opposed by any of the major factions at the conclave. Initially, the French sought to hide the fact that they supported Rospigliosi and promoted Scipione Pannocchieschi d'Elci for the papacy in order to allow the Spanish to support Rospigliosi, who was on good terms with the Spanish government. The Spanish, however, initially preferred the election of Francesco Barberini, another of Urban VIII's nephews.

The other serious candidate at the beginning of the conclave was Girolamo Farnese. Farnese was not acceptable to the Flying Squadron, which left the conclave with Rospigliosi and d'Elci as the only viable options. Flavio Chigi promoted d'Elci as a candidate, but he was considered too zealous by some of the electors.

Election of Clement IX
On the morning of 20 June 1667 Rospigliosi received five votes during the first scrutiny. He had only received at most 10 votes during the scrutinies of the preceding weeks. Between the morning scrutiny and the one held in the evening, Charles d'Albert d'Ailly, the French ambassador in Rome, promised Flavio Chigi income from France. Chigi then agreed to convince the electors who were loyal to him to vote for Rospigliosi's election.

At the scrutiny that evening, Rospigliosi received 61 votes and was elected Pope Clement IX.   Rospigliosi was the last pope to come from Tuscany. At the conclusion of the conclave, both France and Spain believed that they had succeeded in electing the pope that they had wanted.

Notes

References

Pope Clement IX
1667 in the Papal States
1667
17th-century elections in Europe
1667 in politics
17th-century Catholicism
1667 in Europe


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Lula must now ensure the transfer of his voters to candidate Fernando Haddad
Wednesday, September 12th 2018 - 08:38 UTC
Lula had stepped aside to allow running mate Fernando Haddad to stand for the presidency, PT president Senator Gleisi Hoffman said
Support for Haddad, former mayor of Sao Paulo, is rising, according to opinion polls released this week, but he does not have the national name recognition of Lula
"A man can be unjustly imprisoned, but not his ideas. We are millions of Lulas and from today Fernando Haddad will be Lula for millions of Brazilians"
Brazil's imprisoned former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Tuesday ended his legal battle to run for the top office in next month's election. Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, head of the leftist Workers Party (PT) that Lula founded, made the announcement in the southern city of Curitiba, where the popular Lula has been jailed on corruption charges since April.
Lula had stepped aside to allow running mate Fernando Haddad to stand for the presidency, Hoffman said. A letter from the ex-president was read out to supporters who have been keeping vigil outside the federal police headquarters where Lula - who maintains his innocence - is being held.
"A man can be unjustly imprisoned, but not his ideas," Lula wrote in the letter, read aloud by founding PT member Luiz Eduardo Greenhalgh. "We are millions of Lulas and from today Fernando Haddad will be Lula for millions of Brazilians."
Lula, serving a 12-year sentence for a graft conviction, was president from 2003-2010. He is ineligible for office under Brazil's "Clean Slate" law, which prohibits candidates from running if they have convictions that have been upheld on appeal.
Support for Haddad, a 55-year-old former mayor of Sao Paulo, is rising, according to opinion polls released this week, but he does not have the national name recognition of Lula and still lags his rivals.
Haddad will need all the political power that Lula's backing can offer to make it into a likely runoff vote, which would take place between the top two finishers in the Oct. 7 first round ballot if none wins a majority. Haddad's running mate is Manuela D'Avila, 37, a member of the Communist Party of Brazil.
Polls have shown that about half of Lula's legion of followers are likely to vote for whomever the popular leader names as his successor atop the PT ticket.
Lula had hoped the Supreme Court would agree to an appeal for more time after the top electoral court last week gave the party until Tuesday to decide on its candidate.
But he finally decided it was time to pass the baton to Haddad on the deadline set by the court and not run the risk of votes for his party's ticket being annulled by the electoral court.
Lula, who controls the PT he founded and determines its election strategy from his jail cell, has kept his candidacy alive for as long as possible, hoping to maximize the transfer of votes to Haddad.
Monday's Datafolha poll showed that transfer has begun. While still in the single digits, support for Haddad increased from 4% to 9%, the biggest gain among the 13 candidates running for president.
The same poll also showed strengthening support for another leftist cndidate, Ciro Gomes, while far-right law-and-order candidate Jair Bolsonaro increased by 2 percentage points to 24%, less than many expected after he survived a near-fatal stabbing last week.
Monday's poll also confirmed previous surveys showing Bolsonaro would lose to every major candidate in a probable run-off vote - with the exception of Haddad, with whom he was in a technical tie.
A separate survey released on Tuesday by the Ibope polling firm showed Bolsonaro in a technical tie with all rivals in simulated second-round votes, and easily leading in the first-round ballot.
Tags: 2018 Brazil Elections, Brazil, Brazil Elections, Fernando Haddad, former mayor, Gleisi Hoffman, Lula da Silva, presidential candidate, Sao Pablo, socialsit, Workers' Party (PT).


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Q: How do I render a list item differently on the last item? I am trying to make a menu that will appear like this:
LOGS | BULLETIN | LOCATIONS | DIRECTORY | POLICIES
Note that the last item does not have a | after it.
This is my code now:

        @{
            var homeNode = Model.Content.AncestorOrSelf("Homepage");
        }
        @foreach (var node in homeNode.Children.Where("Visible"))
        {

                @node.AsDynamic().Name |

        }

Which renders this:
LOGS | BULLETIN | LOCATIONS | DIRECTORY | POLICIES |
What can I add to the code so that it adds | after each node name EXCEPT the last one?

A: This should work:
var homeNode = Model.Content.AncestorOrSelf("Homepage");

var nodes = homeNode.Children.Where("Visible");

foreach (var node in nodes)
{

        @node.Name
        @if (node != nodes.Last())
        {
            @Html.Raw(" |&nbsp")
        }

}

Wing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Little Dickens, Big Laughs
December 9, 2018 by Chris Shalom
It feels like a bit of a put-on when Ronnie Burkett misses a beat, glances left, right, left, and finally, with a thankful grin, remembers what scene he's supposed to be doing next. Burkett warns us at the start of the show that he hasn't done much prep, and that he's got a cold to boot. And then he delivers just under two hours of fast-paced schtick, zippy one-liners, and imaginatively-designed musical numbers. It just makes you wonder how loose this all is, really.
For those not in the know—"Daisy virgins," as more than one participating audience member was described—the Daisy Theatre hosts an all-marionette cast with frequently fabulous clothing and a penchant for groaners. Little Dickens loosely fits the cast into the framework of A Christmas Carol, which becomes a foundation for Christmas sing-alongs, naughty jokes, surprise guest appearances, and perhaps a touch more camp than Mr. Dickens' original story. (You might read the title a few ways: the cast performing Dickens is indeed little, and the show, in the end, really has only a little bit of Dickens. Further interpretations are best left as an exercise for the reader.)
This is not, in other words, intended to break new ground in adapting Dickens. It is a puppet show, and a very funny one. Its songs are wonderfully presented by the puppets and enthusiastically sung by Burkett, and if you haven't seen a marionette glance coyly at an audience before swivelling to furiously shake its booty, you're missing a worthy experience that probably isn't all that easy to come by in Vancouver.
Burkett does his work in all black, but not in the dark. His face hovers over his characters, occasionally pinched in concentration, more often as widely exaggerated as the characters he's voicing. It feels natural, not distracting, to glance between puppet and puppeteer. There's that looseness: the program guide informs me that Burkett became a puppet fan at age seven, and the slapdash enthusiasm of the performance gives the feeling of glancing in on someone lost in playtime. At one point, Burkett casually asks his stage manager what the next scene is; at another, he pauses with his back to the audience before loudly muttering, "I knew this was going to be a bad idea," and instructs us to talk among ourselves while he sorts out whatever mess his bad idea has made backstage. It's charming. In a way it's at subtle odds with Burkett's unmistakable experience as a performer; his firm control of the more improvisational and participatory sections is always there to remind you that you're not just looking in on someone trying out funny voices in the mirror.
Jokes about East Van and rural Alberta can only wink and nudge us through so much of the story before the inconsequentiality of the whole thing starts to catch up, and Scrooge types may be less invigorated than others by the invitations to group carolling. But a night of comedy like this isn't supposed to be perfect—it's supposed to be funny, and Burkett's show is.
Now somebody go see it twice, and tell me how much is improv, and how much is just a bit.
Chris Shalom
Michael Che The Good-Natured Scoundrel
Drought conditions, high temperatures prompt B.C. fishing restrictions
Christian Techera scores in 32nd minute to lift Whitecaps past FC Dallas
How A Vegan Hotspot Has Redefined Healthy Dining
A Lost Girl Is A Suicide Girl
What's Buzzing in Vancouver #4: A Look at the Social Media Landscape in VanCity


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Kindle Store Buy A Kindle Free Kindle Reading Apps Kindle Books French eBooks Kindle Unlimited Prime Reading Amazon Charts Best Sellers & More Kindle Singles Accessories Content and devices Kindle Support
Ethem Alpaydin
Kevin P. Murphy
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Richard Hammack
The Random-Cluster Model by Geoffrey R. Grimmett (2009-08-15)
Books By Geoffrey Grimmett
All Formats Kindle Edition Paperback Hardcover Printed Access Code Sort by: Popularity Popularity Price: Low to High Price: High to Low Avg. Customer Review Publication Date Sort by:Popularity
Probability on Graphs: Random Processes on Graphs and Lattices (Institute of Mathematical Statistics Textbooks Book 8) 25-Jan-2018
by Geoffrey Grimmett
This introduction to some of the principal models in the theory of disordered systems leads the reader through the basics, to the very edge of contemporary research, with the minimum of technical fuss. Topics covered include random walk, percolation, self-avoiding walk, interacting particle systems, uniform spanning tree, random graphs, as well as the Ising, Potts, and random-cluster models for ferromagnetism, and the Lorentz model for motion in a random medium. This new edition features accounts of major recent progress, including the exact value of the connective constant of the hexagonal lattice, and the critical point of the random-cluster model on the square lattice. The choice of topics is strongly motivated by modern applications, and focuses on areas that merit further research. Accessible to a wide audience of mathematicians and physicists, this book can be used as a graduate course text. Each chapter ends with a range of exercises.
Other Formats:: Hardcover , Paperback
Sold by: Amazon.com.ca, Inc.
The Random-Cluster Model (Grundlehren der mathematischen Wissenschaften Book 333) 13-Dec-2006
by Geoffrey R. Grimmett
The random-cluster model has emerged as a key tool in the mathematical study of ferromagnetism. It may be viewed as an extension of percolation to include Ising and Potts models, and its analysis is a mix of arguments from probability and geometry. The Random-Cluster Model contains accounts of the subcritical and supercritical phases, together with clear statements of important open problems. The book includes treatment of the first-order (discontinuous) phase transition.


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AML Week 3: Goal-line stand carries Gators past Johnsonburg
It's Saturday afternoon, the scoreboard clock at Gator Field shows 0:32.1 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Port Allegany is clinging to a 7-3 lead. But after making one stand inside the 5-yard line a few minutes earlier, the Gator defense is backed up to its own end zone again. It's fourth-and-goal at the 1, and Johnsonburg has one more chance to punch the ball in for the potential game-deciding score.
Rams coach Tom Launer calls timeout, and both teams huddle for some last-minute instructions.
"Blitz as hard as you can," Port Allegany coach Mike Bodamer tells linebackers Seth Lowery, Zach Ramadhan and Brock Taylor.
Quarterback Mitchell Vallone takes the snap, pivots, and hands the ball off to Trevor Miller, the 281-pound tackle-turned-fullback who outweighs the heaviest player on Port's roster by a good 70 pounds … but before he can crash into the line, three Gator defenders are on him, dragging him down in the backfield.
Ballgame.
As the home stands still buzz with excitement, a kneeldown by Matt Bodamer finishes the game, and Port High escapes with the victory to improve to 2-1 in the Allegheny Mountain League North division.
"That goal-line stand was absolutely beautiful. Can't ask the kids for anything more than that," Bodamer said afterward. "Fourth-and-1, win or lose, and we decided to win this time."
But while the veteran Port mentor was pleased to come away with a win, he was equally nonplussed about several miscues which helped keep the game in doubt until the thrilling ending. The Gators turned the ball over twice inside the Johnsonburg 20, and the Rams' only score came from a short drive set up by another turnover.
"We played ugly in the first half; we should have had at least two touchdowns," he said. "We could have easily had 28 points if we hadn't had any problems … Just mistakes on our part, things we have to work on to make them automatic, instead of having to worry about it.
"It's good to win, but I don't feel very good about the way we played."
The Gator offense looked good early, shrugging off a failed gadget play on the first snap of the game to drive deep into Rams territory on its first two possessions. However, neither one yielded any points, and the first quarter ended in a 0-0 deadlock. The Rams were going nowhere; their first four drives netted a total of 20 yards, with the only first down via a defensive penalty. But when Mitchell Holmberg recovered a fumble at the Port 33, the visitors were suddenly in position to take the lead. The drive stalled at the 5, but Trey DeCecchis pounded a 22-yard field goal through the uprights, and Johnsonburg took a 3-0 lead into the locker room.
The Rams went backward on the opening drive of the second half, and punter Andrew Nortum was called upon yet again. His booming kick sailed over the head of the returner and rolled all the way to the Gator 1, and the crowd on the visitors' side stirred, hoping for a big defensive play.
The Gators didn't oblige. Behind the strong running of Ryan Bodamer (11 carries – 66 yards rushing, 2 catches – 68 yards) and Lowery (19 carries – 94 yards, 1 catch – 31 yards), who each had strong games on both sides of the ball, the offense drove the length of the field. Lowery capped off the 99-yard scoring drive by breaking loose for a 20-yard touchdown run with 8:20 remaining in the third quarter, then added the extra point for the 7-3 margin.
"That was a little disappointing, the way we've been playing defense. We get them down there on the 1-yard line, I thought we were in pretty good shape," Launer said.
The two teams swapped turnovers and punts heading into the fourth quarter, where the Rams unveiled their supersized backfield combo – Miller and 6-3, 245-pound Matt Shuey – and began moving the ball for the first time all afternoon, forcing the Gator defense's last-minute heroics.
"We just couldn't get our running game on track," Launer explained. "We just put that formation in this week. We thought, maybe we can go with the big guys and get three or four yards per carry, and move the ball that way. It was working pretty good until we got inside the 5, and then they jammed it up. When we had first-and-goal on the 4, I thought we had a really good shot to punch it in, but we didn't do it."
Now 2-1, Port Allegany is tied with Coudersport for second place in the division, a game behind Cameron County. A tough road trip awaits this week, though, when the Gators head south to Kane to take on the defending AML champions. The Wolves are led by senior running back Arie Paup (24 carries – 142 yards, 3 TDs), who missed the game at Sheffield last week.
"We'll have to key on him and make sure he doesn't kill us," Bodamer said. "Their quarterback can throw the ball a little bit, and they've got another fast tailback. They're just so big up front; they look like little NFL linemen. Hopefully our guys will be able to use our speed again … I think these couple of defensive stands will give them a little bit of confidence. We'll watch some tape, see what we can do with them, and find some way to get our offense back on track."
At Port Allegany, Sept. 19:
Johnsonburg 0 3 0 0 – 3
Port Allegany 0 0 7 0 – 7
Johnsonburg –Trey DeCecchis 22-yard field goal, 3-0
Port Allegany –Seth Lowery 20 run, Lowery kick, 7-3 PA
Team Stats:
Passing Yards 60 143
Comp-Att-Int 4-14-0 5-10-0
Total Yards 167 300
Punts-Avg. 7-40.9 3-35.3
Rushing:
Johnsonburg – Shuey 8-32; DeCecchis 12-26; Miller 10-24; Vavala 7-13; Nortum 6-9; Vallone 2-5.
Port Allegany – Lowery 19-94, TD; R. Bodamer 10-66; Ramadhan 5-11; Stuckey 3-(-3); M. Bodamer 5-(-17).
Note: Rushing statistics include sack yardage for QBs.
Johnsonburg – Nortum 2-12, 48 yards; Vallone 2-2, 12 yards.
Port Allegany – M. Bodamer 5-9, 143 yards; Stuckey 0-1, 0 yards.
Receiving:
Johnsonburg – Shuey 1-29; Holmberg 1-19; Nortum 2-12.
Port Allegany – R. Bodamer 2-68; Kline 1-35; Lowery 1-31; Stuckey 1-9.
Update: for the second consecutive week, both Seth Lowery and Ryan Bodamer were named to the D9Sports.com Honor Roll.
Categories: football, PAHS sports
← PAHS Sports Roundup: Sept. 16-22
PAHS roundup: Sept. 23-29 →


In the world of today, designing has taken on a totally new lease of life. Rather than home owners turning towards interior designers to help furnish their properties, they are choosing to do it themselves. This is largely due to the current economic conditions. Everyone seems to be considerably more guarded with their money. Existing home owners are trying to optimise their very own houses where possible. This is a change from previous circumstances, where many would have enhanced to a new house. Fresh home owners obviously need to decorate their houses, however the majority are choosing to decorate only one place at a time. All home owners want furniture that is high in quality while being cost-effective. Many persons do not know where to start without any kind of decorating experience. It is suggested to get started on by deciding on which place is to be furnished, the essential furnishings required and a budget. It's likely though that some of these decisions will change further down the line. Home owners must decide on how all their dining rooms will function. Based on this decision, home owners will likely choose to decorate all their rooms differently. For example , most people use their dining room because their everyday place to enjoy foods. This room will get a many wear and tear. Papers, mail, groceries and coats will be done onto the dining table and chairs. On the other hand, although not quite as common today, there are some home owners for whom the dining room is more formal. On their behalf, it is a separate area that is only used for company. A person's best china is used in this kind of room. This room is not going to get as much use to be a less formal dining region so more delicate things can be chosen, rather than preferring only for the most sturdy. Once it is decided on how the place will function, it will need a dining table and chairs. Property owners may purchase separate pieces such as a table from one collection and chairs from a totally different collection. Likewise, living area sets are also available where whole set can be purchased united item. For people with more self-assurance in their decorating skills, getting separate pieces is fine. Nevertheless , for those that are not so confident, purchasing a set might be easier. Also, by mixing and matching pieces, the room may well have a more eclectic appearance. On the other hand, purchasing a set may well have somewhat of a even more formal appearance. Again, this can be up to the home owners to decide.
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Kia Ora Koutou Katoa,
Welcome to the second edition of the School of Pharmacy newsletter which we hope you will find both informative and enjoyable as we endeavour to keep you all up-to-date with the various events taking place within the School.
The School of Pharmacy welcomes Professor Carlo Marra as the new Dean.
Our Pharmacy community of students, staff and alumni continue to grow and make changes within the Pharmacy profession. In this edition we draw attention to graduates Rajeshni Nadu and Brian Wong as well as faculty member, Professor Pauline Norris.
The School continues to develop its new curriculum and is already including Te Ao Māori in the current course. School Kairāhi, Lisa Kremer along with Aynsley Peterson are leading the way, encouraging both staff and students to improve their knowledge of Te Ao Māori.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter. Please contact us with any feedback you have about our newsletter or if there is anything in particular you would like to know. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ngā mihi,
Joel Tyndall
Associate Dean, Marketing, Communication and Engagement
School of Pharmacy NEWS
Otago School of Pharmacy welcomes new Dean, Professor Carlo Marra.
It is an exciting time in the healthcare profession, with the role of a pharmacist rapidly changing and evolving. The need to be at the forefront of Pharmacy education programmes is recognised by Otago School of Pharmacy's new Dean, Professor Carlo Marra. Professor Marra commenced his role as Dean on 1st August 2016 ...
The role of pharmacists is moving further and further away from the traditional role of supplying medicines and has evolved into more patient-specific services such as Long Term Conditions (LTC) and Medicines Therapy Assessment (MTA). Professional competences move in parallel with these changes, constantly being revised and expanding. For example, the introduction of cultural competency in 2010.
Otago School of Pharmacy Pharmacist pushes for free prescriptions
Professor Norris' recent studies show that some New Zealanders are endangering their health because they cannot afford their prescriptions. Even though prescription costs are low, these costs can quickly add up for low income individuals and families with multiple health problems.
Under the direction of Professor Pauline Norris and Professional Practice Fellow, Aynsley Peterson, six students work together to raise awareness about a prescription subsidy card as part of their research elective paper.
Read more about their campaign on their facebook page, 20 is Plenty.
School of Pharmacy ALUMNI
Rajeshni NAIDU
Qualifications: BPharm (Otago 2002), Postgaduate Certificate in Medicines Management (Otago 2005), Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (Otago 2010), Masters in Clinical Pharmacy (Otago 2014 – ongoing
Position Now: Specialist Pediatric Pharmacist
A passion for people drives Otago graduates career
Pharmacists provide advice and guidance on medicines and illness and can provide information to help explain these further. But how well this information is understood can vary. Some patients in New Zealand do not have English as their first language, creating a barrier to their understanding of complex medical information.
Under the direction of Professor June Tordoff, Rajeshni Naidu focuses on her Masters in Clinical Pharmacy from her base in Auckland through the University of Otago's Postgraduate Professional Programme. Rajeshni aims to identify how well parents and caregivers understand their children's medication and how they can access and safely manage these medicines.
BRIAN WONG
Qualifications: BPharm (Otago 2015)
Position Now: Intern Pharmacist, Queentsown, Chairperson of the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation Asia-Pacific Regional Office
Otago graduate, Brian Wong joins the 69th World Health Assembly in Switzerland.
Brian Wong (BPharm, 2015) recently attended the 69th World Health Assembly (23rd-28th May) annual governance meeting as one of 20 International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF) delegates.
New Alumni PROFILES
Jo Hikaka
2002 Graduate
Current Position: Clinical Pharmacist, Resident Aged Care, Waitemata District Health Board.
Current Position: Specialist Pediatric Pharmacist, Kidz First Hospital in Middlemore Hospital, Auckland.
Katie Owens
Current Position: Research Scientist, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Otago School of Pharmacy welcomes new Dean, Professor Carlo Marra
"There is a real opportunity within New Zealand right now as pharmacy evolves here and there's an opportunity to get involved with that evolution and help shape the future of where Pharmacy will go".
It is an exciting time in the healthcare profession, with the role of a pharmacist rapidly changing and evolving. The need to be at the forefront of Pharmacy education programmes is recognised by Otago School of Pharmacy's new Dean, Professor Carlo Marra. Professor Marra commenced his role as Dean on 1st August 2016 coming from Newfoundland, Canada and he aims to help the School lead the way in Pharmacy practice.
Recent changes in legislation now allow pharmacists to prescribe medications meaning pharmacist are "assuming more direct care for patients" says Professor Marra. "Some of the research actually shows that pharmacists can manage diseases like hypertension and diabetes better than any other health care practitioner, we just need to do more to integrate that into healthcare systems where pharmacists practice."
The University of Otago has been acutely aware of these changes and have had Professor Marra on their radar for some time. With a strong academic background and over 200 peer-reviewed publications Professor Marra reputation is well known in the Pharmacy sector.
Professor Marra holds a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy), a Doctor of Pharmacy, and a Doctor of Philosophy in health care and epidemiology from the University of British Columbia. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada in Arthritis Epidemiology and Pharmacoepidemiology.
Professor Marra's research has mainly focused on health economics, quality of life research and pharmacoepidemiology, including evaluations in musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases.
Coming to a School with the diverse research background, excellent staff, faculty and students was a "good professional move" says Professor Marra, "there is a real opportunity within New Zealand right now as pharmacy evolves here and there's an opportunity to get involved with that evolution and help shape the future of where Pharmacy will go".
Professor Marra plans to continue working together with the broader profession and key stakeholders to help implement new scopes of practice and to help keep the School of Pharmacy's education programmes at the forefront of pharmacy practice.
Professor Pauline Norris recently received a $150,000 grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to lead a feasibility study titled "Randomised controlled trial of prescription charges".
Professor Pauline Norris' recent studies show that some New Zealanders are endangering their health because they cannot afford their prescriptions. Even though prescription costs are low, these costs can quickly add up for low income individuals and families with multiple health problems.
How much difference would it make to health if prescriptions were free? Would we be more inclined to visit the doctor if we knew we could then receive the medications prescribed?
Professor Norris recently received a $150,000 grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to help find the answers to these questions. Pauline will lead a feasibility study titled "Randomised controlled trial of prescription charges".
This study will determine which groups of people to involve, how many people will need to be included to be sure results are correct, how to find these people, which outcomes to look at, how best to provide free prescriptions and to find organisations to contribute funding to the study.
Professor Norris plans to recruit a group of people who rely on prescription medicines to manage their health problems. Free prescriptions will be offered to half of the group for the duration of the experiment to evaluate the impact this has on their health. Data will then be compared to people who do not have free prescriptions.
The co-investigators in this grant are Alesha Smith from the School of Pharmacy, Simon Horsburgh from the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, and PhD student Shirley Keown from Turanga Health in Gisborne.
Professor Norris's research is one example of how pharmacists are serving our community. The long-term results of this project could make a significant difference for many New Zealanders.
Cultural Competence within New Zealand's Culturally Diverse Environment
The role of pharmacists is moving further and further away from the traditional role of supplying medicines and has evolved into more patient-specific services.
The role of pharmacists is moving further and further away from the traditional role of supplying medicines and has evolved into more patient-specific services such as Long Term Conditions (LTC) and Medicines Therapy Assessment (MTA). Professional competencies move in parallel with these changes, constantly being revised and expanding, for example, the introduction of cultural competency in 2010 by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand.
"Cultural competence is the ability to interact respectfully and effectively with persons from a background different from one's own. It goes beyond an awareness of or sensitivity to another culture, to include the ability to use that knowledge in cross-cultural situations." (Statement on cultural competence, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand.)
New Zealand's cultural diversity requires our pharmacists to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that equip them for life in a multicultural world, especially when working with indigenous people. There are many health gains to be made in the arena of Hauora Māori, and our future pharmacists require culturally appropriate communication skills to be able to make a meaningful contribution to improve the health of Māori.
School Kaiārahi (Māori leader and mentor) and Professional Practice Fellow, Lisa Kremer, works together with Professional Practice Fellow Aynsley Peterson under the group name, Horoeka, to help ensure a broader focus of cultural competency is in the current and future undergraduate curriculum. This year, Horoeka has introduced opportunities for students and staff to learn about Te Ao Māori (Māori world view) in a number of settings, one being at local marae.
Mihimihi (introduction) is another skill which the tauira (students) are being taught. In Te Ao Māori (the Māori world), when meeting someone for the first time, it is important to share a bit about yourself, including for example, what your connections are to the whenua (land) who your ancestors are and your name. Being able to share who you are creates a space in which a relationship can be established. A hongi may also be an essential part of the greeting process and tauira are being encouraged to become comfortable with this common form of greeting.
Other teachings involve learning about te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and how this is incorporated into the role of a pharmacist, with an emphasis on health equity. Pulling all of the teachings together, and applying Māori models of health to case-based scenarios is the final step in the students learning.
Horoeka is privileged to be supported by a number of people within the University and the community, and has extensive support from Otago University Associate Dean Māori, Health Sciences Division, Joanne Baxter and her team at Kōhatu, Centre of Māori Health.
The School of Pharmacy has introduced a new 'Communities in Pharmacy' website to help encourage understanding and respect for diverse viewpoints, values, customs and languages, to help close the gap between pharmacists and the people they help.
Ms Kremer provides support for Māori students at the School of Pharmacy, keeping them in contact with Ngā Kaitiaki o te Puna Rongoā (The Māori Pharmacist Association). This year Ms Kremer and six students attended Ngā Kaitiaki o te Puna Rongoā hui-ā-tau (annual meeting) at Owhata Marae in Rotorua, the home of New Zealand's first Māori pharmacist, Hiwinui Heke. This is an exciting opportunity for the students to get to know and network with other Māori pharmacists from around the country.
A passion for people drives
Otago graduates career
"A passion for the pharmacy profession, and working with people have been the driving force in my pharmacy career"
says Otago graduate
Rajeshni Naidu.
For a pharmacist, communication is a key skill to master. Whether advising patients, cooperating with physicians or having discussions with associates, pharmacists communicate on a regular basis. Pharmacists provide advice and guidance on medicines and illness and can provide information to help explain these further. But how well this information is understood can vary. Some patients in New Zealand do not have English as their first language, creating a barrier to their understanding of complex medical information.
For Otago School of Pharmacy graduate, Rajeshni Naidu, this will be the focus of her Masters in Clinical Pharmacy research. Under the direction of Professor June Tordoff, Rajeshni aims to identify how well parents and caregivers understand their children's medication and how they can access and safely manage these medicines. Using a questionnaire, Rajeshni will conduct face-to-face interviews with 20 parents/caregivers, before and after their child's discharge from hospital to find out if they have any issues with managing their children's medicines.
Rajeshni utilises the Otago School of Pharmacy Postgraduate Professional Programmes offered to professionals to help them advance in the professional practice. Rajeshni will complete her studies from her base in Manukau, Auckland where she works as a Specialist Pediatric Pharmacist at Kidz First Hospital in Middlemore Hospital (Counties Manukau District Health Board). The Kidz First Children's Hospital focuses on family centered health care and serves a culturally diverse community.
Her experience also involves a research publication with a multidisciplinary team at Kidz First Hospital in reducing pain associated with benzathine penicillin injections for children with Rheumatic Fever and coordinated pharmaceutical stability study of lignocaine and benzathine penicillin injections. (See publication here.)
"I really enjoyed my 3 years at the School of Pharmacy especially the curriculum and the supportive staff" says Brian.
Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) host the World Health Assembly at their headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO with over 3500 world-wide delegates. School of Pharmacy graduate, Brian Wong (BPharm, 2015) recently attended the 69th World Health Assembly (23rd-28th May) annual governance meeting as one of 20 International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF) delegates.
Delegates discussed decisions relating to WHO's response to health emergencies, International Health Regulations, HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, mycetoma, access to medicines and vaccines, child nutrition, air pollution, tobacco control, road safety, research and development as well as integrated health services.
The IPSF delegation held a workshop at the conference on counterfeit medicines, presenting what they, as pharmacy students, think needs to be addressed. Brain says he was glad to have his experience from Medsafe Border Control Summer Pharmacy Student programme to assist this workshop.
IPSF is one of the world's oldest international student volunteer organisations with over 350,000 pharmacy students and young graduates from 84 countries worldwide.
The School of Pharmacy supported and encouraged Brian when he first become a part of IPSF as an undergraduate at the School of Pharmacy. "I really enjoyed my 3 years at the School of Pharmacy especially the curriculum and the supportive staff" says Brian.
Brian is currently working as an intern at a community pharmacy in Queenstown. Brian is enjoying his year and "working hard to gain his white coat", a tradition of the pharmacy that symbolises his preceptors trust and confidence in his ability as a pharmacist.
It is exciting to see such drive and passion from our young graduate. We wish Brian the best of luck with his internship and the future.
Brian Wong is mid-way though his internship year, working at a community pharmacy in Queenstown, NZ.
Would you be willing to help pharmacy students with their learning?
Our students are keen to learn from you! We need you to join our database of volunteers to talk with small groups of pharmacy students throughout the year. We are looking for people of the community to share with our students what their illnesses are and how these are being managed.
For further information please contact Aynsley Peterson
at the School of Pharmacy.
Phone 479 7149 or 021 172 3746
Email aynsley.peterson@otago.ac.nz
We want to know what you think of our newsletter! If you have any suggestions or comments please send them to
pharmacy.newsletter@otago.ac.nz
Copyright © 2016 New Zealand's National School of Pharmacy, All rights reserved.


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How Good Cooks Keep Green Veggies from Going Brown
Remarkably, a little heat can help because of plant chemistry
By Ali Bouzari, Chemistry World on July 21, 2016
Credit: Vegan Photo/Flickr, CC BY 2.0
As a culinary scientist, I'm constantly straddling the border between two worlds. My career is predicated on marrying two disparate skill sets and ideologies—those of the chef and those of the biochemist—to reinforce the strengths and cover the weaknesses of each side. There are gaps in this hybrid armour, however—situations where science, technology and culinary creativity have yet to catch up with our ambition. At times, these puzzles can appear maddeningly simple. For instance, we have yet to discover an effective method for manufacturing a good bottled beverage containing naturally green ingredients.
Water hazards
Chemically, the preservation of green is all about coddling chlorophyll molecules. At the centre of all members of the chlorophyll family is a chlorin ring, containing an array of aromatic hydrocarbon rings anchored at the centre by a magnesium ion. These arrays are precisely tuned to interact with certain wavelengths of light, so any change in the structure of chlorophyll can potentially change its colour. The most fragile component of the array is the magnesium ion, which can easily be displaced by hydrogen ions in aqueous solutions, turning the pigment from vibrant green to dull brown or yellow.
This effect is enhanced in acidic environments, which cooks have long combated by using neutral or alkaline water for blanching green vegetables, thus minimising the number of hydrogen ions vying for a place at the centre of the chlorin ring. While the two most common culinary chlorophylls, chlorophyll a and b, have a long hydrocarbon chain attached to the chlorin ring, rendering the pigment virtually insoluble in water in its native form, in most situations heating can accelerate acid or alkaline hydrolysis of that hydrocarbon tail, turning the chlorin ring highly soluble—and vulnerable in a sea of eager hydrogen ions.
It would be a sound strategy to avoid adding water completely (by roasting or frying, for example) were it not for the natural acids lurking within the vacuoles of the plant tissue itself. Upon rupture of the vacuole membrane at the high temperatures required for cooking most green plant foods, the internal pH of the tissue plummets, turning it brown from the inside out. Another method for helping chlorophyll remain green is to replace the precariously situated magnesium ion with other multivalent cations that are more difficult for hydrogen to displace. One of the most effective examples is copper, which can create sturdy, electric-green pigments in food. Unfortunately, copper, zinc, aluminium, and other metals that work well in these scenarios have low toxicity thresholds and are thus strictly regulated.
Turning up the heat
Heat seems to be a common component of several scenarios that end in dull, brown food, so why heat green ingredients at all? Obviously, because we need to tenderise some of the tougher, more fibrous plant foods like artichokes and asparagus. But heat can also provide two less obvious methods for actually improving green colours in our food.
Plant tissues naturally contain thousands of microscopic air bubbles wedged between their cell walls. These air bubbles scatter light at the surface of the tissue, diluting the vibrant colour of the chlorophyll within. Briefly heating plant tissues by techniques such as blanching or quickly grilling causes these bubbles to expand and escape the tissue, unveiling the full, vibrant green hue.
The other colourful benefit that we get from heating green food is the inactivation of enzymes. Many green ingredients contain enzymes that can turn them brown, either by degrading the structure of chlorophyll or by catalysing the oxidation of phenolic compounds. The latter case has caused the downfall of countless guacamoles, which turn brown not because of any degradation of chlorophyll, but by the formation of brown pigments fabricated by polyphenol oxidase enzymes.
Many culinary problems have simple, virtually black-and-white solutions. Unfortunately, preserving greenness in the kitchen is not one of them. If we successfully capture a flash of vibrant green in a dish, I say that we should enjoy it then and there. That is until someone figures out a natural, non-toxic way to preserve green indefinitely, in which case they should contact me immediately—we can make millions.
Ali Bouzari is a culinary scientist and co-founder of Pilot R+D
This article is reproduced with permission from Chemistry World. The article was first published on July 20, 2016.
Ali Bouzari is a culinary scientist, author of Ingredient: Unveiling the Essential Elements of Food and co-founder of Pilot R&D and Render.
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