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DISMANTLING WHITENESS
A Responsibility to the World
Jeremy D. Tunnell
Racism is like...just your opinion....man!
The idea of racism being an opinion is a misunderstanding of what Racism is. In fact, the opposition to the idea that racism exists and is a part of our country is deeply seeded in ignorance. This is because we do not teach the true history and origins of our country. As the old adage goes; History is written by the victors.
Prejudice and bias are age-old practices within human beings and cultures that have been with us since our human beginnings. In many respects, these have been tools that have kept us alive and safe. We might use our sense of prejudice to deduce a sick individual within our tribal communities or to weed out a potential threat from an outside force that we have had a violent experience with before. Bias can serve us and be a tool of discernment.
In our modern setting, where education and media are massive tools for the social indoctrination of individuals, our innate abilities to be biased and prejudice can also be harmful to others. Thus, it requires the individual to be self-aware enough to question what they have learned and sought out better information on their own, which is what a life long practice of reading challenging material or higher education helps us to achieve.
What we are biased and prejudiced against is taught. It can be taught through experiences, such as the experience of gathering and eating poisonous berries and feeding them to your tribe. You will learn a prejudice that will be passed down from generations to stay away from those berries. However, in a highly complex society, those same innate human traits can be generationally focused to falsely cause harm through the education and indoctrination of ignorant and hateful ideas.
This is where Racism comes into the picture. Racism begins with the construction of race; a deliberate and purposeful evolution of ideas for how to think about European idealism and supremacy that fostered from the 15th - 18th centuries. As written materials were beginning to be widely distributed through the invention of the printing press (1440 A.D.), new concepts were beginning to circulate in science and religion.
The Linnaean System (1735) became our methodology to organize organisms into a hierarchical classification: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Notice race is not included in this. The concept of race is usually attributed to Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in his work Decas craniorum (1790). However, the concept had been rolling around Europe for the better part of 3 centuries and was really given definition when The Age of Enlightenment began to take shape.
It was during this period in European History that two major social movements began to clash: First, European countries such as Spain and Portugal were engaged in the subjugation, genocide, and enslavement of indigenous peoples in the new world and northwest Africa. The wealth generated from these endeavors began to create a class of individuals within European society that had the time to contemplate and write on the noble endeavors of man's inalienable rights.
Indeed, It was the conflict between the Enlightenment ideals of universal freedom and equality versus the fact of the European enslavement of Africans and indigenous Americans that fostered the development of the idea of race (Blum 2002, 111–112; Hannaford 1996, 149–150). - A Quote from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Race
It is at this point in history that the first British Colonies in North American begin to take form. There were two: One in Massachusetts and the other in Virginia. These were capitalistic ventures funded by investors with the sanction of the crown. Due to the extremely harsh conditions and difficult start-up, the crown would completely take them over. If you were headed to the new world and to one of these colonies, you were either an investor, a paid laborer with entitlements to land ownership or an indentured service.
In 1619, a Portuguese merchant ship brought the first African's to the shores of the Virginia Colony. These individuals were also considered indentured servants and from 1604 - 1690, indentured workers had a prearranged amount of time to pay their passage and earn their right to freedom. However, as you can imagine, a human being might not enjoy any form of enslavement and would rebel against it. So, it was in 1661, that the laws began to change.
It is here in the Virginia Colonial Law, that the words "black" and "white" are first used to define the races. White indentured servants could still serve out their contracts with assurances for good behavior. This practice would completely end in 1690. However, black indentured servants would now be classified under a yoke of chattel slavery and become the permanent property of other human beings for the rest of their lives.
This is the birth of Racism in America. It is in the very founding of our nation and would go on to be further defined through the centuries. It continued with the removal of entire sections from the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence that explicitly declared our enlightened inalienable rights must someday encompass this nation's enslaved peoples. It was reinforced by the Supreme Court's repeated decisions in the early 20th century to uphold "whiteness" as the only means towards citizenship and land ownership: Twice.
In 1964, 100 years after the U.S. Civil War, congress would go on to enact the Civil Rights Act. This would be the legal conclusion to ratifying Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1864 and a response to 100 years of brutal bigotry and systemic oppression of black American's throughout the United States. It would be added too and amended through the following decades. What becomes clear in the wake of the Civil Rights Act is that laws can be used to uphold a lawful society but it cannot change the hearts and minds of its citizens. In the years since this act was made law, we still live under the foundational principles of race and racism.
It is at this point in history that the first British Colonies in North American begin to take form. There were two: One in Massachusetts and the other in Virginia. These were capitalistic ventures funded by investors with the sanction of the crown. Due to the extremely harsh conditions and difficult start-up, the crown would completely take them over. If you were headed to the new world and to one of these colonies, you were either an investor, a paid laborer with entitlements to land ownership, or
The Fault of our Forefathers
A History of Race
The Myth of White Indigeneity
©2020 by Dismantling Whiteness. Proudly created with Wix.com


So, I sort of missed the actual day, November 9th, but it's been 4 years since my diagnosis, and almost 4 years since my first surgery. After years of doctor's appointments, testing, a lot of weight gained, many tears, and breakdowns, I finally was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. I remember almost canceling the appointment before, because I had chickened out during my MRI, but when I called, the secretary said no way, keep the appointment. I had seen the MD, not the fellow the appointment before, and had done more testing than ever, and was on a strict diet. My mom was with me, and I finally heard the words "You have Cushing's Disease". You can read about that moment here.
It's a hard thing to explain to most people, most people are devastated when they are diagnosed with such a serious, life threatening disease. For most people with Cushing's, the diagnosis is a long time coming. Most of us have seen many doctors, tested for years, and already know that this is the beginning of the end. It's a celebratory moment. I cried many tears, and called probably everyone I know. It was such a relief, and I felt validated for the first time in years. This is why I had so much trouble completing my undergraduate education. This is why I cry when someone looks at me the wrong way, this is why I am over 200lbs.
My mom called a lawyer on the way home, hoping to get some answers from all the doctors, including endocrinologists, who dismissed me. We never pursued it any further.
Within a month, I had a diagnostic IPSS, and my first pituitary surgery. I was in a rush to have that done because one of my best friends was getting married in January and I was determined to be there. Little did I know, I did not need to prepare for extra time, I was on vacation the week after my surgery, because I never had the withdrawal symptoms after surgery, I wasn't cured.
In the last 4 years, I have had 3 surgeries, countless kidney stones, more complicated diseases, more tumors, and a lot more tears. I thought that diagnosis was the beginning of the end, but it was just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg. I had hopes of finally being a NORMAL 20-something, but I will never be NORMAL. I will always have to be more hesitant than most people, I have less friends than most people, because I lost most of my friends to this disease. Now everyone I know knows to never underestimate how sick I can get if I am not careful about eating on time, taking medications when I need to, and not doing anything that will make these things more likely to happen. I have to live in a bubble, of sorts.
Of course, there are some positives as well. I have taught so many people about this disease, and how horrible and life altering it is. All of my friends and coworkers know how to inject my steroids. I have scared everyone I know because of TIAs, hemiplegic migraines, and adrenal insufficiency. I have spoken to future health care professionals about Cushing's, and hopefully they will be better clinicians because of it. I have taught endocrinologist about this, I have made every one that sees me in a hospital learn about my disease. I do not have the life that I had hoped to have, but I have a life that will help teach everyone I talk to, or anyone who reads my blog.
I'm sure it was a bittersweet day when you found out you'd been diagnosed. A relief to know what had been afflicting you- something to fight. I've learned a lot through your blog- awareness is so important.
Exactly Kate - anger, relief, and sadness, but mostly relief.
I'm glad that you are doing well Brian! Thanks for reading.
I just started reading your blog and I'm going through a similar situation. My diagnosis is being delayed by my endo since he isn't very knowledgeable when it comes to Cushing's disease. The results are all I'm front of him yet he refuses to give me surgery until he is "positive". I been to at least 8 different endos so far.


Children communicate in messages using avatars of the lost object and in so doing produce uncanny feelings in those around them.
A personal experience of the uncanny while working with children in a youth project was the inspiration for this thesis. Over a few weeks, the movement of a large spanner around the building became the focus of the children's attention. I came to realise that the spanner was a symbol for the children and I noticed that certain children made use of it to communicate a message to others. I wondered why I might feel the uncanny in relation to these events and I conducted a detailed reading of Freudian texts in the hope of finding a thematic correlation between his theories and my experience. From this reading I saw that both, an anxiety associated with the castration complex and an archaic anxiety (shown to exist by the presence of unconscious symbols in myths and in literature) were repressed but could return to a subject's consciousness. I considered that the spanner, as a symbol of the phallus had caused a return of these repressed anxieties. I also found that by its presence, the phallus reminded the subject that there was a need to be protected. An article by Marc Strauss aided my understanding of why, and from what, the psyche might need protecting. Strauss explained in his paper that avatars of the object can serve to veil the inarticulable lack for the speaking subject. My thesis investigates that unconscious symbols of the phallus are also used as a defence for the ego against the realisation of this lack, which is first felt by a baby when trying to express the energistic drives of the body. The significance of this is that the uncanny may be said to stem from the inability in language to express accurately.


The Long Hair Community Discussion Boards > Discussion Forums > The "Mane" Forum > Isopropyl Alcohol: How BAD is it?
View Full Version : Isopropyl Alcohol: How BAD is it?
Recently I've been looking for a good LI for my 3a/3b hair. I stumbled upon Loreal EverCurl HydraCharge Leave-In Cream. However, one of the ingredients is isopropyl alcohol. Isn't isopropyl rubbing alcohol which is drying to hair? How bad is it really? Should I be worried about using this LI?
If it's way, way low on the ingredient list it probably is used as a preservative or solvent but it potentially could still dry the hair out. The problem with isopropyl alcohol is that it is very drying, which of course over time is very damaging on the hair. The higher up it is on the list, the further away I would stay.
If it's way, way low on the ingredient list it probably is used as a preservative but it potentially could still dry the hair out. The problem with isopropyl alcohol is that it is very drying, which of course over time is very damaging on the hair. The higher up it is on the list, the further away I would stay.
It's about tenth on the list and there are about 30 ingredients, would that mean there is a significant amount?
10th ingredient can't be more than 1/10th of the total and is probably a lot less. If I had to hazard a guess, it would be that it's in there to dissolve something that otherwise wouldn't stay in solution. It might also help the leave-in to stop being liquidy after it's applied, via evaporation.
How bad is it? It's drying to hair, just like it's drying to skin. It's not going to react horribly with your hair or anything (at least, it better not), but I'd say that it might be worth keeping an eye on. If you notice increased dryness, it's worth suspecting.
Thank you for your input :) Most likely what I'll do is try it out, see how it feels in my hair and watch for drying. IG I notice any drying, I'll stop using it and look for something else.
This is an old thread, but it came up through a Google search of mine, so I'll use it to ask a question.
Is there any difference between isopropyl alcohol and alcohol denat. when it comes to which one of those is worse/more drying to the hair?
Denatured alcohol [...] is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage recreational consumption. It is sometimes dyed. [...] Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent and as fuel for alcohol burners and camping stoves. Because of the diversity of industrial uses for denatured alcohol, hundreds of additives and denaturing methods have been used. The main additive has traditionally been 10% methanol [...]. Other typical additives include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and denatonium. Denaturing alcohol does not chemically alter the ethanol molecule. Rather, the ethanol is mixed with other chemicals to form an undrinkable solution. For many of these solutions, there is no practical way to separate the components.
Ethanol is used in medical wipes and most commonly in antibacterial hand sanitizer gels as an antiseptic. Ethanol kills organisms by denaturing their proteins and dissolving their lipids [...]. Hydrogen bonding causes pure ethanol to be hygroscopic to the extent that it readily absorbs water from the air. [...] Pure ethanol will irritate the skin and eyes.
Isopropyl alcohol [...] is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor. [...] It is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial and household chemicals, and is a common ingredient in chemicals such as antiseptics, disinfectants and detergents. [...] Isopropyl alcohol is miscible in water, ethanol, ether, and chloroform. It will dissolve ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl butyral, many oils, alkaloids, gums and natural resins. [...] Isopropyl alcohol is used as a water-drying aid. [...] isopropyl alcohol provides a comparatively non-toxic alternative to formaldehyde and other synthetic preservatives. [...] Isopropyl alcohol is a skin irritant.
Thank you egcmi for your answer! Since they evaporate quickly, I assume they don't do any more harm once they are gone? So if they hair doesn't end up feeling dry very soon after, I suppose the good stuff in whatever it was in was good enough to counteract the dryness?
At least wrt hand sanitiser, alcohol based ones are good specifically because the effects don't linger. So possibly would be the same for hair?


Our tassels are made from silk and carved stone and come in various designs and colours, each one being nearly a metre in length. They are perfect hung from the pin of one of our large wardrobes or antique cabinets, or could be hung from a wall for decoration. This one has a scrolling dragon design, with the tassel below in dark brown silk.


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Crab: Spiritual Meaning, Dream Meaning, Symbolism & More
Associated spiritual, dream, and symbolic meanings to animals is nothing new but are still incredibly popular. The crab is perhaps one of the more overlooked animals to this, although it still has a lot to offer.
1 Symbolism Of The Crab
2 The Crab Spirit Animal
3 The Crab Totem Animal
4 The Crab Power Animal
5 Native American Symbolism
6 Crab Dreams
7 Crab Tattoo Meaning
8 The Spiritual Meaning Of A Crab
9 Crabs In Astrology And Zodiac Signs
10 African & Greek Myth & Symbolic Meanings
11 Australian Symbolism
12 Symbolic Meaning Of The Crab
Its symbolism and spiritual meaning are very strong. It's a highly reclusive creature with lots of mystery and intrigue. We are going to explore everything about the crab's symbolic, spiritual, and dream meaning – along with a whole lot more.
RELATED: Lobster: Spiritual Meaning, Dream Meaning, Symbolism & More
Symbolism Of The Crab
Although small, the crab has a huge amount of resilience on both land and in the sea. It's highly resourceful and can adapt to most situations.
Simply by observing the crab, we notice its hard shell showing protection to people who are not ready to yet open up and observe new self-discoveries.
This could suggest a person's weaknesses and inability to move forward with things. Speaking of its shell, this is also the crab's home. It symbolizes a happy home life.
The crab represents the moon with a Yin energy alignment to the ocean and seas. If someone has imagery of a crab frequently in a short space of time, it may indicate the spirit animal requires attention.
The crab naturally moves sideways, unlike most creatures that walk on land. Not only might this symbolize difference and not following the crowd by going your own way – but also the requirement to side-step from problems to ensure safety.
The claws of the crab are tough and when it latches onto something, it is incredibly difficult to remove. This symbolizes its resilience and willingness not to give up – more so when it is something earned or achieved by right.
When a crab ages, its shells are shed linking to a meaning of new life or rebirth. However, during this time – a crab is vulnerable and during change, its value of symbolism is the cautious approach to new situations.
China looks upon the crab as a symbol of good luck. It is also portrayed with its arms outstretched as a mirroring of the sun. When it is depicted like this in art, the crab symbolizes a new day and the defeating of darkness – showing the protective nature of the crab.
It is also used as an aphrodisiac for men who are struggling with virility – providing a sense of new love and new hope. Mythologically speaking, the crab is portrayed as a seeker of new lands or an adventurer. Symbolizing here the inquisitive and brave characteristics of it.
The Crab Spirit Animal
Many people have asked for years what their spirit animal is and how they would know. One theory is that you see an animal you wouldn't normally see much more frequently.
You may also see them at times of trouble or when you need guidance, The crab might be one such animal. If you're seeing a crab more often – perhaps the world is telling you to go in a new direction.
A crab is often found naturally in peaceful beached areas or in calm seas – it could be telling you to take time away for yourself, calm down and meditate on your problems.
The spirit animal may be indicating that you go out and seek the unknown. Crabs may travel around the unfamiliar territories of the seas, floating around and unsure of where it will arrive – yet it survives.
It is telling you to face up to your fears and take risks, then begin your journey to shine a light on darker areas. A crab does not live within its shell for eternity, it must move.
RELATED: Starfish: Spiritual Meaning, Dream Meaning, Symbolism & More
The Crab Totem Animal
People with a crab totem animal often have a massively sensitive nature, but it is this nature that sends them to a life of isolation.
This person's safety zone can be a place to achieve their goals and develop an explorative journey for relationships and for fresh challenges.
Under its own terms, these challenges and relationships can be taken one step at a time. Dipping only slowly into potentially dangerous situations but remaining in control.
The totem guides you to safety, allowing an opportunity for rest when completely exhausted. Your aura and energy will be revamped and make you feel recharged.
Those who cower in the corners of their minds and battles may never come out of it – but people that allow themselves that moment to start again will exhibit the power and courage they are capable of.
The Crab Power Animal
Calling upon your crab power animal can help you move more freely. Crabs ride the power of the waves to the unknown but do so easily and calmly.
They are equally as confident on land and do so in their own way. The crab as your animal is letting you remain both unique and confident. You do what you have to do and remain true to your inner self.
Crab medicine can arrive in our lives when we feel heaps of stress or we continue to bottle our emotions up. Feeling crabby is fine and at times is completely natural, but it's crucial that we do not continue holding onto these feelings.
Drawing on the crab's psychic powers can help you when you are wary of your own fresh spirituality. The crab will use its powers to draw the elements together and let you declare your own control over yourself. The virtue is patience.
Native American Symbolism
Native American traditions portray the crab as a symbol of new life as it was their belief that humans were reborn as crabs or another entity of the sea.
The Native Americans also connected the crab to the moon and the sea – our love, our life, and our emotions are all on the same wavelength.
Native American Shamans are said to have believed that seeing a crab in your life was a sign that you need to explore and assess your feelings – see what is logged within seaweed but also what has disappeared with the tides of the seas.
Some also used crabs as a token of their appreciation, admiration, or overall respect. Many Native American communities still participate in this belief, where younger members of the tribe will present a crab to their elders.
Crab Dreams
Those whose dreams contain a crab may be feeling overdependent on a person, group, or place. The crab may be indicating that you're exposed or feeling fearful. You must explore these feelings and reassess them.
The nature of the dream might symbolize different things. Dreaming about being bitten or snapped by a crab's claws can indicate that you need to be more careful around people – maybe you're getting too close to somebody and need to rethink your strategy.
If the crab is in water, the behavior of the water can suggest your life's tempo. Maybe it's out of control shown through high waves crashing into the cliffs.
Crab Tattoo Meaning
Types of crab tattoos can suggest different things. Mostly, the crab symbolizes harmony with the water element. Crabs can offer protection to people, particularly travelers on their path.
Many cultures have the crab as a symbol of rebirth and renewal whereas others look upon the crab as good luck. However, the types of crab that are being inked onto the person will make the biggest difference in their meaning.
The King crab for example is famous for its size and popularity. People who get this tattoo may be indicating their dominance or duality with their size but also their kind-heartedness.
Hermit crabs on the other hand are much smaller and often hide. These crabs symbolize more about a person's happy home life, but also the bravery to move onto new surroundings and a new world.
Those who choose the Cancer crab as a tattoo may be exhibiting their motherly love or nurture. Femininity, creativity, and loving nature are shown along with a person's family ties, roots, and care.
RELATED: Scorpion: Spiritual Meaning, Dream Meaning, Symbolism & More
The Spiritual Meaning Of A Crab
Seeing crabs is much more than just a crustacean in front of you. It can express a life of much turmoil that needs resolving – someone with a lot of pain and baggage that must be addressed. A person must seek a newer direction in their life and seek their destiny.
Crabs In Astrology And Zodiac Signs
The crab is the symbol of Cancer in the Zodiac. Cancerians are among the warmest of people who generally don't exhibit this. Although Cancerians are very friendly and cautious with conflict, they often keep to themselves.
Cancerians show little in the way of emotion but often are conflicted within themselves, fighting personal battles.
Cancerians are ruled by the moon's maternal energy and power. They see no problem that they cannot resolve and many other signs will seek out the help of Cancerians for guidance.
According to some, Cancerians often resemble that of a crab physically. Sometimes, they gain weight as they store stress fat and use indulgence as a coping mechanism. Due to emotional burial, Cancerians may have ulcers or boils.
They may also live with anxiety disorders as they continue to bottle up their true feelings. Although strong on the outside, they are often soft underneath and may have weaknesses that they do not want others to see.
African & Greek Myth & Symbolic Meanings
According to Greek mythology, the crab came out from Heracles after fighting the Hydra. Hera had sent the creature to bite Heracles and make his victory hollow – but Heracles stepped on the crab and crushed it. Nonetheless, the crab was rewarded with a place in Heaven for its brave effort.
In Zambian folklore, a familiar from witchcraft that manifests itself as a crab known as Nkala is an extremely strong and difficult to defeat being. It is known for eating shadows and the remains of a previous Nkala can be used for both bait and medicine.
The Greek myth symbolizes a creature of unquestionable bravery and loyalty, whereas the Zambian myth shows a being that is both feared but also used for its goodness.
This duality is shown through the Zodiac and the shadows being eaten is another such theory shared by the Chinese.
Australian Symbolism
The crab is a native symbol in Australia. There are two main stores attributed to the crab.
One story talks of a cannibal that was buried alive by her tribe as punishment. As a spirit crow waited for the crab to re-emerge from her pit, the crab grew a hard shell for protection. She was also able to solve her blindness from being attacked.
This story showed a being that was able to shape-shift at whatever whim she so wished. The second story, however, talks of a man who loved to hear a possum-man playing the didgeridoo. When the man says he must leave to play to others, the crab begs for another song.
During the final song, the man went closer and closer to the sea sideways hearing the music – until eventually becoming a crab as the sea covered him.
RELATED: Turtle: Spiritual Meaning, Dream Meaning, Symbolism & More
Symbolic Meaning Of The Crab
Crabs can be symbols of defense. Their nature has them with two pincers that can harm if threatened. They're incredibly fearless and have no problems in battle or fights.
They're incredibly resilient creatures who will usually stick with their own decisions, like clinging onto someone or something. Some crabs are adaptable to change whereas some aren't so much but all will seek the opportunity to advance.
Overall, the symbolic traits of a crab include:
Personal journey
Finding meaning and purpose can be difficult, and some people look to the skies for guidance. The crab as a symbol shows huge potential and promise and can be helpful to those who need help.
People who are dreaming of or have experienced the crab in their lives recently might be living at a time of great change or pain – the spirit animal might be trying to tell you something.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ-b_L5AoXM
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Cancer Colors: The Best Shade For The Crab Plus Those To…
15 Powerful Crystals For Cancers: The Best Gems For The Crab

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Alexis Silver Naughty America
June 2, 2022 by wittssmokehouse.com
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We love shoe shopping as much as the next girl, and understand that when it comes to spring shoes, we can never seem to have enough. They can be worn with just about any ensemble and perfect for all occasions! We also know that investing in sandals, wedges and everything else in between can cost quite a fortune. To help you out, we've scouted out some of the trendiest and most affordable sandals of the season, all under $150. Click through to see our favorites, and feel free to treat yourself to more than just one pair.


Planning for Success ~Franchise Webinar. On Wednesday it was another new experience. We linked up with a number of franchisees and the topics included Time Management, Planning for Success, and other issues. Th e results will be gauged and another topic may soon come live on the network. The location was superb, with a beautiful day and all the effort Michael and the rest of the team had put in came to fruition.


What will you do if the vacation of your dreams doesn't go as planned?
What will you do if the vacation of your dreams doesn't go as planned? When left alone in a foreign country, your friend gets into trouble and you're the only one she can rely on: Will you have enough strength and courage to help her? Are you brave enough to face off with a 200-year mystery of the manor Ardennes and do battle with all of the threats contained within? We invite you on a fascinating journey to find out how strong the friendship ties are - and much, much more!
- About 40 beautiful art and gorgeous locations.
- Fantastic puzzles and hidden objects.


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Suspected Steet Racer Dead After Hitting Tree at 100mph
Home Suspected Steet Racer Dead After Hitting Tree at 100mph
Jul 13, 2020 | By BFH Law Group Staff | Read Time: < 1 minute
Houston, TX (July 9, 2020) — A man died in Houston Wednesday night after a street race caused him to lose control of his vehicle and hit a tree at 100 miles per hour. The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. at 10198 North Houston Rosslyn Road.
According to the Houston Police Department, the victim was a man in his early 20s. Witnesses say that they saw the man's red Honda Civic street racing another car shortly before the incident. The vehicle then veered off the road and struck a tree, splitting in half. Police say the man was ejected from the vehicle and wasn't wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. So far, it is unclear why the victim lost control of his vehicle.
Source: News4SA
Contact an Experienced Houston Car Accident Attorney
Unfortunately, auto accidents like this happen far too often in Houston. Police must investigate these crashes thoroughly to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable.
At The BFH Law Group, we understand how devastating these accidents are for the families and friends of the victims.
If you sustain injuries or lose a loved one in an accident, please contact one of our Houston car accident attorneys or call us at 866-762-0302 to set up a free consultation. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims of this horrible incident. If a family member would like the name of a person removed for any reason, please click the "Remove Post" link. REMOVE POST


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Home » City Life
Raises for everyone
This DFW employer clocks in as the top place to work in Texas
DART News
DART's new kiosks make it a little less frustrating to ride a bus
Bed Bug News
Dallas Police Department fights insidious criminals: bed bugs
Once you get them, they're hard to get rid of. Courtesy of Pest Exterminate Now
The Dallas Police Department has been hit by bed bugs. The vicious pests have shown up at two patrol stations: in the Northeast Station at 9915 Northwest Hwy., and in the Southeast Station at 725 N. Jim Miller Rd., according to WFAA.
Officers first reported seeing them in the Southeast Patrol Division in late January, in the front office. A pest extermination company was brought in on February 6 to fumigate the area.
But they were seen in the same office a few days later. You can't just do one application! They propagate like crazy. You gotta blow up the place.
They evacuated the building and treated the entire station one week later.
Too late though: Officers have reported finding bed bugs in squad cars assigned to both the Northeast and Southeast Patrol Divisions. There is some cross-over, with officers working at both divisions.
Bed bugs will jump a ride on your shoe. They'll hide in the cuff of your pants. They'll do whatever it takes to find a new place to roost. One creepy fact: They usually attach themselves to one person. They like a host.
WFAA says that up to a dozen squad cars may have been impacted. Yet only one car was treated. You can't just do one car! You gotta blast the fleet.
There are two ways to kill off bed bugs: chemicals or heat. Some say that heat is the most effective method, IE by exposing the structure to temperatures of 113 degrees or above, for 90 minutes or more. And if you want to kill off the eggs — because if there are bed bugs, there are definitely going to be eggs — you have to hit 118 degrees for 90 minutes.
Basically, you have to make it so hot that the walls melt.
Dallas Police Association Mike Mata issued a statement, as follows:
"It has come to our attention that our Southeast patrol division has had an occurrence of bed bugs, that has now carried over on a smaller scale to the Northeast division. We appreciate that the Dallas Police Department has taken this event seriously and has hired professionals to prevent any further occurrences. Hopefully, this quick action will limit the reduction in the availability of patrol vehicles being affected."
Dallas was ranked No. 3 on a 2019 list by Terminix for top 50 cities in the U.S. with bedbugs, based on the number of service calls it received in 2018. According to a national poll, approximately one-fifth, or 22 percent, of Americans have had a bed bug encounter.
Police seek couple who stole puppies from Dallas Petland on Christmas


Post-Doctorate in Communication Sciences from the School of Communications and Arts, the University of São Paulo (2015) and Doctoral Degree in the same field with a thesis on "The Azoreaness of Fiction on RTP-Açores (1986-2007)", from the FCH – the Faculty of Human Sciences, UCP – the Catholic University of Portugal, the institution where she began her academic career in 2002. Guest Assistant Professor at FCH/UCP since 2011, she is Coordinator of the Undergraduate Degree in Social and Cultural Communication. A Researcher in CECC – the Centre of Communications and Culture Studies (research line: Media, Technology, Contexts) and ensures the coordination of the Portuguese team for OBITEL – the Iberoamerican Observatory of Television Fiction. Her main research fields are television studies, television fiction from both the production and reception perspectives, production and programming strategies, publics and audiences.
Investigadora no projeto "COMPACT - Social Media and Convergence" (CECC).
Plano Legislativo e Regulatório Português para o Audiovisual. Propostas específicas de recomendações do estudo estratégico "Produção de Conteúdos Audiovisuais em Portugal"
Telenovela, Sociedade e Cultura: relação improvável ou pangeia da pós-modernidade?
Catarina Duff Burnay 2018. Colóquio "Os 20 anos da Expo'98"
Catarina Duff Burnay 2017. 4.º Congresso "Literacia, Media e Cidadania"
Catarina Duff Burnay 2017. The second Tel Aviv Communication Conference "The Future of Old Media"
"Television Fiction in Ibero-American Markets. New Knowledge opens Business Opportunities"
Olhar a Ficção Televisiva. O que é o OBITEL?
Catarina Duff Burnay (with Burnay, Catarina do Amaral Dias Duff). 2010.
Catarina Duff Burnay (with Cunha, Isabel Ferin). 2006.
Catarina Duff Burnay (with Burnay, Catarina Duff). 2005.
Catarina Duff Burnay (with Burnay, Catarina Duff). 2003.


text:
← Steve Coogan in Philomena (UK 2013)
Trial on the Road (Proverka na dorogakh, USSR 1971/1985) →
Classe tous risques (France/Italy 1960)
This could be an image from a neo-realist film on the streets of Milan.
The BFI's reissue programme with its gleaming restorations distributed as DCPs is doing wonders for the reputation of classic European cinema – and Keith will be pleased to learn that this example is in the correct 1.66:1 ratio. Claude Sautet, who died in 2000, was known in his later career for dramas like Un coeur en hiver (1992) and Nelly et M. Arnaud (1995) but in his earlier career as a writer and director he worked on genre films including this classic polar. Polars are crime films of various kinds and this is one of the very best featuring Lino Ventura in his prime and Jean-Paul Belmondo just getting established (his earlier film with Godard was also released in 1960).
Lino Ventura (Abel) and Jean-Paul Belmondo (Eric)
The Franco-Italian co-production (a growing industry practice in the early 1960s) starts in Milan with Ventura as a career criminal and a wanted man who has killed trying to get home to France. (The title has been claimed as a pun on 'Tourist Class' but I prefer to think of it as a man who travels 'at all risk' – there is no quarter if he is caught by the police as he faces execution by guillotine.) The film includes a journey between Nice and Paris (with Belmondo as driver) which had become almost de rigeur in the polars I have seen. I was reminded of the Jacques Demy film La baie des anges (1963). Class tous risques is a relatively long film for the time (115 mins) and Sautet uses the screen time to great effect in developing the characters. The main commentaries on the film mention three things, linking it to film noir, neo-realism and the films of Jean-Pierre Melville. I don't think this is a film noir, either in terms of the mise en scène or the theme. For one thing it doesn't have the misogyny associated with the femme fatale. There is a woman who would betray Abel (Ventura), but she is a not a femme fatale. The women are mostly loving and supportive. It is not like a Melville polar – it's far less romantic and instead veers towards neo-realism in the authenticity of both settings and relationships – the author of the original novel, José Giovanni had himself experienced the criminal life. It begins with a terrific chase sequence in Italy and includes passages in which Ventura must look after his young children.
I love the cinematography by Ghislain Cloquet and the music is by the ever reliable Georges Delerue. One of the things that makes the film great is its complete lack of sentimentality and its devastating ending. This is a sure-fire classic. Now I must dig out my copy of Touchez pas au grisbi, in which Ventura makes his debut down the cast list with Jean Gabin as star. If Classe tous risques comes your way via an inspired film programmer, rush to see it.
This entry was posted in French Cinema and tagged crime film, Lino Ventura, polar. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Pseudopachychaeta oscinina är en tvåvingeart som först beskrevs av Carl Fredrik Fallén 1813.  Pseudopachychaeta oscinina ingår i släktet Pseudopachychaeta, och familjen fritflugor. Arten är reproducerande i Sverige.

Källor

Fritflugor
oscinina

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Prisca était une impératrice romaine, épouse de l'empereur Dioclétien.

Biographie

Origines
On ne connait rien des origines familiales de Prisca. Parfois nommée Alexandra ou Serena, voire Eleuthere, son nom même prête à discussion. Bien qu'elle fût chrétienne, ou du moins favorable au christianisme, elle fut forcée de sacrifier aux dieux durant la persécution de Dioclétien. Les visages de Dioclétien et de sa femme peuvent être vus sur les médaillons de la frise du mausolée de Dioclétien (actuelle cathédrale de Split).

Mariage avec Dioclétien
Elle épouse Dioclétien alors Magister militum et accouche d'une fille Galeria Valeria. Dioclétien a beaucoup de tendresse pour sa femme et sa fille. Prisca s'occupe de l'instruction de sa fille avec attention, l'instruisant peut-être dans la religion chrétienne ; bien que cet aspect semble plutôt être fait de manière secrète.

Une impératrice discrète
En 285, lorsque Dioclétien devient empereur, le sénat donne le tire d'Augusta à sa femme, mais il ne semble pas que Prisca soit venue à Rome à cette occasion.

Impératrice discrète, elle partage ce poste avec les femmes des autres tétrarques. Prisca ne se mêle pas des affaires politiques et se concentre sur sa religiosité. Sa fille épouse, lors d'un mariage arrangé par son père, Galerius, époux débauché dont elle adoptera le fils illégitime, Vithia.

Lorsque Dioclétien se retira à Split en 305 et abdique, Prisca perd tous ses titres honorifiques. Elle rejoint alors sa fille Galeria Valeria et son beau-fils Galerius à Thessalonique.

Un symbole dangereux
Prisca ne s'est jamais mêlée de politique mais malgré tout, elle est un symbole impérial fort. Femme d'empereur, mère d'impératrice, l'aura de Dioclétien son époux qui a abdiqué, ainsi que sa sagesse, font d'elle une personnalité appréciée qui peut être utilisée par tout usurpateur pour prétendre à l'un des trônes impériaux.

Lorsque Galère mourut en 311, Licinius fut chargé de la protection de Prisca et de sa fille Valeria. Les deux femmes fuirent pourtant chez Maximin II Daïa, neveu de Galère. Peu après, Valeria refusa la proposition de mariage de Maximin qui l'arrêta, la bannit en Syrie et confisqua ses propriétés. Dioclétien tenta  par des ambassades de restaurer sa femme et sa fille à la cour de Maximin, mais n'ayant plus son statut d'empereur, sa parole n'eut aucun poids sur Maximin. À la mort de Maximin, Licinius, d'abord protecteur de la famille de Dioclétien, reçut Candidien avec tous les égards dus à son rang. Mais la présence d'une famille impériale renommée mettait son héritage en danger; il fit tuer Candidien avant d'ordonner la condamnation à mort de Prisca et de Valeria. Elles prirent la fuite et vécurent dans la clandestinité pendant un an. Elles se déguisèrent en servantes ou paysannes pour éviter d'être reconnues.  Retrouvées à Thessalonique en Grèce, elles furent capturées par la foule, jugées lors d'un procès et décapitées sur la place centrale de la ville. Les corps de la mère et de la fille furent jetés dans la mer juste après leur supplice (vers 314).

Sources

Notes et références

Bibliographie

Articles connexes
 Liste des impératrices romaines

Impératrice romaine du IIIe siècle
Impératrice romaine du IVe siècle
Date de naissance non renseignée (IIIe siècle)
Date de décès non renseignée (IVe siècle)
Dioclétien
Impératrice des tétrarchies


text:
Home » IKEA looks to fill the gap
IKEA looks to fill the gap
As it continues to build out its North American distribution network, home furnishings giant IKEA has departed from its usual strategy.
In the past, IKEA has stuck to the coasts when choosing sites for its DCs—it has built (or is building) five DCs on the East Coast and three on the West Coast. But as it moves forward with plans for its ninth DC, it's targeting America's heartland.
In March, the retailer unveiled plans to construct a giant DC in Joliet, Ill., just south of Chicago. The 1.4 million-square-foot facility will be built on 72 acres at the Laraway Crossings Business Park—a site that offers easy access to the interstate highway system as well as to rail service, via a nearby intermodal facility in Elwood, Ill. "This location's proximity to a rail line offers the long-term capacity, infrastructure, and geography that we were seeking to complement our distribution presence in North America, and to ensure our stores can continue to offer well designed … home furnishings at affordable prices," says Keith Keller, president of IKEA North America's Distribution Services.
Though the Joliet DC will primarily serve the company's stores in the Midwest, it will also be able to supply other stores across the country as needed. In addition, the new DC will provide the means for transporting goods across the country via rail so merchandise from Europe can be received on the East Coast and be distributed to western stores and vice versa with goods arriving from Asia.
IKEA currently operates stores in 34 countries, including 40 in North America. It has DCs in Bristol, Pa.; Brossard, Quebec; Perryville, Md.; and Westampton, N.J., on the East Coast, and Tejon, Calif., and Vancouver, British Columbia, on the West Coast. Another two DCs—one in Savannah, Ga., and one in Tacoma, Wash.—are currently under construction.
Logistics Network Design
CEVA Logistics, IKEA expand partnership
Consumer sector and e-commerce to drive warehouse space demand in 2020
Penske Logistics opens Michigan DC dedicated to The Kroger Co.


Domestic Greenhouses are available from David Gill Greenhouses . They come in kit form with price available upon application. They are ideal for the garden enthusiast who likes propagating all year round for their own garden or the keen vegetable grower who wants to have fresh crisp home grown vegetables.
David Gill Greenhouses is an Australian family owned and run business. These domestic greenhouses emphasise craftsmanship and quality construction, rather than profits. This attribute ranks David Gill's standards and reputation higher than most of the competition.
David Gill Greenhouses uses materials sourced from around the world. A Dutch company, Ridder Drive Systems provides all mechanics related to automated ventilation systems.
Meanwhile, French company, Agripolyane contributes quality greenhouse plastic, while Celloclim and Bogaerts Logistics provide automated and simplified harvesting machinery and tools.


With SAP Cloud for Customer, companies can unlock value and drive success more safely and inexpensively than ever. The openSAP course Experience SAP Cloud for Customer provides SAP customers and partners with the necessary know-how to get on board safely and quickly. The course offers an initial overview of SAP's overall Customer Engagement & Commerce strategy (CEC), and how the comprehensive solution portfolio is going to shape CEC as a new software category in the market.
Specific examples then illustrate the possibilities and procedures for implementing SAP Cloud for Customer - from the functional diversity of the overall solution (supported by many "day in a life" demos), to integration into the existing IT landscape, and on to individual development.
"Our practice-oriented event is particularly interesting for large companies who want to reposition themselves in the business of sales, service, marketing and social media," explain Simon Dechent and Sven Feurer from Cloud for Customer Product Management at SAP.
The content of this course was originally created and delivered via classroom training to SAP partners. Due to the popularity of this course, you can now access the content via openSAP.


Are you fit for a career in Psychology?
The science of psychology plays the role of benefitting the society along with enhancing our lives. Psychologists examine the relationships between brain function and behavior, and the environment and behavior, applying what they learn to illuminate our understanding as well as enhance the world around us. As a psychologist you could contribute to a wide range of work including helping businesses, helping people improve their lives, promoting health, protecting the planet, serving communities, understanding the world around us and also working in schools.
Cognitive Psychologists study how the human brain works- how we think, remember and learn. They apply psychological science to understand how we perceive events and make decisions. This work can range from exploring how we learn language to understanding the interplay between cognition and emotion.
These are psychologists who provide clinical or counseling services, to address a breadth of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, integrating the science of psychology with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of complicated human problems. They also promote change, resilience and help people discover their strengths.
Counselling psychologists help people recognize their strengths and cope with everyday problems. Counselling psychologists focus on interactions between people and their environment, and on educational and career development.
Developmental psychologists focus on understanding how humans learn, mature and adapt. Developmental psychologists study how people grow, develop and adapt at different life stages.
Forensic and public service psychologists play important roles within the public safety and judicial systems. They conduct evaluations that inform and guide legal proceedings - from decisions regarding child custody to the competency of a defendant to stand trial.
Industrial and Organizational psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in the workplace. It focuses on assessing individual, group and organizational dynamics and using that research to identify solutions to problems that improve the well-being and performance of an organization and its employees.
Psychologists use a number of research methods and comb through vast amounts of data to test hypotheses and study complex issues in the real world. Quantitative psychologists are expert in designing methodologies and studies that reveal answers to research questions on topics as diverse as human performance, child development, and memory and language retention.
Rehabilitation psychologists study and work with individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions to help them overcome challenges and improve their quality of life.
Sport and performance psychologists focus on identifying and applying psychological principles that facilitate peak sport performance, enhance people's participation in physical activities and help athletes achieve optimal human performance.
Most of the institutes for post-graduation require bachelors in any field or Psychology/Applied Psychology or/and related subjects.
For Lectureship in Psychology/Applied Psychology, National Educational Test (NET) or Ph.D. is mandatory.
Most colleges have eligibility criteria of minimum 60% aggregate marks in Class XII.


iCATccT is inviting soliciting original, previously unpublished and high quality research papers addressing research challenges and advances in the topics mentioned below.
iCATccT takes plagiarism very seriously and regard plagiarism as a professional misconduct. Papers will be screened for plagiarism and when identified the paper will be rejected. In addition all authors of the paper will be denied to the conference and other papers by these author(s) will also be rejected. When paper accepted, iCATccT don't encourage withdrawals after the paper is being accepted, meaning it should not be submitted with the intention to get the reviews by the TPC.
Papers from other topics relevant to Computing & Communications are also welcome.


text:
Open Source Software Subscriptions
When I end up explaining the same thing over and over, I try to get around to writing it down. So, pretty often I talk to someone who doesn't track the open source world on a daily basis, and doesn't understand the idea behind Red Hat Enterprise Linux: it's a subscription, but to what?
Red Hat has several products sold via subscription. The OS, originally known as Red Hat Linux Advanced Server, is now known as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (with four variants: AS, ES, WS, and Red Hat Desktop). We're using the same subscription approach to Red Hat applications on top of the OS, such as Cluster Suite and Application Server.
The way I think of it is: anyone can download the software from the Internet. Just go to kernel.org or SourceForge or wherever and grab the bits. What the subscription buys is all the work Red Hat adds on top of the bits. But what work is that? What do people here do all day?
Some of it is illustrated by Red Hat Enterprise Linux Update 3, which just came out. This includes:
New features, such as exec-shield
Security fixes
New hardware support, so the OS runs out-of-the-box on the latest stuff you can get from hardware vendors
Each change is documented anddocumented again and tested by QA
Changes are done while preserving ABI compatibility, API compatibility, config file formats, and program semantics; in other words, rather than say wholesale upgrade to a new upstream version, the changes are carefully backported, or the new version carefully evaluated
When the changes are made, the same change is made on "HEAD" or upstream, to be included in future versions
In addition to the rolled-up mass updates, we have out-of-band single errata (for time sensitive security issues), and "hot fixes" delivered to specific customers.
These updates are a ton of work, because they don't involve just downloading the latest version of everything; the fixes have to be backported and tested. It's the difference between saying "to fix this security flaw, go from Apache 1.x to 2.0" and "to fix this security flaw, install this small patch to Apache 1.x." We do this ongoing work for five to seven years, so if we release a new version annually, we're building up to seven of these updates simultaneously. Needless to say, this isn't trivial.
When I say "backporting" I'm contrasting it with two other approaches. One is the wholesale upgrade, and the other is permanent forking. Take the Enterprise Linux 3 kernel for example, which has many of the key features of the 2.6 kernel. Lots of patches. But when we moved to the 2.6 kernel, we dropped nearly all these patches without creating regressions in functionality. This way we meet customer demands quickly, but don't create a long term problem for those same customers. (As an aside, time-based releases as in GNOME mean we only do small backports in updates, rather than large backports in the initial release as seen with the kernel…)
What else does Red Hat do all day?
Keep the same version of the software running on seven CPU architectures (again, we do backports, we don't upgrade to whatever works)
A QA and release engineering process on all seven architectures
Develop new features, tracking a list of customer and partner requests and prioritizing features based on those requests
Recruiting and certifying ISVs, and modifying the OS to make their software work well
Certifying hardware platforms and devices
Standards-compliance and other certifications and benchmarks
Technical support, in-person, on the phone, via web and email
Security errata, including tracking, fixing, and documenting each issue
Upstream maintenance duties for lots of open source software
Inclusion (on a separate CD) of some proprietary software packages that require licensing
Bandwidth to deliver updates and fixes (this costs a lot more than you might think)
A lengthy beta program, where we test the software for several months and collect partner, ISV, and customer feedback
Guarantee from a company that all of the above will happen
Every one of these things involves full-time Red Hat employees and costs money to provide. You could call the full list "support," but I tend to avoid that term since it makes people think of calling someone on the phone for help. That's part of it, but a supported, enterprise-class OS involves a lot more.
Another way to think of this can be found in this table contrasting Enterprise Linux and Fedora. Still, the delta between Enterprise Linux and the Fedora Project doesn't show the full value of the subscription, because we do give a lot of our work away in the Fedora Core releases. Fedora contains our new feature development in real time, while that development is done. The integration work to convert hundreds of upstream packages into a working, compiled OS happens in a Fedora context as well. Even if you use Debian instead of Fedora Core, we're always feeding a stream of features and fixes directly into upstream projects, and anyone can benefit from those.
It absolutely makes sense that we give away what we do, because what we're giving away is the same kind of thing we receive from others: enhancements to the source code. We benefit from countless code contributions from around the world, and in turn everyone benefits from our code contributions.
I think the subscription model captures the original idea of an open source business very well. If you want just the software, here it is. If you want the software as a supported, vendor-backed product with everything that implies, we have that too. If you buy a subscription you benefit from the work that the company does; otherwise you don't. Most importantly, if you can support yourself, or if you want to hire another company that can support you, go for it. Fortunately for Red Hat, many people let us do it for them.
Once it's explained, most people seem pretty happy that our subscription approach is sensible and in the spirit of open source. (Unless they confused free speech and free beer from the start.) When someone remains unhappy, it often has to do with the exact product profiles and pricing. Taking the operating system for example, we slice-and-dice it into four versions (Desktop, WS, ES, and AS) and strip out the tech support for an Academic version. This is oversimplifying; we also have site licenses, volume pricing, and so on and so forth. I don't pretend to be an expert on product pricing, but will just point out that it should be above the cost of producing the product, reflect what people are willing to pay, and is ideally kept a little bit simpler than plane ticket pricing. Hardly an exact science, and something that evolves over time.
One final aspect of the subscription I haven't mentioned. The subscription is to the product line, not to a specific version. So if you buy an Enterprise Linux ES subscription, you can run 2.1, 3, or any future version using that subscription. We have no financial reason to force you to upgrade. The only time you're required to upgrade is at the end of the product support lifetime of 5-7 years; even then, you can of course keep using the bits, if you can find someone to do security errata for you, or if the computer is not connected to the Internet.
(This post was originally found at http://log.ometer.com/2004-09.html#5)


Stuart Emmons is going full William Wallace on a community charge to save OCAC in this op ed. What is hinted at in the op ed is there is a last ditch community effort underway and I agree, a school is not a simple for profit effort, more like a cultural utility and OCAC represents a lot of the true Portland Ethos acting as a repository and training ground for our values. Clearly, the model and vision still needs to change if there is a bailout but still, the community must try. This is a battle, not a simple balance sheet. Simply selling off assets to retire debt isnt the only way and the community knows it. As far as a new vision, I can see many ways to shift the model away from the broken one of pure higher education, degrees are not the only form of education and this moment in history can desperately use what OCAC offers.
Look, high culture doesnt just pander to one's instagram feed... the higher aims of culture challenges one to grow. It isnt likes that makes the world go round, at the end of the day it is Love... which is more difficult.
Nan Goldin stages a die in at the Guggenheim to protest opioid money and deaths.
I Love this story about finding an art experience to resonate with.


text:
Randall Munroe's Thousand-Word Challenge
Excerpted from "Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words" © 2015 by Randall Munroe. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Could you explain the electromagnetic spectrum, continental drift, or the basics of nuclear power using just the thousand most common English words? That's the challenge XKCD's Randall Munroe took on in his latest book, Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words. In it, Munroe breaks down complex concepts and technologies into simple words and diagrams, explaining how, for example, the "shared space house" (International Space Station) was constructed, and how a "food heating radio box" (microwave) works. He joins Ira to talk about what inspired his jargon-cutting crusade, and how he came up with alternative names for all the animals in the tree of life. (Can you guess what a "skin-bird" is?) Read an excerpt from the book.
Randall Munroe
Randall Munroe is a comic artist, creator of xkcd.com, and author of Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015) and What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014). He's based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Segment Transcript
IRA FLATOW: This is Science Friday. I'm Ira Flatow. There's a story about a wager between Dr. Seuss, the famous author, and his editor. The editor bet Suess that he could not write a story, a good one, with just 50 unique words. The editor lost the bet, and the world got a little book called Green Eggs and Ham, proving once again that you don't need a lot of big words to tell a good story.
But do you need big words to explain, say, a complicated science concept? Or advanced technology? Can you talk about the functioning of an animal cell without mitochondria? Or about the inside of a nuclear reactor without uranium? Sounds like a question for the Flame Challenge.
Well, my next guest answers these questions and a whole lot more in his new book. It's called The Thing Explainer. The Thing Explainer. It's just that. Complicated things like laptops and jet engines and electromagnetic spectrum explained using pictures and just the thousand most common English words. Randall Munroe is the creator of the popular web comic XKCD and the author of The Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words. He joins me from Boston. Randall, welcome back to Science Friday.
RANDALL MUNROE: Hi, Ira. It's great to be here.
IRA: Have you heard that story about Dr. Seuss?
RANDALL: You know, I think I heard it years ago. I had not thought about it until now. I never made that connection.
IRA: Well, you do amazing things in this book, Thing Explainer. What was the inspiration for it?
RANDALL: It's funny. It goes back to a comic I drew where I tried to explain the Saturn V in just the 1,000 most common words. But that actually came from when I was playing a space video game where I had to name space ships. And I was just trying to give them the dumbest names I possibly could because I got tired of majestic names like Falcon or Apollo or whatever. And so I started calling them things like Up Goer and Flying Tube. And I felt like Up Goer where was about the dumbest name I could think of. And then that got me thinking, could I describe the whole thing that way with just simple dumb words.
IRA: I'm looking at the page of the Saturn V which you call the US Space Teams Up Goer 5. And I love that– my most favorite part of this, so it's like a blueprint page. And it labels a part that says, the part that flies around the other world and comes back home with the people in it and falls in the water. Would made you think that this could all be put together as a book, all these things that you want to explain?
RANDALL: Well, I drew the Saturn V as a comic. And then I was really happy with how that worked out, and I posted it on my website. And then I was thinking, hey, I liked that a lot. I could do another one. Maybe I should do a space station or maybe something like a mountain or tree or whatever. And then the more I thought about it, the more of these ideas I had. And so I just started collecting them. And after I published my first book, I said, hey, books work well for this kind of thing. And the resolution of print is really high which means I can squeeze in tons and tons of detail. And always I'm a sucker for that.
IRA: Now before you were a full time comic artist, you were a roboticist at NASA, right? So you must have used some jargon? Is that something that you thought about at the time when you were writing all this jargon? You know, it should be easier than this.
RANDALL: Yeah, and I mean, I think just in any kind of academia, there's a lot of– and in technical work in general, there's a need for jargon because you sometimes need to be very clear about what things you're talking about. But there's also a lot of pressure to not feel stupid. And to not have people think you're stupid. And I think at that, it would sometimes push me to use big words when I didn't always need to. Or not call the earth a ball or round or whatever because I was worried that someone would correct me and say, it's technically an oblate spheroid. I think that the more I kind of tried to strip away that insecurity and just worry about what's the clearest way I could say this, the more I realized that simple words often do the trick.
IRA: So you compiled a list of 1,000 common words that you would stick to in the book?
RANDALL: Yep.
IRA: But how hard was that to do?
RANDALL: It was– that actually is a lot of work because there are a lot of different ways you can define what the most common words are. If you do things based on movies or Project Gutenberg old books collection or a modern book collection or subtitles on TV shows or newspapers, you get different lists. So newspapers will use words like President or debt or whatever more often. Whereas TV shows will have a lot more words like uhm or hello. And so I did a sort of mix of a bunch of different sources to try to come up with a list of words that really fit our general sense of what common is.
IRA: And because the word requirements lead to some pretty funny translation. I mentioned a couple of them, but let me go into a few more. In microwave oven is a food heating radio box. What were some of your favorite ones?
RANDALL: My very favorite ones– I think I liked calling a Rover a space car and calling a space station a shared space house, the International Space Station. But I think my very favorite ones were my names for all of the animals in– the very last illustration in the book is a tree of life where I just picked out a bunch of animals and gave them new names. And so bets are skin birds, since I can't say bat. And then I broke– there are dinosaurs. And so I had a couple different branches of dinosaurs. There's the pointy kind, the kind with plates, the long kind, and the bitey kind. And then birds. And I just had a lot of fun trying to come up with a name. Because there are a couple of animals whose names were on the list, like cat and dog. And so then I could use those, but then for all the other animals, some of them I would say like, the ferrets. They are long by bitey dogs or smelly dogs. And so I could come up with new names based on the few animal names I could use.
IRA: You mentioned that so you draw all these blueprints. And you draw them, they get very detailed. Did drawing this book push you as a comic artist?
RANDALL: Yeah. And it's sort of, in a way it was like stepping back from comics but a little bit more toward my childhood. Because I didn't grow up drawing comics. But I did grow up drawing detailed maps of things and diagrams of inventions I wanted to build. And so with this I got to go back, and it was a lot more like that kind of drafting I did when I was younger. And it was hard not to get sucked into just adding more and more and more detail.
IRA: There must've been other books that you, as a child, right, saw that were something like this that you said– you must have used something for inspiration.
RANDALL: Yeah well I grew up devouring books like The Way Things Work by David McCullough.
IRA: Great book.
RANDALL: And The Secret House was another one. That was a book of just stuff that happens in your house you can't necessarily see. So they had microscope views of the things that would be living on your table or wherever.
IRA: Right.
RANDALL: But one of the surprising ones was I really liked Where's Waldo. And I never really liked finding Waldo because that was always kind of hard and frustrating. But what I loved was looking over these murals and looking at all the action. And so when I was doing this book, I sort of deliberately made it not– unorganized, so that you could just pick anywhere and start looking and try to see what details you were looking at.
IRA: When I was kid, I had a math book. It was a Golden Book series. The Golden Book of this–
RANDALL: Oh yeah, I think I had–
IRA: Remember those?
RANDALL: Yeah, yeah.
IRA: Golden Book of mathematics. I remember it was the first time I had explained how the Egyptians had done their math. And how you could get pi from dropping toothpicks on the floor. And this book reminds me of that kind of genre. But I never know who these– because I'm a big kid. I love– I'm a geeky kid. I'm certainly an adult, but I love reading these kinds of books and how they're explained. So I never know who these books are aimed at. Do you have an audience that you aim the book at?
RANDALL: Honestly, I never really know who the stuff I'm writing it is aimed at either. Because when I'm writing it, I'm just thinking about myself before I knew the thing I'm writing about. How would I– I did a bunch of research to find out the answer some question or find out how something works. And then I think, OK, if I want to save myself all the time of all that research, if I could send back in time a short summary, what would it be? And so for some of these things, the explanations are– where they're things that I'd learned about when I was a little kid, like bridges, the explanations might be more aimed at kids. But some of the other things I only learned about, a lot of them, while I was researching for this book. And so I sort of aim it at someone who is my age. I hope that it's clear enough and inappropriate enough that kids can like and adults will like it too.
IRA: Was there some idea or concept or device you had to discard? I just, I would like to explain this, but it's just impossible for me. I have to give up on it.
RANDALL: One that I thought about was piano. And I ended up not including that. And I think partly because with some of these mechanisms– oh another one will be a mechanical pocket watch, which you don't see too many of anymore. But they're full of all these gears. There might be long words in watch making for each of those parts. But in a sense, it's just not something that's easy to attach words. To it's just, this is a gear and it's shaped like this. And it fits into an arm that's shaped like this. But there's almost nothing words can add to it. And so I think, there were a few of those things where I said, I don't know how to describe those in any words, let alone small ones.
IRA: I was also impressed that you explained the periodic table, which is basically just a diagram filled with big, very specialized words. How did you tackle that?
RANDALL: The periodic table was really one of the very few places in the book where I tried to– for the rest of the book, I tried to describe what everything did. You know, I would find something about it and explain how it worked. But for the periodic table, for some of the elements, especially in the very bottom rows, there just isn't a lot to say about them. And so I had to make it sort of a Jeopardy puzzle. I just describe what they were named after. So I said, you know, this one is named after this guy. And I had a little cartoon of Albert Einstein. Or this one is named after this place, and there's a silhouette of California, for like Californium or Einsteinium, because there really isn't anything all that interesting about those metals. But for the upper parts of the chart, I got to make a lot more connections and describe, like, this rock is really well known for killing you if you eat it for arsenic.
IRA: The rock that makes up the beaches, glass, and computer brains.
RANDALL: Yeah,yeah.
IRA: Is another one.
RANDALL: Yes, Silicon.
IRA: I didn't know this, but there are four elements named after the same tiny Scandinavian town? What's going on there?
RANDALL: That's the town of Ytterby, I think. I've never heard it pronounced. But it was a town where there was a mine near the town where they extracted a lot of rare earth metals. And because of that, a bunch of element discovery happened around there. And so there are four separate elements that are named after this town. There's elements like Ytterbium and Terbium and Yttrium and, I think, Erbium. And I'm sure it's a really nice town. And I've seen some pictures. It looks like a great place. But it's very small, and it seems sort of odd to me that 2% to 3% of all substances in the universe are named after this town.
IRA: I'm Ira Flatow, and this is Science Friday from PRI, Public Radio International. You explain things like the Curiosity Rover, the Large Hadron Collider, but you also explain how a data center works. How did you hit on that as a thing that needed explaining?
RANDALL: Yeah, yeah. It's funny. We talk about and we think about all this data. I actually did a survey a while back where I asked people, when you are looking at the internet, is there somewhere where you sort of unconsciously picture all of this stuff being before it's on your screen. You know, where do you think of this being stored? And most people just said, somewhere underground, or in a satellite, or a lot of them said a building out in Montana, or one of the Western states. So I it was good to sort of make it concrete. There's a little comic going around recently about, I think, Rich Stevens the just said the cloud is someone else's computer. And I like that. So I wanted to show people, all that stuff on Facebook, it's in these buildings. And here's what they're like inside, and here's why they're like that.
IRA: I was speaking with Alan Alder the earlier in the hour about how scientists can be better communicators. Having written books in very simple language, do you have any advice for scientists?
RANDALL: I mean, I think it would be good if scientists could be better communicators. And I think my– but I also think it might be a little unrealistic to expect them all to be. I mean it would be great if everyone was good at everything. But I think, not all scientists can be Neil deGrasse Tyson. A lot of them are too busy being scientists. But I think if you're trying to write and communicate with the public, I think just keeping in mind that the words that you think of as really clear and easy to understand might not be. And it's really hard to get over that.
And there was a story recently about how when they interviewed people about antibiotic resistance, people across the board at every education level didn't get what was meant by the phrase antibiotic resistance. And for people in the medical community, everyone was so used to it, that that was kind of a big surprise. But they found that people were assuming that the phrase meant their bodies became resistant to the antibiotics, not the germs. And that's a really important difference. And so they said, we should instead say the bacteria are getting stronger. The germs are getting stronger. But I think it's hard to remember that different people from different areas use different sets of words.
IRA: Now I know that people reading this book– and I'm surely hoping there's a followup that you're working on. I know that they want to try writing their own explanations in some simple language, you have a tool for them.
RANDALL: Yeah, when I was writing this book– because no one– I couldn't just keep looking up on a list every time I use a word. I wrote a tool that would check my text as I'm typing it. And with some help, I put together a version of that tool on my website. Which you can get to it. XKCD.com/simplewriter.
IRA: Wow. Is there a follow up coming up at all?
RANDALL: Not just yet. I think I'm resting my hand after all those illustrations.
IRA: But you know it's going to happen. People are going to want you to write another book with all the things that were left out of this book, right?
RANDALL: Well, how about, I could always do another book where I can use any of the simple words. I have to use the other 29,000 English words the people know. But I can't use the or and.
IRA: Wow.
RANDALL: I think that might be impossible.
IRA: Call that the encyclopedia. We've run out of time. I'd like to thank my guest. And I'll take his cue to use the simplest words that I can. Randall Munroe draws pictures and writes words that make you think and laugh. You can see them on your computer at XKCD.com. His new book is called Thing Explainer. Randall, thanks for joining us today and have a happy holiday.
RANDALL: Well, thanks for having me, Ira.
IRA: You can see some pictures and words from Thing Explainer at ScienceFriday.com. Learn all about the US Space Team's car for the red world. That's NASA's Curiosity Rover, of course. At ScienceFriday.com/thingexplainer.
Copyright © 2015 Science Friday Initiative. All rights reserved. Science Friday transcripts are produced on a tight deadline by 3Play Media. Fidelity to the original aired/published audio or video file might vary, and text might be updated or amended in the future. For the authoritative record of ScienceFriday's programming, please visit the original aired/published recording. For terms of use and more information, visit our polices pages at http://www.sciencefriday.com/about/policies.
Annie Minoff
About Annie Minoff
@annieminoff
Annie Minoff is a producer for The Journal from Gimlet Media and the Wall Street Journal, and a former co-host and producer of Undiscovered. She also plays the banjo.
Randall Munroe Asks, 'What If?'
In his new book "What If?", xkcd comic artist Randall Munroe answers his readers' hypothetical questions with math and science.
Could You Hit a Baseball Pitched Near the Speed of Light?
An excerpt from the xkcd creator's new book, "What If?"


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It's that time of year again! SMX Advanced will be kicking off on June 12th at Bell Harbor International Convention Center here in Point It's backyard. We're pretty jazzed about this year's SMX, as it's always great to see familiar faces, meet new folks, and get some tips and tricks from some of the best known marketers in the business. We even have two of our very own sharing some knowledge this year, Katy Tonkin discussing Brand Safety and Maddie Cary talking about Mobile Apps for Google Play.
Outside of the excitement of getting the chance to learn from some of the best in the business, I know some of you are either in Seattle for the first time, or you haven't gotten the chance to spend a ton of time in the city. So because of this, some of us at Point It want to share some of our personal favorite places for food & drink in Seattle while you're spending some time in the Emerald City.
If you want to impress a potential client or even just want to try some of the amazing food around Seattle, these options work for whatever you have in mind.
This maybe a more "foodie" type place instead of somewhere to talk shop, but it's one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle and I couldn't go without mentioning it. This restaurant is owned by Chef Kashiba, who trained with his senior supervisor, Sushi Maestro Jiro Ono (ever watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi on Netflix?). You have to make reservations for the dining area which is typically booked out a while in advance, however if you're dedicated, you can try to get a spot at the Sushi Bar.
If you've never been to Din Tai Fung, I'm so incredibly sorry. The happiness that comes over me when someone suggests going to Din Tai Fung for lunch/dinner can only be compared to the joy a child experiences on Christmas morning. Nothing compares to the warm feeling that comes over you when you bite into one of those amazing soup dumplings. If you want to have one amazing meal while you're in Seattle, go here. Just a couple things to be aware of – expect a wait and be prepared to take a nap afterwards.
Not only is this listed on Eater's Best Restaurants in Seattle for Spring 2017, but the real draw of this place is the killer view of South Lake Union. We're moving into Seattle summer right now, why not enjoy some tasty food while soaking in a gorgeous view?
Hey it's no secret that us PNWers love our beer, and we definitely have plenty of breweries to go around.
Including this because it's a Pointer favorite and one of my favorite aesthetically-pleasing brewery around. Their menu changes constantly, but you're bound to find a brew that fits your tastes.
This is the closest brewery to the conference, so I felt like I had to include it. I personally haven't spent any time here, but I do know that the founder has some ties to Elysian Brewing which has caused quite a bit of buzz around this brewery.
Who said beer can't be gluten-free? As someone who isn't exactly sure what gluten even is, this isn't something that is typically I look for. But having spent some time at this brewery, you honestly can't even tell a difference! Not only is the beer good, but the space is spacious for a group outing.
Assuming Golden State doesn't win in a sweep this week, I'm guessing some of you will be looking for somewhere to watch Game 5 the day your flight lands, so I'll keep this one hyper-focused around the conference hotels.
The Point It crew likes to go here for Trivia during the week, but it's a great place to go from some typical bar-fare, cheap happy hour filled with fried food and pitchers of beers.
This is a newer place that I've actually only walked by on my way to work, but I can see their beer selection through the windows and OH MY LANTA! They have plenty of brews to choose from and TVs spread throughout the large seating area.
With a large, dedicated game-watching space and a huge beer list with great food, The Pine Box really covers you on every one of your sports watching needs.
These are just a couple of recommendations, but there really isn't enough time in the world to cover all of my favorite spots in this city. But hey, if you've never been to Seattle before, find me on Twitter at @nataliebarreda and ask for some recommendations (or invite me out for a beer)!
To find out more about more about how you can jump start your marketing, check out our Resource Library.
Natalie Barreda is a digital marketing veteran who focuses on driving revenue for enterprise-level clients. Thanks to her six years of agency experience, she adept at predicting and responding to critical trends in paid search. Currently a senior client manager at Point It Digital Marketing, she primarily focuses on year-round seasonality and B2C e-commerce digital advertising. Completely self-taught, Natalie considers herself a results maven. In her down time, Natalie enjoys hanging out with her aptly-named dog Xena and exploring the Seattle beer scene.


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Suspect in Half Moon Bay shooting rampage charged with murder in California
NewsNation @NewsNation - NewsNation Now - Ad from The News And Times - thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com
Half Moon Bay resident Elisabeth Olander, 68, places flowers at a memorial for shooting victims at Mac Dutra Park in Half Moon Bay, California, U.S., January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Fred Greaves
A California farm worker was charged on Wednesday with seven counts of murder in the shooting spree that killed seven people, some of them his co-workers, in the state's second deadly gun rampage in recent days.
Chunli Zhao, 66, the lone suspect in Monday's massacre at two mushroom farms in the seaside town of Half Moon Bay near San Francisco, was expected to be formally presented with the charges later in the day at the San Mateo County Superior Court in nearby Redwood City.
Also on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native, planned to travel to the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park, site of the first of the recent deadly rampages. She was expected to meet with some families of the 11 people who were fatally shot on Saturday night by a gunman who later took his own life.
Coming in quick succession, the two shooting sprees left California reeling from one of the bloodiest spates of mass gun violence in decades in a state with some of the strictest firearm laws in the country.
Zhao was taken into custody on Monday evening outside a sheriff's station, where police said he had driven shortly after the attack on farm workers.
A criminal complaint filed on Wednesday formally charged him with seven counts of premeditated murder and a single count of attempted murder, alleging special circumstances that would enhance the sentences he faces if convicted.
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Whip It (2009) Review
René S. Garcia, Jr.· October 1, 2009
You have to hand it to the Hollywood formula. It really does work well when done well. With Whip It, not only do we get an old fashioned sports movie, but we also get a decent high school, coming of age story thrown into the mix. Best of all, both stories are told fairly and the cast performs convincingly, leaving audiences very little to nitpick. The biggest complaint, however, will probably be that the movie is predictable, but all things considered, that facet is more of a feature than a bug.
In Whip It Ellen Page plays Bliss Cavendar: a teenage girl, living in a small Texan town with her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) and her father (Daniel Stern). Bliss finds small town living stifling as she's forced to follow her mother's footsteps of being a beauty queen. All of that changes when she discovers roller derby in the nearby city of Austin and meets Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) who invites Bliss to try out for the team. When she makes it, Bliss' life expands in exciting ways, finding it more and more difficult to keep her double life a secret from her parents and too amazing to give up – especially when she feels compelled to defeat her newfound arch nemesis Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis) on the derby rink.
In many ways, Whip It is a simple, standard story. An awkward young person comes to the crossroads of living for others or living their own life. The young person discovers a place where they feel right at home, but since the new life conflicts with the old life and the young person either succeeds or fails in reconciling the two. The general formula is pretty obvious; so much so that when Bliss' new life appears to be working out extremely well, the audience will grow restless waiting for the inevitable downfall so that Bliss can start building a bridge between both worlds. This isn't necessarily bad, since watching the characters move from beat to beat is fun in and of itself. On a less technical level, Whip It also offers a rich story that girls and women are really going to enjoy. The film is laden with female-affirming themes, including finding self-worth beyond beauty, female camaraderie and zero tolerance for loser boyfriends. Yet, there's just enough sports and testosterone in the movie to keep reluctant male viewers entertained.
The acting overall is serviceable, with a few standout performances. Ellen Page turns in the usual fantastic performance as an awkward high school girl who comes into her own. The growth that Page is able to capture is nothing short of natural. On the other hand, the role of Bliss seems like familiar territory and it will be nice to see Page in something dramatically different next time. Marcia Gay Harden is also a joy to watch as the overbearing mother. It's impressive how much emotion Harden can convey with subtle movements, like a wave of her hand or a hardened expression. Other roles simply serve a purpose, like Jimmy Fallon's Johnny Rocket who's really just there for comedy relief, while yet other performances teetered on the brink of being wooden. Thankfully, none of the cast distracted with a poor performance.
Drew Barrymore's directorial debut definitely held its own. She plays it safe and doesn't throw in any crazy shots or overly long takes. There are a few heavy-handed shots that overly illustrate Bliss' state of mind and some of the action sequences could use a little more visual drama, but these complaints are easy to overlook. The only scene that stood out as indefensibly odd is when two lovers spend their entire love-making session under water in a swimming pool. It's easy to see the actors struggling while they try to kiss without floating to the surface.
At the end of the day, it won't really matter that Whip It is formulaic. What audiences will enjoy are the different variables and how the characters resolve their problems in ways that speak to the common human experience. Drew Barrymore's first directed film is competent and entertaining. It doesn't revolutionize filmmaking, but it certainly promises a bright future for the director.
Retaliation (2020 US) Review
Sam Kaufman says:
Drew Barrymore did an awesome job directing Whip It… tons of fun to watch — made me want to go watch roller derby and drink cheap beer