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Looking at America through the Eyes of an Immigrant
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Why Do We Avoid People Who are Different? My Fascinating Friendship with a Guy with Aspergers Syndrome
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A List of All Posts
Posted by Greg Lhamon | Aug 20, 2015 | Learn, Spirit | 2 |
The things we miss when we avoid people who are different from us.
We're odd, you and I. We rail against divisions in our culture — political, economic, social, racial. Yet, if we're honest, most of our friends look and believe and think exactly like us.
What a waste. People who live in silos miss out on so much.
Some of the most electrifying conversations I've had have taken place with people who are not at all like me.
Like the discussions I had about race with two men who grew up in Ferguson.
Or the ongoing discussions about religion with a friend who walked away from Christianity.
Or the time a farmer asked me (a city slicker) to help him castrate some bulls.
I wouldn't trade these moments for anything. Each has made me a better man.
The Fascinating Mind of Asperger's
I once mentored a guy with Asperger's Syndrome. Over the course of a year, I discovered a truly remarkable person.
Phillip (not his real name) called me out of the blue. He was looking for an older guy who he could talk to about life and work and coping with Asperger's. A mutual friend suggested he call me.
My first thought was, "Wait…an older guy?" I let it slide.
I knew nothing about Asperger's at the time. But now, thanks to Phillip, I'm familiar with its challenges.
Asperger's Syndrome is a type of autism, but it resides on the high-functioning end of the spectrum. Most of those with Asperger's have a tremendous memory and a large vocabulary. They are often very bright, incredible students in school.
What they tend to lack, though, is emotional empathy. They have difficulty interpreting body language. They find it difficult to pick up on facial expressions or emotions in another person.
For example, you and I will stop whatever we're doing when we see a person's eyes well up with tears. Someone with Asperger's might not even notice and keep right on talking. So, we conclude that they're unfeeling.
They're not. It's just that they aren't wired to pick up on non-verbals.
So, we avoid them. They're different. We stay away.
Phillip and I met a couple of times a month for over a year. We'd smoke cigars on his apartment balcony near Wash U's Medical School (he's a doctor now) and talk about life and politics and philosophy and Asperger's and religion.
Our conversations were a highlight of my life. His mind astounds me. He can immediately recall dates and minute historical details with remarkable accuracy. Fascinating.
Our talks were never one-sided. I showed him ways he could pick up on the feelings of others. And to my great enjoyment, he waxed eloquently about history and philosophy.
One night, he casually mentioned Immanuel Kant's "categorical imperative."
Now, I took one philosophy class in college. I think I got a C, but I may be rounding up. But Phillip has a degree in it.
"Ok, stop there," I said. "I have no idea what a categorical imperative is. Explain it to me."
His reply was straight out of a text book. Knowing him, it was probably word for word.
"Kant thought that humans should act only according to those maxims wherein we would will that they should become universal laws without contradiction."
"You remember that I went to public school, right? I haven't the foggiest idea what you just said. Please…talk slower for the slower among us."
Phillip paused. He looked down, thinking deeply. A moment later, a light came into his eyes. And he raised his head and came at me from a new angle.
"Kant believed that humans are obligated to act according to universal rules of conduct — what he called 'imperatives' — that must be adhered to regardless of the situation. When Kant said 'categorical' he meant that the rule applied in every situation or category."
The explanation was so clear, so precise, and — what impressed me most — it was completely off the cuff.
"OK," I said. "Now that makes perfect sense."
"But Kant was wrong."
"Wait. Why? Isn't murder wrong in every situation?"
"Sure. But what about lying?"
"Shouldn't we always tell the truth?" I asked.
"Kant thought so. He believed that if everyone told the truth in every situation that the world would be a better place."
"But you don't think so."
He smiled. "Let me give you an example. Let's say you're living in Nazi Germany in the '40s. As a noble German, you decide to hide a Jewish family in your home. One day the SS comes to your house and asks if you're harboring any Jews. Should you lie or tell the truth?"
"I'd lie because saving lives trumps telling the truth in that situation."
"Kant would disagree with you. He'd say that telling the truth at all times and in every situation is a categorical imperative, regardless of the consequences."
"Well then…Kant was wrong."
He smiled again. "Now you're getting it."
I smiled too. I smiled because it dawned on me that Phillip was a brilliant teacher. He used simple questions to guide me toward understanding a complex concept. I'd've gotten a better grade in my philosophy class had Phillip been my teacher.
I also smiled because I couldn't wait to begin weaving the categorical imperative into day-to-day conversations.
But mostly, I smiled because I had found a new friend. I realized that I genuinely loved this guy.
However, on the drive home that night, I began to feel sorry for Phillip. So few people take the time to get inside his bubble. They're put off by his quirkiness and occasional awkwardness. He's different from them. So they avoid him.
And that's a shame. In the end, it's their loss. Since when is agreement a prerequisite for respect?
It's Time for a Change
Why do we so quickly write off people who are different from us? Why can't we look past the oddities to see the marvelous human being in front of us?
Leo Tolstoy said, "Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself."
You and I should change ourselves.
Take the time to get to know people who are different from you. The guy with all the tattoos. The lady in the Gucci dress carrying the expensive briefcase. The 62 year old homeless man holding the "Need food" sign. The 20-something black woman waiting tables in the restaurant. The rich man who owns his own business.
They each have joys. Each have problems. Yeah, even the rich guy.
Don't write anyone off. Get out of your world and into their's. Ask them what they see when they go home. What they hear. Ask about their past. Their dreams. The hurdles they hope to jump.
In other words, love them.
You'll be surprised at what they teach you. You may not agree with everything you hear, and that's fine. Since when is agreement a prerequisite for respect?
Just keep talking. I promise you it's worth the effort.
Let me know what you thought about this post. Leave a comment below.
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Greg Lhamon on August 21, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Pam…if you're listening, I'm talkin'. You might get tired after awhile, though.
You nailed it with "fear of the unknown." I think if someone is scared, a good way to dip their toe in the water is to get to know someone when you've been thrown into forced contact, i.e. sitting next to someone on a plane, standing in line, or even a waiter serving you in a restaurant. It's a great yet low-threshold way of striking up a conversation.
Would love to see you guys soon!
pamcollins on August 21, 2015 at 10:31 am
First of all, even though you and I are the same race and have similar backgrounds, I would love to sit and listen to you for hours. You are amazing.
Now onto the subject. I live in a small community of 2000, almost all white, and the idea of seeing a person different than "us" is very uncomfortable for many. I am sad by the lack of diversity in this area. Although we are the same race, there are distinct differences here though. We live in one of the poorest counties in MN and thus several people on welfare. I sadly say this, most people here will not cross the street to converse with anyone who even "looks" different than them. Greg you are so right in saying we all have the same needs and wants. Love and acceptance. I think our fear is just that. Fear of the unknown. It is irrational to think that talking to someone who is in poverty will result in some sort of anguish for us. It is just too easy to build a wall around ourselves. I could go on and on, but will stop for now. Thanks for the start of good conversation.
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Q: How to get 2 numbers that swapping them make them correctly positioned I have a problem with sorting. How can I get 2 numbers that when they swap they are both in the correct position? So I think for example about 3 and 4 because swapping them makes them at the correct position. I want to have a boolean variable that says if 2 swapped integers go to the right places it is true, else it is false. Basically for example if in loop we are at integer 4, we are checking his proposed index so it is (3). Then we use this index to see what is currently at this index in elephantsOrderGiven so it is 3. Then I want to check if 4 goes to the place of 3 will be correctly placed  (so at index 3 in proposedOrder) and if 3 goes to the place of 4 will be correctly placed index(1 in proposedOrder). So it means 4 go to index (3), 3 goes to the index(1) and after swap they are both correct, so I want to have a boolean variable if swapping two integers will position them both correctly, because for example 5 and 2 will not be corrected positoned, only 2 will be.
let elephantsOrderGiven = [1, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2];
let proposedOrder = [5, 3, 2, 4, 6, 1];

for (let i = 0; i < elephantsOrderGiven.length; i++) {

}

Swapping I mean this operation:
temp = elephantsOrder[currentIndex];
      elephantsOrder[currentIndex] = elephantsOrder[correctIndex];
      elephantsOrder[correctIndex] = temp;

After this operation for example 4 and 3 should be corrected positoned like in proposed order. If not boolean variable should give False and the swapping should not be executed, I mean 4 and 3 should stay in their current positions.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Both players picked up their respective Singles crowns for a second time, as well as each of them adding a Doubles trophy.
Pride of place goes to James Denyer in the Men's Singles who took the title in style, turning the tables by defeating reigning champion, Andy Warner, in a re-run of last season's final. Seeded two this year, Denyer wiped away the disappointment of losing 15-13 in the fifth to Warner last year to take the trophy in barn-storming style 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5).
With both players standing away from the table to provide sublime entertainment for the spectators, Denyer had to fight for every point and, although Warner may not have been at his brilliant best, the force was certainly with Denyer who won crucial points at crucial times.
In the first set he was 9-7 down before taking it 11-9. In the second he was 8-2 up before Warner, never a player to give up, levelled at 8-8, only for Denyer to take it 11-8. A more aggressive Warner won the third 11-9 and, at 5-5 in the fourth, the match hung in the balance. But Denyer blasted the next six points to take the set 11-5 and with it the title he'd first won in 2014 as a 17-year old.
Indeed, such is the maturity Denyer has shown over the years, it's hard to believe he's still only 22, having already featured in three Men's Singles finals, as well as reaching the semi-finals on four other occasions.
There are surely many more singles titles due to Denyer in the future. But should he be thwarted, it may well be in the form of another home-grown player, Daniel Young. The 14-year old junior displayed his burgeoning talent by reaching his first-ever Men's Singles semi-final and, although he went down on this occasion to Warner, the 2018 champion had to pull out all the stops, eventually winning 3-1 (11-9, 14-12, 6-11, 12-10).
That match was the third of three intriguing matches for Young on his way to the semi-finals. In round two, he won in three-straight against Ollie Rampton, the player who'd denied him the Junior Singles title the previous day, before defeating dad, Gary Young, 11-5 in the fifth in the quarter-final.
Paul Hume also played well to reach the Men's Singles semi-final stage for the first time, going down to Denyer in three-straight but having the satisfaction of eliminating Colin Stallwood 3-1 (1-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8) in the quarters.
Kevin Gowlett and Gary Cattermole were the other quarter-finalists, Gowlett reaching the last eight by overcoming Greg Green 14-12 in the fifth in one of the closest matches of the Championships.
In the Men's Doubles, the new combination of Denyer and 23-year old Paul Hume proved an immediate success, the pair taking the title by beating three-time champions Greg Green and Colin Stallwood 3-0 (11-5, 16-14, 11-8), the hard-fought second set proving pivotal to their victory.
It was a well-deserved achievement for the youthful Denyer/Hume combination, the pairing having displayed their doubles pedigree with a key semi-final victory against top seeds, Andy Warner and Gary Young, 3-2 (12-14, 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6).
In the other semi-final, Green and Stallwood beat Gavin Price and Daniel Young in three-straight but, once again, the defeated pairing had played well to get to this stage, having enjoyed a tense 15-13 in the decider quarter-final victory over Martin Edwards and Felipe Rodriguez.
It was a second Men's Doubles success for Denyer, who'd won in 2013 with Felipe Rodriguez, and also for Hume, a winner with brother Sam in 2017.
Gill Locke and Gracie Edwards have dominated the Ladies' Singles for the last seven years but neither was in the field this time, and so Sue Welham was in prime position to take the title for a second time. And this she did without losing a set in the whole event, in the final defeating surprise finalist Kayley Rodriguez.
It was the first time in many years a Third Division player had reached the final but Rodriguez was not fazed by the occasion and Welham had to be at her wily best to defeat the battling Rodriguez 3-0 (11-5, 14-12, 11-7).
Rodriguez's appearance in the final was one of only a number of shocks in this event, where Caroline Page and Debra Found also found themselves as unlikely semi-finalists.
In the group stage, Rodriguez had beaten number two seed Annabelle Stallwood to head the group. Both qualified for the knockout stage, where Page went on to defeat Stallwood 11-7 in the fifth and Debra Found, in the other half of the draw, beat ranked player, Isabel Barton.
But through all the shocks, Welham remained calm, taking a well-deserved Ladies' Singles title for a second time, having won in 2011 and been a beaten finalist in 2012.
Welham secured a second trophy when, with partner Gary Cattermole, they took the Mixed Doubles title. Seeded number two, in the final they beat three-time champions and top seeds, Colin Stallwood and Annabelle Stallwood, 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-4).
But it had not been an easy ride for the winners, having to fight all the way to overcome the semi-final challenge of Paul Hume and Caroline Page 11-6 in the fifth, the Hume/Page combination having done well to get to that stage by defeating Greg Green and Jenny Higgins 11-8 in round two.
So while it was celebration time for Sue Welham and Gary Cattermole, it was something of a disappointment for Colin and Annabelle Stallwood who have an exceptional, and perhaps unwanted, record in this event, having appeared in nine Mixed Doubles finals over the past 11 years but having won only three.
However, there was consolation for Annabelle Stallwood when, with sister-in-law Kayley Rodriguez, they paired up to take the Ladies' Doubles by beating 2015 and 2017 champions Isabel Barton and Jenny Higgins 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-4) in an all-Windsor final. It was third time lucky for the winning pair who'd been runners-up in both 2016 and 2017.
In the semi-finals, Sue Welham and Sharon Gowlett had gone down 11-6 in the decider to the Barton/Higgins combination, thus denying Welham the opportunity to take a hat-trick of titles.
The ever-consistent Kevin Gowlett became a three times winner of the Veterans' Singles title by beating second seed Gary Cattermole 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7) in the final. A winner back in 2012 and 2013, Gowlett also denied Gary Young, number one seed and winner of this event for the last two years, a hat-trick of victories, the new Veterans' champion enjoying a comfortable three-straight win against Young in the semi-finals.
Mel Rampton was the other semi-finalist, beaten by Cattermole, who had to be satisfied with a runners-up medal for the second time in four years.
The final of the Super-Veterans' Singles was between reigning champion, Gavin Price and Martin Edwards who, in the semi-final, had defeated number two seed and last year's beaten finalist, Phil Smith.
Price, who'd won the 2018 title by conceding only 15 points in the final to Smith, this year conceded only 19 points, winning 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-7) against a visibly tiring Edwards. In fairness, Edwards played some marvellous table tennis in a total of 13 matches on an exhausting Saturday of the Championships, including disposing of the obdurate Derek Willis and second seed Smith in the Super-Vets' event.
An honourable mention goes to the unfancied Paul Woolnough who reached the semi-final thanks to 11-5 in the fifth victories over both Roger Hance and ranked player Colin Dearman, before going down to Price in a tight semi-final, losing coincidentally by the same 11-5 in the fifth scoreline.
But one thing you can say about Martin Edwards is that he possesses a never-say-die spirit and he rallied for one last push and, with a monumental effort, won the Restricted Singles by beating Mel Rampton 3-1 (11-9, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7) in a closely-contested final between arguably the two best players in the field.
Once again, it was a close-run thing, Edwards having to eliminate a stubborn Jason Lloyd in the semi-finals 11-7 in the decider. Rampton meanwhile had beaten Jason Gale 11-4 in the decider in Round Two, scraping through his quarter-finals by an even closer 13-11 in the decider against John Hatley, before beating Adam Wilkin three-straight in the semi-final.
It was a second success for Edwards in this event, having won the title way back in 1994 when the event was only four years old. Along with Gavin Price, he's the only player to have won it twice.
With Sam Hume no longer in the junior ranks and away at University, there was always going to be a new name on the Junior Singles trophy – and that new name is Ollie Rampton.
The event was initially played on a group basis with the top two players going through to the final. And, as expected, 14-year old Daniel Young and 13-year old Rampton made it through, Young beating Rampton in three-straight in the final group match to top the group.
But when the two met in the final later in the day, it was Rampton who turned the tables, beating Young 3-2 (11-3, 12-14, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6), both players displaying excellent temperament as well as talent. It was a third Junior final defeat for Young, a runner-up in this event to Sam Hume in the two previous years.
To add insult to injury, when the two players met in Round Two of the knockout stage of the Men's Singles, Young once again came out on top in three-straight.
Only two pairs entered the Junior Doubles but the four players involved were the top four juniors in the League. Daniel Young gained a measure of compensation when, with Liam Harris, they defeated Ethan Lloyd and Ollie Rampton 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5), the winning pair, despite a blip in the third set, always in control.
Talented 14-year-old Liam Harris took the Division Two Singles in style, proving too good for surprise finalist Graham Parkes, the number two seed taking it 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-4) with something to spare. Parkes, nevertheless, had played exceptionally well to reach the final, beating ranked player John Harvey in the quarter-finals and then, in the semi-final, inflicting a shock 11-6 in the fifth defeat on Brotherhood I team-mate and number one seed, John Owen.
Harris, who won the Division Three Singles title last season, thus becomes only the fourth player in the 45-year history of the Divisional events to take the Division Two and Division Three titles in successive years. He follows in illustrious footsteps, the previous three players being Martin Hogg (1984 and 1985), Paul Bellinger (2000 and 2001) and Paul Hume (2012 and 2013).
Despite the Division Three Singles attracting a disappointing entry, arguably the Division's best two players, Tony Edmonds and Kayley Rodriguez, made it to the final. Edmonds, seeded one, made a slow start, losing the first two sets, but he rallied to take the next two to take the match to a decider. But Rodriguez was in determined mood and her aggression paid dividends, taking the match 3-2 (11-2, 15-13, 4-11, 8-11, 11-7) to cap a fine Tournament performance.
Dominic Joannou and Sharon Gowlett were the beaten semi-finalists.
Once again the League is indebted to Paul Newbould Planning and Building Design Services, the main sponsors of the Championships for a magnificent 26th year. Paul has indicated this will be his last year of sponsoring the Championships and, in acknowledgement of his generous support for over a quarter a century, League Chairman, Peter White, presented him with a framed certificate of appreciation.
Thanks also go to The Skelmersdale Centre Ltd (Angela Barratt), Gary Cattermole and Jenny Higgins for their sponsorship of individual events.


text:
Presidential Executive Order and OFAC
The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump recently singed an executive order that re-imposed all sanctions that were lifted or waived in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of July 14,2015. The plan reimposes sanctions on groups and individuals that the Secretary of the Treasure, with the guidance of the Secretary of State finds to be in violation of certain human rights or support of terrorist activities by the Iranian government, its agents, and individuals.
The President signed this executive order to apply financial pressure on the government of Iran with the hopes of swaying the governments' pursuit of researching and developing newer modern missiles with long range capabilities, its support of terrorist groups, and to stop the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
To apply this pressure, the newly signed Executive order prevents the government of Iran from purchasing U.S. Bank Notes or of precious metals. It also applies pressure against persons whom are involved in the energy, petroleum, shipping, or shipbuilding sectors of Iran if the person is found to have provided significant financial, material, or other support to the government of Iran.
The Secretary of the Treasury, is authorized to impose sanctions to those it deems has violated, including the prohibition of loans from US institutions totaling more than $10,000 in any 12-month period, blocking transfer of credits from the individual, or from restricting or prohibiting the importation of that individual's goods, technology, or services, just to list a few sanctions.
The Executive Order goes on to further allow the sanctions of individuals who had in some way business dealings with the purchase or sale of the Iranian Rial. It also affects individuals who have maintained the Rial funds in accounts outside of the country of Iran.
The Executive Order also targets the delivery of goods that may be used by the people of Iran that may be used to commit human rights violations and censorships. Such examples of these goods include but are not limited to food, medicine, or medical devices.
This new order was also created to help provide clarity and to consolidate all the relevant authorities into a single document. Because of the complexity of the OFAC sanctions against Iran, this new Executive Order was created to help locate relevant information easier.
One of the purposes of the Executive Order is to help keep the government of Iran, or its agents from censoring the population of Iran. This is because such censorship may lead to abuse of human rights of the people of Iran. This also stretches to individual businesses who work with the government of Iran to help block the transmission of date between the citizens of Iran, those who oppose the public from assembling, and other types of censorships.
What's important to note, is that the President's new Executive Order takes place on August 7, 2018 at 12:01 Eastern Daylight Time. However, the sanctions do not take place until the actions are taken after November 5 th . 2018. This is because certain sanctions that had been previously lifted would be initiated again 90 days after May 8 th , the so called "wind down period".
Before starting the immigration process, it is advisable to seek legal guidance from an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
18 July 2016 | X-Wing
A Preview of the Special Forces TIE Expansion Pack for X-Wing™
"I always wanted to fly one of these things."
The ninth wave of expansions for X-Wing™ will soon bring four new starships to tables across the world, and as we mentioned in our announcement of the wave, each of these four new ships offers a renewed focus on the need to maneuver and line up shots within your firing arc. One ship is a Scum and Villainy arc-dodger that also excels at games of chicken, flying straight at enemy ships, aiming to get into Range "1" as soon as possible. Another introduces the concept of a mobile firing arc to the game. And the other two are small-base fighters with auxiliary firing arcs, both of which allow you to make interesting decisions about how you want to line up your shots and maneuvers.
Last week, we looked at one of these ships, the Rebel Alliance's ARC-170. We briefly addressed the ways its auxiliary firing arc can open up your maneuver dial and help you keep your opponent off-guard. Today, we look at the Special Forces TIE fighter and the many reasons its pilots are likely to make frequent and deliberate use of its auxiliary firing arc.
A 360-degree view of the Special Forces TIE fighter.
Special Ops Training
Like the ARC-170, the Special Forces TIE fighter features a primary weapon with an attack value of "2," plus a zero-cost, non-unique Title upgrade that allows you to boost that primary weapon's attack value to "3" or gain a secondary benefit. However, where the ARC-170's Alliance Overhaul Title offers you the ability to improve the accuracy of any shots you fire from the fighter's auxiliary firing arc, the Special Ops Training Title for the Special Forces TIE fighter is less about choosing the arc from which you want to fire and more about rewarding you for firing from both.
Yes, it is true that if you fire from the Special Force TIE fighter's auxiliary firing arc, you do not gain the additional attack die on your primary weapon attack, but if you line up the shots, the Special Ops Training Title allows you to fire twice. And the math is easy; if you can fire twice for two dice and two dice, those four dice are more than the three you would get from the enhanced attack made from your forward firing arc.
The trick, though, is going to be in lining up those twinned shots. They call it Special Ops Training for a reason, here. After all, it can sometimes be maddening enough just to line up any sort of shot against a slippery, arc-dodging ace like Tycho Celchu. And to get the most of your Special Ops Training, you need to do even more than catch him in your arc. You want to catch him in one firing arc—either primary or auxiliary—and catch his wingmate in your other arc.
Still, you will not find every enemy as slippery as Tycho Celchu, and though the Special Forces TIE fighter comes with a maneuver dial that is quite a bit more limited than that of the First Order's TIE/fo fighter, it still boasts the ability to perform barrel rolls and a pair of speed "3" Segnor's Loops that might catch your foes by surprise. Moreover, because the Special Forces TIE fighter can equip a systems upgrade, you can use Advanced Sensors to perform an action before you execute any of the fighter's six different red maneuvers.
The Benefits of Firing Backward
As a ship with two hull and three shields that can perform primary weapon attacks with three dice (when outfitted with its Title), the Special Forces TIE fighter is bound to find its way to all manner of battlefields, especially when you consider that the non-unique Zeta Specialist weighs in at a modest twenty-three squad points. The ship is muscular, resilient, and iconic. Not only does it appear in The Force Awakens, but it shares its aesthetic with the Galactic Empire's classic TIE/ln fighter.
Still, when you consider how the Special Forces TIE fighter rewards you for flying into positions from which you can catch ships in both its primary and auxiliary firing arcs, it becomes clear that this is a ship with a steep learning curve. Even a novice can zip it around the table and fire some good shots, but true mastery of the Special Forces TIE fighter is going to require the sort of spatial reasoning, planning, and educated guesswork that comes with lots and lots of experience.
For example, we are already aware that you get more attack value when you line up two shots, but the situation becomes even better when you can line up both of those shots at Range "1." Firing from only his primary firing arc at Range "1," your Zeta Specialist finds his three attack dice bumped up to four. However, when he can slip into position to fire both forward and backward—with both shots made at Range "1"—the same Zeta Specialist finds his four attack dice bumped up to six.
Your barrel roll will help. Sometimes, you will even want to use your Advanced Sensors to perform that barrel roll before you maneuver. However, the truth is that getting yourself into position to get as many as six attack dice is not going to be easy. And it is likely that in order to squeeze into position to make those shots, you are going to have to open yourself up to the Range "1" shots your opponent will make.
But just as the more experienced players will find more success, so will the Special Forces TIE Expansion Pack's more experienced pilots.
"Quickdraw," with a pilot skill value of "9," will be able to activate after nearly all your opponent's ships, meaning she'll be able to judge her barrel rolls with full knowledge of her enemy's final positions. Still, her uncanny skill with the Special Forces TIE fighter allows her to do much more with it than simply maneuver into the best possible position. She knows that maneuvering her TIE fighter into the most effective firing position—with Range "1" enemy fighters at her front and back—is often going to leave her exposed to her enemies' Range "1" shots.
The best plan is to destroy those fighters before they can shoot back at her. Barring that, however, "Quickdraw" can make your opponent suffer for shooting at her. The first time each round that she loses a point of shielding, "Quickdraw" can perform a primary weapon attack. Since any shot from her auxiliary firing arc is technically made with her primary weapon, this means she can fire her retaliatory shot at any foe either behind or before her.
Still, her ability allows her to do more than just retaliate. She can actually set herself up to take shots in the Activation Phase by willfully slamming her ship off an asteroid to suffer the loss of a shield. She needs to be sure to get clear of the asteroid by the end of the maneuver, but even though "Quickdraw" loses her action, you can potentially fire twice at the same foe before the first Combat Phase even counts down to pilot skill value "8." And if you have either Advanced Sensors or Fire-Control System, you can still modify your dice for one of the attacks.
Another Special Forces TIE fighter pilot who has learned to get the most out of the ship is the First Order ace, "Backdraft." Again, as with "Quickdraw," his higher pilot skill value allows him to maneuver after most enemy ships. But unlike "Quickdraw," "Backdraft" wants to catch as many of those ships as possible in his auxiliary firing arc. His unique pilot ability reads, "When attacking a ship inside your auxiliary firing arc, you may add 1 result."
Among other things, this means there is basically no time that "Backdraft" would rather set up a single shot from his primary firing arc than set up two shots, from both his primary and his auxiliary firing arcs. The extra result that he gains from his auxiliary firing arc is simply better than the extra attack die he would gain by firing one shot forward with his Special Ops Training. Accordingly, "Backdraft" enters the game as one of the rare pilots who wants to keep his enemies behind him. As we have stated multiple times, Wave IX is all about your firing arcs, and "Backdraft" is one of the strangest and most rewarding pieces of the puzzle.
Use Your Tech
In addition to its ship, pilots, and Title, the Special Forces TIE Expansion Pack introduces an additional copy of the Wired upgrade originally found in The Force Awakens™ Core Set, plus a new systems upgrade and two copies of a new tech upgrade.
The Collision Detector may not look like much at first glance, but since it costs you zero squad points, it makes a suitable addition to any squad that cannot afford to pay out for a Fire-Control System, Advanced Sensors, or another system upgrade. And, then, once you figure out how to exploit it, it becomes an extremely efficient addition to your squad.
For example, you could select three of the smaller asteroids ahead of your battle and then fly "Backdraft" with a Collision Detector. Fly close enough to the asteroids, and your barrel roll can buy you enough movement to roll over an asteroid, taking your opponent by surprise and lining up the perfect shot.
Of course, because Collision Detector can allow you to boost or decloak across obstacles, as well as barrel roll over them, you might consider equipping it on a TIE phantom, like that flown by "Echo," in order to keep your opponent guessing. The situations in which you would risk your phantom to gain the surprise positioning may be rare, but if you take advantage of the ability even once, you have more than recouped your investment on the Collision Detector. Moreover, because the Collision Detector also allows you to ignore any results that you roll, you reduce the odds that your phantom will take damage. And you entirely eliminate the possibility that you will suffer a crippling critical hit or simply explode from a Direct Hit!
Finally, the Sensor Cluster introduces a new use for your focus token, allowing you to spend it to convert a blank defense die to an result. At just two squad points, the Sensor Cluster is a modest investment for guaranteed defense. It is true that you will rarely hope to save your focus token for use with the Sensor Cluster, but when you have pilots like "Quickdraw" or "Backdraft" who can already perform multiple attacks each round, you might invest in a TIE shuttle and Fleet Officer to keep them loaded with focus tokens. Any of these tokens that you do not use during your attacks you could then use with your Sensor Cluster.
The First Order's Finest
Only the First Order's finest pilots ever earned the right to fly the Special Forces TIE fighter. Soon, you will be able to join their ranks; the Special Forces TIE Expansion Pack allows you to fly one of these amazing starfighters in your X-Wing battles. Pre-order your copy today!
X-Wing is a tactical ship to ship combat game in which players take control of powerful rebel X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE Fighters, facing them against each other in fast-paced space combat. Featuring stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, X-Wing recreates Star Wars' exciting space battles. Select your crew, plan your maneuvers, and complete your mission!
© & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd.
Special Forces TIE Expansion Pack
16 Nov 2020 Star Wars: Armada
An Important Star Wars Announcement
News About the Future of Our Star Wars Miniatures Games
14 Jul 2020 X-Wing
Flying for a Cause
The Community Giving Back
18 Sep 2018 Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition
Flight Academy: The Galaxy's Greatest
An Interview with the 2017 X-Wing™ Coruscant Invitational Champion
Flight Academy: Flying in Formation
A Look at Formation Flying by 2012 World Champion Doug Kinney


Welcome Back! I cannot believe we are already preparing for back to school!
School will also begin earlier this year! School hours will be 7:40-1:55 with early release each Monday at 12:55.
This month in reading, we will be working on parts of a text and the roles of authors and illustrators. We will be working specifically on identifying the front and back cover, spine, text, illustrations, and title. We will also work on identifying where to find the author's and illustrator's names as well as determining what they contribute to a text. You can support this at home by reading nightly with your child and asking similar questions about where to locate these parts of a text.
This month in writing, we will be working on pre-writing strokes to neaten and improve hand strength and writing. Specifically, we will practice drawing horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, making an X, and forming basic shapes such as a circle, square, diamond, triangle, and rectangle. You can support this at home by engaging students in writing activities such as writing in sidewalk chalk, painting, and coloring in coloring books. Encourage students to use multiple colors, stay within a marked area, and, most importantly, have fun! All writing is important writing in the early stages of writing development. Encourage students to write heir names, their favorite things, or something about their day. Encourage them to draw about their feelings, family outings, or just scribble away!
This month in math, we will be working on multiple representations of numbers 1-20. We will be utilizing the number talks strategy to learn about the many ways we see numbers. You can support this at home by pointing out and counting objects with your child everywhere. Whether it is counting ingredients in a recipe, toys as you clean them up, or cookies after dinner, numbers are everywhere! Encourage your child to count and recognize numbers in their everyday life!
This month in science, we will be working on science tools and their purpose. We will be working with tools such as goggles, tweezers, beakers, thermometers, magnifying glasses, and scales. We will support this through hands on activities and our weekly cooking lessons. You can support your child at home by showing them science in their everyday lives. In the kitchen we regularly use many science tools for varied purposes such as measuring ingrediaents in a measuring cup (beaker), using a thermometer to determine whether something is cooked, or using a scale to measure the weight of ingredients. We also see them regularly used in places like a grocery store where you may weigh produce, a bathroom with a bathroom scale or even tweezers. Share how and why you use the tools at home.
This month in social skills, we will be working on proceedures and rules, emotional regulation through identification of feelings and determining the size of a problem, and developing a growth mindset. You can support this at home by enforcing basic safety rules such as hands and feet to self and sharing with others, acknowledging their emotions (for example, I see how happy you are this morning, I know you are frustrated about not being able to go to the park, or I know it can be disappointing when we don't get our way), and reminding them that we can all grow from our mistakes.


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RLS Energy Network
Regional Renewables Alliance
Information on Renewables
Québec Funding
Funding Resources for Québec Researchers
This page is designed as a resource for researchers from Québec. Here you can find the different funding agencies pages where calls will be published. Also on this page are opportunities for mobility funding, both incoming and outgoing, funding for training young researchers, and fellowship and scholarship opportunities for PhD students from Québec who want to study in the other RLS regions.
Multilateral Funding for International Projects
Horizon 2020 | European Union
According to the European Commission, Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. EU member states are automatically eligible to compete for funding.
Non-EU RLS partners can participate in Horizon 2020 either by providing a unique competence that cannot be found in the EU, or through bilateral agreements between their home countries and the European Union.
Canadian researchers can participate in collaborative research and innovation projects in Horizon 2020, and are sometimes eligible for funding. Funding can be granted when one of the following conditions are met:
there is a bilateral agreement between the country and the EU
the country is explicitly identified in the relevant work programem and call for proposal as being eligible for funding
the participation of the Canadian researcher is deemed by the EU to be essential for the success of the action
Visit the Horizon 2020 energy website here.
Integrated solutions for flexible operation of fossil fuel power plants through power-to-X-to-power and/or energy storage (LC-SC3-NZE-4-2019) | Horizon 2020 European Union
Deadline: 27 August, 2019
Value: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of EUR 6 to 10 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
With a growing share of energy produced from renewable resources (RES), fossil fuel power plants will have to increasingly shift their role from providing base-load power to providing fluctuating back-up power (i.e. ramping up and down) in order to control and stabilise the grid. These strong fluctuations result not only in increased wear-and-tear, but (more importantly) also in a lower efficiency and hence higher greenhouse gas emissions per unit of produced electricity. Severe ramping up and down can be limited through load-levelling i.e. storing power during periods of light loading on the system and delivering it during periods of high demand.
Validation and pilot demonstration of the integration of energy storage and/or use of excess energy (including via power-to-X-to-power) in fossil fuel power plants and showing that EU emission limits for such installations can not only still be met, but that emissions of air pollutants can even be reduced. This could include the enabling of the combustion system to deal with synthetic fuels and/or hydrogen enriched fuels, as well as a better integration of combined production of heat and power into the overall system.
Proposals are expected to bring technologies to TRL 6-7 (please see part G of the General Annexes). Technology development has to be complemented by activities to create awareness, gain feedback on societal impact and advancing society's readiness for the proposed solutions.
Expected Impact: Solutions will contribute to a smart, secure and more resilient power system through the integration of energy storage for the purpose of load levelling in fossil fuel power generation. Results of the project(s) should allow a smoother operation of these plants at optimal efficiency and environmental performance in order to better adapt to an energy systems that will increasingly be dominated by intermittent renewable energy.
Call Website
Development of solutions based on renewable sources that provide flexibility to the energy system (H2020-LC-SC3-2018-2019-2020) | Horizon 2020 European Union
Value: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 3 to 5 million would allow this challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Supporting the balancing of the power grid and increasing the flexibility of the energy system is possible through dispatchable renewable energy sources, such as for example bioenergy and hydropower. The specific challenge is to increase the potential and performance of dispatchable technologies to provide flexibility services to the energy system by improving their technological characteristics.
Proposals will address one of the following sub-topics:
Bioenergy carriers: Development of intermediate bioenergy carriers for energy and transport from biogenic residues and wastes and energy crops from marginal lands not applicable to food or feed production through feedstock flexible technologies at a conversion cost reduced by at least 25% from the state-of-the-art, excluding the feedstock cost, and with increased energy density, storage and trade characteristics, where relevant, and improved GHG performance. The state-of the art for conversion costs per technology will be clearly presented in the proposal with cost figures and versatility of use where appropriate.
Hydropower: Development of low and ultra-low head and sea water resistant equipment (such as for example bulb-pump turbines) guaranteeing at least 70% round-trip efficiency and making low-head seawater storage and other low head applications of hydropower viable, for example at unexplored locations (e.g. like at coastal dams and islands), by minimising at the same time potential impacts on fish.
Virtual Power Plant: Increase the performance of an integrated portfolio of renewable energy sources (namely a combination of variable output and dispatchable renewable sources) to operate together as a Virtual Power Plant, capable of providing flexibility and ancillary services to the energy system. The solution has to be competitive compared with solutions combining variable output renewables with electrochemical storage.
Proposals are expected to bring the technologies from TRL 3-4 to TRL 4-5 (please see part G of the General Annexes).
The increased flexibility of the energy system will allow the penetration of a higher share of variable output renewables in the energy mix without affecting system stability.
Converting Sunlight to storable chemical energy (LC-SC3-RES-29-2019) | Horizon 2020 European Union
This call specifies international cooperation as a priority.
To replace fossil energy with sustainable alternatives that provide the same flexibility and convenience of use, we need to store sustainable energy on a large scale and for a long time in new kind of energy storage compounds. This can be done by direct conversion of sunlight into storable chemicals that can be stored for a virtually unlimited time. At present, these processes can be performed at the level of small prototype devices at high cost. Therefore, research and innovation are needed to bring these approaches from infancy to maturity. The production of clean forms of storable chemical energy from direct sunlight is the next step.
Performance breakthroughs, including day and night continuous processes, and cost reductions are a must in order to unlock the potential of technologies converting sunlight to storable chemical energy.
This challenge is fully aligned to the "Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge"[1] identified as a priority in Mission Innovation.
Proposals are expected to address renewable energy technologies that will answer the challenge described in the "Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge" of Mission Innovation, bringing them up to TRL 4 or 5. Beside the technological development, the proposal will have to clearly address the following related aspects: the potential lower environmental impact than the current technologies, possibly through a LCA analysis, the better resource efficiency, issues related to social acceptance or resistance to new energy technologies, related socioeconomic and livelihood issues, and prospective market analysis. The proposal needs to consider all three dimensions of sustainability, resource efficiency and scalability, i.e. not using materials which are uncommon, dangerous or scarce that could disable its future concept to be used at large scale.
At least one of the following technology-specific challenges has to be addressed:
Improved light-harvesting and efficient charge separation in photocatalytic systems;
Photoelectrochemical cells – PECs and catalyst development;
Thermochemical pathways to energy rich chemicals (using concentrated solar light); and
Design and engineering of devices, systems or prototypes integrating together the different processes, with day and night control and applicability for the production of chemical energy rich carriers.
The area of electrolysers efficiently utilizing a renewable electricity input, such as provided by photovoltaics, wind turbines or other sustainable means, is not covered by this challenge.
The proposal must have a plausible pathway to scale the technology to the terawatt scale by 2050, a plausible potential for an EROI > 10 (EROI: Energy returned on energy invested) and the full recyclability of the conversion devices in the context of a circular economy must be ensured.
As part of Mission Innovation actions, the project will be required to contribute towards the activities of the "Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge". Beside solving the technical challenge, the consortium is expected to budget the participation in the development of the Challenge work plan through activities such as dissemination, exchange of researcher and networking as well as through contributing in official meetings.
Projects will not only contribute to mitigating climate change through the production of storable chemical energy from the sun, but also enhance energy security and provide opportunities for economic development across the globe.
Projects should show its contribution towards establishing a solid European innovation base and building a sustainable renewable energy system.
Contributing to Mission Innovation aims, projects will deepen the international collaboration in clean energy research and development.
ERA-NET Co-Fund Enhanced cooperation in Digitalisation of Energy Systems and Networks (LC-SC3-ES-9-2019) | European Union Horizon 2020
Value: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution in the range of EUR 10 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Cross-Themes: Digitalisation, Energy
Beyond direct efficiency gains and cost savings, digitalization holds the potential to catalyse fundamental, system-wide changes in Energy Systems and Networks. As digitalisation advances, a highly and cross-sectoral interconnected system of energy systems and infrastructures can emerge, with increasing opportunities for integration of renewables and efficient energy management. Electricity is likely to be the first energy sector impacted, digitisation enabling stronger connections to the heating and cooling sector, in particular in buildings and the mobility sector. Digitalisation can also foster enhanced the participation of stakeholders in local, regional and European value chains. Local communities and prosumers may gradually begin to leverage the opportunities for their involvement in energy communities and energy transactions and boost European innovation and businesses.
In order to achieve this, energy stakeholders must work hand in hand with highly innovative newcomers and lateral thinkers that have a "digital mindset" (e.g.: the block chain community) and also integrate the know-how and experience from other sectors. The approach should also engage potential customers such as infrastructure operators, local industries or communities and end-users in value chains from the local and regional up to the European and global levels. Therefore, support is needed for the development of future digital platforms, applications and business which maximize benefits for European citizens while incentivising a sustainable, secure and resilient energy system where data protection is guaranteed. Coordinated transnational Research, Demonstration and Innovation actions has the potential to make a large impact.
Proposals should coordinate national (or regional) energy and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) research, demonstration and innovation programs and pool the necessary financial resources with a view to implementing joint calls for proposals resulting in grants to third parties with EU co-funding in this area.
The scope of activities should include
The establishment of transnational innovation ecosystems for technology, systems and services that support designing, implementing and testing technical and business services for the future energy systems, building on available ICT platforms and tools; these should enable the participation of SME's and start-ups and develop scalable, customizable and replicable solutions applicable from local through interregional and up to global level.
The coordination and linking of living labs[1] that facilitate the development and testing of prototypes, bringing innovative solutions from TRL4 (proof of concept) to TRL7. This shall enable the sharing of development and test facilities, allowing testing with hundreds of nodes representing real life operating conditions including failures, behaviour and misuse of the solution, as well as gaining experiences for the design of new market and business models.
Connect networks of procurers in different countries and regions, which gather potential buyers and users of the solutions at an early stage, in order to help to understand the needs and requirements for more and more software dominated solutions.
Activities to connect start-ups and investors to reflect on market driven applications.
Establish methodologies and transnational process chains in conformance with European standards, such as SGAM/M490 and ISO/TR 28380, to implement and achieve interoperability of electronic data exchanges in heterogeneous energy-related ICT systems.
Coordinate their work with NRA's, ENTSO-E, the DSO organisations and other stakeholders and take into account, build on, and work with Digitisation of Energy projects, funded under the following topics:
LC-SC3-ES-5-2018-2020: TSO – DSO – Consumer: Large-scale demonstrations of innovative grid services through demand response, storage and small-scale (RES) generation
DT-ICT-11-2019: Big data solutions for energy;
DT-ICT-10-2018: Interoperable and smart homes and grids;
SU-DS04-2018-2020: Cybersecurity in the Electrical Power and Energy System (EPES): an armour against cyber and privacy attacks;
LC-SC3-EE-13-2018-2019-2020: Enabling next-generation of smart energy services valorising energy efficiency and flexibility at demand-side as energy resource.
Proposals should make use of state of the art innovation methodology (such as co-creation, design thinking, policy lab) to the community of solution designers to ensure high quality and highly dynamic communication between involved stakeholder groups. Proposals should include the set-up of a knowledge platform and promote transnational mutual learning.
Overall, proposals are expected to enhance the collaboration of regional and national ICT and energy programs and their stakeholder communities, to leverage associated research and innovation / development funds and existing tools and outcomes from former European initiatives like e.g. the Internet of Energy projects FINSENY[2] and FINESCE[3] and contribute to the objectives of SET-Plan Action 4 on 'Increasing the resilience and security of the energy system'[4]. Proposals should also contribute to develop need driven implementation environments on regional and local levels.
More specifically, proposals are expected to:
Accelerate the development of transnational innovation ecosystems, promote the engagement of innovative SME's and start-ups in digital energy systems and solutions, contribute to create new business opportunities, growth and jobs in European regions;
Foster the emergence of transnational initiatives and living labs, rationalise the use of test facilities, produce robust approaches to the use of digital systems;
Activate networks of procurers so as to reach the critical mass needed to develop global solutions that can be customised to local / regional needs;
Emulate local innovation forces and close to market thinking of start-ups and investors;
Promote the development of interoperable solutions enabling wider impact and use of applications, systems and services.
Delegation Exception Footnote:
This activity directly aimed at supporting public-public partnerships with Member States and associated countries, technology platforms with industrial partners and earth observation networks is excluded from the delegation to INEA and will be implemented by the Commission services.
[1]A living lab is a user-centered, open-innovation ecosystem often operating in a territorial context (e.g. city, agglomeration, region), integrating concurrent research and innovation processes (co-creation), potentially relying on a public-private-people partnership.
[2]http://www.fi-ppp-finseny.eu/
[3]http://www.finesce.eu/
[4]https://setis.ec.europa.eu/actions-towards-implementing-integrated-set-plan/implementation-plans
Development of next generation biofuel and alternative renewable fuel technologies for aviation and shipping (LC-SC3-RES-23-2019) | European Union Horizon 2020
Value: The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 3 to 5 million would allow this challenge to be addressed appropriately.
Cross-Themes: Aerospace, Energy
The specific challenge is to increase the competitiveness of next generation biofuel and renewable fuel technologies in aviation and shipping, compared to fossil fuel alternatives. Proposals will develop next generation non-food/feed drop-in biofuel and alternative renewable fuel technologies for aviation and shipping transport, which improve substantially beyond the state-of-the-art the performance regarding conversion efficiency, cost and feedstock supply by addressing:
liquid jet-like biofuels and alternative renewable fuels from biogenic residues and wastes through chemical, biochemical and thermochemical pathways, or a combination of them
bunker fuel-like biofuels for shipping uses.
The supported projects are expected to reduce costs and improve performance of renewable fuels for aviation and shipping regarding the efficiency, the environment and society.
View the call here.
Research Support Program (PSR)- Support for International Research and Innovation Initiatives (SIIRI) | Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et l'Innovation Québec
(Please note this call is now closed).
Value: Up to $1.5 Million CAD, over five years
This program supports international research and innovation projects between higher education, research and industry stakeholders and promotes high-level industrial research partnerships built on strategic international initiatives. Projects must be aligned with the government's strategic policy directions for research and innovation. Priority will be given to projects touching on prioritized fields, including information and communication technologies. Projects with at least one of the following zones, countries, or groups of countries deemed strategic by the Ministry's Direction des partenariats internationaux (DPI) will have priority (Brazil, Canada (outside Québec), United States, China, Germany).
Eligible organizations:
- Québec businesses or subsidiaries of foreign companies that are legally incorporated and carry out R&D activities in Québec, with priority given to those with under 250 employees
- Non-profit organizations (NPOs) in a variety of sectors, niches, and industries involved in research, innovation, promotion, and dissemination of science and technology
- Québec public-sector research institutions
Projects involving Québec and foreign companies with financial ties are not eligible.
The Ministry reserves the right to reject any financial aid application from organizations or companies whose ongoing PSR-SIIRI projects are in default or whose projects have already been rejected twice in the past.
Eligible projects:
1. Bilateral research projects (between Quebec and a country, or between Quebec and another Canadian province, maximum aid $150,000 over three years).
2. Multilateral research projects (between Quebec and at least two countries or other Canadian provinces, maximum aid $250,000 over three years).
3. Large-scale projects (maximum aid of $1.5 million over three years): projects eligible in the Horizon 2020 EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation.
Eligible expenses are those of the Quebec team and cover the production costs of project. No additional financial assistance may be granted for cost overruns approved projects.
Financial aid granted generally varies by project type and does not exceed 50% of eligible expenses for Québec activities (part of the budget for activities carried out and paid in Québec). The financing package may include a maximum of 80% assistance from various levels of government. A minimum monetary contribution is expected from the Québec partner's community (20% of eligible project expenses).
The overall project must be balanced among the partners. The portion carried out in Québec may not exceed 70% of the total budget for the international project including Québec and the partner countries and regions.
Program website.
Bilateral Funding for International Projects
Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program (CREATE)/International Graduate Research Training (IRTG) | National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and DFG
Applications open annually- Letters of intent must be submitted by May 1
Value: Up to $150,000 in the first year and up to $300,000 for up to five subsequent years, for a maximum of $1.65M over 6 years.
The Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program supports the training of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:
- encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada's research priorities; and
- facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.
Successful applicants will consist of a group of accomplished researchers who will work collaboratively to offer a defined research training program to a group of trainees. This environment will provide trainees with experience relevant to both academic and non-academic careers. The research training experience should focus on providing an enriched training experience for graduate (master's and doctoral) students.
To build on Canada's research strengths and priorities, and to enhance our success, at least 60 percent of the CREATE funding will be directed toward the following NSERC priority areas:
- Environmental science and technologies;
- Natural resources and energy;
- Manufacturing; and
- Information and communications technologies.
An agreement between NSERC and the German Research Foundation, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), has been concluded to establish a formal mechanism for supporting a bilateral training program that involves an exchange of students between Germany and Canada.
In order to be considered for this opportunity, Canadian candidates should follow these steps:
- Canadian researchers should first establish a collaboration with German researchers.
- Since the DFG International Research Training Groups (IRTG) process requires more time than the NSERC application process, the German researchers must start by submitting a pre-proposal to the DFG.
- Applicants with a successful DFG IRTG pre-proposal can proceed directly to submitting a full application to NSERC.
- Because of NSERC's system requirements, applicants must provide the basic information in their LOI as it is used to generate a Form 102. Please contact NSERC for further details.
- Proposals will be evaluated through the agencies' (NSERC and DFG) respective peer review processes. The CREATE application should stand alone and contain all the necessary details about the Canadian side of the collaboration.
- CREATE Grant applications involving a collaboration with researchers applying to the DFG's IRTG program compete with the applications of the other applicants invited to submit a CREATE Grant application in the same competition.
- DFG IRTG/NSERC CREATE proposals will be funded only if both are successful in their individual competitions.
CREATE Website.
DFG Website.
Incoming Mobility Funding
Bringing RLS-Sciences counterparts to Québec
São Paulo Researchers in International Cooperation (SPRINT) | São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Deadline: 29 July, 2019
Value: dependant on proposal, please see below
The objective of the SPRINT programme is to promote the engagement of researchers affiliated to institutions of higher education and research in the State of São Paulo in partnership with researchers abroad in order to: 1) further develop qualitatively the ongoing research projects; and 2) work cooperatively aiming at the elaboration of joint research projects of medium and long term, for submission to FAPESP, by researchers from the State of São Paulo, and to the research funding agencies in the countries of corresponding partners, by their colleagues.
SPRINT provides funding for the initial phase of international research collaborations with clear expectations that the next phase will be a presentation, by the researchers from the State of São Paulo, of research proposals in the regular funding lines of FAPESP aiming to continue the research started under SPRINT and the consequently consolidation of the partnership. Foreign partners must provide their own funding through the appropriate partner agencies. Selected projects must last between 12 and 24 months. Joint petitioners should submit their proposals in both countries, using the appropriate forms supplied by the respective agencies. Each proposal will initially be analyzed by the agency in the country of its origin. Selected proposals will then be evaluated by a panel of FAPESP and representatives of the other partner institution.
There are four calls each year. The deadlines for the submission of proposals in each round will be determined annually and will always be on the last Monday of each following month: January, April, July, and October.
Regularly, proposals may only be submitted for mobility of researchers from the State of São Paulo and from institutions abroad that hold cooperation agreements with FAPESP. However, in this call FAPESP will also accept proposals from researchers whose partners are from institutions with which FAPESP does not have a current agreement or with which FAPESP has current agreements but whose institutions are not joining the current SPRINT edition. There are no partner institutions from Québec for this call, but researchers may still apply via their institutions.
Review the call here.
Review the SPRINT Guidelines here (please note you will need to scroll down past the lists of partner institutions).
Bavaria-Québec Program for Short-Term Research Missions | Bavarian Research Alliance and Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies
(Please note this call is currently closed)
Value: individual per programme and applicant
The objectives of this program for short-term missions are to promote international mobility between Quebec and Bavaria and to foster sustained cooperation between researchers from Bavaria and Quebec in specific research areas, including digital technologies. The bilateral aspect of this program funds research visits from universities and research institutions in Bavaria for a period of one to three months at a university or research institution in Québec.
Programme Website.
Bringing RLS-Sciences students to Québec
International Internships- Energy | Fonds de recherche du Québec- Nature et technologies
(Please note this call is now closed)
Value: Maximum 15 000 CAD
The objective of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies International Internships Digital program is to promote the international mobility of doctoral students whose research is in an area related to energy. Applicants may apply for funding to support internships or training at an institution in Québec university or a Québec College Centre for the Transfer of Technologies (CCTT). Eligible applicants must be registered full-time as graduate students at a university in one of the RLS regions (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape) in energy. Please note that citizens of the six RLS regions outside of Québec (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape) who are registered full-time at a university in Québec are not eligible for this scholarship.
Studies must begin no later than 31 March, 2019 and must be continue for a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months.
Learn more, and apply here.
Merit scholarship program for foreign students (PBEEE) | Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)
Value: dependent on program stream- please see below.
The objective of the Merit Scholarship Programs for Foreign Students (PBEEE) is to support the internationalization of research activities in Québec's institutions of higher education, to attract the best foreign researchers and students, and to promote Québec universities and College Centers for the Transfer of Technologies (CCTT), abroad. Candidates must be preselected by a university, the Réseau Trans-Tech (a CCTT), TERI University, the SER or CONACYT. There are three streams within the program: Doctoral research, post-doctoral research, or Short-term research or professional development. Universities can recommend four candidates per year for each of these three components. There are no quotas per country. The Réseau Trans-tech can recommend four candidates for Postdoctoral scholarships and Short-term research or professional development scholarships.
Doctoral research component
Candidates are eligible for doctoral merit program scholarships from MEESR in the first nine sessions of their doctoral studies. All doctoral sessions, funded or unfunded, completed before the scholarship takes effect, are used in calculating the eligibility period.
The maximum duration of the scholarship is three years (nine sessions), with a possible extension of up to 12 months, for up to $25,000 (Canadian) per year.
Postdoctoral component
Postdoctoral scholarships are intended for researchers who have obtained their degree no more than two years before the deadline of the competition or who submitted their dissertation by the deadline for the beginning of scholarship use. Postdoctoral research must be conducted in an institution other than the one that granted the Doctorate. The applicant's doctoral supervisors and co-supervisors may not act as his/her postdoctoral supervisor, even if they have changed institutions.
The duration of this scholarship is for up to one year, for $35,000 (Canadian). This scholarship is not renewable.
Short-term research or professional development component
Short-term research or professional development scholarships are intended for technical and university students (option A) or researchers who have completed a doctorate no more than five years before the deadline for the competition (option B). The research or professional development must be conducted in an institution other than the one at which the student was enrolled when he or she applied.
The duration of this scholarship is for up to four months, for $3,000 (Canadian) per month. The scholarship is not renewable.
Visit the programme website here.
Outgoing Mobility Funding
Visiting RLS-Sciences colleagues outside of Québec
Value: Up to $2 500 for transportation plus daily living allowance, for 1-3 months
The objectives of this program for short-term missions are to promote international mobility between Quebec and Bavaria and to foster sustained cooperation between researchers from Bavaria and Quebec in specific research areas, including digital technologies. The bilateral aspect of this program funds research visits from universities and research institutions in Québec for a period of one to three months at a university or research institution in Bavaria.
This program is open to:
- FRQNT researchers: university researchers (CHU and CHUN) or institutional researchers (CE)
- FRQS researchers: independent investigators and independent clinical investigators.
For a definition of each status, consult the FRQ Common General Rules.
The researchers must:
- Be affiliated with a Quebec university
- Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents as defined in section 2.1 of the FRQ Common General Rules
- Be domiciled in Québec
- Have received an invitation letter from a researcher from Bavaria affiliated with a university or a university of applied sciences that receives funding from the Bavarian government, or a researcher from KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, ESFH, or KSFH.
Visit the program website here.
PPP Canada Programme for Project-Related Personal Exchange | German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Call Open
Value: Up to € 15,000 per year
Through its PPP programmes DAAD supports joint bi-national research projects of a high academic standard in order to strengthen academic relations between a German institution and an institution abroad and to promote cooperative research activities. The provided project funding is intended to cover mobility costs for German participants arising from the research project, and in particular to enable young academics involved in the project to conduct a research stay at the partner institution abroad, thereby supporting them in their international training.
The allowance covers all expenditures within the scope of mobility and the stay. Eligible for funding are short-term stays of academics (up to 30 days) and young academics (up to 50 days). On the German side, DAAD provides funding for members of the German research group for stays at the foreign partner institution if no other arrangement was made with the foreign partner institution.
For the purposes of this programme, young academics are defined as junior researchers currently completing their doctorate and academics at the outset of their academic careers who completed their doctorate no more than five years ago.
An application must present a specific academic research project of high quality, on which the partners from Germany and the foreign partner country intend to work together in an ideally complementary manner. Proposals involving research into general scientific questions of interest to both research groups are not sufficient. Basic financing of the project (personal and material expenses on both sides) must be ensured.
The application will only be considered if written confirmation of the cooperation from the Canadian institution is included.
Visit the program website.
Sending Québec students to RLS-Sciences colleagues outside of Québec
Mitacs Accelerate International | Mitacs
Applications accepted at any time. Applicants should submit their applications approximately 16 weeks prior to the start of the project to ensure enough time for adjudication, filing of appropriate documentation, and travel and accommodation arrangements.
Value: $15,000 CAD for 16-24 weeks
The Mitacs Globalink Partnership Award offers graduate students at Mitacs full and associate partner universities in Canada the opportunity to participate in a 16- to 24-week research project with an international industry partner located in any country except the United States. The Partnership Award is open to all academic disciplines including both the social sciences and humanities and STEM.
The Partnership Award provides an opportunity for faculty at Canadian universities to strengthen existing international research collaborations and connect with colleagues and industry around the world through the mobility of graduate students.
The Partnership Award offers the following benefits to participating universities and students:
- Mitacs will award successful applicants $15,000 CAD in funding to cover the direct costs of research. Funding will be in the form of a research grant to the home university academic supervisor;
- All academic disciplines are eligible;
- Simple and quick application process with results typically announced in six weeks;
- Open to international graduate students studying in Canada, Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
- Funding is provided to support the student's research;
- Students and faculty gain real-world and international exposure: apply the latest tools and innovations to real issues; and
- International research collaborations are strengthened.
In order to be eligible for a Partnership Award, a student must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student (Effective September 30, 2015, students in Canada on a study permit cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship. Students with Canadian citizenship and Permanent Residents can undertake research in any partner country, regardless of additional citizenship status.)
- Be registered for full-time graduate studies at a Mitacs full or associate partner university in Canada. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for the Partnership Award.
- Demonstrate skills and interest suitable to the project(s) in question
- Remain a student of their university; students cannot be employed by their partner organization during their research projects
- Have an academic supervisor with a faculty appointment at an eligible Canadian university
- Spend a minimum of 25% of the research project at their home university and up to 75% with the industry partner abroad.
- Meet all necessary travel requirements for the intended destination
The Partnership Award offers the following benefits to participating industry partners:
- Applications are peer reviewed to ensure high-quality research
- Increased innovation: participants gain novel solutions to research challenges
- Mitacs matches the $7,500 CAD industry partner contribution
Industry Partner Eligibility
The international industry partner for the Partnership Award must be a for-profit company in any country except the United States where the student can undertake the research project.
Globalink Research Award | Mitacs
Applications accepted at any time, starting in January 2018. For travel in the summer, please submit applications in January. For travel in the autumn, please submit applications in May. For travel in the winter, please submit applications in September.
Value: $6,000 CAD for 12-24 weeks
The Globalink Research Award provides an opportunity for faculty at Canadian universities to strengthen existing international research collaborations and connect with colleagues around the world through the mobility of senior undergraduate and graduate students.
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award provides funding to support senior undergraduate and graduate student research projects abroad. Student recipients of the Globalink Research Award will develop research skills, cultural fluency, and professional networks, becoming part of Canada's generation of global innovators. The benefits include:
- A $6,000 research award to the Canadian supervisor to support student travel and accommodation expenses, research related expenses, and student stipend.
- Open to all disciplines
- For joint research projects with academic collaborators for a minimum of 12 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks abroad
- Partner countries: Brazil and China
In order to be eligible for a Globalink Research Award for research at a university outside of Canada, a student must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student
Students cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree or been employed
Effective September 30, 2015, students in Canada on a study permit cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship. Students with Canadian citizenship and permanent residents can undertake research in any partner country, regardless of additional citizenship status.
- Be registered for full-time studies at a Canadian university as a senior undergraduate student or graduate student.
- Be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years or older).
- Demonstrate skills and interest suitable to the project(s) in question.
- Have identified a faculty member at their home university to supervise the project and administer the funds.
- Have identified a host academic supervisor with a faculty appointment at an accredited university in a Mitacs partner country.
- Meet all necessary travel requirements for the intended destination.
- Have not previously been awarded a Globalink Research Award. Senior undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive ONE Mitacs Globalink Research Award per academic life time.
- Undergraduate students must:
Have completed their second year of studies prior to departure
Be enrolled in full-time studies and remain as such throughout the duration of the Globalink Research Award
Maintain a B average or equivalent thereof for the last two semesters of study
*Please note this scholarship is limited to students studying in Québec.
The objective of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies International Internships Digital program is to promote the international mobility of doctoral students whose research is in an area related to energy. Applicants may apply for funding to support internships or training at an institution in one of the other six RLS regions (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape). Eligible applicants must be registered full-time as graduate students at a university in Québec. Please note that citizens of the six RLS regions outside of Québec (Bavaria, Georgia, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, Western Cape) who are registered full-time at a university in Québec are not eligible for this scholarship.
Dr. Florence Gauzy
wks(at)bayfor.org
tel.: +49 (0) 89 9901 888-0
The RLS-Energy Network is a part of RLS-Sciences. RLS- Sciences seeks to leverage the unique composition and strengths of the RLS network to support scientific research within and between the RLS regions. We work to generate and support academic, scientific, and technological exchanges, and the initiation of multilateral research projects.
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Very Good. Pairing archival material from both the Bryan prosecution and the Darrow defence, this text provides an historical and legal analysis in its interpretation of a pivotal event in American history. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 318 p. Contains: Illustrations.
Good. 0674854292 Ships promptly from Texas.


Hello, all! Kristina here with some more inspiration using the April 2018 Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp. This kit is full of awesome, colorful supplies!
I thought it would be fun to make a matching card and envelope. I started with the envelope first by stamping and white heat embossing some of the butterfly images from the kit's stamp set Beautiful Day (also available to purchase outside of the kit). Using the Distress Blending Brush (also included in the kit!), I ink blended the two Distress Oxide ink colors in the kit (Squeezed Lemonade and Mermaid Lagoon) and added a third color from my stash (Picked Raspberry) to make the effect more rainbow-like. I then addressed the envelope using a black pen.
NOTE: Address used with permission. Thank you, Vanessa!
For the card, I used a similar technique, but cut out the butterfly after adding the ink blending. Then I create the card base using white cardstock in the kit and stamped the leaf images from the stamp set in black ink. Then I adhered the butterfly using foam tape.
I hope you enjoyed today's card and envelope! Thanks for stopping by! You can get the April 2018 Card Kit HERE. You can also subscribe to future card kits HERE.