A teenager who ran on to a football pitch and attempted a flying headlock on a player was banned from attending matches for three years yesterday.
The 16-year-old admitted the assault on Queen's Park Ranger defender Ian Evatt during a goalmouth fracas at the end of their 2-1 away victory over Stoke City last year.
The teenager from Trent Vale, Stoke, ran on to pitch and into the centre circle at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke, as the atmosphere at the game heightened following the sending off of a Stoke City player and a controversial penalty being awarded to QPR.
CCTV footage at Newcastle-under-Lyme youth court showed the teenager milling around in the centre circle before running towards the QPR goal as a fracas broke out after one or two other supporters had tried to get on to the pitch.
Liz Rider, prosecuting, said: "He ran towards the goal-mouth and jumped on the back of QPR player Ian Evatt. He took him round the shoulders and forced him to the floor. Evatt then felt a fist hit his left cheek."
Stephen Vesay, defending, said the youth admitted attempting a "flying headlock" on Mr Evatt but did not accept that he had punched his cheek, adding that he has very little memory of the afternoon as he had been extremely drunk.
"For some unknown reason he decided to walk on to the centre circle of the pitch. He then sees an incident in the goal mouth and in a drunken stupor believed it was someone he knew being assaulted by Stoke and QPR players and ran over," said Mr Vesay.
Mr Vesay said several of the footballers had made the incident worse by becoming involved and that a substitute on the QPR bench ran down the pitch and kicked the boy in the head.
"Four stewards had the incident under control but after he tried the headlock eight or nine QPR players put the boot in. There were several players in the goalmouth area who had no reason to be there otherwise.
Mr Vesay said: "Had this been in a public place the players would have faced public order charges."
The teenager also pleaded guilty to one charge of encroachment of a football pitch.
He was banned from attending football matches for three years, made the subject of a three month action plan and his mother was asked to pay £87 costs.
Magistrate Janet Leese told the teenager: "Your behaviour on December 3 contributed to the volatile and dangerous situation."


text:
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Crowds attend to see the first 2017 Nissan GT-R in Europe
Crowds attend to see the first 2017 Nissan GT-R in Europe
James Camidge, Used Car Controller at Wessex Garages, with the with new 2017 Nissan GT-R and James Ashworth from Bristol.
The new 2017 Nissan GT-R.
CROWDS of supercar enthusiasts went along to our Nissan brand centre in Bristol yesterday (April 17, 2016) to see the new 2017 Nissan GT-R.
Our dealership at Cribbs Causeway was the first Nissan dealer in Europe to have the 2017 GT-R on show and it was the star of our Supercar Day.
Simon Newson, General Manager at the dealership on Hayes Way, explained: "We were ecstatic to be the first Nissan dealership in Europe to have the new 2017 GT-R at our purpose-built brand centre. The new model features the most significant changes to Nissan's flagship supercar since it was introduced in 2007.
"The GT-R has an exciting new look both inside and out, as well as major driving performance enhancements and key new features. Its stability and airflow have been improved thanks to a perfect blend of design and engineering.
"We hosted the event in aid of our Charity of the Year, Dance Voice, which is a Dance Movement Psychotherapy charity based in Bedminster. We held a GT-R merchandise raffle on the day with proceeds being donated to the charity. We're delighted to announce that we raised £160 for the charity.
"We would like to thank everyone who attended the Supercar Day to see the stunning new Nissan GT-R and for helping us to raise money for Dance Voice."
Felipe Alves, Technician at Wessex Garages with the new 2017 Nissan GT-R.
Tom Jeal from Stoke Gifford in Bristol sits in the driver's seat of the new 2017 Nissan GT-R with Bianca Ashwin, Assistant Service Manager at Wessex Garages.
During the event visitors were able to get their Nissan supercars checked over free of charge and the first seven to book appointments could have a free optional car wash. Refreshments were provided throughout the day and each attendee was given a Wessex Garages goody bag.
Simon added: "The GT-R was a huge hit on the day with visitors. On the new model the horsepower and torque has been increased – 570PS and 637Nm of torque. There is a new titanium exhaust with open valve system, enhanced aerodynamics with greater downforce, improved body rigidity for stability and handling and new 20-inch, 15-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels.
"Inside the car is a brand new eight-inch touchscreen multi-function display, DAB digital radio and smartphone app integration, the latest generation NissanConnect satellite navigation and entertainment system and a Rotary Control on the centre console that operates the system without having to reach for the touchscreen."
We have the very latest in diagnostic technology and offered GT-R owners a free diagnostic scan for their vehicle during the Supercar Day. Our fully-trained, factory technicians were on hand to discuss parts and technical support.
Simon continued: "Our new Nissan brand centre at Cribbs Causeway offers Nissan's complete range of new vehicles in the brand's latest retail environment concept, which feels completely different to any other showroom from the moment you step through the door. It has been designed to reflect the needs of the modern, tech savvy customer.
"The concept is to put the customer at the very heart of the dealership and to remove the traditional physical barriers, such as formal sales desks and computers, giving the centre a very relaxed, coffee shop feel.
"Staff members are equipped with the latest iPads, which allow them to create a part-exchange appraisal or finance proposal. The iPads can also be passed to the customer so they can configure their own car."
The workshop can also be viewed from the waiting area so all work takes place transparently, which is one of the company's mission statements. It aims to create total transparency and trust for its customers.
You can also keep up-to-date with our latest news and events by liking us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/wessexgarages or following us on Twitter www.twitter.com/wessexgarages.
Welcome to Wessex Garages Holdings Ltd. To optimise your experience, cookie settings on the website are set to allow all cookies. By continuing your journey throughout the website, you consent to this. You can change these settings here.
© Wessex Garages Holdings Ltd, Pennywell Road, Bristol, United Kingdom, BS5 0TT
Wessex Garages Holdings Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activities (firm reference number: 677024) and an Appointed Representative of AutoProtect MBI Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for Insurance Mediation (firm reference number: 312143). We act as a non-independent credit intermediary for a limited number of finance lenders and can introduce you to a limited number of finance products to assist with your vehicle purchase. You can check this on the FCA Register by visiting the www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA direct on 0800 111 6768.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package org.cagrid.dorian;

import java.io.Serializable;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessorType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlElement;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlRootElement;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlType;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.Equals;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.EqualsStrategy;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.HashCode;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.HashCodeStrategy;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.JAXBEqualsStrategy;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.JAXBHashCodeStrategy;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.JAXBToStringStrategy;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.ToString;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.lang.ToStringStrategy;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.locator.ObjectLocator;
import org.jvnet.jaxb2_commons.locator.util.LocatorUtils;

/**
 *
Java class for anonymous complex type.
 *
 *
The following schema fragment specifies the expected content contained within this class.
 *
 *

 * <complexType>
 *   <complexContent>
 *     <restriction base="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}anyType">
 *       <sequence>
 *         <element name="response" type="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}string"/>
 *       </sequence>
 *     </restriction>
 *   </complexContent>
 * </complexType>
 *

 *
 *
 */
@XmlAccessorType(XmlAccessType.FIELD)
@XmlType(name = "", propOrder = {
    "response"
})
@XmlRootElement(name = "RegisterWithIdPResponse")
public class RegisterWithIdPResponse
    implements Serializable, Equals, HashCode, ToString
{

    @XmlElement(required = true)
    protected String response;

    /**
     * Gets the value of the response property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public String getResponse() {
        return response;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the response property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public void setResponse(String value) {
        this.response = value;
    }

    public String toString() {
        final ToStringStrategy strategy = JAXBToStringStrategy.INSTANCE;
        final StringBuilder buffer = new StringBuilder();
        append(null, buffer, strategy);
        return buffer.toString();
    }

    public StringBuilder append(ObjectLocator locator, StringBuilder buffer, ToStringStrategy strategy) {
        strategy.appendStart(locator, this, buffer);
        appendFields(locator, buffer, strategy);
        strategy.appendEnd(locator, this, buffer);
        return buffer;
    }

    public StringBuilder appendFields(ObjectLocator locator, StringBuilder buffer, ToStringStrategy strategy) {
        {
            String theResponse;
            theResponse = this.getResponse();
            strategy.appendField(locator, this, "response", buffer, theResponse);
        }
        return buffer;
    }

    public int hashCode(ObjectLocator locator, HashCodeStrategy strategy) {
        int currentHashCode = 1;
        {
            String theResponse;
            theResponse = this.getResponse();
            currentHashCode = strategy.hashCode(LocatorUtils.property(locator, "response", theResponse), currentHashCode, theResponse);
        }
        return currentHashCode;
    }

    public int hashCode() {
        final HashCodeStrategy strategy = JAXBHashCodeStrategy.INSTANCE;
        return this.hashCode(null, strategy);
    }

    public boolean equals(ObjectLocator thisLocator, ObjectLocator thatLocator, Object object, EqualsStrategy strategy) {
        if (!(object instanceof RegisterWithIdPResponse)) {
            return false;
        }
        if (this == object) {
            return true;
        }
        final RegisterWithIdPResponse that = ((RegisterWithIdPResponse) object);
        {
            String lhsResponse;
            lhsResponse = this.getResponse();
            String rhsResponse;
            rhsResponse = that.getResponse();
            if (!strategy.equals(LocatorUtils.property(thisLocator, "response", lhsResponse), LocatorUtils.property(thatLocator, "response", rhsResponse), lhsResponse, rhsResponse)) {
                return false;
            }
        }
        return true;
    }

    public boolean equals(Object object) {
        final EqualsStrategy strategy = JAXBEqualsStrategy.INSTANCE;
        return equals(null, null, object, strategy);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Lapses in workplace ethics vary in size and impact, often resulting in policy development. Included are 16 examples of employees failing to practice fundamental workplace ethics.
Judgment traps and biases can hamper ethical decision-making. Such traps and biases are identified along with interventions.
The PLUS Ethical Decision-making Model combines a seven-step ethical decision-making process that incorporates organizational policies, legal and regulatory concerns, and universal and personal values.
Low-key, apparently innocent lying can lead to significant patterns of lying in time. Three simple strategies are offered that can help individuals prevent that from occurring.
Social media use by employees not only jeopardizes productivity, but organizational security as well. Associated policies need to protect privacy and security concerns.
Ethics training needs to address the emotional, psychological, and moral challenges that individuals face when confronted with ethical decisions.
What kind of person do you see when you look in the mirror? That is, when you do an ethical self-assessment what kind of person do you see? Peter Drucker called that question "the mirror test" or the "ethics of prudence."
"There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud."
The 20th century witnessed changes in corporate America with respect to the relationship between business and the general public. Today, businesses are challenged to increase their social responsibility.
The article examines the origins of the fiduciary concept in shaping the ethical and moral duties of managers. Several studies are cited including the responsibility of corporate boards having "a fiduciary duty to make ethics-based decisions."
The right thing to do is also the profitable thing to do. Companies should practice the four pillars of conscious capitalism: ensuring conscious leadership, maintaining a stakeholder orientation, inculcating a conscious culture, and embracing a higher purpose.
Several ways for a company to be a better corporate citizen are identified and discussed. The so-called business case for being charitable is examined. Seven ways for achieving competitive advantage through good corporate citizenship are posited. Six ways to put corporate responsibility into action are identified and discussed.
Sustainability needs to move from being integrated into business strategy to being a foundational element from the beginning as companies adopt futures thinking utilizing sustainability and ethics officers, and as CEOs champion principles throughout their organizations.
Corporate Social Responsibility traditionally focused on environmental, social, and governance issues as responsibilities companies faced, but a shift is needed toward viewing these issues in terms of integrity, for example, shifting from a duty and expectation perspective to an internally held moral code.
David Gebler examines how values-based ethics programs can help employees' judge right from wrong. Seven levels of an ethical organization are presented and analyzed.
How does a manager design honesty into her/his organization? Is it possible to design in honesty and make the concept of honesty part of an organization's culture? This article argues in the affirmative and offers six key steps toward designing honesty into an organization.
For ethics to play an impactful role in an organization, ethics managers need: direct access to the board, to collaborate with other functions, to adopt an oversight role, to expand ethics communications throughout the organization, and to monitor and measure performance.
Behavioral ethics can help identify ethical risks such as ethical blindness and moral disengagement, and can provide guidance for training and reinforcement, communication and awareness, and monitoring and accountability.
In an excerpt from Dana Telford and Adrian Gostick's book, Integrity Works, they present a look at business leader Warren Buffett's practice of hiring people based on their integrity. A list of twenty questions is presented that might be asked of job candidates to learn more about their character.
Diversity and inclusion need to ensure equity for all who are a part of an organization. To achieve such equity, three trends have come to the fore: CEOs speaking about equity, expanding representation to include retention initiatives, and fostering inclusive cultures.
Organizations need to safeguard against sending the wrong signals regarding diversity training, i.e. that managers inherently have a problem that needs correcting. When conducting diversity training, it is imperative to do so with quality, and to operationalize the components of the training.
Building diversity takes time and requires effort to make it stick. It is not simply a matter of issuing a new policy but creating a culture shift.
Language and concepts that, traditionally, have been used in sexual harassment training could cause adverse effects. A more comprehensive and effective approach includes empowering bystanders to act, encouraging civility throughout the workplace, training seriously and often, promoting more women, and encouraging reporting.
To overcome fraud, managers need to pay attention to opportunity, financial pressure, and rationalization, and to encourage whistleblowing.
What are important considerations in developing a global code of ethics? An eight-stage framework for global business ethics is developed. The framework begins with the stage of understanding the orientation of a firm and concludes with recommendations for promulgating and using a framework of global business ethics.
Ethical violations do not have to violate the law but reporting them could result in adverse consequences for the informant. Tugend offers some advice to those contemplating whistleblowing.
In an empirically based article, the author explores the regret felt by individuals in situations of not blowing a whistle when a whistle should have been blown. The reasons for not blowing the whistle are documented by empirical research. Fear of retaliation is the most common reason reported for not blowing the whistle. The level of regret experienced is related to the type of reported wrongdoing that was not reported.
Companies face increasing challenges with respect to social media abuse by employees. Management needs to create social media policies and train employees on them.
It is important for employers to focus information gathering on what is relevant for the job, ensuring that the information directly pertains to job description qualifications.
Targeted recruitment ads often intentionally exclude older workers. Some companies defend such actions as a way to cost-effectively attract entry-level recruits.
The codependence between advertisers and services like Facebook complicates the ethics of data collection, especially when personalized marketing is at the fore. Government regulators and industry insiders respond with initiatives to enhance individual privacy.
Three industry experts engage in Q&A regarding the ethics of big data collection.
Marketers have used psychographic research for decades. Social media platforms have increased the ability of marketers to obtain personal information, analyze it, and then utilize it, that is, the current ethical challenges of data usage have been in the making for years.
Advertisers explore their usage of technological, data-driven marketing.
Studies have shown that consumers' selective memories and unethical amnesia make it difficult to shop ethically. Companies can help consumers by reminding them at multiple points regarding their products' ethical attributes.
Using McDonald's as an example, the author discusses contrary opinions regarding marketing to children. Critics claim that businesses exert undue influence on children, often with seriously negative consequences. Supporters state that parents have the right and responsibility to determine the lifestyles of their children.
There is a fine line between hooking a consumer via quality products and advertising, and consumers becoming hooked in an unhealthy addictive way. Individuals benefit from recognizing six signs of behavioral addiction.
Designers need to develop and utilize an effective code of ethics given the growing ability of AI, surveillance, and associated product capabilities. They can learn lessons from established professions such as priests, doctors and lawyers.
Retouching has led to several ethical problems including unhealthy self-image issues. The problems are not confined to human images, though; product images often are manipulated to create meanings that are false.
Volkswagen violated ethics in what has become known as Dieselgate. This article explains what happened and the different national outcomes.
This case study on Deutsche Bank's money-laundering schemes explains that the bank failed in its fiduciary responsibilities, and that it suffered from institutional corruption and conflict of interest issues.


text:
Sep 1, 2021 - 4 min read
NIPPONIA Tawaramoto Maruto Shoyu
Nara's oldest soy sauce warehouse back as a hotel
By Shinobu Ishikawa
It was a strange feeling, standing in front of the wooden inn. I felt as if I could see a merchant with the feudal chonmage topknot hairstyle popping his head out of the noren shop curtain at the entrance. Before my eyes was indeed the world of 1700s Japan, when people made a key Japanese seasoning in awe of nature deities: soy sauce.
Maruto gives you a glimpse into the life of Edo period soy-sauce masters
NIPPONIA Tawaramoto Maruto Shoyu, a hotel transformed from a 130-year-old soy sauce warehouse, opened in the Tawaramoto district in the Japanese ancient capital of Nara in August 2020. The hotel has seven guest rooms, each around 40-65 square meters. The first floor of its four duplex rooms was once used for storing key soy sauce ingredients -- soybeans, wheat, salt and water -- while workers slept in the attic-like bedroom on the second floor.
The indirect lighting creates a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere at night
"I tried to keep the renovation to a minimum so that much of the warehouse is utilized as it was," says Hiroyuki Kimura, the 18th-generation to run the family's soy-sauce making business. The hotel, however, offers great modern comfort as well. It has the latest air-conditioning system, and the bathroom is clean with well-arranged amenities. The floor heating system keeps the whole room pleasantly warm in winter.
The living room on the first floor
Bringing alive the family's brand and the warehouse
Founded in 1689, Maruto was once a soy sauce supplier to Japan's Imperial family but closed its business during the country's difficult post-war period. "My grandfather did not talk much about the business he closed," says Kimura. "One day, however, I happened to find his apron neatly folded in a drawer and became increasingly curious about what kind of soy sauce my ancestors had made."
Hiroyuki Kimura is now on his journey to bring alive his family's soy sauce
The turning point came when he discovered some very old documents in the warehouse that showed the recipe of his family's soy sauce. Kimura worked for an apparel company at the time, but quit the job to embark on a path to revive the Maruto brand. Also, to his lucky surprise, Kimura found yeast that had been alive in the warehouse for over 70 years - the key to reproducing his family's original soy sauce.
At the same time, Kimura started considering how to launch a tourism business utilizing the warehouse. "My grandfather would often tell me to do things that please people and our community," he said. "I wanted to use the warehouse to offer visitors an experience only available here."
Hospitality and Experience at Maruto
A stay at the inn begins with purifying the hands at the entrance with water, just as Japanese people do when they enter a sacred place at a shrine. A staff member gives you a warm welcome and takes you to a special room where guests are briefed on the hotel's facilities and services, while having welcome tea with a Japanese sweet.
After checking in, you can have a tour to observe centuries-old soy sauce making equipment and try making soy sauce. The tour ends with sweet dumplings served with the soy sauce you have just squeezed out on your own from the moromi mixture of ingredients.
The only one in the world: soy sauce you squeeze out on your own!
Cycling and strolling around the accommodation is also possible. The Tawaramoto district is part of an area once called "Yamato," said to be the birthplace of Japan as the country's first dynasty was established there. While having many historical sites, the district is far from touristy and is rather quiet. Ask staff members for tips on where to visit. They will show you places to visit, people to meet, and restaurants to have dinner that are only known to locals.
A free night meal: locally-produced somen noodles
If you are an early bird, a morning tour in the neighborhood with Kimura serving as your guide is also available. The big, healthy breakfast using plenty of locally-produced fresh vegetables and seasonings tastes great, especially after a refreshing morning walk.
The well-balanced breakfast brings out the best of the local produce
One of Kimura's dreams came true when the hotel opened one year ago. He is now on course to realize his other goal of putting the Maruto brand soy sauce back in the market in 2022.
In pursuit of his goals, Kimura says that he has come to recognise and appreciate the great things and great people in the local community. "I would like guests to enjoy the whole community by chatting with locals and touching upon the Yamato culture and its history," he says.
A 10-minute drive from Tawaramoto Station on the Kintetsu Line.
*The Maruto hotel offers a free pick-up service.
170 Iyodo, Tawaramoto, Shiki District, Nara 〒636-0243 (Directions)
info@maruto-shoyu.co.jp
maruto-shoyu.co.jp
Shiratori Shrine
By Matthew Eynon
Paths Less Traveled, Kurozuka Kofun
Oyumi Hajime Festival
Chōgaku-ji Temple
Discover Nara
Top 10 Traditional Stays in Rural..
By Veronica Carnevale
5 Accommodation Spots with a Fuji..
The Bathhouses of Shibu Onsen
By Linka Wade
Ginzan Onsen in Winter
Explore Accommodation around Japan
Justin Velgus a year ago
Very fun and interesting find. I hope local governments are also supporting efforts to save historic buildings like these!
Shinobu Ishikawa Author a year ago
I hope so, too! It's sad to hear that a good number of centuries-old wooden buildings are disappearing in Nara and Kyoto.
Sometimes I think it is a matter of perspective. Some people may see an aging building as ugly, but others see historical and architectural value.
I know what you mean:) But Maruto clearly shows an aging building can be renovated and utilized in a great way without demolishing it.
Lynda Hogan a year ago
How innovative. Great to see historic places like this being repurposed for others to enjoy.
Yeah, I hope more historic places will be preserved and utilized in a similar way.
Susan Tumanon a year ago
Great article and pictures! I am glad Mr. Kimura found the yeast and continued his family's legacy.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Susan-san. Yes, the owner's story is impressive and the discovery of the yeast is a miracle!
Kim a year ago
Okay, this is definitely on my bucket list for when I'm next in Nara! Gorgeous!
Sightseeing in central Nara is a fun, but a visit to this district is really special in another sense.
It certainly sounds like it!
Elizabeth S a year ago
Impressive revival and transformation!
Koji yeast is a living thing. That's amazing the yeast was waiting for Mr. Kimura.
Kimura's story is moving and the finding of the family's yeast is a miracle!
20 comments in total


text:
EPA provides update on Clean Power Plan rulemaking
By Erin Voegele | January 07, 2015
On Dec. 7, the U.S. EPA held a media call to provide the public with an update of its plans for the Clean Power Plan and carbon pollution standards for new, modified and reconstructed power plants in the new year. During the call, Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation noted the agency aims to finalize its three carbon pollution proposals by mid-summer.
McCabe addressed progress on three different carbon pollution rulemakings during the call: a proposed rule released in January 2014 that covers new power plants, and two rules issued in June 2014 that cover existing power plants (Clean Power Plan) and modified and reconstructed power plants, respectively.
The Clean Power Plan proposed rule, released on June 2, aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent in 2030, when compared to 2005 emissions. The proposal will be implemented through a state-federal partnership that is designed to provide each state with flexibility in meeting its specific goal. Under the partnership, states will identify a path forward using either current or new electricity produced and pollution control policies. The proposal provides guidelines for states to develop plans to meet state-specific goals set by EPA. With regard to biomass, the proposal specifically recognized "that biomass-derived fuels can play an important role in CO2 emission reduction strategies."
A public comment period on the Clean Power Plan closed on Dec. 1. The Biomass Power Association was among the groups that commented on the proposal.
Within the proposed rule for the Clean Power Plan, the EPA referenced its draft accounting framework for biogenic carbon emissions. At that time, the agency noted the biogenic CO2 accounting framework would be expected to provide important information regarding the scientific basis for assessing biomass-derived fuels and their net atmospheric contribution of CO2 related to their growth, harvest and use. "This information should assist both states and the EPA in assessing the impact of the use of biomass fuels in reaching emission reduction goals in the energy sector under state plans to comply with the requirements in the emission guidelines," said the EPA in the proposal last June.
The agency has since released a revised framework for assessing biogenic CO2 emissions from stationary sources. That announcement, made in November, included a memo issued by McCabe that provides regulatory guidance on how the updated biogenic emissions framework will impact the Clean Power Plan and the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program.
In the memo, McCabe indicated that the EPA anticipates that some states will wish to include the use of biogenic feedstocks in their Clean Power Plan compliance plans. "When considering state compliance plans, the agency expects to recognize the biogenic C02 emissions and climate policy benefits of waste-derived and certain forest-derived industrial byproduct feedstocks, based on the conclusions supported by a variety of technical studies, including the revised framework," said McCabe in the memo. "In addition, given the importance of sustainable land management in achieving the carbon reduction goals of the President's Climate Action Plan, the EPA expects that states' reliance specifically on sustainably-derived agricultural- and forest-derived feedstocks may also be an approvable element of their compliance plans. This approach is consistent with the EPA's recognition in the proposal that every state has different energy systems and available fuel mixes. Many states already recognize the importance of forests and other lands for climate resilience and mitigation, and have developed a variety of sustainable forestry and land use management policies and programs to address these concerns. Some states also encourage participation in sustainable forest management programs developed by third-party forestry and/or environmental entities." According the McCabe memo, the EPA will evaluate the biogenic components of proposed state plans as part of the compliance plan review and approval process, and will provide clarification as needed on the basis on which it will make such biomass-related evaluations.
During the Jan. 7 media call, McCabe noted the three carbon pollution rulemakings issued last year generated approximately 4 million public comments. "Over the past month EPA has been working to upload, organize and review the more than 2 million comments we've received on the proposed Clean Power Plan and the proposed carbon pollution standards for modified and reconstructed sources," she said. "We are also continuing to review and consider the roughly 2 million comments we received on the first proposal, the carbon pollution standards for new power plants." All three rules are expected to be finalized by mid-summer.
McCabe also said the EPA will turn part of its focus towards providing assistance to states as they begin to develop their state plans. "In response to a number of states and other stakeholders that have asked the agency for more information about a model rule and a federal plan, the EPA will be starting a rulemaking process in the coming weeks to develop a rule that would set forth a proposed federal plan and could help states start to think about their own plans," she said. That rule will be subject to a public comment period.
In addition, McCabe said the EPA is also planning to initiate a required small business regulatory enforcement fairness act panel later this month, and expects to issue a notice requesting panelists within the next couple of weeks.
Camber Energy to purchase renewable diesel plant in Nevada
EPA: 2022 RFS RIN generation reaches 21.27 billion
EPA: 10 new SRE petitions filed, 22 SRE petitions now pending
Vertex: Alabama plant to begin renewable diesel production in Q2
EPA approves RFS fuel pathway for LanzaJet's Georgia facility


A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect in the Houston area until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, as some areas in Greater Houston may receive 2-to-4 more inches of rain (and perhaps more, depending on the speed of storms today and tonight). Meanwhile, the region is beginning to get a fuller picture of the damage wrought by the storms and flooding this week. Law enforcement confirmed seven flood-related deaths in Harris and Waller Counties. Harris County officials confirm 744 homes and 400 apartments have been flooded as a result of this week's storms – that number is expected to rise.
[Above: The Harris County Sheriff's office continues search and rescue efforts after this week's storms and flooding. Photo by Houston Public Media].
As the region begins to assess and recover, on this edition of Houston Matters, we discuss what volunteer efforts are already under way, and how Houstonians can help one another.
A year ago today, Brenham-based Blue Bell Creameries voluntarily pulled all of its products off store shelves after samples tested positive for listeria. We talk with Mark Collette, investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle, about what's happened in the year since.
A recent debate in Sugar Land asked the city's mayoral candidates whether they are for or against the present automated red light camera enforcement system and why.
We hear candidates' positions, and revisit previous conversations about these controversial devices.
Co-authors Nikki Pope and Courtney Lance recently came to Houston to promote their new book Pruno, Ramen, and a Side of Hope: Stories of Surviving Wrongful Conviction. It weaves recipes in with stories of men and women who spent years in prison for crimes that they didn't commit.
Pope and Lance recently joined Ronnie Carmona, whose son was wrongfully convicted and eventually exonerated, in an interview with Houston Matters' Maggie Martin.
When author Sarah Bird first came to Texas in the 1970s, she was skeptical about living here. But, over time, she came to appreciate the state, as well as the people living in it.
In particular, Bird says, she grew to admire Texas women, as she tells Maggie Martin from her home in Austin. They discuss Bird's new book, A Love Letter to Texas Women.
Houston Matters begins at noon.
We also offer a free daily, downloadable podcast here, on iTunes, Stitcher and a variety of other podcasting apps.


Philippa's unique combination of journalistic know-how and mentoring has been invaluable in raising the Centre's profile and our capability. Her ability to combine support with challenge has had a real and demonstrable impact both on our growth and on shaping the public debate around justice.
Philippa Budgen picks up on a development and is on it like a car bonnet. When we started the legal aid access to justice campaign Philippa mastered her brief in a way in which many an experienced lawyer would be envious of: knowing how to pitch the debate and using her contacts to full effect.
This successful campaign would not have made the mainstream media without her help and guidance. I'm in no doubt that the press coverage played a significant part in achieving the eventual policy reversal which we sought.
Philippa and I worked together for many years at BBC Radio 4's Womans Hour. A well-respected and committed journalist, she applies similar qualities as a media consultant. More recently we joined forces on a press campaign to protect the rights of children in the face of law changes on anti-social behaviour. Philippa's story-spotting skills and contacts book, combined with her understanding of the justice world made her a huge asset to our successful campaign.
Penelope Gibbs, Chair of Standing Committee for Youth Justice and ex BBC senior producer.
Philippa is an engaging and good humoured trainer who quickly understood a complex issue and was able to offer sound advice about managing media with an emotive and contentious subject matter that is central to our charity.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Philippa on our Ideas for Justice interview series. Her Radio 4 experience proved invaluable for drawing out reflective insights from celebs and non-celebs alike. What an eclectic mix of interviews: from punishment in Roman times to modern day hate crimes and the power of art to rehabilitate. Each interview brought humanity and a personal touch to a difficult subject.
Everything I do is bespoke. It is tailored to your needs.


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An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions
Kristie Stefanoska, Alexander Volkerling, Josefine Bertz, Anne Poljak, Yazi D. Ke, Lars M. Ittner*, Arne Ittner
Compared with other mammalian species, humans are particularly susceptible to tau-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Differential interactions of the tau protein with other proteins are critical for mediating tau's physiological functions as well as tau-associated pathological processes. Primate tau harbors an 11-amino acid-long motif in its N-terminal region (residues 18 –28), which is not present in non-primate species and whose function is unknown. Here, we used deletion mutagenesis to remove this sequence region from the longest human tau isoform, followed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown assays paired with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) multiplex labeling, a quantitative method to measure protein abundance by mass spectrometry. Using this method, we found that the primate-specific N-terminal tau motif differentially mediates interactions with neuronal proteins. Among these binding partners are proteins involved in synaptic transmission (synapsin-1 and synaptotagmin-1) and signaling proteins of the 14-3-3 family. Furthermore, we identified an interaction of tau with a member of the annexin family (annexin A5) that was linked to the 11-residue motif. These results suggest that primate Tau has evolved specific residues that differentially regulate protein–protein interactions compared with tau proteins from other non-primate mammalian species. Our findings provide in vitro insights into tau's interactions with other proteins that may be relevant to human disease.
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784
10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784
Dive into the research topics of 'An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Primates Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
tau Proteins Medicine & Life Sciences 67%
Synaptotagmin I Medicine & Life Sciences 42%
Synapsins Medicine & Life Sciences 38%
14-3-3 Proteins Medicine & Life Sciences 37%
Annexins Medicine & Life Sciences 35%
Amino Acid Motifs Medicine & Life Sciences 34%
Stefanoska, K., Volkerling, A., Bertz, J., Poljak, A., Ke, Y. D., Ittner, L. M., & Ittner, A. (2018). An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 293(10), 3710-3719. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784
Stefanoska, Kristie ; Volkerling, Alexander ; Bertz, Josefine ; Poljak, Anne ; Ke, Yazi D. ; Ittner, Lars M. ; Ittner, Arne. / An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions. In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2018 ; Vol. 293, No. 10. pp. 3710-3719.
@article{39e7f704d3c243d495273cc626ca91bc,
title = "An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions",
abstract = "Compared with other mammalian species, humans are particularly susceptible to tau-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Differential interactions of the tau protein with other proteins are critical for mediating tau{\textquoteright}s physiological functions as well as tau-associated pathological processes. Primate tau harbors an 11-amino acid-long motif in its N-terminal region (residues 18 –28), which is not present in non-primate species and whose function is unknown. Here, we used deletion mutagenesis to remove this sequence region from the longest human tau isoform, followed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown assays paired with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) multiplex labeling, a quantitative method to measure protein abundance by mass spectrometry. Using this method, we found that the primate-specific N-terminal tau motif differentially mediates interactions with neuronal proteins. Among these binding partners are proteins involved in synaptic transmission (synapsin-1 and synaptotagmin-1) and signaling proteins of the 14-3-3 family. Furthermore, we identified an interaction of tau with a member of the annexin family (annexin A5) that was linked to the 11-residue motif. These results suggest that primate Tau has evolved specific residues that differentially regulate protein–protein interactions compared with tau proteins from other non-primate mammalian species. Our findings provide in vitro insights into tau{\textquoteright}s interactions with other proteins that may be relevant to human disease.",
author = "Kristie Stefanoska and Alexander Volkerling and Josefine Bertz and Anne Poljak and Ke, {Yazi D.} and Ittner, {Lars M.} and Arne Ittner",
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Stefanoska, K, Volkerling, A, Bertz, J, Poljak, A, Ke, YD, Ittner, LM & Ittner, A 2018, 'An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions', Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 293, no. 10, pp. 3710-3719. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784
An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions. / Stefanoska, Kristie; Volkerling, Alexander; Bertz, Josefine; Poljak, Anne; Ke, Yazi D.; Ittner, Lars M.; Ittner, Arne.
T1 - An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions
AU - Stefanoska, Kristie
AU - Volkerling, Alexander
AU - Bertz, Josefine
AU - Poljak, Anne
AU - Ke, Yazi D.
AU - Ittner, Lars M.
AU - Ittner, Arne
N2 - Compared with other mammalian species, humans are particularly susceptible to tau-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Differential interactions of the tau protein with other proteins are critical for mediating tau's physiological functions as well as tau-associated pathological processes. Primate tau harbors an 11-amino acid-long motif in its N-terminal region (residues 18 –28), which is not present in non-primate species and whose function is unknown. Here, we used deletion mutagenesis to remove this sequence region from the longest human tau isoform, followed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown assays paired with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) multiplex labeling, a quantitative method to measure protein abundance by mass spectrometry. Using this method, we found that the primate-specific N-terminal tau motif differentially mediates interactions with neuronal proteins. Among these binding partners are proteins involved in synaptic transmission (synapsin-1 and synaptotagmin-1) and signaling proteins of the 14-3-3 family. Furthermore, we identified an interaction of tau with a member of the annexin family (annexin A5) that was linked to the 11-residue motif. These results suggest that primate Tau has evolved specific residues that differentially regulate protein–protein interactions compared with tau proteins from other non-primate mammalian species. Our findings provide in vitro insights into tau's interactions with other proteins that may be relevant to human disease.
AB - Compared with other mammalian species, humans are particularly susceptible to tau-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. Differential interactions of the tau protein with other proteins are critical for mediating tau's physiological functions as well as tau-associated pathological processes. Primate tau harbors an 11-amino acid-long motif in its N-terminal region (residues 18 –28), which is not present in non-primate species and whose function is unknown. Here, we used deletion mutagenesis to remove this sequence region from the longest human tau isoform, followed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown assays paired with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) multiplex labeling, a quantitative method to measure protein abundance by mass spectrometry. Using this method, we found that the primate-specific N-terminal tau motif differentially mediates interactions with neuronal proteins. Among these binding partners are proteins involved in synaptic transmission (synapsin-1 and synaptotagmin-1) and signaling proteins of the 14-3-3 family. Furthermore, we identified an interaction of tau with a member of the annexin family (annexin A5) that was linked to the 11-residue motif. These results suggest that primate Tau has evolved specific residues that differentially regulate protein–protein interactions compared with tau proteins from other non-primate mammalian species. Our findings provide in vitro insights into tau's interactions with other proteins that may be relevant to human disease.
U2 - 10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784
DO - 10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784
Stefanoska K, Volkerling A, Bertz J, Poljak A, Ke YD, Ittner LM et al. An N-terminal motif unique to primate tau enables differential protein–protein interactions. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2018 Mar 9;293(10):3710-3719. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.001784


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Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on January 23, 2018
*This piece was originally posted on The Neuroethics Blog on January 23, 2018.
By Judy Illes, CM, PHD,
Immediate Past President, International Neuroethics Society (INS)
Dr. Illes is Professor of Neurology and Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia. Her research, teaching and service focus on ethical, legal, social and policy challenges specifically at the intersection of the brain sciences and biomedical ethics. Her latest book, Neuroethics: Anticipating the Future (Oxford University Press) was released in July 2017. Dr. Illes hold many prestigious awards for her work both in neuroethics and on behalf of women in science. She was appointed to the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian award, in December 2017.
During the two years that I was President of the INS, and really since 2002 overall when we first set the modern neuroethics vision in motion, one of my greatest joys has been to work with outstanding people in our field. I have relentlessly sought to create opportunities for leadership especially among early career neuroethicists who seek to contribute, sometimes in the footsteps of more senior people and sometimes along a completely separate path that they set of their own. My focus has been on the women and men of our field alike and, during my term as President specifically, these opportunities unfolded in different forms. Working with remarkable staff led by Karen Graham (INS Executive Director) since the birth of the INS and Elaine Snell (Chief Operating Officer), and the INS Board, I created an Emerging Issues Task Force, for example, a Rising Star Lecture (Kreitmair, 2017), and many podium opportunities at our annual meetings.
I have always been committed to advancing the careers of young people in neuroscience-related fields, and women in particular. In early 2000, for example, I served as Vice President of Women in Neuroscience (WIN) when WIN was an independent not-for profit organization (Haak, 2002). This continued into 2007 when WIN was merged with the Society for Neuroscience, even while the focus of the effort shifted under the umbrella of professional development. I carried on with my mission in 2008 as Chair of a new IBRO committee that I created at the request of Professor Albert Aguayo called Women in World Neuroscience. Today, as a new member the International Women's Forum (iwforum.org), a group of more than 6500 women heads of state, leaders in business, industry, and a few in education and research, I am set to learn new ways of harnessing strength and bringing impactful innovation to our neuroethics sister- and brotherhood.
In keeping with the general theme of women in academia and my special focus on neuroethics, I think about women in our field. Honestly, you will see, my reflections are gender nonspecific. I am, however, inspired by the fact that this piece appears in the NEW blog, a creation of Karen Rommelfanger that seems to grow in number and richness all the time. I won't name names of those to watch in the future, but I will point out a few who have shaped us to get where we are today. Patricia Churchland, for example, my lifelong mentor, immediately comes to mind. She is well known to us in neuroethics and one of the earliest and deepest thinkers in our field (Churchland, 1991). Helen Mayberg is a force at every level imaginable. Besides her warmth, I call out her scientific rigor and distinction. Rarely acknowledged for the depth of her support is Barbara Gill, Executive Director of the Dana Foundation. She is a leading light for us.
Before them, Alexandra Pontius claimed in an ardent email to William Safire to be one of the first to use the word neuroethics in the context of research (Pontius, 1993). We never managed to engage Professor Pontius in the INS, although it would have been excellent to have her anthropology insights and expertise at the table. Further back in time, well before we ever spoke about neuroethics per se (although Ron Cranford had been using the term neuroethics for years in the clinical context of end of life and neurological care [1989]), there were heroes who were practicing a form of clinical neuroethics in their own way. The Montreal-born physician Lucille Teasdale Corti, for example, was one of ten women among the 110 students enrolled at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Medicine in 1950. Dr. Teasdale dedicated herself to a career of career of surgical care and training in sub-Sahara, Africa. In 1982, in the course of an operation in the AIDS-plagued region, this Canadian great contracted and eventually succumbed to the disease. Imagine the diversity and extent of CNS-related co-morbidities she saw and treated.
What are some key attributes of these and other extraordinary women? Creativity, foresight, vigor, patience and resilience. Let me describe how I see the importance of these attributes in the neuroethics leaders of the future:
Creativity: We need to think about what lies beyond Western lands and the principles that come from them, such as consent, autonomy, and justice. Too narrowly construed, they will not suffice as new technology is continuously integrated into our daily life and, in some cases, overtaking it. Gender, ethnicity, and culture are also taking on ever greater importance in how we think about health, therapy, self-improvement, and self-preservation. Fundamentalism is on the rise again. Creativity is needed to ensure porous, respectful solutions to difficult ethics problems challenging brain health in the very definition of humanity.
Foresight: Neuroscience is moving fast. Neuroethics has to move faster. We need not only to keep up but stay ahead of technological progress. Our strength is in the way we anticipate and positively address upcoming challenge.
Vigor: The energy we have exerted to situate neuroethics firmly alongside neuroscience discovery and traditional bioethics inquiry has served well to give us credibility and visibility. I do not think sustainability is a risk any longer, but complacency is our enemy. I read this 1950s quote from Dr. Teasdale during a recent visit to the Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba: "If you are convinced by what you are doing, if you truly believe in it, then you stay. There is no other way."
Patience and resilience: Our world is inundated with violations of fairness. We do not see this in neuroethics per se, but discrimination and inequity are ubiquitous in the academy and industry in which neuroethics resides. Change will not come overnight; continued efforts to undo historical trends come with patience, and with patience comes resilience.
Let's embrace these attributes and pursue neuroethics careers that are, as neuroscientist Nobelist Dr. Rita Levi Montalcini said in an interview: "…enriched by excellent human relations, work and interests." ("Rita Levi-Montalcini, pioneering Italian biologist, dies at 103″. The Guardian. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2016.)
Let's make the next 15 years of neuroethics even better than the first.
Churchland PS, Roy, DJ, Wynne, BE, Old RW. (Eds.) (1991) Our Brains, Our Selves – Reflections on Neuroethical Questions, Bioscience-society, John-Wiley and Sons, 177-196.
Cranford, R.E. The Neurologist as Ethics Consultant and as a Member of the Institutional Ethics Committee. (!989). The neuroethicist. Neurologic Clinics, 7:4,697-713
Haak, L.L. Women in Neuroscience (WIN): The First Twenty Years. (2002) Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 11:1,70-79.
Kreitmair, K. The Seven Requirements for Ethical Consumer Neurotechnologies. (2017) INS Annual Meeting, November 10-11, 2017, Washington, DC.
Pontius, A.A. (1993) Neuroethics vs Neurophysiologically and Neuropsychologically Uninformed Influences in Child-rearing and Education. Psychol. Rep. 72, 451–458
Want to cite this post?
Illes, J. (2018). Neuroethics Women to Watch. The Neuroethics Blog. Retrieved on , from http://www.theneuroethicsblog.com/2018/01/neuroethics-women-to-watch.html
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in meet a member, mental health, stigma, Uncategorized on November 22, 2017
Anna K. Swartz is in the final semester of her Master's degree in the Humanities department at Michigan Technological University, where her advisor is Dr. Syd Johnson. Prior to graduate school, Anna received a BA in anthropology from Wellesley College. Her academic passion centers on the study of mental health. Her research interests are at the intersections of philosophy, discourse analysis, critical disability studies, and cultural studies.
The focus of Anna's work in neuroethics has been on the brain disease model of mental disorders and how over-reliance on this paradigm might contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of people with mental illness. She is especially interested in the development of classification systems for mental disorders, with special attention to schizophrenia.
Anna is currently looking at the ways that prevailing neurobiological discourses in psychiatry influence the phenomenology of mental illness. In other words, how do modern understandings of mental illness as brain diseases impact the contextualized and unique lived experience of diagnosed individuals, including how diagnoses intervene upon a patient's sense of self, and how that self-identity might come to be reconstituted as a result. She is especially interested in the ways that language enters into all aspects of treatment and recovery, including sense of self. In the context of the therapeutic relationship, adopting the dominant, neurobiological lexicon of psychiatry may provide patients with a way to communicate with clinicians without risk of being misunderstood or subjugated, but using a language that is not one's own may result in a silencing of the patient that may involve feelings of alienation and loss of agency. This problem has broad implications for the recovery and well-being of patients with mental illness; research shows that the brain disease model of mental illness may actually exacerbate stigma and, in some cases, reduce clinician empathy toward patients.
Anna's other areas of research in neuroethics involve mental health in the carceral system. In the US, there are ten times as many mentally ill persons in jails and prisons than in state psychiatric hospitals. The overflowing corrections system has become a de facto inpatient psychiatric system, but jails and prisons are designed to confine and punish, not rehabilitate. They are not therapeutic spaces and are often responsible for exacerbating illness. Correctional mental healthcare—and the widespread trend toward privatizing these services—is an under-appreciated problem in the field.
Anna plans to begin her doctorate next year at Michigan Tech. Her personal blog, www.annaswartz.com, contains a collection of research and personal writing on mental illness and disability. Twitter: @sansceriph.
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on November 3, 2017
JOIN US FOR FOOD AND DRINK (each person will be responsible for his/her bill)
Catch up with old friends and collaborators and make new ones along the way!
Date: Friday, November 10, 2017
• Time: 7:30pm until 9:30pm
• Location: ReRen Lamen & Bar
• ReRen Lamen & Bar is 0.4 miles (<10 min walk) from the AAAS headquarters (where the INS meeting will be held) 817 7th St NW Washington, DC. Phone: (202) 290-3677
RSVPs were collected and we have just a few (2-3) extra slots. Contact Karen Rommelfanger (krommel@emory.edu) if you want one of them!
Meet-a-Member: Professor Bryn Esplin
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in clinical neuroethics, meet a member, mental health, Uncategorized on November 22, 2016
Bryn S. Esplin joined the Department of Humanities in Medicine at Texas A&M University after completing a two-year Clinical Ethics Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH.
She graduated cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Rhetoric before pursuing her law degree. During law school, she externed with both the Supreme Court of Nevada and the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, NV, where she developed her passion for neuro-psychiatric ethics under the supervision of Dr. Dylan Wint.
Professor Esplin's teaching brings together law, medicine, and popular culture to help students critically examine the social, ethical, and political implications that underlie medical decision-making. She currently teaches Clinical Ethics to first-year medical students, as well as an elective for third-year medical students that analyzes the social and philosophical meaning of death—including death by neurological criteria, the historical preoccupation with premature burial, the political consequences of neuro-enhancement, and the coming (or arrival) of cyborg technology.
She is a frequent speaker at both national and international conferences in Bioethics and Humanities, and her scholarship has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Psychosomatics, Harvard's Health and Human Rights Journal, The Journal of Clinical Ethics, and the American Journal of Bioethics, Neuroscience.
Current research projects include the use of placebos in functional disorders, as well as contemporary issues in law and clinical psychiatry regarding fiduciary duty and confidentiality.
Meet-a-Member: Sahar Zafar
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on October 13, 2016
Sahar Zafar is currently a doctoral candidate, focusing on Health and Research Policy (ABD) at the University of Baltimore. She currently holds a Master of Science in Biotechnology, with a concentration in Biodefense, from Johns Hopkins University. She has over 10 years of experience regulating Federal and Department of Defense (DoD) human subjects research (HSR) policies and HSR operations. Ms. Zafar currently manages the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) human subjects research protection program, by ensuring that all Federal and DoD policies and regulations are followed with the highest ethical standards. She regularly participates as a subject matter expert on Assistant Secretary of Defense Research and Engineering Directorate (ASD R&E) panels for Federal and Defense human subjects research policies at conferences and meetings.
Ms. Zafar is currently working on her dissertation titled "Ethical, Legal and Societal Implications of Neuroscience and Technology Research and its Impact on Public Policy." The central research question to be addressed in this study is how neuroscience and technology (neuro S/T) research addresses significant societal barriers to its public distribution and use. To conduct this study she has selected two programs from DARPA, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The programs selected were based on their development of neuro S/T that can be translated into use by the general public in the future.
In the current phase of her research, she is in the process of interviewing, agency personnel who are administrators, policy makers and/or science/technology specialists at DARPA, and NIH. Interviews that are being conducted with agency personnel are being conducted to understand strategies for implementation of initiatives and allocation of funding. Along with, institutional participants at DARPA, and NIH, interviews are being conducted with scientists and researchers conducting the funded neuro S/T researchers . These interviews should assist in establishing ethical and legal dimensions in public policies associated with neuro S/T research.
At the conclusion of this research study, the proposed hypotheses will either be accepted or rejected. Potentially, the data collected from this study can assist in drafting of guidance documents, policies, and educational material, about neuro S/T. These documents can assist in educating the general public, specifically the key demographics directly affected by this research about the actual efforts that are going into development of these technologies and the work of the agencies and researchers to mitigate the ethical, legal and societal implications of neuro S/T.
Integration without reduction: What the philosophy of empathy can learn from mirror neurons
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on July 21, 2016
*This post was originally published on The Neuroethics Blog.
by Georgina Campelia
Georgina Campelia is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy at the Graduate Center, CUNY, working under the supervision of Virginia Held. Her dissertation, "Virtue's Web: The Virtue of Empathic Attunement and the Need for a Relational Foundation," develops an account of empathic attunement, defends its status as a virtue, and sketches a relational ontology of virtue that would better accommodate the relationality of this and other important virtues.
More broadly, Georgina's research focuses on ethics and feminist theory, with particular interests in virtue ethics, care ethics, empathy, the interdependence of ethics and epistemology, and interrelational conceptions of persons. Georgina's work extends this theoretical work to neuroethics and medical ethics, where much of her research concerns using virtue ethics and care ethics to guide patient care, establishing structures to enable and encourage empathy, and creating greater awareness of the relational constitution of patient identity and medical decisions.
Georgina is currently an affiliate instructor at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics, where she teaches in their Certificate and Masters Programs. She also serves on the Steering Committee at the New York Society for Women and Philosophy (NYSWIP) and is a co-organizer of SWIPshop (a workshop for feminist philosophy).
As the lack of empathy in the world has become particularly apparent and troubling in light of the resistance to offering asylum for Muslim refugees (see this recent article from The Guardian), perhaps it makes sense that the study of empathy is booming (Coplan, 2014; Decety, 2012; de Waal, 2009). Philosophers question and defend its moral worth (Bloom, 2014), psychologists and primatologists consider its nature and origin (Hoffman, 2000; Waal, 2012), and neuroscientists explore its metaphysical structure (Singer, 2009; Zaki & Ochsner, 2012). Empathy offers a distinctive ground for interdisciplinary work and, yet, little has been done to advance cross-field communication. While some popular work offers broadly incorporated perspectives (de Waal, 2009), and there are some anthologies that include multiple disciplines (Coplan & Goldie, 2014; Decety, 2012), there is room for more robustly integrated research.
Image of a baby macaque imitating facial expressions courtesy of Wikimedia.
Meet-a-Member: Dr. Keerthi Shetty
Keerthi Shetty is a Hellman Fellow in Science and Technology Policy at the American Academy. She contributes to several projects in the Science, Engineering, and Technology program including the Public Face of Science, Human Performance Enhancement, the Alternative Energy Future, and New Models for U.S. Science and Technology Policy. The Human Performance Enhancement Project is a project aimed as exploring societal and ethical issues around invasive and noninvasive cognitive enhancement technologies. Keerthi joined the American Academy after completing her doctoral work in immunobiology at Yale University. Keerthi's thesis research involved studying the recruitment of RAG1 and RAG2—two important proteins of the immune system that help create antibodies—to chromatinized DNA during V(D)J recombination. At Yale, she was the co-president of the Yale Science Diplomats, a science policy group. Leading this organization, Keerthi helped develop a science lecture series for local high schools and the general public, organized policy writing workshops and seminars, and contacted legislators about funding issues concerning biomedical research. She was also named an eIntern for the State Department's Virtual Student Foreign Service program, where she assisted with global science and technology projects. Keerthi holds a Ph.D. in immunobiology from Yale University and an A.B. in molecular biology from Princeton University.
Consumer Neurotechnology: New Products, More Regulatory Complexity
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on June 14, 2016
By Anna Wexler
Anna Wexler is a PhD candidate in the HASTS (History, Anthropology, Science, Technology and Society) at MIT and a 2015-2016 visiting scholar at the Center for Neuroscience and Society at the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation focuses on the ethical, legal and social implications of emerging neuroscience technology, with a particular focus on the home use of noninvasive brain stimulation.
Just when it seemed like the consumer neurotechnology market couldn't get any stranger—after all, who would've expected that a sleek white triangle could be placed on the forehead for "calm" or "energy" vibes—two new products recently hit the market that further complicate the challenges of regulating this emerging market. Halo Sport is a brain stimulator marketed for athletic enhancement that utilizes technology similar to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), while Nervana, which began taking pre-orders in March, is the first noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device to be sold directly to the public in the United States.
Halo Neuroscience, the manufacturer of Halo Sport, advertises that its product "accelerates gains in strength, explosiveness, and dexterity." In many ways, Halo Sport overcomes obstacles that have plagued other direct-to-consumer brain stimulation products. Because Halo Sport only claims to stimulate the motor cortex—which, conveniently for the company, lies beneath the area of the head where a pair of headphones might sit—the product does not utilize stray wires or a futuristic headset, but instead takes the recognizable shape of headphones. The beneficial effect of a familiar design should not be underestimated: many potentially useful technology tools have failed in no small part due to their unusual "look."
Forgeting about Fear: A neuroethics perspective
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in Uncategorized on April 14, 2016
Excerpt from NEW Leaders Dr. Laura Cabrera post originally published on Michigan State University's Bioethics in the News page.
The alluring possibility of deleting memories has been the topic of movies such as Men in Black, Total Recall, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, yet in real life the chances of ever achieving such fine-tuned memory erasure is not a realistic bet. But suppose if by taking a pill we could forget about fear and about those things that cause us to be anxious? A New York Times article addressed exactly that possibility with the recent coverage of a drug to "cure" fear—by dampening memory. One factor influencing and shaping memory processes is their emotional intensity. Extensive psychological research and personal experiences confirm that events that occur during heightened states of emotion, such as fear, anger and joy, are generally more memorable than less dramatic occurrences. That research explains why you might remember exactly what you were doing when you found out about 9/11, but not necessarily be able to recall what you had for supper two days ago. Some memories with an intense emotional component might leave individuals susceptible to develop phobias, or possibly even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Read the rest of the piece here.
Naming the devil: The mental health double bind
Posted by Karen Rommelfanger in mental health, mind-body, Uncategorized on March 17, 2016
*Editor's note: This post was originally published on The Neuroethics Blog.
By Jennifer Laura Lee
Jenn Laura Lee recently received her undergraduate in neuroscience from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and hopes to pursue a PhD in neurobiology this fall. Her current interests include the advancement of women in STEM and the ethics of animal experimentation.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative swept through Canada on January 27, hoping to end the stigma associated with mental illness, one text and one share at a time. Michael Landsberg shares his thoughts in a short video on the Facebook page. "The stigma exists because fundamentally there's a feeling in this country still that depression is more of a weakness than a sickness," he explains. "People use the word depression all the time to describe a bad time in their life, a down time. But that's very different than the illness itself." Perhaps such a bold statement merits closer examination.
depression, DSM, medical model, medicalization, stigma


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Across the Table with Raviner
Usually sitting down with more than two band members is chaotic to say the least. It's comparable to that saying of "too many cooks in the kitchen," with lots of opinions and ideas that don't necessarily coincide with one another's. That being said, speaking with Raviner a few weeks back at Frothy on 8th was the exact opposite of that. They were a cohesive unit. A group of friends before a band and moreover, four people that knew more about every genre of music than anyone else I've ever sat across from.
Made up of Kamber on piano and lead vocals, Jordan Boardman (percussion), Austin Huelsbeck (bass & synth), and Paul Carter (guitar & backing vocals), this alternative band is impossible to pigeon-hole and sets out to break barriers with their genre-crossing compositions.
"We're from all over the place," Kamber started, when she described the formation of the band. "Phoenix, Portland, Lakeland and the Knoxville area." Austin and Kamber moved to Nashville together back in 2013 and soon after, their band came to fruition. Reminiscent of Evanescence and Paramore meeting Imogen Heap for the first time, they are daring and intense with their sound, speaking honestly and literally about the topics they cover in their music.
"We all have varying influences," Austin explained about how their sound originated. "From As Tall as Lions to the Foo Fighters, everyone pulls from their own inspirations to merge our sound." Listening to the band collectively go around and talk about their major influences was not only intriguing, but as each member stated their own personal draw, everything about their music started to make sense. It was like a million puzzle pieces coming together.
They all agreed that choosing a name was the hardest part. Kamber is a solo musician in her own element as well, so they needed something new, but also something that was a form of symbolization for all of them. They had been toying around with the word "raven" for a while, unsure on how to use it or what context it would give about their group or their music.
When they looked up "raven" on Wikipedia, they found that it was associated to the word "raviner [rav-ih-ner]," which resonates from ancient French and literally means "to pillage." It's an open-ended definition that they're leaving for interpretation, but when you hear their music for the first time, I think it all makes sense.
Kamber is the driving force of the band's songwriting process.
"I'm a classically trained pianist," she explained, "I am truly inspired by Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Imogen Heap. A lot of the way I write stems from their influence. I try to focus on raw material but bring an accessibility or pop-like element to it." The passion Kamber shared about her songwriting process was organic and her bandmates were more than supportive. That's sort of the vibe I had throughout my entire conversation with them.
Each and every bandmate was involved in something else. Whether it be their solo career as an artist, a newfound love in cinematography, or just balancing other aspects of life. It was refreshing to see how well they all not only balanced one another, but supported each other in their other endeavors. Constantly making remarks like,
"Kamber is an amazing songwriter," or "Jordan is constantly opening our eyes to art in all forms that we didn't even know existed." "Austin has totally taken the reins on our film and is learning all he can about cinematography and what people want to see," or "Paul is way too modest about the skill level he has and the musicians he models himself after."
They were a unit. And it was so nice to see.
When I asked Raviner about their time in Nashville, they were unified on their answer to that as well. Besides Jordan saying he couldn't speak much on it because he recently moved here full-time from the Knoxville area, Paul was all-willing to chime in.
"As a band, it's a great city to be located out of and to call home," he confessed, "but our best shows are out of town. There are a lot of competing forces in Nashville so it's tough to have that 'hometown audience.'"
"We accepted that it's okay if we're not the hottest local band," Kamber and Austin almost said in tandem. "You can't be that here. No one can. We're not trying to impress people with our music, we're just trying to make them feel something."
I probably mentioned something earlier that you haven't heard me touch on in Across the Tables before; cinematography. That's because Raviner is in the process of working on a "movie project" to visually showcase their music. While Austin is the brains behind this project, Jordan has been dubbed by his bandmates as "the king of obscure and undiscovered, grossly talented indie bands," which they've drawn a lot of inspiration from in this process.
"We wanted to elevate the group in a way than others with regards to music videos and there is so much access to equipment rentals here, there was no reason not to go big with it," Austin said. "We've narrowed it down to an 11 minute story-like visual and that we are so excited to share with everyone."
At the end of the day, Raviner knows who they are and they know how to articulate it. They aren't striving for bigger or better, they're settled in telling their story to anyone that will listen. They are going against conservative instincts, forms of oppression and conformity, to bring their own form of art to their audience; only hoping that with that art, will come a form of understanding and clarity from what they share.
Posted in Across the TableTagged artist interview, band interview, blogger, coffee talk, music blog, pop, punk, ravinerBy Shannon WLeave a comment
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Mukul consultants are 19 year old real estate agents of New Delhi, Gurgaon,Noida & Faridabad (India) known for their highest standards of services, trustworthiness & professionalism. See right hand column topics to know more about our real estate services.
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Lucas Carpenter
DentistWorking at DDG since 2018 - From Manhattan, KS
Dr. Lucas Carpenter is a native of Manhattan, Kansas who grew up with a love for family, sports and Kansas State University. Dr. Carpenter is a proud third-generation alumnus of Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in biology and minor in Chemistry. His grandfather Frank Carpenter, was a Kansas State graduate as well as Assistant Dean of Agriculture and his mother is also a KSU graduate. After Kansas State, he attended dental school at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Prior to attending dental school, Dr. Carpenter received the prestigious National Health Service Corps Scholarship. The NHSC Scholar program accepts only 10 dental students nationally who have shown excellence in the classroom as well as the community, and who have shown a commitment to provide help to the underserved.
Dr. Carpenter is grateful to have a wonderful fiancé in his life; Rachel Crubel. Rachel is also a Manhattan native and Kansas State Alumni and is a registered Dental Hygienist. They are excited to return to the community they enjoy and look forward to giving back to those that gave them so much.
In his free time Dr. Carpenter can be found outdoors hunting, fishing, and golfing. While living in Kansas City he also developed a love and appreciation for BBQ and would like to eventually compete in BBQ/meat smoking competitions. When he is not outdoors or on the grill, he also enjoys a passion for playing and singing music.
Back to Meet Us


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and, enjoying a beautiful spring day.
Yay, I get to meet the lil rugrat in one month!
Very adorable and obviously happy baby! Yay for your family!
I am sure you get told, "She looks just like..." all the time...but I have to say...in that picture of her dressed and ready for church she looks like Isaac. I love her sweet little dress in that church picture!
She is such a beautiful baby! My John came running when he heard the sounds of the little video and he excitedly watched her roll over at the end.


The Orobanchacea family of parasitic plants now contains many colourful and attractive wildflowers that were once placed, or some would say 'dumped', in a huge catch-all Figwort family Scrophulariaceae - the Cow-wheats amongst them. Field Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense) must surely count as one of our most beautiful of these wildflowers. There are other beautiful cow-wheat species, however, and Wood Cow-wheat with its deep purple upper leaves and bright yellow flowers surely deserves to be high on the list.
Seldom seen in the UK, where it is now restricted to a few locations in Southern England, this lovely wildflower is more easily found on the mainland of Europe. Wood Cow-wheat is found from Sweden in the north right down to Slovenia, where eight different species of Cow-wheats grow.
Melampyrum nemerosum grows on woodland edges and on roadside verges, and it can usually be seen in full bloom throughout June and July.
Melampyrum, the genus name, comes from the Greek words melas- meaning black, and -pyros meaning wheat. It is a reference to the fact that if seeds of a Melampyrum species are included with wheat or other grain that is ground up into bread-making flour then the resulting bread becomes discoloured (blackened). The specific epithet nemerosum means 'of the woods' - a reference to the kind of habitat in which this colourful cow-wheat is most often found.


The Cloch lighthouse is on the shore of the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It is situated low down on the E shore of the Firth of Clyde a short distance SW of Cloch Point.
Winskill Stones is a small nature reserve above the villages of Langcliffe and Stainforth in the Yorkshire Dales.
Buachaille Etive Beag, is a mountain located between Glencoe and Glen Etive, on the edge of Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands.
The octagonal Lighthouse seen today was built in 1880 and was dedicated to Dr Thomas Chalmers, a local scientist . It marks the end of the breakwater at the harbour enterance and stands 9 metres high.
First light at Lyle Hill. A viewpoint in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland. Providing a panoramic view across the Clyde, its highest point is 426 feet above sea level.


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CDA is known as a leader in peacebuilding effectiveness work. We help policy makers, practitioners, and organizations improve the relevance and accountability of programming through better tools for conflict analysis, program strategy design, and assessment. CDA has also contributed to influential policy guidance, such as the OECD/DAC Guidance on Evaluating Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Activities. CDA is a thought leader in applying systems thinking to conflict analysis, program design and evaluation. Current collaborative learning efforts are exploring the cumulative effects of peacebuilding efforts and further enhancing monitoring and evaluation tools, in collaboration with the Peacebuilding Evaluation Consortium.
CDA's work on peacebuilding effectiveness began in 1999 with the launch of the Reflecting on Peace Practice Program (RPP). RPP posed a simple, albeit complex question: What works- and what doesn't work – in peacebuilding? RPP worked with hundreds of agencies and individuals, and conducted 26 peacebuilding case studies throughout the world to glean lessons applicable across conflict contexts and develop user-friendly toolkits. The resulting lessons are presented in Confronting War: Critical Lessons for Peace Practitioners (2003). Between 2007 and 2009, CDA undertook 16 case studies that investigated the cumulative impacts of peacebuilding programs in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Findings from these have been published in issue papers, and select publications.
CDA is currently developing a new collaborative learning initiative on effective approaches to prevent violent extremism, and has recently published a briefing paper on applying established design, monitoring and evaluation approaches from the peacebuilding and development fields to the emerging field of preventing and countering violent extremism.


Author Tristi Pinkston writes history as though she'd been there. Her books carry a sense of place and time that belie her youth, and make a reader believe the author must be a sage of many years. Her new book, "Season of Sacrifice," was a compelling read with many emotional twists and turns. It gets to the heart of a controversial lifestyle that some see as barbaric and others view as supremely loving. Whether you agree with it or not, polygamy has been a part of Utah's history, and Pinkston uses her proven skill with words to portray the close bond between sisters that builds up to the breaking point when the oldest sister's husband proposes to the younger sister. As a reader, I could not imagine how the heartbreak caused by the emotional rift could ever be resolved. But Pinkston managed it with her characteristic flair.
Woven into the tale of affairs of the heart is the incredible story of a tenacious group of settlers who would not let an impossible pass through a natural hole in the rock remain impossible. Their journey is an inspiration to anyone who faces obstacles of any size in their life.
When you reach the end of Pinkston's story, all the more remarkable because it is true, you are left with a sense of wonder and a renewed belief in the power of love.
It's Mr. Bahlmann's and my 30th anniversary next month. You'd think after 30 years we'd know each other so well that we could communicate without words. Well, I love my guy, I really do, but human-ness comes in and makes us less than perfect.
I tend to be sensitive to anger. Even mild disapproval makes me want to leave the room and go find the dog to hug. This morning Bob and I had a misunderstanding just before I left for work. But I've recently determined that no matter what, whenever I leave and Bob's still at home, I'm going to kiss him and tell him goodbye. So I walked in to where he sat at his computer chair, said, "Good bye," and bent over to kiss him. That's when he surprised me by reaching up and giving me a hug that told me without words that he still loved me.
So my message to you is to go out and do a simple act of kindness. Don't hug everybody, because even though that's one of my favorites, not everyone likes it, but go ahead and smile at someone, pay them a compliment, or pass along some words of appreciation. It won't kill you, and it might just save their sanity. What power you hold in your decision to simply be kind!
The principal I work with walked into the office, carrying something with extra care. I moved closer and peered through the clear plastic wrap printed with red stars. I could make out some kind of silver emblem in the center, but no details. "What is it?" I asked.
"Our school won the Community Partner Award," the principal answered proudly.
I reverently took the award from him so I could see it more closely. The silver thing inside was sliding around. I hoped I hadn't broken it. Finally, I made out what the blob of silver was. A shiver ran down my back.
It was a disembodied hand.
I was instantly and unwillingly taken back to the night of my youth when my brother's friend told a story on a dark and stormy night about a hand severed from its owner that crawled around choking people. Creepazoid! Now I held in my own two hands an award that had memorialized the nefarious hand in metal.
"I like it," said the school counselor, looking over my shoulder. "I think that free-form art stuff is really interesting."
She'd obviously never heard the same story I did.
I'll admit, I would like to win an award before I die. Or two or three. But if it's going to be the creepy hand award, then I'll pass, thank you!
As the weather warms, more of my marshmallow white skin shows. I'm not a fan of tanning, not only do I think it's bad for my skin, but it's boring. So when I want to wear a kicky pair of capris, I shave my legs and rub in the "fake bake"(self tanning lotion). I've done two applications this week, one for Sunday, and another one today. When I was standing outside this evening, my 14-year-old looked down at my legs and said, "Mom! What did you do?"
"What?" I looked down, too, wondering if I had some horrendous wound that was spouting blood all over our nice new green grass.
"You look like you have leprosy," my son said. "Your feet are all... splotchy."
Well, he was right. The Sunday fake bake was wearing off underneath the fresh application, and I'm never very particular about my feet. That's what shoes are for, right?
I'm sticking with the tanning lotion. I'll just have to walk faster so the blotches blur together.
It's nice to have a fresh start, clean laundry, clean sheets, and raking your yard after a winter pileup of late-dropping leaves.
That's what we did last Saturday, we went outside and cleaned our yard - as much as wasn't frozen in the snow piles that clung to the north side of our house. Part of my self-imposed cleaning was moving boxes back to the shed. When I set one down partially in the doorway, I gave it a kick to nudge it into place.
I neglected to mention a favorite fresh spring fashion accessory. I love to wear flip flops, but they are not good for kicking boxes. It can really mess up your toenail polish, not to mention your toe.
If you don't believe me, I'll peel back the bandaid for you to see for yourself. So wear shoes when you do yard work, or you may be wearing a half size smaller.
The printed word is magic. You can learn about anything in the world if you can read. My always hungry 14-year-old proved that point yesterday when he pulled a sheet of fast food coupons out of the trash, where his eat-at-home-loving dad had tossed them.
"Hey, Mom, let's go get some cinna-blobs," he said, pointed to a picture of a cinnamon roll that had been chopped to bits and stacked in a small plastic tray.
I think fast food is way over priced, but I went ahead and read the coupon. Well, whaddya know, buy one, get one free. I had errands to run, so I was fine with getting a snack if my 17-year-old would drive. He was happy to do so, and away we went.
When we got back home, all was well until my 8-year-old returned from playing at a friend's house and found the evidence: little boxes with smears of frosting in the corners.
"Hey," he asked, "where did these come from?"
I was cornered. Furtively, I admitted, "I bought them."
So I sent him on a clandestine mission on his bike with a pocketful of pennies and another coupon. His mission failed when he came home and reported that they were all out of cinna-blobs. "We can try again tomorrow," I told him to his frowny face.
So as soon as he got up this morning, he began chanting, "Go get food, go get food, go get food." Sleep had done nothing to fog his memory. I'd said we'd try again, so I slid my bare feet into a pair of flip flops and drove the few blocks to the fast food store, blinking at the girl through the little glass window. "Two cinna-blobs, please."
When we reached home, my 8-year-old hurried inside to share his bounty with his big brothers, regardless of the fact that they'd inhaled everything they'd gotten the day before.
Who would have guessed that coupons would bring our family closer together? Besides that, I didn't have to cook breakfast. It was a good morning after all.
I don't know what possessed me. I must have been as full as a stuffed turkey when I challenged my husband, Bob, to a weight loss contest.
"Let's see who can lose 20 pounds first," I said.
Bob raised one eyebrow. "What does the winner get?"
A cream filled Boston Cream pie came to mind, but before the words reached my mouth, I realized it was a counter-productive reward. Hm. What would be worth losing weight for?
Then it hit me. "Whoever wins gets to pick the tile for our kitchen when we remodel," I said.
I think Bob nodded. Maybe he lowered his head to his hand, but I turned away so fast I can't be sure.
We started out on even ground. But three days ago, I caught Bob cheating. Can you believe it? He caught some kind of germ that made him so sick he couldn't keep anything down for two days.
Today, he announced cheerfully, "I lost eight pounds."
Maybe I'll tell him he needs to lose 28 pounds to my 20. It's only fair.
J. Scott Savage's Far Out Farworld!
I've never read such an interesting YA protagonist before as the young man in J. Scott Savage's upcoming release, Farworld. This author has amazing and versatile talent, with his ability to write anything from thrillers to drama to mysteries. Now he's into young adult literature with the same zeal and quality, yet with a slightly different name so you won't expect high tech computer villains to pop out at you while you trip over dead bodies... at least, not human bodies.
Get ready, get set, for an adventure that you'll remember for a long, long time.
It was a flashback to my childhood. When my husband, Bob, complained that some of us watching a late movie at our son's house last weekend was so loud he couldn't sleep, I told him he should develop a cement head, like me.
He gave me a funny look and said, "But you used to get mad at the kids who called you 'Rock Brain' in school."
"No," I said. "I mean you should make your head so heavy and dense that when it hits the pillow, you can sleep and no noises will bother you."
His face did not light up. Apparently, he didn't get it.
There's something to be said for knowing what's going on around you at all times, but I'll leave that to Bob. I'm happy with my cement head and all the wonderfully tangled adventures inside it.


text:
Соревнования по фехтованию на шпагах в индивидуальном первенстве среди женщин на летних Олимпийских играх 2012 прошли 30 июля. Приняли участие 37 спортсменок из 20 стран. Олимпийской чемпионкой стала украинка Яна Шемякина, одолевшая в финале чемпионку Олимпийских игр Пекина Бритту Хайдеман. Бронзовую медаль завоевала китаянка Сунь Юйцзе.

В полуфинале между немкой Бриттой Хайдеман и кореянкой Син А Рам возник скандал из-за несовершенства системы отсчёта времени фехтовальных поединков.  На последней секунде дополнительной минуты поединка соперницы три раза возобновляли бой, в результате чего немецкая фехтовальщица смогла нанести решающий укол. Возмущенная корейская делегация подала протест, а Син А Рам не покидала дорожку более часа, не желая признавать итоги поединка. В конечном итоге организаторы соревнований увели плачущую корейскую фехтовальщицу, которая менее чем через час вышла на матч за бронзовую медаль, где проиграла китаянке Сунь Юйцзе.

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Финальный раунд

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Ссылки
 Результаты игр на sports-reference.com
 Результаты на официальном сайте летних Олимпийских игр 2012

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