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In Response to "6 Things Rich People Need to Stop Saying"
Posted on March 6, 2012 by Carlos C. Tapang
A Response to http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-things-rich-people-need-to-stop-saying/
Liberalism is in retreat, and nowhere is this more evident than in the contrast between the Occupiers and the Tea Party. The truth is that the 99 percenters identify themselves more with Tea Partiers than with the Occupiers. There has been a massive shift to the right, and most liberals of the 1960's have grown up and become more conservative. Those few we find who still cling to their old and tired cliches are few and far between. Occasionally, however, we can still find good writers from the left. They somehow flourish still in outlets like Huffington Post. And then there's Cracked.com. I haven't heard of this outlet until now, when a friend sent me a link to Mr. David Wong's article. The article has been viewed more than a million times, which is about a million more viewers than I can claim who will view this response. Nevertheless, for every Mr. Wong there are thousands of bloggers like me.
With regards to the last two things in his list (first two here), Mr. David Wong has simply dressed up Marx's old ideas about which is more valuable to society: labor or capital. Marx declared that labor is more valuable, and we have seen the results of that idea. The question and our answer to it presupposes both a moral(ethical) and economic dimension. Answering it from a purely economic viewpoint misses the more important ethical point, and Marx was wrong on both counts.
Marx's mumbo-jumbo about capital exploiting labor results from his error on how the capitalist-labor relationship creates surplus value. The fact is that ANY transaction can create surplus value. When a transaction occurs, both seller and buyer benefits, and the surplus is created by the fact that before the transaction, the seller valued less the commodity being sold than the amount of money it can exchange for (its price), while the buyer valued less the amount of money than the commodity itself. At the instant an exchange occurs (a sale), surplus value is created by as much as the sum of the differences in those valuations. The commodity is now in the hands of buyer who has real use for it and therefore values it more than its pre-exchange value, while the money is now in the hands of the seller who can now use it for other exchanges that create even more value. Likewise, in the capital-labor relationship, surplus value is created when the capitalist buys a persons time and effort to build a product.
If we can agree that the wealth of a nation does not consist of tax revenues and government buildings and parks and monuments, but rather consists of the wealth of its citizens, then capital in the aggregate means people's capital. When I deposit money in the bank, I am contributing to the wealth of our nation. That money gets used by somebody else, in a thousand possible activities I can't even begin to fathom, including starting a business. In this sense, capital is also people as much as labor is.
Taken in the above context, an amateur writer like me can now respond to Mr. Wong's blog point by point.
I respond in the reverse order than that presented by Mr. Wong:
#1 – Stop Asking for Handouts! I Never Got Help from Anybody!
Liberals do not like to hear this because, by simply living in society, they argue, rich people benefit from the institutions of that society. So they should give up at least part of their wealth in return for that benefit they are getting. Give up to whom? The government, of course.
Never mind the fact that wealthy people are among the most philantrophic people around, and that therefore "Stop Asking for Handouts" is something that I don't hear much from the wealthy. It is true that the rich do not get help from anybody in the sense that nobody helps them for free. Every help that the rich person gets is paid for. What about the police that protects his properties, or the help he gets from judges who enforces the contracts he signs? He also pays for these by way of taxes.
While it is true that a rich person's money is worthless outside of the society he lives in, he does contribute to the overall wealth of that society much more than the average person. His businesses earn him money precisely because people like his products and buy from him, and so his wealth is a measure, however imperfect, of his value to society.
If rephrased as follows, I like hearing this from the rich: "Stop Asking for Higher Taxes! I Never Got Help from Anybody for Free!"
#2 – You Shouldn't be Punishing the Very People Who Make This Country Work!
Liberals think that
a. We don't owe our jobs to rich people any more than we owe it to poorer members of society; and
b. Higher taxes (pitching in) does not harm the rich as much as it harms us, so the rich should pay higher taxes.
Is labor really more valuable to society than capital? Or are these two really one and the same thing? If labor is more valuable to progress and to society, then we must find ways to redistribute capital. We must tax the rich to give to the less fortunate among us. The fact is that a number of countries have done this to varying degrees, and the verdict is in: it does not work. The more you redistribute, the poorer everybody becomes. The word "punish" is apt in this sense. If you set a level by which people can be rich, beyond which taxes can be very high, it simply means you are discouraging ("punishing") those who get to that level. The result is, naturally, you get less people striving to reach that level. That's my response to point 2b. My response to point 2a follows from that for 2b as follows: if you discourage people from getting richer beyond a certain level, people who are already near that level, will tend to not invest their wealth to gain more wealth. Less investments from the rich means less capital for business. Less business means less people employed. Ergo, we do owe our jobs to rich people. If you force the issue and demand that wealthy people invest anyway, unless you really want to become a dictator the wealthy people will oblige, but only sparingly (because of the tax disincentive). If you really insist and turn yourself into a dictator, the wealthy will just move to another country, and your country will be much poorer, plus your sweet pretensions to "freedom" and "social justice" will sound hollow.
No problem here. I say the rich should keep saying this.
#3 – You're Just Jealous Because I Made It and You Didn't!
Yes it's all about envy. All that the liberals can say about this is that it's not true. Is it envy that drives the Occupiers? I would say that, based on their pronouncements and their placards most Occupiers do have this feeling of envy in them.
Mr. Wong then talks about how the 99 percenters feel: they only feel adoration for the rich, so therefore it is not envy that drives the 99 percenters either. Yes, I agree. The 99% of us have more common sense than the Occupiers.
In fact Mr. Wong's tone himself reveals seething envy and hatred dressed as antagonism against those who "refuse to acknowledge that their power brings with it any responsibility" and against "bullies and dictators and supervillains". This is crazy because a majority of the 1% probably agree with him. In fact, not just Warren Buffet, but also a large number of millionaires have come up to U.S. Congress asking to be taxed more. America is a free country: they don't have to ask Congress to enact another law, they can simply give up their wealth and hand those to the government!
The defenders of the rich are ordinary people like me, and we do so only because it is, in fact, good for any country to welcome the rich and not punish them.
If you are rich, please keep saying this, specially to liberals. It hurts because it's true.
#4 – If I Can Do It, So Can You!
This one I agree that rich people should do away with. Of course, it is NOT true that whatever rich people do we can all do. It's obvious: people have different skills, personal qualities, habits, and virtues. Even looks can be different :-). This is just a form of encouragement, usually given by successful sales people to fellow sales people. It doesn't really mean much as written, and people who say this usually qualify the words of encouragement. So yes, Mr. Wong, I agree with you that rich people should stop saying this.
#5 – Hey I Worked Hard to Get What I Have!
We understand what this means: you'll never get to where you want to be unless you work hard. However, although working hard is a requirement, it is not sufficient to be successful. In other words, you can work really hard, even harder than Manny Pacquiao himself, to be a champion boxer; but if you are missing an arm, chances are you'll never be one. However, you can work hard to excel in something else, say a symphony conductor.
I therefore urge the wealthy to keep saying this because it's true.
#6 – Well, $500,000 a Year Might Sound Like a Lot, but I'm Hardly Rich
Another way of saying this: no matter how high you've climbed the wealth ladder there's always somebody wealthier than you are. Unless you are at the very top, which only very very people aspire for anyway.
If there is such a thing as a theory of relativity of wealth, even that person at the top will only feel the richest if those right below him are too far below to reach him. So he struggles to get higher still. The only way he can do this in a free market system is to invest and take risks, activities that only makes life easier for everybody else.
At what level does it make sense for society to impose a limit? A trillion? A billion maybe? How about a million? Well, we know what happens when we impose a limit: the market gets distorted like a car race that imposes a speed limit, and capital becomes poorly allocated. Everybody is worse off.
In America, the Alternative Minimum Tax law was enacted in the early 1970's that originally targeted the very rich. It has since evolved and now affects practically all the middle class. When liberals cry "Tax the Rich!" they actually mean you and I, in more senses than one.
Here's Richard Epstein on a related topic.
About Carlos C. Tapang
I run a company called Rock Stable Token Inc. I am the leader of the team behind the stabletoken called ROKS. ROKS is a cryptocurrency (digital money) and its value is tied to the U.S. dollar (USD). We are initially targeting it to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with two great benefits: it costs almost nothing to send it, and it is fast. I am also involved in a movement (http://correctphilippines.org) to correct the Philippine constitution. It's an ambitious undertaking in itself, and there's no guarantee that improving our constitution will improve things. However, one thing is certain: if we don't establish a rational constitution, we will continue on our path of self-destruction. What kind of government is best? For me the best government is that which governs the least. We need the government not because it can provide for us but because it keeps us from running into each other. The proper function of government is that of a traffic light: it prevents us from bumping each other, but it does not tell us where to go.
View all posts by Carlos C. Tapang →
15 Responses to In Response to "6 Things Rich People Need to Stop Saying"
Garrett says:
#1:
"He does contribute to the overall wealth of that society much more than the average person"
But his business would still be utterly useless without his clients/customers and those beneath him to help keep it running, and his value to society would be zero. In fact, that's entirely the point Wong is making, so when someone says "I never got a job from a poor person", where that may be true, they wouldn't have been able to get a job at all without the people who keep it running.
The fact is that both labour and capitol are important, and Wong implies it is that it isn't JUST riches that keep society running, not that labour has higher value. Unfortunately, rich people imply otherwise when they say that people "shouldn't be punishing those who run the country". That's why Wong calls them out.
"Never mind the fact that wealthy people are among the most philantrophic people around, and that therefore "Stop Asking for Handouts" is something that I don't hear much from the wealthy."
But there are some who are corrupt, and there are some make these statements. Though it may be a minority, there are enough saying this stupid shit to justify calling them out on it. And by "rich people", of course he means "some rich people". It's hardly the point.
It's not about forcing the rich to give to the poor. It's about those who are asked to chip in with projects when they are the ONLY ONES WHO HAVE THE RESOURCES (and still end up wealthy after their contribution), and yes, it's VERY lame when you complain and accuse the people asking for the resources of punishing you. As the article says, it reads "I have to pay more taxes than my gardener baaawwww!". It's painfully lame.
I thought that point was made clear so I don't know how you missed it.
"Mr. Wong then talks about how the 99 percenters feel: they only feel adoration for the rich, so therefore it is not envy that drives the 99 percenters either"
No, he says that a lot of the "99 percenters" worship heroes, many who could only become heroes because they were rich (Batman, Sir Charles Xavier to name a couple). How did you conflate that to worshipping all rich people?
"This is crazy because a majority of the 1% probably agree with him."
Unfortunately, there are genuine assholes (as well as some who don't realise it) who don't agree with him, and do get away with doing bad things due to their riches (which obviously gives them power), and we have to show our outrage because it's the only thing that keeps them in check. The very fact that Mitt Romney's campaign (or a part of it) is based on these stupid statements and that he has many supporters makes it all the more important to call them out.
So when we are angry at the rich who are genuinely shitty, it's because they are shitty, NOT because we're jealous.
"It hurts because it's true."
No, it's infuriating because it is absolutely not true, and says to me that it's just an excuse to justify your own shittiness and dismiss those who criticise you, when in reality, they are keeping you in check with good reason.
By now, I'm getting the impression that you didn't read the article propertly.
Unfortunately, there are many people under the delusion that the only reason those in poverty are in their position is exclusively because they don't work hard enough, so when the rich say "I worked hard to get where I am", it DOES imply that the poor people don't, which is why it's insulting. It's the nuance of what they say, even if it's true that there are many wealthy folks who DO work their arses off.
At risk if making it sound like I'm just repeating Wong by now, I'll provide a quick pointer to "What we hear when a rich person says that", because though these people are probably being ignorant as they become less aware of their conveniences, it's still infuriating. Yes, these people end up with less money BECAUSE THEY SPEND IT and have the means to do so.
ctapang says:
Garrett, sorry it has taken me some time to respond to you. Thanks for giving this a thought. The only point I want to make in this response is that, in any society, there are those who end at the top, and those who end at the bottom. Any system conceived to remedy this is a solution that is worse than the "problem", and it may not even be a problem. Intellectuals like you focus too much on the measure of inequality of results. I think we should rather look at upward mobility. Systems that exhibit good measures of upward mobility are the good systems. Systems that focus on equality of outcome are bad.
From this standpoint, disparaging the accomplishments of the wealthy is like complaining that somebody is a better vocalist and being resentful of the rewards that go along with that. We each have our own talents, and wealth accumulation is only one of them. A system that allows the wealthy to accumulate money because they are good at allocating capital, is a system that puts the right people at the top, and with the right talent and lots of hard work, those at the bottom have a good shot at the top. Nobody is barred from reaching the top. Your only limit is your abilities.
" A system that allows the wealthy to accumulate money because they are good at allocating capital, is a system that puts the right people at the top, and with the right talent and lots of hard work, those at the bottom have a good shot at the top. Nobody is barred from reaching the top. Your only limit is your abilities."
Actually, I wouldn't be quick to agree with that, especially on using the word "right". "The right people" is a very relative term. How can we decide whether or not the people at the top are the right ones? Simply because they got at the top? Often times, success in life is less about skill and more about conjuncture i.e "being the right person at the right place at the right time". Warren Buffet said it himself in Wong's article. There is no knowing that there wasn't someone at least as equally good at allocating capital but, due to unfortunate circumstances, didn't have the same chances. Life isn't fair, and neither is society. Not everybody has equal opportunities. Does everyone have the same access to education? The same chances of getting a degree? How can you be so certain that the offspring of someone at the bottom wouldn't have been better at allocating capital? Even within the system you speak of? Granted, you can retort that if they were that good, they would have received a scholarship. But there have already been many famous cases of great scientists (like Einstein) who were under-appreciated and thought to never amount to much, and who knows how many other similar, yet unsuccessful cases there have been?
Also, what are the "right talents"? Right talents as in what? This is exactly what it said in the article: that how useful a talent is is very time and place dependent. Let's take playing StarCraft, for instance: in my country (as in many others), this skill is only useful for self-entertainment, and it's useless for anything else; in South Korea, it is a highly valued skill, almost like a sport. Think of Ronaldinho's football skills: had he been born in another country like Afghanistan, chances are he never would have been noticed and given the chance to reach such a high level. For each talented football player sighted by scouts, there may well be five others like him who didn't get the same chance or had a bad day. The value of an asset is never the same and depends on historical and geographical circumstances. I tend to believe the same about people's abilities. Moreover, there are people who simply appear on magazine covers and earn more than doctors, professors or firefighters. Surely, the skills of the latter three categories – healing, teaching and saving lives – are more beneficent for society than those of the former.
As per the article itself, Wong makes a few interesting points. #6 is simply him pointing out rich people's ignorance towards the hardship of others. Agreed on the relativity of wealth, but the fact is that $500,000 a years ensures a superior living standard compared to an income of $30,000/year. Furthermore, people who earn low incomes tend to struggle with needs at the bottom layer of Maslow's pyramid of needs, while people with higher incomes have already moved higher up the scale. #5 is a point I've addressed in the paragraph above, and I don't agree that you could train yourself to become a symphony conductor (especially at age 25 or 30, unless you have solid training in music, and it's still too late), or any other profession that easily. It's not that simple. Could you see Manny Pacquiao putting the gloves and jersey away in exchange for a wand and a suit? Things would be so much easier if labor was perfectly mobile, but it isn't. The more dramatic situations are those when you train to perform a certain job, and then there's a crash on that market or it simply fades out of the grid, and you find yourself with a set of skills that you can't now put to great use. So, even if Pacquiao could train himself in the ways of a conductor, he'd never be as successful as a boxer. Like you said yourself at #4 (with which I also agree), people are different. I doubt Mozart, for all his genius, would have been a great financier.
#3 Isn't about Wong's envy. It's about the fact that wealth brings about power: social power, political power, economic power, which can very easily be used to skew the rules of the game against others, as people and institutions are easily corrupted, which is why people pay close attention to those who wield such power. In Wong's example, more wealth means better lawyers, but there's also the fact that a lawsuit is time and money-consuming: a wealthy person has the resources to go through a lengthy trial or even influence its outcome, compared to a person earning less money. Also, a group of rich people can influence the laws themselves via political lobby, laws that affect not only them, but the rest of society as well, which is why people keep a closer eye on them.
#2 and #1 are related to the very reason why there exist societies and economic systems: the fact that, whether we like it or not, we depend upon each other, and we need each other. This is the very reason of economic trade: that you can't get everything on you own, and even if you can, there's someone who can give it to you for a lower cost. Tying it in with the above points of the relative value of skills and assets, whatever you can do or own won't bring you anything if it weren't for people to offer something in exchange. So, our prosperity depends on other people. Employees depend on employers for their salaries, the latter depend on the former in order to maintain their positions on the market and their prosperity, and both ultimately depend on their clients – average Joes to purchase the results of their labor and keep them in business.
As far as taxing goes, it is evil indeed, but a necessary evil, the result of us agreeing to live together in a society (though not to the extent of charging an income tax of 70%, as is the case in France). Without taxes, how could we fund public institutions supplying us with public goods like security, health or education? The alternative would be to massively privatize these sectors, but with what results? Privatizing the army would lead to it becoming no longer a force to protect a nation, but a collection of PMCs acting as either bodyguards or mercenaries. Health would become a commodity for people who can afford it leaving those who can't out, education would suffer a similar fate, justice would turn into a more refined form of extortion and so on. An alternative would be a unique income tax. The result would be that society would become even further polarized, there would be no middle class or if there were, it would be very thin, leading to vulnerabilities similar to those that triggered the crisis in Eastern European Countries, as well as many social convulsions.
To conclude, these are just my opinions. I just wanted to point out that, while the points David Wong makes aren't perfect, he's not entirely wrong either. I entirely concur that people don't have to bash the rich just for being rich, but I believe that the wealthy mustn't ignore issues outside their own lives and underestimate or oversimplify the dynamics of society (after all, this is what Wong's article was about).
Thanks for your very thoughtful comments, Ady. I agree that capitalism is not perfect, and any general statement we make can have exceptions. But all else being equal, I am comfortable with the statement that says people who have abilities and who USE those abilities can be successful in a capitalist society. The key for me is freedom: we have more freedom in a capitalist society than in any other system invented so far. I am free to make agreements or sign contracts, and such contract is enforced by government itself. If I make a mistake and sign a contract or buy something that turned out to be not what I need, then tough luck. However, if I buy something and it is defective, then I have the right to complain. Or if I sign a contract and the other party did not follow the terms of the contract, then I can also complain.
Mr. Wong has written another article about our personal struggles in the system, and I agree with it wholeheartedly. You should also read it (if you haven't yet) because it is enlightening.
A Critic says:
"As far as taxing goes, it is evil indeed, but a necessary evil, the result of us agreeing to live together in a society"
Evil is never ever necessary. That's just a pathetically lame excuse used by the evil psychopaths and their masses of foolish followers to justify their unjust actions.
Oh yeah, I'm an evil psychopath. Please, don't flatter me. I really hate blushing; it ruins the evil dictator face I've been working on for when I take over the world. By the way, have you tried reading the rest of the comment before flinging adjectives like "pathetically lame"?
If you really want to go more in depth with the discussion, we can renounce any usage of "good" and "evil" since they are indeed relative terms and we can then use wordplay to twist morality all we want and easily reach some very interesting conclusions that would shatter previously held beliefs on rather sensitive societal topics that aren't necessarily related to wealth.
That said, I used the term "necessary evil" to highlight that it is something none of us likes to do, but has to. We are a society, which necessarily implies a compromise; there's goods which all of us are entitled to like health, security, justice or education (do I still sound like an evil psychopath?) and they can't be (completely) carried over to the private sector, which is why we pay taxes in order to fund the institutions that provide them and make sure we all have the right to it.
And as long as there's more than one of us living on this planet, there's always going to be a compromise, however small. For instance, in some of his books, Isaac Asimov describes a society on a planet called "Solaria" where everyone ruled over vast estates and keenly avoided contact with each other, even being physically in close proximity, preferring to "view" each other via holograms, all in order to maximize and preserve their freedom while eliminating the risk of disputes. With strict population control, no central government, and robots handling all the manual labor, the Solarians were free to do whatever they pleased. Or so they liked to claim, as in the end they admitted that contact with foreign travelers was completely forbidden among them. So, even with nigh-absolute freedom, there's still going to be issues that call for compromise.
As for why taxation is a "necessary evil", as I called it, please reread the 7th paragraph of my original comment, as I'm fairly certain you haven't.
Thank you for your quick reply :D. Indeed, I agree that freedom is essential to make a society work, and capitalism has proven to be more effective; the whole point is to make sure everyone benefits from the same freedom and that nobody uses theirs to limit the freedom of others.
Also, a big thanks for the article linked! It is perhaps one of the best articles on Cracked.com, and it instantly became one of my personal favorites (it's odd, though, to find such thoughtful articles on a comedy site). 🙂
sinistar99 says:
"liberalism is on the retreat?" Really Try to get gay married a decade ago and see what happens Or try to buy pot at a legal dispensary in any state… Maybe you missed the last 2 major elections?
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/january_2013/just_8_now_say_they_are_tea_party_members
The truth IS only 30% of likely voters even have a favorable view of the Tea Party and Only 8% consider themselves "members." And that has been going down steadily since the last election. If anyone is on the "retreat" it's conservatives who are frantically "examining their message" when they should be examining their ideology and policies.
"Marx declared that labor is more valuable, and we have seen the results of that idea.
Yes we have seen it in Australia, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, etc. In Australia minimum wage is around 16 American dollars an hour, they have universal health care, and manditory vacation time… and they have a modest 5.6% unemployment. The global recession didn't even touch them. So much for "job killing labor laws." And pretty much everything else conservatives have been saying about the economy…ever.
Turns out Marx was right about a lot of things–and continues to be proven right every time his ideas are actually implemented (without some power mad nutbags and a bunch of wars in the mix).
But Forget Marx, Abraham Lincoln said it even better:
"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."
But Abe Lincoln would be run out of town as a commie pinko leftie by todays ultra-reactionary conservatives who have somehow convinced you all our problems are because poor rich people have to pay taxes.
I like to call it "tax envy."
The Great Depression, happened after 3 conservative supply-side Republican administrations in a row ending with Herbert Hoover. Please tell us again which "Marxist" policies led up to robber barons crashing wal street with no social safety net to protect the most vulnerable from the fallout.
"Never mind the fact that wealthy people are among the most philantrophic people around…" Well we should Never mind that because it's absolutely false. Sorry. Bzzzz try again.
While households that make at least $100,000 per year give an average 4.2 percent of their discretionary income to charity, those that make between $50,000 to $75,000 per year give an average 7.6 percent of their discretionary income to charity, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
http://philanthropy.com/article/America-s-Generosity-Divide/133775/
Where taxpayers make more than $200,000 per year, residents give an average 2.8 percent of their discretionary income to charity.
In other words the more wealth that is hoarded by a single household… the less of that goes to charity. 10 people making 100,000 a year give much more than 1 person making a million.
So no, they're not "the most philanthropic people around."
In fact, It has also been proven, according to Scientific American that the rich actually have less empathy than the rest of us, and actually are kind of assholes.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-wealth-reduces-compassion
Your response is wrong on pretty much every level and the premises you base it on are easily debunked with just a little bit of research. But then when you actually do research and back up your opinion with facts instead of feelings… you become what they call "liberal."
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, and sorry for the late reply. Here's my response to each of your points:
Yes, indeed, Obama has won twice, but I am still of the opinion that the conservatives are ahead, at least in the intellectual battle. Obama's second win is largely due to the fact that liberals have quadrupled the number of people dependent on entitlements. Those people will continue to vote Democrat, and they will be completely dependent on government handouts. Obama's win is not due to intellectual resurgence of the left.
I think you are mistaken about minimum wage laws in at least two countries you mentioned. Wikipedia states that "In the European Union 18 out of 27 member states currently have national minimum wages.[25] Many countries, such as Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Cyprus have no minimum wage laws but rely on employer groups and trade unions to set minimum earnings through collective bargaining." (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_law#Minimum_wage_law_by_country) You are correct about Australia in terms of the minimum wage, but you forget to mention that Australia is not union friendly. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_labour_law)
If you still believe that Marx was right that labor is a more important factor in economics than capital, how many countries do you think practice this particular Marxian doctrine? Countries that drive away capital remain poor. Without capital you can't have jobs, unless slave-level wages is OK with you.
You are wrong about the Great Depression. Like Obama now, FDR caused a lengthening of the depression. You can't blame a recession or depression on previous leaders. The current leader always has the most influence on current economy.
As for philanthropy of the wealthy, I don't dispute the findings of the Scientific American report on a research done at the University of California in Berkeley. However, I think a distinction between wealth creators and family members who are riders on their relative's wealth would be meaningful. Wealth creators got their wealth by understanding fully the market that they serve. They are compassionate in understanding the problems encountered by users of their products. Their single-minded devotion to their product and its market has rewarded them so much, and that is just the nature of markets.
lorcanbonda says:
FWIW — I have to say that you are right about the Great Depression. FDR did lengthen; however, that doesn't mean that he was completely misguided in his policies. The problem is that the added debt became a drag on the economy.
The policies did more than just lengthen the Depression. They also kept people from starving and reduced the "Tramp" class of wandering workers to a minimum. Yes, it would have been faster to let 20% of the population starve like in 1877 — but I prefer FDR's approach.
All that being said, the ultimate strategy which was most successful at eliminating the downturns is one that few people understand. After WWII, the government laid off 4 million people and cut defense spending by 85% and increasing taxes. These changes should have driven us back into a Depression, but they did not. That is because most people don't understand economics — they come up with wrong answers like
1) "No other countries had manufacturing capability, so we increased exports" — this is wrong. No other countries had manufacturing capability, but they also did not have any money.
2) "There was all sorts of pent up demand which was released by the end of the war" — this is just nonsense.
The truth is that the government raised taxes on incremental income for corporations and the wealthy few to 90+% on income. This meant that the available Capital was used efficiently in creating good jobs without adding to the nation's debt burden. There was still an economic incentive to earn more money for the wealthy elite because incremental taxes were not 100%. In fact, it kept the wealthy few from resting on their laurels after a few good years (like Bill Gates.)
The main reason is because we have a demand driven economy. The only way to improve it is to ensure that the available money increases demand. Much worse uses are through financial manipulation and government welfare for the rich programs.
Demand driven for me means higher minimum wages and a progressive tax: your reward mediocrity and punish success. It seemed to me that you were against redistribution in your previous comment, but now I see what your viewpoint really is: you are a progressive-tax neo-liberal. I can imagine you voting for Bernie Sanders. Am I mistaken?
Do you remember the episode of Family Guy where Carter Pewterschmidt puts on a hat and wig and calls himself Joe Workingman in an effort to manipulate stupid poor people into essentially making him the Emperor of the American Northeast? You remind me a lot of that premise.
Sorry I have no time to watch Family Guy or any TV sitcom. Sometimes I spend time with my daughter watching programs she likes, but in general I don't enjoy watching stories acted out in a screenplay. May be if you reply back with a link to a video recording (as in YouTube) of the episode, I will watch it patiently just so I can reply to your comment.
You didn't actually read the article, did you? You read the headlines and stopped before you tried to understand his content. It is a very interesting article to give you perspective, not an absolute truth.
The entire premise of the article is not that rich people are wrong and poor people are right, it is that these statements made by rich people tend to sound very ignorant to others. In each case, he gives you an interpretation of what rich people believe they are saying, then he gives an interpretation of how poor people interpret them. Then he provides a more nuanced explanation as to some truth in between.
You also have a difficult time distinguishing between "Capital" and "Greed". Ayn Rand is no more correct than Karl Marx was. "Capital" is good; whereas redistribution of Capital to achieve some external objective will always reduce competition, however it is worse when the government uses its influence to drive money out of your pocket and into the wealthy.
So, when the Koch brothers give money to the Tea Party candidates, they expect something in return — for instance, regulations which reduce competition in the oil industry. That's what other people see which you seem to miss — we need the government to ensure free and fair competition, but redirecting money into the hands of the 1% because of political donations is a mess.
Thanks for your comment. I did read the article (a long time ago because this response to the article was written four years ago). I may remember only a few things in it by now, but the fact is that I read it and was in fact fascinated by it.
Let me propose to you that the entire premise of my response is NOT that the wealthy are always right. What I am against is the viewpoint of most people (including you) that looks at the problems we are having, and readily blame the capitalist system. I see your view that 'it is worse when the government uses its influence to drive money out of your pocket and into the wealthy': this is what is going on right now under the Obama regime. Look at all the "renewable resource" companies that Obama has favored (with the exception of Tesla Motors – who by the way have repaid all the loans they took from the federal government). A lot of people have gotten rich, at the expense of us taxpayers. I have to agree with you that government has been driving "money out of your pocket and into the wealthy" in the past seven plus years. It is in fact you who get confused about what "Capital" is, and how "Greed" has nothing to do with it. Bad "Capital" can only be earned with the help of government, a government that is premised on socialist ideas. In a capitalist system like existed in the U.S. during Reagan and other similar leaders, it is difficult to accumulate capital with the help of government.
I invite you to read Charles G. Koch's "Good Profit". The Koch brothers happen to be my kind of super-rich. I work for Bill Gates, but he's not my ideal super-rich.
You have so much to learn.
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Q: in the python imgaug library, when applying affine transformations to image, how do I set cval to RGB? from the documentation, the cval parameter is described as follows:
The constant value used to fill up pixels in the result image that didn't exist in the input image (e.g. when translating to the left, some new pixels are created at the right).
I'm trying to set it's value to RGB (specifically green).
seq = iaa.Sequential([iaa.Affine(rotate=30,cval=255)])
seq_det = seq.to_deterministic()
new_image = seq_det.augment_image(image)

f, axs = plt.subplots(1,2, figsize=(20,6))
axs[0].imshow(image)
axs[1].imshow(new_image)
plt.show()

here is an example picture
I want to set the white background in the r.h.s picture to green

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The inspiring image is part of Hermoso Colchas Para Camas De Niños has dimension x pixel. You can download and obtain the Hermoso Colchas Para Camas De Niños images by click the download button below to get multiple high resolutionversions. Here is crucial information about Colchas. We have the resource more image about Colchas. Check it out for yourself! You can get Hermoso Colchas Para Camas De Niños and see the in here.


text:
Locus Technologies Awarded Contract to Manage Los Alamos National Laboratory Environmental Information and Data
Locus SaaS Software to Manage Data for Nation's Largest Laboratory
March 21, 2011 07:00 ET | Source: Locus Technologies Locus Technologies
SAN FRANCISCO, CA and LOS ALAMOS, NM--(Marketwire - March 21, 2011) - Locus Technologies (Locus), the industry leader in Web-based environmental software, announced today that it has been awarded a contract from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to manage LANL's environmental data in Locus' Cloud. The contract is worth up to $2 million from 2011 through an additional four option years.
LANL is a United States Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security (LANS), located in Los Alamos, N.M. The 37-square-mile laboratory is one of the largest science and technology institutions in the world; it conducts multidisciplinary research for fields such as national security, outer space, renewable energy, medicine, nanotechnology, and supercomputing. LANL is one of two laboratories in the United States at which the government conducts classified work toward the design of nuclear weapons.
The Locus EIM software will help LANL organize and manage its future environmental compliance and monitoring activities using SaaS. By centralizing the data collected during current remediation and surveillance efforts, Locus' EIM software will enable the facility to more efficiently address legacy site contamination, both chemical and radioactive, across multiple locations. EIM will allow Los Alamos to take a better aggregate view of its environmental challenges and make better planning decisions for environmental stewardship.
Activities that EIM will organize include environmental data of all media types, comparison of historical contamination levels; planning and performing sampling, processing, and analysis of environmental media; providing institutional coordination, integration, and communication of all environmental monitoring activities, data, and documentation; implementing regulatory and action standards and policy with line organizations; and interacting with government agencies, stakeholders, the public, and Indian tribes on environmental resource management issues.
Locus designed its EIM software specifically to meet challenging water-quality management issues, covering both analytical chemistry and the management of radionuclides data in a complex hydro-geological setting. EIM will also provide a web-based GIS system for Los Alamos data that will be available to the general public, bringing ease of use and complete transparency to complex data sets.
"With more than 37 square miles of complex geology and hydrogeology, Los Alamos National Laboratory is home to 14 major canyon systems that affect the Rio Grande, and the complexity and size of Los Alamos operations make environmental compliance a top priority. We are very proud that LANL has determined that EIM has the robust functionality to meet the facility's formidable data management requirements. After the National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford (SLAC), Los Alamos is the second U.S. Department of Energy site to be managed in EIM. We are very excited to work with LANL's talented team of professionals on this important long term project," said Neno Duplan, President and CEO of Locus.
LANL has created byproduct waste since the 1940s. Its past practices for disposing of waste, while meeting the standards of the day, are not up to today's standards. Investigations, cleanup, and remediation are now under way, and the Lab has dramatically reduced its waste generation from ongoing work.
"High-quality environmental data is one of the key drivers that will help us meet our cleanup goals," said Alison Dorries, division leader for the Lab's Waste and Environmental Services organization. "Moving forward, our data will help us be more sustainable and better stewards of the environment. Organizing these massive volumes of data, and making them available to the public, will help demonstrate our commitment to openness and environmental compliance."
About Locus Technologies
Locus Technologies specializes in providing comprehensive information management and consulting services for the environmental industry. Locus' primary line of business is the integration of environmental content and domain expertise with Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings. Its flagship product, EIM, provides robust online analytical data management for Locus customers around the world.
For more information, visit www.locustec.com or contact Eric Applegate at (415) 475-7701.
About Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and URS for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns. LANL news media contact: Fred deSousa, (505) 665-3430, fdesousa@lanl.gov, http://www.lanl.gov/
Eric Applegate
Locus Technologies
Los Alamos DOE EIM Locus NNSA URS Bechtel nuclear research atomic cloud computing waste
http://www.locustec.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Although approximately 94% of the population in Taiwan already has access to drinking water, certain areas of Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Nantou still had low take-up of the public water supply.
In Kaohsiung City, 95% of the population had access to public water supply. Most of the remaining population had access to either private wells, which are free, or small water systems. There seemed to be little incentive for them to become connected to the more expensive public water supply. Many unsupplied areas in Nantou County and Taichung City are located in the mountainous areas, making extending public water supply to these areas difficult and uneconomical. Groundwater appeared to be the primary source of drinking water in these regions.
After an extensive field study, which also included 646 site surveys of the local residents on getting connected to the public water supply, Stantec recommended amendments to the current How to green Resources Agency guidelines on providing stronger incentives for connecting to the public water supply, and engineering applications for installing small water systems.


EGMF published a position paper in the context of the ongoing discussion on the existing Ecodesign measure on electric motors and possible additional requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives (Lot 30). EGMF welcomes the exclusions from the scope of the future regulation of universal motors, battery-powered products and hand-held products. In addition, EGMF recommends: 1. using the definition of "motors completely integrated into a machine" from IEC 60034-30-1:2014 to explain what is meant by "cannot be tested separately"; 2. clarifying the proposed definition on "hand-held"; and 3. Simplifying product information requirements.


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ENCO to Showcase enCaption 3R4 with Multi-Speaker Identification at the 2017 NAB Show
Latest release of enCaption 3R4 sets new benchmark for real-time, software-driven closed captioning automation for broadcast
Dimension PR
Southfield, MI, March 22, 2017–ENCO continues to advance the possibilities of closed-captioning with its enCaption system, the company's software-defined engine for cost-efficient speech-to-text voice recognition. Now in its fourth generation, enCaption3R4 takes amajor step forward with the ability to distinguish between multiple speakers, further reducing the labor of live captioning in the broadcast workflow. ENCO will unveil enCaption 3R4 at the 2017 NAB Show, taking place from April 24-27, 2017 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Booth N2024.
Like previous generations, the enCaption 3R4 system needs no respeaking, voice training, supervision, or real-time captioners, thereby eliminating human error. However, enCaption3R4 integrates a special algorithm with the intelligence to manage complex captioning situations where multiple subjects are speaking at once. enCaption3R4 achieves this by isolating each speaker's microphone throughout the live program.
The system supports up to six independent microphone feeds, and the speakers' names can be preconfigured based upon their assigned microphone position. Multi-lingual support is also built into the algorithm, and includes personalized and/or localized spelling capabilities to ensure greater accuracy.
"With our new multi-speaker identification feature, hearing-impaired viewers will not only know what is being said, but also who is saying it. This will add to their understanding and enjoyment of the show," said Ken Frommert, general manager of ENCO. "For the station, bringing this useful feature into the automated workflow of enCaption removes the pressure of live captioning from production staff, and ensures a better viewer experience."
While one of the audio inputs could be a feed from a production truck, the system treats that audio stream as a single speaker, even if multiple people are speaking. And if a pre-recorded video clip is rolled during a live show, the captioning of that audio automatically takesprecedence over anyone speaking on set.
"The sophisticated algorithms that we've built-into this latest release, enCaption 3R4,know how to manage the captioning of a spirited exchange," Frommert said. "The algorithm does its best to determine who "owns" the conversation—such as the person that started it or who dominates the discussion—and ignores distractions like low voices and brief interruptions. As soon as the conversation shifts to the next speaker, the algorithm immediately and seamlessly transitions to focus onthat speaker. Without this selective management process, it becomes very difficult to caption live events, such as roundtable or panel discussions, where people often compete to be heard and disrupt the flow of conversation."
About ENCO
Founded in 1983, ENCO Systems is a world leader in broadcast solutions for demanding radio and television organizations. ENCO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan USA and retains a worldwide distribution network. For more information, please visit: www.enco.com.
ENCO to Unveil Automated Closed Captioning Breakthroughs at NAB Show New York
new enCaption4 sets new benchmarks for speech-to-text accuracy and end-to-end captioning latency while bringing the benefits of the enCaption family to the Cloud
ENCO Announces Next-Generation Automated Closed Captioning System
enCaption3R2 system adds support for captioning of pre-recorded content, removing the burden of manual intervention for broadcasters, universities and other media library owners
Liquidation Channel Automates Live Closed Captioning Cost-Effectively with ENCO enCaption3R3
24/7 home shopping network automatically converts live speech captions with great speed and accuracy at an affordable price
FOX 24 Charleston Automates Closed Captioning of Live News with ENCO enCaption3R3
WTAT-TV/FOX 24 significantly reduces costs using enCaption3R3 to generate real-time captioning of local newscasts, including its new "FOX 24 News Now" show at 11pm
ENCO to Unveil Powerful TV Automation and Production Advances at 2018 NAB Show
Enhancements to MOM (Media Operations Manager) enhance integration with IP-based workflows and third-party tools while expanding live production capabilities
StreamGuys and ENCO Strike Partnership
Integration brings audio/video streaming and automation workflow closer together, with options to host full architecture with monetization and ad insertion in the cloud
Renewed Vision Introduces Multi-Function PVP3 Media Server at the 2017 NAB Show
ProVideoPlayer—now in its third generation--boasts several new features for the broadcast, production and ProAV markets centrally powered through a new user interface
The City of Chesapeake in Virginia Automates Live Closed Captioning of its PEG Channels with ENCO
At the City of Chesapeake's 24/7 PEG channels—WCTV and WCPS—enCaption3R3 generates on-screen text from speech in near-real-time with nearly 100 percent accuracy


What better way to embark on a shot a day assignment then with a visit to the dentist.
This is Sara and she has the hands of an angel. Scrape, scrape, scrape.
This is great! Looked familiar to me. Have you seen the shot I took of myself like this? I am a hygienist and I put my Canon G9 in the chair on self- timer and took a pic to see what I look like to my patients..very similar..nicely done! Glad to hear that you didn't have cavities!!!!


text:
Harold John Stahl, Jr. (born November 16, 1944) is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

References

Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Living people
1944 births

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Basic Immunology
ALLERGY DISEASE
Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2008
Allergy is an immunologically mediated reaction to a foreign antigen manifested by tissue inflammation and organ dysfunction. These responses have a genetic basis, but the clinical expression of disease depends on both immunologic responsiveness and antigen exposure. Allergic disorders may be local or systemic. Because the allergen is foreign (ie, environmental), the skin and respiratory tract are the organs most frequently involved in allergic disease. Allergic reactions may also localize to the vasculature, gastrointestinal tract, or other visceral organs. Anaphylaxis is the most extreme form of systemic allergy.
Immunologic Classification
Hypersensitivity diseases can be classified according to (1) the immunologic mechanism involved in pathogenesis, (2) the organ system affected, and (3) the nature and source of the allergen. An immunologic classification is preferred because it serves as a rational basis for diagnosis and treatment. The classification follows.
Type I—IgE-Mediated (Immediate) Hypersensitivity
IgE antibodies occupy receptor sites on mast cells. Within minutes after exposure to the allergen, a multivalent antigen links adjacent IgE molecules, activating and degranulating mast cells. Clinical manifestations depend on the effects of released mediators on target end organs. Both preformed and newly generated mediators cause vasodilation, visceral smooth muscle contraction, mucus secretory gland stimulation, vascular permeability, and tissue inflammation. Arachidonic acid metabolites, cytokines, and other mediators induce a late-phase inflammatory response that appears several hours later. There are two clinical subgroups of IgE-mediated allergy: atopy and anaphylaxis.
The term "atopy" is applied to a group of diseases (allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic gastroenteropathy) occurring in persons with an inherited tendency to develop antigen-specific IgE to environmental allergens or food antigens. Aeroallergens such as pollens, mold spores, animal danders, and house dust mite antigen are common triggers for allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic asthma. The allergic origin of atopic dermatitis is less well understood, but some patients' symptoms can be triggered by exposure to dust mite antigen and ingestion of certain foods.
The allergic reaction is localized to a susceptible target organ, but more than one of these diseases may occur in an allergic individual. There is a strong familial tendency toward the development of atopy.
Certain allergens—especially drugs, insect venoms, latex, and foods—may induce an IgE antibody response, causing a generalized release of mediators from mast cells and resulting in systemic anaphylaxis. This is characterized by (1) hypotension or shock from widespread vasodilation, (2) bronchospasm, (3) gastrointestinal and uterine muscle contraction, and (4) urticaria or angioedema. The condition is potentially fatal and can affect both nonatopic and atopic persons. Isolated urticaria and angioedema are cutaneous forms of anaphylaxis, are much more common, and have a better prognosis.
Type II—Antibody-Mediated (Cytotoxic) Hypersensitivity
Cytotoxic reactions involve the specific reaction of either IgG or IgM antibody to cell-bound antigens. This results in activation of the complement cascade and the destruction of the cell to which the antigen is bound. Examples include immune hemolytic anemia and Rh hemolytic disease in the newborn.
Type III—Immune Complex-Mediated Hypersensitivity
Immune complex-mediated reactions occur when similar concentrations of antigen and IgG or IgM antibodies form circulating immune complexes. Complexes are usually cleared from the circulation by the phagocytic system. However, deposition of these complexes in tissues or in vascular endothelium can produce immune complex-mediated tissue injury through activation of the complement cascade, anaphylatoxin generation, chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, phagocytosis, and tissue injury. The Arthus reaction is an example of a localized cutaneous and subcutaneous inflammatory response to injected allergen. Serum sickness is characterized by fever, arthralgias, nephritis, and dermatitis. It can be a response to a drug, a foreign serum, or certain infections such as infective endocarditis and hepatitis B.
Type IV—T Cell–Mediated Hypersensitivity (Delayed Hypersensitivity, Cell-Mediated Hypersensitivity)
Type IV delayed hypersensitivity is mediated by activated T cells, which accumulate in areas of antigen deposition. The most common expression of delayed hypersensitivity is allergic contact dermatitis, which develops when a low-molecular-weight sensitizing substance haptenates with dermal proteins, becoming a complete antigen. Sensitized T cells release cytokines, activating macrophages and promoting the subsequent dermal inflammation; this occurs 1–2 days after the time of contact. Common topical agents associated with allergic contact dermatitis include nickel, formaldehyde, potassium dichromate, thiurams, mercaptos, parabens, quaternium-15, and ethylenediamine. Rhus (poison oak and ivy) contact dermatitis is caused by cutaneous exposure to oils from the toxicodendron plants. Acutely, contact dermatitis is characterized by erythema and induration with vesicle formation, often with pruritus, with exudation and crusting in more severe cases. Chronic allergic contact dermatitis may be associated with fissuring, lichenification, or dyspigmentation and may be mistaken for other forms of dermatitis. To diagnose allergic contact dermatitis, patch testing can be performed. Panels of common sensitizing agents are applied to the skin, and cutaneous responses are observed 48 and 96 hours later for evidence of induration and vesiculation. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis) is a pulmonary hypersensitivity disease that appears to be due in part to T cell–mediated inflammation. Although identification of serum precipitins indicates the presence of antigen-specific IgG antibodies in the circulation, specific T cell populations may be found during bronchoalveolar lavage or during histopathologic examination of involved tissue, supporting a role of type IV reactions in the pathophysiology of this disease.
Immunopathophysiology
Atopic disorders are associated with tissue inflammation, characterized immunohistologically by infiltration with certain subsets of CD4 lymphocytes. This has generated interest in the T helper 1 (TH1)/T helper 2 (TH2) paradigm of allergic immunopathology. In this model, antigen-specific CD4 (T helper) cells develop into one of two lymphocyte subsets—TH1 or TH2—which comprise the functional phenotype of the T helper cell. TH1 cells produce gamma interferon (IFN-γ). TH2 cells synthesize interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and interleukin-13 (IL-13). Since both IL-4 and IL-13 stimulate isotype switching with IgE synthesis and since IL-5 promotes eosinophil survival and function, these cytokines have been implicated in the generation of allergic inflammation. TH1 and TH2 phenotypes appear to be mutually exclusive. The development of a dominant TH2 response to an environmental allergen may be the cause of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity disease. The association between early childhood exposure to viral infections and a reduced risk of development of atopy disease may be explained by this paradigm.
Upper & Lower Airway Connections
Up to 80% of asthmatic patients suffer from rhinitis and, conversely, 15% of patients with allergic rhinitis have asthma. Furthermore, the immunopathophysiology of inflammation is similar in the upper and lower airways. Both airways are lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium. In atopic states, these airways are characterized by edematous mucosa, hyperplasia of mucus-secreting goblet cells, numerous mast cells, infiltration with mononuclear cells, including TH2-type lymphocytes and eosinophils, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Only the lower airways contain bronchial smooth muscle, but the similarities in immunohistology otherwise suggest an overlap in the causes of and possible treatments for disease. There is a measurable reduction in bronchial hyperreactivity after treatment of upper airway inflammation with topical nasal corticosteroids alone. Concomitant sinusitis can lead to a worsening of asthma in some patients, and sinobronchial reflexes have been identified. These observations suggest a coordinated approach to airways disease to optimize patient care of atopic individuals.
The Late-Phase Allergic Response
The immediate allergic response occurs after reexposure to allergen in previously sensitized individuals. Six to 12 hours following allergen exposure, a late-phase allergic response can cause a recrudescence of symptoms in anaphylaxis or allergic airways disease. Histologically, the late-phase allergic responses are characterized by infiltration with inflammatory cells, including mononuclear cells, basophils, and eosinophils. These cells release mediators that cause symptoms but also set the stage for chronic inflammation, persistence of disease, and the phenomenon of "priming" or heightened sensitivity to antigen. Increased nonspecific hyperresponsiveness to respiratory irritants can also be secondary to mediators released during the late phase. A rationale for topical corticosteroids or allergen immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma is based on the observation that suppression of the late-phase reaction will decrease eosinophil activity, and inhibit allergen-induced cytokine production and mediator release, inhibiting proinflammatory responses and chronic symptoms.
Atopic Disease
Clinical manifestations resembling allergic hypersensitivity can also occur in the absence of an immunologic mechanism. Specific examples include nonallergic (intrinsic) asthma, which is triggered by the effect of inhaled dusts and fumes, weather changes, viral respiratory infections, and stress rather than by aeroallergen-induced IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation; irritant dermatitis, the result of physical or chemical damage to skin rather than development of sensitized lymphocytes; and "anaphylactoid reactions" from nonimmunologic release of mast cell mediators. Therefore, the diagnosis of allergy requires answers to the following questions: (1) What is the nature of the disease? (2) Is the disease caused by an IgE-mediated mechanism? (3) What specific allergens are responsible?
The relevant history includes a survey of allergen exposure associated with home, work, hobbies, and habits as well as medications. Physical examination is most useful if performed during exposure. Demonstration of allergic hypersensitivity by in vivo or in vitro testing confirms clinical suspicions of allergic disease.
Specific IgE Antibody Tests
To maximize the positive predictive value of allergy testing, a positive test result must be correlated with the history. Patients selected for testing include those with moderate to severe disease, those who are potential candidates for allergen immunotherapy, and those with strong predisposing factors for atopic diatheses, eg, a strong family history of atopy or ongoing exposure to potential sources of allergen. Since the development of rhinitis precedes the presentation of asthma in over half of cases, early intervention may decrease the risk of more severe clinical allergic disease. The type of immune response must be consistent with the nature of the disease. IgE antibody causes allergic rhinitis but not allergic contact dermatitis. IgE antibodies are detected by in vivo (skin tests) or in vitro methods.
Skin Tests
Epicutaneous or cutaneous allergen testing produces a localized pruritic wheal (induration) and flare (erythema) that is maximal at 15–20 minutes. It is used most commonly in the diagnosis of allergic respiratory disease (rhinitis and asthma) but also in suspected cases of food or drug allergy and hymenoptera (bee, wasp, hornet or yellow jacket) venom hypersensitivity. Allergen extracts are available for pollens, fungi, animal danders, and dust mites and are selected appropriately for the patient's geographic area.
Skin testing is preferred to in vitro methods (discussed below) because it detects the presence of IgE antibody in tissue and shows biologic activity. In vivo skin testing is generally more sensitive, more specific, more rapid, and less expensive than in vitro radioallergosorbent (RAST) testing. Any drug with antihistamine effects (H1-antagonists, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines) must be withdrawn prior to testing. Appropriate controls with a negative diluent and a positive histamine response are mandatory for valid results and accurate interpretation. There is a remote risk of inducing a systemic reaction. To avoid this, most allergists perform epicutaneous (prick) testing first, followed by selected intradermal tests to allergens negative by prick testing. Intradermal skin testing techniques are often used for diagnostic confirmation of hymenoptera (insect venom) or penicillin hypersensitivity, as this method increases sensitivity of the assay for detection of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Skin testing with hymenoptera venom or a drug is performed by serial titration, starting with diluted solutions. Special allergenic extracts can be prepared for other allergens (food or latex).
Skin testing for allergy to drugs is reliable for high-molecular-weight proteins (eg, heterologous serum) but not for low-molecular-weight compounds (most drugs), which must bind to larger proteins (haptens) to become immunogenic. With the exception of penicillin, in vivo skin testing for low-molecular-weight drugs is limited in sensitivity and availability. Penicillin testing is available because the immunochemistry has been delineated, identifying all haptenated molecules including the native drug and all immunogenic metabolites. The combination of skin testing with the major and minor metabolic determinants of penicillin is highly predictive of anaphylaxis. (The minor determinants are not available commercially, though they may be synthesized and are often available at specialized centers.) The negative predictive value of skin tests for IgE-mediated reactions to subsequently administered penicillin is good.
In Vitro Tests of IgE Antibody
IgE antibodies can be detected in serum by RAST or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Many of the usual atopic allergens are available commercially for RAST or ELISA testing. In vitro tests detect allergen-specific antibody in serum. Since IgE-mediated allergy is caused by IgE antibodies bound to mast cells (not by circulating IgE), in vitro tests generally are less sensitive than skin tests for diagnostic use. They are not affected by antihistamine therapy but can give false-positive results in patients with high total serum IgE levels and false-negative results in patients treated with immunotherapy who have significant allergen-specific IgG antibodies. The test is significantly more expensive than skin testing, and results are not immediately available. The RAST or ELISA method is particularly useful for detecting IgE antibodies to certain occupational chemicals or potentially toxic allergens. The total IgE level in serum is higher in atopic patients but because of overlap, it is not a satisfactory diagnostic test for atopy.
Akdis CA et al. Diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adults: European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology/American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/PRACTALL Consensus Report. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Jul;118(1):152–69. [PMID: 16815151]
Antunez C et al. Immediate allergic reactions to cephalosporins: evaluation of cross-reactivity with a panel of penicillins and cephalosporins.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Feb;117(2):404–10. [PMID: 16461141]
Apter AJ et al. Is there cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins? Am J Med. 2006 Apr;119(4):354.e11–9. [PMID: 16564780]
Nowak-Wegrzyn A et al. Adverse reactions to foods. Med Clin North Am. 2006 Jan;90(1):97–127. [PMID: 16310526]
Park MA et al. Diagnosis and management of penicillin allergy. Mayo Clin Proc. 2005 Mar;80(3):405–10. [PMID: 15757022]
Sicherer SH et al. 9. Food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Feb;117(2 Suppl Mini-Primer):S470–5. [PMID: 16455349]
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Mmm, this shop permeates odors of sweet caramel and chocolate. It naturally tempts one to stop in and sample the numerous varieties of fudge and chocolate made on site. Watch the staff craft delicious treats on spot including caramel apples dipped in a traditional copper kettle and homemade fudge spread on a granite slab. Enjoy warm samples while learning how these desserts are made.
Don't forget to pick up a signature sweet. Rocky Mountain is famous for their long-stemmed strawberries dipped in white and milk chocolate and giant chocolate chip cookies dipped in chocolate.
Time: Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.


text:
Media releases from the Office of Susan Templeman MP.
Enquiries from the media should be directed to the Media Adviser via the Electorate Office on (02) 4573 8222 or via email to [email protected]
REACHING OUT IN TOUGH TIMES
Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, has congratulated a team of young people who have been volunteering their time to reach out to check on the welfare of vulnerable older people across the Blue Mountains during the current lockdown.
The group of young people, aged between 17 and 25, came together after Ms Templeman sought their advice and input into a range of local issues.
"The group volunteered to call older people to ask if they have the essentials, if they need anything, and sometimes just to chat about the garden," Ms Templeman said.
"I don't think any of them had done something like this before, and it can be a bit daunting picking up the phone and calling someone you don't know.
"But in just two weeks they made more than 300 calls, with some conversations lasting about 15 minutes.
"Some people are busy or don't particularly want to chat, and that's fine, but those that do have commented how nice it was to receive a call – especially from these dedicated young people."
Blue Mountains group member Chris Timbs, 22, said the calls were a win-win for both the young people and older residents they spoke to.
"I think it's important to be reaching out to the community at the moment because we are arguably more isolated from each other than ever before - it's not as if you can stop and chat to a stranger at a book shop or a café," Mr Timbs said.
"That's why I've been so happy to work with Susan on this project. I've found that for some of the elderly community members we've called, it has been their only contact for the day, or a refreshing change of pace to chat with us after days full of gloomy news headlines - to be part of that is a great feeling!
"I'd say that it's win-win, you get to make someone's day, they can chat to you about what's on their mind and how they're feeling, and I've come away from every call learning something new from people who have so much life experience and wisdom.
"Why not pick up the phone and make a genuine connection in such a distanced and lonely time?"
Ms Templeman said the group's activities came as some refreshing good news during such a challenging time.
"Lockdown has been extremely challenging for everyone in the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, and of course Greater Sydney area, and for many the social isolation can affect their mental and physical health," Ms Templeman said.
"These young people, and I, know we need to emerge from this lockdown with our community intact – regardless of your age, gender or postcode.
"I'm really proud of the outreach they are doing, and I'd like to congratulate each and every one of them for their personal commitment to our community.
"If you're a local young person who'd like to be involved in this type of volunteer work, please get in touch via email at [email protected].
"And of course, anyone who needs assistance with Federal issues during this difficult time can contact my team – we are only a phone call away if you need help.
"We are all in this together, we're on your side, and we don't want to see anyone left behind."


Source Wilde, George. Letter to John Wilde. 25 May 1918. George Wilde Collection. Arnold Historical Society, Arnold, Missouri.
Description George Wilde sent this letter to his brother John F. Wilde. Wilde wrote from Camp Funston in Kansas and stated that they were about to leave. Wilde served as a bugler in the 354th Infantry of the 89th Division.


Moya is a thin facade around the Alamofire HTTP client. Instead of writing Alamofire.request("https://api.mysite.com/v1/orders/\(userId)") and managing parameters, paths, encoding, etc., we can implement Moya's protocol and access an endpoint via enum: MoyaProvider<MyApi>().request(.getOrders(userId)). Not only does this keep our API configuration encapsulated and consistent, but it's much easier to read. The API call returns a Moya.Response, which ultimately needs to be converted into a model.
Decodable is an object mapping library that handles JSON serialization and deserialization into Swift objects. Mappings are specified as extensions on models and–once specified–deserialization is a simple call to the decode extension: let orders = try [Order].decode(json).
Here we see two map methods, the first for returning a single mapped object and second for an array of objects.
The self.mapJSON() call is just a Moya extension that will convert a Response to JSON using JSONSerialization.jsonObject. Feel free to use your own serialization code.
Utilize ViewModels. Your API call(s) may return data that does not exactly conform to your view. Are there any well established design patterns that can help you handle this separation of concerns? How would this code work with the above examples?
Errors in an RxSwift observable chain will terminate a subscription, which is something you want to avoid in most cases. If any sort of error occurs in the above examples (network issue, mapping issue, etc.), our subscription will be terminated and updates will cease. How might you handle this problem?
All of the above code is available on GitHub here.


The exhibition will also have items to illustrate Mahatma Gandhi's experiments with naturopathy. An audiovisual documentation of Mahatma Gandhi's views and philosophy will also be screened as part of his birth anniversary celebrations.
A 250-bed naturopathy hospital, medical college and a Gandhi memorial will be set up by the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) at Kondhwa. Tenders have been invited for the Rs 200-crore project, which is being funded by the Union Ministry of Ayush. This will be the first project to set up a naturopathy hospital and college in Maharashtra, professor (Dr) K Satya Lakshmi, director of NIN, told The Indian Express.
Though the proposal was made several years ago, Lakshmi said it was delayed due to hurdles in obtaining land from the state. "Finally, 25 acres at Kondhwa were sanctioned last year. The tendering process is underway and construction will begin soon," she said.
"Apart from courses in naturopathy and yoga, NIN, a Gandhian Institute, offers fellowships in Gandhian values and philosophies," said Lakshmi.
The project also involves setting up a memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, which will have a centre for Gandhian studies that caters to the needs of the society by imbibing Gandhian principles. The memorial, 'Nisarg Gram', will be along the lines of the Gandhi Seva Gram Ashram in Wardha, said Dr Pradeep M K Nair, senior medical officer at NIN. The centre will also offer doctoral programmes in Gandhian philosophy.
Once the memorial is erected, the NIN has plans to facilitate and encourage research activities in all aspects of human health. The institute is also planning ways to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. A unique 'Return to Nature' exhibition and wellness expo has been planned in September as part of the celebrations. "We will hold discussions on topics such as 'can we make our kitchen a pharmacy', 'usage of natural products' and 'healthy cooking sessions'," said Nair.
The Institute will join hands with the Indian Naturopathy and Yoga Graduates Medical Association for the event, he said. According to the principles of naturopathy, food can have medicinal values and nutrition is of crucial importance. Stalls at the exhibition will focus on how to cook food without losing its nutritional value, how to store and preserve food, the good and bad combinations of food when to eat and what to eat, said NIN officials.


Bring your skin back to beautiful balance with this lightweight oil-free lotion moisturiser.
Powered by Intuitive Mineral Moisture Technology, Smart Combination Smoothing Lightweight Emulsion replenishes combination to normal skin with oil-free hydration to leave it feeling incredibly soft and ultra-smooth.
This moisture-rich yet lightly-textured emulsion helps to increase moisture levels for healthy-looking balance. Plus, a blend of peptides, ceramides and amino acids to help smooth rough texture, lessening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.


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Home/History/We don't want you: Twitter users vote to kick out Elon Musk as CEO in poll he created
We don't want you: Twitter users vote to kick out Elon Musk as CEO in poll he created
Twitter users have told Elon Musk to step down as Chief Executive Officer of the microblogging platform.
He had created a poll to seek the users' opinion, and 57.5 per cent voted for him to step down, while 42.5 per cent wanted him to stay.
ALSO READ: I'm homeless, says world's richest man, Elon Musk
Musk has affirmed that he would comply with the result of the unscientific poll, which started on Sunday evening.
Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll.
A little more than 17 million votes were cast in the informal referendum on his chaotic leadership of Twitter, which has seen many employees lose their jobs and the re-platforming of accounts that were suspended because they violated Twitter's rule.
ALSO READ: Elon Musk is no longer the world's wealthiest man
His poll comes at the heels of the latest uproar regarding a policy that barred users from linking to certain rival social media websites, including Facebook, Mastodon and Instagram.
Musk didn't immediately respond to the outcome of the vote.
Don't come home without first class: Nigerian father warns daughter after raising N20m for education
"I can't wait to marry you Ryan, I love you so much" – DJ Cuppy tells lover (Video)


Kinimo Ngoran is back with his family in the Capital Region after being released by ICE on Tuesday night.
NewsChannel 13 has been following Ngoran's story for the past six weeks while he's been in custody following a routine immigration visit.
It was an emotional day at the Capital City Rescue Mission as Ngoran walked in on Wednesday afternoon with his wife after weeks of being held in a detention facility and not knowing if he was going to be deported.
There were hugs, cheers and many, many tears as he walked into the Mission. It's a place he's worked as a chef for about a decade.
Ngoran came to this country illegally and has worked to become a citizen for about a decade.
His wife was by his side. She said she got to kiss her husband good night on Tuesday night for the first time in a long while.
Ngoran has been released until a decision is made on his application to get a green card through his wife.
Ngoran tearfully thanked his family, his extensive legal team, the Mission's executive director and longtime sponsor Perry Jones, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple and all those who helped him get back home.
Hear what Ngoran had to say by watching the video of Kumi Tucker's story.


When Should You Plan Your Big Reveal after a Tummy Tuck?
When Should You Plan Your "Big Reveal" after a Tummy Tuck?
Summary: After investing time and resources in a tummy tuck, it's only natural to look forward to the results. However, as with any cosmetic surgery, your tummy tuck recovery requires patience and care. Although of course you're eager to show off your new figure, biding your time as the body heals is the best approach. Knowing what to expect from your tummy tuck, especially during the healing process, can help you prepare for your big reveal.
It's important to have realistic expectations of a tummy tuck recovery. Your tummy tuck is actually just the first step on the road toward reaching your ideal look. Don't expect to slide into your slimmest-fitting clothes in the immediate days and weeks after the tummy tuck, as the abdominal region will still be swollen from your surgery as well as any post-surgical fluid. Your surgeon may recommend that you wear a compression garment during this time to maximize your comfort and help reduce swelling.
The timeline for tummy tuck recovery can be divided into stages. You should notice an improvement in your midsection immediately after the procedure, although bruising and swelling of the abdominal area are to be expected. While recovery time varies for each individual, people are typically able to return to work within 2 weeks after surgery. A significant portion of the swelling typically resolves within 3 to 4 weeks following the procedure, which dovetails nicely with a gradual return to exercise.
Many people are enthusiastic about resuming physical activity after a tummy tuck, but during the first several weeks, exercise should be restricted to light walking. About a month after surgery, low-impact aerobics get the green light, including incline walking, use of an elliptical trainer, recumbent or upright biking. At the 2-month mark, most people are able to get back to cardio workouts, including running, spinning and swimming. Resistance exercise, strength training, weight lifting and high impact activities can usually be resumed 3 months after a tummy tuck. By 3 months after surgery, the majority of the swelling should be resolved, moving you closer to your destination.
An experienced board-certified plastic surgeon can ensure that the tummy tuck incision is subtly located just above the pubic region, where it should be hidden by underwear and bikinis. This placement ensures discretion and helps protect the scar for optimal healing.
Best practices for postoperative scar care include avoiding sun exposure as well as applying a topical cream that may help the redness to fade. Your plastic surgeon should be able to recommend several products that can help with scar management.
A tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and, for those who need it, tightens separated abdominal muscles. The popular body contouring procedure can transform a flabby, drooping stomach into a leaner and fitter looking shape.
When liposuction of the flanks or love handles is combined with a tummy tuck, the results can be dramatic. Such metamorphosis doesn't happen overnight, but instead over weeks and months. During this vital period of recovery, swelling resolves, the incision heals and your muscle and tissue should relax into their new positions, adopting a naturally enhanced look.
If you're hoping to plan your "big reveal" at a poolside party or beach getaway, your best bet is to allow at least 6 months of healing after getting your tummy tuck. This should leave plenty of time for the swelling to resolve and your new contours to take shape, leaving you confident when you finally do show off your improved appearance.


Straight from the Heart features original music with funky grooves, bringing together Latin and Jazz music in songs that speak to love, new beginnings, and the importance of speaking straight from the heart.
Survival Groove brings together musicians from jazz and Latin music, finding synergy in a common groove. The group features veteran jazz musician, Gene Tucci (guitar), who comes from years of experience in the jazz, rock and R&B worlds; Roberto Medina (bongo,timbal and background vocals) and Sylvia Sherman (bass), who have played in the Latin music scene, co-directing the popular contemporary son ensemble, La Familia Son; Dan Schulman (trombone), well versed in both jazz and Latin music; and Norm Downing (congas and lead vocals), who has played percussion and sung for over 30 years in numerous Bay Area groups.
Survival Groove plays jazzy renditions of Cuban son and original music featuring funky grooves, and jazz and R&B music with Latin rhythms. With ample talent for improvisation, their performances are unique and pleasing for both listening and dancing. Survival Groove brings audiences East Bay funk with salsa, jazz y sabor!
Straight from the Heart is Survival Groove's debut album featuring original music that speaks to universal and contemporary themes. Enjoy!


As the school year comes to a close it is time for us Moms to think about all the fun we are going to have with our kids this summer. Whether or not a vacation is on your summer agenda there are plenty of days to plan fun things for the kids to do. Having fun with your children this summer does not have to be expensive. There are plenty of activities you can do all summer long right in your own backyard. My kids love playing in the sand and of course they want to enjoy water activities almost every day.
The challenge is keeping it fresh and fun. I like to use sand and water tables as part of our activities. We fill them up with sand and create pathways through the sand for the water to flow through. They love finding sticks and natural fibers in the yard to figure out the best way to create a "river". This is a great way to teach about dams and how different things can redirect water flow. It is like a science experiment without the structure of a classroom. We also use sand and water tables to create fun underwater worlds for their figurines and water toys and of course to just splash around in. If you are really adventurous you can fill the tubs with shaving cream, beans, or anything that is fun to run your fingers through for different sensory experiences.
Another fun must have for summer is a sand box. Of course it is great to get your kids to the beach or the park but it is really nice to have access to a sand box right in your own backyard. Today there are some really enjoyable choices. There is the traditional square sandbox but there are also some that have shade built right in so you don't have to worry about your kids getting too much sun. My favorite is the Pirate Sand Boat because my kids love pretend play and the boat adds just the right spark for their imagination. Whatever your plans this summer make sure you take the time to just hang out at home and play. It is the perfect time to rest and enjoy having your kids around for fun in the sun.


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Catching up with Peyton Krebs & Seth Appert
Chatting with the Amerks' newest player and his head coach.
By cbs714 Nov 12, 2021, 11:19am EST
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Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Fresh off of a dominant 5-1 win against the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins, the Rochester Americans held a practice skate Thursday to begin preparing for Friday's matchup against the Cleveland Monsters.
After practice, I jumped on a media call and got in a few questions for the Amerks Head Coach Seth Appert, and recently acquired prospect, center Peyton Krebs.
Head Coach Seth Appert
Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images
With Amerks forwards, J.J. Peterka and Jack Quinn, lighting up the score sheet already this season, I asked Coach Appert who else has stood out to him on this Rochester team. The affable Appert began by touting his defense corps, in particular mentioning Mattias Samuelsson and Casey Fitzgerald, and complimenting both blueliners as "stabilizing forces" in their own end.
Further expanding on the question, Appert went on to speak highly of Matej Pekar, whom he commended for growing his game "exponentially" despite not always showing up on the score sheet. He specifically referenced Pekar's growing role on the penalty kill unit as something he could not have predicted last year. However, according to Appert, Pekar made "massive strides over the summer" which has led to him becoming a very effective player for the Amerks this season.
Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I then brought up newly signed, veteran center, Mark Jankowski, whom the coach was quick to praise. Appert extended his appreciation for Jankowski's leadership, and parlayed that into complimenting the veteran leadership on the entire Amerks team, telling me that the veterans on the squad were still very hungry to get to the NHL level.
Back to Jankowski, Appert was particularly impressed with Jankowski's "cerebral, calm" pace, especially in the defensive zone. He mentioned the big man's multiple contributions as a first line center, special teams player, and in the faceoff circles. He then zeroed in on Jankowski's recently increased physical play which the coach was very pleased with.
Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
Lastly, I checked in on the development of defenseman Mattias Samuelsson. Appert complimented the towering blueliner's defensive game, noting that he hasn't seen much rust after Samuelsson's recent injury. Appert did mention that Samuelsson's puck touches, breakout ability and transitions have been solid, but have not been at "the elite level" which is what the club expects from him. That said, he anticipates that Mattias will continue to grow and improve in those areas of the game. All told, it was high praise for a promising young Sabres prospect.
Peyton Krebs
Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Next up, I spoke to one of the top prospects in the Sabres organization, newly acquired Peyton Krebs. I asked the talented center who he modelled his game after to which Krebs told me that he doesn't necessarily replicate his game after one particular player. However, Krebs did say that he does review video clips of Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brayden Point, and Mathew Barzal. Certainly a pretty good list of players to model one's game after.
When asked if he was comfortable at all three forward positions, Krebs was confident in his reply, noting that he's been a center his whole life, so he sees himself sticking with that position, but would play in any position in order to make the NHL.
At this point, I decided to lighten things up and ask him how he likes Rochester so far. Krebs showed off his easy-going personality, complimenting the trees and the buildings in Rochester, but relaying that he hasn't had much time to get to know the city yet.
Aside from Rochester's strong flora game, Krebs also spoke very highly of a few of his Amerks teammates. He mentioned that his World Juniors teammate, Jack Quinn, has given him a ride to the rink on a few occasions as it would appear that their chemistry is developing both on and off the ice. This was recently evident when Krebs dished out a silky assist on a Jack Quinn goal during the last Amerks game. Krebs also reminded me that he has previously played with Rochester defenseman, Jimmy Schuldt, in Henderson last season. Regarding the Americans locker room leaders, Krebs highlighted that Samuelsson and Rochester center Ryan Scarfo have both welcomed him onto the team.
Peyton Krebs @jackquinn_19@BuffaloSabres fans could get used to seeing this. (via @AmerksHockey) pic.twitter.com/zlzgwqAgSG
— NHL (@NHL) November 11, 2021
I asked him about his relationship with fellow Jack Eichel trade center-piece and former Golden Knights teammate, Alex Tuch. Peyton told me that he and Tuch have stayed in touch since the trade and that he knows him well from their time with Vegas. In what was a very positive and insightful comment, Krebs said that both he and Tuch had talked about how "great of a guy" Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is and how excited Adams was about the future of the Buffalo Sabres.
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Finally, I wrapped up with a brass-tacks hockey question and asked the Alberta native if he grew up a Flames or Oilers fan. The genial Krebs told me that he was a "hybrid" fan of both the Oilers and the Flames growing up. In what was a fun, personal response to my question, Krebs said both of his parents grew up in Northern Alberta which made them Oilers fans. However, Krebs admitted that he enjoyed attending Calgary games throughout his youth, which led him to ultimately acknowledge that he had been more of Flames fan — so there you have it.
Final Thoughts...
In my opinion, head coach Seth Appert appears to be a very energetic and positive coach. His responses to my questions were all measured with honesty and therefore came across as extremely genuine. His thoughtful, yet direct, replies showed me exactly why he has an outstanding reputation as a head coach and in developing younger players.
Regarding Peyton Krebs, he certainly looks to be very mature for his age. Even though it was a small sample size, Krebs' poise and demeanor were very noticeable, especially for a player who has a lot of expectation riding on his shoulders.
All in all, I was very fortunate to get a chance to talk with two cornerstones of the Buffalo Sabres future, and I came away not only impressed, but extremely optimistic.
Many thanks to the Rochester Americans Public and Media Relations Coordinator Ryan Harr who was very courteous and welcoming. And of course, a big 'thank you' to the DBTB team captain, Melissa Burgess, who set up my participation in the media event.


It is unfortunate that some runners take the attitude that they are runners and anyone who runs a race without the goal to brake the tape is somehow not a runner.
If you run you are a runner. Anyone who looks down their nose at heavy or overweight runners is missing the point.
While some runners run to win, most run in hopes of seeing their six-pack, their belt or even their shoes. It's about health and fitness for 95% of us.
Sneering at joggers or slower runners is just poor taste. The sport is growing, but do we really need people discouraging anyone from lacing up and going out for a jog?
That sums it up exactly- I couldn't agree more.
Funny that I just wrote a blog on plodding. Sure some runners are plodding joggers. I was an NCAA track athlete in college and I don't have the attitude this makes them any less runners. Speed is irrelevant. I've had my ups and downs, but I enjoy running even when I'm fat and slow. It's a lifestyle for some people, regardless of elitism. If you feel like a runner, then you're a runner.


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