text:
RCA Sunny Delight - Ross Lovegrove
The earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in a whole year. One day you might walk out of your green, or red, or brown, or dark green (depending on the season and the algae's mood) house and walk down the road to the aqua-plane station to catch your solar energy driven vehicle to work. Its possible, at least according to the students who participated in Sunny Delight, an IDE, Industrial Design Engineering, design masterclass led by Ross Lovegrove this past April at the RCA, Royal College of Arts.
The group of 9 interdisciplinary teams was given the brief as follows:
Welcome to the small suburban town of Sunny Delight. Located in the near future, and on the outskirts of a Northern European city, Sunny delight will be home to a few lucky residents who will benefit from a town that uses the very latest solar power, and related technologies, to create the world's first ever integrated zero energy housing and transportation system. It is your job as cutting-edge designers to make Sunny Delight. The challenge is to create a vision for a near future that works seamlessly in terms of both design and technology. In doing so, you will learn about the challenges of integrating design at many scales: urban, architectural, interior, transport, vehicle and product.
Solar power (photovoltaic and/or solar thermal) must form a key energy technology component, but other energy systems may also be included to achieve a zero energy rating – it is a huge challenge to achieve this with solar power alone. The project is challenging and requires multidisciplinary teams to be able to cover all the elements of the brief. So each team should include an engineer, a product designer, and a vehicle designer.
Ross Lovegrove introduced the final projects by saying:
"Design is invention – it is always changing, and as resources diminish attitudes need to change"
He refers to designer's attitudes as well as the consumer's attitudes. Not only do we, as consumers, have to assume responsibility and change the way we use products, spend energy, and purchase power but so do designers have to rethink interactivity, manufacturing, material sourcing, and most importantly they have to educate themselves in sustainable design that will shape our way of living. This is a new frontier in design education.
Most schools are starting to seriously integrate environmental programs into their industrial design and transportation design departments, but where until now they might have been specialized courses soon they will be fully-fledged programs. The masterclass lasted 6 weeks and the professors probably learned as much as the students did in this time. The most interesting factor was the multidisciplinary requirement for each team, at least one engineer, one product designer, and one vehicle designer; usually designers create in a 'design vacuum', amongst other designers and design professors. In this case, because the project required the specific use of solar power as the energy source the need for engineers was a pre-requisite for the project to be credible. Ross Lovegrove is a pioneer in the use of advanced materials and new methods of production and no doubt was pivotal in steering the teams down the right solar path.
The 9 teams, Folding, Colod, Go Neutral, Algae Skin, Falguera, Folium, Ivy, Startlight, and Tergum were all judged on the final presentation day by an illustrious panel of an equally eclectic mix of designers, engineers, and business people. Amongst them were Peter Van Manen – Managing Director, McLaren Electronic Systems, Anthony Lo Director - Advanced Design, GM Europe Design, Reinhart Buchner - Studio Director Design, Sharp Electronics Europe, Oliver Sylvester Bradley – Solar Century and Solaraid.org, Andreas Brown from Swarovski, Mitsuhiro Kanada - Associate Director, Arup, and Christie Franchi of Christie Franchi & Partners, New Energy Brokers.
Each project had to design a vehicle that was in some ways connected to the sustainable life of the habitat, which in turn needed to be connected to the urban space it lived in. The Algae Skin team, with Cécile Dartinguenave, Iris Kuntz, Sheraz Arif, Andy Brand, Tabitha Purathur, and Thomas Smith as its members, asked themselves…"can algae save the world?". They proposed to use algae as an alternative and cost effective method of generating hydrogen fuel with solar energy. Luckily for them their neighboring college, Imperial College, was awarded a £4.2 million fund for a five-year investigation to improve the efficiency of algal hydrogen production so they were able to speak to researchers in order to make their algae panels a reality. How it works is "the algae live in an aqueous solution in the lower cavity of a two-chamber tank and when exposed to sunlight and gets chemically stressed the algae produce hydrogen and oxygen" says Andy. An internal structure leads the energy throughout the house via the panels, made of glass and EFTE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene is a film that is 1% the weight of glass, is self-cleaning, and recyclable), creating a zero-emissions self-contained sustainable home. The Solar Monowheel is the vehicle that lives in this home can accommodate two people and is made of concentric rings, some which are made of photovoltaic cell matrices, allowing it to collapse and be lowered into a docking station in the street or house where is recharges on the energy generated by the house.
The Folium Team, Katrien Ploegmakers, Chris Holden, Philippa Mothersill, Jonathon Henshall, addressed life in Sunny Delight on a more poetic level than biological. They were attracted by the way light plays a role in our lives, and how it affects living spaces. The end product was an EFTE film that is printed with a CIGS (Copper indium gallium selenide) solar ink pattern inspired by that of a canopy of trees and the light that produces on the grass; in turn these branches collect energy and distribute it throughout the home. The original vehicle conceived for the project was for individual passengers but as the designs developed and the team researched further they decided that the product they had developed was more applicable to a large-scale transportation system as the benefits of the technology are greater. Using an aqua-plane infrastructure for improved efficiency the control system uses rollers on a track for propulsion and breaking while the solar printed EFTE not only supplies energy over the station and travel pod but also adds ambience.
The Sunny Delight Tergum team, Sarat Babu, Gianpaolo Fusari, Hersh Haladker, Matt Johnson, and Bob Romkes, were inspired by technology they discovered in the early research phase based on spherical photovoltaic cells. Having the distinct advantage of 360 degree light capture the team felt that these spherical photovoltaic cells were not being exploited to their full capacity in its current static mountings and decided to use a new composite material to increase physical flexibility and enjoy its transparency. The result was Tergum, "a temporary, independent (self-sustained in terms of power), deployable nomadic structure/vehicle". The slug looking vehicle had a retractable tail that when inflated, via a double pneumatic chamber, creates an inhabitable space and when deployed is a vehicle. Spheres speckled over approximately 50% of the transparent tail capture power and even then only 50% of the spheres need to be exposed to the sun to collect energy. During the presentation Matt and the team showed how the Solar skin would deploy brining up the question of privacy. It's a green car, just be one with nature! (and everyone else!).
One of the most applauded projects was Folding, for its simplicity. The team, simply Becky, Bibi, Ciaran, Dae Kyung, and Ralph, seemed to have connected on a different level than the other teams. They truly explored and were inspired by nature. The final product was a covering, much like a rain forest canopy tree, that when folded flat its panels collect the most energy from the sun during the day and when open offers up a beautiful dome shaped covering for any dwelling, or even a vehicle. Not only was the idea suggestive but the presentation was so straightforward everyone understood that this group has a genius product, too simple for words…see the video.


Black Ships before Troy- I have one copy I'll throw in free if I'm already shipping a box to you and you are first to request it.
I'm interested in the first set of books for $45. How much to ship it to 42044?
How much would shipping be on Material W, hunger p, and black ships? I am interested. Zip 39667.
Hi Karen, I would like to send PayPal and my address, but I cant find a private message link on this forum. How do I contact you with my privet info?


Rapper Lucas Musiq declares his difference from gospel music colleagues. Not only is the 24-year-old fusing other genres with dancehall and reggae, but he also uses his virginity as part of his ministry.
Speaking to the Jamaica Observer recently, Lucas Musiq said it is not deliberate, putting his purity on show.
Though Lucas was raised in a Christian home, he did not always walk the straight and narrow.
Four years ago, he was a rebellious youngster —drinking, smoking and performing as a secular act under the moniker T-Zone. He even produced songs for Vybz Kartel and Black Rhyno.
"A prophet came to me in 2014 and said he had an anointing to bestow on me from God, but said I wouldn't be ready for it until 2015. He said,'trust me you're going to change', and I never believed him because I enjoyed what I was doing in the secular world; yah mek money and there was the enjoyment," he stated.
He testified that in 2015 his dream of a rapture in Jamaica brought him to repent.
Lucas Musiq's given name is Shacquille Wedderburn. He has one gospel album under his belt ( Not From Here, released in 2016) and is preparing to release his sophomore set, The Process, next year.
The project will have 14 tracks, co-produced by Lucas Musiq and American producer Daniel Cruz.
"I wanna be huge. I am drawn to young people and if yah come to young people yuh cyaan do the same old same old. I bring something new to the table. I wanna be a very inspirational person to people all over the world; I want to earn Grammys too. And I want to just help people and give back," he said.


Brooks , who had been shown the strip by fellow producer Polly Platt. Originally, Brooks wanted Groening to adapt his Life in Hell characters for the show. Groening feared that he would have to give up his ownership rights, and that the show would fail and would take down his comic strip with it. Brooks's office and hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family: Homer , the overweight father; Marge , the slim mother; Bart , the bratty oldest child; Lisa , the intelligent middle child; and Maggie , the baby.
Appearances[ edit ] On The Simpsons[ edit ] The character of Sideshow Bob began his career as the non-speaking sidekick on Krusty the Clown 's television show. After Krusty is arrested, Bob takes control of the show, introducing children to elements of high culture. However, Bob's reign is short-lived; Bart Simpson exposes him as the robber, Krusty is released, and Bob is fired and sent to jail. As part of a scheme to inherit money she has invested in the stock market, Bob attempts to blow Selma up during their honeymoon.


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Following is a list of senators of Gironde, people who have represented the department of Gironde in the Senate of France.

Third Republic

Senators for Gironde under the French Third Republic were:

 Charles de Pelleport-Burete (1876-1879)
 Louis Béhic (1876–1879)
 Louis Hubert-Delisle (1876–1879)
 Raoul Duval (1876–1879)
 Pierre Issartier (1879–1887)
 Jean Callen (1879–1888)
 Henri de Lur-Saluces (1879–1891)
 Bernard Dupouy  de 1879–1897)
 Armand Caduc (1885–1902)
 André Lavertujon (1887–1897)
 Ludovic Trarieux (1888–1904)
 Louis Obissier (1897–1911)
 David Raynal (1897-1903) died in office
 Albert Thounens (1903-1920)
 Ernest Monis (1891–1920)
 Albert Decrais (1903–1915)
 Marcel Courrégelongue (1904–1924)
 Guillaume Chastenet de Castaing (1912–1933)
 Eugène Buhan (1920–1933)
 Louis David (1920–1924)
 Marcel Vayssiere (1920-1922) died in office
 Charles Chaumet (1923–1932)
 Fernand Faure (1924–1929)
 Armand Calmel (1924–1941)
 Joseph Capus (1930–1941)
 René Caillier (1932–1941)
 Jean Odin (1933-1941)
 Georges Portmann (1933-1941)

Fourth Republic

Senators for Gironde under the French Fourth Republic were:

 René Duhourquet (1946–1948)
 François Leuret (1946–1948)
 Maxime Teyssandier (1946–1948)
 Robert Brettes (1946–1959)
 Jean Sourbet (7–19 November 1948)
 Lucien de Gracia (1948–1951)
 Jean Durand (1948–1955)
 Max Monichon (1948–1959)
 Georges Milh (1951–1955)
 Marc Pauzet (1955–1959)
 Georges Portmann (1955–1959)

Fifth Republic
Former senators for Gironde under the French Fifth Republic were:

As of January 2018 the senators were:

References

Sources

Gironde

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Skype Translator is a very useful tool for communicating with our members on Skype, in the desired language. Here you can find out how you can use it.
1. Start your Skype, choose the person you want to talk to from your contacts' list and left click on his name. Then, click on "Start translator", as in the photo below.
2. After that, a group will be created on your Skype contact's list which includes you and the other participant.
- Skype will translate every sentence the SkyPrivate Member writes, in English. If you wish to change the translated language, click on the "Change language" button.
For example, let's say you are a Colombian Model who speaks Spanish and you want to see everything the Member writes in the Spanish language. In this case, go to your Translator settings, click on "Change language" and select "Espanol", as in the image below. After that, every sentence the Member will write ( in Russian, English, Romanian, Serbian etc.), will be translated into Spanish for you.


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Wadi Barada (în ) este un curs de apă în sud-vestul Siriei. Valea găzduiește 17 sate și orașe.

Etimologie
Cuvântul wadi (în ) înseamnă vale în arabă. "Barada" se crede că este derivat din cuvântul barid (în ), care înseamnă "rece" în limbile semitice. Numele vechi grec (în greacă: , translit. Chrysorrhoas, înseamnă "pârâiaș cu aur"). Râul a suferit, de asemenea, de secetă severă în ultimele decenii, în principal din cauza precipitațiilor mai scăzute și a creșterii mari a populației din zonă.

Geografie
Wadi Barada este situată în partea de nord-vest a capitalei siriene Damasc, în Districtul Qalamoun Este cunoscută ca fiind o zonă muntoasă și în contact direct cu un lanț muntos superior al Libanului.

Râul Barada este situat în suburbia vestică a Damascului, are o lungime de 84 km, provine din Zabadani și se varsă în lacul Al Otaiba.

Regiunea are, de asemenea, o sursă principală de apă. Apa Ein Fajja din valea Barada este o sursă majoră a capitalei, oferind apă potabilă pentru mai mult de șase milioane de oameni din Damasc și mediul său rural.

Sate și orașe din Wadi Barada
Următoarele sate și orașe alcătuiesc Wadi Barada. Numărul populației este în funcție de  Biroul Central de Statistică (CBS) pentru anul 2004.

Vezi și
 Barada

Note

Ueduri din Siria
Localități din districtul An-Nabek


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Keith Vincent: Masaoka Shiki's New Haiku
A New Year's Haiku Gathering at Shiki's House, around 1898 or 1899
Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) was not just any haiku poet. He was the inventor of haiku. The roots of the form are centuries old, but it was Shiki who theorized and popularized it in its current form. But what, for Shiki, made a good haiku?
The roots of haiku are centuries old, but it was Masaoka Shiki who promoted the idea of the haiku as a form that could stand on its own rather than remain a part of a collective poetic production. If today's readers tend to think of haiku, even those of earlier periods, as independent poems, this is the result of Shiki's retrospective reinvention of the genre in the late nineteenth century. It was also Shiki who popularized the term haiku itself, taking the "hai" of "haikai no renga" (comic linked verse) and adding it to "ku," or "poem."
But what made a good haiku for Shiki? In this talk, Professor Vincent will try to explain, with lots of examples.
Matsuyama Shiki Memorial Museum
Feb 27, 4:30–6 PM
The Cornille Lecture: The Book as Lens: Making Books as a Mode of Inquiry
Cornille Professor Ken Botnick explores the material authorship of the artist book, achieved through the combination of concept, design, material, and production.
Brainstorming: An Interdisciplinary Panel Featuring Wellesley Faculty
Have you ever wondered what a mind actually is? Join us for a cross-disciplinary conversation about historical and contemporary attempts to answer this question.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - 4:30pm
Mar 11, 4:30 PM
Diasporic Tradition as Curatorial Practice
Newhouse Fellow Nazan Bedirhanoglu reflects on the use of symbols and narratives as building blocks of the Kurdish diasporic identity and share insights about her field research on the Kurdish diaspora in the United States.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - 4:30pm
Feb 11, 4:30 PM
Losing Laroche: The Story of the Only Black Passenger on the Titanic
Newhouse Fellow Kellie Carter Jackson traces the story of Joseph Laroche to allow us to better understand the possibilities and limitations of black travel in the Titanic moment.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - 4:30pm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Het grote gat is een stripverhaal uit de reeks van Suske en Wiske. Het is geschreven door Paul Geerts en gepubliceerd in De Standaard en Het Nieuwsblad van 22 januari 1996 tot en met 13 mei 1996. De eerste albumuitgave was in november 1996.

Personages
In dit verhaal spelen de volgende personages mee:
 Suske, Wiske met Schanulleke, tante Sidonia, Lambik, Jerom, professor Barabas, Harry Winston Junior en andere wetenschappers, misdaadorganisatie, Schotse, Scheve, Digger (diamantzoeker) en zijn vrouw en familie, Lou Bas, Verena en andere ruimtewezens

Uitvindingen
In dit verhaal spelen de volgende uitvindingen een rol:
de gyronef, de teletijdmachine, de speurneus.

Locaties
Dit verhaal speelt zich af op de volgende locaties:
 Washington D.C. met het Smithsonian Institution (grootste museum van de Verenigde Staten), Zuid-Afrika, Kimberley met het Grote Gat en de Beers consolidated mines, kamp van diamantzoekers, Rothschild & Sons Bank, café, Mangareva op de Steenbokskeerkring in de Grote Oceaan, Antwerpen met Diamantmuseum en diamantatelier.

Het verhaal

Harry Winstor Junior heeft wetenschappers bijeen geroepen in het Smithsonian Institution omdat de Grote Blauwe Diamant, de Blue Hope, rood wordt. Professor Barabas gaat met zijn vrienden naar het Diamantmuseum van Antwerpen en vertelt hoe diamanten ontstaan en waarom Antwerpen zich terecht het diamantcentrum van de wereld mag noemen. Dan wordt professor Barabas op zijn gsm gebeld en vertelt dat hij meteen naar Washington D.C. moet vertrekken. De vrienden brengen hem naar de luchthaven en de professor komt na een nachtvlucht aan in Washington. Professor Barabas vertelt de geleerden over de problemen bij de Belgische posterijen en laat zijn nieuwste uitvinding, de speurneus, zien. Het toestel tast voorwerpen af en beantwoord alle vragen, maar dan hoort professor Barabas dat de informatie over de rode kleur van de diamant TOP SECRET is. De machine vertelt dat er een gelijke blauwe diamant in mei 1880 in het Grote Gat in Kimberley, Zuid-Afrika, is gevonden.

Dan verdwijnt de Blue Hope en professor Barabas wordt verantwoordelijk gesteld. De professor belooft de identieke diamant te bezorgen aan de wetenschappers, maar wil niet vertellen hoe hij dat gaat doen. Professor Barabas vertelt zijn vrienden wat er aan de hand is, maar dan verdwijnt Schanulleke plotseling. Dan ziet Suske Schanulleke op internet en het poppetje vertelt dat ze samen met de Blue Hope de wereld moet redden. Ze zal de vrienden binnen 50 dagen terugzien. Professor Barabas krijgt via een e-mail toestemming de diamant op te graven, maar het bericht wordt onderschept door een misdaadorganisatie. De professor vertelt de vrienden dat de Blue Hope de rampensteen wordt genoemd omdat iedereen die ermee te maken krijgt in het verderf is gestort. Professor Barabas stuurt zijn vrienden naar Zuid-Afrika in 1880, maar tante Sidonia blijft bij hem.

De vrienden vinden een diamant en kopen daarmee een ossenwagen. Er komen drie mannen langs en ze dwingen professor Barabas om twee van hen naar het verleden te sturen. Als olifanten de weg blokkeren kan Jerom deze beesten wegkrijgen en in een bar verslaat Jerom de grote Lou Bas. De vrienden gaan naar "De Beers" en horen daar dat ze voor 50% van hun opbrengst mogen zoeken in het Grote Gat. Lambik vertelt precies waar ze willen gaan graven en Wiske ziet dan dat twee mannen het hebben gehoord. De vrienden komen in de mijn en Jerom begint te hakken in het kimberliet. Schotse en Scheve vermommen zich en vragen Lambik waarom ze precies op die plek willen graven. De vrienden vinden de grote blauwe diamant, maar dan stort de gang in en Schotse en Scheve ontsnappen met de diamant.

De boeven laten dynamiet ontploffen en Wiske denkt even dat ze alleen overgebleven is, maar gelukkig kan Jerom zich samen met Lambik en Suske bevrijden uit de rotsblokken. Jerom kan de schurken pakken en Lambik pakt de blauwe diamant, maar dan verdwijnen de vrienden. Professor Barabas heeft ze naar hun eigen tijd teruggeflitst en onderzoekt de diamant. Professor Barabas laat de diamant precies zo slijpen als zijn dubbelganger en neemt Suske en Wiske mee naar een diamantatelier. De kinderen krijgen uitleg over het bewerkingsproces van diamanten en ze krijgen het duplicaat mee naar huis. Als professor Barabas de wetenschappers een bericht wil sturen verschijnt Schanulleke op het scherm. Schanulleke vertelt dat de vrienden naar Mangareva op de Steenbokskeerkring in de Grote Oceaan moeten gaan op de tiende dag vanaf die dag (middernacht plaatselijke tijd).

De vrienden moeten de voorzitters van de raad van wetenschappers en de voornaamste verantwoordelijken van de meest geïndustrialiseerde landen ter wereld meenemen. Professor Barabas brengt het duplicaat van de Blue Hope naar het Smithsonian Institution en vertelt de wetenschappers dat ze naar Mangaréva moeten gaan. De vrienden vliegen met de gyronef naar Mangaréva en zien dat er allemaal oorlogsschepen dezelfde richting in gaan. De wetenschappers, verantwoordelijken en militairen zien samen met de vrienden een ruimteschip verschijnen. De ruimtewezens leggen uit dat hun voorouders uit Atlantis kwamen, ze konden net voor de grote catastrofe wegkomen. De ruimtewezens willen de mensheid waarschuwen omdat ze voortekenen zien. De diamant staat voor elk element wat de aarde in stand houdt, en ze zal verkleuren als een element in gevaar komt. Wiske krijgt Schanulleke terug en de ruimtewezens vertrekken. De wetenschappers hebben spijt nu ze doorhebben dat professor Barabas niks met de verdwijning van de Blue Hope te maken had en krijgen de roodblauwe diamant van de professor. Hij hoopt dat de diamant ooit weer helemaal blauw zal worden. De vrienden gaan met de gyronef naar huis en Lambik heeft een ruwe diamant meegenomen die hij thuis wil laten slijpen. Niemand uit het publiek weet dat de Blue Hope in het Smithsonian Institution niet de echte steen is, die ligt in een kluis en wordt dagelijks op kleur onderzocht.

Uitgaven

Grote gat
Stripverhaal uit 1996


text:
— All Classification Talking about Complex Trauma Support Services About Treatment Coping Strategies Healing Financial Costs Justice & Legal ACEs & PCEs Tools Directories Prevention
Resources for survivors of cults, their loved ones, and professionals
This website provides information, education, and help to those adversely affected by or interested in cultic and other high-control groups and relationships.
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic and other high-control environments.
Their 'How can we help you?' page has cult-specific resources for survivors, their loved ones, and professionals; as well as a long list of pertinent 'Cults 101' resources.
International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) General, Survivors, Loved Ones, Professionals Website English
Breaking Free Newletter
Breaking Free is a monthly newsletter with articles, stories, resources and news for adult survivors, those who support them and community members.
Blue Knot Foundation General, Survivors, Loved Ones Newsletter English
Fact Sheet - Supporting Recovery
Fact sheet to help you if you are supporting a family member, friend, partner or someone you care about to recover from childhood trauma or abuse.
The information can help you understand what happened to the person, how it affected them, how they coped and what you can do to support them.
It also highlights the importance of building a safe trusting relationship with the person you are supporting
It is one in a series of fact sheets written specifically for survivors and supporters affected by complex trauma, including childhood trauma and abuse.
There are also other series of fact sheets which explain some of the issues raised in these fact sheets in more detail. You can find them on our website under 'Resources - Fact Sheets'
Blue Knot Foundation Loved Ones PDF English, Plain English, Easy Read English, Other Languages
Fact Sheets - Trauma-related Experiences
This series of Fact Sheets explains more about what happens with experiences of complex trauma, the effects, the reactions people have, the way people cope and possibilities for healing. If you have experienced Complex Trauma or are supporting someone who has, we hope this series will build your understanding, add to your knowledge and support your journey.
Blue Knot Foundation Survivors, Loved Ones Website English, Plain English, Easy Read English
ACEs Too High
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study
Find out about the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. You can find out what your ACE score is, and more importantly, what your Resilience Score is.
ACESTooHigh is a news site that reports on research about positive and adverse childhood experiences, including developments in epidemiology, neurobiology, and the biomedical and epigenetic consequences of toxic stress. We also cover how people, organizations, agencies and communities are implementing practices and policies based on the research. This includes developments in education, juvenile justice, criminal justice, public health, medicine, mental health, social services, and cities, counties and states.
ACESTooHigh Survivors, Loved Ones Website English
Trauma and Dissociation Resources for Survivors and Loved Ones
Resources for the public on trauma and dissociative disorders, including FAQs for parents and for teachers; Fact Sheets for caregivers; information on how to support someone who lives with dissociative identities; and websites of interest for people with dissociative identity disorder.
International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) Survivors, Loved Ones Website English
Talking About Trauma - General Public
A guide to everyday conversations for the General Public
Members of the general public are becoming more aware of the prevalence of trauma and how it can affect people. However, many people feel poorly equipped to have everyday conversations with people they know or suspect have actually experienced trauma.
Talking about trauma: guide to everyday conversations for the general public provides a simple guide, in plain English, to support these critical conversations. Whether you are starting the conversation yourself (because you suspect a person is experiencing/has experienced trauma) or you are responding to a person telling you about their trauma. The following information, evidence and tips will help you manage the challenges and minimise the risks.
Blue Knot Foundation General, Loved Ones PDF English
Fact Sheets - Talking about Trauma
These fact sheets for the general public have been designed to support safe conversations with different people in your life. They include fact sheets for having safe conversations with a friend, family member or colleague who you suspect or know has experiences of trauma. Another fact sheet provides information and tools for having trauma-informed conversations. An additional fact sheet provides guidelines for supporting a person who is disclosing child sexual abuse as an adult.
Blue Knot Foundation General, Loved Ones Website English, Easy Read English, Other Languages
Children's Voices
In their own voices, in their own way, children share their insights
The impact of childhood trauma on children, as captured in their drawings.
Australian Childhood Foundation Loved Ones Website English
Helping Minds Support Services
Helping Minds offers free and confidential support to the family and friends of people living with mental health challenges across WA.
Helping Minds Loved Ones Website English
Loving a Trauma Survivor
Understanding Childhood Trauma' Impact On Relationships
Survivors of childhood trauma deserve all the peace and security that a loving relationship can provide. But a history of abuse or neglect can make trusting another person feel terrifying. Trying to form an intimate relationship may lead to frightening missteps and confusion.
How can we better understand the impact of trauma, and help survivors find the love, friendship and support they and their partner deserve?
Brickel and Associates Loved Ones Website English
Making Sense of Complex PTSD
Five quotes that help me make sense my partners Complex PTSD
The loved ones of people with a history of complex play a vital role in supporting and caring for their loved ones. But some days, it is hard to make sense of it all. Heather Tuba shares five quotes that help her do that better.
Heather Tuba Loved Ones Website English
Reduce the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse
Learn how to identify the signs of child sexual abuse and reduce the risks
Saprea (formerly The Younique Foundation) Loved Ones Website English
Stolen Generations project
The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that provides a platform to amplify the voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors and their families.
We work with communities to create a place of safety, providing an environment for Stolen Generations survivors and their families to speak for themselves, tell their own stories, and be in charge of their own healing.
We promote trauma-aware, healing-informed practice to help government, policymakers, and workforces understand their role in intergenerational healing.
By addressing unresolved trauma in First Nations communities – trauma that was caused by colonisation and actions like the forced removal of children – we are walking alongside communities on the path to healing.
We are governed by a First Nations Board and Executive and guided in our work by our Stolen Generations and Youth Reference Groups.
Our work honours our First Nations ancestors to ensure our future generations continue to thrive for the next 60,000 years.
Healing Foundation Loved Ones Website English
Video - Supporting Recovery
A video for partners, family and loved ones
Blue Knot Foundation has developed a series of 5 short videos with funding from Federal Department of Health.
Given the prevalence of trauma and its effects, it is important for people to be informed about trauma and how best to support people who may have experienced it, particularly complex trauma related to trauma and abuse in childhood.
Blue Knot Foundation Loved Ones Video English
Window of Tolerance: an animated video
Find out how a traumatised child swings from fight/flight to freeze/collapse; and what adults can do to help bring the child back into their window of tolerance so they can be at their personal best.
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Supporter's Guide for people supporting an adult survivor of sexual trauma
This guide is for family, friends, partners, carers and others who are supporting an adult who has experienced any form of sexual trauma, either recently, or in the past.
The guide aims to provide information to help understand the impacts of sexual trauma and how the experience can change behaviours, thoughts, emotions and wellbeing. It also contains suggestions on coping and recovery, and guidance on how to support the person you care about.
Legal and service information in this guide is applicable to Western Australia. If you live in another location, you will need to source information relevant to your area.
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Q: Interfacing with a S6B0741 I am using a LPC4300 board to interface with a graphical LCD, a S6B0741. I have been trying to get it initialized, but I am not sure if I am sending the commands the correct way.
The code I have right now:
  GPIO_ClearValue (LCD_PINS.GPIOPortNum, (1<<LCD_PINS.GPIOBits[10]));
  GPIO_ClearValue (LCD_PINS.GPIOPortNum, (1<<LCD_PINS.GPIOBits[9]));
  GPIO_SetValue (LCD_PINS.GPIOPortNum, (1<<LCD_PINS.GPIOBits[12]));
  GPIO_SetValue (LCD_PINS.GPIOPortNum, (1<<LCD_PINS.GPIOBits[8]));

  SetBits (data); // sets the I/O data bus

  GPIO_ClearValue (LCD_PINS.GPIOPortNum, (1<<LCD_PINS.GPIOBits[8]));
  GPIO_ClearValue (LCD_PINS.GPIOPortNum, (1<<LCD_PINS.GPIOBits[12]));

All ports are defined as input ports.
I have tried following the initialization routine, as described in the datasheet, but it hasn't been working.
Is this correct?
EDIT
Should have had this in the original post, since the code as it is doesn't make sense really.
The pins are:

*

*0-7 data bus

*8 E

*9 RW

*10 RS

*11 RESETB

*12 CSB

The board is configured to use the 6800 Parallel Interface Mode.
EIDT2: Erroneously put it as 8080 mode rather than 6800.

A: Your code is not correct.
You should initialise the control lines to an inactive state at the start (CSB and E high), then to write data do the following:
Set your data bus lines to be outputs from the microprocessor
enable the display: /CSB low
set the RW line low
Write the command or data to the data bus lines
set the RS line as required
set the E line low
reset the E line to high
disable the display /CSB high

if you are making multiple writes, or you only have the one display on the bus  you can leave the display enabled (/CSB low) while you change the data and then pulse the E line again.
You only need to set RW high if you need to read data from the display - don't forget to change the data bus lines on your MCU to be inputs before doing this.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Preparation and use of sea urchin egg homogenates.
Morgan AJ., Galione A.
Cell homogenates provide a simple and yet powerful means of investigating the actions of Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messengers and their target Ca(2+) stores. The sea urchin egg homogenate is particularly useful and almost unique in retaining robust Ca(2+) responses to all three major messengers, i.e., inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), cyclic ADP-ribose, and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) (Lee and Aarhus. J Biol Chem 270: 2152-2172, 1995). It is not only invaluable for probing the pharmacology and mechanism of action of these messengers, but can also be used to assay Ca(2+) uptake mechanisms (Churchill et al. Cell 111: 703-708, 2002), second messenger production (Morgan et al. Methods in cADPR and NAADP research. In: Putney JW Jr (ed) Methods in calcium signalling, CRC: Boca Raton, FL, 2006), and dynamics of luminal pH (pHL) changes within acidic Ca(2+) stores (Lee and Epel. Dev Biol 98: 446-454, 1983; Morgan and Galione. Biochem J 402: 301-310, 2007). Here, we detail the protocols for preparing and using egg homogenates, wherein eggs are shed and collected into artificial sea water (ASW), dejellied, washed several times in Ca(2+)-free ASW, and then finally washed and resuspended in an intracellular-like medium. Homogenization is effected with a Dounce glass tissue homogenizer (at 50 % (v/v)) and aliquots frozen and stored at -80 °C. For Ca(2+) (or pHL) measurements, homogenate is thawed and sequentially diluted in an intracellular-like medium and the fluorescence of Ca(2+)- or pHL-sensitive dyes monitored in a standard fluorimeter or plate-reader.
10.1007/978-1-62703-974-1_10
Methods Mol Biol
Animals, Calcium Signaling, Cell Extracts, Cell Separation, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Ovum, Sea Urchins


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Posner on Judging
His Reflections on Scalia and Breyer
By Yaronit Nordin
Yaronit Nordin, a second year student at Albany Law School, is a graduate of Bennington College in Vermont where she studied Literature and Photography. After graduating law school, Yaronit hopes to practice in Vermont.
Yaronit's essay was prepared for the Judicial Process Seminar, fall 2012.
Judge Richard Posner's jurisprudence or judicial philosophy can be said to emphasize honesty and practicality, and to discredit the idea that there can exist a perfect or unified analytical system applicable to any constitutional question that comes a judge's way.
In "The Incoherence of Antonin Scalia," Posner points to the failings and falsehood of "originalism" as Justice Scalia explains it in his most recent book.[1] In "Justice Breyer Throws Down the Gauntlet,"[2] Posner criticizes Breyer's attempt, in his recent book, to fashion a loose-constructionist answer to "originalism" that Breyer calls "active liberty."[3]
Posner's main problem with both Scalia's and Breyer's judicial philosophies is that both try to impose on the Constitution a framework that is too rigid for the real world, and one that is not or cannot be consistent with the document itself.[4]
Posner's jurisprudence emerges from his analysis and is free of what he calls in his article on Breyer, a judge's "self-censorship," which leads judges to try to claim that their work is objective.[5] Posner embraces Ronald Dworkin's "political morality"—a judicial philosophy that requires the judge to be a proponent of his legal determination, rather than to claim to be a passive oracle.[6]
From Posner's critique of Scalia it is possible to glean that he believes it is not even heroic to select one precise method for analyzing constitutional or legal issues and declare that method absolute. In fact, he believes it is ridiculous.
Selecting as an example an ordinance that says that "no person may bring a vehicle into the park," Posner shows that a textual "originalist" interpretation will not suit real life.[7] If a judge were a true or pure "originalist," he or she would have to conclude with a straight face that it would be illegal for an ambulance driver to drive into the park to assist a person having a heart attack.[8]
Scalia says that textual "originalism" is an "objective" approach because the text of the Constitution or of statutes is neutral.[9] It may be true that text itself implies no political leanings, Posner acknowledges. But, he continues, choosing to ignore the purpose, consequences and morality of a law, unless it expressly addresses those issues, curtails the reach of the law, and that is a politically conservative preference.[10]
Scalia's "objectivity" is, then, just a mask, a falsehood. Posner advocates that justices or judges should not wear such a mask of objectivity at all.
Wearing such a mask is a judicial problem on both sides of the political spectrum. Scalia says in his book that, until the middle of the twentieth century, textual "originalism" was the dominant method of American judicial interpretation.[11] He supports this proposition with quotations from judges that, Posner highlights, were actually not known to be strict constructionist, but rather were known as loose constructionists.[12]
Posner explains the "originalist"-sounding quotes as the product of judges' strategic lack of candor.[13] Maybe that is why Posner shows more affinity for the judicial philosophy apparent in Justice Breyer's judicial opinions and practice. He calls Breyer a "bricoleur" in developing an approach that draws on many theories and philosophies.[14]
Posner doesn't criticize Breyer when he describes the latter's true jurisprudence as "loose enough to accommodate any result that a judge might want to reach for reasons the judge might be unwilling to acknowledge publicly."[15] Rather, Posner is saying that Breyer's complex "bricolage" of theories is like a Swiss army knife that he uses to make moral/policy arguments.
That is what a judge should do, according to Posner. But without pretense of objectivity.[16] Rigid judicial philosophies like "originalism" or Breyer's manufactured "active liberty" impose more constraints on the work of a judge than is either desirable or required by the Constitution.
In his article on Breyer's book, Posner dismantles Breyer's attempted construction of a unified approach to constitutional analysis. Posner says that above all, it was unnecessary for Breyer to impose on the Constitution a "new" framework for understanding its directions. The Constitution already contains a concept of democracy—representative democracy.[17]
Posner wants Breyer to acknowledge that his jurisprudence is in reality focused on improving the representative democracy that is guaranteed by the Constitution.[18] From his approval of many of Breyer's opinions founded on consideration of the consequences of the law, the law's purpose, practical concerns, and moral concerns, the inference is that Posner's own jurisprudence is similarly focused on improving the Constitution's representative democracy.[19]
Posner spends much of the article explaining that each of Breyer's tools of analysis such as consequentialism, pragmatism, purposiveness, etc. is useful for making clear arguments.[20] However, he says, all do not work all the time, and every one is not appropriate for every constitutional question.
Posner is especially critical of Breyer's tendency to formulate vague standards while employing one or a few of those approaches.[21] The idea of "weighing imponderables," for which Breyer is known, is one that is easy to poke fun at. But Posner says that this is what constitutional law is all about.[22]
Since the Constitution's "laws" may be more accurately characterized as concepts rather than specific instructions, judges have more work to do. They must find a reason to vote one way or the other.[23]
Tort law, for instance, requires weighing the gravity of the risk and the value of the harm to determine if there was negligent wrongdoing or not.[24] The Learned Hand rule for whether the defendant breached his duty of care is the sort of economic analysis that Posner prefers but finds to be improperly vague in many of Breyer's opinions.[25]
Posner agrees with Breyer that constitutional law concerns "gradations, with consequences that flow from a little more or a little less."[26] Such economic analysis includes what Breyer calls "practical considerations" as well. Breyer saw this in Justice O'Connor's opinion on affirmative action in Grutter v. Bollinger.[27]
An additional aspect of Posner's jurisprudence can be gleaned from his approval of this opinion. Sometimes it is appropriate for judges to base their professional opinions on what they believe in their guts to be necessary and right.[28]
[1] Richard A. Posner, The Incoherence of Antonin Scalia, The New Republic, (Aug. 24, 2012, 12:00 pm), http://www.tnr.com/article/magazine/books-and-arts/106441/scalia-garner-reading-the-law-textual-originalism.
[2] Richard A. Posner, Justice Breyer Throws Down the Gauntlet, 115 Yale L.J. 1699 (2006).
[3] Id. at 1699.
[4] Id. at 1702; Posner, supra note 1.
[5] Posner, supra note 2, at 1699, 1716.
[6] Ronald Dworkin, Taking Rights Seriously (1977).
[7] Posner, supra note 1.
[8] Id.
[14] Posner, supra note 2, at 1715–16.
[15] Id. at 1716.
[17] Id. at 1701–02.
[23] Dworkin, supra note 6.
[24] Posner, supra note 2, at 1706.
Labels: Breyer_Stephen, Interpretive Methodology, Judicial Decisionmaking, Judicial Restraint, Legal Realism, Originalism, Posner_Richard, Scalia_Antonin


text:
Ready to optimize your health and your marriage?
Katie Wells of The Wellness Mama sits down with Josh Whalen, Founder of Blokes Modern Men's Health and Co-Founder of Joi Women's Wellness to discuss the importance of partners optimizing their health together. Listen to the full episode here. Read below for highlights.
Katie: If you were gonna give a Ted talk in a week, what would it be about?
Josh: How we can drastically improve the divorce rate in the US by optimizing couples' hormones. Did you know that 10 to 20% of relationships are sexless? I know this can be easily remedied - I've seen it.
It starts with me personally. One of the reasons I started Blokes and then Joi came to be, is my wife pretty much said to me, hey, Josh, if you don't get your hormones dialed in and you don't get your sex drive dialed in, I'm gonna divorce you. So I had an ultimatum in my relationship and, you know, eventually, I figured out how to get those dialed in and in the process of saving my marriage I saw a huge opportunity to help others as well.
What are some of those steps or how do people begin to even start addressing hormone imbalances?
Well, I think the first part is just being honest with yourself and your partner.
For me, the process was hard, and that's why I've set out to change that. First, get your hormone levels checked, get baseline labs. Really understand where you currently sit. What the heck is going on because a lot of times people are going through these problems; I call 'em chronic issues, not acute issues, meaning it's happened over time.
I think we're luckily in a time when getting lab testing is easier than it has been in the past, and there's much more availability of this than perhaps previous generations have had, or at least more easy availability, but they're also stats quoted for instance, that men today have a third of the testosterone than their grandfathers at the same age.
And you've talked about normal ranges. And I've run into this too. In the thyroid realm you might end up with labs that look like normal ranges by today's standards or among the people getting tested. But this doesn't always necessarily give you a complete snapshot of information or tell you anything about optimal. So let's talk about how sometimes looking at normal ranges can keep us from getting the answers.
Yeah, that's a great point. First and foremost, anytime you get a lab test, it's a snapshot in that one particular time. And there are so many factors that can be affected. Standard ranges are one of my pet peeves in healthcare. It's really hard to measure somebody's performance or their optimization when you're being across a standard of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people that are there with symptoms getting that same lab test.
Look, you don't want to be in a 'normal range.' And when you start talking about those ranges, they're so vast. I mean, looking at the men's, testosterone range, it's somewhere between 300 and 1000 nanograms per deciliter.
And comparing those two is like comparing a four to a Ferrari. And why are men's testosterone levels decreasing? And so drastically, this seems like a really quick time period for that to be happening. And, you pointed out a really good stat that your audience should know about is that 50 year old man, 30 years ago has 30% less testosterone.
There's a multitude of factors. And, and we were just talking about this last week and really, really in depth conversations. But one is environmental factors. The plastics that are, you know, around us that are in our system,stress, pollution, guys are working out less and less. Women taking more of an active role in the household, plays a factor in that guys are just less masculine, healthy lifestyles, all, all those things play a major role in why men's testosterones are dropping, but it's not just one thing.
It's a multitude of factors. Yeah. And on the lab testing in the normal ranges side, like I said, I experienced this in the thyroid realm where I knew something was wrong and I went to multiple doctors and asked for tests and found out they weren't testing the entirety of a thyroid panel. They were just looking at a couple measurements first and.
They would say, well, those are with the in normal range. And when you do deep dive, you realize that normal range is actually determined by averages of people who get tested. People who get tested or people who think that they might have an issue. And typically people who are elderly. And so the normal ranges are often not telling you what a young, healthy person needs to feel optimal.
They're telling you what is considered clinically problematic for someone in the elderly population. And so I think understanding that at least is a good starting point for delving deeper into. What actually is going on. I think also maybe something that you ran into women typically from my understanding are more likely to go to the doctor and be proactive and speak vulnerably about what's going on.
Another interesting fact I learned from you in researching this episode is that men's hormones can actually change in response to their partner, especially during pregnancy. Can you explain what's going on when that happens?
So this is a, this is kind of a funny one because my wife had major fertility struggles from the time I was 35 to almost 38. We had four miscarriages. This was the start to my hormones tanking and I had no idea why.
So afterwards, I did some research on my own. I started talking to physicians who specialize in hormones, and there's four major, markers you should be looking for. One is testosterone, Another one is estrogen. Another one is prolactin and the last, but certainly not least is cortisol.
All those can change as your partner is going through pregnancy. Men's testosterone can decrease anywhere from 40 to 75%. Their cortisol levels could go up. Their estrogen can actually increase as well, which could lead to belly fat. And just different mood swings and then prolactin. This is kind of an interesting one, but obviously prolactin's a great marker for women, because it helps aid and uh, you know, breast milk.
But for men there's some studies that show that it actually helps aid in the fact that it makes you a more alert father. So all those things played a major role in how I felt and my testosterone levels. I wished I would've known what they were before as the baseline. And this is why I tell so many guys and, and women, to get ahead of this.
What are some of those factors that we should focus on for optimization, especially people who wanna perform at a high level. Right. I mean, when it, when you talk about hormones, testosterone replacement for men, hormone optimization for women. When we talk about replacement, that's truly what we're doing.
We're talking about how we feel. You should be there at a certain age, whether you're in your thirties, your forties, your fifties, most guys that come to us, we're, we're focused somewhere between 800 and 1200 nanograms per deciliter. There's other things that you can do just, just in general, you know, have an active life.
Get out in the sun more often, you know, eat healthier, get rid of the plastics in your house. You know, focus on stress, focus on exercise, focus on high interval, interval, high, high impact interval training, do squats, all kinds of things that just, you know, allow your body to not adapt and, and kind of shock it over time.
So. Yeah, several key points there. I think I'm a big proponent. This is one of my soap boxes on the importance of sun exposure. And obviously not to the point of damaging your skin, but getting out my key times are immediately after waking up to signal all the important hormone cascade that comes from early morning, sunlight and people often underestimate how big of a difference this can make when we're talking about hormones, because it affects cortisol, which is a master hormone. It also affects light signaling. It affects your circadian patterns and all of those come into play with your body in production of all of your sex, hormones and everything else.
And you also mentioned reducing plastics, which is another big topic for me as well. Um, I also always put sleep on the list because if you're not sleeping, you're not gonna have optimal hormones period. And then I love the idea of also. Resistance training and lifting heavy things, especially for women. I feel like, at least for guys, there's more of a focus on that.
And women tend to shy away from really heavy weights. But I think that's a really critical piece for, for both men and women. Another topic that I know you have some expertise in, and I would love to learn from you on today is the topic of peptides, because these have become somewhat of a buzzword lately.
I'd love for you to start broad and explain what peptides are, and then maybe let's go into some of the roles they play in this bigger conversation.
Peptides flow through our body, naturally, we have about 7,000 of them. If your audience is a little baffled on peptides, these are a little bit more than what you throw in your shake or your coffee.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the stepping stones for proteins. They're extremely, extremely powerful. I like to say they are low risk and high reward. You have peptides that can solve weight issues, mental issues, growth, hormone issues. Overall stress, uh, peptides, I think they are next big thing in healthcare. One thing that a lot of people don't even realize is that insulin is a peptide. Something that our body relies on everyday.
I'm very bullish on where peptides are going as a whole. I take them on a regular basis and they've changed my life.
Are you open to sharing some of the ones you've experimented with absolutely regularly?
Of course. I take quite a few peptides. BPC 157 is something that's great for gut health and inflammation. I cycle on then cycle off of BPC 157. I always take a growth hormone peptide, either Ipamorelin, or Sermorelin to maintain muscle strength. I'm on a lower dose of Semaglutide for weight loss, it's a GLP1 medication that has taken us by storm. There's actually a global shortage on semaglutide. And why? Because it is a game changer for weight loss. It slows down the digestive tract and it's a phenomenal, phenomenal drug. It's FDA approved. And then I take one for mental health called Semax for cognitive function. It's a nootropic peptide that helps with anxiety and stress and neurocognitive function.
Let's talk about women and testosterone, because I feel like women often don't think about optimizing their testosterone, but it seems like this can be a big piece.
Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up. Number one, testosterone's a phenomenal drug for women, just like it is for men. They need to be in an optimal range. And one of our medical advisors, Dr. Melissa Loeske, who's been practicing in the hormone space for about 15 years. And she's a well known figure. I ask her every time, what's your favorite drug for women in optimization? She says testosterone, testosterone, testosterone.
Testosterone. It is by far one of the biggest catalysts for us. And, and it's one of the biggest ones that shows pretty rapid change, but very balanced change. And we think women should be somewhere between 100 to 200 nanograms per deciliter when it comes to an optimal range. And it's one of the hormones that's neglected in women.
And so I also love to talk about the deep cellular side of anti-aging, because I think the mainstream conversation focuses on topical things, injectable things like Botox or things that are kind of treating surface level. Whereas my theory has always been that aging is a cellular process. And we wanna actually be looking at the cells of our body are the kind of the foundational things and that what we see in our skin or our hair, or whatever is an expression of what's going on at a deeper level.
This is a hot topic right now, the whole anti-aging push. And you know, we talk about this oftentimes with our patients, longevity and vitality. I think they go hand-in-hand.
What we provide a lot of is vitality and I think patients have the ability to make better decisions for longevity, but they they're, they're interwoven. Anytime you can slow down your metabolic rate, you're slowing down that aging process. Anytime you control your caloric intake, you're slowing down that aging process, you know, eating healthier, working out more.
So I always give that encouragement to women. You mentioned, baseline labs. What, what are some of the things you guys put on a normal, like everyone should keep track of these baseline labs.
CBCs, CMP, there's so many good things with just basic markers, like a CB CBC, and a CMP, uh, that can tell you a lot about a patient's health for men and women, estrogen and testosterone for men.
PSA is always something that we want to be checking on a regular basis. For women progesterone. And then once again, estrogen, those are all really. Good markers that you should be checking on a regular basis. And unfortunately, you're probably not getting that from your standard family medicine doc or your primary care doc.
A lot of doctors now practice medicine based off of what insurance is gonna cover, and it's called reactive testing. So they'll run one or two markers and if something's off, then they'll run multiple markers beyond that. But they're oftentimes not gonna give you what I would consider a full baseline.
Got it. And also you guys, you run companies, you have blokes. And also I believe joy is the female version. Can you explain what those are and what you guys do.
Blokes.co is our peptides for men website and focus on hormone optimization, prescription peptide therapy, hair loss, weight loss, the same thing for women. That site is Choosejoi.co. Hormone optimization for women, prescription peptides that focus on weight loss, anti-aging sex, skin elasticity, the whole nine yards. We're growing, we're expanding as we speak and we're gonna be doing a lot of great things.
These kind of things excite me a lot because I think part of the thing that we've run into in the past is people like, for me as a thyroid patient, I had researched and figured out I was pretty sure what was going on, but it was difficult to find a practitioner who was knowledgeable, who was willing to work with me and try the stuff I wanted to try.
And like, I'm really excited that people can now find more customized solutions like you guys who are taking the whole patient into account and who are knowledgeable about some of these cutting edge therapies and about hormones, which seems to be one that I hear a whole lot about from women right now. I think that's a perfect place to wrap up for today. Thank you so much for your time. I'm glad we got to go deep on some of these more fun kind of science topics that I haven't gotten to talk about much. And I learned a lot. I know our listeners did too. So thank you for being. Thank you so much, Katie.
To Learn more about Blokes TRT or how much does TRT cost please join our community on Instagram @getblokes and Joi Women's Wellness. Blokes offers packages designed for anyone who is ready to optimize their health. Check out the Apollo Men's Health VIP Package. Thanks as always to all of you for listening and sharing your most valuable resources, your time, your energy and your attention with us. We're both so grateful that you did, and I hope that you'll join me again.
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"...Gelman's furniture reflects this architect's interest in unique modernist designs. She borrows from the symmetry of modernism-by present sensibilities a form of classicism-and applies a touch of minimalist tapering to create furniture that's both functional and fashionable. Gelman's knee-high " Rapids Canoa" coffee table takes its inspiration from the Eames Brothers' 1950s Formica tear-shaped design but is rendered in an oval shaped from Italian Cherry wood with an aluminum base with inlaid glass."
"A reverence for modernism is also found in Gelman's kidney shaped copper laminate "counterpoint" statue stands. And her seven-foot "Totem" bookcase gives a foot of shelf space on each of its seven shelves. Her "nuvola" computer desk on wheels echoes famed Italian designer Carlo Molino's early 1950's "Arabesco" table with its bent surface, suggestive of vertebrae."
"Each piece by these artists evokes a rich understanding of art history and a singular way of looking at the future of her art form. Rarely do yesterday, today and tomorrow conjoin with such fluidity."


Those travelling down from North Devon on Saturday for the Bristol Rovers game need to be aware that buses replace trains for part of the journey. You may have to start our journey earlier.
If you are travelling on this line, you're advised to check the First Great Western website for train time information.


text:
Displaying items by tag: give away
Robert Duffy compiled and edited An Essential guide to Britain's 20 most popular breeds, Which Dog? and he will join Jon and Talkin' Pets to discuss and give away the book
SynopsisThere are around 10 million dogs in the U.K. and many are chosen because they look cute and cuddly as a puppy. Which Dog? helps would-be dog owners avoid the pitfalls and problems that can so easily occur as the puppy grows into a dog.They may be cute and cuddly as a puppy but what will they grow up to be?It is true to say that most dogs share common characteristics but there are many traits that are particular to individual breeds.Some dogs need constant exercise and can run their owners off their feet; some rarely want to leave the house.Some enjoy the company a family can give; some like to remain alone and aloof.Some dogs are extremely low maintenance whilst others cry for constant care.The list goes on...Which Dog? guides the new owner through the most popular breeds and gives an insight into the way a puppy can develop into a perfect member of the family.Illustrated with colour photographs throughout, and full of facts', this book is not only an essential guide but also a pleasure for all the family to enjoy.
E-Book copy for your pleasure
https://online.flowpaper.com/7470072c/D25WhichDogINSIDES/#page=1
Talkin' Pets will be giving away 2021 calendars for the next 2 months compliments of our friends at Workman Publishing Listen, Laugh, Learn and Win on Talkin' Pets
Workman is a fiercely independent publisher of nonfiction books as well as a significant line of calendars. Our books for adults and children are quirky, definitive, unexpected, useful, funny, handsome, well-crafted, and commercial. Our books are written by authors who are knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects. Our books improve lives.
Founded by Peter Workman in 1968, with the publication of Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan –a book that is still in print nearly 50 years later—Workman has earned a reputation as a creator of brands: What to Expect® When You're Expecting, Brain Quest®, Barbecue! Bible®, Younger Next Year®, Boynton on Board, and, more recently, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die®, Unlikely Friendships®, Indestructibles®, Scanimation®, Photicular®, the Big Fat Notebook™ series, and Paint by Sticker™, to name a few. Workman also launched an industry: It is no exaggeration to say that there was no calendar business before Workman invented the Page-A-Day® format.
Having published books in bottles and potato chip bags; books with wheels and with chalkboards attached; books with trains running through them; books that come with stickers, balls, washi tape, and more, Workman is recognized for its innovative packaging. Workman is also known for giving each of its authors full editorial, design, production, marketing, sales, and publicity support for the life of a book, and for bringing an intensive and creative sales and marketing focus to both its front list and its deep, active backlist.
The publisher of iconic books like B. Kliban's Cat, The Official Preppy Handbook, The Silver Palate Cookbook, and Gallop!, Workman is proud of its history and always excited about its future.
Happy Halloween Talkin' Pets will be giving away copies of "How To Hold Animals" a book by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi on 10/31/20 from 5-8pm ET
On November 3, Scribner will publish a unique and irresistible guide to properly holding dozens of our favorite animals: HOW TO HOLD ANIMALS by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi.
Originally published in Japan, HOW TO HOLD ANIMALS presents advice from four wildlife experts—a veterinarian, a pet store owner, a nature photographer, and a reptile handler—about how to pick up and hold more than thirty species using techniques that are safe for both animals and humans.
How to Hold Animals
Chock full of fascinating animal facts, tips, and warnings, interviews with the experts, and color photos on every page, HOW TO HOLD ANIMALS will amuse and inform animal lovers of all stripes, while encouraging readers to connect with nature hands on (and responsibly). Learn how to hold animals great and small, furry, scaly, and feathery, including snails, chipmunks, chickens, chinchillas, lizards, beetles, owls, grasshoppers, mice, and many, many more (Yes, spiders and snakes, too). This book contains all the excitement and information of a nature documentary, and reading it is the perfect reminder of the wonders to be found in the wild world around us.
Monkey's House a Dog Hospice & Sanctuary is truly Where Dogs Go To Live! Author Jeff Allen will join Jon and Talkin' Pets 10/24/20 at 5pm ET to discuss and give away his new book
Uplift Your Spirits with a Visit to a Unique and Inspiring Dog Rescue.
Monkey's House a Dog Hospice & Sanctuary is truly Where Dogs Go To Live!
Southampton, NJ October 22 - How sad it would have been had Cole disappeared into that dark room in the back of the shelter, alone and frightened, as if he never existed. This is often the fate of dogs afflicted with medical issues. Cole, a senior dog with cancer, was discarded by his owner, much like throwing away an old pair of shoes. Michele and Jeff Allen said enough is enough and started a dog hospice and celebrate the beauty each dog has to offer. They have welcomed over 100 hospice dogs into their home, thankfully Cole was one of those dogs that experienced the final chapter of his life filled with dignity and love.
Their new book Where Dogs Go To Live!: Inspiring Stories of Hospice Dogs Living in the Moment highlights many of the dogs that have called Monkey's House home. Share in their journeys, laugh at their crazy antics, and shed a few tears while witnessing miracles of transformation. Rejoice along with these dogs, knowing they experienced the greatest gift of all, the healing power of love.
The book is quickly becoming a dog lovers favorite, an Amazon Best Seller has compiled 5 Star reviews and endorsements.
"The stories in this book will deeply touch your heart…" - Jack Canfield, Coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul
"An inspiring and heart-warming book that needs to be read by every dog lover." - Rodney Habib, Founder Planet Paws
"Monkey's House captures the few remaining moments of terminal dogs' lives and makes each day magical for them." - Karen Shaw Becker, Wellness Veterinarian
A portion of the proceeds benefit their non-profit and can be purchased at all book store as well as on Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gah8j4M
Jeff Allen is the cofounder of Monkey's House a Dog Hospice & Sanctuary, est. 2015. He leads a duel life helping people and dogs alike as a manager in Human Resources at a pharmaceutical company and by running Monkey's House (www.monkeyshouse.org) with his wife, Michele Allen, member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, and a 2017 CNN Hero recipient. Their sanctuary has been recognized for its outstanding work saving and caring for hospice dogs and was awarded Rescue of the Year in 2017 by World Dog Expo. Living a life among twenty-five hospice dogs has given them experience and hands-on knowledge you can't find in a book. He and Michele live in Southern New Jersey with their pack of furry kids.
Co-Host - Dr. Katy Meyer - Urgent Care - Tampa Bay, FL
Network Producer - Darian Sims
Social Media Consultant - Bob Page
Special Guest - Kathy Callahan, author of 101 Rescue Puppies, Our Family's Stories of Fostering Dogs, Love, and Trust will join Jon and Talkin' Pets 1010/20 at 5pm ET to discuss & give away her new book
Kathy Callahan, author of 101 Rescue Puppies, Our Family's Stories of Fostering Dogs, Love, and Trust will join Jon and Talkin' Pets 1010/20 at 5pm ET to discuss & give away her new book
101 Rescue Puppies: One Family's Story of Fostering Dogs, Love, and Trust By Kathy Callahan New book offers A unique and cheering look into one family's journey of fostering over 100 puppies and finding them homes "These are love stories, plain and simple." — JENNIFER S. HOLLAND, author of the New York Times bestselling Unlikely Friendships series "Told with humor and humility, 101 Rescue Puppies is as entertaining as it is inspiring." — TRAER SCOTT, author of Shelter Dogs and Finding Home Over the past decade, Kathy Callahan's family has taken in more than 100 rescue puppies from shelters. Each pup has an endearing story, and in this delightful photo-filled book, Callahan shares many of them. Her family didn't set out to be puppy saviors, but as Callahan puts it, "Somebody had surrendered a mother dog, Nala, and her less-than-a-month-old pups at the local shelter. . . . I thought about that exhausted nursing mom who'd been caring for those seven puppies around the clock, only to find herself suddenly homeless. There are a lot of terrible things that happen in life, and I can't do a darned thing about most of them. It struck me that this was a tiny little tragedy in my corner of the world that our family could remedy." A heartwarming read, this is also an inspiring example of finding your own way — through that one special thing you can do to light a light, instead of cursing the darkness. KATHY CALLAHAN is a certified professional dog trainer. Her PupStart business offers coaching, socialization, and training services to families with new dogs. She and her dogs have worked as a therapy team in elementary schools and nursing homes. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia. More information at PuppyPicks.com. 101 Rescue Puppies: One Family's Story of Fostering Dogs, Love, and Trust By Kathy Callahan Pub date: September 29, 2020 Price: $18.95 * Pages: 160 * Full Color Photographs ISBN: 978-1-60868-656-8 Category: Dogs
Singer/songwriter Brecken Miles will join Jon & Talkin' Pets 9/26/20 at 620pm ET to discuss his new single "Meghan" and give away some Coozies and his first EP
Brecken Miles Brings Tidal Wave Of Emotion To New Single, "Meghan" - Available To Fans Now Track Debuts On iHeart Radio's FM106.1 New From Nashville Show Next Tuesday Nashville, TN (September 11, 2020) – Singer/songwriter Brecken Miles brings a tidal wave of feeling to his emotionally raw new single, "Meghan." In a surprise twist, fans can stream/download the song HERE now. Brecken's fourth radio release, the track debuts globally next Tuesday, September 15, at 6 p.m. Central on iHeart Radio's "New From Nashville" show (FM 106.1 / Milwaukee) and radio programmers can access the song via PLAY MPE. But like a tidal wave stronger than a hurricane My love for you is just as true As it was the first day but sometimes it feels like chasing the wind trying to hold onto you Meghan (B. Miles, M. Bollea Rowe) "Meghan" exposes the difficulties Miles and his wife Meghan have experienced over the last decade. Brecken notes, "It encompasses all the pain, emotion and undying love that I have for her. Those are my tears on the table and my heart on the floor." When the strictures of the Covid-19 pandemic forced him home from the road, the couple realized they had to reconnect or let go. "Between my artist career, a part-time job and a city touring business in Milwaukee, we were like two ships passing in the night," Brecken reflects. "Add a toddler to the mix and we just got lost." The song is his plea to her to hang on through life's storms and not give up on their life together. Miles' longing and heartbreak can be heard in every line, and the crisp recording values make every perfectly placed note count. Produced by Larry Beaird (Dolly Parton, Billy Dean, Mark O'Connor), the song was written by hitmaker Melissa Bollea Rowe and Miles. "It's the true emotion Brecken brings to the vocal performance - along with Goose Gossett on harmonies and the outstanding musicianship of all the players - that take this song over the top," notes Beaird. Bollea Rowe recalls the day the song was written, "It was an organically beautiful idea that showed up effortlessly for us as we sat down to write. I'm really proud of this one." Fans will have the opportunity to hear the new single live at these upcoming shows: 9/17 Kaiser's Pizza - Gurnee, Illinois 9/18 Fatmans - Gurnee, Illinois 9/20 Coins Sports Bar - Kenosha, Wisconsin 9/27 Cottage Tap - Gages Lake, Illinois 10/10 Cellar Bar - Oak Creek, Wisconsin 10/11 Jesse Oaks - Gages Lake, Illinois 10/30 Fatmans - Gurnee, Illinois ABOUT BRECKEN Singer/songwriter Brecken Miles has shared the stage with Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, Luke Combs, Cam, Blake Shelton, Phil Vassar, Big & Rich, Justin Moore, and others. His far-reaching musical influences include Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and James Taylor. He's performed in venues ranging from festivals and fairs (Summerfest/Lake Michigan, Wisconsin State Fair, Allstate Arena/Chicago, IL, Country Thunder/Twin Lakes, WI, FM 106.1 New Faces Class of 2018 at Potawatomi Casino) to more intimate settings such as the world-class Bluebird Café. Music runs in the family: his father is a musician, and Miles followed that tradition, picking up his first guitar at the age of 10. He was raised in the small town of Colgate, Wisconsin where The Eagles, James Taylor, Springsteen, and AC/DC ruled the household airwaves. In 2008, Brecken became the front man/lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the popular Milwaukee-based band Bella Cain, performing over 200 shows a year until leaving the group in 2014. Miles has since gone solo and signed an exclusive publishing deal with Rhyme Partners Music Publishing. A top-10 finalist in the 2018 Nash Next Competition, he has enjoyed two Top 50 chart singles, "The Anchor," "I'm Good With That," and the radio-friendly "Liar Out Of Me." Brecken is a devoted spokesperson for Generations Against Bullying, a Milwaukee-based charity for which he wrote "God Loves," the organization's theme song. In his spare time he loves fishing, hunting and camping with his family. Keep up with Brecken on his socials: www.breckenmiles.com Facebook Twitter: @breckenmiles Instagram: @breckenmiles # # #
Anthony Ferraro | Chief Customer Officer Ecoclean Solutions inc. will join Jon & Talkin' Pets 9/19/20 at 621pm ET to discuss and give away Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer
About GreenGobbler
Sometimes the smallest problems can cause the biggest headaches: a clogged drain, a dirty fridge, a stained carpet. What a mess. That's why Green Gobbler makes powerful products to solve everyday problems, both big and small.
Green Gobbler is small business based in Copiague, New York. We are made up of genuine people who simply want to deliver solutions.
We carry a full line of industrial-strength surface cleaners, bathroom deodorizers and herbicide alternatives (among many other items) to answer cleaning's biggest questions. Whether you want to lift a small stain in your carpet or make your bathroom shine, we have exactly what you need to get the job done.
We make our products with our customers' health and happiness in mind. Our conscious creations are safer, stronger and more reliable than the cheap cleaners that you'll find at the big-box supermarket.
It's not in our blood to create products that only get half the job done. We make powerful cleaners, degreasers and drain openers for everyone, no matter if you're a stay-at-home mom in California or a restaurant owner in South Carolina.
Fill your home with safer and more effective cleaners from Green Gobbler today.
Which Cat? Compiled and edited by Robert Duffy he will join Jon & Talkin' Pets 9/05/2020 at 5pm ET to discuss and give away his book
Which Cat? An essential guide to Britain's 20 most popular breeds
Which Cat? is a 'must have' book for all Cat Owners and Potential Cat Owners. There are around 9 million cats in the U.K. and many are chosen because they look cute and cuddly as a kitten. Which
Cat? helps would be cat owners avoid the pitfalls and problems that can so easily occur as the kitten grows into a cat
Series editor: Robert Duffy
Size: A4 – 210mm x 297mm portrait
Binding: Softback
Colour: Full colour, illustrated
Publication date: 1st October 2020
Readership: Cat owners/potential cat owners
Most cats share a number of common characteristics:
Four legs; two ears and they go meow. There are, however, certain
traits in a breed that need to be considered:
Will your cat be 'family friendly'? Some cats enjoy the company a
family can give – some prefer to remain alone and aloof.
Will your kitten be prone to illness? Some cats are very 'low
maintenance' – others cry out for constant care.
Some cats love to wander about outdoors – some rarely leave the house.
With an endless list of questions Which Cat? helps to guide and
answer many of them.
Which Cat? is illustrated throughout with full colour photographs and
is not just an essential reference guide, it is a book that all the family
can enjoy.
Author of "Unlikely Friendships", Jennifer S. Holland will join Jon & Talkin' Pets 8/22/20 at 5pm ET to discuss and give away her new book
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE__________________________________________________________________________
Praise for UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS® "Irresistible . . . heart-stopping in more than one sense." —The New York Times Book Review "The feel-good book of the summer—maybe the year." —USA Today ""With aww-inducing photographs, the book highlights the most improbable animal connections." —National Geographic With aww-inducing photographs, the book highlights the most improbable animal connections." —NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC " width="758" height="164" />
Who doesn't love a dog? And who does a dog not love in return? Almost no one—or no creature—it turns out. UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS®: DOGS: 37 Stories of Canine Compassion and Courage (Workman; August 2016), by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer S. Holland, is an irresistible reminder of the affection and bravery of all breeds great and small. Bringing together 28 new stories of canine kindness, plus a handful of classic tales involving dogs from Unlikely Friendships, Unlikely Loves, and Unlikely Heroes, these heartwarming true stories will have you falling in love with man's best friend all over again.
Meet Rex, a German shepherd who learned to love and trust again through the improbable friendship of a goose. Popeye the Mastiff, who ran into a burning stable and saved 17 terrified horses by nibbling at their hooves. And a temperamental husky named Lilo, who saved a kitten from near death. These are just some of the remarkable stories you'll find in UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS: DOGS.
Photo Credit: TheDobieTeam
>Jennifer S. Holland's devotion to all species sent her on a journey to discover everything she could about the animal world. As a writer for National Geographic, she became increasingly interested in animal relationships, searching the globe for unusual animal connections—first in the form of friendships, then loves, then heroes. And now, for the first time, Jennifer is bringing together her favorite stories about one of the most beloved animals: the dog.
Filled with beautiful full-color photographs, the true stories of camaraderie, affection, and remarkable bravery found in UNLIKELY FREINDSHIPS: DOGS are more than a lovely tribute; they are proof that the dog is every creature's best friend. Photo Credit: The Bui sisters/IMP FEATURES
Jennifer S. Holland is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Unlikely Friendships®: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom, Unlikely Loves®: 43 Heartwarming True Stories from the Animal Kingdom, and Unlikely Heroes: 37 Inspiring Stories of Courage and Heart from the Animal Kingdom. She has written for, among others, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, NPR, and The New York Times, specializing in science and natural history. She lives with her husband, three dogs, and dozens of snakes and geckos, and divides her time between Silver Spring, Maryland, and a cabin in the woods near Charlottesville, Virginia.
Photo Credit: Scott Cromwell Photo Credit: David Silverman/Getty Images Photo Credit: Alicia Williams Photo Credit: Barcroft/Getty Images
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS®: DOGS
37 Stories of Canine Compassion and Courage
Workman Publishing | Paperback with flaps| August 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7611-8728-8 | $13.95 U.S.
NATIONAL TOUR DATES
By New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer S. Holland
Jennifer S. Holland will be traveling across the nation for school and in-store events!
Park Road Books, Charlotte
Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill
Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh
Parnassus Books, Nashville
Schuler Books & Music, Lansing
The Book Stall, Chicago
The Bookworm, Omaha
Tattered Cover, Denver
The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City
Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs
Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA
WORD, New York
Politics & Prose, Washington DC
Howard County Conservancy, Woodstock, MD
Blue Willow, Houston
Changing Hands, Phoenix
Third Place Books, Seattle
The Reading Bug, San Francisco
Sunday, December 4-5
Books & Books, Miami
Inkwood Books, Tampa
For more information, please contact Chloe Puton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


text:
Tales of the Tigers
The Gray Tiger
Part 1 <> Part 2 <> Part 3 <> Writing the Story of "The Gray Tiger"
Writing the story of "The Gray Tiger"
When a movie comes out on DVD, it usually has additional "behind-the-scenes" footage of how the movie was made. So, in that spirit, consider this article to be "The Making of The Gray Tiger," which debuted on May 28, 2001. For those of you who have ever been interested in how a 40K story is written, let me share with you some of the more interesting aspects.
In July of 2000, my old friend Thom White (a former U.S. Marine) sent me an e-mail where he described an idea he had about Space Marines. Here's what he said:
A true Marine always puts honor above all, even if they have different opinions on what exactly is or is not honorable. My idea is to have a sub-unit of Marines which exists to perform the dishonorable tasks. Since the 40K universe merges religion with honor, dishonor would be presumably be related to damnation. Imagine a team of Marines loosely attached to the Tigers, for instance, which are not referred to in any written documents. Imagine that it is ritually despised, and referred to only as "the Damned."
The greatest sacrifice a Marine can make is his soul. For that, the other Tigers would spit on them, challenge them to duels, never look at them, never mention them, and likely, most would never know of them. They would simply be suits of gray, unmarked armor, spilling from gray, unmarked troop carriers, onto the landing zone as occasionally seen by a lone Tiger through the small window in the Tiger troop carriers lifting off after a successful mission.
Thom's idea intrigued me but I stowed it away as I worked on other projects. Months went by, until I received some free i-Kore miniatures as part of a promotion for the VOID game. I particularly liked the Tactical Androsynths (see below); they looked like Games Workshop's Space Marines, and yet—not. They seemed a bit more sinister-looking, but not monstrous, like Chaos Marines.
Photo © copyright 2001 by i-Kore Ltd.
I soon realized that the i-Kore figures, these "not-quite Space Marines," would be perfect to use as Thom's "Gray Tigers."
Refining the Concept
While I liked Thom's idea, it was, I felt, a bit too dark for the Fighting Tigers. I have always imagined the Tigers as a bright, heroic (and probably doomed) element in the 40K universe, a "spark in the darkness." Though they have their failings (such as their near-pathological resentment and hatred of the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, and Dark Angels), the Tigers are, for the most part, "the good guys." This is reinforced by Hindu mythology, where the heroes epitomize virtue and always fight against evil and depravity. The idea of a small band of anti-Tigers roaming the universe, virus-bombing cities, tossing rad-grenades into orphanages, and releasing Genestealers inside Craftworlds didn't sit well with me.
And yet, the idea of disgraced (but not evil) Fighting Tigers appealed to me. Drawing on the little bit I know about Hinduism, I decided a long time ago that the Tigers have hundreds of sacred vows they uphold. These vows range from the very general (to protect the weak, to preserve ancient Vedic traditions, to always learn more and promote the spread of knowledge) to the very specific (to never harm or eat frogs, cows, tigers, or any other sacred animal).
Undoubtedly, there had to be Tigers that failed to uphold or (less likely) deliberately broke a sacred vow. Minor infractions—failure to say one's daily prayers; insubordination; pride, gluttony, or idleness—would warrant additional instruction from the Tigers of Varuna (Fighting Tiger Chaplains), acts of penance, or both. Major infractions—massacring civilians, negligence that resulted in the death of another Fighting Tiger, harming of sacred animals—would result in expulsion from the Chapter.
The Harijan
For thousands of years, Indian society has been divided into castes, or social groups. The lowest caste (formerly referred to as "untouchable") was despised and shunned by the other castes. Who was "untouchable?" In simple terms, any who:
Made their living by taking life (for example, fishers);
Killed or disposed of dead cattle or worked with their hides for a living;
Pursued activities that brought them into contact with bodily emissions (feces, urine, sweat, spittle); or
Ate the flesh of cattle, domestic pigs, or chicken.
Disclaimer: the Indian caste system is more complex than I describe here, but I hope I've given you an idea of it.
The "untouchables" were segregated from the rest of society, forced to live outside villages and towns and forbidden access to temples, most schools, and water wells used by members of higher castes. They were not allowed to touch members of other castes (hence the name) and even, in some cases, were not allowed to be seen, forced to stay indoors during the day and only come out at night.
Mahatma Gandhi called the "untouchables" harijan, ("The Children of God") and championed their emancipation. In 1949, the "untouchable" caste was abolished in India and it became illegal to discriminate against former members. Of course, it's far easier to legislate against prejudice than it is to actually eliminate it, but in the 50+ years since, Indian society has become more accepting.
I took the concept of the harijan and adopted it to my story. The Gray Tiger Sudra Patel is forced to live alone and may never communicate with another human. But just as the real harijan were not "evil," neither is Sudra.
Incidentally, at no point in the story do I ever say what it was Sudra did to be expelled from the Tigers. My initial concept was that Sudra had had some kind of romantic involvement (possibly unrequited) with a Vedic village woman, but that idea raised a bunch of questions (Can Marines feel love? Can they have any kind of physical relationship?) that would only sidetrack the story. Rather than take a gamble on alternate reasons that might suspend reader disbelief ("They kicked him out of the Tigers for eating a hamburger?"), I opted to leave Sudra's dismissal to the readers' imagination. Why Sudra is a Gray Tiger is not really so important as what he does to redeem himself.
Sudra's Redemption
To redeem himself, Sudra could, I suppose, sit around and contemplate his navel for a few decades, but what kind of story would that be? It's a game about war, so there should be some fighting. Hence, Sudra was going to redeem himself through suitably heroic actions against the vilest of enemies.
While plot drives the story, it is only one element. Setting has been very important in my writings for many years now, and one of the things I wanted to do with this story was make one part of Veda seem very real to the reader. I elected to keep all the action on Veda—which presented a problem. Previously, I've described Veda as a peaceful planet under the protection of the Fighting Tigers. Unless I wanted to introduce an enormous Chaos or Tyranid fleet bent on Veda's destruction, there seemed little opportunity for Sudra to redeem himself.
My first idea was for Commissar Acosta to be the "bad guy" of the story. At this stage, Acosta was going to be an extremely powerful and dangerous person with considerable influence within the Imperium. Acosta would come to Veda while most of the Tigers were away, not approve of what he saw, and threaten to tell his superiors in the Administratum about all the "rules" the Tigers were breaking. Sudra's task would be to stop Acosta before he "ratted" on the Tigers.
An okay premise, I suppose, but assassinating Acosta didn't sound particularly heroic—in fact, it sounded exactly like something Thom's "dishonorable Marines" would do. After writing the section introducing Acosta, I knew I wanted to keep him, but I didn't want him as the enemy Sudra would have to face.
Bring on the Drowboys
Dark Eldar are great fun because they're such blatant villains. You don't have to work hard to introduce them into a story because if there's something nasty to be done, they're all for it.
Villains need some angle to make them interesting. Generic bad guys doing generic bad guy things simply bore audiences. To combat this, you can try two things. First, you can make what the villain does really reprehensible; given today's moral standards, this approach is hard to effectively pull off. Even if you do, you risk offending many of your readers, who may turn from your story in disgust.
Or you can invest in the character of the villain. For instance, your villain can be:
Tragic (Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi);
Funny (the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves);
Sympathetic (Robert De Niro's character in Heat);
Brilliant (Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs);
Vengeful (Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan); or
Just out-and-out cool (Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace).
In choosing to use the Ozone Scorpions as the villains of my story, I decided that I would emphasize the over-indulgent nature of the Dark Eldar and portray them (for the most part) as spoiled brats. Of course, being Dark Eldar, they would also be dangerous, sick, and psychotic. So in the story, the Scorpions whine, complain, and bicker. They get bored easily. They think of nothing more than the next "fun" thing they can do—regardless of what the consequences are. One of them literally throws a temper tantrum and then cries afterward—and he's their Archon.
In addition to their weird physical appearance and bad attitudes, I wanted to make the Ozone Scorpions even more different from any other Dark Eldar. Mutated by bizarre radiations, the Scorpions absorb life-energy through touch. Eklavdrah plucks a leaf from a bush and the leaf withers in her bare hand. Later, she licks Acosta and the skin where her tongue touches him dies. Jheste literally sucks the life out of a captured Guardsman. In the story, I don't dwell too much on this aspect of the Scorpions, but I think it's a neat touch (pun intended, thank you).
Incidentally, I had to rein in myself with the scenes where the Scorps torture the Guardsmen. My first inclination was to describe some really twisted, S&M type stuff, particularly between Eklavdrah and Acosta, but I backed off that (the Jungle has a fair amount of younger visitors, you know) and merely alluded to what the Dark Eldar were doing. As with Sudra's dismissal from the Fighting Tigers, sometimes leaving things to the reader's imagination is better.
Acosta
With the introduction of the Ozone Scorpions, Acosta's role went from being "the bad guy" to the one who really gets the story moving. His arrival on Veda and his recruiting of native men for the war on Armageddon puts Sudra and the Scorpions on a collision course. Because he is an outsider, scenes and dialogue with him can explore the setting of Veda without sounding like exposition.
I downplayed (but alluded) to Acosta's connections to the "higher-ups" within the Imperium because I wanted him to be dangerous to the Tigers (and their way of life), but not overtly so. Instead of being a power-crazed General MacArthur, he became more of a bully. For example, when Daksha Ram refuses to allow him to hunt cattle, he retaliates by cutting rations and rest periods for the recruits under his command.
His sneaking out of the fortress to go hunt tigers further reflects his antagonistic relationship with Daksha Ram as well as his lack of power over the situation: he wants to get back at Daksha Ram but really can't do much of anything until he leaves Veda. Acosta's unsuccessful hunt brings together Sudra and the Scorpions, and propels the story towards its climax.
Commissar Acosta, though a real jerk, has his good points. For one thing, he's tenacious: the Dark Eldar remark several times about how just about any other human would be dead with all he's suffered. Not to mention that despite what they do to him, he tells them very little. And, as a true Imperial warrior, he tries to fight back, even when gravely wounded.
The other characters
After posting "The Gray Tiger" on the web I noticed with some horror that Daksha Ram disappears about halfway through the story and is never seen or heard from again. I had originally planned for him to reappear at the end of the story when Sudra arrives at the fortress with Acosta, but I changed my mind and eliminated that scene. Furthermore, I noticed that I had introduced Talwar Chakram, another Chaplain (Daksha Ram's superior) through some flashbacks.
Clumsy, damned clumsy. I replaced references to Talwar Chakram with Daksha Ram, so he plays a larger role in the story and appears throughout it. Not only does he interact with Acosta, but he is the Chaplain who, years before, cast out Sudra.
I like Fletcher, Acosta's aide-de-camp. He would seem to be your typical lackey, but I hope he came across as having more character than that. In my original concept, with Acosta as the "bad guy," Fletcher was going to be the "good guy" who would take over the Imperial Guard regiment and run it well and humanely once Sudra killed Acosta.
In the final version, Fletcher tries to get Acosta to back down from confronting Daksha Ram, and he is the one who notices the tigers coming to the lake. I tried to add some depth and humanity to him by expressing some of his wonder at Veda's wildlife; hopefully that came through. My inspiration for him was Admiral Piett from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi: not a bad guy, but forced to work for one.
The Scouts onboard the ship bound for Auros IX are the stereotypical, cocky "young punks" you find in most war movies (including Aliens, one of my favorite movies and a huge 40K influence). They're the guys with no real experience who nevertheless think they can come in and kick ass. Kazi, the one who dares to speak to Sudra, is the best warrior of them all—and thus, the cockiest. The inspiration for Kazi was not a person, but a miniature: in a recent game, my Scout with the autocannon did a lot of damage to the Orks I was fighting that day.
Sudra Patel: Tiger of Rudra
The "gimmick" of the last section of the story is that I try to lead the reader into thinking that Sudra is still a Gray Tiger. Some things never change, he thinks, referring to the bravado that all Scouts have, but I'm hoping the reader will think of Sudra's status. I mention that Sudra is sitting apart from the others and I portray Kazi's speaking to him as a serious taboo, but the twist is that (unknown to the reader) Scouts are not permitted to address full-fledged Fighting Tigers.
I start letting on that Sudra isn't a Gray Tiger anymore when the Scout Sergeant speaks to him and asks his forgiveness; with his reply of "I would be failing my sacred duty if I did not accept your apology," Sudra shows that he has changed. Just to make sure the reader gets it, I mention that he is wearing yellow and brown armor and is off to meet his old comrades.
I got a lot of positive responses to the story and I think it's one of my better ones. It certainly was much easier to write than my last one, Reconciliation, though like all of my fiction, it took several months to do. I tend to write in spurts, starting a story, letting it sit for a few weeks, returning to it, letting it sit again. I revise as I go, and when I think it's ready I let my friend Pat read it and give me a fresh perspective. I hope you enjoyed "The Gray Tiger" and I hope this look at how I wrote it was useful (or at least interesting) to you.
Previous page: Part 3 of The Gray Tiger
Fighting Tigers Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
Rules for Gray Tigers
Tactics for Gray Tigers
Photos of Gray Tigers
Like what you've seen? Then vote for the Jungle in the "Top 100 40K Sites"
© Copyright Kenton Kilgore May 2001