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Jaime and Draven Bennington join Chester's debut band – Grey Daze in the studio
Mongolian Hunnu Rock Band The Hu Announce Debut Album "The Gereg"
Revolution – Interview with Ella Knox
NO LONGER DEAD – interview with Windwalker
rockyourlyrics March 11, 2015 109 views
Rock Interviews109 views 05 min read
RYL: You recently released your EP "No Longer Dead", what it means for you?
WINDWALKER: I would definitely have to say that it means progression for me personally as a vocalist.
With Windwalker being my first band and all it was a big step for me and the subjects we wrote about were definitely things I had been through and experienced so in that aspect it means the world to me and I'm extremely proud of it. – Mark
RYL: Which is the main difficulty you encountered while preparing it?
WINDWALKER: Lyrically it was very hard to get through because it took so much time for Mark and I to dig deep into the subjects we were talking about. A lot of it was very personal and emotional for both of us. – Matthew
RYL: Is there a common meaning/theme between all the songs of the album?
WINDWALKER: Honestly just being able to move past the huge walls we encounter in life and understanding that there's always going to be something better at the end of every situation, that can lead you to places you could've never even imagined.- Mark
RYL: Which is the best verse you wrote?
WINDWALKER: "My body's in a sick, selfish state. My body is unstable, I walk around only as a present ghost." from Bare Bones for sure- Matthew
RYL: how do you, usually, write the lyrics and music of your songs?
WINDWALKER: Matt will usually come up with ideas for the instrumental aspect of the songs at his house and send them off to me and the rest of the band, and later on Matt and I will get on video chat and stay up for hours writing lyrics and collaborating for most of the songs.
There have been a couple where Matt has taken the lead and written lyrics due to the song being about a very personal subject but for the most part that's how it's done and it seems to work out and be pretty successful.- Mark
RYL: Tell us everything about "Bare Bones"….
WINDWALKER: Bare Bones was written at a time when the band started. I was still in college and realized I wanted to try and play music as a career.
Being constantly told by friends and loved ones that I was making a terrible decision and that it was a bad idea to pursue my passion, I slowly started sinking into a depression that caused me to not only emotionally be tired, but it began to take a physical toll on me as well.
I shut out family and friends and anyone that I was in contact with at the time. I was in between jobs so all I would do is write my emotions down and Bare Bones kind of came out of what I wrote.- Matthew
RYL: Do you remember the day you wrote " Villain"?
WINDWALKER: Yes! Matt and I were up until 4 AM for about 3 days straight trying to figure out the last few verses to this song. It was probably the hardest one to write because of that alone.
We would sit for 10 minutes at a time on video chat just being silent trying to think of a line. Really tough nights but we ended up getting it right and we were happy with the outcome.- Mark
RYL: Which is the last song you wrote ?
WINDWALKER: That would be Hatemonger! We wanted one super punchy song about something that I'm pretty sure everyone has a problem with and that's the Westboro baptist church.
We strongly disagree with their actions and decided we'd voice our opinion about it.- Matthew
RYL: You are planning a tour?…tell us more about it! Which surprises you planned for your fans?
WINDWALKER: We actually are! Can't say much about it but it's with a really cool band or two.- Mark
RYL: How does the city where you live contributes to your music?
WINDWALKER: Honestly we feel so at home playing in Dallas and Fort Worth because the scene here is incredible and the friends we've made are some of the best people we know.- Matthew
RYL: What inspired "Apathy", your last single?
WINDWALKER: The song is really about domestic violence/abuse and just general neglect for anyone in a household.
I don't have too much experience personally with the subject but we wanted it to be an anthem for the people that do have to deal with that on a daily basis, and kind of show them that there's a whole world out there where they can be treated like human beings and not put down and abused, especially by family members and loved ones.- Mark
http://Facebook.com/windwalkertx
http://twitter.com/windwalkerband
http://instagr.am/windwalkerband
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Polaris Release New Video & Track 'Hypermania' | New Album 'The Death Of Me' Out February 21 via Sharptone Records
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Six people have been sentenced after a violent affray in Scarborough.
Police were called to a report that a large group of people were fighting in the street outside a nightclub in Ramshill, Scarborough, in the early hours of June 11, 2017.
The disturbance resulted in four people being injured, including a man who received facial fractures and another who was knocked unconscious, police said. A plain-clothes police officer who arrived first on the scene was also assaulted.
Six people, all from Scarborough, pleaded guilty to affray, and were sentenced today at York Crown Court.
Harrison Pelucci, 23, of Londsborough Road, Scarborough, received 10 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
Nathan Ford, 22, of Rowan Close, received 13 months' imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
Aiden Pope, 22, of Lyell Street; Eleanor Wilmore, 20, of Lyell Street; Daniel Norman, 24, of Beulah Terrace; and Ronnie Davis, 22, of Sandybed Lane must all carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
In addition, all have to pay victim surcharges and compensation to the victims.


Asheville Business Blog: Montford Park Players present "Much Ado About Nothing"
Montford Park Players present "Much Ado About Nothing"
Montford Park Players, an Asheville theatrical tradition, is proud to announce their upcoming presentation of Much Ado About Nothing, one of William Shakespeare's greatest comedies. The show will be directed by Artistic Director, Scott Keel, and will be presented at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater, located at 92 Gay Street in the heart of the Montford region of Asheville, June 3rd through July 2nd. Performances will be on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 7:30pm. All summer shows at the Amphitheatre are absolutely FREE to attend.
Montford Park Players, has been presenting Shakespeare and other classical works to the Asheville community since 1973, and has since grown to be one of Western North Carolina's most beloved and well-known cultural attractions. They last presented Much Ado… in 2012, but are bringing it back for their 2016 season, as it has proven to be one of their most requested and popular shows.
Much Ado… is a broad comedy about sexual politics and is best known for its witty repartee between its two main characters, Beatrice and Benedick. When it was originally performed in the early 17th Century, it was immediately lauded as one of the best comedies of its day, and its popularity has spiked in recent years due to film versions by Kenneth Branagh and one by Joss Whedon.
The play will star Montford favorites Alex McDonald, Devyn Ray, David Mycoff, and Jane Hallstrom, and will feature relative newcomers, Caleb Owolabi, Kaylee Thompson and Ryan Martin.
Montford Park Players is proud of this production and happy to continue to bring FREE Shakespeare in the park to our ever-supportive community.
More information regarding the show or advanced seating reservations can be made at montfordparkplayers.org or you can call them at (828) 254-5146.


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Innovative world-first lead refinement technology to be used in WA
by WA Government News | Nov 18, 2018
Rosslyn Hill Mining's Paroo Station Lead Mine granted environmental approvals to expand 400 hectares and build hydrometallurgical facility on-site
Expansion expected to create up to 300 jobs during construction and up to 250 ongoing jobs
New technology will be used to transform lead concentrate into lead ingots
Lead metal continues to be vital in renewable energy and electric car industries
Innovative world-first technology, sparking a brand new process to transform lead concentrate into lead ingots, will be used to revitalise and expand operations at Rosslyn Hill Mining's Paroo Station Lead Mine near Wiluna.
The State Government has granted environmental approvals for the 400-hectare expansion to the mine site, which will enable Rosslyn Hill Mining to operate a hydrometallurgical facility on-site to process lead concentrate.
Premier Mark McGowan visited the Environmental Protection Authority-approved mine site, which is expected to create up to 300 jobs during the construction phase and up to 250 ongoing jobs once operations begin.
In a first of its kind technology, methanesulphonic acid will be used to leach the lead from concentrate and recover lead metal using conventional electrowinning equipment and melting to create lead bars, known as ingots.
It will be the first time a chemical process will be used on-site to produce metal ingots rather than a traditional smelting process.
Lead ingots avoid the need to handle and transport concentrate and eliminate the risk of accidental spillage when transported. The new process is expected to create a safer environmental outcome than historic lead processes.
About 70,000 tonnes of lead metal per annum is expected to be processed through Rosslyn Hill Mining's operations.
Lead metal plays an important part in renewable energy, and the expansion of the industry complements Western Australia's growing position as a global leader in lithium and energy materials.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"It's a credit to Western Australia that this brand new technology will be used in our State for the first time.
"The expansion of Paroo Station Lead Mine operations will mean more job opportunities for Western Australians living in the regions, with hundreds of jobs expected to be created during and after construction.
"Lead continues to play an important role in the renewable energy and electric car industries, so using new and safer technologies to source and refine lead will create more opportunities for its use in future projects.
"Further expansion and growth in the battery materials value chain strengthens Western Australia's position as a global leader in lithium and energy materials and supports this Government's focus in boosting the State's economy and creating jobs."
Premier's office - 6552 5000

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Painting rocks is one of our new favorite activities. I bought liquid tempera paint a while back, and we paint on paper from time to time. There's just something about the tactile, sculptural feel to painting a rock that we both like, though.
The rocks in our yard are mostly large gravel pieces that were left behind from the construction equipment when our house was built. There are also quite a few man-made rocks - chunks of concrete with gravel in them. Once they have paint on them, you can't tell what they used to be!
The tempera paint is kind of gloppy, and I noticed that they didn't dry when we left them outside. Of course, Abigail kind of pours the paint on and then starts painting the newspaper and herself too.
The smock she is wearing was a birthday present from me. I made it using the swing-swing smock in Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. I made two, one from the full size pattern Amy suggests and one a little smaller. Abigail is very small for her age, and I just thought the big one was too big. Turns out that it isn't. We mostly use the larger size. I made them thinking she could wear them around the house or something, but I can only get her to wear them if I ask if she wants to paint. She at least knew where they were and what I was talking about though.


Satin is a weave that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is a warp-dominated weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. If a fabric is formed with a satin weave using filament fibres such as silk, nylon, or polyester, the corresponding fabric is termed a satin, although some definitions insist that the fabric be made from silk. If the yarns used are short-staple yarns such as cotton, the fabric formed is considered a sateen.
Satin There are 81 products.


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package com.sessionm.models;

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Listings in Art Festivals
Categories : Art Festivals
Phoenix Film Festival
in Movies and Video, Events, Art Festivals
Find Your New Favorite Movie
7000 E Mayo Blvd, Suite 1059
Mesquite Works
in Picture and Art Framing, Native American Arts, Home Decor, Furniture and Furnishings, Flooring and Tiling, Fireplace and Chimney, Doors and Windows, Artists and Sculptors, Art Festivals
449 E Continental Dr
Gilbert Art Walk
in Events, Arts Organizations and Information, Artists and Sculptors, Art Festivals
A community of artisans bringing art, shopping and music to Downtown Gilbert in a twice monthly free event.
45 W. Page Avenue
The Muse Art Gallery
in Venues (Events), Venues (Arts), Remodeling, Museums and Galleries, Lawn and Garden, Knitting, Sewing, Quilting and Fabric, Jewelry and Watches, Interior Design, Home Decor, Gifts and Greeting Cards, Furniture and Furnishings, Fine Art and Reproduction, Events, Community Centers, Arts and Crafts, Arts Organizations and Information, Arts Instruction, Artists and Sculptors, Art Festivals
Proud Member of Local First Arizona! 20% Discount on Select Prints during Independents Week!
Cottonwood, Arizona 86326
Artlink Inc.
in Non-Profit, Arts Organizations and Information, Art Festivals
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
in Venues (Arts), Theatre, Museums and Galleries, Movies and Video, Art Festivals
Arts events providing cultural amenities to the community via Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts, Scottsdale Public Art.
7380 E. 2nd Street
Apexus corp
in Arts and Crafts, Cosmetics, Picture and Art Framing, Artists and Sculptors, Art Festivals, Industrial Design and Manufacturing, Engineering, Building Materials and Supplies, Promotional Products, Reptiles, Art Supplies, Museums and Galleries
1230 W Southern Ave
Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance
in Supplies and Services (Events), Non-Profit, Music, Events, Event Planners, Arts Organizations and Information, Art Festivals
Supporting, creating and promoting Arts and Culture in Southern Arizona for over 15 years
7225 N. Oracle Road, Suite 112


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The Bright Side Of Going Dark
Download and Read online The Bright Side Of Going Dark ebooks in PDF, epub, Tuebl Mobi, Kindle Book. Get Free The Bright Side Of Going Dark Textbook and unlimited access to our library by created an account. Fast Download speed and ads Free!
Author : Kelly Harms
Publisher : Lake Union Publishing
The Bright Side of Going Dark Book Review:
From the bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler comes a fresh, funny, and thoughtful story about going off the grid in order to truly live. As one of the most popular influencers on social media, Mia Bell has lived her life online for years. With her celebrity dog and gorgeous fiancé, she is planning the ultimate virtual wedding--expensive, elaborate, and entirely paid for by sponsors. But off-camera, her world is far from picture perfect. After being jilted by her fiancé and faking her nuptials to please her sponsors, Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live--and maybe find love--offline for a change. Mia's sudden absence doesn't go unnoticed, especially by techie loner Paige Miller, who hacks Mia's account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia's online persona is Paige's only means of connecting to her sister, so be it. Creating a like-worthy life is more fun than Paige expected. But when she grows too bold and is caught in the act, a fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. Because somewhere amid the chaos is an invaluable lesson--one that only real life can teach.
Author : Cathrin Bradbury
The Bright Side Book Review:
"Anyone who has had their life completely gutted and rewired will adore this family story. Bradbury's dark humour and gloriously upbeat voice makes it the perfect antidote to a tough year. I loved it!" —Plum Johnson, author of They Left Us Everything The hilarious and moving story of how a modern woman's life can change utterly in a single year—and how, even when life whacks you in the head, you can find yourself rewarded with grace. Cathrin Bradbury's life imploded in the space of a few months. Her beloved parents died, her marriage limped to an end after twenty-five years, her heavily mortgaged house turned against her, and a promising new romance ended in crushing disappointment. But somewhere in that year, a new path, or three or four, began to open up. As Bradbury navigates the setbacks, her troubled brother makes an astounding recovery to health and sobriety. She is reunited with her closest childhood friend after a long absence, with deeply satisfying results. She and her four siblings feel their way to becoming a new kind of family without their parents. And her adult children emerge into sharper focus, each gloriously and uniquely themselves. Slowly, she discovers that the path is steep, the view obscured, but there's light ahead. Cathartic, hilarious, and profoundly moving, The Bright Side broadens the way we think and talk to each other about the ordinary experiences we all share. A master of the uncomplaining voice, Bradbury combines grace and humanity to look at the world unflinchingly and see what makes it wonderful and absurd at the same time, and to let us all in on the secret.
The Bright Side and the Dark Side of Patient Empowerment
Author : Rocco Palumbo
The Bright Side and the Dark Side of Patient Empowerment Book Review:
Patient empowerment as a key component in the future of healthcare systems is the focus of this concise in-depth analysis. It begins by defining patient empowerment as a collaborative partnership linking patients, providers, and systems, and examines the roles of health literacy, provider-patient and system-patient communication, and patient-centered care in the empowerment process. Models of positive and negative empowerment identify optimum conditions when patient and provider participate in service design and delivery as well as pitfalls and risks to patient and system when goals and input are mismatched. The book also translates concepts into practice with guidelines for empowerment strategies at the provider and organization levels to improve patient outcomes and system sustainability. Included in the coverage: · Empowering healthcare organizations to empower patients · A re-design of the patient-provider partnership · Patient empowerment: a requisite for sustainability · The risks of value co-destruction in service systems · The need for enlightening and managing the dark side of patient empowerment · Disentangling the relationship between individual health literacy and patient empowerment Straightforwardly written as a call for proactive change, The Bright Side and the Dark Side of Patient Empowerment is an illuminating text for scholars interested in patient empowerment and patient engagement, policymakers and managers operating in the healthcare field, and healthcare and social care providers.
The Bright Side of Darkness
Author : J. E. Pinto
Publisher : CreateSpace
The Bright Side of Darkness Book Review:
What is a family? Rick Myers is a despondent seventeen-year-old who just lost his parents in a car wreck. His family is now the four teenage buddies he's grown up with in a run-down apartment building. Fast with their fists, flip with their mouths, and loyal to a fault, "the crew" is all he has. At least he thinks so until he meets Daisy, an intelligent, independent, self-assured blind girl. Her guts in a world where she's often painfully vulnerable intrigue Rick, and her hopeful outlook inspires him to begin believing in himself. But when the dark side of Daisy's past catches up with her, tragedy scatters the crew and severely tests Rick's resolve to build his promising future. Fortunately, his life is changed by a couple with a pay-it-forward attitude, forged out of their personal struggle with grief and loss. Their support makes all the difference to Rick and eventually to the ones he holds most dear as they face their own challenges. "The Bright Side of Darkness" is a story of redemption and the ultimate victory that comes from the determination of the human spirit.
Author : Kim Holden
Bright Side Book Review:
Secrets.Everyone has one.Some are bigger than others.And when secrets are revealed,Some will heal you ...And some will end you.Kate Sedgwick's life has been anything but typical. She's endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there's a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She's also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.They both feel it.But they each have a reason to fight it.They each have a secret.And when secrets are revealed,Some will heal you ...And some will end you.
The Bright Side of Disaster
Author : Katherine Center
Publisher : Ballantine Books
The Bright Side of Disaster Book Review:
A new mother must adjust to a life she never asked for—and learns that sometimes the worst thing that can happen is exactly what you've been waiting for—in this spirited novel from the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire "Charming . . . cleverly told and uncommonly appealing."—People Very pregnant and not quite married, Jenny Harris doesn't mind that she and her live-in fiancé, Dean, accidentally started their family a little earlier than planned. But Dean is acting distant, and the night he runs out for cigarettes and doesn't come back, he demotes himself from future husband to sperm donor. And the very next day, Jenny goes into labor. In the months that follow, Jenny plunges into a life she never anticipated: single motherhood. At least with the sleep deprivation, sore boobs, and fits of crying (both hers and the baby's), there's not much time to dwell on her broken heart. Then things start looking up: Jenny learns how to do everything one-handed, makes friends in a mommy group, and even gets to know a handsome, helpful neighbor. But Dean is never far from Jenny's thoughts or, it turns out, her doorstep, and in the end she must choose between the old life she thought she wanted and the new life she's been lucky to find.
Dead Mercy (Maggie Jamieson thriller, Book 5)
Author : Noelle Holten
Dead Mercy (Maggie Jamieson thriller, Book 5) Book Review:
'Hugely confident ... harrowing, visceral ... recommended' Ian Rankin on Dead Inside
Author : Simon McCarthy-Jones
Publisher : Basic Books
Spite Book Review:
Spite angers and enrages us, but it also keeps us honest. In this provocative account, a psychologist examines how petty vengeance explains human thriving. Spite seems utterly useless. You don't gain anything by hurting yourself just so you can hurt someone else. So why hasn't evolution weeded out all the spiteful people? As psychologist Simon McCarthy-Jones argues, spite seems pointless because we're looking at it wrong. Spite isn't just what we feel when a car cuts us off or when a partner cheats. It's what we feel when we want to punish a bad act simply because it was bad. Spite is our fairness instinct, an innate resistance to exploitation, and it is one of the building blocks of human civilization. As McCarthy-Jones explains, some of history's most important developments—the rise of religions, governments, and even moral codes—were actually redirections of spiteful impulses. A provocative, engaging read, Spite shows that if you really want to understand what makes us human, you can't just look at noble ideas like altruism and cooperation. You need to understand our darker impulses as well.
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
Publisher : Center Point
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler Book Review:
Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.
Maybe Your Leg Will Grow Back!
Author : Amanda McCall,Ben Schwartz
Maybe Your Leg Will Grow Back! Book Review:
Finding the bright side of a terrible situation has never been easier, thanks to the adorable baby animal postcards found in Maybe Your Leg Will Grow Back. Amanda McCall and Ben Schwartz, nationally bestselling authors of Grandma's Dead and Why is Daddy in a Dress?, are back with their third collection of cuteness designed to soften life's unexpected blows, whether you're dealing with shark attacks, incurable diseases, or incarcerations in filthy third world prisons. With delicious dark humor in vein of The Bunny Suicides, Maybe Your Leg Will Grow Back even includes a bonus DIY crafts section to help you find the sunny side of any catastrophe.
The Bright Side of Dark
Author : Jeneth Murrey
Publisher : Harlequin Books
The Bright Side of Dark Book Review:
The Bright Side Of D by Jeneth Murrey released on Feb 22, 1982 is available now for purchase.
There is a Brighter Side to Every Dark Side of Life
Author : Dr. Eustice E. Mitchell Jr.
Publisher : America Star Books
There is a Brighter Side to Every Dark Side of Life Book Review:
"There are struggles, disappointments and failures in life that can cause someone to feel that life is not worth living when in fact there is hope beyond every obstacle or setback in life. Sometimes a person might feel that the only resolution to their problem is suicide. This book is to encourage anyone that there is a brighter side to every dark side of life. It takes the family, church and community to become actively involved and acutely aware that someone even within their circle could be contemplating suicide."
Finding the Bright Side
Author : Shannon Bream
Publisher : Convergent Books
Finding the Bright Side Book Review:
From the host of Fox News @ Night, a deeply personal book about finding purpose and growth amid life's unpredictability. "What a gift this book will be to your soul."—Lysa TerKeurst Whether it's her work today as a reporter and host for Fox News, her years in law school, or the time she spent competing in pageants like Miss America, Shannon Bream has spent her entire adult life navigating high-pressure environments where perfection is expected and competition is the name of the game. But in this laugh-out-loud book of stories and inspiration, Shannon shares the moments away from the cameras and the halls of government, in which she learned that the values and faith of her blue-collar upbringing could keep her grounded in a world where everyone wants you to be something other than who you are. In Finding the Bright Side, Shannon continues a conversation about authenticity, humility, and trusting in God that she's already begun with her followers on social media. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from Washington, D.C., revelations from her time reporting on the Supreme Court, and lessons learned from the most challenging moments of her life—from the time she was fired from her first job and told, "You're the worst person I've ever seen on TV," to the time she heard "There is no cure." But through all of this, faith (and a little bit of stubbornness!) has helped Shannon to keep hope, find purpose in the pain, and find laughs along the way. Praise for Finding the Bright Side "Integrity. Faith. Diligence. Success. Shannon's book—and life—elevate these cherished values. For anyone hoping to move forward without compromising convictions, this book is a must read."—Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author "In Finding the Bright Side, Shannon reveals that her sunny face and disposition is not just from good genetics. Her success is long in coming and well-deserved. She is sheer joy in a bottle."—Kathie Lee Gifford, bestselling author of The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi
Chasing the Bright Side
Author : Jess Ekstrom
Publisher : Thomas Nelson
Chasing the Bright Side Book Review:
One flicker of hope. That's all it takes to catapult yourself into the life you've always imagined. Success is not born out of skill, school, where we're from, who we know, or what we scored on the SAT. None of us were born ready. None of us started life knowing how to fly a plane or launch a company or knit a sweater for our dog. But we are born with something more important than skills. We're born with optimism—the initial seed for success. Optimism fuels the belief that you can be the one to create the good the world needs. But you've got to hone it. And practice it. And determine to live from it. In Chasing the Bright Side, Jess Ekstrom shares her own inspirational story of how optimism helped her overcome multiple challenges, and the dynamic ways her mind-set propelled her as a young entrepreneur, international speaker, and philanthropist. Do you have dreams for yourself and the world that are tucked away in your box of somedays? What would happen if today was the day you opened the box? And what if that box was the key to a better tomorrow? Jess's journey will inspire you embrace the power of optimism in your own life, and help you reimagine your purpose so you create good in the world while fulfilling your own dreams—right where you are.
Author : Jennifer Niven
Publisher : Ember
All the Bright Places Book Review:
NOW A NETFLIX FILM, STARRING ELLE FANNING AND JUSTICE SMITH! The New York Times bestselling love story about two teens who find each other while standing on the edge. And don't miss Take Me with You When You Go, Jennifer Niven's highly anticipated new book with bestselling author David Levithan! Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might kill himself, but every day he also searches for—and manages to find—something to keep him here, and alive, and awake. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground— it's unclear who saves whom. Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink. . . . "A do-not-miss for fans of Eleanor & Park and The Fault in Our Stars, and basically anyone who can breathe." —Justine Magazine "At the heart—a big one—of All the Bright Places lies a charming love story about this unlikely and endearing pair of broken teenagers." —The New York Times Book Review "A heart-rending, stylish love story." —The Wall Street Journal "A complex love story that will bring all the feels." —Seventeen Magazine "Impressively layered, lived-in, and real." —Buzzfeed
On the Bright Side
Author : Hendrik Groen
On the Bright Side Book Review:
"THE MALE ELENA FERRANTE" -- New York Post In the acclaimed follow-up to the #1 international bestseller The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, everyone's favorite curmudgeon is back and as funny and charming as ever with the newest adventures of the Old-But-Not-Dead Club -- for fans of Frederik Backman and Graeme Simsion. Everyone's favorite octogenarian is back and, together with his pals in the Old-But-Not-Dead Club, he is more determined than ever to wreak havoc and turn a twinkly eye on the brighter side of life. After a year spent mourning the death of his beloved friend Eefje, Hendrik may be older and a little more wobbly, but his youthful appetite for mischief hasn't diminished. When fears arise that the home is set for demolition, it's up to Hendrik and the Old-But-Not-Dead Club to intervene.
The Bright Side Running Club
Author : Josie Lloyd
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
The Bright Side Running Club Book Review:
Josie Lloyd's fearless novel is a tribute to the power of the human spirit in the face of hardship, based on the author's own experience with cancer and community. In the vein of Mary Ellen Taylor's Honeysuckle Season this "amazing, breathtaking, and inspiring" (Jenny Colgan) novel is full of hope and heart. When Keira first receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she never expects to end up joining a running group with three women she's only just met. Totally blind-sided, all she can think about is how she doesn't want to tell her family or step back from work. Nor does she want to be part of a group of fellow cancer patients. Cancer is not her club. And yet it's running – hot, sweaty, lycra-clad running in the company of brilliant, funny women all going through treatment – that unexpectedly gives Keira the hope she so urgently needs. Because Keira will not be defined by the C-word. And now, with the Cancer Ladies' Running Club cheering her on, she is going to reclaim everything: her family, her identity, and her life. One step at a time. Moving, uplifting and full of hope, this is a beautifully crafted novel about love, family and the power of finding your tribe.
Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon
Author : Ginger Gilmour
Memoirs of the Bright Side of the Moon Book Review:
The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane
Publisher : Macmillan
The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane Book Review:
A debut novel about luck and love, and winning a sweepstakes, with a cast of characters who will charm readers from the very first page The HomeSweetHome Network has just announced this year's lucky winner of a brand-new, fully loaded dream home: Janine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa. For Janine "Janey" Brown, hearing her name called on the TV has the hallmarks of one of her aunt Midge's harebrained plans designed to bring Janey into a world outside the one she once shared with her fiancé. Janey, however, is reluctant to give up the safety and sanctity she finds in her tiny kitchen, submerging her anxiety and grief in the pursuit of the perfect pot-au-feu. Meanwhile, across town, Janine "Nean" Brown just knows that this house is her destiny. Good fortune took its sweet time showing up in her life, but better late than never. And now that it's here, the house promises an escape from the latest in her revolving door of crappy jobs and drunk boyfriends. This house will turn her into someone the world sees, instead of the bedraggled girl who others look past without a thought. Both Janine Browns head for Christmas Cove, Maine, to claim the prize they both rightfully think is theirs. When their lives and personalities intersect, however, they discover that more than just a million-dollar dream home awaits them at the water's edge. These three women (oh yes, Aunt Midge comes along for the ride!) arrive at their newfound mansion only to uncover what exactly it means to truly be "home." Filled with wit and charm, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is Kelly Harms's enchanting and heartfelt debut--a testament to the many, many ways love finds us, the power of a home-cooked meal, and just what it means to be lucky.
Gus Book Review:
Gus. Losing himself. Finding himself. But he doesn't even know how to function anymore. Bright Side wasn't only his best friend; she was like his other half ... How do you go back to doing what you did before, when half of you is gone forever?


text:
Richard Cunningham III
Q: What is your background as a filmmaker?
I started making films in upstate NY when I was fifteen, with some friends. Those were just amateur productions, but pretty ambitious for our age and resources. In 2000, I left Bard college a little after a year into the program, to go on to write, produce and act in a Medieval feature titled, Lycian. That film took about three years to complete, involving period costumes and a Medieval-village set that encompassed almost an acre of land. I made a couple more films with the same group, before moving to NYC, where I began working as background in TV and film productions. I met Tim Brennan doing this, and Pat Rigby through him; and in early 2008 we filmed a no-budget mockumentary called, America The Mental. Widely a showcase for Pat and Tim's impromptu comical talents, this was really the first time I had put myself behind a camera, and though I was initially hesitant, by the end of the movie, I was addicted to the camera, and anxious to develop my skills more.
Q: First, I must say that I really enjoyed the short. What prompted you to make an animated zombie movie?
Pat had an idea of a man stuck in his apartment with two zombies, back in 2008. The three of us were actually sitting around, designing a dvd cover for our previous movie, when we stumbled on the Photoshop effect that started off the animated idea. I went from there, developing the characters, storyline and illustrating/animating process, writing and re-writing the script well into the editing stage. The apocalypse aspect appealed to me because I love writing stories set in epic situations, and after reading about the year zero on Wikipedia, the Mayan Apocalypse prediction seemed to work really well with the idea of zombies eclipsing the human population. Plus, I'm just a sci-fi geek, a fan of the zombie/cannibal theme, as well as animation, so it was something that I wanted to see myself.
Q: Were you worried that the horror market was over saturated with the undead?
The only time I was really ever worried about missing the boat with zombies, was when I was about to take on animating. I had already spent a considerable amount of time on photographing and illustrating; animating was yet another skill I had to teach myself. So I wasn't sure if I could actually finish the movie in time, before zombie popularity got played out. But the zombie perseveres, because it's not a theme that tires out easily. It's a flexible idea: zombies can represent social metaphors or just go "arg' and feed on people's brains. They can be the undead or botched radiation consequences. They can be a slow dull-witted threat or explosive rabid animals. In Year Zero they are both; in the story, what is believed to be a bacterial parasite enters the host: the bloodthirsty infected eventually succumbs entirely to the parasite, becoming a zombie that functions only to feed the host with living flesh. But its also a really personal empathetic account of someone barely surviving the onset of the end of civilization. If think if you do the story right, and make something unique, it's still counts as a contribution to the genre and to the fans that are always looking for good entertainment.
Q: In part, the voice-over of the main character is what really pulls this all together. How difficult was it finding "the voice"?
Pat Rigby in Year Zero sounds like Tom Hanks to me. If you close you eyes, it's eerie. I'm glad you said that, he really a natural. I told him he should pursue VO work (he's actually a talented stand-up comedian in NYC). Pat and I were already friends and worked together before. In the beginning Tim Brennan, he and I decided to switch around our voices and images for the characters. I put Pat through a lot of recording sessions: he understood the "Loner" character immediately, it was mostly because I kept rewriting the script around the new animations; however, we were also working on the sound of his voice, resulting in his aloof yet sympathetic performance.
Tim Brennan (Exec. Prod.) voices the zombie trapped in the bathroom. In the beginning we decided to lower his voice digitally to give it a raw, intimidating (sometimes comical) sound. Tim's comedic talents really elevated the absurdity of the zombie's requests for the main character's flesh.
Q: How long did it take to create?
A little over two years, I guess. I started taking test shots in late 2008. The bulk of photographing, illustrating and compositing (and original dialogue) I completed in a year or so. I did an initial edit of the movie with Tim; then it took me another 6-7 months of editing and adding needed shots, regularly working 13-18 hour days. I composed/recorded the music and mixed in sound effects during the last months. Then I'd go back to it and fix stuff, as I'm compulsive like that. But it wasn't on HDCAM and presentable in that regard until a month or so ago.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of the process?
More of it was challenging than came easy. I was new to editing, illustrating, animating, Mac's. I had to teach myself new programs and techniques, workflows and technical jargon. It was also my first time directing, so I was pushing myself a great deal... Sound effects really tried my patience.
Q: Is your next film also going to be an animated piece?
I hope so; I love animation. I'd really like to get Year Zero produced into a series; I already have a 12 -episode outline and a lot places I want to go with the story. I also have a Pulp Noir storyline set in the 30's, with a lot of really dysfunctional fun characters, that I think would make for a great -animated series.
Q: How can people see the film?
Year Zero will be premiering at Tribeca Film Festival, as well as Tribeca Online Film Festival, on April 24 and playing various following days, until May 1st. Whether you live in NYC and want to experience it on the big screen or want the convenience and flexibility of watching it online for free, you can get it all set up right here.


text:
Biografia
William Gorgas era nato in una famiglia colta con tradizioni militari: suo padre Josiah Gorgas, generale dell'esercito confederato, diresse la produzione industriale degli armamenti per gli Stati del Sud durante la guerra di secessione americana (1861-65) e divenne più tardi presidente dell'Università dell'Alabama, mentre la madre Amelia Gayle Gorgas, figlia dell'ex governatore dell'Alabama John Gayle, fu insegnante nella stessa università e direttrice della biblioteca, che successivamente fu a lei intitolata. Attratto dalla carriera militare, Gorgas non riuscì a entrare all'Accademia Militare degli Stati Uniti; dopo gli studi all'Università del Sud di Sewanee (Tennessee), si trasferì a New York dove conseguì la laurea in medicina al Bellevue Hospital Medical College nel 1879. L'anno dopo si arruolò nell'esercito degli Stati Uniti come medico. Trascorse i primi vent'anni della sua carriera nelle banali attività di cura in guarnigioni militari. Nel 1882 contrasse la febbre gialla a Fort Brown, nel Texas. Sopravvisse e, giudicato ormai immune dalla pericolosa malattia, venne ritenuto in grado di svolgere il servizio nelle regioni dell'America Centrale dove la febbre gialla era endemica.

La sua prima esperienza nel campo delle malattie tropicali si verificò a Cuba nel corso della guerra ispano-americana (1898) allorché le perdite americane per la febbre gialla erano tredici volte superiori a quelle dovute al fuoco spagnolo. Gorgas, ritenendo che alla base della malattia ci fossero carenze igieniche, si prodigò nel rendere pulita l'Avana; ma nella primavera del 1899 una nuova epidemia rivelò che i suoi sforzi erano stati inutili. Il cambiamento del paradigma patogenetico della malattia fu suggerito dalla Commissione per la febbre gialla guidata da Reed, e cioè che la febbre gialla era trasmessa dalla zanzara Aedes aegypti, come era stato ipotizzato anni prima da Carlos Finlay, venne accettato anche da Gorgas il quale dapprima collaborò con Reed e colleghi nella sperimentazione su volontari e successivamente si dedicò al controllo della malattia a Cuba per mezzo della disinfestazione mirata e programmata dalle zanzare. Con la libertà di azione che gli derivava dal fatto che gestiva le forze armate statunitensi in un paese occupato, Gorgas ottenne straordinari risultati bruciando le larve di zanzara con la benzina. Mentre nel 1899 si erano verificati all'Avana, una città di 230 000 abitanti, 1 300 decessi per febbre gialla, nel 1901, dopo gli interventi di Gorgas, si ebbero solo 20 decessi; ugualmente, l'incidenza della malaria (trasmessa da un altro genere di zanzare: Anopheles) crollò da 909 a 19 per 1000 abitanti.

Gorgas fu promosso colonnello e trasferito a Panama dove la costruzione del Canale era costata fino ad allora ben 22 000 operai morti per febbre gialla. Ancora una volta Gorgas riuscì a eliminare due ostacoli principali per la costruzione del canale: Aedes aegypti della febbre gialla e, sia pure con maggior difficoltà, l'Anopheles della malaria. Oltretutto divenne molto popolare a Panamá per essere stato uno dei pochi ufficiali statunitensi ad aver appreso la lingua spagnola e i costumi degli abitanti del luogo.

Nel 1914 Gorgas venne nominato generale medico dell'esercito degli Stati Uniti e nel 1918, dopo il suo pensionamento, divenne direttore del Consiglio internazionale per la salute della Fondazione Rockefeller.

Note

Bibliografia
 Patterson R. «Dr. William Gorgas and his war with the mosquito». CMAJ. 1989 Sep 15;141(6):596-7, 599. PMID 2673502, PMCID PMC1451363 (Free PMC Article)
 Cashman TM. «William Crawford Gorgas. He set the standard of military preventive medicine». Hawaii Med J. 1998 Jan;57(1):377-80. PMID 9509741
 Craddock WL. «The achievements of William Crawford Gorgas». Mil Med. 1997 May;162(5):325-7. PMID 9155101
 Armytage WH. «William Crawford Gorgas; 1854-1920». Br Med J. 1954 Oct 23;2(4894):985-6. PMID 13199363 (Free PMC Article)
 Noble RE. «William Crawford Gorgas». Am J Public Health (N Y). 1921 Mar;11(3):250-6. PMID 18010462 (Free PMC Article)
 Editoriale anonimo, «William Crawford Gorgas». Am J Public Health (N Y). 1913 Dec;3(12):1292-3. PMID 18008956 (Free PMC Article)

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
GM's self-driving car company now worth $19B
GM's self-driving arm, Cruise, gets a $1.15 equity investment from institutional investors to develop and deploy self-driving cars.
GM's self-driving car company now worth $19B GM's self-driving arm, Cruise, gets a $1.15 equity investment from institutional investors to develop and deploy self-driving cars. Check out this story on Freep.com: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2019/05/07/gm-self-driving-cruise/1128002001/
Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press Published 12:50 p.m. ET May 7, 2019 | Updated 6:12 p.m. ET May 7, 2019
At a time when the auto industry is tamping down expectations for fully self-driving cars, outside investors remain believers and their cash bets signal that the deployment of a fleet of autonomous cars is approaching, analysts say.
General Motors' self-driving unit, Cruise, said Tuesday it has secured a new equity investment of $1.15 billion from a group of institutional investors.
It brings the total investment in Cruise by outside investors to about $7.25 billion to date. Based on investors' equity shares, it increases Cruise's total valuation to $19 billion.
Cruise Automation Generation 2 Bolt EV AV self-driving technology on the streets of San Francisco in November 2017. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)
This latest group of investors is comprised of funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, plus Cruise's existing partners GM, SoftBank Vision Fund and Honda.
"Developing and deploying self-driving vehicles at massive scale is the engineering challenge of our generation," Cruise CEO Dan Ammann said in a statement. "Having deep resources to draw on as we pursue our mission is a critical competitive advantage."
Prepare for deployment
Last year, Cruise partnered with SoftBank, a leading technology investor with stakes in such companies as Uber. SoftBank said at the time it would put $2.25 billion into GM Cruise Holdings, with GM investing $1.1 billion as part of the partnership.
Honda earlier said it would invest about $2 billion over 12 years to to speed up the deployment of self-driving cars. It will also finance a $750-million equity investment in Cruise, bringing its total commitment to the project to $2.75 billion.
This new outside investment in Cruise further affirms investor confidence in GM's strategic vision and execution in autonomous technologies, said David Kudla, CEO of Mainstay Capital Management which manages $2.5 billion.
"It also bolsters GM's position, not only as a major player, but as a leader in the future of mobility," said Kudla.
The investment also signals that investors anticipate deployment of a fleet of autonomous cars, said Sam Abuelsamid, senior analyst at Navigant Research in Ann Arbor.
"GM Cruise is technically a separate company. It's still majority-owned by General Motors, but it's a separate company," said Abuelsamid. "So Cruise has no manufacturing abilities and will be buying these vehicles from GM and maybe Honda. That will be a very costly."
Also, Cruise will have to invest in real estate to have "depots" to manage the cars, he said. Those will likely be in urban areas where real estate costs are high.
"So by putting capital in Cruise now, they're getting ready to not just fund the development costs, but also get them ready for deployment and those costs," said Abuelsamid.
Many analysts have said it will be decades before fully autonomous cars can safely hit open public roads and offer a profitable business model.
Earlier this year, GM said the company plans to deploy a fleet of self-driving cars for ride-sharing in a major market this year. GM CEO Mary Barra said in February that GM continues "to make rapid progress with the technology."
But during its April 30 earnings call with Wall Street analysts, Barra was noncommittal on timing when pressed for a launch date.
"I think you'll see updates later this year," she said during the call. "We are very pleased with where we're at on our continued rate of progress. We're doing our testing in one of the most complex environments in the U.S. (San Francisco). We have a very strong position and we have a very strong safety record."
More: GM's truck sales finance push for self-driving cars; company shows $2.1 billion profit
More: How General Motors is leading the race for self-driving cars
Cruise plans to hire 1,000 people over the next nine months at its operations in San Francisco. That comes after GM cut 8,000 white-collar jobs and said it will idle five factories in North America this year and early next year, affecting another 6,200 jobs. The restructuring will save about $2.5 billion this year, GM said.
Barra has said GM is open to more partnerships similar to what it has with Honda and SoftBank.
The reality is that large scale deployment is likely several years away, said Abuelsamid. Therefore, revenues from GM Cruise, which currently do not exist, are also a ways off.
"This additional capital gives GM Cruise more runway to operate with its growing staff until the revenue starts to take off," said Abuelsamid.
Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst at Navigant Research in Detroit. (Photo: Julie Abuelsamid)
Considering the significant investment costs in both technology development and the infrastructure to operate it, expect more investments in Cruise, Abuelsamid said.
"I suspect this will not be the last cash infusion that GM Cruise gets and that goes for any of the other companies in this space," said Abuelsamid.
Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.
Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2019/05/07/gm-self-driving-cruise/1128002001/
$1.37M Troy farmhouse is meticulous inside and out
Chemical Bank chairman's kids get landlord deal
Lee Iacocca wasn't perfect: 3 times he got it wrong
Dealers ponder changes for 2020 Detroit auto show
Ford Explorer saves weight without ditching steel
Innovative way to improve school yard behavior can help us all


So @Chordwainer (Dave) asked me an interesting question last night. Out of the $4,000,000,000 that the Warner Music Group made in gross revenue during the last fiscal year, how much of that went to the artists.
When I was breaking apart Warners books to answer that question in the other thread, I saw this line in page 9 of their budget.
We are also continuing to transition to other forms of business models with recording artists to adapt to changing industry conditions. Many of the recording agreements we currently enter into are expanded-rights deals, in which we share in the touring, merchandising, sponsorship/endorsement, fan club or other non-traditional music revenues associated with those artists.
So I traced the chart of accounts to where it showed how much they made from this. $389,000,000. This is NOT including the money they made off sales. This is in addition to it.
The answer to Dave's original question is here… and I answered it in terms of the total royalty payouts they sent to the artist/songwriters/producers.
Most artists end up owing the record company more than the sales of they album could make, and therefore they go on tour and sell merchandising, and keep all of that money for themselves. They can then pay back their debts to the record company.
So if I've got this correctly, the 360 contract gives the record company a cut of all sales, all tours, and all merchandising. So if the likes of U2 or Guns and Roses were on a 360 deal, the record companies would just be rolling in money (when you consider the revenue from these tours).
yes this secures their intellectual property and advances them the cash needed to expand operations.
and to market it, manage it, duplicate it, and promote it.
Yup. You got it. Its different than a development deal and a songwriting/publishing deal, but that's pretty much it.
Sometimes their publishing catalogs and capital investments (such as vehicles, real estate) could be posted as collateral. But a lot of labels didn't have the legal power to hold the debt over them for life. The band LLC can declare bankruptcy, dissolve, then the members are off the hook. One label I know tried to make each member sign the loan using their personal social security numbers, and they wisely didn't do it.
That's exactly what the 360 deal is, except a label working with U2 doesn't need to mitigate risk by committing U2 to a 360 deal, because their albums will most likely sell. And besides that, U2 isn't dumb enough to sign a 360 deal lol. Hell, U2 could pay for their own damn record if it game down to that haha.
Not only cut of the sales, the label also slap their own minions over the whole process, so "your" tour is staffed and manned by label mooks and you have no oversight of expenses whatsoever.
And they (WMG) pretty much own all aspects of the band and music, correct?
LOL, gotta love the DIGITAL recording REVOLUTION!
Yeah, this makes me want to cancel my streaming account and go back to my 10 year old mp3 player.
I hope this isn't off-topic, but I noticed that Ariana Grande released a song/video from her new album on YouTube. It was released on YT 3 days ago and already has over 41 million views! I looked up her net worth and a current estimate seems to be $50 million! She released her first album in 2013, so she has been a recording artist for just over 5 years. She seems to make tons of money off of each album, each tour, merch sales, streaming, probably YT as well. I think I would call that a "get rich quick" scheme.
Of course, she did have some exposure before that … she was on a Nickelodeon TV show called Victorious for a few years where she reportedly made $9k per episode. There was a spinoff show also, but I don't think it lasted more than one season, if that.
Her record label, Republic Records, was just honored by Billboard as "Label of the Year", and I think Ariana just won her first Grammy award tonight.
Obviously, this is an exception to the rule that most artists never do nearly that well commercially. I watched this new song/video and I thought it was really cheesy, mostly sample/beat-based stuff (like much is these days), and not what I'd particularly call "good music" or "quality music", but of course that means nothing to her (presumably) legions of loyal fans. It is certainly visually captivating, and baits you with an interesting story-line that seems to have a 'twist' ending. Is it 'art'? Yes. Is it good? YMMV. Does it make money, bring fame and celebrity, and awards? Apparently, an emphatic yes.
If I remember correctly there was even a highly publicized shooting on one of her London concerts that made her a worldwide artist or at least known all over.
It was actually a suicide bombing attack in a Manchester, UK venue in May of 2017. At least 22 killed and many others injured IIRC, and responsibility was claimed by ISIS. While that publicity certainly made her more well known, she was already famous at that point IMO.
Are you saying that this kind of thing was not happening before we went digital? I understood that the industry has been doing this for a long time.
It was generally accepted that the artist would be paid the mechanical songwriting credits (12-15% ish?) up front when the record was pressed, and the label would charge the artist back for everything else (inc. recording costs) and only pay out the roughly 50/50 (profit) royalty AFTER ALL the RECORDING bills were ALL paid off by the artist.
Tour support was essentially a LOAN, not a profit center.
Well…I don't think she was well known in teh US, at least not a household name.
Mechanical copyright is song ownership royalties - not normally a record company's area of concern in the past (although it certainly is now, as most record companies have a publishing arm). You would sign up with a publisher for collection of mechanical royalities. Any deal less than 50% for the artist is poor. The publisher is simply acting as extra backroom staff so that the artist doesn't have to go through the process of collecting the royalties themself, so 20% should be enough for the publisher - although many get away with charging much more.
Any advance made the record company is made on artist royalties (i.e. sales), which is typically 10% - ish of the retail price.
The first two Van Halen albums sold I don't know how many millions of copies of each. You think Van Halen was rich after these first 2 albums? No, they OWED Warner Brothers $1.8 million dollars! They earned a very small royalty rate per album and had to pay much or all of the expenses.
You think Van Halen was rich after these first 2 albums?
Good point. It's easy to see by the numbers that artists rarely make a lot up front. However, with a sustained career of many reasonably good albums, and decent management and deals, eventually the debt gets paid off and 'classic' albums and songs keep selling - so eventually I think some artists do pretty well and fund their own comfortable retirement. Despite Rock 'n Roll being dead to some degree (did you watch the Grammy Awards?), I think there's still lots of interest in the back catalogs of the classic artists. I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to sell pretty well to this day.
I have no doubt Van Halen eventually made a lot of money. I'm guessing they were able to later negotiate a better contract. Decades ago, I went to Michael Anthony's house (for a long time he lived in Glendora, California, the same city I lived in for a long time) briefly. A friend of mine knew Michael. He claimed Michael was making $800,000/month at one point (this was roughly 30 years ago). Michael's house was like a big mansion.
No, they OWED Warner Brothers $1.8 million dollars!
That means they had the 1.8 million dollars in advance. If you borrow money the lender is generally expecting you to pay it back.
A friend of mine knew Michael. He claimed Michael was making $800,000/month at one point (this was roughly 30 years ago). Michael's house was like a big mansion.
Wow, that's crazy. But I guess not completely unexpected. I don't know what all income sources figure into that, but yeah when there's all that success going around the dollars seem to flow like honey.
The first two Van Halen albums sold I don't know how many millions of copies of each. You think Van Halen was rich after these first 2 albums? No, they OWED Warner Brothers $1.8 million dollars!
Its the same thing now. Advance cash, acquire assets, and reap returns. But the numbers compared to 10 and 15 years ago show that labels have adapted to hitting their 180 breakeven point in less time according to their official SEC filings. In plain english, this means they're no longer viewing investment as a long term venture. They're getting whatever they can fast, then dropping artists that don't sell.
They earned a very small royalty rate per album and had to pay much or all of the expenses.
Let me clarify something. They are not personally liable for debt. Compare this to a typical equity deal on Shark Tank. If a shark invests and the company folds, everyone is out whatever they put in. The sharks capital growth is proportionate to the capital growth of their equity percentage, but since in the case of a record label, the shark is shouldering all the risk, the returns must be proportionately high to justify the investment.
And just for kicks, if the $1.8m was invested in Van Halen today, that is exactly .01% of the money Warner invested in artists development and signings during the 2017 fiscal year.
Aaron, you might call this a 1.8m deal, but in reality its more like a hypothetical purchase order. If the 1.8m is accurate, its 1.8m over the timespan of 2 entire full length records with tours in between. Its not a lump sum. So Van Halen was not paying interest on the full amount of the loan the minute they signed the deal. That's where it starts to differ from how it would work if they were securing funding from a bank for a 1.8m house.


text:
Q: Specify ninja version in Meson? I'm running Elementary OS, which is based on Ubuntu 14.04LTS.  Ninja is at version 1.3.4.  When running Meson, I get the error:
ninja: fatal: ninja version (1.3.4) incompatible with build file ninja_required_version version (1.5.1).

According to http://www.mariocampos.io/blog/meson,-first-impressions/ I can fix this by getting a newer version of Ninja.  That's fine, I can do that.  However, I prefer to keep to the software in the package repos, so my question is:
Can I tell Meson to generate a Ninja build file that doesn't require such a high version, or does Meson use Ninja features only available in 1.5.1?

A: Indeed, as you can see in meson git repository, ninja minimum version was raised from 1.3.4 to 1.5.1 on December 3 2014 for the following reason:

To celebrate the new version of Ninja in Debian, start using the console pool.

One solution would be to use an older meson-build version (basically MAXIMUM version 0.21.0).

A:
Can I tell Meson to generate a Ninja build file that doesn't require such a high version

No.  It's hard coded in the meson source code.

does Meson use Ninja features only available in 1.5.1?

Yes.  It's the Console Pool.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Blogsan franciscoREMPoetry
A Conversation With Award-Winning Poet Matthew Zapruder
Matthew Zapruder is one of the Bay Area's most interesting poets. He and I recently had an interesting conversation about poetry, poetic craft, and the reader.
Dean Rader, Contributor
Poet, Professor, Chair, Department of English, University of San Francisco
Aug 1, 2011, 11:40 AM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017
Matthew Zapruder is one of the Bay Area's most interesting poets. He and I recently had an interesting conversation about poetry, poetic craft, and the reader. Zapruder is the author of three collections of poetry. His most recent book, Come On All You Ghosts (Copper Canyon, 2010), was selected as one of the year's top five poetry books by Publishers Weekly, as well as the 2010 Booklist Editors' Choice for poetry, and the 2010 Northern California Independent Booksellers Association poetry book of the year. He is also an editor at Wave Books and the recipient of a 2011 Guggenheim Fellowship. Zapruder teaches in the low-residency creative writing program at UCR-Palm Desert. He lives in San Francisco.
Dean Rader: I'm going to begin with a confession -- I've always been a little obsessed with genre. And, recently, I've been thinking a lot about the relationship between genre and readership. You're someone who writes a lot of different kinds of things, and you've done graduate work in various disciplines. You're also a publisher. So, why poetry? What draws you to poetry despite its historically small readership? Do you feel like you are committed to poetry as a project, or are these books of poems just a slow buildup to your tell-it-all memoir?
Matthew Zapruder: When I first started writing, in my early 20's, I didn't know what sort of writing I wanted to do. I just had the urge to write something. When I sat down and worked, what came out was not stories, or essays, or songs, or a novel, but poems. This was a great and pleasant surprise. At that time I was studying Russian poetry (in the Ph.D. program in Slavic Languages and Literatures at Berkeley), but also other great Russian writing, so it could have turned out a different way. Thankfully it didn't. I think the simplest answer to your question of why I write poetry, is because when I do I am led to say (and understand) things I could not in any other way. These spaces of contradiction and mystery and strangeness among our ordinary uses of words that I discover when writing poetry seem absolutely essential to me. When I want to do something else with language -- such as make an argument, or explore a certain issue -- I usually will write an essay. What about you? What first got you writing poetry?
Rader: As an undergraduate, I took a standard American literature survey course. One of our assignments was to sort of poke around in a poetry anthology (I still have it, by the way, Diyanni, Modern American Poets: Their Voices and Visions) and see if anything grabbed us. Randomly, I stumbled on to some W. S. Merwin and James Wright poems. Merwin was on one side, Wright on the other. I had never read poetry like that before. I thought if that kind of stuff was out there in the world that I didn't know about, what else might be out there? So, I was drawn to writing poetry because I wanted to make on the writer's end what I had experienced on the reader's end. It was mostly about language.
Where do you think you find the language for your poems? What do you want that language to do and be?
Zapruder: I think a misconception some people can have about poets is that they are mainly interested in "language" as pure material, as something outside of its function as a communicative mechanism. Maybe this is because at least on the surface some poems seem uninterested in a reader. I am very interested in the reader, in fact there is probably nothing I am more interested in.
It is not exactly a breakthrough in cultural criticism to point out that nowadays our world is filling itself up more and more with distractions that take us out of the moment and into other spaces. I write poems to take myself out of that distracted, half aware, limited space, which I am just as susceptible to as anyone else. And when I find the "door" it comes in the form of some sentences that I, and also anyone else who picks up the poem, can read and understand and feel something deeper and stranger and more mysterious and more real.
Often people are surprised by the fact that I speak in a regular way in my poems, even if the order of what I am saying or the ideas are unfamiliar. Did you feel as a beginning poet, or a student of poetry, that it was somehow not "poetic" enough to write in conversational language? Also, I'm curious what your students said they did like about poetry?
Rader: Well, obviously, my students cited poetry's impressive track record placing recent graduates in high-paying jobs... Actually, most said they like poetry's "emotion." Some said they enjoyed having a personal connection with individual poems, and they appreciated being able to relate to a feeling or idea. For them, it was really important to be able to connect with the poem on an emotional (and sometimes intellectual) level. Some said they liked how poetry made them see things in a new way, and one or two mentioned how poetry can be "beautiful," which is in part a nod to language, but literally no one specifically talked about what we would call "poetic language."
My ear loves sounds made with words, and in a few of the poems from Works & Days, I intentionally focus on the marriage of the rhythmic and the sonic. I think these poems stand out in the collection -- good or bad -- because, as you note, the rest of the book is written in a pretty conversational tone. Hopefully, the poems are both accessible and smart, intellectually engaging but funny.
You do a nice job of this. I have been especially intrigued by how you begin your books. The first poem from Come On All You Ghosts, "Erstwhile Harbinger Auspices" does similar work though more subtly. It is a really generous entrée to the reader. We've had a conversation before about wanting our books to love the reader, and I'm wondering how you go about ensuring that happens.
Zapruder: I agree with your students. I think I like the same things about poetry that they do. It gets back to the function of poetry, which is for me (both when I write it and when I read it) to create, or make me aware of, the sorts of vital experiences and feelings that are so often crushed by the various mechanisms of our lives.
Rader: Let me ask you one last question. What is the one thing you want for contemporary poetry? What would you like it to do that it is not presently doing?
Zapruder: I like your question a lot, though it seems like a big thing to me to hope for something for "contemporary poetry." So my initial reaction is to say, I hope for many things for my own poetry: honesty, directness, and a sense in whatever readers might come to it that I am trying to articulate the elusive feelings, fears, experiences that are all part of the natural condition of being alive in this weird, awkward, scary, amazing time. And I hope to find those things when I read the poems of my contemporaries, and often do.
As for contemporary poetry, I guess I would come back to something we were talking about earlier in this interview. I wish for contemporary American poetry that the poets keep the reader more in mind: that poets continue to find various and authentic ways of thinking about who might read their poems and why. I don't mean in order to present the poems as a "product" or accessory to a cultured or hipster lifestyle (poetry should never try to be cool, that's just embarrassing, it's like when a dad tries to be friends with his kid's friends). And I don't mean that poems should always be about familiar or common experiences. I mean that readers should be able to feel in poetry today a genuine and generous strangeness, a reaching out, a desire on the part of the poem itself (as odd as that may seem to say, it is how it feels to me when I read poems, that I am having an experience with the poem itself) to make contact and increase the actuality of imagined spaces.
san franciscoREMPoetry


text:
package hrv.lib.hrv.calc.parameter;

import hrv.lib.hrv.RRData;

/**
 * Calculates the pNN50-HRV-Parameter from the given RR-interval-data.
 *
 * @author Julian
 *
 */
public class PNN50Calculator implements HRVDataProcessor {

	/**
	 * Calculates the pNN50-HRV-Parameter in %, from the given RR-interval-data.
	 * @return calculated pNN50 parameter.
	 */
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	public HRVParameter process(RRData data) {
		double[] rr = data.getValueAxis();

		var calc = new NN50Calculator();

		return new HRVParameter(HRVParameterEnum.PNN50, calc.process(data).getValue() / (double)(rr.length - 1) * 100, "%");
	}

	@Override
	public boolean validData(RRData data) {
		return data.getValueAxis().length > 1;
	}
}


text:
Making and ELL: Conversational Confidence
Download full report from this site.
In a new study from Drexel University, researchers found that makerspaces help students learning English to feel more confident using their new language skills.
Making Culture: A National Study of Education Makerspaces, confirms something I've heard anecdotally from educators. Doing interesting things means that students talk about the interesting things they are doing.
Now there is a study confirming this (and more).
"In our research, we observed the potential of makerspaces to improve engagement with English language learners (ELL) and students facing disciplinary issues. First-generation English learners expressed greater agency and self-confidence from their experience in makerspaces. These students felt empowered to work on new language skills in the open and collaborative environment through conversations with their peers. Student interviewees suggested that working on creative problem-solving projects reduced the fear of making mistakes when speaking out loud, fostering greater fluency and retention:
ELL students referenced reduced anxiety with language around school activities based on collaboration in makerspaces.
ELL students referenced using technical manuals as part of their literacy development.
ELL students expressed being more comfortable using their native language to problem solve or complete assignments in the makerspace than in other STEM settings.
Teachers also frequently referenced specific changes in behavior in their ELL students from makerspace participation, leading them to believe that engagement had improved."
Making Culture is the first in-depth examination of K-12 education makerspaces nationwide and was created as part of the ExCITe Center's Learning Innovation initiative. This report reveals the significance of cultural aspects of making (student interests, real world relevance, and community collaboration) that enable learning. The research highlights how makerspaces foster a range of positive student learning outcomes, but also reflect some of the gaps in inclusion common in the STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math) fields. The report was co-authored by Drexel School of Education researchers Dr. Kareem Edouard, Katelyn Alderfer, Professor Brian Smith and ExCITe Center Director Youngmoo Kim.
What does making in the classroom look like?
The 2014/2015 FabLearn Fellows cohort is a diverse group of 18 educators and makers. They represent eight states and five countries, and work with a wide range of ages at schools, museums, universities and non-profits. Throughout the course of the year, they will develop curriculum and resources, as well as contribute to current research projects. Their blogs represent their diverse experience and interests in creating better educational oportunities for all.
I've been privileged to mentor this group this past year and part of that is summarizing their amazing blog posts. Here are some recent highlights from April 2015.
My Visit to the 'Iolani School
Jaymes Dec spent Spring Break visiting The 'Iolani School, a K-12 school in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jaymes shares their innovative approach to student-centered project-based learning, shops and makerspaces, and classroom integration.
Fostering a Constructionist Learning Environment, the Qualities of a Maker- Educator
Creating and equipping a makerspace is just the start of changing education to a "maker" mindset. Christa Flores offers five qualities and behaviors for teachers that help foster a constructionist learning environment.
FabLab and Its Learning Dynamic (Part 1) & (Part 2)
In the first two posts of a five part series, Nalin Tutiyaphuengprasert explores the roots of the current FabLab or "maker" trend of today, situated in the constructionism that Seymour Papert first articulated in the 1980's.
Part 1 discusses the classroom – not just the physical setting, but the freedom and richness of the environment.
Part 2 explores the personal relationships and the learning dynamic – the assets at the heart of a maker classroom.
Earth Day- Free Upcycling Curriculum
In honor of Earth Day, Mark Schreiber contributes a free set of curriculum resources to lead students through a design process using hard to recycle materials. The curriculum covers recycling and waste investigations, materials research, engineering and design. It includes activity guides and lesson plans.
Maker research: instruments for efficacy and visual spatial skills
by Sylvia Martinez
One of the challenges of trying to incorporate more hands-on, authentic activities in schools is assessment. Schools not used to authentic assessment see it as subjective and unreliable. So the search for validated instruments, those that can be shared and compared, is vital. This post shares the work of Shaunna Smith, Ed.D. an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at Texas State University in this area.
New report: Making and Tinkering: A Review of the Literature
A new literature review was just released by the Board of Science Education (an NSF funded program associated with the National Academies) called:
Making and Tinkering: A Review of the Literature, by Shirin Vossoughi and Bronwyn Bevan (The PDF is linked from a list, click here and scroll down)
The Board of Sciences has commisioned this and several other papers focused on informal and afterschool STEM learning. More information and links to the other papers are on their website.
The paper is a goldmine of research supporting tinkering and making activities that support learning – not just in STEM and not just in informal settings. Paulo's research, Papert, and Leah Buechley's FabLearn 2013 speech are all referenced (and my book too!)
The list of the other commissioned papers is interesting as well. All the papers are linked from this site.
Commissioned Papers
Formative Assessment for STEM Learning Ecosystems: Biographical approaches as a resource for research and practice by Brigid Barron
Citizen Science and Youth Education by Rick Bonney, Tina B. Phillips, Jody Enck, Jennifer Shirk, and Nancy Trautmann
Evidence & Impact: Museum-Managed STEM Programs in Out-of-School Settings, by Bernadette Chi, Rena Dorph & Leah Reisman
Children Doing Science: Essential Idiosyncrasy and the Challenges of Assessment by David Hammer and Jennifer Radoff
Broadening Access to STEM Learning through Out-of-School Learning Environments by Laura Huerta Migus
Making and Tinkering: A Review of the Literature, by Shirin Vossoughi and Bronwyn Bevan
Research brief: Good learning involves direct experience, focus, motivation, and relationships
Quoted from "Conditions of Learning" – A research brief from the What Kids Can Do site How Youth Learn: A Portfolio to Inform and Inspire Educators, Students, Parents & More
In a recent paper, "Realizing the Potential of Learning in Middle Adolescence," cognitive psychologists Robert Halpern, Paul Heckman, and Rick Larson remind us:
Good learning involves direct experience, "deep immersion in a consequential activity" (Bruner, 1966).
Learning works best when young people can focus in depth on a few things at a time; when they see a clear purpose in learning activities; and when they have an active role—co-constructing, interpreting, applying, making sense of something, making connections.
Motivation is a powerful engine for learning, and the right conditions can foster it. Motivation to learn is stronger when it emerges from the young person's prior knowledge and interests, when it springs not from reward or punishment but from the task itself, and when it is driven by a desire for mastery and by identification with
others who do it well.
Learning is often most effective when it is social; when it occurs as a shared activity within meaningful relationships; and when it allows for increasingly responsible participation—within a tradition, or a community of fellow learners, or one's culture at large.
The bottom line: Young people can be—and want to be—fully engaged learners. The evaluation research on longstanding school networks that put these principles into practice—like Expeditionary Learning, Big Picture, Early College High School, and High Tech High—finds deeply engaged students motivated to do their best (National Research Council and the Institutes of Medicine, 2004; Castellano, Stringfield & Stone, 2003; Kemple, Hirliahiy & Smith, 2005).
The prevailing narrative, however, is one of student disengagement.
Read the rest of the research brief at "Conditions of Learning"
But look how beautifully supports hands-on, authentic learning advocated by educators involved in the Making in Education movement!
FabLearn Fellows 2014
I'm pleased to announce that I'll be formally working with the first cadre of FabLearn Fellows as a mentor and advisor.
This program is a part of a NSF-sponsored project entitled "Infusing Learning Sciences Research into Digital Fabrication in Education and the Makers' Movement." The 2014 FabLearn Fellows cohort is a diverse group of 18 educators and makers. They represent eight states and five countries, and work with a wide range of ages at schools, museums, universities and non-profits. They have agreed to contribute to high-impact research and outreach to answer the following questions:
How can we generate an open-source set of constructionist curricular materials well-adapted for Makerspaces and FabLabs in educational settings?
How are teachers adapting their own curriculum in face of these new "making" technologies, and how can they be better supported? What challenges do teachers face when trying to adopt project-based, constructionist, digital fabrication activities in their classrooms and after-school programs?
How are schools approaching teacher development, parental/community involvement, and issues around traditional assessment?
I'm excited to help support the FabLearn Fellows. I believe that too often, researchers and practitioners in education are isolated from one another. As a result, we lose incredible opportunities to learn and share.
I'll be sharing more as time goes on!
What if… those helpful instructions aren't so helpful
My last post linked to a video showing Dr. Paulo Blikstein of Stanford University showcasing the research going on in his department regarding how making becomes learning.
The next question is what to do when faced with early research? Do we just wait until the research is done? Or maybe even validated with other studies?
I don't believe this.
I want to know, "What if these early findings are true? Would it change my practice? What would it look like in my classroom or school?"
Let's just take one of the research questions being asked – Do detailed instructions help or hinder student understanding? What is the difference between a learner who is given step-by-step instructions vs. being given time to explore a new technology? It is often assumed that the way to learn something new is to follow explicit directions for a couple of tries, and then eventually do it on your own.
The early research is showing, however, that students who are given explicit instructions do NOT move to not needing those instructions. They stay "stuck" in a habit of depending on instructions.
Uh oh. As someone who works with teachers learning new technology, what should I do? Should I hide my handouts? Make them less explicit? I don't know, but I'm sure thinking about it.
Maybe you are thinking about this with your students. Why not do a little experiment? If you give students detailed instructions "just to get them started" on early project work – why not see what happens if you skip the tutorials and hide the handouts? After some early confusion (where you will have to refrain from jumping in with the rescue) you may see new patterns emerging.
I know I'm not waiting around for the perfect research to happen. I want to find out the "what if…" sooner rather than later.
New NASA iPad Magazine App "Space Place Prime" is a new NASA magazine only for the iPad. This brand new app gathers some of the best and most recent Web offerings from NASA. It taps engrossing articles from The Space Place website, enlightening NASA videos, and daily images such as the Astronomy Picture of the Day and the NASA Earth Observatory Image of the Day.
"Space Place Prime" targets a multigenerational audience. Kids, teachers, parents, space enthusiasts, and everyone in between will find fascinating features on this new, free NASA app.
More information about the new magazine and other NASA apps.
Source: NASA Education Express Message — September 20, 2012
"Curiosity in the Classroom" STEM Resources
Discovery Education and Intel Corporation have partnered to create learning resources for the Discovery Channel's series Curiosity. The site has lesson plans and activities that create STEM connections across various subjects including: artificial intelligence, communications, computers, nanotechnology, and robotics. CuriosityintheClassroom.com
Change the Equation Releases State Data on STEM Learning
The 2012 Vital Signs reports paint a wide-ranging and in-depth picture of the condition of STEM learning in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. View the full report
Research to action: 5 must read bullying research briefs
A recent post by danah boyd, social media researcher announced some new resources in the effort to combat bullying, created for the new Born This Way Foundation, created by Lady Gaga and her mother.
"The Foundation wants to create a kinder, braver world so that youth can be the change-agents that we all need them to be. For youth to be empowered, the Foundation recognizes that 1) youth need to be safe; 2) youth need to have skills; and 3) youth need to have opportunities."
danah, along with many other notable folks, are working with the new foundation. In her post, she announced a working paper series, starting with five new resources that synthesize research for the Foundation – and help schools and communities easily get the best, accessible advice to inform their local efforts. Best of all, the foundation and these working papers emphasize that youth empowerment needs to be a main focus for these efforts. This kind of insight and commitment is admirable – this is NOT a feel-good celebrity cause for the cameras.
This working paper series offer practical, ground-level resources based on the best available research. The first five documents are:
"What You Must Know to Help Combat Youth Bullying, Meanness, and Cruelty" by danah boyd and John Palfrey
"Bullying Prevention 101 for Schools: Dos and Don'ts" by Susan Swearer, Mia Doces, Lisa Jones, and Anne Collier
"Implementing Bullying Prevention Programs in Schools: A How-To Guide" by Lisa Jones, Mia Doces, Susan Swearer, and Anne Collier
"Changing the Culture: Ideas for Student Action" by Anne Collier, Susan Swearer, Mia Doces, and Lisa Jones
"An Overview of State Anti-Bullying Legislation and Other Related Laws" by Dena Sacco, Katharine Silbaugh, Felipe Corredor, June Casey, and Davis Doherty
They are looking for comments and feedback on these documents – send them to kbw-feedback@cyber.law.harvard.edu
Games, technology, creativity, and creative reporting
A new study came out from Michigan State University this week – Information technology use and creativity: Findings from the Children and Technology Project by Linda A. Jackson , Edward A. Witt, , Alexander Ivan Games, Hiram E. Fitzgerald, Alexander von Eye, Yong Zhao.
First problem – it's behind a paywall. It costs $19.95, or becoming a subscriber of the journal, Computers in Human Behavior. Well, sure, I could pay for it, or better yet, I "know people" and could probably get it free, but then I can't post it, and worse, I can't link to it and therefore we (me + you out there) can't talk about it. Even the links in the abstract to what the tests of creativity are based on do not go anywhere (see the funny little anchors?). The only other information from MSU is the press release.
"This research examined relationships between children's information technology (IT) use and their creativity. Four types of information technology were considered: computer use, Internet use, videogame playing and cell phone use. A multidimensional measure of creativity was developed based on and test of creative thinking. Participants were 491 12-year olds; 53% were female, 34% were African American and 66% were Caucasian American. Results indicated that videogame playing predicted of all measures of creativity. Regardless of gender or race, greater videogame playing was associated with greater creativity. Type of videogame (e.g., violent, interpersonal) was unrelated to videogame effects on creativity. Gender but not race differences were obtained in the amount and type of videogame playing, but not in creativity. Implications of the findings for future research to test the causal relationship between videogame playing and creativity and to identify mediator and moderator variables are discussed.
Highlights ► Positive relationship between videogame playing and creativity. ► Relationship held across types of videogames (e.g., violent, interpersonal). ► Despite gender and race differences in videogame playing, there were no gender or race difference in creativity."
Already the abstract has got my antennae tuned. Did they really call videogame playing "Information Technology Use"? I mean, I see what they were going for – do the things kids do with common technology correlate to measures of creativity?
But it really makes me want to see the actual study. I wonder what the correlation was between the three other types of "information technology use" – computer use, Internet use, and cell phone use. What kind of "use" did they test? Was it a survey? What did they ask? Was it just hours? What were the kids doing? What was the difference between Internet use and computer use (isn't one a subset of the other?) Questions, questions, questions.
Plus, if ed tech enthusiasts are happy that creativity is linked to videogames, what does it mean that computer and Internet use did not show the same link? For learning game enthusiasts, what does it mean that the link to creativity didn't depend on what kinds of games the kids played.
Next problem – the press picks up the story, reads the abstract (if we're lucky) and proceeds to write a story that really isn't what the research says. That's true even just reading the abstract.
USA Today Headline – Research: Video games help with creativity in boys and girls starts off, "Here's another reason to include The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on those holiday shopping lists: children who play video games are more creative."
OK, so the headline implies that video games are responsible for making children more creative – but the article is fairly carefully worded about assuming that playing videogames MAKES children creative.
The Register (an IT site from the UK) headline – Kids! You get back in front of that Xbox right now: Playing videogames makes kids more creative. "Positive news for gamers, and their parents. Hours in front of the glowing box hammering zombies as a youngster can make you more creative."
Several commenters point out that correlation does not equal causation, but there are an equal number of commenters who believe that videogames cause children to be violent, so therefore we will have a lot more creative axe-murderers due to games. So it's not like you can really look to the comments for wisdom.
There are lots of headlines that get it right, or at least use some caution, using words like "linked" or "tied" to connect creativity to videogames, but from my brief survey, plenty more that get it wrong.
Play More Video Games, Be More Creative? – Parenting.com
Study: Playing Video Games Promotes Creativity
Video Games Are Making Your Kids More Creative
Study Finds Games Make Kids More Creative
Repeat after me… Correlation is not causation!
Don't show, don't tell?
Don't show, don't tell? MITnews
Suppose someone showed you a novel gadget and told you, "Here's how it works," while demonstrating a single function, such as pushing a button. What would you do when they handed it to you?
You'd probably push the button. But what if the gadget had other functions? Would it occur to you to search for them, if your teacher hadn't alluded to their existence?
Maybe, maybe not. It turns out that there is a "double-edged sword" to pedagogy: Explicit instruction makes children less likely to engage in spontaneous exploration and discovery. A study by MIT researchers and colleagues compared the behavior of children given a novel toy under four different conditions, finding that children expressly taught one of its functions played with the toy for less time and discovered fewer things to do with it than children in the other three scenarios.
Read the rest of the article…


"The present invention provides a lightweight high pressure vessels that are made from a liner or a liner housing that is overwrapped with a composite material. Unlike conventional high pressure vessels, the lightweight high pressure vessel of the invention includes a liner that comprises a plurality of liner sections without using welding or crimping. In particular, the lightweight high pressure vessels of the invention include a plurality of elements that are combined to form a liner housing and a composite overwrap that provides structural and mechanical strength to maintain integrity of the high pressure vessel. In one particular embodiment, the high pressure vessel of the invention is a diaphragm accumulator. ... [In some embodiments] interior of said accumulator comprises a phase changing material."
"Cosmetics packaging and applicators including a gel based tip are described. Gel applicators may or may not be provided with a through-hole. In various embodiments, the gel may be a stand-alone gel or may be encapsulated in a membrane. The gel applicator provides a soft feel and may have cooling effect as well. In some embodiments, the applicator is mounted to a platform or a hollow insert and coupled to a container housing the cosmetics product. ... The gel may also include phase change materials which are useful in conveying the cooling sensation, since phase change materials, by definition absorb heat energy when changing phases."
"A battery system, comprising a battery structure, a heating assembly, and the heating control device according to claim 7, wherein the heating control device is electrically connected with the heating assembly and the battery structure to form a control circuit, and the heating assembly is configured to heat the battery structure under control of the heating control device. ... Preferably, the heating assembly includes a heater, and a resistance of the heater increases as a temperature of the heater increases. Preferably, the heating assembly further includes a phase change material, the heater contacts with the phase change material, the phase change material is capable of changing phase at a phase change temperature, and heat generated by the heater is conducted to the battery structure via the phase change material."


Paving the way for Black Friday, Thanksgiving hits $1.52 billion in online spending, with phones and tablets driving more than half of the traffic.
Thanksgiving's post-turkey stupor met its match Thursday as the massive allure of holiday retail promotions carved out high numbers going into Black Friday.
Before sitting down to dinner at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, people tapped and swiped their way to $1.52 billion in online spending, making for 16.8 percent growth, year over year, said Adobe. The momentum carried over to the next morning: Preliminary figures for Black Friday mark $640 million in online spending as of 10 a.m. ET, representing 18.4 percent growth.