text:
2019/07/10 2019/07/11 / Fiddle Dee Dee	/ Leave a comment
I often hear people complain how hard it is to lose weight.
Let me tell you, losing 100 pounds was easy!
What's actually hard is maintaining weight loss and not slipping back into ages old habits! It's so easy to have a cheat meal here or there that becomes weeks of poor nutrition, to become disillusioned or bored with the gym, discover a new series on Netflix, or decide to take a little break because we can just jump right back in.
Believe me, I struggle with this a lot, and since moving to Atlanta two years ago it's been a continual struggle as I emotionally ate my way through the move, MacKenzie's wedding, Bradley's enlistment, and now sheer boredom and loneliness has become my worst enemy. Thankfully I have an amazing husband who has dove into his own fitness journey and is now my "let's get off the couch" motivator.
My handsome Spartan running motivator.
For the first time in years Audley is working 40 hours a week… a Monday-Thursday schedule. It's so nice, but it didn't take long for us to go stir crazy in the house on his off days. While scrolling through Instagram one day I saw pictures of this gorgeous location right here in Georgia; Providence Canyon.
We decided to take a short road trip and get our rear ends off the sofa and away from the pantry.
Located about 2 1/2 hours south of Atlanta, Providence Canyon is actually the result of poor farming practices 200 years ago (many lessons learned), but it's also a beautiful location for picnicking, exploring, and photographing.
The stunning red, white, purple and pink sandstone walls that form the canyon might have you thinking you've gone out west, but I promise, you're still in the South!
The canyon makes a gorgeous backdrop for hiking and exploring.
There are roughly 10 miles of trails you can hike throughout the beautiful canyon. These various hikes range from easy to moderate in difficulty. Choose wisely for your level of fitness and health. Each can take a couple of hours to five or more. You'll be amazed at the different scenery as you wander through the canyon. One minute you're in a lush forest and the next sandy desert. It's a beautiful result from costly mistakes generations ago.
When hiking Providence Canyon you need to prepare accordingly. First, this is a state park, so there is a $5 fee to park. If you purchase a Georgia State Parks pass you can find all kinds of adventures throughout the state and only pay once! While strolling around the top of the canyon is relaxing and easy, going into the canyon is a little different. The grounds throughout the area are sandy and wet. Trails take you down and up hills, through forest areas and into various rocky fingers of the many canyons. Wear appropriate shoes for these trails; shoes made for hiking and that you don't mind getting muddy and wet are best. Smalls steams of water flow all through the canyon floor. You also need water for drinking. Once down in the canyon there are no bathrooms or water fountains. We packed a small backpack with bottles of water.
And don't forget bug repellant. Mosquitos love wetlands.
Our lightweight Kavu bag holds several bottles of water and snack packs of nuts for a trail hike. Audley is partial to his Salomon trail shoes, and I love my Merrells. Shop for hiking/trail shoes that fit your feet well and work for various weekend adventures. Protecting your feet is so important if you are going to hike!
Dress comfortably for your hike. I wore leggings and a tee-shirt even-though it's hot, just because of their water wicking ability. You don't want blisters on your thighs from hiking and sweat rolling down your legs. It is NOT comfortable. Wearing pants also leaves less places for mosquitos to nail ya.
There is a longer hike through the canyon that you will need to pack snacks as well as extra water to take as it is pretty long. We plan to go back and do that one in the fall.
Audley and I hiked over five miles in and around the canyon, then enjoyed a yummy picnic up on the rim.
Providence Canyon was one time a thriving town. Remnants can be found throughout the park including an old wooden Methodist church building and cemetery dating back to the mid-1800's. There are also old rusted out cars along the trail up to, but we didn't explore that area to see them. We will definitely add that to our hike in the fall.
If you are looking for a quick weekend adventure and an opportunity to get off the couch, a trip to Providence Canyon is definitely worth making! I won't say hiking is a way to lose weight, but it's a great way to explore where you live (statewide or regionally), get in some fresh air, and get moving!
Being sedentary is hazardous to your health.
Hooray for gorgeous days and beautiful places!!!
Enjoy the views and let me know what you think!
Providence Canyon State Park
8930 Canyon Road
Lumpkin, GA 31815
Photo Journal: Traveling Missouri's Route 66
2019/05/24 / Fiddle Dee Dee	/ Leave a comment
"Will Rogers Highway", "Main Street America", "the Mother Road", …. No matter what you call it, historic Route 66 has etched itself in history and Americans for generations now. Movies like Thelma & Louise, The Grapes of Wrath, Easy Rider, and even Disney's Cars have only added to the lore and mystique of this slice of Americana, even in 2019.
An original US highway, historic Route 66 officially became a highway in November 1926. Running 2,448 miles, Route 66 originates in Chicago, Illinois and runs through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California; ending first in LA and later on in Santa Monica.
If Route 66 could talk it would tell the stories of migrants with cars loaded down with families and as many possessions as possible headed west during the dust bowl looking for better opportunities. It would tell stories of families just after World War II as times had vastly improved, loading up to see all the sights across our beautiful nation. Mom and Pop hotels and restaurants flourished as did little towns along the route and they saw many prosperous days. When President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act in 1956, newer routes began serving travelers with a more direct path, among other amenities, leaving the small towns who had been booming to fade away as they were bypassed. In 1985 the Mother Road was decommissioned and Route 66 lost its highway status along with its traffic.
It may be nostalgia, a longing for simpler times, and even a group or two that values and wants to preserve history, but a resurgence of travel has occurred along Route 66 in the past several years. You won't find it marked on a map or even as a route anymore when traveling west, but there are plenty of ways to map it out yourself, merge of the interstate and discover some of the United States most scenic and historic byways.
Recently while traveling in Missouri we mapped out a part of our trip to drive a portion of Route 66. We turned off of I-44 E in Lebanon, Missouri and headed east to St Louis about 160 miles. Much of the Route is country roads, some of it has been completely closed off and other areas merged with the interstate, we still enjoyed many a vintage stop filled with a slice of Americana and photo ops you don't want to miss.
Here are some of our favorite highlights mapped out for you!
Lebanon, Missouri's Moss Munger Motel has been a fixture and serving guests since 1945.
How fitting to see this sight as we were passing through the backroads of Route 66
While not an original Route 66 fixture, this bowling pin has attracted plenty of attention and stood outside the Buckhorn Bowling Ally in Waynesville, Missouri for years!
Unlike today restaurants when traveling were a splurge and a treat for most families. Roadside parks were plentiful along main travel routes and were perfect for picnicking and stretching your legs! I loved seeing this park preserved in St Robert, Missouri.
Route 66 Diner in St Robert was built in the last 20 years, but designed as a throwback to the 50's, where kids might have hung out or a family treated to hamburgers and fries.
Also built more recently, the Uranus Fudge Factory uses nostalgia (and humor) to encourage weary travelers to venture off the interstate for a few moments on Route 66.
Country Views as we continued traveling along Route 66
Devil's Elbow and its bridge crossing the Big Piney River in Pulaski County has had cars crossing since 1923.
Cuba, Missouri has preserved a lot of it's history, and added it's own touches to keep visitors interested in passing through the quaint little town. Known as mural city, there are murals painting on several businesses and buildings throughout the area that share some history of this little town.
Besides a gas station turned restaurant, Cuba has also preserved the old Wagon Wheel Motel.
When the Gateway Arch was completed in 1965, as a new a uniquely designed monument, the Arch would've been a huge stop for families as they made their way through St Louis.
Have you ever traveled Historic Route 66? What unique things have you seen? I would love to hear your adventures!
Get Your Foodie Fix on Route 66
2019/05/03 2019/05/03 / Fiddle Dee Dee	/ 1 Comment
Happy Foodie Friday y'all!
A few weeks back as we traveled out to Missouri to see Bradley, we left plenty of time in our schedule for dawdling and meandering the back roads. Now traveling through the Ozark Mountains was beautiful, but as soon as it was possible we hopped over to travel the historic Route 66 for a little time travel.
We passed old signage and motels and roadside parks; remnants of an era that has been pushed aside in the name of progress, but we also passed trough towns where folks are trying to preserve this historic highway.
Family owned and operated The FourWay is a former filling station on the Mother Road that has been turned into a local and absolutely delightful diner.
I'll get to the food in a minute, but we must talk history first!
First built in 1932, the Phillips 66 station owned by Paul T Carr was in the ideal location right on Route 66 as people traveled from Chicago towards Cali. It would have been a full-service station back in the day where attendants would pump your gas, wash the windows and even grab you a map if you asked.
Via Google Images
A whole different experience than we have now.
After Mr Carr passed in the mid-1960's, the station was bought by the Wallis family and turned into a Mobil gas station and the offices for their new oil company venture. The Wallis family outgrew the little filling station and it sat empty for a while after a brief stint as a bakery. In 2005 with the help of a preservation grant for Route 66 history and using resources from the archives of Phillips 66 oil company, the outside of the building was restored to its original cottage appearance. Despite the renovation It sat empty until 2015, when an interior restoration was started. This time the historic gas station became the home of The FourWay Restaurant; a Mediterranean themed restaurant with a Missouri twist owned by restaurant veteran, Joanie Weir.
We arrived to this cozy spot for a late lunch and a quiet restaurant, which is perfect when you're wanting to pull your camera out at lunch and don't want to feel judged. It was a weekday and 2:00 pm, so I didn't expect a crowd. Our waitress was sweet as could be and seated us by the window where we could enjoy the gorgeous day while we dined.
We started off our meal with the FourWay Fries… steak fries topped with feta, tzatziki and a house made hot sauce. Sounds weird, but it was just delicious!
Since it was just lunchtime, and we still had traveling to do, we didn't get too crazy with ordering.
Madeline and Audley both chose the Leroy burger, adding cheese and bacon, while I had a fantastic BLT sandwich.
All of the ingredients are fresh and local when possible. BTW… the house pickles are fantastic!! We were so full from lunch we couldn't order dessert. It was so hard to say no.
I loved the eclectic decor of the FourWay; the food pairs with it perfectly. A simple menu; a simply decorated restaurant. A meal that reminds you of home; cozy decor that doesn't make you feel out of touch.
If you're traveling through Missouri, venture off the interstate into Cuba and check out the FourWay. You'll love the glimpse of history in this progressive world.
The FourWay
102 W. Washington Ave.
Cuba, Missouri


Every cowgirl needs her basic tanks as much as she needs her classic boot cut jeans. This lightweight Basic Foundation Racerback Tank Top from Miss Me has a comfortable and soft fit and a rounded neckline. It's perfect for layering under your favorite shirts and comfortable enough to lounge around in on your days off.


A narrow couloir, Threeway Chute #1 is the most difficult of these four couloirs.
At a maximum of a 45 degree slope angle at the gut of the couloir, this run is for experts only.
It is also possible to drop into this couloir off the snowy/rock buttress on skiers left, which would require mandatory air.
The main entrance to this couloir is around the backside of this snowy/rock buttress.
Watch for a cornice that forms on either side.
The entrance is narrow, then as the chute funnels through the narrowest part, it also steepens to 45 degrees or more.
Below this point, the chute opens wide to the basin below.
Ski and ride with a partner and carry proper avalanche gear.


text:
Вольдемар Фогт (Фохт) ( []; 1850—1919) — немецкий физик-теоретик, с 1900 года член-корреспондент Берлинской академии наук.

Биография
Родился 2 сентября 1850 года в Лейпциге, умер 13 декабря 1919 года в Гёттингене. Обучался в университете Кёнигсберга у Франца Эрнста Неймана. Окончив обучение в 1874 году, продолжил работать в альма-матере до 1883 года, после чего переехал в город Геттинген, в университете которого проработал до 1914 года.

Основные труды посвящены физике кристаллов, магнитооптике, теории упругости, термодинамике, механике, кинетической теории газов. В 1898 году Фогтом был открыт названный его именем эффект. В 1899 году заинтересовался воздействием электрического поля на вещество, пытался создать классическое объяснение эффекту Зеемана. В 1899—1900 годах создал теорию магнитооптических явлений (теория Лоренца — Фогта) В 1895-1896 годах  Фогтом была написана двухтомная работа «Теоретическая физика», а основная работа «Lehrbuch der Kristallphysik» (учебник по физике кристаллов) впервые была опубликована в 1910 году. Именем Фогта также названы функция со специальным профилем и форма записи симметричного тензора.

Преобразования Фогта
Также работал над теорией дисперсии света, в 1887 году использовал преобразования, близкие к преобразованиям Лоренца:

 ,
где  ,  Фактор Лоренца.

Примечания

Литература

Ссылки

 Вольдемар Фойгт — persons-info.com

Физики по алфавиту
Физики Германии
Выпускники Кёнигсбергского университета
Преподаватели Лейпцигского университета
Преподаватели Гёттингенского университета
Члены Прусской академии наук
Члены Датской королевской академии наук
Члены Гёттингенской академии наук
Члены Леопольдины
Члены Баварской академии наук
Члены Нидерландской королевской академии наук
Члены Академии деи Линчеи
Иностранные члены Лондонского королевского общества
Кавалеры ордена Красного орла 3 степени
Почётные доктора Сент-Эндрюсского университета
Почётные доктора Падуанского университета
Почётные доктора Женевского университета
Преподаватели Кёнигсбергского университета
Члены-корреспонденты Французской академии наук

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Mastered in HD! Angies about to step over the edge - all she need is a little help! Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct, Sliver) is electrifying as a woman driven to the edge of insanity in this taut psychological thriller from Frank De Felitta (The Entity, Z.P.G.). Stone plays Angie Anderson, a beautiful, emotionally fragile woman living alone in the big city. When she's attacked in her apartment building, she manages to thwart her assailant by stabbing him with a pair of scissors, but not before he vows to return. Angie's emotional state begins to weaken as she's overwhelmed by fears real and imagined. A handsome neighbor (Steve Railsback, The Stunt Man) and an esteemed psychologist (Ronny Cox, Deliverance) seem to want to help, but someone is leading Angie into a nightmare of madness and terror - and a final confrontation with her worst, long-repressed fears. Also starring Michelle Phillips (Valentino).


Join us for a late afternoon wild-west adventure aboard a real century-old steam train. Yes, there will be cowboys, horses, outlaws, and inlaws, so hold on to your wallet! Those horse-thieving robbers have been known to hold up the trains running through these parts. Don't worry, we guarantee the train will get back to Ely one way or another. We sure hope you make it back as well so you can tell your friends all about it.


text:
Giordano Meloni (born 18 February 1983 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian footballer. He plays as a forward. He is currently playing for A.S.D. Flaminia Civita Castellana.

See also
Football in Italy
List of football clubs in Italy

References

External links
 Giordano Meloni's profile on San Marino Calcio's official website

1983 births
Italian footballers
Living people
Olbia Calcio 1905 players
A.S.D. Victor San Marino players
S.S.D. Castel San Pietro Terme Calcio players
Association football forwards
Footballers from Rome


Bubbly Choc 'n Crunch, that's 2 small wafer bars with no less than 88% chocolate. The TEFF-wafers are filled with a thick layer of aerated Belgian milk chocolate and enrobed with milk chocolate.
One multipack contains five 2-packs.
Your own label on this product?
Contact us to talk about the possibilities for this wafer product for your customers.


text:
CMS Overview
Publishing and Integrations
VET Curriculum Management
CMS Implementation
Testing/QA Services
Request a free,
live demonstration
Home » The University of Queensland
Ranked in the world's top 50, The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia's leading research and teaching institutions. As a founding member of Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of leading Australian universities, UQ is known for its excellence in creation, preservation, transfer and application of knowledge. Over 4500 staff deliver globally renowned learning experiences through a comprehensive suite of programs and courses.
Following a University-wide curriculum review, UQ recognised that it needed a new toolset to manage its broad and evolving curriculum more effectively. By updating legacy curriculum management processes and systems, the University will be able to reduce manual steps, and duplication of content and effort, leaving more time for staff to focus on delivering world-class learning experiences for students. Following a successful pilot in December 2019, UQ selected Global IT Factory's cloud-based Curriculum Management System to partner with them in improving their curriculum management processes through the implementation of new IT capabilities and retirement of legacy systems.
Global IT Factory's Curriculum Management System (named "Jac" at UQ), was successfully launched by Global IT Factory and University of Queensland Curriculum End-to-End Program (CEEP) team in October 2020.
Read next customer success story
Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Australian Catholic University (ACU) is ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide* and is first in Australia for graduate employment**. The university has six research institutes and four faculties – Education and Arts, Health Sciences, Law and Business, and Theology and Philosophy. It has eight Australian campuses and a campus in Rome, Italy.
Cost-Effective Curriculum Management Solution
Consistent curriculum design resulting in reduced costs
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CMS Implementation Custom Application Development Testing QA/Services
Copyright © 2020 Global IT Factory

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
namespace Dropbox.Api.Files
{
    using sys = System;
    using col = System.Collections.Generic;
    using re = System.Text.RegularExpressions;

    using enc = Dropbox.Api.Stone;

    /// <summary>
    /// <para>The delete arg object</para>
    /// </summary>
    public class DeleteArg
    {
        #pragma warning disable 108

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>The encoder instance.</para>
        /// </summary>
        internal static enc.StructEncoder<DeleteArg> Encoder = new DeleteArgEncoder();

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>The decoder instance.</para>
        /// </summary>
        internal static enc.StructDecoder<DeleteArg> Decoder = new DeleteArgDecoder();

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="DeleteArg" /> class.</para>
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="path">Path in the user's Dropbox to delete.</param>
        /// <param name="parentRev">Perform delete if given "rev" matches the existing file's
        /// latest "rev". This field does not support deleting a folder.</param>
        public DeleteArg(string path,
                         string parentRev = null)
        {
            if (path == null)
            {
                throw new sys.ArgumentNullException("path");
            }
            if (!re.Regex.IsMatch(path, @"\A(?:(/(.|[\r\n])*)|(ns:[0-9]+(/.*)?)|(id:.*))\z"))
            {
                throw new sys.ArgumentOutOfRangeException("path", @"Value should match pattern '\A(?:(/(.|[\r\n])*)|(ns:[0-9]+(/.*)?)|(id:.*))\z'");
            }

            if (parentRev != null)
            {
                if (parentRev.Length < 9)
                {
                    throw new sys.ArgumentOutOfRangeException("parentRev", "Length should be at least 9");
                }
                if (!re.Regex.IsMatch(parentRev, @"\A(?:[0-9a-f]+)\z"))
                {
                    throw new sys.ArgumentOutOfRangeException("parentRev", @"Value should match pattern '\A(?:[0-9a-f]+)\z'");
                }
            }

            this.Path = path;
            this.ParentRev = parentRev;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="DeleteArg" /> class.</para>
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>This is to construct an instance of the object when
        /// deserializing.</remarks>
        [sys.ComponentModel.EditorBrowsable(sys.ComponentModel.EditorBrowsableState.Never)]
        public DeleteArg()
        {
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>Path in the user's Dropbox to delete.</para>
        /// </summary>
        public string Path { get; protected set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>Perform delete if given "rev" matches the existing file's latest "rev". This
        /// field does not support deleting a folder.</para>
        /// </summary>
        public string ParentRev { get; protected set; }

        #region Encoder class

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>Encoder for  <see cref="DeleteArg" />.</para>
        /// </summary>
        private class DeleteArgEncoder : enc.StructEncoder<DeleteArg>
        {
            /// <summary>
            /// <para>Encode fields of given value.</para>
            /// </summary>
            /// <param name="value">The value.</param>
            /// <param name="writer">The writer.</param>
            public override void EncodeFields(DeleteArg value, enc.IJsonWriter writer)
            {
                WriteProperty("path", value.Path, writer, enc.StringEncoder.Instance);
                if (value.ParentRev != null)
                {
                    WriteProperty("parent_rev", value.ParentRev, writer, enc.StringEncoder.Instance);
                }
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region Decoder class

        /// <summary>
        /// <para>Decoder for  <see cref="DeleteArg" />.</para>
        /// </summary>
        private class DeleteArgDecoder : enc.StructDecoder<DeleteArg>
        {
            /// <summary>
            /// <para>Create a new instance of type <see cref="DeleteArg" />.</para>
            /// </summary>
            /// <returns>The struct instance.</returns>
            protected override DeleteArg Create()
            {
                return new DeleteArg();
            }

            /// <summary>
            /// <para>Set given field.</para>
            /// </summary>
            /// <param name="value">The field value.</param>
            /// <param name="fieldName">The field name.</param>
            /// <param name="reader">The json reader.</param>
            protected override void SetField(DeleteArg value, string fieldName, enc.IJsonReader reader)
            {
                switch (fieldName)
                {
                    case "path":
                        value.Path = enc.StringDecoder.Instance.Decode(reader);
                        break;
                    case "parent_rev":
                        value.ParentRev = enc.StringDecoder.Instance.Decode(reader);
                        break;
                    default:
                        reader.Skip();
                        break;
                }
            }
        }

        #endregion
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Why is it so difficult to both count your blessings and be "real" about life? While I wholeheartedly believe it's important to be grateful for what one has, I also believe there are times when it may be equally as important to acknowledge the stages and seasons we all go through, even the unhappy and trying ones.
My husband and I grumble about this pretty frequently when discussing one particular set of "couple friends." For this family, everything is always perfect. Now, this is a very Christ-centered family, so I understand they are simply trying to express their gratitude for all they have (for what it's worth, my NY's resolution was to put a little Phil. 4:11 in my life). But I often wonder what kind of help they could be to other families if they would simply acknowledge life's little (or big) imperfections? For instance, when my husband and I ask them questions about life experiences they've had and we haven't, it could probably do us a lot of good to hear an in-depth "real" answer instead of "it's all good!" Or maybe for this family things really are all good?
I'm thinking of this today both because of the blog post going around—Stop Instagramming Your Perfect Life—and because today is a root canal day.
I woke up to a beautifully clear sky. As I poured my coffee, I took in the view of the Bay and the San Francisco skyline that I am blessed enough to have in not only my living room, but in my playroom and breakfast nook as well. I also woke to Rachel screaming bloody murder at the top of her lungs.
This was not a real scream, but instead the scream she uses when she wants "Mama, not Daddy," to get her out of bed in the morning. The second I walk through her door, she immediately smiles and says "good morning!" But nonetheless, it is very difficult to wake up to, especially when the baby is still soundly sleeping across the hall from her, and her screams could wake him at any second.
Then I check my husband's schedule: he's gone today from 9:15am to 9:15pm, which means another night of putting two little ones to bed solo.
And I'm sick. After a full month+ of the baby having RSV and being stuck in the house because of that, I get hit by the cold of all colds and can't even go out and enjoy the sunshine. At least we were all healthy for Easter… If I didn't know better, I would swear it was the egg hunt in the rain that did me in.
So I'm grumpy. And snappy. And ticked off that my world is less than perfect and especially that I couldn't enjoy my coffee in peace, but instead had to cut yarn into a million pieces so that Rachel could decorate for Unicorn's birthday (again).
Yesterday morning I didn't feel this way. In fact, my oldest son had a life victory over something we've been worried about for 6 months. It was a glorious time of thankfulness and rejoicing. I was on a high I thought would last for days—it lasted until roughly 2pm, at which point my living room was "decorated" with toilet paper, my daughter was yelling at the dog from her undies-only position atop the dining room table, and my husband was still feeling frustrated by his job situation.
How can I put all that on FB? And should I? Probably not. Although it isn't the 140-characters-or-less world of Twitter, it's definitely not the place to bemoan all my first-world problems for close friends and old co-workers alike to take in. But there is (or should be) a place for it. Why? I guess it's because I feel a mom duty to express mom truths to counter the Instagram/Facebook perfection myth. Also, it feels really good to take a break and write down the thoughts in my head, although I'm still terrible at journaling (too much pressure). And although I would much rather count my blessings, sometimes it's a blessing to others to hear the nitty-gritty, Unicorn-party truth, so that they can think how lucky they are that their living room isn't covered in toilet paper.
This entry was posted in First World Problems. Bookmark the permalink.


Web Applications like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, vBulletin are favorite targets of Denial of Service and Brute Force Attacks which may seriously impair your web presence.
We encourage Webmasters hosting with us to keep the Applications and their components updated, but sometimes it's not enough.
We recommend using Sucuri: They are experts at monitoring, alerting and removing malware, and have developed a Web Application Firewall Service to protect Web sites against such attacks.
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Wrath of the Titans is a 2012 American fantasy film and sequel to the 2010 film Clash of the Titans. The film stars Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Édgar Ramírez, Toby Kebbell, Danny Huston, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson with Jonathan Liebesman directing a screenplay by Dan Mazeau and David Leslie Johnson. Wrath of the Titans takes place a decade after the events of the first film as the gods lose control over the imprisoned Titans andPerseus is called once again, this time to rescue his father Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.Talk of a sequel began with the release of Clash of the Titans in March 2010. Scribes Dan Mazeau and David Leslie Johnson were hired in June 2010 and director Jonathan Liebesman was brought on-board in August 2010. The majority of the casting took place between January and February 2011. Principal photography began in London in March 2011. The film was converted to 3D in post-production. Wrath of the Titans was released in 2D and 3D on March 30, 2012 in the United States.


text:
<?php

require __DIR__.'/../vendor/autoload.php';

use Khayyam\Khayyam;
use Khayyam\DateTime;

class TestFixture extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
{
	private $saveTz;

	protected function setUp()
	{
		//save current timezone
		$this->saveTz = date_default_timezone_get();

		date_default_timezone_set('Asia/Tehran');
	}

	protected function tearDown()
	{
		date_default_timezone_set($this->saveTz);
	}

	protected function assertKhayyam(DateTime $d, $year, $month, $day, $hour = null, $minute = null, $second = null)
	{
		$this->assertSame($year, $d->year, 'Khayyam->year');
		$this->assertSame($month, $d->month, 'Khayyam->month');
		$this->assertSame($day, $d->day, 'Khayyam->day');

		if ($hour !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($hour, $d->hour, 'Khayyam->hour');
		}

		if ($minute !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($minute, $d->minute, 'Khayyam->minute');
		}

		if ($second !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($second, $d->second, 'Khayyam->second');
		}
	}

	protected function assertInstanceOfKhayyam($d)
	{
		$this->assertInstanceOf('Khayyam\Khayyam', $d);
	}

	protected function assertDateTime(DateTime $d, $year = null, $month = null, $day = null, $hour = null, $minute = null, $second = null)
	{
		if ($year !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($year, (int)$d->format('Y'), 'DateTime->year');
		}

		if ($month !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($month, (int)$d->format('m'), 'DateTime->month');
		}

		if ($day !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($day, (int)$d->format('d'), 'DateTime->day');
		}

		if ($hour !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($hour, (int)$d->format('H'), 'DateTime->hour');
		}

		if ($minute !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($minute, (int)$d->format('i'), 'DateTime->minute');
		}

		if ($second !== null) {
			$this->assertSame($second, (int)$d->format('s'), 'DateTime->second');
		}
	}

	protected function assertInstanceOfDateTime($d)
	{
		$this->assertInstanceOf('Khayyam\DateTime', $d);
	}
}


Hawkshead Chilli Salsa for Oysters is an irresistible condiment with oysters. Spoon a dash of this vibrant salsa on top of freshly shucked raw or cooked oysters to add flavour and panache!
Serve this versatile and delicious salsa with other foods, such as fish, cold-cuts of meat (chicken, ham, beef, salami), salads (wonderful on potato salad), buffets of cheese, and stirred into scrambled eggs.
Gluten free. Suitable for vegetarians. 100 percent GMO Free.
Hawkshead Chilli Salsa for Oysters is made specially for Simply Oysters by the Hawkshead Relish Company. Made by hand using the freshest and finest ingredients by the Hawkshead Relish Company in the quaint village of Hawkshead, Lake District, Cumbria, England.
Simply Oysters is an authorised Hawkshead Relish Company retailer.


text:
Howman suspects the Armstrong investigation could be as significant as the BALCO case
By Cycling News published 14 October 10
WADA director general compares the two US Federal investigations
Lance Armstrong (Radioshack) in his final Tour (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Director General of the WADA, David Howman (Image credit: AFP)
Floyd Landis at the New Pathways for Pro Cycling conference in Australia (Image credit: kathryn Watt)
The director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency David Howman has suggested the US federal investigation currently embroiling Lance Armstrong could become as significant as the BALCO investigation that exposed the use of steroids in baseball and athletics.
Landis confesses to doping, implicates Armstrong and Bruyneel
Lance Armstrong on defensive in federal investigation
WADA to ensure timely conclusion to Contador case
WADA dismisses Contador's contaminated meat claims
Much of the BALCO investigation work was carried out by federal agent Jeff Novitzky. He is also investigating Armstrong and other riders following Floyd Landis' claims of wide-spread doping at the U.S. Postal Service team.
The Associated Press reported Howman as saying that he suspects "some information will come out of the current inquiries that will be equally as significant as BALCO."
Howman refused to back up his comment with details of the ongoing investigation but said WADA had agreed to pass on any information it may have.
Several witnesses related to the case have already reportedly been questioned in front of a grand jury in Los Angeles in recent weeks. However Armstrong has yet to be formally implicated and has repeatedly denied allegations he took performance-enhancing drugs.
Speaking more specifically about doping problems in cycling, Howman said, "I think that's a matter for the sport to address."
"Our job is to make sure the anti-doping program is OK," he said. "If, after that, we still find people who are cheating, they've got to sit back and say, 'What do we do now?"'


text:
Design Seminar: The new showcases of experience
What impact will emerging technologies have on how we shop? How will virtual reality, augmented reality and the increased interest in wellness and sustainability impact on retail design? And what design strategies can help traditional retailers survive? Our retail design experts got stuck into the big issues at the latest in FX's series of design seminars.
Report by Pamela Buxton
Photography by Gareth Gardner
Taking part were
Theresa Dowling, (chair), editorial director, FX magazine
Doug Butcher, lead design, Beyond Communications
Linzi Cassels, design director, Perkins + Will
Tracey Hopkins, group specification manager, Formica Group
Mark Pinney, founder/director, Mark Pinney Associates
Ethelinde Radloff, interior architect, Arcadia Group
John Regan, creative director, Fitch
Abbie Thomas, project director, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Catherine White, director, Catherine White Interiors
Experience vs Convenience
After more than 20 years of co-existence between physical and internet shopping, traditional retailers are still grappling with the implications for their business.
According to Fitch creative director John Regan, retail is going through a massive period of change, with a split between those stores that can offer a memorable customer experience and online retail outlets driven by efficiency and convenience.
'Internet shopping will potentially destroy retail shopping on the high street unless brands find new ways of selling products, and most of our clients are figuring out how they can move forward as the impact becomes more significant on their retail outlets,' added Mark Pinney of Mark Pinney Associates. 'People are looking for an experience now. It has to be about the point of difference between what they can do online, and the physical reality of something like touching a piece of fabric or trying on an item of jewellery. They have to be dazzled, to be entertained, to be made to feel part of the family. There is a whole series of experiential devices that brands are trying to use.'
He added that his company spends a lot of time talking about how to achieve this sense of theatre with clients, even down to details such as how the product is wrapped at the end of the selling process. 'It can be anything that engages the customer so that they feel it's been worthwhile going there rather than sitting on the computer at home.'
The retail designer can support this desire to create a sense of theatre by creating an environment that encourages a long stay by giving somewhere to relax and hang-out so that the consumer can spend more time interacting with the brand. Some stores of course have been doing this for a very long time – Regan pointed out that when Selfridges opened [back in 1909] it was conceived as a showcase store of experiences. This was a place where shopping was for pleasure – somewhere you could take your time rather than simply making quick transactions.
Perhaps, he says, things are turning full circle. So, how can stores create a sense of theatre and make it worth the effort for customers to visit rather than just clicking online? For some, it's all about building anticipation. Perkins + Will design director, Linzi Cassels, recounted her experience of the buzz created both online and in-store by a skateboard brand. At its shop, there were queues outside with entry controlled by a bouncer but once inside there was little product available to buy. Instead, customers could purchase online through a closely controlled release of products available for a very short time – minutes only.
'It makes you want to have the thing you can't have,' commented Formica Group group specification manager Tracey Hopkins. Catherine White, director of Catherine White Interiors, wondered about the potential of offering particular exclusive product lines at a particular in-store outlet in order to build more excitement and give a reason to make a visit. It's all about creating the desire, said Regan.
The value of knowledge
As well as creating a memorable store experience, designers felt that retailers able to offer knowledgeable staff were far more likely to succeed. 'Apple stores excel on the basis that their people know everything about the products. People will go there just to browse and be informed by the technical staff,' said Mark Pinney.
Mark Pinney founder/director, Mark Pinney Associates
This investment in informed staff is combined with a welcoming atmosphere. 'You go in and there's an openness. It's not scary at all,' said Arcadia Group interior architect Ethelinde Radloff.
'It does come down to the quality of the product, the environment and the quality of the staff they use to sell the product,' said Pinney. 'They do know a huge amount about the products they sell.'
And while Apple with its staff of 'geniuses' was the name that came up again and again as excelling in this area, this was something that small, independent retailers could equally provide. Catherine White cited Vape Superstore, a store she designed in London's Soho, as a place where the 'vape geek' staff could ably assist both those who were equally obsessed without alienating those coming off the street and trying vaping for the first time.
It's all about finding ways to engage with the customer. 'People love stories. They want to hear the story behind a product. It draws them in and gets them interested in that particular product and ultimately in the brand,' said Pinney.
Catherine White director, Catherine White Interiors
This interaction and knowledge, combined with the total store experience, is where in-store retail can still have the edge.
'You want to know that you're being heard by who's selling to you, then you'll buy. It's all about the human interaction, not just the digital,' said White.
Technology and retail design
Debaters were excited about the potential use of emerging technologies in the retail design experience. There was a lot of discussion about the newly launched Amazon Go store concept, which eliminates checkouts by using an app; cameras to know which products shoppers have selected. Shoppers simply put groceries in their bags and walk out of the store. Amazon then charges their account and sends a receipt.
Although Amazon Go does not use facial recognition technology, this is expected to have an impact on retail in the future according to Mark Pinney, who said some of his clients were already looking into it. This, and other technologies, could potentially help clients treat customers more as individuals by understanding their shopping preferences.
Doug Butcher lead design, Beyond Communications
'The Holy Grail is to find out what that person has come to buy and what else they might buy if it is presented in the right manner…the idea of VIP shopping will come down through the system. When you go face-to-face shopping, it will need to feel very special,' he said.
Doug Butcher, lead design at Beyond Communications, thought that there was a lot that retail could learn from the world of gaming when it came to finding new ways to harness technology.
'The gaming industry is driving all this technology. Maybe we should be looking at it more in terms of how we can use it in a retail environment,' he said. 'We should be having these experts advise us.'
There was a great potential, he said, to use technology such as Augmented Reality (AR) to help brands tell their stories and allow customers to engage more closely with their products. Companies such as Dulux and Ikea are already exploring this.
Tracey Hopkins group specification manager, Formica Group
Designers also discussed the increasing use of Virtual Reality (VR) in their own work, especially when there is an obvious benefit.
'We're using VR as a tool now. There's a benefit to the client as they can see things quicker and change things quicker,' said John Regan.
'Twenty years ago we presented to clients in 2D. Now, everything we present is in 3D. In terms of selling in to your clients, VR is inevitably the next step. It is becoming more and more sophisticated and more and more accessible,' said Pinney, adding that clients are now much more savvy. 'It becomes a collaboration and it does allow them to participate in the process much more than it does with 2D drawings.'
The question of sustainability
With its often short-lived shop-fits, the retail sector has to ask itself some hard questions on the subject of sustainability. A quick survey around the table identified that while several designed shop-fits were for a 5-10 year lifespan, others were looking at projects with a lifespan closer to two years. Pop-up stores were another trend, with Fitch's John Regan expecting more clients to use these in the future. As Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands project director Abbie Thomas commented, retail is a throwaway culture.
Both clients, and designers, said Linzi Cassels, need to take some responsibility for the sustainability implications of their work.
'As designers, this is an area that we're becoming more conscious of in terms of our responsibilities,' she said. 'The whole industry needs to actively start identifying which products we should and shouldn't be using, and question why we might be going to a far-flung part of the world to get a product when we can get something else locally. I would like to think that we are leading on this. Our clients are becoming more responsible. More and more of the enquiries we get are around wellness and sustainability, and how clients can incorporate those things. It's a dialogue that is increasing.'
Theresa Dowling (chair), editorial director, FX magazine
But ratings such as BREEAM are not easily applicable to retail design as a lot of the point criteria is not relevant to retail fit-outs. Mark Pinney thought that clients are starting to realise that their sustainability credentials do matter to customers, and that it can impact on their bottom line.
'In the past two or three years it seems to be hitting home that in order to sell the lifestyle, you also have to convince your customers that you do care about the environment,' he said, adding that the emphasis was on creating an interior that could be flexible and adaptable over time. There was some optimism that attitudes could change quickly, fuelled by the popularity and impact of programmes such as David Attenborough's recent Blue Planet II.
Suddenly, people have realised that they should stop buying non-biodegradable plastic straws, for example. 'It's amazing how quickly people's behaviour and attitudes can change,' said Doug Butcher.
If they want to strengthen brand loyalty, retailers need to think beyond simply selling their product to what they stand for.
'There's a real opportunity for them to start having a voice and start channelling change for good,' he says.
In pursuit of imperfection
Creating a memorable brand experience doesn't necessarily mean that the store should look like you've blown the budget, even if you have. Sometimes, it can be quite the opposite, as shown at the exposed concrete of stores such as Issey Miyake's Pleats Please in Brook Street, or the raw industrial vibe of Apple, with its connotations of honesty and integrity.
'A lot of high-end retailers will spend a lot of money making it look stripped back when it's all entirely new. It's been concocted to start off a train of thought that will appeal to a certain customer. You're stimulating emotions. You want them to react in a particular way,' said Mark Pinney.
There was also some discussion about the honesty of retaining historic facades while building a brand new building behind it.
Have we reached digital overload?
Despite the huge technological advances and the scope for their use in retail, designers identified the negative impact of digital technology that didn't work as it should on retail environments. Designers suggested that clients should opt for tried and tested technology, such as iPads, rather than developing special screens for use in their stores.
Ethelinde Radloff interior architect, Arcadia Group
There was also some unease at the way that technology could be used by companies to monitor and market to customers across their devices.
Doug Butcher wondered if the possibility of digital overload might present an opportunity. Perhaps there is space for designers to facilitate an escape into a calmer, tech-free zone?
'Talking to real people, flipping through books and scrapbooks in stores – is there space for that? Is this an opportunity we should be grabbing?' he said.
FX MAGAZINE
DESIGN SEMINAR
PAMELA BUXTON
THERESA DOWLING
DOUG BUTCHER
LINZI CASSELS
TRACEY HOPKINS
MARK PINNEY
ETHELINDE RADLOFF
JOHN REGAN
ABBIE THOMAS
CATHERINE WHITE


text:
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften INSTITUTE FOR QUANTUM OPTICS AND QUANTUM INFORMATION VIENNA
IQOQI Wiki
News & (Online) Events
(Online) Events
Ehrenfest Award
Aspelmeyer Group
Brukner Group
Huber Group
Müller Group
Navascués Group
Ursin Group
YIRG
Zeilinger Group
Vienna Quantum Cafe
Bits of History
IQOQI Innsbruck
IQOQI Vienna
Paul Ehrenfest Best Paper Award for Quantum Foundations
The "Paul Ehrenfest Best Paper Award for Quantum Foundations" (hereafter "Ehrenfest Award") is conferred annually, for the most significant publication in the foundations of quantum mechanics published in the five calendar years prior to the prize call. Both theoretical and experimental publications are eligible.
The aim of the award is to raise awareness for the field of quantum foundations, and to draw attention to new and interesting achievements in this area without delay. Candidate publications have to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Other than that, papers from all areas in the foundations of quantum physics, and by authors of any background, will be eligible to receive the award.
The Name-Giver: Paul Ehrenfest
The award was named after Paul Ehrenfest (1880 – 1933), one of the trailblazers of quantum mechanics. The Austrian-Dutch theoretical physicist is perhaps best known for his theory of phase transition and the Ehrenfest theorem. His scientific body of work encompasses a wide range of areas, from statistical mechanics and the kinetic theory of matter to quantum theory, but also gravitation theory, electron theory, theory of light and magnetism. Paul Ehrenfest had the unique gift to contribute to the fundamental debate while drawing attention to critical aspects that had till then remained unnoticed. He was a close friend of Albert Einstein, who praised him for his passionate engagement for the development and future of his students. His lectures, were presented in an entertaining mix of Dutch, English and Vienna dialect, were considered brilliant. An empathic and deeply sensitive person, having repeatedly suffered from depressive episodes, he took his own life in 1933. In his farewell letter, he wrote that he had reached the limits of his scientific capability.
Award Rules
While the Ehrenfest Award is managed by the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information in Vienna (IQOQI-Vienna) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the selection of awardee publications will be carried out by a five-member selection committee according to good practice. Recognized international scientists from the area of the foundations of quantum mechanics will be invited to serve on the committee. The maximum term of service will be 2 years (2 award cycles), with 2-3 committee members to be exchanged every year. One member will be chosen from the ranks of IQOQI- Vienna. IQOQI-Vienna will also provide the Ehrenfest Award secretary.
Committee members will be ineligible to receive the award during their period of service. Committee members will be recused from the discussion in cases where they cannot act objectively, as may arise, for instance, if a nominee is a close relative, regular co-author or close colleague of the committee member. The decision of what counts as close collaboration rests with the committee.
Researchers working on fundamental issues in quantum physics from all fields and levels will be eligible to nominate a "best paper" for the Ehrenfest Award. The candidate paper has to be published within the last 5 years in a peer-reviewed journal. Other than this restriction, no exclusion criteria are applicable, other than the conflict-of-interest criteria described in paragraph 3. Self-nominations are permissible. The selection committee will not be limited to nominations, but is free to select publications that were not nominated. In exceptional cases, more than one publication may be chosen by the selection committee to receive the award. No justification shall be expected from the selection committee for their decisions.
Nominations and self-nominations are to include a copy of the nominated publication and a short (2-3 paragraph) statement of the relevance of the contribution. In the case of single-author publications, the name and contact information of the author is to be given. In the case of multi-author publications, a representative author who will officially accept the Ehrenfest Award in person (see paragraph 6) shall be named and his contact information will be included. Consent from all authors as to which author will serve as the representative for the publication shall be obtained by the nominator, and a short confirmation to that effect shall be included with the nomination.
The prize money amounts to € 2.000,-. In the case of multi-author publications, the monetary award will be divided equally between all co-authors. If more than one publication is selected to receive the prize, the full amount shall be awarded for each publication. In those cases where more than one publication is selected to receive the prize, each publication will receive the full amount of € 2.000,-. Each author will also receive an award certificate.
The author (in case of single-author publications) or the representative author (in case of multi-author publications) will be asked to deliver a public award lecture in Vienna, with all reasonable travel and accommodation costs covered by the Paul Ehrenfest Award funds.
Institute for Quantum Optics and
Quantum Information - Vienna
of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Boltzmanngasse 3
Währingerstraße 47, 8-9
Phone +43 1 4277 29 582
iqoqi-vienna(at)oeaw.ac.at
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on new IQOQI research findings.
We pursue the vision of quantum information science and the wide range of new possibilities it would open up for quantum technologies.
© Copyright OEAW Imprint Data Protection


Bring along food to share and we'll make a meal of it together to celebrate the feast day of our local hero and patron saint, Sigfrid.
Something savoury, something sweet - a side dish, maybe?
There'll be a list to sign to make sure we don't all bring vegetarian lasagne.


Disney Film Head, Alan Horn, sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about the Fox Merger, Pixar post-Lasseter and Star Wars.
Disney•Pixar has been a hot topic over the last year, with John Lasseter leaving due to misconduct. "I'm incredibly proud of the way our animation studios have handled the transition, and that is due to the passionate, dedicated people who call these studios home and the leadership of Pete Docter and Jim Morris at Pixar and Jennifer Lee and Andrew Millstein at Disney Animation. We have a deep bench." Horn seems very optimistic for the future of their animation studios and they seem to be happy with their new choices.


text:
Radu XII Leon, zwany też Radu Sprzedawca Ostryg (rum. Radu Leon, Radu negustorul de scoici), hospodar Wołoszczyzny w latach 1664-1669.

Był synem hospodara wołoskiego Leona Tomșy. Wprowadzony na tron przez Portę po ucieczce Grzegorza I Ghiki, który próbował nawiązując kontakt z Austrią uniezależnić Wołoszczyznę od Turcji. Swoją władzę opierał na już obecnych oraz sprowadzanych przez siebie na Wołoszczyznę Grekach fanariockich, w szczególności na rodzinie Cantacuzino (m.in. późniejszym hospodarze Șerbanie Kantakuzenie, który pełnił najważniejsze funkcje na jego dworze). W 1668 polityka ta doprowadziła do zamieszek antygreckich, których efektem było pozbawienie Radu tronu.

Bibliografia
 J. Demel, Historia Rumunii, Wrocław 1970.

Władcy Wołoszczyzny


Paisley Thread Mill Museum was founded in 2003 to tell the story of the Clarks and Coats Thread Mills of Paisley, Today we tell the story of Thread Making in Paisley from it's origin in 1722 to the close of the last mill in 1993.
Our exhibits are themed, spread over 15 display cases and interactive digital image & video archives.
Open on a Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, all year round, we look forward to welcoming you during your visit to Paisley.
During 2017 we explored Paisley & Renfrewshire's thread manufacturing industry through funding from HLF and Renfrewshire Council. Where and when did the tread industry begin? How fast did it develop? How did it influence thread manufacturing in Scotland? As part of this project we curated a touring exhibition on thread manufacturing and the Paisley & Renfrewshire Mills. We also be worked with schools, care homes and hospices. The answers to these questions will be found as we continue to carryout research delving into contemporary sources in local and national archives.
Have a look at our dedicated website www.afamilyofthreads.info to find out more about what we did during 2017!
Please consider donating to the museum. Annually it costs us around £3,000 to stay open. This includes rent for our store room, and monthly bills such as telephone and stationery.
Can you spare a few hours each week?


Providing care for patients in Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, and Sugarland.
Drs. Pedlar and Garcia provide comprehensive family and cosmetic dentistry. We want to be your one-stop dental home, which means from pediatrics, to cosmetic, to restorative care, we're here for you.
That means whether you have a family member that's six months old, or 98 years old, our cosmetic and family dentists are experienced in providing and discussing the broad range of dental treatment options your family has.
Over the last decade, dentistry has undergone a dramatic transformation by using technology to provide less invasive and more effective cosmetic and restorative treatments.
At Pedlar Dental, not only have Dr. Pedlar and Dr. Garcia invested in the latest dental equipment to be able to provide this care, but as professors at the University of Texas School of Dentistry, Drs. Pedlar and Garcia are particularly able to utilize the latest technology and techniques to deliver for their patients a more perfect outcome with a less invasive and often shorter treatment.
Drs. Garcia and Pedlar love getting to know their patients and being able to provide the time and individualized care that patients deserve. That's why Pedlar Dental was designed to provide a personalized approach to dentistry. Here you won't be treated like just another number.
Having both worked at large clinics and dental chains previously, Drs. Garcia and Pedlar believe that an individually owned dental practice allows them to provide personalized care and spend enough time with each patient. They believe this leads to the best clinical outcomes and experiences for their patients, and we hope you'll agree as well.
As part of our approach to providing a personalized dental experience, we like to make our offices feel like a home away from home for our patients and their families.
When you visit Pedlar Dental you're welcome to enjoy a free refreshment area with drinks and coffee, a 'kids only' play area, and private clinical rooms with TVs for each patient among other amenities.
So take a moment to fill out our online form or call our offices to schedule an appointment.
Additionally, Dr. Pedlar is one of a very limited number of Houston dentists to have completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program, an optional one year advanced dentistry program designed to enable its graduates to treat some of the most severe dental issues.


text:
Willem Dafoe Has A Crazy Idea For A 'Joker' Sequel
Set Sail On Groove Cruise With Claude VonStroke As Your Captain
S.E.A. Focus Fair In Singapore Shines A Spotlight On Southeast Asian Contemporary Art
In-Person And Virtual Concert Wednesday Night To Feature George Gershwin, J.S. Bach, Aaron Diehl And The Knights
'Baby Or Bust' Podcast Uses Heartfelt Storytelling To Educate About Infertility
New PBS Program Debuting Tonight Shows How Broadway Turned The Lights Back On After Covid-19 Shutdown
'Euphoria' Season 2, Episode 2 Recap: A Pentacle Of Love Triangles
TEFAF Maastricht Rescheduled For June 25-30, Signaling Confidence For Global Art World
A Timely Exhibit Asks What Photojournalists Have Learned About Documenting Crisis Since MLK's Assassination
'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Trailer Teases What 'Eternals' Failed To Deliver
Dani Di Placido
I write about film, television, pop culture, and other fun stuff.
Tom Holland and Zendaya. (Photo by Bobby Bank/GC Images)
GC Images
The lukewarm reception for Marvel's Eternals (as well as the franchise's first Rotten rating), stands in stark contrast to the breathless anticipation for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Eternals disappointment, which felt particularly pronounced after the film's lengthy marketing cycle, led to the inevitable cluster of "superhero fatigue" speculation, as though the film marked the beginning of the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But the latest Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer quickly extinguished that possibility; currently sitting at 28 million views on YouTube alone, the trailer (along with multiple leaks and rumors) sparked a feeding frenzy, promising a fan service feast for the ages, with an extra helping of cameos and easter eggs.
Eternals isn't the worst of Marvel's mediocre entries (if anything, it's the franchise's most interesting failure), but the film's inability to excite an extremely excitable fanbase shows the extent to which brand recognition matters, even in the MCU.
With the help of Kevin Feige's golden touch, Marvel has elevated obscure comic book characters into the realm of pop culture dominance before, but the Eternals felt oddly adrift, tonally disconnected from the rest of the MCU; it doesn't feel like a confident trailblazer, setting the stage for a new, more ambitious phase, but a bump in the road.
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Fans seem far more interested in the franchise's connective tissue, the element that Marvel pioneered in The Avengers, but now, connections cross across time, space and copyright; Tom Holland's Spider-Man is surely going to be joined by ghosts of Spider-Man past (despite the trailer's attempts to hide multiple leaked cameos) and ghosts of Marvel future; might we also see the introduction of Miles Morales, a Spider-Gwen, or a new Venom?
There's even a possibility (although, unlikely) that we could see an introduction to the Fantastic 4 or the X-Men, tearing through newly ripped holes in the multiverse; we know for a fact that Sony is currently crafting its own parallel cinematic universe populated by Spider-Man characters, which now seems likely to reach out and touch the MCU, occasionally.
Interestingly, it's Sony's animated masterpiece, Into the Spider-Verse, that really primed the audience for the MCU multiverse, proving how much creative potential lies in the concept.
There's so much to speculate about and get excited for that, at this point, it barely even matters if No Way Home is any good - its nostalgic connection to old, cancelled, and disconnected Marvel properties, combined with the limitless possibilities of the multiverse, mark Spider-Man: No Way Home the next big step of the MCU.
Next time, the Eternals need to bump into Thor, Loki, or even better, one of Spider-Man's seemingly endless variants.
Follow me on Twitter. Check out my website.


text:
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil aiming to beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win Ballon d'Or
Will GilesThursday 3 Sep 2015 11:59 am
Mesut Ozil is setting high targets for himself (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil has revealed what he needs to do in order to win the Ballon d'Or ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The opinion-dividing midfielder has started the 2015/16 season in fine form, creating an average of four chances per game so far in the Premier League.
But although the Germany international knows he has to improve in front of goal to win football's ultimate individual accolade, he's confident of doing it.
'I have to become more dangerous in front of the goal. I was injured for long spells last season, and scored only five in 32 competitive games,' he told ESPN.
'I want to improve this. To achieve it, I have to be a bit more egotistical.
Ozil is also aware that he needs to win trophies to beat the likes of Ronaldo and Messi to the Ballon d'Or, but believes his Arsenal team-mates are capable of helping him do just that.
Ronaldo is the current Ballon d'Or holder (Picture: Getty)
'You need to win major titles with both club and country,' he said.
'In 2016, the chances are there to do just that. We've got a great team at Arsenal, which can win titles.
'After two FA Cup victories in the past two years, we want to be in the mix for the Premier League title. We also need to beat the knockout stages curse in Champions League.
'The group stage clashes with Bayern Munich are a real benchmark test. And I want to win the European Championships with Germany.'
Ozil's Ballon d'Or ranking of 11th back in 2011 is his best to date, and despite failing to make last year's 23-man shortlist, his targets remain the highest they can possibly be.
MORE : Arsenal to bid again for Zaza in January window – report
Arsenal FCChampions LeagueCristiano RonaldoFA CupLionel MessiMesut Ozil


Golf Vacation Directions and Map | Get the list of golf courses in the US. Directions, map and even interactive map of the golf course of your choice is included.
Get the list of golf courses in the US. Directions, map and even interactive map of the golf course of your choice is included.


The CKC team recently had the privilege to sit down with Joe Canales, a local realtor who we have enjoyed working with a great deal, to discuss his perspective and experience in real estate. In addition to being an incredibly knowledgeable and loyal representative for his clients, Canales is an Accredited Buyer's Representative and an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist. He serves all of Greater San Antonio, including Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes, Cordillera Ranch, Comfort, Alamo Ranch, Leon Springs, Anaqua Springs Ranch, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Garden Ridge, Schertz, New Braunfels and more.
With clients ranging from family and friends to business owners, television personalities and even the president of a multinational oil and gas producer, Canales's experience in the field is undeniably expansive. His knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with more than 10 years of financial services experience makes him an invaluable resource to his clients. The long time resident of South Texas holds a BBA degree in Management with a minor in Finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Can you tell me a bit about your experience in real estate?
It started in 2002, when I was trying to buy my house. I didn't have my real estate license at that time, but the realtor I was working with called me after my option period ran out when I tried to terminate my contract. As a consequence, I lost earnest money, and it left a bad taste in my mouth toward realtors altogether. Around the same period, I was going to UTSA and taking finance classes. I had a professor who suggested that we get a real estate license just in case we wanted to enter the field later, so I listened. In 2005, I realized that I wanted to become the kind of realtor that I wished I had used – one that takes care of the client and looks out for the client's interests above his or her own.
I have found that many people are skeptical about real estate agents and often portray them as individuals who are only out for the money. I am trying to break that perception. My goal is to build relationships with people. I take care of them like I am working with my own family.
What's the price range of most of the homes and lots that you have sold?
Lots usually range from $90- $175K and the price range of homes I have sold is between $100K and $1+ million with the average being about $325k.
What is the most important thing that you communicate to your clients when building or buying a new home?
One of the more important aspects of the client-realtor relationship is communication. It's important for my clients to know that I need incredibly open channels of communication. I am the expert, but sometimes I have to work to extract information. Be honest and trust in my knowledge and areas of expertise.
I represent six clients currently and I average about two contracts a month. I work as an individual, not as a team, so that limits the workload, but I enjoy the work. I am usually more selective with my clients to ensure that the client personalities align with my own.
What are some of the most frequently asked questions that you have encountered?
When non-native Texans are searching for a home, a frequently asked question is if they will run out of water in the area – believe it or not. It is apparently something they hear on the news fairly often, but I let them know that we do occasionally go through water restrictions, and it is important to conserve water during the summer, but they will most definitely not run out of water.
Another question is, "Who pays for your commission?" Something that is often misunderstood is that the seller pays your realtor's commission, so the buyer doesn't pay anything. As the buyer of a new home, it therefore doesn't make a lot of sense to go into such a complex transaction without an agent.
What distinguishes you from other real estate agents?
I do all of the work myself, so you can ensure that no detail will fall through the cracks. There is a certain trust that my clients have with me because of my honesty and open communication. If a client is looking for something I can't provide, then I will let them know up front. I run my business based on that trust and provide the best service possible. I want them to have such a positive experience that they can't help but tell their family and friends about my services.
Joe currently specializes in luxury home sales, new construction and first-time buyers. If you are looking for experience, diligence, commitment and superior local knowledge, then Joe Canales fits the bill. His approach is simple and straightforward and is focused on being 100 percent dependable, before, during and after your real estate transaction.


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Promo: WOLF UNLEASHED by Paige Tyler
In Wolf Unleashed, the fifth installment in Paige Tyler's sexy and suspenseful SWAT series, Lacey, the heroine, sees a side of the hero, Alex, that she really did not expect. Namely, his wolf side.
We asked Paige Tyler about other fantastic stories that portray a character seeing another in a new light. What are her favorites?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Buffy seeing Angel. This is my all-time favorite show, and Buffy and Angel are my all-time favorite H&H. The conflict is obvious. Buffy kills vampires…and Angel is a vampire! Not only that, but he's a particularly nasty one—or at least he has that reputation. But of course, Buffy discovers that Angel has been cursed with a soul and is living in torment over all the evil things he's done in his past. He's even trying to survive on pig's blood, so he can stay away from humans. Isn't that romantic?
Of course, at various times during the show's run, Angel sort of went to the dark side, which led to lots of angsty drama. As I remember it, Buffy even had to kill him once, which is a very permanent way to break up with someone!
But through all the love and drama, you had a great story of a character who is far more than he appears, and the woman who was able to look past the outside of the book—and the fangs!
Title: Wolf Unleashed
Author: Paige Tyler
Series: SWAT, #5
Pubdate: December 6, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romance
SHE BRINGS OUT THE WOLF IN HIM
Lacey Barton can't deny her crazy attraction to Alex Trevino, but that doesn't mean she has time for the gorgeous SWAT officer. She's hell-bent on discovering who's behind the brutal dogfights sending countless mauled animals to her veterinarian office. The trail leads Lacey to a ring of vicious drug dealers and suddenly she's in way over her head—right smack in the middle of a SWAT stakeout.
With Lacey in danger, Alex's wolf side is unleashed. But when she witnesses Alex shift, she's even more terrified… Now it's up to Alex to crack the case—and earn back Lacey's trust and, ultimately, her heart.
Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.
Social Networking Links
Website: www.paigetylerauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaigeTylerAuthor/
Twitter: @PaigeTylerAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2300692.Paige_Tyler
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eYkzJV
B&N: http://bit.ly/2f6Yj3j
iBooks: http://apple.co/2dZy66Z
Excerpt from Wolf Unleashed
Dr. Barton was bent over rummaging through a bottom drawer of the built-ins on the far wall. Even though Alex did his best not to stare, it was impossible not to notice that she had an incredibly spectacular ass. He'd always been a leg man, but one look at her derrière and he suddenly decided he'd been missing out.
Then she stood up, turned around, and flipped her long, wavy blond hair over her shoulder, and he realized that the rest of her was equally stunning. While her baggy white lab coat hid a lot, he could still tell that she had an athletic build and some really nice curves. It was her face that made his heart beat faster, though. She had the most captivating pair of blue eyes he'd ever seen and full red lips just begging to be kissed. From this moment forward, whenever he pictured an angel, he would think of the beautiful Dr. Barton.
Alex smiled, and when she smiled back, he heard her heart thudding a little quicker. But then she looked down at Tuffie, and her entire expression changed. Hurrying over, she dropped down to one knee beside Tuffie, gently examining her ears and face.
She gave Alex an angry glare. "Please tell me you arrested the people who put this beautiful girl in a dogfighting ring. Even better—tell me you shot them."
If Alex had thought her heart was beating fast before, it was nothing compared to the way it was thumping now. Clearly, Dr. Barton was very passionate about protecting dogs. In his book, that made her even more beautiful than she already was.
"I wish I could, but unfortunately, we never found the people who did it," Alex said. "We rescued Tuffie when her owner was killed. He died trying to protect her from a psychopath armed with a rifle."
Dr. Barton's gaze went back to Tuffie, her expression turning from anger to sadness as she ran her fingers down the fresh scars along the dog's chest and side. "Looks like she got shot anyway."
"Yeah. It's a miracle she lived long enough for my teammate and me to get her here in time for Doc Jones to save her. Thank God for sirens. I think we ran every red light in town."
The veterinarian straightened, gracing him with another dazzling grin, and Alex felt his knees go a little loose. Damn, what a smile.
"I knew there was something I liked about you the second you walked in."
Alex felt his face flush. "It wasn't a big deal. I'm a cop. Saving people—and dogs—comes with the job description." He cringed the moment the words left his mouth. Had he really just said something that lame?
Thankfully, the beautiful Dr. Barton didn't seem to notice the cheesy line. Or if she had, she was too polite to laugh at him.
"And is bringing Tuffie to her appointments also in your job description?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
Was her heart beating even faster than before? Unless it was his own heart pounding in his ears. That was a definite possibility. Because it seemed like he had a real thing for Dr. Barton.
He smiled. "It is if the rest of the SWAT team and I adopted her and gave her a new home."
Alex knew it was a shameless grab to get further into the doctor's good graces, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.
"Not only did you save her life, but you adopted her too? I think Tuffie hit the lottery with you, Officer…?"
"Trevino," he said, filling in the blank and offering his hand. "But please, call me Alex."
She took his hand and gave it a shake. "Nice to meet you, Alex. I'm Lacey Barton."
Her hand was small in comparison to his, her skin soft and warm, and Alex found himself holding on a bit longer than was customary. Lacey didn't seem to mind. In fact, she appeared just as reluctant to let go as he did.
She pushed her hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. "I guess we ought to get on with Tuffie's checkup. So you can get back to saving the world and everything."
"Yeah, of course."
Reaching down, Alex gently picked up Tuffie and set her on the stainless steel exam table.
"Nice muscle tone," Lacey murmured.
Alex felt the compliment go right to his head. "Thanks."
"Actually, I was talking about Tuffie," Lacey said as she tenderly ran her hands over the dog's shoulders.
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. "But yours is pretty good too."
Alex chuckled. Damn, this woman was good. He had her by a foot in height and more than a hundred pounds in weight, yet she was playing him like a fiddle, and he didn't mind one bit. He couldn't remember ever having such an immediate and intense reaction to any woman he'd ever met. Suddenly, he wanted to know everything there was to know about her—and then some.
Lacey was more than accommodating, telling him about how she'd recently gotten a job here after working several years at a place on the west side of Dallas closer to Arlington.
"I loved it there, but this place is closer to my apartment," she told him as she continued to examine Tuffie. "I've cut my commute time by about an hour and a half each way, so it's like getting a whole extra day off to do stuff I want to do instead of sitting in traffic."
"And what do you like to do with all this extra time?" he asked.
Lacey leaned over to read something in Tuffie's medical records. Alex tensed, worried she'd found something wrong, but after a moment, she merely nodded to herself, then went back to checking Tuffie. "I do a lot of volunteer work at one of the nearby animal shelters," she said. "I'm also on call to help out both Animal Services and the DPD Animal Cruelty Squad when they run into injured dogs."
Whoa. A woman who spent her days taking care of dogs for a living, then did it during her spare time for free? That was definitely a woman Alex could appreciate.
"It's pretty amazing that you give so much of your time to animal causes," he said. "Getting called out at all hours of the day and night must be tough on your boyfriend, though."
Lacey urged Tuffie over on her back, pressing carefully along one of the long scars that ran all the way from the base of her rib cage to the middle of her cute pink tummy.
"I don't have a boyfriend right now," she said, the corners of her mouth turning up. "My life is a little too busy for that at the moment."
Bingo! Alex had already noticed she wasn't wearing a ring. Now he knew she wasn't seeing anyone. Could this get any better?
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The Economics of Renewables
IEA Conversations | 29 March 2019 | 0h 31m | Listen Later | iTunes
Interview with Matt Ridley explaining the costs of regulation that promotes renewable electricity generation. English and Welsh household electricity costs have risen 50% in real terms since 2001. Meanwhile, emissions and costs are down in the US as it embraces cheap gas from fracking.
Posted on by in Money, Politics, Science and tagged .
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Ruby in Paradise
By Marcia Yarrow| 2018-03-21T18:45:46+01:00	August 24th, 2011|Reviews|
Director: Victor Nuñez
Starring: Ashley Judd, Todd Field, Bentley Mitchum, Allison Dean, Dorothy Lyman
Floridian Victor Nuñez made two gems — this one and "Ulee's Gold" — before vanishing into the lost latitudes of the film industry. "Ruby" is his best because it gives itself over to then-neophyte Ashley Judd, and she returns the favor with an exceptional performance that she never again matched (arguably because she wasn't given the chance).
Judd is Ruby Lee Gissling, who has bolted home and gets a job as a salesclerk in a small Florida town during the sleepy off-season. Paradise this is not. She ends up befriending and sleeping with two men (Ricky and Mike, the latter played by "In the Bedroom" director Todd Field). Ricky is a handsome opportunist, son of the gift shop owner, while Mike is a good-guy gardener. This is Ruby trying to figure out who she is and figure out what her moon is made from, and it's considerable harder and more sour than green cheese.
Judd's Ruby is stubborn, aloof, compassionate and curious, at ease with self-discovery and entirely unsentimental. It's the kind of darkly introspective and ironic female lead ("I heard that Hell is when all your dreams come true," says Ruby) that only better indie films ever encourage, let alone allow. In this case, though, it's as if Nuñez had literally told Judd to be herself while fleshing out a complete and convincing performance. She does both. Small masterpiece is overused, but this is both minor and masterful, like life.
About the Author: Marcia Yarrow
A military brat, Marcia Yarrow was born in Hamburg, Germany but grew up in Germany, Spain, and Provo, Utah. She's been writing for the magazine since its creation in 2004.


During the past few years a lot of interest has been generated regarding the possible use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a therapeutic modality for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The interest stems, in part, from a series of clinical trials conducted in my laboratory in which we used TMS in ASD as a way of correcting a dysfunctional cerebral cortex. Our first trial received the recognition of a EUREKA award from the National Institute of Mental Health. That initial study led us to roughly a decade of research on the subject.
Looking back at our efforts we have had 14 published clinical trials on over 200 patients. Each trial varied in terms of the parameters used for TMS and the particular outcome measures used to establish efficacy. All of our subjects have been children, usually in the range of 8 to 18 years of age, with high-functioning autism. When dealing with children it is best to take "baby steps" and each change in our protocols has been tweaked so as to insure the safety of our patients. Thus far we have reported quantifiable improvements in several domains of behavior such as irritability and stereotypies. These improvements have been in the range of modest to moderate but still statistically significant overall. In addition, based on teachers' questionnaires, we have also noted improvements in behavior at school. The latter finding makes a lot of sense as a child that is able to sit still, be attentive, and partake in required educational activities would do better at school than one who is irritable and/or distracted. Furthermore, the procedure has been well tolerated and side-effects (e.g., headaches) have been minor and transitory. Positive results, when present, are not immediately seen and rely on the plasticity of the brain to correct itself. Benefits appear to be transitory and, depending on the subject, last approximately 6 months. Booster treatment are necessary to maintain improvement, but each successive treatment appears to be spread further apart.
Based on our experience with TMS we have never seen or reported on a cure for ASD. Non-verbal patients remain non-verbal and any intellectual impairments remain unfazed. Indeed, our experience with low functioning ASD individuals has been unrewarding. TMS may help correct functional deficits but not anatomical ones. Cortical malformations and other developmental lesions which may be found in low functioning autistic individuals are not amenable to treatment with TMS.
A recent book by John Elder Robison entitled "Switched On" has idealized TMS treatment as a possible cure for autism. According to the narrative, TMS stimulation allowed John to gain empathy, to subconsciously color his experiences with emotional overtones, and to acquire theory of mind (i.e., he was able to better understand the intentions of others). These effects have been permanent, that is, without further need of booster shots. John participated in several studies at Harvard University none of which was a clinical trial. In the studies, single pulses of TMS were used as a way of investigating specific functions of the brain. This type of TMS, single pulses, has no discernible effects outside the session of stimulation. Although John's experiences were both emotional and personal they are best attributed to a placebo effect.
TMS remains an experimental tool in ASD. There haven't been multicenter trials with large enough number of participants to prove its effectiveness and enable comparisons to other treatments. Similarly, patients receiving TMS for ASD have not been followed for any considerable length of time. Thus far, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) of the United States has not recognized the therapeutic value of TMS in ASD.
Properly designed trials will be of importance in order to judge the effectiveness of TMS. A major stumbling block to overcome is the fact that participating subjects can feel the effects of active TMS stimulation. The strong magnetic field not only stimulates the cerebral cortex but also the nerves of muscles in the scalp. The resultant contraction of scalp muscles cause transitory headaches. It is therefore difficult to blind participants as to whether they are receiving active stimulation or a sham condition. Having knowledge of an active treatment, specially one with physical effects like muscle contractions, may promote a strong placebo response, just as in the case of John Robison.
Needless to say that much more research is needed in regards to TMS and ASD. In our laboratory we are presently trying to answer a few important questions. First, why do ASD patients respond in markedly different ways to TMS, some improving while others remain impervious to the intervention? In general, individuals with ASD have an imbalance in their autonomic system, i.e., the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions of the body such as heart rate. TMS is usually applied to areas of the frontal lobes that help regulate the autonomic system. It seems likely that the improvements observed with TMS regarding irritability, anxiety and attention may be the result of modulating these key areas of the brain. We are now interested in using measurements of autonomic reactivity (e.g., heart rate variability, galvanic skin response) as possible predictors of outcome for ASD. Second, we have observed a synergistic effect when combining TMS with neurofeedback. It may be that a better therapeutic effect can be obtained when combining TMS, with other interventions, e.g., neurofeedback, drug therapy. Lastly, several of our clinical trials suggest that participating patients showed improvements in attentional control. Not surprisingly, this executive function is controlled by the frontal lobes. It may be that the improvements noted in our clinical trials may have been due to a subset of patients that had attention deficits. If so, TMS therapy would best be served by targeting this subgroup of patients.
In summary, clinical trials using TMS in ASD have been few with modest to moderate results. Positive outcomes have been noted primarily in high functioning individuals. Despite the popular press, no reports of "cures" have been reported. Well-designed large-scale clinical trials are still needed to judge the effectiveness of this intervention. The few cases of seizures reported while using TMS should draw attention to the fact that we need to be cautious when treating ASD patients, a condition where one third of individuals suffer from epilepsy. In regards to TMS, be cautious of commercial enterprises charging a lot of money and offering cures or improvements of any or all autistic symptoms. Patients and their parents should be aware of the positives and negatives of TMS therapy before investing a significant portion of their financial resources to this intervention.
Addendum 3/1/17: In a previous year I had met with Lindsay Oberman who had clarified to me that none of the studies in which John Robison participated were clinical trials. My understanding was that John had received single stimulation in mechanistic studies designed to study brain plasticity. John clarified that none of these single-pulse studies had any effect on him. The study which had long lasting cognitive effect on John used 1 pulse per second for 30 minutes over Broca's area. I appreciate John's clarification. (I must clarify however, that I still believe that John's effect were placebo induced- see comments below. Also the practice of re-using the same patients in multiple research trials is highly questionable).
← ¿Es realmente válida la Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal en el tratamiento del autismo?
Re: your addendum, does this change your conclusion that John Elder Robison's improvement was "best attributed to a placebo effect"? When I heard him talk about his experience, it sounded as though it was something that he hadn't expected to happen at all, which I thought ruled out the placebo effect as an explanation.
Thank you for allowing me to expand. It does not change my mind in regards to the effect of his intervention. I have discussed this to some extent with John. When he received repeated stimulations, John reacted to the sham stimulation. Instead of directly placing the coil against the desired area, it was placed slanted so that it would do little in terms of stimulating the brain. The force of a magnetic field follows an inverse square law which would have minimized the strength of the same. Under normal circumstances TMS targets an area the size of a quarter and is only effective some for a depth of 2.5 cm, allowing only the stimulation of the crests of the cerebral cortex, not even the depth of the convolutions. The slanted wand would not have been able to focus a large enough area of any significant depth to have physiological effects. The other thing that I explained to John is that he received stimulations at the wrong place in the brain (Broca's area) to have such dramatic effects on executive functions (like for example the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). In addition, the TMS effects tend to be additive and in need of multiple sessions for them to take a hold, afterwards they tend to wash up with time and patients are in need of booster shots. John's effects were immediate and have persisted over time. I attend a meeting where people are TMS users. Nobody and I mean nobody has seen effects like those reported by John. I must also point out that I also have many issues with the ways the studies at Harvard were conducted. Patients were reused in multiple studies (they were no longer naive) and they were encouraged to even talk to each other about their results. This environment may have promoted the placebo effects of any intervention.
I must add that the whole reason for writing this blog was the request of one health professional and many patients who had attended centers where TMS was being commercialized as a treatment for ASD and using John's book as evidence of effectiveness. The only thing that they took out of their participation was a major financial loss ($20,000 per month for 2 months not counting travel and lodging expenses). Unfortunately these centers are now becoming quite popular. As I said in my blog, I have not seen a cure or effects as dramatic as those of John in any patient, and we have the largest clinical experience on TMS in ASD reported in the literature.
I am happy that John has had such a life altering effect by his intervention. I consider him a good friend. However, given all of the evidence, I would have to conclude that his experience can be primarily attributed to a placebo effect.
Thanks for your response to my comment. For some reason, I wasn't notified of it. I'm returning to this page only now, after receiving a notification of stardesignint's comment.
As you may know, the doctor who conducted John's TMS trials, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, wrote the foreword to John's book and was involved in promoting it; he was also at the talk I attended. While I have every reason to believe that John was sincere about his experience, your response clearly implies that Dr. Pascual-Leone is unfit to be doing research.
Alvaro said in a meeting that John had received placebo when he noticed the strong/emotional results. The wand was placed in a slanted angle directing the magnetic field away from the region of interest. As I read the preface, he seemed to have washed his hands from whatever clinical benefit could have been attributed to the trial. It is a pity that having read the copy proof of the book he didn't forewarn John of any scientific misgivings. John for me is a very sincere person whom I treasure as a friend.
I still find John's experience to be very important, despite the likelihood that it's a placebo response. However, there was no indication at the book talk that the TMS procedure that John responded to was a placebo, despite whatever disclaimers Dr. Pascal-Leone may have made in the foreword. I feel like I paid for a ticket to a carnival event, rather than a book talk.
I don't know if I have Asperger's, despite the diagnosis, I would say I'm highly sensitive and emotional, however my brain does seem slow/not sharp enough, and I often drift into a world of my own and zone out when people are talking to me. I trip over my words and struggle to flow with my sentences as well (in actual speech; I love typing because I can calmly compose what I want to say), and it's fair to say I definitely have anxiety issues, generally feeling a sort of inferiority complex. It's crippling, and often I feel I want to stay away from/not deal with other people. As anyone in my situation would do, I dream of a "miracle cure" that could be as simple as putting some magnetic pulses into my head, so I can cope in social situations better and maybe calm my speech, but even if it genuinely does work, is TMS the gastric band of social problems, is it lazy of me not to push myself? I hate talking to people sometimes, even like going into a shop and getting something can be a mental challenge for me, thank technology for self service check outs I suppose.
You definitely express difficulties that should be addressed. I think you would gain from an appointment with a psychologist/psychiatrist. Maybe you could consider some cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) of which there are popular books and even computer programs available. You have wonderful ideas and ways of expressing them. I hope you find the help you need.
Thank you. There is no scientific evidence on the effectiveness of magnets therapy for autism. The Association for Science in Autism Treatments covers this and many other treatments that does not work, untested or need more research.