text:
Mysteries of the Pineal Gland Ignored by Mainstream Science and Research
Christina Sarich, Staff
Waking Times
There is an endocrine gland within our bodies that, when unimpeded, receives more blood flow per cubic volume than almost any organ in the body, including the heart.[1][2] It has been written about in masked language, or painted in art throughout the ages, and represented in a staggering number of ways for thousands of years – yet modern medicine hasn't found it interesting enough to study clinically – or has it?
The pineal gland's true purpose is shrouded in mystery. Is this intentional?
Will it take an information coup to keep us from being estranged from the cosmic gifts which so many of our ancestors refer to as being locked within this tiny pine-cone shaped mass of cells, or is there modern, scientific corroboration for what the ancients called the Epicenter of Enlightenment just waiting for us to peruse?
Basics of the Pineal Gland
On the surface level, the 'Pine'al' gland, shaped like a pinecone, is at the geometric center of our brain and is intimately entwined with our perception of light. The pineal gland modulates circadian rhythms, and thus how we sleep. It remains uniquely isolated from the blood-brain barrier system, yet receives a higher percentage of blood flow than any other organ of the body except the kidneys. The pineal gland is tiny – smaller than a dime – located at the back of the roof of the third ventricle of the brain. (The ventricles are parts of the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which act to maintain the optimum chemical environment for the central nervous system cells). The pineal becomes steadily calcified with age, starting most often before puberty, meaning it shows up clearly on skull X-rays and CT scans to allow identification of the midline.[3]
It is worth mentioning here that sodium fluoride calcifies the pineal gland. British scientist Jennifer Luke published a study showing that fluoride deposits accumulate in the pineal gland and calcify it. Just as bones go through a process of calcification to harden – a good thing, necessary for our health and functioning, the pineal gland can become 'hardened' through calcification, but to our greatest detriment, the reasons for which will be explained as you read further.
Additionally, a 450 page review on fluoride toxicity published by the National Research Council in 2006 reported that fluoride produced a range of negative side effects including "decreased melatonin production" and "other effects on normal pineal function, which in turn could contribute to a variety of effects in humans."
The Pineal, Light, and Melatonin Production
The light-transducing ability of the pineal gland has led some to call the pineal the "third eye". Oddly, the pineal contains rods and cones, just like our eyes in order to process light, even though it is smack dab in the center of our 'dark' brains. The gland is also responsible for creating and secreting melatonin. Melatonin communicates with our hormonal system about environmental light to the rest of the body and can entrain us to a certain biological rhythm, but there's more to melatonin than just regulating our sleep-wake cycles.
The precursor to melatonin is serotonin, which is stored in large quantities by the pineal gland – a hormone you may have heard of since it is so keenly linked with feeling good. Without proper serotonin creation in the body, the result is depression, and sometimes severe depression. Of the 40 million cells in our brains, serotonin interacts or communicates with almost all of them.[4]
Is the Pineal Responsible for Spontaneous Realization or Psychedelic Experience?
On a spiritual level, people in hundreds of cultures throughout the world have credited the pineal gland's proper functioning with spontaneous spiritual experiences. Does it produce a psychedelic chemical or chemicals that allows us to exit into other dimensions, and even to enter and exit physical form? Does it allow an escape from this physical world in which we are currently held prisoner? What, truly, does this mysterious gland really do?
The pineal gland forms in a human embryo at 49 days during gestation – which just happens to also be the amount of time it takes, according to Tibetan Buddhists, for a soul to reincarnate into their next physical body.[5]
Other historical as well as natural references to the pineal gland[6], and so many of them, would certainly pique the interest of most any modern scientist studying the brain, the endocrine system, botany, or even human intelligence, but there seems to be a shrouding of the mysteries of the pineal, for reasons which might become more obvious after reading further. For example:
The pinecone happens to be the evolutionary precursor to the flower, with the spines spiraling in a perfect Fibonacci sequence, just like the sacred geometry of a rose, a sunflower, or a nautilus shell.
The Staff of Osiris from the Egyptian culture, dating back to approximately 1224 BC, depicts two intertwining serpents rising up to meet at a pinecone.
Hindu gods are carved, sculpted or drawn holding a pinecone in an outstretched hand, and perhaps the most prominent 'God' in this multi-theistic culture, Shiva, is often depicted with hair that looks like a pinecone on his head.
Ancient Assyrian palace carvings, dating back to 713-716 BC depict four-winged God-like figures purposefully holding pinecones up.
The Mexican god "Chicomecoatl" (Seven Snakes) depicts the deity offering pinecones in one hand, and an evergreen tree in the other.
Dionysus, from Greek and Roman culture often carried a fennel staff topped with a pinecone.
The pineal gland is the only part of the brain that isn't bifurcated, and in Matthew 6:22 of the Christian bible it says, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light."
Egyptian, Druidic, Hindu, Hasidic, Islamic, Taoist, Mayan, Tibetan and Aboriginal cultures all acknowledge the pineal gland in their art and literature.
Even the Catholic Pope's staff often has a pinecone on it. You can also see a pinecone in the Vatican flag.[7]
The Pineal, METAtonin, and OBEs
Here's where the mainstream science on the pineal gets rather thin, to say they least. The pineal is also directly linked to the creation of METAtonin – a close cousin of melatonin, sometimes called a "high octave melatonin." The main psychoactive ingredient in METAtonin is DiMethyl Tryptamine or DMT. DMT, as talked about extensively by Terence McKenna and Dr. Rick Strassman, is thought to be responsible for many people's out-of-body (OBE) experiences, yet the scientific data on these is rare and in its infant stages.
The Cottonwood Research Foundation of New Mexico found that the pineal gland of rodents does indeed produce endogenous DMT: Rodents and humans have a very similar cellular structure and that is why they are used for endocrine research.[8]
METAtonin does not suppress waking self-consciousness the same way melatonin does during sleep; instead it modifies the borders of consciousness by temporarily reprogramming our brain circuitry in a way which allows self consciousness (ego-identification) to separate from the body consciousness while remaining aware.
Andra Smith and Claude Messier, for example, conducted a study utilizing fMRI imaging at the University of Ottawa Department of Neuroscience[9] concluding that the OBE is alteration of the brain's somatosensory (body placement) circuitry that creates the illusion of being displaced from the body. However, since consciousness cannot be measured or detected in any way, this conclusion is likely false and minimally premature.
Anthony Peake suggests that every cell in the body is a repository of information that OBConsciousness can access. His theory is that DNA molecules within cells intercommuicate to create a holographic cloud of information and that within this cloud we can find micro Einstein-Rosen wormholes that allow OBConsciousness to access distant parts of the universe and parallel realities. In essence, our experience of past, present and future is an illusion, and the pineal gland's proper functioning allows a form of 'time' travel, which also amounts to 'space' travel.[10]
Rupert Sheldrake furthers that an OBE experience, through the opening of the pineal gland, allows us to get in touch with the planetary morphogenetic field via "morphic resonance." Now if you recall the divine geometry referred to earlier, and contemplate the profound affect resonance or vibration has upon the human organism, all these super strange theories start to make a lot of sense – despite mainstream science's complete blackout of information regarding these phenomena.
Sheldrake states[11]:
"Morphic resonance is a process whereby self-organising systems inherit a memory from previous similar systems. In its most general formulation, morphic resonance means that the so-called laws of nature are more like habits. The hypothesis of morphic resonance also leads to a radically new interpretation of memory storage in the brain and of biological inheritance. Memory need not be stored in material traces inside brains, which are more like TV receivers than video recorders, tuning into influences from the past. And biological inheritance need not all be coded in the genes, or in epigenetic modifications of the genes; much of it depends on morphic resonance from previous members of the species. Thus each individual inherits a collective memory from past members of the species, and also contributes to the collective memory, affecting other members of the species in the future."
The Pineal as the Gate to Epiphany
The potential for internally produced DMT-based METAtonin to influence the circuitry of the brain has been an ever-present component of human evolution[12] – so much so that its influence may have played a major part in many of our greatest discoveries and epiphanies.
Those among us who pursue creative/spiritual lifestyles usually learn to temporarily glean some of these secrets or at least get a glimpse of these alternate perspectives, but by opening the 'gates' of the pineal gland through the production of DMT, we can access realities which likely hold the larger secrets of the ages. It can also fuel our future spiritual realization. We cannot allow the pineal gland to be left shut in the brain as a tiny, un-researched mass of cells. Though consciousness likely does not have a physical point of origination, the pineal gland seems to act as an anchor for the secrets of the Universe – and its right here, inside of us.
Read more articles by Christina Sarich.
Christina Sarich is a writer, musician, yogi, and humanitarian with an expansive repertoire. Her thousands of articles can be found all over the Internet, and her insights also appear in magazines as diverse as Weston A. Price, Nexus, Atlantis Rising, and the Cuyamungue Institute, among others. She was recently a featured author in the Journal, "Wise Traditions in Food, Farming, and Healing Arts," and her commentary on healing, ascension, and human potential inform a large body of the alternative news lexicon. She has been invited to appear on numerous radio shows, including Health Conspiracy Radio, Dr. Gregory Smith's Show, and dozens more. The second edition of her book, Pharma Sutra, will be released soon.
[1] Endocrinology Review http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27/
[2] The human pineal gland: relationships with surrounding structures and blood supply. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11149239
[3] http://www.endocrinesurgeon.co.uk/index.php/anatomy-of-the-pineal-gland
[4] WebMd Serotonin http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/serotonin
[5] Ancient Egypt, God and the Pineal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVzKHZG75Cw
[6] History and Symbolism https://thirdeyepinecones.com/history-symbolism
[7] https://thirdeyepinecones.com/history-symbolism
[8] Section 4 http://www.cottonwoodresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Pineal-DMT.pdf.
[9]Voluntary Out of Body Experience: an fMRI study http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00070/full
[10] The Mystery of Consciousness and the Illusion of Reality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nsp-fE-Er8
[11] Rupert Sheldrake http://www.sheldrake.org/research/morphic-resonance
[12] http://metatoninresearch.org/#
Source: http://www.wakingtimes.com
Conscious Explorer – Ancient Past Present Task – Pt1 – Pt20
Part III – Symposium on Exposing Predatory Pathogenic AI – Restoring Love sourced Humanity
3 Fundamental Subjects All Schools Need To Be Teaching
Out of Body Exploration – William Buhlman
How To Know If Your Spirit Guides Are Guiding You
Worldwide Reset Imminent – Mass Awakening, Rise in Consciousness for Humanity
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The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.
7/31/2014 — Scientists show Weather Modification RESULTS @ 2013 Conference July 31, 2014
Attached Entities : How Entity Attachments Control & Manipulate – Dr. Rita Louise May 14, 2018


Settling back into the Cape Town lifestyle following our road trip was a cinch for me. The final week of the trip was to be spent hanging around the city, exploring the beaches, and sights around town. I was most happy about having a place to stay in Sea Point. When I lived in Gardens, I would often cycle round to Sea Point and explore the promenade, but I never felt like I really had a chance to explore thoroughly here. Our flat above the pool was perfectly located and we ended up visiting the pool on a number of occasions. There was a bike share right outside for cycling on the promenade, as well as the MyCiti bus which can take you to the waterfront or downtown.
I made a point to make it to one of my favorite spots in Cape Town as many times as I could. I must have climbed Lion's Head 6-7 times while visiting, climbing in the morning, midday (to Wally's Cave), and at sunset. I spent as much time up above the city as possible. I just love the perspective on the city, flora, and even the soundscape of the city and ocean from up on Signal Hill or Lion's Head.
During the week Sarah and I attended the Cape Town Carnival Parade along Main Road in Green Point. It was great fun to be at the local event and witness the plethora of floats and party goers. We also attended a free concert by The Rudimentals in De Waal Park, a place where I used to frequently run in the old neighborhood. Another highlight was exploring the Sandy Bay Shipwreck Hiking Trail with my friend Colly who I had not seen for a number of years. We hiked the coastal trail, exploring the shipwreck at the point and marveling in the views over the Atlantic.
It was an absolute delight to be back in Cape Town this year. I was so happy to have caught up with a number of friends while in town including Colly, Elizabeth, Joshua, Maria, Sam, and all my friends and colleagues at the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching at the University of Cape Town. I was so happy to see you all again after five years. My time and friendships in Cape Town are incredibly important to me and a big part of who I am today. I hope to see you all again soon.
Final Days in Cape Town by Michael Paskevicius is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


text:
Neglected, humble Woodstock cottage flips (before, during, after photos)
Gallery: Neglected, humble Woodstock cottage flips (before, during, after photos)
By Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive
When a house sells, neighbors wonder: What changes will be made? When it's a neglected, humble home set way back on a lot, the concern is that the old place will be torn down and replaced with a storied residence that eclipses the street.
Sometimes, however, even small, battered shelters get a second chance. Just look at the one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage at 5619 S.E. Pardee St. in Portland's Woodstock neighborhood.
Last year, we reported in our Bidding Wars series that the modest 1908 home on a standard, eight-of-an-acre lot sold for $215,000, almost 8 percent over its asking price after only three days on the market in November.
Then we heard from the buyer, Rich Hannah, a former 20-year Intel and Adidas employee, who explained his intentions to rehab the forlorn home as well as the disintegrating detached garage and rickety workshop, and resell the property for less than Portland's median price.
"Although a great candidate for a tear down, I took it down to the studs and loaded the house up with new wiring, plumbing, insulation, windows and high efficiency furnace and appliances," says Hannah.
Working with an architect, Hannah's team improved the flow of the 1,098-square-foot house by reconfiguring the long living room and other underused spaces.
Without increasing the size, the single-story house now has an inviting foyer, functional kitchen with an eating area, laundry room, updated bathroom, and, remarkably, three bedrooms.
Much is new here, like double-pane windows, lighting and other energy-efficient features. Still, there are touchstones to the past.
The pitched silhouette and T-shaped footprint are the same, and passersby will see the familiar stained-glass window in the entry door.
Other features preserved during the top-to-bottom renovation were original Douglas fir floors and century-old bricks. Even the old weather vane was polished and put back on top of the workshop's new roof.
When walls were taken down, the crew found buried surprises, including World War II-era The Saturday Evening Post magazines that Hannah calls "the best kind of time capsules."
Today, fresh landscaping maneuvers around old trees, and thickly knotted wisteria vines will soon climb the trellis again.
Property upgrades also included transforming the garage and workshop into useful spaces that could also be used as a kid zone, art studio or income-producing accessory dwelling unit (ADU), says Jarrett Altman of Neighborhood Works Realty, who listed the property for sale at $459,000 on Monday, April 2.
The three buildings -- the house, garage and double-height workshop -- are separated by grass and gravel. An inviting covered deck off the back of the garage faces the front of the workshop and can be seen from windows in the house.
"We really love the way the area between the two garages and the house turned into a fun patio space," says Altman, who will hold an open house at the property from 1 p.m-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday, April 8. "It gives a little privacy for entertaining or having a barbecue, but still leaves all the yard in the front for gardening and landscaping, since that's where all the sun is."
Altman applauds Hannah's goals to preserve a residential property that fits the neighborhood, while making it more functional and still affordable. Portland's median list price is $550,000, according to real estate database Redfin.
Hannah recognizes that he won't make as much money rehabbing old homes as he would building bigger new ones, "but it's the right approach for Portland," he says. "It's great for the neighbors, neighborhood and future homeowners."
-- Janet Eastman
jeastman@oregonian.com
@janeteastman

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I have a tendency to "zag" when everyone else is zigging. It's a combination of a need to explore and my built-in contrarianism.
For example, everyone uses Twitter. Using Twitter is zigging. It's the easy choice. App.net (specifically alpha.app.net) is the zag. It's newer and, to the uninitiated, nothing more than a Twitter clone that no one uses. That's really too bad. On the other hand it's clean, useful, and quiet. Too quiet for some, maybe.
My annual App.net subscription is set to renew soon I thought I'd dive back in and see how it feels these days. Turns out it feels pretty good. It's a smaller "audience" but it's an interesting group.
Also, I didn't know they introduced a simple App.net-based commenting system, so I added it here on my static, Tinderbox-based blog. It's a one-liner so why not? Here's the original blog post: What is the app.net comments widget? I like it.
I find that the App.net comments widget is much cleaner and simpler than the mess that is Disqus.


Mr. Mark Kohler, much sought-after Tax Accountant and Tax Attorney will be on a live webcast Saturday, March 3rd, 2018.
Mark is a Tax Accountant - CPA as well as a Tax Attorney - JD. He will presenting what REIs need to know about the recent changes in the tax law and how it will impact us in our investing and in our business operations.
Mark normally charges $99 for recordings of his workshops and $150 for his live events. This live presentation is being offered without charge - no cost beyond your time and travel to the location where the webcast will be shown.
The location is being firmed up at this writing. We're expecting to use a group member's home in Oswego, IL where we can accommodate 30 to 40 attendees. However, he will not want his home address published like this. So, we may ask that anyone who wants to attend to e-mail me to receive the member's home address by e-mail. This has not yet been finalized.
We are also looking for a larger venue with enough parking and with concessions and facilities for a larger attendance.
I would ask only that you vote for this post to express interest so we can gauge how many may want to attend.
When the location and venue have been set, I will post again with the final details.
Reply to this post if you want to be notified of the finalized location. I will quote you in my acknowledgement so you will be notified of the posting of the finalized location.
Not sure how else to work this without violating BP's terms of service.
Just a reminder - this is coming up this weekend, March 3rd, 2018. Please reply soon so I'll know if I should pursue this or not.
This event will occur as scheduled. However, the deadline for expressing interest has passed. So, I will be unable to host guests to view the webcast.
I will ask the moderators how to cancel an event ... or add that support in the "next version" of the on-line BP experience.
Again, my apologies. I am unable to host this event due lack of interest.
If you'd still like to see Mark Kohler in person (rather than a webcast), he will be in my group's Downers Grove location on Saturday, March 17th from 9am to 5pm. Again, nothing is for sale at this event. That event will also be webcast, if that works better for you. Please let me know in your inquiry whether you prefer in person or on-line.
The live event WILL be a packed house. Mark is always one of our most attended presenters. Please respond soonest.
As before, reply to this post to express interest and I will quote you in the response so you'll be notified of the details. I'll post the details on tax day (for some), daytime March 15th and I will "@" the respondents so you'll be notified.


text:
About NAVS
Empower Advocates
Fund Smarter Science
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— Past Recipients
Promote Cruelty-Free Shopping
Assist Animals in Need
Track Laws and Legislation
Advance Humane Science Education
Educate on Animal Use in Science
Educate on Animal Law Issues
The Cruelty and Waste of Animal Experimentation
Failure of Animal Models
Failure of Animal Protection Laws and Regulations
Lack of Transparency in Reporting
Animals Used in Product Testing
Cosmetics Testing on Animals
Animals Used in Research
Animals Used in Classroom Dissection
Animals Retired from Research
The Animal Testing and Experimentation Industry
Federal Actions
National Actions
Live Cruelty-Free
Home >> What We Do >> Keep You Informed >> Legal Arena >>
Humane Euthanasia
The issue of humane euthanasia—the least cruel ways in which to end the life of an animal in a shelter, pound or even a veterinarian's office—has been the subject of debate for some time. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) developed guidelines that were the basis for standards of care for many years, but that is changing around the country. The two most common means of euthanasia are lethal injection and the use of carbon monoxide chambers.
While the AVMA discusses a variety of methods for animal euthanasia, the only method endorsed by most humane societies is the administration of a lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital on an individual basis by a veterinarian or veterinary assistant. Euthanasia by Injection (EBI) is now thought to be the most humane way for humans to euthanize shelter animals. EBI is also the method preferred by the National Animal Control Association, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and The Humane Society of the United States. Furthermore, with the knowledge that this method causes the least amount of stress or pain to an animal, EBI provides shelter workers the dignity they deserve when facing the difficult reality of euthanizing pets.
Carbon monoxide, a once popular way to kill animals in shelters, especially when there is a high euthanasia rate, has fallen out of favor with a majority of shelters and pounds around the country. Carbon monoxide poses a danger to humans because it is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and highly explosive. A gas chamber must be constantly checked and maintained to ensure that there are no cracks in the structure or failing seals. When carbon monoxide is released in a confined area, it can cause asphyxiation, kidney damage, or induced coma. It is also dangerous to put aggressive and/or wild animals in the gas chamber. In addition to being more humane for the animals, sedation methods utilized with EBI are safer for shelter staff in cases of highly aggressive and wild animals. Gas chambers are not recommended by humane organizations, although they are still in use in some states across the country.
The American Humane Association commissioned a study on the costs associated with using EBI versus gas. Using data from an animal sheltering organization in North Carolina, the reported number of dogs and cats euthanized in 2007 was 5,427. The study, which is applicable to other jurisdictions, showed that the cost of using carbon monoxide gas was $4.98 per animal. The cost of using carbon monoxide poisoning without a tranquilizer was $4.66 per animal. The cost of using EBI, however, was only $2.29 per animal. Cost figures from North Carolina are comparable to other states. Thus, EBI is also more economical than gas.
Currently, many states have laws that explicitly ban gassing for all types of animals in shelters. Some of the states which prohibit gassing in some way include: Arizona, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia. To see if your state has a law or legislation regarding humane euthanasia, go to the Animal Law Resource Center. If there is legislation in your state, please call your legislators to let them know where you stand on these issues. If there is no law or legislation, you can download a model law from the Animal Law Resource Center to take to your legislator.
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text:
package controllers

import java.util.UUID

import dao._
import database.{DegreeDb, DegreeTable}
import javax.inject.{Inject, Singleton}
import security.LWMRole.{Admin, EmployeeRole, God, StudentRole}
import models.{Degree, DegreeProtocol}
import org.joda.time.DateTime
import play.api.libs.json.{Reads, Writes}
import play.api.mvc.ControllerComponents
import security.SecurityActionChain

import scala.util.{Failure, Try}

object DegreeController {
  lazy val labelAttribute = "label"
  lazy val abbreviationAttribute = "abbreviation"
}

@Singleton
final class DegreeController @Inject()(cc: ControllerComponents, val authorityDao: AuthorityDao, val abstractDao: DegreeDao, val securedAction: SecurityActionChain)
  extends AbstractCRUDController[DegreeProtocol, DegreeTable, DegreeDb, Degree](cc) {

  import utils.date.DateTimeOps.DateTimeConverter
  import DegreeController._

  override protected implicit val writes: Writes[Degree] = Degree.writes

  override protected implicit val reads: Reads[DegreeProtocol] = DegreeProtocol.reads

  override protected def makeTableFilter(attribute: String, value: String): Try[TableFilterPredicate] =
    (attribute, value) match {
      case (`labelAttribute`, l) => l.makeLabelEqualsFilter
      case (`abbreviationAttribute`, a) => a.makeAbbrevFilter
      case _ => Failure(new Throwable(s"Unknown attribute $attribute"))
    }

  override protected def toDbModel(protocol: DegreeProtocol, existingId: Option[UUID]): DegreeDb =
    DegreeDb(protocol.label, protocol.abbreviation, DateTime.now.timestamp, None, existingId.getOrElse(UUID.randomUUID))

  override protected def restrictedContext(restrictionId: String): PartialFunction[Rule, SecureContext] = forbiddenAction()

  override protected def contextFrom: PartialFunction[Rule, SecureContext] = {
    case Get => PartialSecureBlock(List(EmployeeRole, StudentRole))
    case GetAll => PartialSecureBlock(List(EmployeeRole))
    case Update => PartialSecureBlock(List(Admin))
    case _ => PartialSecureBlock(List(God))
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Have you or loved one been attacked by a dog? Dog bite injury law firm The Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg represents you using legal knowledge and experience to ensure you secure the best possible outcome. The Santa Ana dog attack attorney Howard Kornberg helps you to get dog bite compensation.
Despite California's strict leash laws, residents of Santa Ana and other cities continue to be attacked and injured by dogs who have not been properly secured, either at home or while out in public. With public parks, festivals and the homes of friends or relatives being some of the most common locations for dog attacks, there is no guarantee that knowing a dog will mean you will not be attacked or bitten.
Did you know that there are currently around 78 million pet dogs in the United States, and that around 4.5 million dog attacks occur each year? Around 20% of those dog attack victims will require hospitalization as a direct result of the dog bites.
If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog whose owner flouted California leash laws, a Santa Ana dog attack attorney from the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg could hold the owner accountable for the consequences of their negligence, recovering the compensation you are entitled to following such a traumatic ordeal.
Although you may be very comfortable with a dog, and have spent long periods of time in their company with no previous issues, you could be bitten and injured by any dog, at any time. When your lawyer is investigating the circumstances leading up to your Santa Ana dog attack, we will thoroughly scrutinize any factors which may be considered antagonizing the animal, as well as proving ownership of the attacking dog.
The dog owner denies he/she owns the aggressive dog in order to avoid responsibility for the actions of the dog.
When you hire an attorney from the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg to represent you, you can rest assured that we will use the full extent of our legal knowledge and experience to ensure you secure the best possible outcome.
When you have been attacked and injured by an aggressive dog, you deserve outstanding legal representation. At the Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg, each of our expert lawyers are dedicated to providing just that, alongside the compassionate guidance and support you need following a traumatic ordeal.
To schedule your free initial consultation with an expert Santa Ana lawyer, call us today at 310-997-0904.


text:
Q: Partial derivative reciprocal theorem Is the reciprocal of a partial derivative always equal to 1 divided by that partial derivative? I.e. Is it true that;
$$\frac{1}{\frac{\partial x_1}{\partial x_2}} = \frac{\partial x_2}{\partial x_1} $$

A: Not always. E.g. if $x \equiv x(r,\theta)=r\cos \theta$ and $y \equiv y(r,\theta)= r\sin \theta$ (polar coordinates), then $r \equiv r(x,y)= \sqrt{x^2+y^2}$, so $$\frac{\partial x}{\partial r} = \cos \theta = \frac{x}{r}$$ and also $$\frac{\partial r}{\partial x} = \frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}} = \frac{x}{r} = \frac{\partial x}{\partial r}.$$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Taking diastolic pressure down to 55mmHg when treating isolated systolic hypertension is probably not a problem for older people, suggests data from the Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) trial.
But the researchers stress that in those with pre-existing coronary heart disease diastolic pressure should probably not fall lower than 70mmHg.
It has been suggested that low diastolic BP while on antihypertensives is harmful for older patients with systolic hypertension.
Syst-Eur involved randomising 4695 hypertensive patients over the age of 60 into two groups. The active treatment arm involved treatment with nitrendipine - a calcium channel blocker – which could be combined with or replaced by enalapril or hydrocholorothiazide. The other was a placebo arm but patients were switched to active treatment after two years.
Low diastolic BP – down to about 60mmHg - in the active treatment arm was only associated with increased risk of CV events in those who had CHD at the start of the trial.
The authors say the data support the intensification of antihypertensive treatment when systolic BP is not under control in older patients – at least until diastolic BP reaches about 55mmHg.
But for those with established CHD a more 'prudent approach is warranted' and BP should probably not drop below 70mmHg - at which point the relative risk reaches 1.1.
Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167(17):1884-1891.


The regular opening times of Old Navy Freeway Blvd in Sacramento are Monday to Friday 9AM-10PM, on Saturday 9AM-10PM, on Sunday 10AM-9PM. View the actual opening times of Old Navy Freeway Blvd in Sacramento in our branch locator.
For more information about opening times on Sunday or late night shopping make sure to view the information in the designated blocks. If this Old Navy isn't nearby your location you can use the 'Map & Directions' tab to find the fastest route to Freeway Blvd in Sacramento. This location's coordinates are specifically 38.6398 latitude, -121.5 longitude.


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FDA Says You Have No Right to Real Food Unless They Give You Permission First
Over-the-Counter Sleep Meds are Not Effective
The "Vaccine Shock" of the Year
The FDA has finally made its food-rights policy crystal clear. Here's the agency's position, made evident in their response to a lawsuit filed by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund:
They believe you have no absolute right to any raw unprocessed food, unless the FDA says it's okay
They believe you have no right to good health, except as approved by the FDA
They believe that there is no right for citizens to contract privately for their food
The Complete Patient reports:
"More Americans appear to be getting the message ... Over the past six months, we've had the popular push in Wisconsin, a state where the regulators have gone bonkers to eliminate raw milk, to pressure legislators to approve making it available from the farm ... [and] a firestorm building in Massachusetts over a ... decision by a regulator to restrict consumer access to milk."
If you try to purchase a gallon of raw milk in the majority of U.S. states, you could be taken away in handcuffs … literally. With the exception of 10 states that allow retail raw milk sales, and 15 that allow farm sales, purchasing raw milk in the United States is a crime, according to the FDA.
Their decision to ban the interstate shipment of raw milk back in 1987 has been declared unconstitutional by many Americans interested in securing their right to choose fresh, unprocessed and unpasteurized food for their families, but the FDA has been fighting back, even going so far as to harass and legally prosecute small dairy farmers and consumers seeking to distribute the milk.
The issue reached new heights earlier this year when the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) filed a lawsuit against the FDA over their raw milk ban … and you won't believe how the FDA responded.
You Have "No Absolute Right to Consume … Any Particular Food"
Last month, the FDA responded to FTCLDF's suit that banning raw milk in interstate commerce is unconstitutional. Their rebuttal contained the following extremely concerning and outrageous statements:
"There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food."
"There is no 'deeply rooted' historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds."
"Plaintiffs' assertion of a 'fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families' is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish."
FDA's brief goes on to state that "even if such a right did exist, it would not render FDA's regulations unconstitutional because prohibiting the interstate sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk promotes bodily and physical health."
"There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract."
Since when did the FDA have authority to tell you what you can and cannot eat and feed your children? Apparently they believe they've had it all along.
If you go by these assertions, it means the FDA has the authority to prohibit any food of their choosing and make it a crime for you to seek it out. If, one day, the FDA deems tomatoes, broccoli or cashews capable of causing you harm (which is just as ludicrous as their assertions that raw milk is harmful), they could therefore enact such a ban and legally enforce it.
What this means is that freedom of food choice is a myth if you live in the United States, and this simply is not acceptable. As FTCLDF states:
"Growing numbers of people in this country are obtaining the foods of their choice through private contractual arrangements such as buyers' club agreements and herdshare contracts.
FDA's position is that the agency can interfere with these agreements because, in FDA's view, there is no fundamental right to enter into a private contract to obtain the foods of choice from the source of choice.
As for the agency's contention that there is no fundamental right to obtain any food, including raw milk, here is what the 'substantive due process' clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides: no person shall "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
Obtaining the foods of your choice is so basic to life, liberty and property that it is inconceivable that the 'right of food choice' would not be protected under the Constitution but FDA is saying "No.""
Whether you're currently a raw milk drinker or not, the FDA's arrogant attitude that they have authority over your choice of food is atrocious.
First Raw Milk, What's Next?
As regular readers know, I am an avid supporter of raw milk.
Organically-raised, grass-fed milk naturally contains healthy "good" bacteria, including lactobacillus and acidophilus. There are also several coliform families of bacteria.
Raw milk also contains nutrients, which are virtually eliminated by the pasteurization process of commercial milk. The presence of beneficial bacteria is what makes raw milk such an outstanding food source to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your intestine, which in turn has a significant, beneficial impact on your overall immune function and health.
However, my purpose today is not to extol the virtues of raw milk. If you'd like to learn more about that, just listen to this video with health and business journalist David E. Gumpert, author of Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights.
What I want to share is that if this unconstitutional ban has happened with raw milk, it's only a matter of time before another health-promoting, life-giving food is targeted.
The FDA never had any grounds for making the sale of raw milk illegal in the first place. Even a quick review of the data shows that this food, which the FDA claims is so harmful to human health, is less harmless than countless food products that have earned the FDA's seal of approval!
In their lawsuit, FTCLDF pointed out that CDC statistics from 2007 showed over 7,000 outbreaks of food-borne illness related to bacteria, which resulted in 678 hospitalizations and 11 deaths.
In that same year, and using CDC data, raw milk was responsible for only 32 of those cases, which amounts to only 0.5 percent of all food-borne bacteria-related illness. Further, there were only two hospitalizations related to raw milk, and no deaths, whereas three people died from drinking pasteurized milk!
They also pointed out, and rightly so, that the FDA is taking an unfairly harsh approach with raw milk. For instance, unpasteurized juices are sold with just a warning label letting consumers know the juice has not been pasteurized, while raw milk has been outright banned in many states.
Is it a coincidence that some of the states where raw milk sales are illegal are also among the largest dairy producers in the United States (namely Wisconsin and Iowa)?
The conventional dairy industry has a very powerful lobbying force. What would happen to the majority of the dairy industry if raw milk really caught on? They'd be forced to clean up their acts, raise healthier cows, and give them access to pasture, as only healthy cows are the ones that you would buy raw milk from.
And this would cost them money … lots of money, if it were even possible at all.
Join the Raw Milk Revolution and Stand Up for Your Food Freedom!
By joining the fight to make access to healthy raw milk a right for all Americans, you are not only standing up for raw milk; you're taking a stand to protect your freedom of food choice.
No one, and certainly not any government agency, should be able to restrict your access to pure, unadulterated food. Organizations like the Weston A. Price Foundation and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund are working toward true freedom of choice for American consumers, and I urge you to get involved in their causes.
The Complete Patient April 30, 2010
Previous Article Over-the-Counter Sleep Meds are Not Effective
Next Article The "Vaccine Shock" of the Year
The FDA is Running an Extortion Racket
Weston A. Price Foundation to FDA: Soy is No Health Food
Two Charts that Prove the Government is Making You Sick


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Russian Cosmonauts Are Refusing To Give Up Their Sperm For Science
At least no one can tell you're blushing behind a helmet. Castleski/Shutterstock
By Katy Evans
Russian scientists have run into an unexpected problem while attempting to glean scientific samples from cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The effects of long-duration space travel are still largely unknown, so before we send people off to colonize Mars, we need to know as much as possible about what happens to the human body up there, and that includes how men's little swimmers cope.
Unfortunately, Kremlin scientists are struggling to crack on with the study of how space flight may influence spermatogenesis, due to the cosmonauts proving rather reluctant to offer up their "biomaterial".
The extremely important and scientific task of obtaining said sample of biomaterial in microgravity conditions "causes everyone to smile and reject," according to Irina Ogneva, head of the cell biophysics lab at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Biomedical Problems.
"We cannot conduct [through the Coordination Scientific and Technical Council, which approves of conducting experiments on the Russian segment of the ISS], such a routine procedure as cosmonauts donating spermograms," she told Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti.
"We constantly encounter obstacles of a moral and psychological and ethical nature. There are no cosmonauts who want to."
As a result, the Russians have been unable to conduct experiments on how sperm are affected by space conditions, which is vital research if future generations colonizing other planets are planning on procreating.
The logistics of sex in space is a little mind-boggling, with microgravity (fun fact: zero-g is a misnomer since gravity is everywhere in space) creating factors to consider that range from shrinkage of appendages that rely on blood flow to escaping fluids.
So, if the Russians aren't at it, have NASA and ESA stepped up to the plate? According to NASA, the agency has never conducted official experiments on animal reproduction in space. It did, however, send an experiment to the ISS last year that involved freeze-dried sperm (procured on the ground, possibly to spare its astronauts some blushes).
Micro-11, carrying the frozen samples of human and bull semen (bull swimmers are tough apparently), launched in April 2018 to allow scientists to monitor sperm's functionality in space, and, just as crucially, after. According to NASA, we know little about the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human reproduction system, and this was a first step in looking at how sperm functions required for male fertility fare in micro-G.
In 2017, scientists managed to successfully produce live offspring from mouse sperm that had spent nine months in space. However, if NASA aims to create a lunar base by the end of this decade, with future plans to Mars on the horizon, we need to get a handle on understanding how human fertility fares in space. Space travelers, your countries need YOU.


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Afghan Peace Talks: Political Maneuvering and Regional Response
Written by Shazar Shafqat
March 11, 2018 4 min read
After the recent wave of violence in the country, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer for unconditional peace talks with the Taliban at the second meeting of the Kabul Process has drawn the attention of policymakers and analysts concerned with the conflict in Afghanistan. The Taliban have not yet responded to Ghani's proposal, but have made their desire to have direct talks with the United States instead of the Afghan National Unity Government (NUG) known before. American officials, fortunately, are sensitive enough to refuse to engage with the Taliban directly, expressing support for an Afghan-led peace process. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells encouraged the Taliban to take the offer seriously, and insisted that any talks must include the NUG. However, President Ghani's offer to negotiate at this time raises the question of whether either side is serious about peace talks or if this is just shrewd political maneuvering in light of the upcoming Afghan parliamentary elections.
Ghani's Motivation
Why has President Ghani extended an olive branch to the Taliban at this time, particularly since until recently he said they were "terrorists" with safe havens in Pakistan? In truth, in the aftermath of the deadly violence in Kabul recently, Ghani had two options: he could try to push the Taliban to the wall, which would likely have resulted in bloodshed in the run-up to the 2018 parliamentary elections, possibly jeopardizing the entire electoral exercise. Or, the president could attempt to negotiate with the Taliban, ensuring a peaceful democratic transition. President Ghani appears to have chosen the latter in view of the election cycle that was earlier scheduled for July but now delayed till October.
The Taliban's Interest in Peace Talks
Though the Taliban have signaled that they may be interested in peace talks, attacks have remained a constant ghastly reality. Just this week, an early morning Taliban attack on an army base in northeastern Afghanistan killed 17 government forces. As I have noted elsewhere, recent actions of the Afghan Taliban indicate that they are likely to continue to up the ante while calling for all parties to come to the negotiating table in order to gain political concessions.
Firstly, the Taliban are aware that it will be extremely difficult for the government in Kabul to talk peace with them while both engage in warfare against each other. Either peace talks will be fruitless or the Afghan Taliban will temporarily show restraint with regard to violence, though the latter seems unlikely. To this end, it's clear from the spate of attacks that the Taliban are not interested in toning down the offensive. Secondly, it is hard to imagine that an insurgent group like the Taliban who seem uninhibited in launching attacks at will would ever be interested in peace talks. Unless the Taliban feel some pressure on the military front, it's unlikely that they are genuinely interested in talks.
Furthermore, despite indications that the Taliban are warming up to Ghani's offer, they have remained adamant that all foreign forces must leave before the group can join the peace process. A similar situation arose in 2016 when the government in Kabul decided to bring in Hezb-e-Islami and its leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar into the political fold. However, Hekmatyar backtracked on the primary condition for talks, the withdrawal of foreign troops, and as a result, the group was offered general amnesty. Likewise, if the Taliban are serious about joining the peace process, a good litmus test will be whether they agree to join peace negotiations without the withdrawal of foreign troops. It is now up to Afghan Taliban Chief Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada and his troops to decide the future course of action.
How Pakistan Fits into the Equation
Though Afghanistan and the United States might be on the same page regarding the Taliban and counterterrorism, a difference of opinion with Pakistan might jeopardize the peace process or long-term stability in Afghanistan. With regard to Washington and Islamabad, this disagreement is on Pakistan's counterterrorism approach. General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, stated this week that the Haqqanis are to be blamed for the recent kerfuffle in Afghanistan, and that the insurgent group enjoys support in Pakistan. But Pakistan has repeatedly rejected this charge and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, on a visit to the United States, asserted that Pakistan and the United States need to work in unison to bring peace in Afghanistan.
As for Pakistan's interests in Afghanistan, reconciliation seems to be a win-win scenario for Islamabad. The prospect of peace in Afghanistan will have a positive effect on the security situation in Pakistan. And if the Afghan Taliban become part of the government, Islamabad would have a segment of Kabul that is sympathetic to Pakistan. Thus, Afghanistan may have to contend with the possibility that even if reconciliation improves the domestic situation in some ways, Pakistan may meddle in Afghan affairs using the influence it might have over the Taliban.
Can peace talks and bloodshed co-exist? The Afghan government will have to think long and hard about this. It will also have to reconcile with the idea that actions taken for domestic gain may exacerbate regional tensions.
Image 1: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Samara Scott via Flickr
Image 2: U.S. Department of State via Flickr
Afghanistan, Elections, Geopolitics, Internal Security, Militancy, Pakistan, Peace, Politics, Security, Terrorism, United States, US


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Дмитро́ Микола́йович Наза́ренко ( 14 вересня 1987) — український футболіст і тренер, захисник.

Клубна кар'єра

Вихованець юнацької команди «Донбас» Донецьк. У дорослому футболі дебютував 28 серпня 2004 року за команду «Ворскла-2», вийшовши у другому таймі проти донецького «Олімпіка». За полтавську команду відіграв 13 матчів у національному чемпіонаті.

У 2006 році дебютував у складі донецького Металурга, проте не зміг закріпитися у основному складі, зігравши за команду всього два матчі. 2008 року перейшов до алчевської Сталі, де відіграв два сезони своєї ігрової кар'єри, зігравши у 35 матчах.

Певний час на правах оренди провів у складі єреванського Бананца, але не зміг закріпитися у команді, тому вже у 2012 році дебютував у складі «Олександрії».

В березні 2015 року підписав контракт з клубом латвійського чемпіонату «Спартакс» (Юрмала).

4 січня 2016 року стало відомо про перехід Дмитра до складу ужгородської «Говерли», але цей трансфер не відбувся.

Улітку 2016 року став гравцем МФК «Миколаїв». Провів у складі миколаївського клубу 2 сезони, після чого став тренером цієї команди.

Виступи за збірні

З 1999 по 2000 рік грав у складі юнацької збірної України (U-18), провівши у складі команди, загалом, 12 матчів. 2001 року дебютував в офіційних матчах у складі юнацької збірної України (U-19) проти команди Білорусі. Наразі встиг відіграти за команду 6 матчів.

Примітки

Посилання

Українські футболісти
Футболісти «Ворскли-2»
Футболісти «Металурга» (Донецьк)
Футболісти «Сталі» (Алчевськ)
Футболісти «Урарту»
Футболісти «Олександрії»
Футболісти «Полтави»
Футболісти «Спартакса» (Юрмала)
Футболісти «Миколаєва»
Футболісти «Васта»
Футбольні легіонери у Вірменії
Футбольні легіонери в Латвії
Українські футбольні легіонери

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: XMLHttpRequest for a costum protocol i want to call a custom protocol (which i defined in the Windows registry) with XMLHttpRequest.
var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
var url = "testprot://HOST/URL";
xhr.open("GET", url, true);
xhr.send();

I can activate the protocol, if I put the URL in the browser directly. However, the XMLHttpRequest can't handle it. Did I forget something or is it not possible to call custom protocol with XMLHttpRequest?
Thanks in advance!


text:
package org.fusesource.bai.config;

import org.fusesource.bai.agent.CamelContextService;
import org.fusesource.bai.agent.filters.CamelContextFilters;
import org.fusesource.common.util.Filter;

import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessorType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAttribute;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlRootElement;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlTransient;

import static org.fusesource.common.util.Strings.defaultIfEmpty;

/**
 * Represents a CamelContext filter using the form bundlePattern:camelContextPattern
 */
@XmlRootElement(name = "context")
@XmlAccessorType(XmlAccessType.FIELD)
public class ContextFilter implements Filter<CamelContextService> {
    @XmlTransient
    private Filter<CamelContextService> filter;
    @XmlAttribute(required = false)
    private String name = "*";
    @XmlAttribute(required = false)
    private String bundle = "*";

    public ContextFilter() {
    }

    public ContextFilter(String bundle, String name) {
        this.bundle = bundle;
        this.name = name;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return getClass().getSimpleName() + "(" + bundle + ":" + name + ")";
    }

    public boolean matches(CamelContextService contextService) {
        return getFilter().matches(contextService);
    }

    public Filter<CamelContextService> getFilter() {
        if (filter == null) {
            filter = CamelContextFilters.createCamelContextFilter(getExpression());
        }
        return filter;
    }

    protected String getExpression() {
        return defaultIfEmpty(bundle, "*") + ":" + defaultIfEmpty(name, "*");
    }

    public String getBundle() {
        return bundle;
    }

    public void setBundle(String bundle) {
        this.bundle = bundle;
        clearFilter();
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
        clearFilter();
    }

    protected void clearFilter() {
        this.filter = null;
    }
}


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3 British Books to Look Out for in the U.S. in March
Claire Handscombe 02-28-19
I'll admit it: some months when I round up the British books travelling across the ocean, I list titles that I'm not particularly excited about for my own reading life – because, though they're buzzy, or interesting, or just very good books, they're not my personal cup of tea for whatever reason. But this month, I'm salivating just looking at this roundup. I need to get reading all three of them!
Salt on Your Tongue by Charlotte Runcie (Canongate Books, March 5, 2019)
Like Charlotte Runcie, I've always loved the sea, so I'm excited about this gorgeous-looking book. It's also the kind of nonfiction that's my favourite: memoir mixed with social history, literary criticism, and biography. The author explores how the death of her grandmother and birth of her first child changed her relationship to the sea, and navigates through ancient myths, poetry, shipwrecks, folktales, and history to help us understand the place of oceans in our lives and culture.
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams Gallery/Scout Press (March 19, 2019)
I've been hearing buzz about this novel for months. The publisher is selling it this way: "Bridget Jones's Diary meets Americanah in this disarmingly honest, boldly political, and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place." Okay – I'm in.
Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss by Rajeev Balasubramanyam (The Dial Press, March 26, 2019)
This novel sounds like it's one for fans of The Rosie Project and the underappreciated Love in Lowercase. Professor Chandra might be an internationally renowned economist who's just missed being awarded the Novel Prize (again), but the stress of it all is also killing him. After he's the victim of a bicycle hit-and-run accident, his doctor advises him that it's time to take a break – to follow his bliss. And there begin his adventures…
Marian Keyes, queen of British rom coms, loved this book. "It's tender and compassionate, written with exquisite care and verve, and so so SO funny." It doesn't get much better than that!
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#Lists#brit lit#british books#British books to look out for in the US
Book Fetish: Volume 343


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Aston Martín Residences celebrates its Topping-out as the tallest residential building south of NYC
Aston Martin Residences/Getty Images
· Luxury residential tower "tops out" at the 66th floor ahead of completion in 2022
· Aston Martin Residences at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way is now the tallest residential building south of New York City and is 80% sold
Chief designer Marek Reichman (Aston Martin UK) with developer German Coto (G&G Business Developments)
Credit 'Aston Martin Residences/Getty Images
· With incredible panoramic views over the Miami waterfront, AM Residences is a striking building of curvilinear glass and steel, built on one of the last parcels of developable land on the Downtown Miami waterfront
Aston Martin Lagonda and global property developer G&G Business Developments are celebrating the "topping out" of the stunning Aston Martin Residences at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way in Miami. The luxury residential tower now reaches all the way up to the 66th and final residential floor and has taken its place in the aspirational Miami skyline.
Built on one of the last parcels of developable land on the Downtown Miami waterfront, Aston Martin Residences offers 391 luxury condominiums and penthouses with spectacular panoramic vistas of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The striking sail-shaped tower, set to be one of Miami's most sought-after residential addresses when it is completed in 2022, has enjoyed enviable sales success and is now almost 80% sold.
Germán Coto, CEO of G&G Business Developments, said: 'When we acquired the land, our vision was to build a new landmark, a love letter to Miami and a new benchmark in ultra-luxury living. I'm delighted that the reality is even more magnificent than the vision. To see the Aston Martin Residences reach the top floor fills me with pride. The whole team has worked tirelessly to ensure we are on time, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. Every detail has been carefully considered to translate Aston Martin's iconic and timeless design language into the ultimate luxury residential development.'
Marek Reichman, EVP & Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda, said: 'This is a wonderful moment in the development of Aston Martin's first-ever real estate partnership. It is one thing to look at the structure as drawings and models but to see this magnificent tower reach its full height is incredible. This collaboration has given Aston Martin the opportunity to define ultra-luxury in the residential space with unique and exclusive designs, exquisite materials and detailed craftsmanship, always with an eye on the balance between beauty and performance.'
Aston Martin Residences features over 42,000 square feet of carefully considered sky amenities. Located across four floors near the top of the majestic tower, every resident will enjoy incredible panoramic views while experiencing a suite of wellness activities designed for mind, body, and soul. A private superyacht marina, permanent art gallery and a 24/7 butler service complete the Aston Martin Art of Living at this one-of-a-kind property.
Located at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way, the Aston Martin Residences Miami is on track to complete at the end of next year.
CONTINUUM IN MIAMI BEACH PARTNERS WITH WORLD RENOWNED OPERA GALLERY FOR AN EXCLUSIVE EXHIBIT


Comprised of a weighty cream ceramic, these hand-painted plates feature an abstract, charming palm tree design. While they will find themselves right at home at a beachside retreat, they also add that perfect touch of island flair to a city table or home in the countryside. Please note that these items are hand-crafted and one can expect slight variations in designs, colors, and/or sizes. We feel this only adds to their charm and beauty.


text:
BT presents its rivals with a menu of five high fibre dietary delights. Yum, yum
via Flickr © Wesley Fryer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Openreach cuts the prices it charges competitors to use its network
says 18 million homes and businesses could get "superfast broadband". (Which it ain't)
A step in the right direction - but very late
31,000 BT staff could transfer to Openreach in October
There has been a sudden flurry of news from BT over the past few days. It must be the heat, the dust and the accursed flies afflicting sun-scorched England. In point of fact most of the news is actually about Openreach, the BT-owned subsidiary that still has pretty much of a hammerlock on most of the UK's broadband network. So, with considerable fanfare Openreach says it will make very substantial reductions (to the tune of £100 million) in the amounts it charges competitors such as Sky, Talk Talk and Vodafone to use the Openreach/BT network.
The company says the reductions should mean that end-user domestic subscribers (who have been seeing broadband access and bundled service offerings subject to to year after year of price prises well above the rate of inflation) might see prices actually fall. Well, we'll believe that when we see it.
Openreach says lower prices charged to rival broadband suppliers 'could' permit some 18 million homes and businesses to progress to what it likes to call "superfast broadband", which it defines as 24Mbps and above. Openreach CEO, Clive Selly, commented, "This offer is a win/win for communications providers, their customers and Openreach. It will help Britain's homes and businesses experience the benefits of faster and more reliable broadband."
Openreach believes that "the vast majority" of UK homes will have access to superfast broadband within the next five years. However, the company's critics (and there are still many) claim that a base level of 24Mbps cannot be classified as "superfast broadband". Nonetheless, the Openreach announcement has been met with general approval by competitors, business and domestic end-users alike. Statistics show that about 10 million UK households now have superfast broadband and it is claimed that under the new Openreach deal a further four million subscribers will now quickly be able to upgrade to superfast "for the same price or less". We'll see about that.
Talking to the BBC, Matthew Howett, of the research house Assembly said the announcement makes commercial sense because Openreach and its competitors pushing to upgrade the country's broadband infrastructure "needed to prove that the demand is out there." Surely there can't be much doubt about it?
He added, "This does seem like a genuine move to get more people onto the fibre network, and stave off criticism from those that say the UK is falling behind. It's about Openreach showing the industry and the regulator that it has changed and is implementing the further separation from BT not only to the letter, but also in the spirit of what was agreed." We'll see about that too. Let us not forget that there is no obligation or even incentive for broadband service providers to pass price cuts on to their subscribers, so why would they?
BT says the price reductions will have a significant impact on it's bottom line performance "in the order of tens of millions of pounds in this year alone." A menu of five new discounted high fibre dishes will be available for the telco's competitors to browse through and select from August 21.
BT makes much (far too much) of its "fibre broadband" offering which is nothing of the sort. It is fibre to the kerb and the street cabinet and then onto the local loop's outdated and often overwhelmed copper network into individual premises. Other countries are moving quickly to deploy full fibre infrastructure that can deliver download speeds of 1Gbps which is the accepted speed required to support 5G and all the other innovative digital broadband apps and services promised for the near future. 24Mbps certainly isn't going to cut it.
Mass migration of BT staff to Openreach
Meanwhile, it has emerged that BT is "consulting with" 31,000 of its staff (count them! It's the equivalent of the entire population of the town of Barnstaple in Devon!!) that will be transferred to Openreach in the Autumn. BT is making the changes to fulfil its obligation to the UK regulator, Ofcom, imposed under the terms of the Digital Communications Review.
Current BT CEO, Gavin Patterson, who is on his way out of the company said, "Openreach now has its own board, greater strategic and operational independence, and a separate brand. From October, it will also have its own, independent workforce." Potentially 31, 000 of them. It is estimated that it took 7,000 men to build the Great Pyramid of Giza. And more quickly than it is taking to build-out true broadband infrastructure across the UK.
The consultation period with trades unions and employees will expire on September 30. And those that are transferred across to Openreach will start work with, what, for them, will be a new company, on October 1. However, it is not known if all the 31,000 will actually go, and BT is being coy about it. History tells us that "consultation" periods, machineries and machinations in large organisations result, more often that not, in job losses. Yet again. Time will tell and we shall see.
Back in March this year, Openreach announced that it would be recruiting 3,500 new trainee engineers in a programme that would cost £6 billion. They were desperately needed. Openreach's reputation for missed appointments and botched works was a thing of national legend.
Indeed, so bad was it that on Bonfire Night (November 5) last year, rather than the traditional practice of burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes atop the bonfire (in remembrance of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when a plan blow up the English Parliament came within an ace of succeeding), the villagers of Templeton in Devon burned instead an effigy of an Openreach van in protest at the abysmally slow "broadband" speeds available in the area. The gesture was immensely popular and the van went up a treat.
Broadband,
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Business Models,
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Telco & CSP
Federal Communications Commission approves Frontier's Chapter 11 restructuring
OneWeb or another, it's gonna get there...
Open Networking
Deutsche Telekom switches on its disaggregated broadband network
CityFibre invests over £60m in Sunderland's Full Fibre future
Mission-Critical early investment will drive private LTE/5G infrastructure market to $5.7 Billion in 2024


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For Trustees/Ctes
The Mineral, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) 2017 Bladesmithing Competition
Submitted by toni.griffin on Mar 15 2017
SD Mines Bladesmithing Team's Viking Sword Wins International Student Competition
RAPID CITY, SD (March 8, 2017) – The SD Mines Bladesmithing Team has won the grand prize at The Mineral, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) Bladesmithing Competition. Mines students worked one-and-half years on the 34-inch, single-edged blade that is based on the Arhus Farm sword from 10th century Norway. The handle is made of Finnish, Masur birch with spacers made of local birch bark. The handle of the sword also includes the guard and pommel, which are made of bronze. Part of the contest includes a video, produced by the team, available here. It shows bladesmithing team members using fire to heat the steel, a trip hammer to shape the blade, oil to quench and temper it and various tools to polish and sharpen the metal.
The TMS Bladesmithing competition includes university-based teams from around the world who compete to make the best knife or sword blade. The work of SD Mines students and professors to recreate a samurai sword about 10 years ago helped start this international collegiate bladesmithing competition. This year, SD Mines beat out other universities in the competition including, MIT, Virginia Polytech and the Colorado School of Mines.
"This competition is a great way to learn metallurgy and our students have worked very hard on it" says SD Mines President Heather Wilson. "I'm really pleased to see their great work recognized."
Blades are judged on a number of criteria including: proper dimensions, difficulty in manufacturing, creativity, a 10-page report, and any additional metallurgical study that went beyond the norm. During the different stages of the sword's development, the team cut off parts of the tang, which is the steel end of the sword that is part of the handle, and did scientific testing to track changes in microstructure and hardness of the metal.
"The best part about bladesmithing at SD Mines, which also really applies to our education here, is the level of autonomy we get as undergraduates," says Jackson Ade, a senior in metallurgical engineering, from Gilbert, Ariz. "This autonomy allows us as students to pursue most projects we want to do, as long as we are willing to put the work in. This bladesmithing project is an example of that."
© 2019 American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers. All rights reserved.
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Romain Collin – 'Press Enter'
by Alex Marianyi
Like the exposition of a futuristic sci-fi flick, Romain Collin's Press Enter remains grounded in the familiar acoustic piano trio but gives glimpses into a world that's been fundamentally changed. The establishing shot of the film is the short lead-in track "99" followed by the second track, "Clockwork", which drops you fully into the world being created, and throughout, the uniformity of production really does give the feeling of a world being created.
Production isn't often discussed in a jazz review, but this recording insists upon it. Walking down the street with headphones in, I had to look around and make sure there wasn't some creep whistling the same melody perfectly in sync with "The Kids"; instead, it was a beautifully produced sample of jazz pianist Jean-Michel Pilc whistling the melody. The little bits of electronic programming on this album reveal technologies contributing to the next stage of evolution without losing the essence of the piano trio–and without making it sound like a dubstep album. (Not that I don't often enjoy a dubstep album.)
Of course, great production is nothing without great musical substance, and Press Enter has much to spare. I've always thought of Kendrick Scott not as a drummer but as a home run hitter; he sees his opportunity coming at him from a ways away and then makes game-changing contact with perfect timing. Bassist Luques Curtis continues on the great tradition of bassists in piano trios by playing referee for the other two.
And let's not diminish Collin's considerable contributions, both as composer and pianist. I often found myself whistling right along to the memorable melodies of "San Luis Obispo", and feeling inspired to change the world as vocal samples of former prisoners freed by The Innocence Project filled my ears on "Event Horizon", a song appropriately named to imply that these folks managed to escape a black hole that few do. There are also the epic, almost Muse-like moments carefully spread throughout the album on "Raw, Scorched, and Untethered" or "The Line (Dividing Good and Evil Cuts Through the Heart of Every Human Being)". His improvisations are just as exciting as his compositions, sometimes taking only a few moments to lift off and other times developing over the course of an entire track. Most importantly, the pacing of Collin's creativite input, whether song or solo, is always exactly as fast or slow as it should be.
Romain Collin's Press Enter is available for preview on his site and for purchase on Amazon.
Categories Blog, Reviews Tags Kendrick Scott, Luques Curtis, Romain Collin


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Last names beginning with K
Kawiti, Te Ruki
Story: Kawiti, Te Ruki
Page 1: Biography
Te Ruki Kawiti
Hōne Heke, Te Ruki Kawiti and Hāriata Rongo
Nga Puhi leader, warrior
This biography, written by Kene Hine Te Uira Martin, was first published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography in 1990.
Kawiti was born, probably in the 1770s, in northern New Zealand. He was descended from Nukutawhiti, commander of the Nga-toki-mata-whao-rua canoe, which made its landing at Hokianga. He was the 11th generation from Rahiri, ancestor of Nga Puhi; Huna was his father and his mother, Te Tawai. They were of Ngati Hine, whose identity with their territory runs thus:
Tokerau is the mountain
Taumarere the river
Ngati Hine the hapu
Hineamaru the ancestress.
When Kawiti reached maturity, he was admitted into Te Whare Wananga mo nga Tohunga, at Taumarere, one of the ancestral villages of Ngati Hine. As he gained a reputation as a fighting warlord, Europeans gave him the nickname 'The Duke' (Te Ruki).
Kawiti and his first wife, Kawa, had three sons: Taura, Wiremu Te Poro, and Maihi Paraone Te Kuhanga. His second wife was Te Tiwha, and they had a daughter, Tuahine. His villages were at Otuihu, Pumanawa, Waiomio, Taumarere, Orauta and Mangakahia; his carved whare, Ahuareka, stood in Waiomio, a short distance from where Te Rapunga meeting house now stands.
Kawiti was a notable warrior and detested being bottled up in a fort. He favoured rugged terrain as his battleground, and preferred to pursue an opponent and fight in hand-to-hand combat to the death. His fighting pa, therefore, were sited on hilly slopes at points which offered safe exit routes into thick bush. His pa were Otarawa, immediately below Te Pouaka-a-Hineamaru; Tikokauae at Motatau; Wahapu (Te Wahapu Inlet) at Ahikiwi; Ruapekapeka and Puketona.
At the battle of Moremonui, at Maunganui Bluff, in 1807 or 1808 Kawiti saw Nga Puhi fall before the assembled might of Ngati Whatua; Hongi Hika barely escaped with his life. In 1824 Te Whareumu of Nga Puhi came to Kawiti, chanting his ngakau, a special request for assistance to avenge the deaths of his relatives at Moremonui. He had presented Kawiti with a pig, and when Kawiti shared the pig among his people it was a sign to Te Whareumu of Ngati Hine support. The battle of Te Ika-a-ranga-nui, on the Kaiwaka River, followed in 1825, and on this occasion Ngati Whatua fell before the assembled might of Nga Puhi; the deaths of Taurawhero, Koriwhai and other Nga Puhi at Moremonui were avenged.
Kawiti also earned the reputation of a peacemaker among his people. This was evident at Te Ika-a-ranga-nui when a serious disagreement occurred between Hongi and Kawiti. Kawiti, who had kinship ties with Ngati Whatua, realised that Hongi would annihilate that tribe, so just before the battle took place, he took a number of them as hostages to protect them. Hongi heard about Kawiti's hostages and went to Taumarere to demand their release; they were his 'possessions' by right of conquest. Hongi threatened to invade Ngati Hine territory, but Kawiti warned him off.
Hongi did not carry out his threat. Sentries, posted by Kawiti along the route to Whangaroa as a precaution, reported that no preparations for full-scale war were being made at Hongi's camp. This allowed Kawiti and Ngati Hine to embark at once on their mission of peace to return Ngati Whatua safely to Kaipara. Mate Kairangatira of Ngati Hine was left with Ngati Whatua to cement the peace pact made between the two tribes, and to warn Hongi of the consequences should he ever attack Ngati Whatua again.
Kawiti also intervened at the battle known as the Girls' War, at Kororareka (Russell) in 1830, and helped to speed up peace negotiations between Nga Puhi and the Kororareka people. Nga Puhi were seeking to avenge the loss of their chief Hengi. To avoid full-scale war between Nga Puhi and the people of Kororareka, Kawiti induced Kiwikiwi to surrender the lands of Kororareka, which were Kawiti's by right of conquest, to Nga Puhi as atonement for the loss of Hengi.
In 1840, when William Hobson arrived in New Zealand having been commissioned as lieutenant governor, Kawiti vigorously resisted the introduction of British rule. He aimed to ensure that the lands of his people would be left intact so that Ngati Hine would never become landless or homeless, or slaves to the Pakeha. Before 1840 he had already lost Opua lands; it is said that a Paihia missionary had waited until Kawiti was absent at Kaipara, before negotiating a purchase with a local chief of lesser rank. Kawiti was not in a trusting mood when confronted by Hobson and other British officials at the Waitangi meeting on 5 and 6 February 1840. He refused to sign the treaty for fear that his sacred moko would provide the means by which the government would commence taking the lands. He said to Hobson, 'Who said we want you to stay here? We don't want to be restricted, or to be trampled on by you. The missionaries may stay, but you must return to your own country. There is no place here for the governor!'
Kawiti did not give his agreement to the treaty on 6 February when others signed at Waitangi, but his people still pressed him to sign. At a special meeting with Hobson, in May 1840, Kawiti reluctantly agreed to sign the treaty. (His name appears above the signatures of 6 February.) He expressed his reservations in the strongest terms, saying the Maori population was declining so fast that the Europeans were likely to get the land anyway. He did not want to 'sign away his land'.
Possibly Kawiti regretted giving his agreement. Early in 1845 he joined forces with Hone Heke in challenging British sovereignty. At Kororareka, on 11 March, his forces created a diversion while the flagstaff on Maiki Hill was cut down for the fourth and last time. Kawiti saw the flagstaff as a symbol of the assertion of British sovereignty over Maori land, and was determined that it should not be re-erected (which it was not, until 1858).
The northern war of 1845–46 involved the forces of Kawiti and Heke against British troops and Maori allies. The British launched three major expeditions into the hinterland of the Bay of Islands. In the first, at Puketutu, Kawiti and his warriors remained outside the pa. When the British attacked the pa, Kawiti's forces staged well co-ordinated strikes at the British rear. They sustained quite heavy casualties but it was a Maori victory, despite British claims to the contrary. Skilled in military tactics, Kawiti never risked his men in open combat again.
At Ohaeawai he saw to the construction of a carefully designed pa that withstood a British attack on 1 July. Outnumbered six to one, the Maori forces inflicted a serious defeat on the British. Kawiti's military tactics were crucial to this Maori victory. For five months fighting ceased while Governor Robert FitzRoy tried to arrange a peace which would salvage British pride. Kawiti rejected the peace terms, which included a cession of land.
It is said that he censured Heke, who was tempted to make peace, with these words: 'You and your territory have done enough. This time let me have them [the British]. I warned you that the water was too deep for you alone to net the big fish, but you would not listen. Now the water just barely reaches your knees and you cry, enough!'
Governor Robert FitzRoy was replaced by George Grey, who arrived in November 1845. Grey gave Kawiti and Heke only five days to respond to the peace offer, and meanwhile organised an expedition against Kawiti's new pa of Ruapekapeka. Kawiti's aim was to draw British troops into battle on a fairly inaccessible site. He succeeded: 1,100 men took nearly a month to cover the 15 miles from the Bay of Islands to the inland pa. Kawiti, knowing that the pa had to be stronger than Ohaeawai, selected puriri trunks 20 feet long and 3 feet thick, and embedded them 8 feet into the soil for the main palisades. No major building was erected within the pa; underground rooms were built instead. These pits could hold up to 20 men each; they were designed to withstand the heavy bombardment which the British launched in late December 1845 and which lasted two weeks. Kawiti and his men sheltered together in the dark bunkers like a colony of bats, an arrangement which gave the pa its name, Ruapekapeka, the Bats' Nest. Heke and his men were camped outside.
On Sunday, 11 January, the British troops entered the pa. It appeared deserted, although Kawiti and a small group remained. (There are confusing accounts that either they, or the rest of the force, were at prayer.) Detachments of Kawiti's men had slipped away previously, in a tactical move, aimed at enticing the troops to follow into the bush, where they could easily be picked off. A strong defensive position had been prepared at the rear of the pa.
The feigned retreat was partly successful. The British suffered a total of 45 casualties, while Maori killed and wounded numbered about 30. The pa, like Ohaeawai, was abandoned. It had served its purpose: blood had been spilled and therefore it would never be used again. The battle was not an outright victory for the British. Nevertheless, at the end of January Kawiti and Heke negotiated a peace. Kawiti is said to have pressed a kotuku feather into the hat of the senior British officer, as a gesture of accord. An important part of the peacemaking was Kawiti's reconciliation with Tamati Waka Nene.
The divisions in Nga Puhi, and Nga Puhi's failure to support him in the war, were the subject of a now famous takuate (lament) which Kawiti sang, it is said, at Ruapekapeka. The lament acknowledged that the ancestors of Nga Puhi had arrived in many different canoes. Each ancestor had formed his own tribe, who selected their chief, who in turn was the guardian of his own territory. A chief had the right to refuse to support another.
After the peacemaking Kawiti moved to Waionui and later to Pakaraka. Some sources say that he was baptised, by Henry Williams, on 20 February 1853. He was thought to be about 80 years of age when he died at Waiomio on 5 May 1854; his tangi continued for a year. Afterwards his remains were placed with those of his ancestors in Te Pouaka-a-Hineamaru. His son, Maihi, succeeded him as leader of Ngati Hine.
Before his death Kawiti warned his people to hold fast to the treasures of their ancestors, and to wait 'until the sandfly nips the pages of the book [the treaty]; then you will rise and oppose'. Descendants have taken this as a special injunction to act, when treaty promises are not upheld.
A marae complex, a loving memorial to Kawiti, was erected at Waiomio Caves by Kawiti's great-grandson, Tawai, who did not live to see its completion; his whanau added his name to the meeting house along with that of his father, his grandfather, and Kawiti. The meeting house name now reads: Tawai, Te Riri, Maihi, Kawiti.
Next:External links and sources
Kene Hine Te Uira Martin. 'Kawiti, Te Ruki', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1k4/kawiti-te-ruki (accessed 18 July 2019)