Every bowling center encounters Murphys' Law. This means the worst possible breakdown will occur at the most inconvenient time. And to make the situation worse, you won't have the critical part needed in the back room. These are the scenarios that test even the most seasoned mechanic. A necessary part is not on hand, or a time-consuming crisis breakdown delays or postpones a league.
Lacking the needed part, most technicians will call a nearby center and ask to borrow it. But not all centers are on friendly terms. Distributors, if they have the item, may need several days to deliver it.
In the case of a simple to remove part, it can be transferred from an unused machine, but of course, this still leaves a machine unusable. In some situations, the broken part can be taken to a local shop and repaired or duplicated. This can be very costly, but it could be less than the lost revenue from a broken down machine.
Many times, imagination will outshine the above mentioned solutions. Pinsetter technicians can and do rebuild, redesign, and reconfigure parts when the need arises. Some of these ideas are out of crisis and others come from nuisance problems.
No materials are out of consideration when trying to construct a required part in an emergency situation. Scrap iron, lumber and various types of rubberized parts find their way into the machines. Some work quite well, often performing as well as or better than the original manufactures' parts. I have seen pool cues, garden hoses, shop rags and hose clamps used on pinsetters to get a machine through a league session. I am certain there are even stranger things that have been employed in an emergency.
Nearly all mechanics will remove these "emergency engineered" items when the correct part arrives. They'll keep their new found repair item on the shelf, awaiting the possibility of another need for it. While many great ideas are born from springs and duct tape when haste was a priority, these "quick fixes" should be removed as the correct parts arrive.
Scores of these emergency repairs fail miserably. Others are extremely simple, leaving one wondering why the machine was originally designed in such a complex manner.
Of course, most capital equipment suppliers do not recommend modifying their machines. Doing so can void warranties and in some cases circumvent safety features. The safety features of your machines are there for your best interests and should not be tampered with.
Some purists might say that the need for a quick fix is unfounded. If the mechanic is doing his job correctly, breakdowns will never occur. While this is a somewhat true statement, as with most things in life, there are always going to be unseen circumstances.
Imagination is not just limited to parts. Many times a tool that is pinsetter specific is unavailable or just has not yet been invented. Hands on experience with the machine will give insight to allow a fertile mind to explore the possibilities of tool design. A majority of mechanics will agree that there are times when a third and fourth hand would be of great assistance. Science has yet to genetically alter us to that specification. However, many mechanics have constructed tools to allow them to perform duties that once required another person.
There are numerous mechanic designed tools on the market. Most are constructed to save time, money and knuckles. Several allow for safe removal and replacement of items that can be very dangerous if not done with the correct tool.
Several of the pin and ball cleaning cloths being used today were once a bowling towel that was held to a piece of frame work with a clothespin. Most have been refined into the current configurations we see in the supply catalogs. Yet the humble bowling towel is still the material of choice for many mechanics in the effort to keep balls and pins clean during an unusual situation.
Most manufacturers have a very open mind to the ideas that are born on the "battlefield." A lot of mechanics have received monetary compensation for ideas that have been turned into sellable products.
The imagination of the maintenance staff can reach mind boggling heights, designing everything from the above mentioned parts and tools to building electrical devices to replace often outdated and or obsolete parts.
It's easy to be prepared for the "expected" things. It's the things that come out of the blue that will test your patience. Use your imagination to find a solution. With a little quick thinking and imagination, you can be up and running again. I guess Mr. Murphy never ran into a bowling mechanic with a roll of duct tape and some electrical wire ties.
Have you ever wondered about the process of creating a new conditioner? How do we test? What do we look for when we're testing? How do we choose test centers? How does field testing work? If you've ever wondered about the research and development process, or if you've ever thought you might like to be a test center for a new product, keep reading.
Creating a new conditioner is a lot like baking a cake without a recipe; you know how you want the cake to look and taste and you know you'll need some flour and sugar. But, you don't have an actual recipe so you have to figure out the rest of the necessary ingredients in order to get to the desired result.
Creating a lane conditioner can follow that same concept. In general, mineral oil is the "base" so we'll likely use some combination of mineral oils to start. After that, we experiment with different combinations of chemicals to try to achieve the results we want to see. Since we've been in the lane conditioner business for quite some time, we have a solid foundation of knowledge of many raw materials. We know that some materials will give us more "slickness" while other materials may help the conditioner be "hookier". We constantly search for new technologies to help us create the best lane conditioner we can.
Once we have a formula, we start testing. For lane testing, we generally use a house pattern and we'll use the same house pattern throughout testing so that we have an equal comparison when we make formula adjustments. We are fortunate to not only have our Batch Test bowlers, but some extremely talented bowlers throughout our building. So, we take full advantage and use them when we're testing a new product. We try to use a variety of bowlers so that we can see how the conditioner performs for bowlers of different styles. And, as much as possible, we try to use the same set of bowlers throughout a product test. While they're bowling, we'll track scoring, bowler moves, and we'll make notes on things like ball reaction, residue on the bowling balls, and carry down.
In the lab, we'll test physical properties like viscosity, density, and surface tension. These properties give us some general characteristics about the conditioner like how it might flow on a lane. We also do temperature stability testing. We'll put samples through freeze/thaw cycles to see if the conditioner is impacted by cold and we'll do heat ramp studies to see if the heat negatively impacts the conditioner. We even do chemical compatibility studies. Belts and other materials from pinsetters, tubing and other parts from lane machines, and other materials that could contact the conditioner are cut into pieces and soaked in the conditioner as well as in some of the raw materials. We measure the parts before we soak them and then measure them again after one month. This helps us determine if the chemicals will create any issues with the parts.
The next phase of testing for a conditioner is field testing. Initially, we'll test in one or two centers to make sure the product will perform well. We work with the centers to understand what they see from the conditioner using their normal pattern and maintenance routines. They provide feedback and we work together with them to make pattern adjustments, machine adjustments, and such to try to improve the performance. We track all of these changes and use the information to determine if we need to make adjustments to the product. If we make adjustments, we continue testing until we get to the point where we feel confident that we've created a viable product.
Next, we continue adding centers to our field test. Ultimately, we like to have at least 15 centers test a product for several months. We try to cover as many different variables as possible by using centers all over the country. By testing on different lane surfaces, pinsetters, ball returns, and so forth, we can determine if the conditioner will be a good fit for different combinations and in different environments.
While the product is in field testing, we continue collecting data in lab testing. We send samples to partner labs for analytical testing like flash point and fire point testing. These tests allow us to determine proper packaging and shipping requirements. We also submit a sample to USBC for approval. In order to gain USBC approval, a lane conditioner must meet the required specifications for viscosity and UV content.
As we continue with field testing, we keep notes on pattern adjustments made by each center. This helps us learn what works; and, more importantly, what doesn't; with patterns on different surfaces. We use this information once a product is released to the market so that we can give our customers educated adjustments for their patterns when they switch. What that means is you can switch with a little less trial and error and a few less irate bowlers.
Just before we release a product to market, we build all of our marketing and sales materials. We use information we gathered from our field testers and data we collected during our various phases of testing. We conduct in-house training for our Techs, Customer Service, and Sales staff. And, we start making batches in preparation for sample kits. Our goal is to release the conditioner to the market in the summer so that your center has time to try it and fine tune your pattern before your fall leagues start again.
Now, all this may sound glamorous, but many of our test centers would likely tell you that testing isn't always rainbows and butterflies. It can get ugly and you certainly have to be willing to make your bowlers angry. When we send a center a new product, we request that the center try the product without making any changes to their normal procedures and pattern. So, if a center had been using a conditioner that was characteristically hookier, and we asked them to use a conditioner that is slicker, the bowlers would see something different than what they're used to seeing. And, if scores go down, it could make for some pretty angry customers. Test centers can't be reactive to that though. We need centers who can give us quality feedback and that are willing to make the adjustments we suggest based on their feedback. We need centers that will work with us as we work through issues and try to improve the situation. It can take some time to fine tune the adjustments and we need centers that are not going to throw in the towel while we work through the chaos. The rainbows and butterflies come when we get the right adjustments and scores go up and bowlers comment about not moving as much during a league session. Being a test center can be as frustrating as it can be rewarding.
We do our best to create products that solve a problem or fill a need in the industry. The process takes a lot of time and it involves a lot of people. If we didn't have customers to give us valuable feedback and we didn't have test centers we could trust to help us during the development process, we wouldn't be able to create solid products. We count on our customers to tell us what they think and even what they need as we continue to create products to improve the bowling experience.
If you've made it this far and still think being a Kegel test center sounds pretty darn awesome, you can reach out to our Kegel team to see if you qualify. You can also fill out our Test Center Information Form so we can gather all of your center specifics.
In fact, the uptake rate and quality of understanding increase dramatically when combining all three perception channels. Research has shown that when using just auditory or visual channels separately, only 10% of new information is absorbed. The combination of audio and video helps to increase the uptake level to 50%. Adding the kinesthetic channel to the other two provides an optimal rate of 90% of new information being understood. Thus, the integrated approach of using all three learning modalities is the most efficient. Of course, the coach needs to recognize and take advantage of the athlete's dominant channel of perception.
During the initial stage of skill training, it is necessary to create a complete field of information for a given skill set.
During the later stages of skill encoding, the most efficient implementation is to work with the channel of perception which "delivers" information in the form closest to the type and kind of thinking directly involved in the learning process and the implementation of a given skill. For example, when mastering a skill that predominantly uses spatial and visual thinking, it is usually most efficient to use the visual channel as the dominant one and the others as complementary. Or, if the proprioceptive senses are mostly involved, it is recommended to use the kinesthetic channel of perception as the dominant one and the other channels as complementary.
Spatial thinking is an activity that helps the athlete create mental images which they can adapt to solve practical and theoretical problems. Following this definition, we understand that it is this kind of thinking that is dominant when we are teaching and training different skills in bowling. A well-developed sense of spatial thinking will greatly enhance the bowler's ability to learn and understand many physical and analytical skills related to bowling.
In the bowling alley, where in addition to a good technical throw, the player is required to understand motion phase analysis of the ball along it's path (skid, hook, and roll), changes in the oil pattern, types of pin action, and much more. In virtually all stages of the training process, spatial and visual thinking modalities are absolutely essential tools for a player's success. Equally important is the development and the effective use of these kinds of learning modalities for the coach's success in training their athletes.
Spatial and visual thinking allows a player to simultaneously work on understanding technical elements of the physical game as well as forming motor imagery in the player's mind (i.e. it can be used as the first stage of motor skill formation). Some elements of this technique are similar to the motor imagery practice, but it is simpler to use and does not require special training.
We must simplify the process of mentally visualizing a technique to the point that the player can easily press "play" in their mind in order to see the technique played out. The creation of a mental image of a practiced movement is a prerequisite for its further improvement. The rate of a player's improvement depends largely on the degree of detail and accuracy given to this mental imagery. Plus, fine motor skills will be used to develop such thinking skills as reaction time, attention, coordination, imagination, observation, and visual and motor memory.
For using this training method, three things are needed: a video of a student's shot, a video of an equivalent master's shot (i.e. a bowler with similar physical and mental traits to the student), and a 12 inch tall mannequin, such as one used by art students and sold in stores like IKEA, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. Examples of the type of mannequins which are effective for this type of training are shown below.
A small artist's mannequin can be used to demonstrate physical poses during training.
The coach and the student view the video of the student's shot and discuss the technical elements which are to be worked on.
The coach and the student view the video of the equivalent master shot and, once again, discuss the technical elements.
Using the mannequin, create images of the necessary technical elements.
Set the mannequin in the approach area of a lane or on the layout of a bowling lane for a more complete and correct understanding of the player's position in the space.
At the end of the process, ask the student to mentally reproduce all the movements in sequence.
The mannequin can be used both on-lane and on top of a bowling lane overlay, such as the clipboard overlay shown.
After a while, your students will be able to easily adjust the image of the necessary technical elements in full, and "play" it at will in their imagination. This method is especially effective for young players.
Use of the mannequin during training sessions involving young bowlers is especially effective.
Often, this method of training is not only useful, but it is also is a lot of fun. Give it a try in your own coaching sessions and see for yourself!
"Skill" is the ability to carry out an action automatically without active conscious control. An indicator of skill competence is performance of an action without the need to consciously think about how the action will be performed. When a person has skill competence for a given task, it is no longer necessary to think about the execution of the skill via its separate partial sub-operations.
Successful bowling, of course, requires competence in countless complex skills. One of the many jobs of the bowling coach is to develop and use the most effective methods of skill training on our students so that their learning processes can be accelerated as much as possible.
In this article, I want to analyze the process of learning and the implementation of one specific bowling game skill. Namely, we will examine the line-of-sight construction skill of the bowler. Line-of-sight construction is a skill that allows the bowler to envision the launch trajectory of the bowling ball on the lane. We'll start with some background and with a description of why this skill (as well as other similar skills) can be so challenging to teach. Finally, we will give an example of a new method of line-of-sight training that I've been using successfully with my own students to accelerate their development.
Throughout my career as a bowling coach, I've had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of bowlers. This includes players at the novice level all the way up to the national team level.
Additionally, I have a significant amount of experience coaching deaf bowlers. One of my students is a medalist in the Deaflympics and numerous of my other deaf students are European Bowling Championship winners. Recently, one of my female deaf students won a Gold medal at the 3rd World Deaf Bowling Championships in Bologna, Italy in August 2015.
Working with bowlers who have different types of thinking skills has motivated me to seek out improved teaching methodologies for our sport. The task of building an efficient training process for deaf bowlers, for example, has been very non-trivial. This led me to deeply analyze the process of bowling skill learning from the perspectives of cognitive and educational psychology.
This process uncovered psychological regularities of the bowling training process. Developing an understanding of these regularities has resulted in me adjusting my training methods for improved efficiency. This has led to significant accelerations in skill mastery for players of all types.
Line-of-sight construction is one particular bowling skill that can be challenging to teach to both deaf bowlers and many non-deaf bowlers alike. Let's start by taking a close look at this skill and the current methods of its teaching.
All are features of both bowling and controlling an aircraft. Many complex activities in a wide variety of disciplines share these same characteristics.
In bowling, line-of-sight construction is an important skill related to targeting that must be developed by bowlers of all levels. This skill is chosen as an illustration due to its importance in the overall structure of the bowling training process.
Thus, the described skill of line-of-sight construction is one of the basic skills of our sport. The degree of its mastery defines the speed of a player successfully training the rest of the skills of bowling. It can be an indicator of his success as a whole on the lanes. In fact, the development of this skill is one of the first tasks facing a coach while training a new player in our sport.
Entry-level bowlers: Often cannot imagine and describe in words the ball trajectory on the lane; are not visually concentrating on the point of sight during delivery preparation and execution; often use hitting the pins as an accuracy criterion; have no clear image of the line-of-sight.
Mid-level bowlers: Can describe in words the ball trajectory on the lane; are concentrated on the point of sight (sometimes excessively) during delivery preparation and execution; use assessment of hitting the point of sight as an accuracy criterion; the line-of-sight image is in the forming stage.
Advanced bowlers: Can describe the ball trajectory with precise detail in any area of the lane; are concentrated on the line-of-sight duringdelivery preparation and execution, with the ability to change the visual concentration to various points of sight along the line; use assessment of hitting the line-of-sight as an accuracy criterion detailed in various zones of the lane; the image of the line of sight is clearly formed in the visual imagination of the player and is used with no effort during delivery preparation and execution.
As the results of this test show, there is significant correlation between overall bowler skill level and line-of-sight construction skill level.
All existing targeting systems in bowling are built on the principle of line-of-sight construction on the lane. Differences in targeting systems are only in using different markers as the coordinate system for the line of throw construction (targets, pins, breakpoints, exit points, laydown points, starting position of the player, and so on). The final aim of all systems is a line construction on the lane surface and in the approach area.
Operating with initial data in accordance with the theory of the throw line construction voiced by the coach, the player must use abstract logical, spatial, and visual imagination to construct the throw line on the lane and in the approach area. The player must then hold his concentration to perform a delivery, controlling his own movements and the subsequent movement of the ball relative to this imagined line.
If it is necessary to change the ball trajectory, the player (using information provided by the coach) must recalculate the coordinates of the required markers and construct a new line. This is not an easy task. The main problem is in the constant interaction of abstract logical and visual representation types of thinking.
Even when a player is given initial information in the form of visual images and tips from his coach, the transfer of these images to the real lane is always performed in the mind of the player. In such a case, it is impossible to avoid the process of personal interpretation.
Solving this problem, we are increasingly becoming dependent on the features and level of a player's abstract logical thinking and the abilities of his mental apparatus regarding the interpretation and transferring of the abstract logical concepts into symbols and images used by visual and representation thinking.
If the player is talented in this respect, we get the correct image in his mind and we get it very rapidly. For other players, perhaps even those who are more gifted in physical and coordination abilities, this task may be very difficult. It may either take a long time to perform, or it may not even be solved at all.
In my opinion, the difficulty of solving this problem for the player is not so much due to the level of the player's ability. Instead, the difficulty is caused by the method of supplying the initial information and the proposed algorithms of solution. Too large of a role of abstract and logical thinking in the described processes can be destructive.
We as bowling coaches are a lot like a teacher who tries to solve the problem of constructing and fixing in a pupil's visual memory the image of a 90 degree angle. Doing this using only a verbal description is quite difficult. Even if the teacher is permitted to draw two randomly-arranged straight line segments and then explain in words how to form a 90 degree angle from them, it is still an incredibly difficult task.
Alternatively, just draw two perpendicular lines, show the angle, and then add any verbal description for better understanding. The result is instant and the student immediately understands the concept of a 90 degree angle!
I will now introduce a new method of line-of-sight construction training that I have used with great success with many of my students. The method involves using a device to create and consolidate in the spatial and visual imagination and in the memory of the player a bright image of the line-of-sight in the real playing environment during delivery preparation and execution.
While training using this device, there is no need to describe the line image using objects of abstract logical thinking, and, as a consequence, there is no need for any interpretation by the player.
This patent-pending device utilizes a luminous bar (3 to 5 meters high) installed above the lane in a vertical position. Depending on the particular training task, it can be installed in the targeting area, at the exit point, at the breakpoint, or as close as possible to pins. Reflection of this bar creates a bright and clearly visible image of the line-of-sight on the lane. This bright reflected line on the lane is used to train and consolidate the required skill of constructing the line-of-sight by the bowler.
The property of the reflected line to change its position while the player moves left and right, as well as the possibility to change the initial position of the device, allows the bowler to almost intuitively understand the process of adjusting the line position on the lane.
Since this training technique so directly demonstrates the concept of line-of-sight and its fundamental properties, it is even effective on players who haven't yet developed advanced abstract logical thinking abilities, such as children.
Here, the lighted bar is installed at the arrow zone for the purposes of 3-6-9 training.
Hitting or nearly hitting the line visible by the player is only possible with correct technical throw execution.
The possibility to assess visually the dynamics of the line-of-sight movement along the lane by the player during the delivery creates conditions for more effective correction and monitoring of the spatial and technical elements of the approach. This creates a very effective instant feedback system for the bowler.
It becomes possible to see a diagram of oil application on the lane and its variations, because due to different oil amounts in different areas of the lane, the reflection coefficient of the light source varies. As a result, the thickness of the oil in different zones and the dynamics of its changes during play become visible to the bowler.
The reflected light line creates the possibility of performing a visual assessment of lane topography. The curvature of the reflected line shows the deviation of the lane plane from the horizontal plane.
Here are some additional videos of the lighted bar in use during training, both as viewed from the coach's position behind the approach and as viewed through the eyes of the bowler.
The practical use of this technique has shown that it has high efficiency. The image of the line-of-sight is quickly fixed in the visual memory of the player. After just a few training deliveries, it is not difficult for most players to use this image, even in the absence of the training device.
Mastering the line-of-sight construction skill has become much faster. Testing has shown that the time duration of mastering this important skill is reduced significantly (sometimes by an order of magnitude) through the use of this device and this training method. Additionally, the skill is successfully mastered by players regardless of the development of their abstract logical and visual representation thinking.
Often, after a month of training using this technique, entry-level players show a skill mastery level comparable to that of advanced players. This allows them to progress more quickly in their future training.
Some of you might be wondering about the practicality of the above-described training method. It is true that it does require some special equipment. Also, like all things that happen beyond the foul line, use of such equipment requires agreement and cooperation with the bowling center owner.
As of now, there is no commercially-available "off-the-shelf" luminous bar line-of-sight training system. However, it is a fairly simple design that can be constructed from components that are readily available. It can be installed on the lane in about five minutes and removed in three minutes. Also, I have built and used a version of this system that is fully portable. Development of a ready-made system that can be purchased by coaches is a possibility for the future.
I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to some of the challenges in bowling skill training and that I have opened your eyes to the opportunities that exist in developing more efficient training methods for our sport. As previously mentioned, I have studied the theory of effective learning and skill development for bowling extensively. I have many other ideas in different areas of bowling skill development, such as timing training, swing direction training, ball reaction understanding, and more. I hope to share them with you in upcoming articles.
Finally, I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions, as they will be very beneficial in helping me decide on content for future contributions.


text:
<পতিতা
Love that doesn't count>
mondroadminon February 20, 2020 /0 comments
Following the LSE-UC Berkeley Bangladesh Summit, a representative from a queer collective in Bangladesh spoke to Rebecca Bowers on the current status of LGBTQ rights in the country.
RB: Can you share with us the journey that led you to becoming a gay rights activist?
I grew up in the port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh but since my graduation I have lived in Dhaka. I came to know about Boys of Bangladesh (BoB), a queer collective in the country, during my university days but at that time I was not confident enough to come out. Later in 2007 I realised that being gay, I am more comfortable with like-minded people, so I became a member of Boys of Bangladesh and started meeting more people and attending a few events. The people there seemed decent and it inspired me to work voluntarily for the group where I have been a moderator since 2009.
Can you tell us how the organisation has evolved since its creation in 2002?
Boys of Bangladesh, popularly abbreviated as BoB, started out as a gay-only network. Today the network consists of the wider LGBTQ community although it remains a constant challenge working in the present political climate.
BoB envisages a society where every individual regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity can enjoy life to its full potential with dignity and rights.
To adhere to our value of inclusiveness and since BoB is now widely known as an LGBTQ rights organisation, we felt the need to change the name to reflect this.
Boys of Bangladesh is the oldest running and largest network of self-identified LGBTQ people living in the country and abroad. Based in Dhaka, this non-registered, non-funded and non-formal group is run by a pool of volunteers. Formerly known as Boys Only Bangladesh, BoB has been operating since 2002. Its Facebook page acts as the main networking medium in addition to a website and a Yahoo Group. The organisation does not have any office space or paid staff.
In October 2002, Joy, the founder of BoB, went to meet the moderators of the group Teen Gay Bangladesh (Prakash and Abrar) and decided that he also wanted to start a group helping gay people. Since TGB was exclusively for teen gays, Joy decided to open BoB (Boys Only Bangladesh) on 2nd November 2002.
The moderators of BoB initially wanted gay men in Bangladesh to be able to meet in person and build a supportive community. It arranged the first ever offline get-together on December 7th, 2002 with three men brave enough to meet other gay men in broad daylight and in public. BoB was the the first group to organise face-to-face meetings. From then on, it worked with TGB until Yahoo! deleted both of these group accounts without any warning on 25th December 2002.
The moderators of TGB opened a new group with a new name called Bangladeshi Gay Boys (BGB) whilst BoB slightly altered its name, becoming Boys Only Bangladesh, and reopening on January 4th, 2003. Since BGB was searchable under Yahoo groups, it attracted more people, becoming very active online whilst BoB remained discreet, continuing its highly guarded get-togethers.
BGB was deleted again by Yahoo and this time, failed to re-emerge although not for the lack of efforts from its moderators. At the same time, BoB grew steadily, slowly and silently. Initially, the membership was restricted, and people could join only by invitation. Because of security concerns, moderators invited people they knew from chat rooms, matchmaking websites and through other people. The monthly gatherings continued for the next few years bringing in new faces. Apart from these events, the online forum worked as the soul of BoB, where members found great solace in sharing their emotions and untold stories.
What are your current activities?
Today, BoB is a full member of Human Rights Forum of Bangladesh, Human Rights Alliance of Bangladesh,International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), Right Here Right Now network and others.
We primarily base our work on three pillars – Community Mobilization, Advocacy and Policy and Networking
BoB regularly organises community events such as get-togethers, picnics, film screenings, trainings, workshops, and various innovative programs to help LGBT individuals come together, find peer support and to be more visible as well as assertive of their human rights. It also runs a telephone line for support. All the community events are self-sustaining – participants collectively bear the cost of the events, which also gives them a sense of ownership and belonging.
Decriminalisation of same-sex relationships has been the primary goal of BoB. It actively engages with various policy makers and stakeholders nationally and internationally. BoB has produced research papers, educational materials, conducted surveys, and fed into numerous consultations on the LGBT rights.
BoB believes in the intersectionality of social movements and has been working closely with leading human rights organisations, women's rights movements, indigenous groups and other minorities. Since we are non-registered and non-funded, we conduct most of activities in partnership with other organisations, enabling us to reach a wider audience and build relationships. BoB regularly organises sensitisation workshops for various organisations and takes part in meetings, seminars and conferences both nationally and internationally.
Given the daily levels of intolerance and harassment faced by the LGBTQ population, what are the challenges BoB face in raising awareness and visibility whilst having to deal with the very real threat to your own and your members' safety?
It is nearly impossible to gauge the impediments right now since the issue isn't out there in the open. But the main challenges we are facing right now are a lack of education in the wider population as well as the community around sexuality and rights, class division, patriarchal social values and the legal system.
Emotional wellbeing and social support is another area where we believe there is a lot more to do. Many community members suffer from low self-esteem and depression. There is no proper research so far. We tried to establish a support line initially but due to security reasons in 2016, we had to shut down.
The lack of safe space for discussion on sensitive issues for free thinkers is getting very limited which is alarming. It's not only a challenge to find a physical space. If we want to publish a book, publishers are not eager to work on it. The same is true for the media and online journalism.
Self-censorship is the biggest challenge now in my view and is something we must adopt in everyday life. We previously announced our programs on social media. However, now we cannot recruit any volunteers or meet anyone who seeks help because of safety concerns. It's a challenging situation when you know that you have the capacity to help but your hands are bound by the need for protection and security. This is particularly suffocating as safe spaces for open discussion are becoming extinct, not only in a physical manner but virtually as well. Now it is difficult to find a publisher who can publish such topics. Similarly, putting such topics online in a blog is threatening too – especially when you are located inside the country.
The amendments to the ICT Act have further restricted the space for online expression and organisation. What would you say the impact has been on gay activism in Bangladesh and what countermeasures are available?
Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006, directly undermines freedom of expression. The section imposes a penalty
of a minimum seven years and maximum 14 years of imprisonment with a maximum fine of Tk 1 crore for those found in violation of it. An accepted translation of Section 57(1) of ICT Act 2006 has been given below:
"If any person deliberately publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmitted in the website or in any other electronic form any material which is false and obscene and if anyone sees, hears or reads it having regard to all relevant circumstances, its effect is such as to influence the reader to become dishonest or corrupt, or causes to deteriorate or creates possibility to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the state or person or causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief or instigate against any person or organisation, then this activity will be regarded as an offence"
Therefore, a person updating a status on social media, writing a blog or running a news portal is under the ambit of the section. Section 57 allows a third party to file a case against a person in violation of it. Anyone may file a case against our Facebook page or blog if they feel like the content has even a remote possibility of hurting someone else's image or upsetting religious sentiments.
Although its authors may have intended for this part of the law to be used sparingly, it is now routinely used to suppress freedom of speech and harass writers, activists, and journalists, often for their comments on social media.
Whilst there is talk of removing the section from the ICT Act, the draft Digital Security Act contains a very similar provision. Experts have pointed out repeatedly how removing Section 57 would be useless, if the same threats to press freedom are reintroduced through another law which too disproportionately penalizes similar "offences."
The community is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. While international instruments like the ICCPR or the ECHR emphasize the freedom of expression, the queer community in Bangladesh still struggles to identify the line between independence and the possibility of committing an offence.
What would your message be to gay, trans, queer and intersex readers facing discrimination in Bangladesh and beyond?
For more than a decade I've dedicated my life to LGBT advocacy work. However, it wasn't until three years ago when my six-year-old nephew asked me whether I had a girlfriend that I realized the pervasiveness of homophobia. His question and my family's response, including my own, helped me see the deeper and nuanced layers of homophobia.
We live in a heteronormative world and beneath heteronormativity is buried homophobia. Times are changing and the deeper we go in our individual lives the more we can make even bigger strides toward a world of equality.
We feel down. We feel isolated. We feel alone. We feel separated from those closest to us. And all we want to do is fit in. To be accepted. To be part of the group.
We have internalised negative messages and poor behaviour directed towards us – from our parents, grandparents, siblings, school mates, teachers, colleagues, strangers. And now we feel shame, rejection, fear, guilt. We are unable to accept ourselves.
So my message is be true to yourself and follow your heart. Give people the space and time to process who they thought you would be and accept who you are now.
Speak to others. Find ways to support each other if you can. And seek support. There are collectives like us working around. There are many people out there, walking past you day after day, that would love to help you. Many don't know how to help you. Get clear in your mind what would really help you and then ask for what you want. Believe you can improve your life – and you will.
Source: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2018/07/24/all-we-want-to-do-is-fit-in-to-be-accepted-to-be-part-of-the-group-lgbtq-rights-in-bangladesh/
Representative: Living large in little boxes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


EDIT: Callaway has updated the LR550 with the excellent Callaway Diablo Octane Rangefinder by Nikon which has some nice new features and fixes some of the bugs of the LR550 (click here to read the review of the Diablo Rangefinder).
The Callaway LR550 is a decent attempt by Nikon to compete with the lower end ($200-$250) laser rangefinders from Bushnell and Leupold; the Bushnell Tour V2, Bushnell Medalist and the cheaper Leupold GX series.
The main benefits of of the LR550 is its simplicity and easy of use along with its exceptional accuracy.
You will be able to find the flag stick or a bunker with .5 +/- accuracy between 22-99,5 yards and 1 +/- yard up to 500 which makes it among the most accurate rangefinders on the market within the price range.
You can with high accuracy find the flag from up to 550 yards and if you feel that you can not get a clear vision of the target from that distance you can zoom in up to 6x.
– Target: will give you an instant reading of the target that is nearest to you. The popular PinSeeker mode from Bushnell has been met with "First Target Priority Mode" from Nikon. This will ensure that you will find the flag instead of a tree in the background.
– Continuous: Will read the environment for 8 seconds and report continuously to the user the reading of the objects you point to. This gives you the option to measure multiple targets before your next shot. You can find the bunker, the front, back and middle of the green as well as finding the flag. All within the same reading, that is a great feature.
Despite some of the benefits of the Callaway Lr550 there are some things that they could of made better that you should know about. One of the biggest flaws of the Callaway LR550 is the badly constructed eyepiece which can often becomes loose. This often results in it falling of. This tends to be problematic for a tool that is intended for outside use and loosing the eyepiece can be a pain.
The Callaway LR550 Rangefinder by Nikon seems to divide people into two groups, those that hate the yellow color and those that love it but in the end it comes down to personal preference.
Some say that the yellow color makes it hard to loose because you will always notice it lying around. It will also remind you not to leave it behind because you will always notice it so it will not be stolen because you have a constant reminder in front of you.
Others say that the yellow color makes it more likely to be stolen as it brings unwanted attention that makes it hard to leave behind, you cant even leave it in the golf bag because it has already brought the attention if someone was going to take it.
Then there are those that say that it is just plain ugly and they would never be seen with it on the course.
Note that the Callaway LR550 is also available in white (with Amazon) but for a price that is close to $300 which is almost $70 more that you would pay for the standard yellow type.
The Callaway LR550 is a great attempt from Nikon to create a golf range finder that is comparable with the middle range range finders from Bushnell and Leupold. While the Callaway LR550 is in many ways a excellent product but falls somewhat short in some basic areas which make the Callaway LR550 a lesser version to its competitors in this price range.
Bushnell and Leupold might give you more in terms of options and user experience but when it comes down to it the Callaway LR550 delivers accuracy and is very simple to use. For those that want a point and shot laser rangefinder that is simple to operate with the popular PinSeeker technology but no not mind a few minor bugs (eyepiece) or the yellow color then the Callaway LR550 Rangefinder by Nikon might be a good option.
The Callaway LR550 Laser Rangefinder is in the lower to middle range of laser rangefinders which has some useful features that can be of great benefit to any golfer.
Magnification: The Callaway LR550 has an impressive 6x magnification that works really well when you want to zoom in on targets. It comes with a long eye relief with a folding rubber eyecup which can be very useful for those that wear eyeglass. This has however been a major problem with the Callaway LR550 as there have been multiple complaints that the eye relief has a weak built and tends to fall of. The GolfReviewGuide did not have this problem when testing but the front rubber seems very weak and it seems that Nikon could have put more effort into making it stronger. A rangefinder is something that you take with you for a outdoor sport and needs to be stronger than that.
Range: Can find a yardstick from up to 550 yards.
Battery: Uses 3v lithium batteries which are included.
Accuracy: Great accuracy and ranks among the better in this price range.
Measures: The Callaway LR550 is very small and light, it is easy to handle.
Warranty: Comes with a 1-year warranty. Note that most competitive products, such as the Bushnell Tour V2 and the Bushnell Medalist, come with a standard 2-year warranty.
Rain mode: No, it does not have special rain mode.
Finding the Flag: The three big golf range finder producers used different marketing terms to describe the feature and technology they use to capture the flag. Bushnell uses PinSeeker, Callaway uses First Target Mode, and Leupold uses PinHunter. The three modes makes it easy to find the pin or the flag and are all very effective. In addition, the feature allows for making a distinction between the flag and other similar objects, such as trees in the background or foreground.


text:
Due to Brexit, temporarily we cannot ship to Northern Ireland.
Cyder
DRINK FRESH
YOUR BASKET CONTAINS A FRESH CASK PRODUCT.
Fresh cask beer has a limited shelf life and is intended for sharing occasions.
Fresh cask products should be opened within 2 days of receipt and consumed within 3 days of opening them.
Only order this product when you are ready to consume or specify a delivery date within your order comments.
Deben Valley River
The river Deben rises near Aspall and flows 25 miles through some of the prettiest countryside in Suffolk, from Debenham to Brandeston and Easton to Woodbridge and beyond to the sea.
As with many on the east coast the Deben was a salmon river, the last recorded catch being in 1902, the year Perronelle Chevallier was born. Up until the 15th Century, the Deben was navigable by sea-faring boats, and many would have made their way upstream with goods to trade from Woodbridge, once an important commercial port. Now a bustling boating and sailing centre, the river beyond Woodbridge is tidal and finally reaches the North Sea between Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey. The entrance is marked by two Napoleonic Martello towers on each bank. The valley is an important environment for wildlife and birds; otters have been reintroduced in recent years, and the patient birder will be rewarded with the sight of kingfishers along many stretches.
(Photo credit: Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB).
Aspall Hall
The Chevallier family have lived and farmed at Aspall since 1702. The house and land was bought by Temple Chevallier who had come to Aspall from Jersey with his Suffolk born mother Suzannah.
In 1722 Temple left the Hall to his nephew Clement, founder of the cyder business. There is some evidence that Clement undertook radical improvements at this time, creating an unusually long brick front with bricks made just a few miles away in the Deben valley. In the mid nineteenth century, the Hall was owned by the Reverend J Chevallier, an enlightened doctor whose views on the treatment of mental illness were far ahead of his time. He made numerous alterations to the Hall to create a home for his patients on the first floor.
Today the Hall is home to Barry Chevallier Guild and his family - eighth and ninth generations of the Chevallier family.
Aspall Cyder House
Built by local craftsmen in 1728, The Cyder House at Aspall still houses Clement Chevallier's original mill and press.
The heavy granite wheel and trough, so critical to the process of cyder making, were brought by ship to Ipswich from the Ilses de Chausse off the Normandy coast. From there, heavy horses were required to bring both to Aspall, a journey that took 3 days and is logged in "Clement's book" as costing £6 – a princely sum in those days. The original press is a masterpiece of craftsmanship; built of wood from the estate it was in continual use until 1971. Sadly, the stone wheel and trough were last used to mill the apples in 1947, when the last press horse died and a small petrol powered dicing machine was installed. The Cyder House remains a constant reminder of the past and the traditions and philosophy laid down by Clement and his descendants.
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The Cyder House Aspall Hall Debenham Suffolk IP14 6PD | 01728 860510
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text:
Wild Superfoods: Probiotic Spheres 3-Pack (6-Month Supply)
The cutting-edge design of Probiotic Spheres protects probiotic organisms from stomach acid for ultimate delivery to your entire digestive tract.
Each sphere is like a tiny spaceship shuttling 5 billion live friendly helpmates straight to where you need them: your microbiome.
The end result—maximum potency, superior delivery, and a happy belly.
Probiotic Spheres are:
Gauranteed GMP Compliant
With the Probiotic Spheres 3-Pack, you get:
6-Month Supply of Probiotic Spheres ($203.85 value)
Free Shipping ($11 value)
TOTAL VALUE: $214.85
Serving Size: 1 Sphere
Servings Per Container: 60 Spheres (60 day supply)
Servings in the 3-Pack: 180 servings (~6 month supply)
Refrigeration is recommended and will ensure maximum potency and shelf life.
Why Take Probiotics?
Immune Support: Probiotics in the GI tract strengthen the barrier function of the intestinal lining. This means less bacteria can pass into the bloodstream, thus decreasing chance of infection and other "leaky gut" conditions.
Regularity: No-one likes to talk about diarrhea, constipation, or IBS. But even more so, no-one likes to have these uncomfortable conditions. Regular use of probiotics can help regulate your lower GI and alleviate many of these symptoms.
Repopulating Post-Antibiotics: Antibiotics are not discerning, they take the good with the bad. After you run a course of antibiotics, it's important to repopulate your gut with the good guys. The proprietary blend of eight different probiotic strains found in Probiotic Spheres ensures that the microbiome in your gut is healthy and strong again.
Yeast Regulation: The L. acidophilus in Probiotic Spheres' proprietary blend helps prevent yeast overgrowth, thus decreasing your risk for developing Candida and other yeast infections.
Healthy Skin: Healthy skin, including relief from the symptoms of eczema, is supported by the regular ingestion of the lactobacillus rhamnosus found in our probiotic blend.
8 Super Strains in Each Sphere
Each Probiotic Sphere taken daily delivers 5 Billion CFU of these 8 probiotic strains:
Lactobacillus acidophilus helps boost immunity, lower cholesterol, and combat fatigue and the signs of aging.
Bifidobacterium Bifidum has been shown to help various gastrointestinal disorders, combat infections, and even reduce stress.
Lactobacillus casei helps inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, reduce inflammation, and balance the pH of your digestive system.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus has shown to help boost metabolism aiding in the fat-burning process.
Lactobacillus reuteri has been linked to improved thyroid function, accelerated hair growth, and even boosting testosterone levels.
Bifidobacterium breve is an important bacteria that breaks down sugars in the digestive tract which can help reduce indigestion.
Bifidobacterium longum has been shown to lower the stress hormone cortisol, while enhancing cognitive functions.
Streptococcus Thermophilus is linked to healthy skin, alleviating GI symptoms, and may increase folate and hemoglobin levels.
Clinical Research on Lactobacillus acidophilus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Clinical Research on Bifidobacterium Bifidum: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 10
Clinical Research on Lactobacillus casei: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Clinical Research on Lactobacillus rhamnosus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
Clinical Research on Lactobacillus reuteri: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Clinical Research on Bifidobacterium breve: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Clinical Research on Bifidobacterium longum: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Clinical Research on Streptococcus Thermophilus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Recommended Use: As a dietary supplement, take one sphere per day with a meal, or as directed by your health care practitioner.
Ingredients: Probiotic Blend of L. acidophilus SD-5212, B. bifidum SD-5857, L. casei SD-5842, L. rhamnosus SD 58-39, L. reuteri SD-5865, B. breve SD-5206, B. longum SD-5844, S. thermophilus SD-5849
Other ingredients: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, pectin, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carbonate, silicon dioxide, vegetable stearate, guar gum, turmeric.
Stock Up & Save
6-Pack of Probiotic Spheres: Save over $160 off with the Probiotic Spheres 6-pack (~12 month supply).
Like this product? --> Write a review
© 2021, Wild Superfoods


text:
Das Stüpen ist ein vor allem in der Uckermark und Teilen Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns verbreiteter Osterbrauch. Beim Stüpen ziehen am Ostersonntag Kinder durch den Ort und erbitten sich durch symbolische Hiebe mit Birkenzweigen, den sogenannten Stüp-Ruten, Süßigkeiten oder Ostereier.

Dazu sagen sie den Spruch "Stüp, stüp Osterei, gibst du mir kein Osterei, hau ich dir den Rock entzwei." bzw. diverse Variationen (früher auch auf Plattdeutsch) dieses Satzes auf. Früher was das Stüpen in Teilen Brandenburgs und Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns ein weit verbreiteter Brauch, heute ist es zunehmend selten.

Einzelnachweise

Brauchtum (Ostern)
Feste und Brauchtum (Deutschland)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home » Ohio Supreme Court Holds Restrictive Minimum Wage Law Is Constitutional (Part 2)
In Articles, Ohio wage and hour law
Disclaimer: I was lead counsel representing the employees in this case. I won't pretend to be objective in my analysis of the decision.
This is a two-part post about the recent Ohio Supreme Court's 5-2 decision holding that "The meaning of the term 'employee' under R.C. 4111.14(B)(1) is constitutionally valid because it does not clearly conflict with or restrict the meaning of that same term under Article II, Section 34a of the Ohio Constitution." This is an important decision that substantially changes the landscape of Ohio wage and hour law.
Part 1 deals with the background of the laws. You should read Part 1 first. Part 2 deals with the Ohio Supreme Court's decision.
Part 1: The Decision
Background of the Case
The case facts are straightforward. The two plaintiffs worked as sales representatives for a coupon magazine. The magazine paid the sales representatives on a commissions-plus-a-draw or a commissions-only basis. Either way, if a sales representative did not earn enough in commissions, then they were paid less than minimum wage. The plaintiffs brought the case to recover the unpaid minimum wages.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the plaintiffs are "outside salespeople" who are exempt from the FLSA's minimum wage requirements under 29 U.S.C. 213. Thus, the question for this case is (or should have been) "Are outside salespeople 'employees' under the FLSA?"
Because of the conflicting laws described in Part 1, the plaintiffs asked the trial court to declare that either Revised Code 4111.14(B)(1)'s definition of "employee" does not apply to an action brought under the Minimum Wage Constitutional Amendment or, if the Code does apply, then it is unconstitutional because the Code's definition is more restrictive than that of the Amendment. The employer argued that the Code was consistent with the Amendment.
The trial court agreed with the employer and held that the Code applies to cases brought under the Amendment and the Code is constitutional. By doing so, the trial held that the plaintiffs were not "employees."
The Second District Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's decision. The Second District held:
[The Amendment's] statement that "employee" and other terms have "the same meanings as under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act," coupled with its statement that "[o]nly the exemptions set forth in this section shall apply to this section," preclude interpreting [the Amendment] in the manner advocated by the owners of Cheap Escape. The exemptions from minimum wage requirements set forth in 29 U.S.C. 213 do not alter the definition of "employee" set forth in 29 U.S.C. 203. Rather, the exemptions provide that minimum wage (and maximum hour) requirements do not apply to certain categories of employees. In other words, the exemptions remove certain categories of employees from the minimum wage requirements set forth in other parts of the Fair Labor Standards Act, but they do not remove persons in those categories from the definition of an employee. Thus, the definition or "meaning" of an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act is the broad definition contained in 29 U.S.C. 203(e)—"any individual employed by an employer"—rather than any narrower classification that applies for the provision of particular federal protections, such as wage and hour rules.
The employer then appealed to the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The Decision can really be broken up into two parts: (1) the Court's interpretation of Ohio law, and (2) the Court's interpretation of federal law.
The Court's holdings regarding Ohio law are pretty limited.
First, the Court held that "employee" under the amendment "shall have the same 'meanings' as provided in the FLSA." ¶12. It further held that the Amendment "incorporates the FLSA without any limitation." Id. This is consistent with the employees' position and the Amendment's plain language.
Next, however, the Court's reasoning veers off the path of reasonable interpretation.
The Amendment states that "As used in this section: 'employer,' 'employee,' 'employ,' 'person,' and independent contractor' have the same meanings as under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act…" The plural word "meanings" is used because the sentence references multiple words, each with its own meaning. If the singular "meaning" was used, it would tend to indicate that all of the words share the same meaning.
Part of the Revised Code section at issue exemplifies this. R.C. § 4111.14(M) states "As used in division (M) of this section, 'such information,' 'acting on behalf of an employee,' and 'request' have the same meanings as in division (G) of this section." The plural "meanings" is used because each term has its own meaning. Division (G) confirms that each of the three terms has its own single meaning, just like the five terms in §34a. Conversely, the singular "meaning" is used when a single term is being defined. See, e.g., R.C. 4111.14(B)(2) and (H)(2).
Instead of interpreting "meanings" this way, the Ohio Supreme Court held that "'Meanings' is plural, indicating more than one definition applies [to the term 'employee']." ¶13. Putting aside that this interpretation does not make sense in the context of the sentence, how would that play out? If the Court was right (that "employee" has multiple meanings under the FLSA), then there would be an enormous amount of case law devoted to figuring out which of these multiple meanings applies to which situation. There would be a question of how to apply the FLSA at all if a basic term had multiple and conflicting meanings. Of course, there is no body of case law addressing this issue because the term "employee" has a single meaning under the FLSA. Thus, it has a single meaning under the Amendment.
If the Court got only its interpretation of "meanings" wrong, it still could have gotten the case right by correctly interpreting federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act). After all, even if the Court thought that the Amendment borrowed every meaning of "employee" from the FLSA, it would not make a difference because the FLSA only uses one meaning for the word.
But, the Court did not correctly interpret the FLSA.
The FLSA states "As used in this chapter [chapter means the FLSA]—Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), the term 'employee' means any individual employed by an employer." 29 U.S.C. 203(e). That is the only meaning of "employee" in the FLSA. Case law, including that from the U.S. Supreme Court, uniformly uses this meaning of "employee" when interpreting that term under the FLSA. Accordingly, any person that falls within this meaning, even those employees who are exempt from some of the FLSA's requirements, are employees. The plaintiffs wrote a motion for reconsideration on this issue that is worth reading. The motion details the uniformity of case law interpreting "employee" in the context of the FLSA.
The question the Court should have answered but never did is "Is an FLSA-exempt employee an 'employee' under the FLSA?" If yes, then they are also an "employee" under the Amendment—that's the only way to give the word the "same" meaning.
Instead, the Court held that FLSA-exempt employees are not "employees" at all. No federal court to my knowledge has held anything similar. Again, the plaintiff's motion for reconsideration addresses this point.
Because the Ohio Supreme Court held that FLSA-exempt employees are not "employees" under the FLSA, they are not under the Amendment. As a result, Court held that the Code is consistent with the Amendment.
The Dissent
Justice O'Neill wrote a dissent in which Justice Pfeifer concurred. Both Justices seemed to understand what the majority did not:
There is no possible stretch of the English language that can disguise the fact that the statute has the effect of restricting a provision in the constitutional amendment, which had been recently approved by more than two million voters.
The Second District Court of Appeals got this case right. The exemption found in the federal minimum-wage law for outside salespersons, and other exemptions, were not included in Ohio's constitutional amendment and cannot be reasonably interpreted as such. By incorporating into Ohio law the exemptions set forth in federal law, the General Assembly modified the decision of the voters of the state of Ohio and impermissibly narrowed and restricted the meaning of the word "employee" in the amendment. * * * Simply stated, the Ohio General Assembly cannot surreptitiously override the will of the people of Ohio. The voters have spoken, and the General Assembly and this court must listen.
What more could the voters have done?
This blog entry focused on the Amendment's language that borrows the FLSA's meaning of "employee." As described above, that alone should have resolved this case in favor of the employees.
But, the Amendment goes even further. It states that "Only the exemptions set forth in this section shall apply to this section." If the Court had a question as to whether FLSA exemptions should be implicitly read into the Amendment, the Amendment's language regarding exemptions answers the question. The Court essentially ignored this language and held that the exemptions were not set forth because "it is logical to conclude that the drafters did not need to restate the FLSA exemptions within [the Amendment] because those exemptions had already been included." ¶14. The Court missed that the drafters did not restate the exemptions because the exemptions were never meant to be included in Ohio's minimum wage law.
This case raises a question—What more could the voters have done to express their intent to include all employees within the Amendment's coverage? The Amendment uses an established definition of "employee" and then states that exemptions not "set forth" in the Amendment cannot apply to the Amendment. If that is not enough, what would have been?
For more information, contact Andy Biller, Of Counsel to Markovits, Stock & DeMarco and author of Wage and Hour Information Resource; (614) 604-8759.
Andrew Biller
MSD Welcomes Andrew Kimble to the Wage and Hour Team
Federal Whistleblower Policy Expanded


text:
Q: How to feed the model with a set of images at once instead of one by one image? I have a dataset of CT lung images, each patient has a series of CT images like the follows:

I want to feed the model with a stack of images for each patient, so I have converted to .nii.gz:
import SimpleITK as sitk
import glob

file_names = sorted(glob.glob('/path/to/dataset/patient/*.png'))
reader = sitk.ImageSeriesReader()
reader.SetFileNames(file_names)
vol = reader.Execute()
sitk.WriteImage(vol, '/path/to/dataset/patient/2639.nii.gz')

I have build my model to receive image as one numpy array not a stack of nii images, How can I feed the model with a stack of images in nii.gz.
I'm trying to resize nii.gz to 2D image :
import skimage.transform as skTrans
img = nib.load('/1164.nii.gz').get_fdata()
img = skTrans.resize(img, (128,128), order=1, preserve_range=True)
img.shape

but that raises this warning:

warnings.warn(msg)  UserWarning: Anti-aliasing will be enabled by
default in skimage 0.15 to avoid aliasing artifacts when down-sampling
images.   warn("Anti-aliasing will be enabled by default in skimage
0.15 to "

And the shape is changed but the number of images not:
(128, 128, 113)
113 is the number of images.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
U.S. Army Halts Construction Of Dakota Access Pipeline
Ray Brown
After months of protests from the North Dakota Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and thousands of supporters from around the country, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it will no longer approve the current plans of the controversial North Dakota Access Pipeline.
"Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it's clear that there's more work to do," said Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Army's Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, in a statement. "The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing."
The announcement was seen as a monumental victory for the Native American tribe, which had been protesting the pipeline because they say it could potentially contaminate the drinking water on their land.
"We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing," Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said in a statement, according to ABC News. "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of Indian Country will be forever grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision."
"Our prayers have been answered," National Congress of American Indians President Brian Cladoosby said in a statement, according to NPR. "This isn't over, but it is enormously good news. All tribal peoples have prayed from the beginning for a peaceful solution, and this puts us back on track."
But proponents of the pipeline blamed President Barack Obama's administration for unlawfully interfering and potentially harming future development and infrastructure projects.
"I hoped even a lawless president wouldn't continue to ignore the rule of law. However, it was becoming increasingly clear he was punting this issue down the road," said Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. "Today's unfortunate decision sends a very chilling signal to others who want to build infrastructure in this country."
According to website Open Secrets, the top industry that donates to Cramer is the oil and gas industry, which has given $187,000 to his campaign fund.
Sources: U.S. Army, ABC News, Rep. Kevin Cramer, Open Secrets / Photo credit: John Duffy/Flickr
ObamaStanding Rock#NoDAPLU.S. Army
Trump Supports Completion Of Dakota Access Pipeline
Obama Considering Ways To Reroute North Dakota Pipeline
Judge Clears Final Hurdle For Dakota Access Pipeline
Construction Plans, Protest Renewed For Dakota Pipeline
Dakota Access Pipeline Leaked 84 Gallons Of Oil
Obama Expected To Approve Dakota Access Pipeline
Judge Rules Against Dakota Access Pipeline Permits
Dakota Pipeline Defies Protesters, Nears Completion


Seminario Oficial CrossFit Weightlifting – 7 y 8 de junio en Madrid | CrossFit Singular Box - Variedad, Intensidad, Comunidad... CrossFit en Madrid en estado puro.
#1: Are there any pre-requisites for this course?
No. Anyone can attend; however, to receive a Trainer Certificate for the Weightlifting Trainer Course one must hold a valid and current Level 1 Trainer Certificate. If you attend and do not hold a valid and current Level 1 Trainer Certificate, you will be issued a Certificate of Attendance.
#2: What are the requirements for becoming CrossFit Weightlifting Trainer?
3.120 comentarios para "Seminario Oficial CrossFit Weightlifting – 7 y 8 de junio en Madrid"
Just got to college, I'm a little different, I do not care.
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Whatta beautiful life to celebrate. Papa John Demboski is now a member of the 70 year old club, although he has the energy level and imagination of a 7 year old boy. We had a beautiful surprise birthday party celebrating this man, complete with 4 Big Rs to cook 4 different meats. His brother and sister surprised him with their presence as well. He was in absolute heaven having his whole family there to celebrate him.
No 70 year old birthday party weekend would be complete without a giant snow hill delivered and built before breakfast. This provided hours of enjoyment and entertainment for the little and big kids. The relatives thought it was humorous that we had to pay for and have snow shipped to us.
I love that my kids love their cousins so much. Watching them play all day together brings me such joy. Cousins are so important in a kid's life. They are pretty much their first friends and they get to be friends their whole lives. This weekend was so much fun and we were able to give Papa a great birthday gift. We finally told everyone that we are expecting a baby in just 5 months. We told the adults but we are still keeping it from the kids. Their innocent hearts need to remain innocent and we will protect them for as long as we can.
Needless to say this was the best gift we could have given to Papa. He was thrilled with the news and since I am showing a lot, I am not sure if it was a big surprise, but I think everyone (especially me) felt relieved to have the news out.
I have been watching Baby Katelyn now for close to 5 months now and she has brought so much joy to our days. Becky drops her off at 5:45 every morning and she sleeps until I have to take the big kids to school. She enjoys the ride to school in the stroller with Ashley and then has a big breakfast when we get back. She likes to scoot around on her tummy and pull the books off of the book shelf until she is ready for her morning nap. Ashley has enjoyed having a little playmate. They don't exactly play together yet, but I know they both enjoy each other's company.


Karen Burhans Laing, CEO and Executive Director, is a public health educator who has been helping people navigate the health care system for over 10 years. Karen started her career as a preschool special education teacher, and then went on to design training programs for Stride Rite and several churches. After 20 years in the workforce, Karen returned to the University of Albany to study public health. Her desire to see people live a healthier lifestyle led her to focus on Social Behavior and Community Health. Health Literacy became her passion when she realized that our medical system was crippled by the fact that 88% of Americans are not able to communicate well with their doctors or make good health decisions on a daily basis. Karen is now using her training and experience to develop programs that are accessible to individuals with a wide range of learning styles and educational levels. In addition to her training, Karen lives in Schenectady with her 4 kids.
Alyssa Plock is an Emmy-nominated storyteller and Principal of Alma Pictures, LLC. Her volunteer work has included teaching classes on publishing and church engagement, and poverty alleviation in the city of Schenectady.
Nancie Orsini is the CEO of NLO Computer Talk. She has experience in Computer Programming, IT, Database Administration, Report Writing, Technical Sales and Engineering Support. Her specialty is in analyzing the needs of an organization, drawing on designs and structures of modern technology, to proficiently utilize software and its maximum potential for optimum data integrity and end user ease of use. She has a degree in Accounting from the College of St. Rose and studied AS and Computer Science at Junior College of Albany. Nancie and her husband, Dan, have three children.
Gary M. Spadaro is the owner of Dynamic Dental Management, Inc., and is serving his third term on the Board of Education. After graduating from Mohonasen High School, he went on to receive a degree in Business Administration from Herkimer County Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management from Siena College. He also attended the Division of Prosthodontics School Dentistry at the University of Michigan and the Leadership Management Institute. He serves on several boards, foundations and other community organizations, including the Mohonasen Foundation for Excellence, Inc., the Bradt Principal Advisory Committee, The Rotterdam Elks, the Rotterdam Business Association, the National Association of Dental Labs, the Pinewood Playground Committee and the PTO. Gary and his wife, Holly, have two children.
Loretta Rigney is a Regional Leader with Primerica Financial Services who helps families become properly protected, debt free, and financially independent. A former Chamber of Commerce Executive in Southern Saratoga County, she has a particular passion for helping small business owners and their employees reach their financial goals. She is also the founder and ministry leader of Capital Region Kingdom Builders, a networking group for Christian business owners, professionals, and job seekers. With a background in marketing, public relations, social media, and event planning, she is often asked to share her expertise to assist with the planning of community and church events. Loretta resides in Scotia, New York, with her husband and daughter.
Chuck Pettinato is National Board Certified Coach. He is also a credentialed member of the International Coaching Federation and received his certification from the Coach Training Alliance. He specializes in leadership development, organizational change, organizational health, team building, and employee engagement and is a Certified Wellness Facilitator focusing on organizational health. He is a consultant to organizations and churches seeking positive organizational change and is a an experienced and successful workshop presenter. He also is a New York State Certified Teacher who has had a successful career teaching university and high school level psychology and history. He received his BA at Le Moyne College and MA from The State University of New York at Albany. Chuck has spent a lifetime motivating groups and individuals to reach and share their potential to lead by adding value to others.
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text:
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII:
Pseudo-Clementine Literature.: Chapter XXI
Chapter XXI.—A Black Catalogue.
"Thus much of his incests; I shall now speak of his adulteries. He defiled Europa, the wife of Oceanus, of whom was born Dodonæus; Helen, the wife of Pandion, of whom Musæus; Eurynome, the wife of Asopus, of whom Ogygias; Hermione, the wife of Oceanus, of whom the Graces, Thalia, Euphrosyne, Aglaia; Themis, his own sister, of whom the Hours, Eurynomia, Dice, Irene; Themisto, the daughter of Inachus, of whom Arcas; Idæa, the daughter of Minos, of whom Asterion; Phœnissa, the daughter of Alphion, of whom Endymion; Io, the daughter of Inachus, of whom Epaphus; Hippodamia and Isione, daughters of Danaus, of whom Hippodamia was the wife of Olenus, and Isione of Orchomenus or Chryses; Carme, the daughter of Phœnix, of whom was born Britomartis, who was an attendant of Diana; Callisto, the daughter of Lycaon, of whom Orcas; Lybee, the daughter of Munantius, of whom Belus; Latona, of whom Apollo and Diana; Leandia, the daughter of Eurymedon, of whom Coron; Lysithea, the daughter of Evenus, of whom Helenus; Hippodamia, the daughter of Bellerophon, of whom Sarpedon; Megaclite, the daughter of Macarius, of whom Thebe and Locrus; Niobe, the daughter of Phoroneus, of whom Argus and Pelasgus; Olympias, the daughter of Neoptolemus, of whom Alexander; Pyrrha, the daughter of Prometheus, of whom Helmetheus; Protogenia and Pandora, daughters of Deucalion, of whom he begot Æthelius, and Dorus, and Melera, and Pandorus; Thaicrucia, the daughter of Proteus, of whom was born Nympheus; Salamis, the daughter of Asopus, of whom Saracon; Taygete, Electra, Maia, Plutide, daughters of Atlas, of whom respectively he begot Lacedæmon, Dardanus, Mercury, and Tantalus; Phthia, the daughter of Phoroneus, of whom he begot Achæus; Chonia, the daughter of Aramnus, of whom he begot Lacon; Chalcea, a nymph, of whom was born Olympus; Charidia, a nymph, of whom Alcanus; Chloris, who was the wife of Ampycus, of whom Mopsus was born; Cotonia, the daughter of Lesbus, of whom Polymedes; Hippodamia, the daughter of Anicetus; Chrysogenia, the daughter of Peneus, of whom was born Thissæus.
Next: Chapter XXII


text:
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Julie Alexander is a stay at home mother, who has taken a hobby of photography and turned it into a passion. She has also started to explore the ever expanding world of digital creation using Photoshop Elements and Bryce.
Julie is discovering quickly that nature photography is her strongest suit. She loves to find beauty in the smallest of things. Weather it be an insect or part of a flower, Julie believes that there are beautiful things everywhere. "We just need to train our eyes to look at the world in a different light!" Animals of any kind are also a favorite challenge for her, because they are forever in motion.
Julie has been taking photographs for a better part of her adult life (over 10 years). She feels that since the beginning of her photographic journey was film based ~ where it was impossible to take 500 shots of a subject~ her eye has developed to see the essential details needed to make a beautiful photograph.
Please do not use any of my images without my written consent. Failure to comply will result in legal action.
Please leave me a few comments so that I might improve my skills, if you see things that could be improved upon, don't be shy, I can handle it!!
Thank you and enjoy your stay..
SOME OF MY WORK THAT HAS SOLD…..
Thank you to the mystery buyer who purchased my tee shirt Think! I just loaded it yesterday and already a sale! I am over the moon about this, thank you again!!!


The colouring book 'My Nicosia Mandala' depicts a series of 11 'mandalas' set within the framework of the walls of the old city of Nicosia, in black and white, for the entertainment of both children and adults.
Considered as a practical example of an 'ideal city', the remaining venetian fortifications of Nicosia still pay tribute to a concept that was visually based on grids and other geometrical patterns that encouraged moral, spiritual and lawful qualities of citizenship.
A mandala, meaning 'circle' in Sanskrit, has a concentric structure which offers balancing visual elements that symbolise unity and harmony; each mandala having its own, unique meaning. Encompassing the circular shape of the mandala within the outline of the ancient walls of Nicosia and its 11 bastions was a visually natural reaction.
Seeking to create 'Nicosian' mandalas, Melissa Hekkers almost effortlessly began photographing elements on both sides of the divided city in order to create 11 mandalas, each representing one of the bastions of our capital. The metal work on windows and doors, the stone work of buildings and churches, the floor patterns within traditional houses, the metal street lights and the balconies within the walls of Nicosia are the inspiration behind the mandalas one will find within the pages of this book.
The process of colouring, both for adults and children, has recently been deemed as a healing one; an act where one remains focused and in the process is soothed and nourished, an idea the author felt was suiting for a multiethnic city which, just like mandalas, requires unity and harmony in order to peacefully work as one entity.
"Creating these mandalas, looking deeper into the details of Nicosia and embracing the city as a whole has been a journey I thoroughly enjoyed," says author Melissa Hekkers.


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Biography of Dorothée de Montgolfier
Dorothée de Montgolfier is currently Group Director of Marketing and Communications at Quarto Group - View - Quarto Group org chart
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ZHONGSHAN, China — Among the carp ponds, duck farms and moldering plywood huts that have long lined the bank of a Pearl River estuary here, a most incongruous newcomer has appeared: a long, towering shed for building very large luxury yachts, a product that has no market in mainland China.
Lion dancers bobbed and weaved as strings of firecrackers sizzled and boomed on July 3 at the official opening of the yacht factory — an emblem of how China is shifting its sights upmarket. Having mastered the manufacture of many inexpensive goods for mass consumption here and abroad, the country is getting into luxury goods, the kinds coveted by the world's most demanding buyers. China's competitive advantage is that it is doing this at lower cost.
Increasingly expensive brands of shoes, clothing and furniture are being made in this country, mostly for domestic consumption but sometimes for export. BMW has begun assembling some of its latest models in China for sale here, and Mercedes and Cadillac are preparing to do the same.
With yachts, though, China is braving a market where it has little recent experience or demand at home.
The economic boom has certainly created plenty of fortunes big enough to afford yachts. But they have never caught on among rich Chinese, who, unlike the boating set in the West, tend to keep their consumption as inconspicuous as possible. And no wonder, considering how widespread tax evasion and dubious dealings are here: few people want their lifestyles to attract official attention.
Potential buyers at Kingship Marine's Zhongshan, China, yacht factory.
"You can gamble away $5 million a night, but don't buy something for $5 million and let people know about it," said Roger Liang, the Hong Kong hotel and real estate developer who is the owner and managing director of Kingship Marine, the company that built and runs the yacht factory here.
Besides, China is no one's idea of a yacht-friendly place. The country imposes tight restrictions on pleasure boating along its seacoast, because of concerns regarding Taiwan, and on its rivers, because of heavy barge traffic. That leaves most boaters confined to lakes inland, which are mostly too small and shallow for large powerboats.
Mechanics who are able to repair modern boat engines are scarce. And, in a country once known for its graceful sail-powered junks, so few people now have even a rudimentary knowledge of sailing that selling sailboats in China would be a hopeless exercise, several boating executives said.
Mr. Liang predicted that it would be 10 years before there would be a market in China for the 33-meter (108-foot) yachts that Kingship is building to order in Zhongshan. And it could be even longer before there is a domestic market for a 75-meter (246-foot) yacht like the one that the company is negotiating to build for a foreign buyer.
So, like Cheoy Lee Shipyards of Hong Kong, which owns a shipyard a few miles downstream in Zhuhai that makes mostly commercial vessels but also the occasional pleasure craft, Kingship Marine is angling for export sales.
Its first yacht has already been sold to a European buyer, said Dennis Yong, the sales and marketing director, and the company is close to a deal for a second. Both yachts were started last fall and now stand half-finished in the boatyard, their red steel hulls and dull gray aluminum cabins still in need of outfitting and paint.
Kingship is trying to sell on price, undercutting the Italian, Dutch and American shipbuilders that dominate the luxury boat trade.
"What would normally be a $10 million boat is $7 million," said Dean Leigh-Smith, executive manager of the Gold Coast City Marina near Brisbane, Australia. The saving, he said, is "a lot of money in anyone's language."
Mr. Leigh-Smith's marina, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, has 20 to 25 potential customers for Kingship yachts lined up. The marina has already sold 15 smaller boats — of 40 to 60 feet — made in China, at a Shanghai boatyard, and found the quality generally acceptable despite some initial problems with curtains, carpets, cleats and handrails.
"We've had our small dramas with them, quality control," Mr. Leigh-Smith said. But, he added, "Every time we've gone to the factory and said 'we're not happy with this,' they've rectified it."
As is often the case with manufacturing in China, Kingship is entering the yacht market with a lot of help from abroad. Mr. Liang is financing and directing the project from Hong Kong. He brought in Mr. Yong from Singapore. Prominent American and Dutch designers drew up the blueprints for Kingship's yachts.
After starting construction of the first yacht with Chinese steel and finding it tough to get plates in the right sizes and shapes, Kingship is assembling the second one from imported steel plates, and plans to do the same with three more. The plates are forged in the Netherlands by Corus, a big European steel maker, and then cut and bent to shape there by Multi Metaal before being shipped here in containers for assembly.
The engines are imported from a Caterpillar factory in Illinois, though two representatives of a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary in southern Germany showed up at the opening ceremony to promote their engines for future yachts.
The generators come from Alaska Diesel Electric in Seattle. The interior lighting systems and the fabric for the upholstered chairs are also imported from the United States. So are the hinges for the shower doors. While the frosted glass is made locally, the hinges still have to be imported to make sure that the doors will open and close just right, said Olivia Liu, Kingship's interior decorator.
Kingship executives say they still have a competitive advantage because they are close to Chinese factories that increasingly dominate the world in the production of many materials, and the quality of local products is improving. They plan to start buying Chinese steel plates now that Corus and Multi Metaal have generated detailed computer data on the sizes and shapes needed.
Most important, Kingship has cheap labor that more than makes up for the extra shipping costs on imported parts. Security guards, who make up about a tenth of the 200-person labor force, earn $120 a month, Mr. Yong said.
Specialty skilled workers, like welders certified to international marine standards, can earn as much as $600 a month, a handsome salary in this country even if it is considerably less than a European marine welder makes in a week.
All workers live at the site in high-ceiling concrete barracks that, while spartan and crowded, are a big improvement over the huts nearby. Employees now sleep four to a room, though there are plans for eight to a room on bunk beds once the factory has a full order book and the work force has expanded to 500 people assembling seven vessels at a time.
Having the workers live on site helps when a yacht has to be refitted. They can work in shifts around the clock, day and night, to make sure that a vessel is ready in time for the summer or winter cruising season, Mr. Yong said.
"They want to earn more instead of idling around," he said, adding that the workers, mostly from elsewhere in China, did not have their families with them — a common practice in the country — and had little else to do. The company sent the workers away from the factory and barracks during the opening ceremony.
Western boat manufacturers say that the reliance here on imported parts, combined with a lack of local experience in assembling boats, means that they have little to fear. China's industry, they say, is too far behind to catch up quickly. The quality of smaller boats already on the market from Chinese manufacturers "is still very poor," said Jeffrey Seah, general manager for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Mercury Marine, one of the world's largest boat-engine makers and a division of the Brunswick Corporation of Lake Forest, Ill.
"Chinese technology for boat building is 20 years behind," added Mr. Seah, whose company's China operation sells and distributes engines and operates a marina, hoping to interest more Chinese in leisure boating.
Lau Wai Keung, a marine engine specialist from China Engineers in Hong Kong who is helping Kingship install its Caterpillar engines, said that engines made in China were nowhere close to being competitive for use in yachts. A Chinese boat engine with the same horsepower as an American engine is 40 percent heavier and much bulkier, he said. That would mean a slower boat with a less roomy interior.
Foreign producers' confidence might seem misplaced, given China's growing export success with many other products, including high technology like notebook computers. Yet in the yacht market, Chinese manufacturers will not have the immediate feedback from local customers that their colleagues in other industries get for products with domestic sales.
A market has emerged for smaller vessels and marinas to hold them, and people who like the 40-footers might someday want the yachts being built by Kingship and Cheoy Lee.
The China Jin Mao Group, a big property developer, has opened a boat club with a marina on the Huangpu River in Shanghai. The marina has five powerboats, up to 46 feet long and counted as commercial vessels, that can be chartered by the 1,800 club members, said Hu Yubo, the assistant general manager. Waiting lists to use the boats have the club planning to buy more.
The few, determined owners of the country's large powerboats sometimes fly in mechanics from Hong Kong and even Europe. And the mechanics must cope with a shortage of docks where yachts can be lifted out of the water.
Bart J. Kimman, a yacht broker with Simpson Marine, Asia's largest yacht brokerage company, says he discourages mainland Chinese tycoons from buying yachts unless they plan to keep them in Hong Kong, as a few have, even though regulations make it almost impossible to sail Hong Kong boats into mainland China waters.
But Mr. Liang, after more than two decades as a big investor on the mainland, is not entirely sorry that he will have to stick to exports. He would rather not show his yachts to too many mainlanders.
"If you sell something well, someone will copy you," he said. "It happens right away."


text:
layout: btwb
title: ! 'WOD #417'
workouts:
- ! 'Lifting: Snatch Grip Deadlifts and Power Snatches'
- ! 'AMRAP 10 mins: Power Snatches, Lateral Burpee (Over Barbell)s and Box Jumps'
results:
- 1210 lbs | 115 lbs, 115 lbs, 115 lbs, 115 lbs, 125 lbs, 125 lbs, 125 lbs, 125 lbs,
  125 lbs, and 125 lbs
- 4 rounds + 5 Power Snatches + 2 Lateral Burpee (Over Barbell)s | 91 reps
tags:
- wod
- btwb
- amrap 10 mins
- power snatches
- lateral burpee (over barbell)s
- box jumps
- lifting
- snatch grip deadlifts
- power snatches
notes: []
---

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub