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International Journal of Nanoparticles
These articles have been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication but are pending final changes, are not yet published and may not appear here in their final order of publication until they are assigned to issues. Therefore, the content conforms to our standards but the presentation (e.g. typesetting and proof-reading) is not necessarily up to the Inderscience standard. Additionally, titles, authors, abstracts and keywords may change before publication. Articles will not be published until the final proofs are validated by their authors.
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International Journal of Nanoparticles (9 papers in press)
Synthesis, characterization and spectral studies of surfactant (PVP, CTAB, and SDS) based ultrafine Ir-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles
by Anjali Goel, Pooja
Abstract: In this study, ultrafine bimetallic nanoparticles of Ir and Cu have been synthesized by chemical reduction method. The effect of stabilizer on the particle size of Ir-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles was investigated. The resultant particles nature, size, surface morphology and elemental composition were computed through the course of XRD, TEM and Field-emission electron microscopy (FE-SEM) respectively. CTAB, SDS and PVP were used to study the effect of cationic, anionic and nonionic surfactant on the particle size and their stability. We found ultimate results with PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) in performance as size regulator as well as particle stabilizing agent rather than CTAB and SDS. XRD results show that, the bimetallic nanoparticles are small in size, less dispersed, amorphous in nature and polygonal in shape. The approximate size of PVP, CTAB & SDS supported particles is 1.32, 8.0, 11.6 nm respectively as calculated by TEM monographs. From EDX data it can be revealed that they are core - shell, with copper core and iridium shell. The XPS results of Ir-Cu/PVP-BMNPs show a deconvulated peak at 59.77 and 62.62 eV binding energy devoted to Ir(0) 4f7/2 and Ir(0) 4f5/2 respectively. The peak at 931.17 eV is the distinctive features of the Cu2p3/2 signal for Cu (0). In BMNPs carbon also recognized with a virtually stable ratio from the surface to the core, and with a C1s binding energy of 282.5eV.
Keywords: Keywords: Bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs); PVP; SDS; CTAB.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2021.10034842
Types of nanomaterials in the food packaging: A review
by Kambiz Sadeghi, Mohammad Shahedi, Mohammadali Najafi, Amireh Sadeghi, Mohsen Shirani
Abstract: The advent of nanotechnology has provided remarkable methods for fabricating advanced materials. As such, packaging nanocomposite as one of the research hotspots in the nano-sized science, tends to extend shelf life of fresh food items. Active and intelligent packaging are two great achievements of nanotechnology in which organic and inorganic nanoparticles have showed great effects on the packaging matrix. In particular, nanosensor as an emerging technology can convert data from food items into intelligible signals to communicate with consumers. The objectives of this study are aligned with investigation of various nanostructures commonly used in the packaging industry, and providing an overview of their effects on the packaging performance. This review also elaborates human and environmental safety concerns regarding the application of nanoparticles, and identifies the legislation that has been recently launched.
Keywords: Nanomaterials; food packaging; Nanosensors; Safety concerns.
Investigation of DC Performance of Ge-Source Pocket Silicon-on-Insulator Tunnel Field Effect Transistor in Nano Regime
by Sanjeet Kumar Sinha, Sweta Chander
Abstract: As devices are scaled down in nano regime the steepest sub-threshold swing becomes the most desirable characteristics for the improvement of the performance of devices. To address this issue, Tunnel Field Effect Transistor is one of the promising candidates for replacing conventional MOS device. This paper investigates the impact of source pocket on switching behavior of n-type Ge-source SOI-TFET and shows improvements in the device performance in terms of SS, ION, IOFF and ION/IOFF. The proposed device is compared with the homo-junction SOI-TFET. The improved electrical characteristics of device are analyzed on the basis of simulation results and justify by the theoretical concept. The device offers the steepest SS of 11mV/decade, higher ION of 120
Keywords: Tunnel Field Effect Transistor; Heterojunction; Homojunction; Subthreshold swing;SOI-TFET.
ANTICANDIDAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SILVER AND GOLD NANOPARTICLES BIOSYNTHESISED USING MATURED ARECA NUT HUSK EXTRACT
by Bhavana Pradeep, Priyanaka Hemba, Anusha Kunnathuli Jagadeesh, Chaitra Ganappa Ramakkanavar, Sneha Nayak, Chandrayan Vaman Rao
Abstract: The present work focuses on biosynthesis of silver as well as gold nanoparticles using matured Areca catechu (Areca nut) husk extract and study on their functional properties. Change in the colour of the extract from pale-yellow to orange and purple, surface plasmon resonance in the region of 400-450 nm and 500-550 nm, respectively indicated the formation of silver and gold nanoparticles. When subjected to anticandidal test, it was found that the nanoparticles could inhibit the growth of Candida albicans, where an inhibition zone of 9 mm and 6 mm was observed for silver and gold nanoparticles, respectively. It was found that silver and gold nanoparticles exhibit better antioxidant capacity than the husk extract. These antioxidant properties of nanoparticles can be used in the production of various pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Using this approach, areca nut husk can be put into good use, which otherwise, is treated as waste.
Keywords: Anticandidal activity; antioxidant activity; biosynthesis; Candida albicans; gold nanoparticles; matured areca nut husk extract; particle size distribution; phytochemicals; silver nanoparticles; zeta potential.
Synthesis And Characterization Of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles And Its Antimicrobial Activity Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Micrococcus
by Gagandeep Kaur, Sonica Sondhi, Palki Sahib Kaur, Anjoo Kamboj, Shalini Verma
Abstract: A detailed analysis of synthesis and characterization of Zinc oxide(ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) with a motive of demonstrating the effect of of ZnO on its antibacterial effect is reported herein. A rapid synthesis method of highly dispersed zinc oxide nanoparticles by using zinc acetate dihydrate and ammonium carbonate as a precursor and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a capping agent is presented in this study. The results of characterization techniques like ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, zeta potential and particle size analyzer confirmed ZnO NPs of better quality and of uniform sized. Further, the ZnO NPs revealed promising inhibitory activity against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus.
Keywords: Synthesis; Nanoparticles; Zinc oxide; Microbial activity,Spectroscopy; zeta potential; particle size analyzer; S. aureus; Micrococcus; Characterization; Zone of Inhibition.
Performance Assessment of Double Gate Graded Junction-Less-FET Device with Temperature Variations
by Sanjeet Kumar Sinha
Abstract: This paper reports a simulation-based study of double gate graded channel junctionless metal field effect transistor (MOSFET) incorporating the effects of doping engineering. The proposed device has been optimized to study the effect of temperature on the device characteristics such as surface potential, transfer characteristics, ION/IOFF ratio and, threshold voltage. To justify the enhanced performance of the Graded Double Gate Junctionless (DG-JL) FET, it is compared with non-graded DG-JL-FET. To design and optimize the device, the simulation as a tool take part in understanding of basic physics.The Graded DG-JL-FET have better performance over the conventional DG-JL-FET, in terms of ION/IOFF ratio. The temperature effects on various parameters for 1:3 graded structure is obtained and compared with conventional non-graded structure. The shift in potential towards one side and deeper in case of graded structures, IOFF current reduced significantly without affecting ION current. The threshold voltage roll-off with temperature is found slower in Graded structure than that in Conventional non-graded structure.In this work, Visual TCAD a simulation tool is used to simulate the electrical characteristics of the proposed device.
Keywords: MOSFET; TFET; Temperature; junctionless.
Heavy metal removal from polluted water by Nopal cactus biopolymer based magnetic nanocomposites
by Nghia Bui, Loan Duong, Thach Nguyen, Ngoc Tran
Abstract: In present study, Nopal cactus biopolymer based magnetic nanocomposites were generated by a two-step process in which cobalt superparamagnetic (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles were firstly synthesized following a co-precipitation method with the aid of surfactants. Then, the composite materials with the nanoparticles dispersed in the matrix of biopolymer, which was extracted from Nopal cactus, were achieved with the support of ultrasonication. The obtained black nanocomposites were fully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The nanocomposites as novel nano-adsorbents were used for removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. In addition, the nanocomposites were strongly attracted by permanent magnet due to superparamagnetism, making it easy to completely isolate them from water and exhibiting good reusability
Keywords: heavy metal; polluted water; nanocomposites; magnetic; Nopal cactus; biopolymer; CoFe2O4 nanoparticles; superparamagnetism; nano-adsorbents.
OPTIMIZATION OF PCL-HA LADEN BIODEGRADABLE NANOPARTICLES CONTAINING CYCLOSPORINE-A FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY EYE SYNDROME: IN VITRO-IN VIVO EVALUATION
by Ishrat Chhowala, ASHABEN SHANKARBHAI PATEL, Rakesh Patel, Vashishth Bhavsar, Abhay Dharamsi
Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to develop hyaluronic acid-laden biodegradable nanoparticles containing cyclosporine-A and sustained the release for ophthalmic delivery. The nanoparticles were prepared by solvent diffusion technique followed lyophilisation. Optimization of product variables for nanoparticles were done by Central Composite Design (CCD) with particle size and entrapment efficiency as chosen responses The developed formulation consisting 1.18% Polycaprolactone and 0.16% hyaluronic acid showed 376.6 nm, -0.438
Keywords: Dry Eye Syndrome; Cyclosporine-A; Hyaluronic acid; Biodegradable nanoparticles; Lyophillization; in vivo pharmacokinetic study.
Quantum dot solar cell: an emerging nanomaterial-based device in the solar Industry
by Sweta Sharma, Soaib Khan, Yogesh Kumar, Rajeev Ranjan
Abstract: The worldwide energy is on the cusp of monstrous alter, driven by an unquenchable request and an increasing mindfulness of the constrained supply and corrupting environment of fossil fuels. More intensive research has been conducted around the world to get different economical energy arrangements. Quantum dot manufactured sun powered cell is the innovation for long run which can give required efficiency to run the solar industry facing with various challenges underneath silicon photovoltaic cell. Quantum dot cells are most flexible frame of renewable vitality since of its unique properties for producing power, warming as well as desalinating water. QDs have bandgaps which are flexible over a wide range of energy levels by changing the dot size. Semiconductor QDs, due to their quantum-based properties, give a modern pathway for controlling energy stream. In this manner, they have the tremendous potential to upgrade the efficiency of solar photovoltaic cells. In this mini review paper, we have collectively summarized the advancements of Quantum dot solar cell. We are foreseeing that this review will certainly help the researchers for more serious examination of investigations of the nanomaterial in various innovative ranges.rnrn
Keywords: Quantum dot solar cells; semiconductor nanoparticle; QD; Photovoltaic cell; bandgap.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Speech and Debate prepares for events
Chris DeLong and Riker Lawrence, Staff Writers|March 4, 2013
Speechies, debators, forensics and many more terms are part of the Speech and Debate team.
"I've competed at the varsity level and I have competed at the district level. And then in metro finals, which is like the regional competition for debate here in Northern Virginia," senior Kyle Paget said.
The team is divided up into two groups, the speechies and the debators. The speechies are the students who compete in events where they have to spontaneously write a speech and present it in a short amount of time. The debators have debates against other students about real world issues and try to come up with a way to solve them.
"We practice by listening to each other's speeches and other various things. We watch them and give them feedback. We get better by practicing this way," senior speechie Andrew Lewis, said.
On February 13, the speechies competed in the Regional Forensics tournament. Each year the team has advanced to Regionals, States and even Nationals.
"I think we did well. Even though we may not have exceeded the expectations that we have, we worked really hard to get where we were," senior Stephanie Nguyen said.
Many people confuse the word "forensics" with crime scene investigation and television shows, said teams coach Jennifer Fulton. According to her, forensics originally meant "like a reason to argument and presentation."
The speechies competed in four categories, accros which there were six competitors. The debate team on the other hand competes in many one-on-one and two-on-two competitions.
The debate team practices after school on Thursdays where they often participate in mock debates, where one person will read the topic and others listen in and debate about it. They compete every month or two according to Fulton.
"It is not very fun, not very fun to come after school to do this and on Saturdays to get up early. But it is very rewarding when you go home on a Saturday night and you know that you have gotten a lot better at speaking and that you have really furthered yourself academically," said Paget.
There are a few differences between the speechies and the debators. Speech events tend to be more creative, where as debate tends to be more serious about the issue given according to Fulton. For debate, competitioins are either is one-on-one or two-on-two and the one-on-ones compete every two months on a topic. For speech, there are many categories which can be competed in, including events such as Original Oratory, Impromptu or Storytelling.
The Speech and Debate team is different from the other teams and clubs here at the school. The sport requires a very different skill than most of the sports. It doesn't practice everyday like many sports, but still requires commitment and is still able to compete at a high school level.


Theory and diverse software packages for quantum chemistry and materials property calculations.
CFN scientists are experts in these advanced techniques, equipment, and approaches. Collaborating with our in-house experts is a resource available to Users for the benefit of their research; however, collaboration is not a requirement for access to the CFN facilities. All of our Facilities, Capabilities, Expertise, and Personnel are well integrated with each other, which can help you achieve your scientific goals, can help you cultivate new avenues of interest, or can assist you in maximizing your bottom line.
The Nanofabrication Facility is housed in a class 100/1000 clean room dedicated to state-of-the art patterning and processing of thin films, nanomaterials, and devices. The instrumentation in the facility has been optimized to provide maximum flexibility for its users, with capabilities to pattern a variety of materials over a wide range of size scales.
Flexible computational infrastructure and software tools are provided to support modeling and understanding of the structure and properties of nanostructured materials.
The CFN operates three end-stations at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) for nanomaterials characterization.
The Advanced Optical Spectroscopy & Microscopy Facility combines a broad range of optical instruments suitable for studies of optical properties of hard, soft or biological materials using ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopy, and single-molecule optical and confocal methods.
The Proximal Probes Facility consists of laboratories for microscopy, spectroscopy, and probing of nanostructured materials and their functional properties. At the core of the facility is a suite of instruments for in-situ microscopy of surfaces and nanostructures under extreme conditions, e.g., in reactive gases, and at high or low temperatures.
This facility consists of four top-of-the line transmission electron microscopes, two of which are highly specialized instruments capable of extreme levels of resolution, achieved through spherical aberration correction. The facility is also equipped with extensive sample-preparation capabilities.
This facility includes laboratories devoted to producing nanostructured materials and their basic structural, chemical and optical characterization. Capabilities include inorganic nanomaterials synthesis, polymers, bio-conjugated nanomaterials, and hybrid organic-inorganic materials.
The Nanoscale Science Research Center (NSRC) Program operates a system of five coordinated Centers located in U.S. Dept. of Energy national laboratories across the United States. Each Center contains laboratories for synthesis and nanofabrication, one-of-a-kind signature instruments, a suite of supporting instrumentation, and theory, modeling, and simulation expertise.
Prospective users are encouraged to explore the capabilities offered by the NSRC program.


Since 2014, U.S. shale oil has created a boom in domestic crude oil production. Shale oil comprises more than a third of the onshore production of crude oil in the lower 48 states. It drove U.S. oil output from 5.7 million barrels per day in 2011 to a record 11.6 million barrels a day in 2018.
As a result, the United States became the world's largest crude-oil producer, according to the Energy Information Administration. The U.S. oil industry has found the right balance. It's increased the supply slowly enough to maintain prices that pay for more exploration.
Thanks to shale oil production, U.S. reliance on foreign oil imports has plummeted. U.S. production meets 58 percent of 2017 domestic demand of 19.96 million barrels per day, according to the EIA. That's down from 45 percent in 2011 and a whopping 60 percent in 2005. The EIA projects foreign oil will only account for 34 percent of U.S. oil by 2019.
In November 2018, this increased supply sent U.S. oil prices into a bear market. The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate fell 20 percent from its October four-year high of $76.41 a barrel. Inventories rose to a five-month high of 432 million barrels.
Oil prices are volatile due to commodities traders. They trade oil futures contracts at an auction similar to the options market. That mentality can make them bid prices up during a shortage and bid them down during a surplus. The history of oil prices showed that in 2008. They created an asset bubble, driving prices up to $145 a barrel in July. By December, they had bid oil prices down to $35.59 a barrel. Commodities market trading was one of the reasons for the shale oil boom and bust.
Two factors drove the U.S. shale oil boom. First, oil prices averaged above $90 a barrel for three years, from 2011 to 2014. That was enough to allow shale exploration and production to be profitable.
Second, low-interest rates gave banks and private equity investors a strong incentive to lend to shale oil companies. The total amount of loans was almost $250 billion in 2014.
The sudden jump in oil production created an oversupply that sent prices plummeting. Prices for West Texas Crude fell from $106/barrel in June 2014 to $32/barrel in January 2016. That's almost as low as the bottom during the Great Recession. The price was $30.28 on December 23, 2008.
Shale oil producers kept drilling. They became better at cutting costs the more they drilled. Their bankers kept rolling over their debt as long as interest rates remained low. Many producers had previously sold their oil at higher prices on the futures market. That hedged their income. To maintain market share, OPEC also kept pumping oil. Normally, it would cut production as oil prices fell.
That situation could not continue for long. Banks used oil reserves as collateral. As oil prices fell, so did the value of the collateral. As a result, many drillers became "upside-down." The same thing happened to many homeowners during the subprime mortgage crisis. As a result, drillers didn't add rigs as fast as they previously did.
In December 2015, the Fed began raising interest rates. Lenders became less willing to roll over debt. As a result, many shale companies desperately pumped enough oil to make their monthly debt payments. They did this no matter how low prices got, even sacrificing profitability. Smaller companies, such as Sandridge Energy Inc., Energy XXI, and Halcón Resources, used 40 percent of revenue in 2015 to make monthly payments.
Eventually, low prices caught up with the industry. Many stopped drilling. In October 2015, about half were sitting idle. Dozens filed for bankruptcy, and 55,000 workers were laid off. On January 20, 2016, oil prices fell to a 13-year low of $26.55/b. But the EIA accurately predicted that oil prices would rise again in time.
The Bakken Field in North Dakota and Montana is the largest producing shale oil reserve. The field has layers of dense, oil-bearing rock about two miles underground. The field is roughly the size of West Virginia and, as of December 2012, produced 770,000 barrels of oil a day. Although production started to take off in 2006, levels doubled by 2014. Horizontal wells provide 95 percent of production.
As a result, North Dakota extracts more oil than Alaska. It's closing in on the 2 million barrels a day produced by Texas. In 20 years, its number of wells could increase from the current 8,000 to at least 40,000. Part of the reason for expansion is that each well runs dry after about two years. Oil is trapped in pockets that don't hold as much oil as traditional wells. But in total, the field could contain almost 4 billion barrels of shale oil.
As of 2011, the Eagle Ford field in Texas produced 750,000 barrels/day, almost all from horizontal wells. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are 853 million barrels in undiscovered reserves. Drillers are searching for both oil and natural gas.
The Utica field in Ohio has anywhere from 1.3 and 5.5 billion barrels of oil. Ohio is currently producing 5 million barrels of oil a year. So far, the oil reserve is still being explored.
The largest U.S. reserve is the Monterey Shale formation near Bakersfield, California. It has four times the oil as the Bakken Field in North Dakota. Its 1,750-square-mile area contains 15.4 billion barrels of oil. It's about two-thirds of the nation's total shale reserves.
But the California shale oil is much more difficult to extract than the Bakken. Its geological formation requires more intensive fracking and deeper horizontal drilling. That's a concern in a state that lies on the San Andreas fault. It already gets more than its fair share of earthquakes. As a result, environmental groups are adamantly opposed.
Will Kerogen Make America an Oil-Exporting Nation?
What's the "Right Price" for Oil?
Is U.S. Nuclear Power the Answer to Climate Change?


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Silent City Distro
Among the piles of snow here in the Southern Tier of the Finger Lakes Region, we're planning and plotting around wood stoves and howling teapots. There's so much to think about during these contemplative indoor months, and Silent City Distro has been laying low. No big events, no freeskool classes. But we've been reading and listening and soaking in so much. With some new perspectives and ideas emerging from conversations, we've begun planning some events and working some stuff out. It's hard to organize as a "distro." What is the function of a distro? It's a vital piece of movement infrastructure. But without movement, without a campaign, a distro is simply a resource without a reason.
We exist to nourish a movement; to provide resources; to provide a space for connection and the tools for DIY media and outreach. And here in Upstate New York, the movement is growing each day. The resistance to gas development is on our mind. Nurturing this movement is of vital importance.
That's why we're going to shift our focus. In the coming months, you can expect events and publications with a focus on issues in Upstate New York. And with the coming spring, you can expect an upswell of anarchist activity in this region. We'll see you at the upcoming bookfairs, and we'll see you in the streets.


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Cara Walls
Cara Walls has had one of the most successful soccer careers in the history of Wisconsin youth and college soccer. As a U18 youth player, Cara played a key part in helping her team win Wisconsin's only youth national championship in 2011, where she also won the "Golden Boot" for being the leading scorer in the event and was named to the National Championship's "First Eleven" as one of the best eleven players. Her honors continued in college at the University of Wisconsin, where as a senior in 2014 she helped Wisconsin win the Big Ten Tournament Championship and was named to the 2014 All-Big Ten First Team, one of fewer than 20 Badgers ever to earn this honor. It was one of many honors in her career at Wisconsin:
2014 First Team All-Big Ten
2014 All-Big Ten Tournament Team
2012 Second Team All-Big Ten
2012 UW Offensive Player of the Year
2011 Big Ten All-Freshman Team
2011 Big Ten Player of the Week (3 times)
How would you describe your club experience?
"I will always look back at my club soccer years as one of the most fun times of my life. Club was a really good learning and growing period for me, and a time that prepared me to compete and succeed at one of the highest levels of women's soccer. Although high-level club soccer can be overwhelming at times, the enormous improvements I made in soccer combined with all the memories created while traveling the country with my friends, made the occassional stress more than worth it! "
How did you pick the University of Wisconsin as the place you wanted to go to school and play soccer?
"After leaving my club team where we competed against the best players in the country, I knew I wanted to go to a school that would put me in a position to do the same. I thought Wisconsin was a great place to challenge myself against top college teams and players, and still be able to receive a great education. Also, at the time I really wanted to play with Laurie Nosbusch, who I grew up watching as she also played for my club. Growing up I always admired her and thought she was an amazing player, so my final decision came down to (partially) getting to play with Laurie for a year." (To read a similar interview with club alum Laurie Nosbusch, click here!)
How did the training and competition you had as a youth player help prepare you for collegiate success?
"Especially lookin back, it is easy to say that the training and competition I had at the club level was some of the best in the country. It was crucial to my development because it exposed me to a very high level of soccer and showed me what the best players and teams were doing to be successful. It also made me familiar with different styles of play, helped me to understand and read the game, and technically made me better everyday. When I got to college, it was very clear to see which girls didn't come from a high level of club soccer - those players didn't understand patterns and the timing behind them, their technique couldn't keep up with the higher speed of play, and they had trouble reading the game and simply identifying the right pass. When I realized how easy it was to identify these players, it made me very thankful for my club experience. The high pace we practiced at in club and the constant demand for being at your best is crucial at that stage of development, and not something you see everywhere."
What are your favorite memories of playing in club?
"My favorite memory from club soccer was the summer of my final (U18) year, and specifically the practices leading up to the national championships. After my team won regionals and set our sights on nationals, we buckled down even more and really focused during training. I can think back to those practices when we were the only team in the club out there practicing in July; I picture us doing patterns to goal and I can remember something clicking in my head and I thought, "Wow we look really sharp and focused ... we really are one of the best teams in the country". Just knowing we were one of four youth teams in the country still training and getting better at that time of the year was a special feeling. Although those couple weeks of training were a little rough, (doing fitness in jackets to prepare for Arizona heat), I also remember them being so fun in a weird way, with popsicles after fitness, more time to joke and spend extra time with my teammates. Obviously going to the National Championships in Arizona, staying at a beautiful hotel, and winning a National Championship was amazing in itself, but the excitement and preparation in those weeks leading up to winning the National Championship will always have a special place in my heart."
How do you think your soccer career (youth and college) helped you most?
"The biggest thing playing soccer has done for me is give me confidence in myself as a person. Being forced to push through difficult fitness, find energy in the final minutes of games, and learning to be a good leader and teammate are all things I found I am capable of doing through soccer. It's easy and generic for people to tell you, "You can do anything! So believe in yourself", and you might even nod your head and pretend to agree. But once you're in the position where you physically push through those barriers and come out successful, those words take on a whole new meaning that carry over into all other areas of your life. So aside from meeting some of my best friends, getting a great education and doing what I love, I encourage girls to play soccer because it is extremely empowering. It can help you realize how strong you are capable of being, and more importantly will help you realize how conquerable fear and limitations really are."
You earned All-Big 10 First Team Honors this year, an honor fewer than 20 Badgers in history have received. What does that mean to you?
"Winning that award was a really good feeling. It felt good personally because to me it said that throughout my four years at Wisconsin I continued to get better, instead of slowly declining like a lot of players tend to do. More importantly, it was satisfying because it was a positive representation of my teammates, coaches and program. We had three girls in total on the Big 10 First Team, which I think was the first time in program history. That is a tribute to our team and how hard we worked to change the program, and I was just grateful to be one of the players to represent that, because we had a lot of very worthy recipients."
You helped Wisconsin win the Big Ten Tournament Championship this year. What was that experience like?
"That was also a really amazing experience. Similar to my club experience it was really good to finish my career on a winning note. In college it was extra special because of how poorly my team had done the previous year. My junior year we had all the same personnel except for one starter, so after finishing in the bottom of the Big Ten and losing the first round of the conference tournament we were really upset because we knew we had the talent but something just wasn't clicking. That November, in the first meeting after that disappointing season we made winning a Big Ten championship our goal for next season. We talked about it almost everyday throughout spring. We changed everything about our program, fitness, practices and coaching procedures all got a lot stricter, but it was necessary. So to accomplish that was a big deal for our team; we wanted to prove that we could achieve our goal, and for the seniors it was an amazing feeling to be able to leave the program in a better place than previous years."
What is the best piece of advice you wish someone had given you while you were a youth soccer player?
"I wish someone would have stressed how important your time as a youth soccer player is for your personal and technical development - it really is the pinnacle time for development. This may seem obvious, but sometimes as a kid all you focus on is winning games, getting to practice, not getting yelled at or not being late, instead of going in everyday and really trying to step outside your comfort zone to get better. Club soccer is the time to try new things and push yourself to the next level, because once you get older you'll see that there is a kind of learning block for certain skills, and once that time is past it is very difficult to learn new things. So I would say everyday at practice try something new because even if you think you can't do them, now is literally the best time for you to learn!"
When you look at FC Wisconsin Eclipse now, what do you think about?
"I think about a high level of club soccer and a place where I know youth players are getting better. I definitely think it is the best place in Wisconsin for youth development and exposure to the level of soccer expected if they want to compete at the college or professional level. It will show players what it takes to be the best and compete with the best. During summer when I worked UW camps, campers would often come up to me and ask how to become good enough to go to a school like Wisconsin. I would always respond with something along the lines of: get on a high-level club team where everyday you're competing against players better than yourself. I would always urge campers to check out FC Wisconsin Eclipse because I know it's one of the only places in Wisconsin where you are guaranteed to get better, and where you will see first-hand what it takes to play with the best."
© FC Wisconsin. All rights reserved.
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Is It a Headache or a Migraine?
 When pain, aching or intense pressure in your head begins, it can be hard to determine if it's a migraine or a headache. Sometimes, severe headaches can be mistaken for migraines and migraines can be mistaken for a bad headache. Ask yourself these questions to determine which it is next time head pain strikes. Do you feel intense, pulsing or thro...
pain SPG block migraine headache
10 Signs It's a Migraine
Is it a headache, a migraine or something else completely? These 10 signs may help you identify when a migraine is to blame for your discomfort or pain.
sinus yawning headache pain migraine
Chronic Migraines Linked to TMJ Disorder
Migraines TMJ Disorders
Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil have discovered that patients suffering from chronic migraine attacks more than 15 days a month are three times more likely to have severe TMJ disorder symptoms than patients with only episodic migraines.
"It makes sense when you think about basic anatomy," said Dr. David Buck, DDS, an innovative orthodontist who treats both TMJ disorders and migraine conditions in his Lynwood, Washington, practice.
"The temporomandibular joint is located on each side of the face, just in front of the ear," he said. "You can feel it by placing your hands there and opening and closing your mouth. This joint connects the jaw to the skull, so anything that causes pain in the jaw could easily radiate upward and cause headaches or migraines."
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What's Eating You: How Diet Impacts Migraines
A 2016 study confirms that diet can directly impact the prevalence of migraines. The saying, "you are what you eat" could not be truer when discussing diet and migraines. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are a serious neurological disease affecting roughly 38 million Americans. It is the sixth most disabling illness in the world. Certain beverages, foods and food additives are known to trigger migraines and reducing or eliminating them completely can provide noticeable relief.
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text:
Snorkeler Dies After Being Attacked By Several Sharks In The Bahamas
A 21-year-old college student from California has died after she was attacked by three sharks while snorkeling with family in the Bahamas on Wednesday, according to reports.
Jordan Lindsey was swimming off the coast of Rose Island, northeast of Nassau, when she was ambushed in the water just after 2 p.m., local authorities said.
"She was so caring. She loved all animals. It's ironic she would die getting attacked by a shark," her father, Michael Lindsey, said in a statement obtained by NBC Los Angeles.
Jordan Lindsey, 21, died on Wednesday after being attacked by several sharks, authorities said.
Her family saw the sharks before the attack and called out to warn her, but Lindsey didn't hear them in time, Royal Bahamas Police Force Deputy Commissioner Paul Rolle told Local 10.
She was pulled from the water and taken to a hospital in New Providence where she was pronounced dead. Her injuries included bites to her arms, legs and buttocks as well as a severed right arm, Rolle said.
It's not known what kind of sharks were involved in the attack, the Bahamas' Ministry of Tourism said in a statement Thursday that expressed condolences to her family.
Jace Holton, who had been snorkeling in the same area less than an hour before the attack, snapped a photo of a fairly large shark swimming past her boat that was shared by her brother on social media.
Jace Holton
A fairly large shark was photographed in the same area of the island just before the attack.
Speaking to Los Angeles station KTLA, Holton recalled people rushing to help Lindsey without avail.
"Some of the people that were actually in the water at the time were describing how it was a pretty horrific scene," she said. "Several of the workers ... had jumped in the water to help the girl."
Lindsey was a communication studies major at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, the school's president said.
Callestar via Getty Images
A 21-year-old woman has died after she was attacked by several sharks while snorkeling near Rose Island, pictured, in the Bahamas on Wednesday, authorities said.
In addition to being a "devoted animal lover and climate change advocate," she was a member of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society and the university's Entrepreneurship Society, said President Timothy Law Snyder.
Shark attacks are uncommon, and fatal ones are extremely rare.
The global average of shark attack fatalities is just six per year, according to the International Shark Attack Files (ISAF), a project of the Florida Museum of Natural History and the American Elasmobranch Society that documents shark attacks.
The Bahamas, which had a single, nonfatal attack last year, has had just 28 shark attacks since the mid-1700s, according to the ISAF.
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Appalachians in the Academy
The American public university is being destroyed, much as central Appalachia in many places was destroyed. It's being stripped down and sold for parts. And the people in power do not care.
by Mark Watson
I think of elementary school as my inglorious entry into "the academy." Like many Appalachian people, I went to school in places that graphically illustrate the extreme inequality of American education. My 1923-built elementary school (thankfully since abandoned) was located along the Chesapeake and Ohio (CSX) railroad tracks and next to the major local river. The school was built when the river valley was "booming" from the coal industry in the surrounding hills. But after more recent re-routings of the river due to upstream, wealthier development, our classrooms routinely flooded out. Over the years, local "state of emergencies" would be declared, with the American Red Cross intervening to set up shelters and hand out flood cleanup kits.
If there was going to be a lot of rain, my classmates and I would push all the desks and chairs to the end of the room farthest from the river and roll up the classroom carpet, sliding it to the far end and lifting it up on top of the desks to help keep it dry. After the water receded, they'd mop out the rooms and we'd be back in school. I recall using textbooks—largely out of date, teachers said with memorable anger—that were clearly damaged by flood water. Keep in mind that the rivers in central Appalachia are pretty damn polluted—the whole place suffers from acid mine drainage, poorly developed sewage systems, leakage from local industrial ruins, and so on. The Ohio River is the most polluted body of water in the United States for this reason. Meanwhile outside, you could see the train roll by, carrying cars of coal and timber. Wherever the money made off those resources went, it wasn't to the school or the kids in the community. Much of the coal was heading down to the Ohio River and burned in electricity plants or sent on barges to Pittsburgh and other cities. To the local social elite, we were seen as one of the poor "hillbilly" elementary schools in the county—nobody expected much out of the two hundred of us who went there. Being called "Appalachian" when I was growing up was entirely an insult, a label of deficiency, that we began to experience at elementary school.
An abandoned early-twentieth-century elementary school in Harlan County, Kentucky. Image courtesy of Jamie Middleton.
When I was in middle school and high school, I pretty much hated the education system, the local elite that included arrogant teachers, and what I perceived as the shit-kicking, rub-dipping rednecks around me. I was more interested in music and hanging out with friends and band mates who played heavy metal. I discovered visual art during this time. I have no idea what my life would have been like without it—who knows if I'd have graduated college. My mom had always encouraged me to make art from a very young age, but like most kids, school had pretty much sucked the creativity out of me. Between soul-crushing, working-class public school, riding the school bus, and homework, there was no time for art. During my sophomore year I was trying to maximize the number of study halls I had, and a teacher suggested I take an art class instead of yet another study hall. So, I did and found a lot of support from the art teacher that year. She strongly encouraged me and gave me freedom to make pen-and-ink drawings and paintings in a largely individualized way. I ended up signing up for several independent studies with her and working a lot of the day in the art room. She left at the end of the year for a better job elsewhere, but her replacement, and the student teacher that year, were important supports. I took the AP exams in Studio Art, Art History, and English Literature on my own and received 4s or 5s—high enough to get college credit. I also received an art scholarship from a couple universities and chose the nearby school, Ohio University, as a painting major.
When I was in college at Ohio University, I mainly hung out with other Appalachian kids from the economically-depressed upper Ohio valley—southeast Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and southwest Pennsylvania. We were pretty alienated. Students from outside the region were often openly hostile to Appalachia, either seeing it as poor and ignorant, or an unimportant, pointless community to talk about. This had a strong class dynamic as well, as most students were upper-middle class with no reason to feel solidarity with Appalachians. My girlfriend was from the region, too, and we used to jokingly reduce each other's accent to a more neutral one: if you wanted to be taken seriously as an art major, you needed to pronounce "color" and "collar" differently! And I learned I couldn't call a winter hat a "toboggan" anymore. Sometimes students would talk about being from the Midwest, and we used to joke we were from "the Mideast"—full of poverty, resource extraction, and religious fundamentalism. I don't believe OU had any kind of specific "Appalachian Studies" curriculum at that point. I had professors who literally said things like, "The problem with this part of the country is that there isn't enough critical thinking!" I heard a joke either from a professor or non-Appalachian student about local kids doing a Christmas pageant at a school. The kids who were supposed to dress up like the three wise men came mistakenly dressed as firemen. The teacher asked why are you dressed like that? They responded, "Well you said they came from a far [fire]!" Hilarious how those hillbilly kids talk, isn't it?
If you wanted to be taken seriously as an art major, you needed to pronounce "color" and "collar" differently.
I excelled at college and loved the independence that came with it. Through my earlier interest in music, I had met individuals who read books and were curious (one of my old professors called these locals the "Appalachian hippies," which is sort of its own subculture within a subculture). I had also been reading and thinking seriously on my own. The arrival of the Internet was instrumental in this—I was able to find so much information, download new music on Napster without having to find the money for it (and there weren't any local record stores anyway), and chat with people from other parts of the country with similar interests (this was the time of ICQ and talking to random people in chatrooms). I recall discovering James Wright's poetry, based in the bleak working-class conditions of Martin's Ferry, Ohio on the West Virginia border, whose work I still read and love. In college, I expanded my intellectual interests and was very obsessed with perfection at everything, maintaining a 4.0 for most of my time. I admired my professors and really liked the seemingly laid-back, independent-minded world of academia. I wanted to become a professor myself.
I was selected to be a McNair Scholar, which is a federal TRiO program supporting minority and low-income students who want to be professors. I think I was the only white man in my cohort, although there was at least one other white Appalachian girl who I mainly remember because she was homeless and staying with her biology professor. This was by far the most racially-diverse setting I'd ever been in. It was interesting and useful to see the commonalities and profound differences students from primarily urban African-American, Latino, and white Appalachian backgrounds experienced in college. I found these students to be at least sympathetic to what was happening in the Appalachian region—which was more than the average OU student. One of my McNair peers, himself from a Latino background in the suburbs, was researching Appalachian identify formation at a local school, comparing it to how Latino students elsewhere come to their identities.
Like a lot of students in the McNair program, I used to feel like I didn't really fit in in Athens (despite being one of the few "natives" of the region). I was pretty mature for my age and didn't like the woo-woo college bars and, despite my parents' generosity and scholarships/grants/student loans, I didn't have the money, cars, and laissez-faire attitude of typical students. I always knew I was leaving, hopefully for somewhere more interesting. Being politically conscious, I tried to get involved with campus activism, but I didn't feel like I belonged in that world at all—a bunch of middle-class, suburban white kids with dreadlocks and naive hippie-ish attitudes.
I was selected to be a McNair Scholar, which is a federal TRiO program supporting minority and low-income students who want to be professors. I think I was the only white man in my cohort.
Like many college students, I participated in work-study, which proved influential for my academic path. I took a job as a curatorial assistant at the campus museum, which happened to have a world-class collection of Native American art originally obtained by a business school alum who worked in the uranium mining industry. In the mid-twentieth-century he collected large amounts of Navajo, Pueblo, and other primarily southwest art when prices were very low. When he passed, the collection was left to the university. During my time there, I worked with a curator who was researching the collection and had the opportunity to pursue my own research on Native art. I received funding and assistance to travel to the southwest and conduct archival research, getting hooked on the research process. I received a great deal of emotional support from the curator and her husband and colleague, who was my primary mentor as an undergrad.
I decided the small world of art history and the even smaller world of Native art history were what I wanted to focus on in graduate school. This was largely the result of my job and education at Ohio University, but personal background always plays a part, too. I recall the African art history professor commenting that lots of Jewish people (like her) collected and studied African and modern art because so much other Western art was a little too Jesus-centric for comfort. It would be interesting to see if or how Appalachian backgrounds shape scholars' interests. Like a lot of educated people from our part of the country, I intuitively identify with all the "small" peoples, underdogs, and peripheral regions of the world for whom industrial capitalism has created massive, perhaps unsolvable, problems. The idea of a "poor people's movement" has always appealed to me, like it does for many Appalachians. Postcolonial, feminist, and Marxist methodologies have also appealed to me from the time I learned about them. Native Americans were people I always was curious about given that the part of Appalachia I'm from is full of Adena and Hopewell earthworks, artifacts, and roads—it was basically the center of those civilizations. The Indigenous past was part of the landscape.
With the assistance of the McNair program, I applied to Columbia and a number of top programs. I chose Columbia because I wanted to go to New York City and the department was generally seen as a very strong, perhaps the top, art history program in a number of fields. After dealing with the awkwardness of being an Appalachian kid in Ohio, New York was liberating to me. There are so many people from all over the world and the general culture is very accepting of outsiders. To most New Yorkers, I was just a white guy from somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Most native New Yorkers I knew had very little sense of geography outside the metro, not unlike how most Appalachian people have no idea of the vast difference between New York City and most of the "the northeast."
Another view of the abandoned school. Image courtesy of Jamie Middleton.
Not surprisingly, though, Columbia was full of people who struck me as almost pathologically detached from reality. They were well-off, mostly white kids whose experiences were limited to their own wealthy-family/private-school/Ivy-League bubble. The school preached meritocracy to these students—I'd actually never heard the term "meritocracy" before going there and initially thought it was a neologism—and many of them were smart and competitive with each other. But it was obvious to anyone that this idea of meritocracy was hollow—in fact, the MSNBC host Chris Hayes attended Columbia during my time and wrote a whole book on it, Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy. Columbia, on the other hand, was pretty complicated. It was the first and only time in my life I've been in an environment where new ideas, thinking, and research were highly valued as part of the general culture. Even undergraduates would pay lip service to those things, despite most of them being somewhat like sheep (as a faculty member there put it, quite accurately). I loved how international the graduate school was—my roommates over the years were almost entirely from countries on other continents. Also, the school's endless money meant we could get research and travel support that made things a lot easier for kids from poorer backgrounds.
In this academic context far from home, Appalachian-ness came largely to mean working-class-ness. For most of my twenties and thirties, I have been the only Appalachian guy around. But class was an obvious way of connecting with people everywhere. The city was so damn expensive—it was hard to find anywhere to live outside university-owned subsidized apartments or really bad apartments in the outer boroughs. I was constantly brushing up against very wealthy young people from all over the world, who seemed to all share a kind of transnational elite culture that gave them obvious advantages. At the same time, some of my professors were from long-established Ivy League families and carried themselves like a Hollywood caricature of the privileged, self-obsessed ivory tower intellectual. I, for the most part, minimized my dealings with Columbia aside from the formal Ph.D. academic program. I joined the Working Families Party and worked at a homeless shelter as a night volunteer. I dated women with few or no Columbia connections. I still strongly consider myself working-class, even though I'm a professor. You can't just lose your culture because your paycheck is somewhat higher—class is more than just an abstract relation to "the means of production" or a measure of wealth. And to me "Appalachian culture," to the extent that that's a meaningful term, is primarily a working-class culture comparable in some ways to other ethnic working-class cultures in the U.S. and other parts of the industrialized world.
The idea of a "poor people's movement" has always appealed to me, like it does for many Appalachians. Postcolonial, feminist, and Marxist methodologies have also appealed to me from the time I learned about them.
I went on the job market after the Great Recession turned a bad situation for academics into an even worse one. Many states had hiring freezes after 2008 and in the years since state funding for education has never recovered. The Recession and the reelection of Barack Obama helped spark the anxious, old, middle-class-white-people-based Tea Party movement, which elected many anti-university Republicans into statehouses and governors' mansions across the country. Few states have had real salary increases during that time and when faculty retire or leave their positions, they are not being replaced. Meanwhile, the cost of college for undergraduates has skyrocketed with the hostile attitude from lawmakers. Class sizes are increasing everywhere, while university system administrators are often fascinated more with Silicon Valley-derived "big data" and "scalable" solutions, partnerships with private consultants, and other expensive, anti-faculty solutions to problems that are caused by the "starve the beast" approach to university funding.
In all of this, the most privileged students and faculty are somewhat insulated and isolated. Everyone knows rich people and fancy colleges will protect their own. But things are falling apart at minority and working-class schools. I work at a primarily black college in south-metro Atlanta, having been hired because of my specialization in a "diverse" area of art history. Almost all of my students are African-American or other racial minorities, and are mostly working-class or poor. A large majority are also female. Our university is always, it seems to many of us, at the bottom of the university system food chain when it comes to appropriate resources, including hiring the needed number of full-time faculty. If you compare our school to most of the primarily-white schools in Georgia, you'll see a night and day difference. Everyone knows this—even my conservative colleagues say it's hard not to see it as structural racism.
I'm convinced the system we're working in is not going to last. The American public university is being destroyed, much as central Appalachia in many places was destroyed. It's being stripped down and sold for parts. And the people in power do not care. In this environment, the existence of an "academy"—a community of full-time, career-long professors working with autonomy from outside reprisals and pressures—is a myth. The vast majority—76%—of today's college instructors are not professors, but rather instructors on temporary contracts. Over half of those 76% are part-time, which typically means they are stringing together benefit-less jobs at several universities in an effort to stay financially afloat. In my state, these jobs at state universities pay around $2,500 a class, which is actually more than many other states.
You can't just lose your culture because your paycheck is somewhat higher—class is more than just an abstract relation to "the means of production" or a measure of wealth.
What can faculty do? Easily the best thing I've done professionally is get involved with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). I serve as president of my chapter, which is one of the most lively, amiable, effective faculty groups I've been a part of. Being in a real faculty organization is transformative—we never realize how degrading, isolating, and competitive our work is until we're in a union together. Faculty at my university are far more outspoken and critical after the AAUP chapter has stirred things up. This is precisely what we need, but on a mass scale. In the deteriorating social conditions around the country, many millennials like me are setting up AAUP chapters or taking them over. I have been attending the AAUP organizing institutes in the summer and the national business meeting, which has given me a taste of faculty organization as a national movement. There are dynamic new leaders, often women or people of color, emerging from around the country. We feel our backs are against the wall—there is no future for most faculty if we do not fight now. Cynicism and careerism are no longer viable options. We must organize around the university as a public good—joining the AAUP at aaup.org is the first step in doing so.
Mark Watson is an Associate Professor of Art History at Clayton State University in south-metro Atlanta. He earned a BFA in painting and art history from Ohio University in 2005 and a Ph.D. in art history from Columbia University in 2012. His research and teaching interests include Native American art, contemporary art, art and social movements, and the environmental humanities. His publications have appeared in Art History, American Art, Third Text, the Journal of Aesthetics and Culture, and other venues.
Our collected volume of essays, Demand the Impossible: Essays in History As Activism, is now available on Amazon! Based on research first featured on The Activist History Review, the twelve essays in this volume examine the role of history in shaping ongoing debates over monuments, racism, clean energy, health care, poverty, and the Democratic Party. Together they show the ways that the issues of today are historical expressions of power that continue to shape the present. Also, be sure to review our book on Goodreads and join our Goodreads group to receive notifications about upcoming promotions and book discussions for Demand the Impossible!
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Tagsacademia • American Association of University Professors • appalachia • Appalachians • class • higher education • identity politics • labor unions • Native America • Organized Labor • September 2018 • unions • Working Class
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This is the discussion related to the wiki page	Include Any Page.
I don't want to learn all the code and jargon of web design so tip was perfect. Copy, paste…done.
Thanks for the simple tip.
how would you do something like this for a wiki page?
for example, i want my top bar page to also be on my home/landing page, so that way i don't have to update TWO pages of the same info.
I want it to layout like it does when you actually view the menu (as a UL/LI list) on the landing page.
I tried it with the url to the top nav, but it also includes the header/etc, which is not wanted.
I think what you want is to get rid of the side data. In that case, you can try linking to the printer friendly version of the page.
I am taking issue with the iframe!
But I am not achieving, who knows a way to ask, please tell me!
Re: I am taking issue with the iframe!
I am trying to use this code to show a new york times article within my wiki page, but as soon as I open the page I am redirected to the nyt website. Any suggestions?
Just add a shoutbox in my page! thanks!
? ? ? what IS "your page"?
Was able to embed a form from Google Docs straight into my wiki.
Re: Thanks heaps, able to add embed page to table??
I am trying to add an embedded frame on the right hand side of a table that I am using.
It scrambles most of the table, and if I put is as a single line (Second code) then it just puts the embedded web at the start of the table.
the height of the iframe to 600 to be out of dcrolling..
and inserted a /table at the end..
That works great! Just to be a pest, is there any way then to extend the table and have the embedded page stretch the whole way?
or another cell is longer - than the embedded page - cell is stretched ….
Now I understand - you have a lot of rows on the öeft side!
…But my usual [center][/center] tag isn't working. What tag should I use? This isn't in a table, by the way, it's just normal text.


text:
August 4, 2006 - 10 Av, 5766
Helping Israel | Living with the Rebbe | A Slice of Life | What's New
Helping Israel
G-d willing, by the time you read this the latest crisis in Israel will have passed - and will be not only the latest, but the last. Still, at such a time, when our prayers, hearts and thoughts are with our fellow Jews, we anxiously search for ways we can help.
Some obvious ways come to mind, like: talk to friends and acquaintances, educating them about Israel's positions and the reasons for the current actions. (Of course, this requires us to educate ourselves. Visit www.SichosInEnglish.org and read "Eyes Upon the Land" [www.sichosinenglish.org/books/eyes-upon-the-land/] and "When Silence is a Sin" [www.sichosinenglish.org/books/when-silence-is-a-sin/] to educate yourself about the issues at hand.)
In 1967, before the Six Day War, when the whole world knew the Middle East would erupt in violence, the Lubavitcher Rebbe predicted Israel would achieve a stunning, miraculous victory. He also urged every Jewish male over thirteen to put on tefilin, explaining that that mitzva has a unique spiritual capacity to provide protection, particularly for soldiers. Thousands and thousands of Jewish men and boys put on tefilin, some for the first time in their lives. Today, it seems most appropriate to re-invigorate the Rebbe's tefilin campaign. If you haven't yet put on tefilin, call your local Chabad House. If you put it on just once-in-a-while, resolve to have a regular schedule, even once a week. It only takes about five minutes. If you already put on tefilin regularly, get a friend or relative to put on tefilin. The practical mitzva provides spiritual protection.
In 1974, shortly after the Yom Kippur War, the Rebbe launched several other mitzva campaigns, among them Shabbat candle-lighting, in which he urged Jewish women and girls over age 3 to light candles every Friday before sundown. Lighting candles brings the peace of Shabbat into the home; spiritually that peace extends to all the Jewish people. The Hebrew abbreviation for "Candles of the Holy Shabbat" - neshek - means "weapon" in Hebrew. By lighting Shabbat candles, women and girls provide spiritual ammunition for the Jewish people, particularly Israel and more particularly her soldiers.
Another mitzva has a direct protective function spiritually: mezuza. On the outside of the parchment is the Hebrew letter "Shin." Shin is the first letter in one of the names of G-d that is an acronym for "Guardian of the Doors of Israel." If you have not had your mezuzot checked, now is a good time. Having a case is not enough. A kosher parchment must be inside it. When we check our mezuzot and make sure we have a kosher scroll on our doors, affixed in the correct place, how does that help the Jews of Israel? The answer lies at the heart of the Jewish people. For in truth on a spiritual level, the Jewish people are one entity. Jewish Unity has a physical component - supporting our fellow Jews despite differences in custom, etc. But it also has a spiritual component - every Jewish soul is united with every other. The mitzvot we do express this essential, spiritual unity of the Jewish people. By strengthening one, we strengthen all.
So even though by the time this is printed, G-d willing, the crisis has passed, the need for mitzvot, for Jewish unity, remains eternal. To help the Jews of Israel - and ourselves, resolve to increase the performance of one of these mitzvot: tefilin, lighting Shabbat candles, or mezuza.
This week's Torah portion, Vaetchanan, contains the verse, "And you shall know this day, and take it to heart, that the L-rd is the G-d in the heavens above, and upon the earth below; there is none else." This recognition of G-d's unity may be divided into three distinct areas: "heaven," "earth," and "there is none else" (which, according to the Midrash, refers to G-d's oneness "even within the very depths of the earth."
Why does the Torah go to such great lengths to emphasize the oneness of G-d? Would anyone seriously entertain the notion that there is another G-d hiding in the murky depths of the sea or in the earth's core? Why is it necessary for the Torah to explicitly command us to "take it to heart?"
Chasidic philosophy explains that this verse not only negates the possibility of another deity's existence, G-d forbid, but rather emphasizes the fact that there is no existence at all besides G-d. G-dliness is the only reality; everything else is an illusion covering up the true essence within. Were we able to clearly perceive that there is no independent reality except for G-d, we would easily recognize that it is only G-d's constant re-creation of the world, every minute and every second, that sustains both physical and spiritual reality. In truth, "there is nothing else."
Because one may mistakenly think that only spiritual matters are G-dly, the Torah specifically mentions "the earth below." The physical world, with its multitude of creations, is also a vessel for G-dliness, and must be properly utilized in the service of G-d.
This division is also symbolic of man himself: "Heaven" refers to man's G-dly soul; "earth" refers to his corporeal body, the vessel in which the G-dly soul illuminates; and "the very depths of the earth" refers to man's actions.
By stressing this verse, the Torah emphasizes that this awareness of G-d must be brought into all facets of our lives - spiritual, physical and practical. By recognizing G-d's unity and reflecting it in our every action, we ready the entire world for the complete revelation of G-dliness that will take place with the coming of Moshiach and the Final Redemption, speedily in our days.
by Rabbi Rafael Kahan (o.b.m.)
I was born in the year 1889, in Nevel. The 1930s were difficult years; years of perpetual dangers, terror, and privation. In 1939 I was to be put to the greatest test which I had ever faced in my life. What I knew was unavoidable, finally caught up with me.
Late one night, a few days after Purim, agents of the Secret Police came and arrested me. In the prison of the Secret Police began my interrogation, which lasted for six months. I was accused of a variety of "crimes," particularly of engaging in activities harmful to the people and the country. For, any activity to strengthen religious adherence and observance was regarded as "counter-revolutionary," and subject to the most severe punishments. I was also accused of being a spy for a foreign country!
I denied everything. But in view of the charges that were brought against me, I knew that there was little hope for me to escape alive from their clutches. My only hope and prayer was that my body, at least, would be surrendered to my family to be buried in a Jewish cemetery.
Days and weeks and months rolled by. Sitting in a damp cell for so long, on a diet of bread and water, my health quickly began to fail. A point was reached where I could no longer get up from my straw mat. Only my mind seemed to remain uneffected.
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur came and went. The Ten Days of Repentance were days of real repentance for me. I resolved that if G-d would spare me, I would make amends for all the things in which I had been remiss.
Immediately after Yom Kippur, I began to feel that I was getting my strength back. Unbelievable as it seemed to me, I felt stronger every day. My body responded well, except my legs remained semi-paralyzed. I lay in bed with half drawn-up legs. Eventually I was transferred to the prison infirmary.
During Chanuka, I found out I had been sentenced to be deported for five years of hard labor to take effect when I would recover my health. Meanwhile I was kept in the prison infirmary for nearly four more months. Needless to say, I thanked G-d for every day that I was alive.
A few days after Purim, I "celebrated" the anniversary of my imprisonment. It was exactly a year since I was arrested, a long year. On this very day I was transferred to the city-hospital; here I was to be treated for my legs, so that my sentence could be carried out as soon as I was able to use my legs.
It is difficult to describe what a relief the change was for me. My wife and children who had despaired of ever seeing me again, were now able to visit me. They brought me hot kosher food every day; I had not had one hot meal in a whole year. They also brought me a Mishna and a book of Psalms, which I had missed so much.
Months passed thus. One day in the summer, the prison doctor arrived. He was, obviously, sent by the Secret Police to examine me and determine my condition. He examined my stiff, half-bent legs, and left without saying a word to me. A terrible thought suddenly entered my mind: perhaps they would send me back to prison, to serve my five years deportation sentence there! The thought was horrifying. I decided to seek comfort in Psalms. When I opened it, the top line caught my eye: "And His prisoners He does not despise" (Ps. 69:34).
It seemed like a heaven-sent message, and it filled me with courage and hope; my anxiety disappeared.
A few days later I began to feel that my knees were easing. When my legs did not respond to any treatments, the doctors gave up hope and left me alone. I had also made peace with the idea that I might be crippled for life. But now, suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, the stiffness in my knees began to give way! Slowly and by stages I was able to stretch my legs more and more, until I discovered, to my delight, that I could straighten out my legs and bend them again. My legs were cured!
Soon, however, I began to contemplate the situation with mixed feelings. If my legs were cured, I would be deported to carry out my severe sentence. Should I inform the authorities that my legs were in good shape, so that I would be deported without delay and arrive at my destination before Rosh Hashana? Or should I keep quiet, and let G-d guide my destiny? I decided to keep quiet, at least until the more auspicious time that begins with the Sabbath after Tisha B'Av known as "Shabbat Nachamu."
The night after Tisha B'Av I had a wonderful dream. I was in a room together with Rabbi Sholom Ber, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe. His radiant face and his penetrating eyes were turned towards me. Nearby was his son and successor, the Lubavitcher Rebbe [the previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn]. I was reciting aloud the Morning Blessings, while the Rebbe answered "Amen" after each blessing. When I reached the last one ("Who removes sleep from my eyes") the Rebbe motioned to me to recite it quietly. Just then, I awoke.
I had a feeling that my liberation was near. All day I waited for a sign of my freedom, but nothing special happened. The only unexpected thing was a visit from a hospital doctor. The doctor examined my legs, which I kept bent and stiff as before, and went his way without a word. Later I learned that was not only the "sign" I was waiting for, but the actual reprieve. For the doctor had marked my record "incurable." An official medical report was then sent to the Secret Police that my condition was beyond hope, and that I would never use my legs again!
I had no intention of proving the doctors wrong. A few days later I was taken out of bed in a litter and carried into an ambulance, which sped me back to prison. I was not worried, however. I realized that I was being taken there in order to be discharged! And this is what happened.
To this day, when my friends who know what happened to me see me walking in the street, they still give me a knowing look, as if to say, "there is a walking miracle." What a wonderful feeling it is to have a pair of healthy legs! A Chasid needs a pair of legs to follow in the Rebbe's footsteps!
Rabbi Mendy and Leah Rosenfeld will be arriving soon in East Lake Worth, Florida, where they will be starting Chabad of Green Acres and Atlantis. Rabbi Eli and Devora Leah Levi recently moved to Colegiales, a suburb of Buenos Aires in Argentina, to establish a new Chabad House there. The Levis will begin by focusing on youth programs, adult education and outreach to university students. Rabbi Zelik and Bassie Moscowitz are moving to Illinois where they will be heading Friendship Circle of Illinois. Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid Labkowski are arriving soon in Oakland, California, where they be establishing a new Chabad-Lubavitch Center to serve the needs of the Jewish community there. Rabbi Elchonon and Chanie Tenenbaum have recently been appointed to serve in Napa Valley, Northern California
15th of Menachem Av, 5730 [1970]
The Campers and Counselors Camp Emunah Greenfield Park, N.Y.
I was pleased to receive a report about your life and activities in the camp through Rabbi J.J. Hecht. He also turned in your tzedoko [charity] collection of Tisha B'Av.
As I mentioned on the Shabbat before Tisha B'Av, which no doubt was conveyed also to you, tzedoko is particularly important in connection with the day of Tisha B'Av to hasten the Geulo [Redemption] in accordance with the prophecy, "Zion will be redeemed through justice, and all that return to her - through tzedoko." Especially significant is the tzedoko before Mincha [the afternoon prayer], when the prayer "Nacheim" is said.
May G-d grant that in the zechus [merit] of your tzedoko in connection with the above, and the tzedoko of all Jews, together with the zechus of the Torah, which is indicated in the beginning of the verse mentioned above (in the word Mishpat - "justice"), that is to say, the daily life in accordance with the Torah and mitzvos [commandments] - should speedily bring the Nechomo [comfort]. Then you, with all other Jewish children as well as adults, will come out to meet our righteous Moshiach, and the days of sadness will be turned into days of gladness, as promised by our holy Prophets in the holy Torah,
Blessing and Greeting:
I was pleased to receive the report about your activities, and may G-d grant that they should continue and expand with much hatzlocho [success].
In the present days, having concluded the Three Weeks, which are connected with the sad events of the destruction of the Beis HaMikdosh [Holy Temple], and having entered the period of the Seven Weeks of Consolation, which bring us the good tidings of the forthcoming Geulo and restoration of the Beis HaMikdosh [Holy Temple] - every action which is connected with the strengthening of Yiddishkeit [Judaism] in general, and with the special Mitzvah Campaigns - notably those most pertinent to Jewish women: candle-lighting, kashrus [keeping a kosher diet] and Taharas HaMishpocho [Family Purity] - in particular, is especially significant.
For, as mentioned in the well-known prayer Umipnei chatoeinu ["Because of our sins"], the only cause of the sad events in the past, the Destruction and Exile, was the neglect of Torah and mitzvos. Therefore, through rectifying and removing the cause, the effect will also be removed.
This is why every activity to spread Yiddishkeit is so vital, especially the efforts to provide the right influence and proper chinuch [Jewish education] for Jewish daughters, since this is the way to raise generation after generation of fully committed Torah-true Jewish families, in an endless chain reaction.
I send my prayerful wishes to each and all participants in these endeavors, which are at the same time a wide channel to receive G-d's blessings also in all personal needs.
May G-d grant that you should have good news to report in all above,
Why do we cover our eyes when we say the Shema?
We cover our eyes with our right hand when reciting the Shema to help us avoid any distraction whatsoever when repeating this verse, which is a declaration of the oneness of G-d. Specifically the right hand is used because the right side is symbolic of the attribute of Divine Mercy.
We recently observed the day of Tisha B'Av, a day on which our most fervent prayers were that G-d "comfort Zion and rebuild Jerusalem." This will be accomplished with the revelation of Moshiach.
The Rambam (Maimonides) wrote in his magnum opus, the Mishna Torah, that waiting for Moshiach to come is an actual commandment. One who is not actually waiting for Moshiach's arrival denies the existence of G-d! This waiting, then, obviously is an intrinsic part of Judaism.
It is not our obligation or duty to speculate as to who Moshiach is. That is G-d's business. He, and only He, is the one to decide. It is, however, our duty to want and pray for him every day.
An anecdote about the Chafetz Chaim illustrates the above points:
Whenever the Chafetz Chaim would retire for the evening, or even a short rest, he would make a request of his attendant. "Please stay alert while I'm asleep. Be sure to wake me up quickly as soon as Moshiach comes."
If a person is waiting for the delivery of precious gems, or the arrival of an important visitor, he would be waiting impatiently, totally preoccupied with anticipation, looking out the window every moment. Our waiting for Moshiach should be fulfilled in the same manner.
Let us await his coming every moment. It will be faster than we think.
And I besought the L-rd...let me go over, I pray...(Deut. 3:23-25)
In his reproach to the Jewish nation before his passing, Moses recounted his attempt to sway the Divine decree that he not enter the Land of Israel. Moses' intensive praying taught future generations to persist in prayer. A person should never say, "What purpose is there in my praying further?" Even though G-d had clearly told Moses that he would not bring the Jewish nation into the land, and even though Joshua had already been appointed his successor to complete this task, still, Moses prayed. This demonstrates to us that a person must never say, "My illness is fatal, my last will is made, and my possessions are distributed. Why shall I continue to pray?"
(Yalkut Shmoni - the Midrash Says)
To do, so that you may live (Deut. 4:1)
That is, to heed the Torah in practice. From this verse we learn that the study of the Torah itself is not the most important thing: rather, to do good deeds. Indeed, this is the very life of man.
(Tzena U'rena)
And you shall teach them to your children..."(Deut. 6:7)
It is the duty of Jewish educators to remove from the child any vestige of inferiority complex about his Jewishness in a predominantly non-Jewish environment, until he understands that democracy and freedom are not cauldrons of assimilation, but rather the contrary; they offer everyone the privilege to have his place, to enjoy his rights, and to live according to his faith without compromise, the opportunity for the Jew to fulfill his life's destiny.
(Sichot Kodesh)
And you shall teach them to your children..." (Deut. 6:7)
It is an absolute duty for every person to spend a half hour every day thinking about the Torah-education of children, and to do everything in his power - and beyond his power - to inspire children to follow the path along which they are being guided.
(Hayom Yom)
And you shall teach them to your children..."
Some claim that if you tell today's youth the verse from Proverbs: "He who refrains from using his rod hates his son; and who loves his son disciplines him morning by morning," they will run away. This is not true. They will only say that they want to hear this proverb from the mouth of one who conducts himself as King Solomon wished, in all aspects of his life, not only when it comes to disciplining children. They yearn for consistency, sincerity. To suggest that the solution of the problem is to "burn the rod," to eliminate authority and to abolish Jewish education, is an absolute distortion.
Wolfe the Cobbler and his wife wandered from town to town supporting themselves by cobbling, a job Wolfe carried on with great keenness, for it meant for him much more than a means of earning a modest living, it was a shield behind which to hide his righteousness and learning.
Wolfe's wandering went on for some time until he reached a village in Wohlyn, not far from Lukatsh, where he settled and made his permanent home, "permanent" until he had to leave.
In this village Wolfe had at first found the contentment he had been looking for. He was able to lead a quiet, unassuming life without it occurring to anyone that he was a great man, a scholar and mystic. Wolfe had won a good name for himself among Jews and non-Jews alike on account of his honesty and conscientiousness in his work. He was liked for his quiet manner, and for never gossiping about people. In truth, Wolfe spoke very little altogether, and was considered a silent fellow. People ascribed this to his simplicity as well as to his goodness.
Now something occurred which compelled Wolfe and his wife again to pack and depart. In this village there lived a priest who was trying to convert the Jews. At first the priest began with soft words and a friendly manner. Every time there was a public holiday he called together all the inhabitants, Jews as well as non-Jews, and addressed the assembly from a platform in the market place.
It did not take very long, however, before the Jews saw that the priest's fine words were but a preparation. It soon became clear that all this talk of "friendship" led to his open request that the Jews submit to conversion. Soon, the priest began openly to rant against the Jewish faith.
Learned Jews knew how to answer such arguments. Jewish leaders throughout the ages have had to deal with so-called proofs submitted by missionaries, and frustrated them completely. In this village in Wohlyn, however, there seemed to be no Jew capable of replying convincingly to the priest.
Once, just before a Christian festival in the summer, the priest assembled all Jews and non-Jews in the market place again and addressed them from the platform in his usual manner. But this time the priest spoke more sharply against the Jewish religion and demanded that the Jews should embrace Christianity. He made fun of their customs and of their faith.
"Can anyone reply to my arguments?" asked the priest, looking around, confident that there was no Jew present who could reply. But suddenly someone stepped forward from among the gathered Jews, saying in a clear voice that he was ready to answer the priest. Everybody in the crowd turned round to see who this man could possibly be. And, to their great astonishment, it was Wolfe the Cobbler.
"What is the idea of his coming forward?" the people asked each other, in wonder. The priest was intrigued.
"Good Wolfe," he called out, "do you wish to say something? Come up here onto the platform and let us all hear what you have to say!" The priest was obviously certain that this Wolfe could help pin the Jews down.
With assured steps Wolfe walked onto the platform and began to speak. To the amazement of all present, they heard language which they had never believed could come from him. He spoke in a fluent clear Polish, unusual for a Jew in those days. The biggest surprise he gave the listeners, however, was what he said. He started refuting the priest's arguments one after another, and brought counter-arguments which made the priest appear ridiculous. The cobbler quoted passage after passage from the Bible in Hebrew, quickly and fluently translating them into Polish. Surprisingly, everyone understood him clearly and easily, and could see that he was right.
Thus was Wolfe discovered to be a mystic. His own actions had brought this about, but the urgent need of upholding the sanctity of G-d's name, had left him no alternative. After that, however, he did not feel like remaining in Wohlyn. He had fulfilled his mission in this place; he could leave now.
Adapted from the Memoirs of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe
The prophet Zecharia states regarding the Land of Israel in the time of the Redemption, "The whole land will become like a plain, from Geva to Rimon south of Jerusalem, and it will rise and settle in its place." How can this be? The area south of Jerusalem is level, while Geva and Rimon are hilly. Rather, the prophet means that just as Geva and Rimon, which are hilly, will be flattened, so too the whole earth will become as level as the area south of Jerusalem [in the era of the Redemption].
(Midrash Yalkut Shimoni 2:585)


Anthony Cleveland's Mini Indie Comic Review Roundup!
What drives me crazy the most about the superhero genre in comics is its lack of originality. If I crack open a superhero book it's usually because there are some new ideas that were able to pull me in– for example: Gunpowder Witch's original pitch.
Sprinkled throughout are mini-stories, quotes, and short narratives. It has a feel closer to a digital horror zine than to a classic horror comic you'd find in the back room of a comic shop. –By no means am taking away points for it being a digital horror zine, but some of the stories didn't hit the ball as hard as the others and the payoffs didn't match the stronger narratives.


College is just one big upside down world.
Stranger Things 2 has arrived and we all can't wait to neglect our responsibilities and binge watch it for hours on Netflix! Ever wonder what character relates to your major?
Just like a Lawyer must be, Dustin is an out of the box thinker, he is an observer and is very protective. Often times he has to be a negotiator between his friends.
Will is creative and clever. He is very artistic and tends to stay calm during chaotic situations. Just like you're typical art major, Will can often be found drawing.
Mike is independent and brave. Just like in the business world, he is an optimist and is open-minded.
Barb is the innocent, good person who will do anything to help her friends, after all a teachers job is to help!
Just like any engineering major, Nancy is extremely studious and intelligent. She is extremely ambitious and is focused on having a high GPA.
Steve is on a much better career path at the end of Season 2, but he's not quite ready for a 4-year school. He can find out what major he wants in community college.
Already knows what he's doing with his life but surrounds himself with a lot of youth.
Smart and intense, like any pre-med you've ever met.
Lucas is helpful to his friends, but he is also cautious and skeptical. Lucas is a realist and often believes in the sciences for explanations.
Joyce never gives up and goes to great lengths to find out the truth. She follows her instincts no matter how weird or strange they may be, because she knows she is right.
Dr. Brenner is passionate about his projects. He will take high risks and often deals with manipulation and controversy which is very relatable in politics.
Jonathan holds qualities similar to the communications major, he is creative as well as deep, he has an open mind and a lot of patience.
Just like any student who is undecided, Eleven is mysterious and has her pre-cautions. We never know what she's going to do next.


Will, getting all nostalgic about his three years at his former school…as a fifth grader! His basketball team played a tournament game this week and won (they were the underdogs!). Give it up for the #6 seed upsetting the #3 seed. I have two VERY happy men in my house.
Luke said a two-word sentence!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord he's making some speech progress.
A sweet neighbor checking on me and the kids. For the record, John Paul was about 10 houses behind me as I sat waiting for him in the van. He was not so nice to his sister when he got in the van after school, so I made him walk part of the way home to "get his angry out." It worked.
A great friend sent me that quote over the weekend and I couldn't help but share. Love it. I may just make myself a t-shirt with that saying.
We have a busy weekend ahead, a basketball playoff game for Will, a birthday party and Valentine's dinner with all my family – brother, SIL, niece, mom and dad. I do so feel the love and I really appreciate, much more than you will know, the kind messages, comments, FB posts and texts I've received since yesterday about Luke. What more could a girl ask for? Make it a great weekend.


text:
Eating Authors: Liz Williams
1 Comment »	Written on September 30th, 2013 by Lawrence Schoen
I'm rather persistent when it comes to recruiting writers for this weekly blog feature. I'm sure some of those authors who have been on the receiving end of my emails would use a different word, perhaps "annoying" or some more colorful term that loosely translates to "leave me the hell alone, you ass!" though I prefer to think of myself as tenacious. It's a necessary quality for EATING AUTHORS, because for every author who responds promptly there are three (or six, or ten!) others who are too busy to reply to the email, let alone generate an answer to the single question asked here. And that's perfectly reasonable, because writers are busy people. We're supposed to be writing. We're juggling projects. We're facing deadlines (or worse, have recently blown them).
This week's guest is a good example. I'm happy to say I consider her a friend, which is why I've been trying to lure Liz Williams here for over a year. But she's been just too busy. And yet, I persevered, because I wanted to ensure that you, gentle reader, would have a chance to meet her if you hadn't yet had the pleasure of her fiction.
Liz's first novel, The Ghost Sister, came out back in 2001. Her second, Empire of Bones, followed in 2002. Both received nominations for the Philip K. Dick Award. In 2004, she received a third nomination for Banner of Souls. That's not all that surprising considering she has her doctorate in the Philosophy of Science, she's just that smart.
More recently, she's been writing her brilliant Detective Chen novels (beginning with Snake Agent), a series in which a mortal detective's jurisdiction includes the edges of Heaven and Hell. Add in some "assistance" by his opposite number, an immortal vice cop from Hell, and you have everything you need for a great read!
LMS: Welcome, Liz. And don't worry, I'm not going to ask you about thoats. Instead, I'd like you to talk about your most memorable meal.
LW: The most memorable meal I've ever had was in China, in the city of Xi'an. I went there on a tour of the Silk Road, with three other writers, and we were taken to the Opera House to see a traditional-for-tourists performance, which I remember as being very dramatic and more than somewhat Klingon. However, prior to the performance itself, we were taken to dinner in the opera house restaurant, which was memorable because it was composed entirely of dumplings.
Now, I am a big fan of dumplings. I even like the name – round and plumping onto the plate. I make them at home, but here they're the stodgy suet and herb version that goes well in a beef stew. It would be wrong to say that I've never met a dumpling I didn't like: the big German potato sort, which resembles a soggy tennis ball, aren't so great in my book. But otherwise: bring them on.
I like dim sum, too, but I'm not so good at making the kind of dumplings that feature in that form of cuisine. The opera house, however, pulled out all the stops. The pork dumplings were in the form of a little pig with a curly tail. There were small fish-shaped ones. There were dumplings shaped like pumpkins which were filled with, natch, pumpkin. They were so cute (the animal ones had little beady eyes) that we all felt guilty about eating them, rather as you do when biting the head off a chocolate bunny. And because dumplings are very small, the different kinds just kept on coming. When the final dumpling had been consumed, we were taken into the performance itself; digestion aided by a massive dose of adrenaline as various demons battled one another. And people ask me where I get my ideas from…
Thanks, Liz. My wife and I are both big fans of dim sum, though I can't recall ever getting dumplings that had been made to look like their source animals. Oddly disturbing.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 30th, 2013 at 7:30 am	and is filed under Plugs. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
One Response to "Eating Authors: Liz Williams"
I really enjoyed Snake Agent. I was fascinated by Liz's highly original take on heaven and hell and the bureaucracy involved in managing the transition from life to afterlife. She combines fantasy, paranormal and police procedural in a unique futuristic chinese setting.
Beth aka Scifibookcat
09.30.13 at 7:05 pm


Back Cove home ready for entertaining.
Step outside this sweet home to see Back Cove a block down the street. Thoughtfully updated with hardwood floors, new siding, roof & windows - this home is move-in ready - complete with a well-manicured fenced in yard for entertaining your family & friends! 5 minutes from downtown Portland, nestled in a vibrant neighborhood with restaurants, coffee shops & immediate access to outdoor activities - come check out 100 Vannah Ave!


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