In the last talk, we explored the general nature of the mind knowing that there are mind states (unwholesome, absence of unwholesome and wholesome).
The first of each pair refers to an unwholesome state and the second, a wholesome state. The first four refer to states that we can observe while meditating or reflecting on during our everyday activities. The last four are states that require a higher degree of practice to fully realize.
Delusion occurs when we think that there is permanence, lasting satisfaction and a self. Because the mind prefers permanence, satisfaction seeking, and being in control (self), we constantly need to be mindful of what really is.
A contracted mind is depressed or withdrawn. A distracted mind is on that expands beyond all boundaries and can lead to "monkey mind," traveling all over the universe through imagination. This is state of mind is one of the five hindrances to be discussed later in the Fourth Foundations of Mindfulness.
These three pairs of mental states refer to the increasing degrees of concentration we may achieve in our practice.
"A liberated mind is free of all problems. It is not greedy, hateful, deluded, contracted, or distracted. It is developed, supreme, and concentrated. In the highest states of concentration meditation, it is possible to achieve temporary liberation. But even temporary liberation from harmful mental states is an extraordinarily beneficial experience. If we follow the steps of mindfulness very closely, eventually the mind may become fully liberated." Gunaratana, Henepola. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English (p. 119).
In the Vitakkasanthana Sutta: The Relaxation of Thoughts (MN 20), the Buddha gives five instructions on how to replace unwholesome states of mind with wholesome ones. These are listed in order to be used.
Check on your mind state frequently without judgement. If you detect that an unwholesome state of mind has arisen, try one of the Buddha's instructions as noted above. Be aware of experiencing the state of mind of no unwholesome state. This is the temptaste of liberation.


Fully furnished, new office available on rent. It is near to chakala metro station. Also close to the highway, airports and many hotels. It has 10 work stations, 2 cabins, 1 conference room, a reception and pantry.


When Simon Westow is hired to find a missing girl, he doesn't realize just how close to home this case will hit. A thief-taker in Leeds, Simon is used to finding missing property. But the villain who took the factory-owner's daughter has hidden her more carefully than any stolen locket or ring of gold. Aided by Jane, a young girl who knows how to become nearly invisible on the streets, Simon must thwart this master criminal and avoid losing his family to the vengeance of a longtime enemy.
This novel, although set during the same era as many Regency romances, is far from a cozy mystery. Its gritty atmosphere and gruesome detail make it a historical thriller of the first order. Can Simon bring justice to the corrupt city of Leeds? And will he lose his wife and children in the process?
Throughout the book, Simon is as hard as nails but surprisingly tender with his wife Rosie and his three-year-old twins. Although he is not omniscient, he is indefatigable about running down all the red herrings that crop up in the case. Jane is a fascinating sidekick, a wraith-like adolescent who has lodged with Simon's family for two years but refuses to let them into her secrets or her past. She blames herself for everything that goes wrong in the case and is just as merciless about exacting punishment on herself as she is in hunting down the evildoer.
All in all, this book was a well-written page-turner with intriguing characters and a promising launch to a new mystery series. Recommended for those without weak stomachs.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Negalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.


The Building Societies Association (BSA) welcomes the opportunity to respond, briefly, to DP 1/14. Our comments mainly address the DP's Question 1, on scope, and are provided from the perspective of BSA members, who will generally be external users of critical shared payments services provided by banks that are to be ring-fenced (RFBs). The BSA is happy to engage in further discussion on the potential impact of the DP, and facilitate contact with relevant practitioners among its membership.


text:
Telling History
Historical Writing and Research
"The study of history is the best...for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find...fine things to take as models, base things...to avoid." Titus Livius (Levy)
Dr. Maureen James is a regular contributor of historical articles to various magazines and is available for research and writing on local and national topics. Some examples of her work can be seen and downloaded as PDFs on this site.
As well as being awarded her Ph.D in 2013, Maureen successfully completed a Freelance and Feature Writing course with the London School of Journalism, for which she gained a Diploma with Distinction in 2011.
In October 2013 Maureen's book Lincolnshire Folk Tales - one of many in the popular History Press Folk Tales series was published. The following year, her volume of Cambridgeshire Folk Tales was also published. The latter book was given a 2015 award by the Cambridgeshire Association for Local History.
Maureen is also available for carrying out small research projects and for writing articles and teachers pack on a broad range of historical topics. See the research section for more information and Contact her today for a no-obligation quote using the tab above.
Past articles, papers and teachers packs include the following:
Articles on Folklore and History published in Smallholder Magazine between 2003 and 2014 (some are available to download from my Resources section - see categories - others that are on the web can be reached from here) A comprehensive list of these articles can be found here
Other writing includes:
Article on Hobby Lanterns at Halloween for Smallholding (October/November 2019)
Article on The First Day of Christmas for Practical Poultry Magazine (November/December 2019)
Review of Christmas: The Sacred to Santa by Tara Moore - Folklore 130 (3) (September 2019)
Article on Bringing the Harvest Home for Smallholding (August/September 2019)
Article on William Winstanley and Christmas for Smallholding (December/January 2019)
Article on Celebrating the Corn Dolly Tradition for Cambridgeshire County Life Magazine (Summer 2016)
Article on The Molly Dancers of Cambridgeshire for Cambridgeshire County Life Magazine (Winter 2015)
Article on Cambridgeshire Folk Tales - and the Storytellers of Old for Cambridgeshire County Life Magazine (Summer 2015)
Article on May Customs for Cambridgeshire County Life Magazine (Spring 2015)
Review of We didn't know Owt by Maureen Sutton - Folklore 124 (3) (December 2013)
Review of Marvels, Magic and Witchcraft in the North Riding of Yorkshire: David Naitby's Bedale Treasury by David Kirby - Folklore 124 (1) (April 2013)
Review of Jack and the Devil's Purse: Scottish Traveller Tales by Duncan Williamson - Folklore 123 (3) (December 2012)
The Bandstands of Cambridgeshire - Cambridgeshire County Life Magazine. (Autumn 2012)
Review of Bodies in the Bog and the Archaeological Imagination by Karin Sanders - Time and Mind: The Journal of Archaeology, Consciousness and Culture Volume 4 - Issue 2, pp 245-248 (July 2011)
Lincolnshire Folklore paper - Cosmos 25 & The Ritual Year 4: The Ritual Year and Gender 2009 (September 2011)
Fear and Loathing: The Legends of the Lincolnshire Carrs - The Cauldron: Witchcraft, Paganism & Folklore No 141 (August 2011)
On Fairies - Facts and Fiction Magazine No 75 (November 2010)
Suffolk's Forgotten Heroes - EADT Suffolk (May 2007)
Interview with a henkeeper - Fancy Fowl (August 2006)
A most eggs-citing event!: The World Hen Racing Championships - Fancy Fowl (August 2005)
Grey Lag Goose & King Charles I - Fancy Fowl (Summer 2005)
The Brotherhood of the Grey Goose Feather - The Dragonfly Review No 6 (June/July 2004)
The Influence of Robert Owen and Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi and others on the work of Caroline Southwood Smith and James Hill at the Wisbech Infant School 1830-1840 (1997 B.Ed thesis deposited in the reference section of Cambridgeshire Library Service)
Teachers Packs
Beyond the Bicentennial Teacher's Pack for the African-Caribbean Forum of Peterborough (2009)
Ancient Writing Teacher's Pack for Cambridgeshire Archaeological Field Unit (2000)
Thomas Clarkson and the Abolition of Slavery Teacher's Pack for Wisbech & Fenland Museum (1999) - notes from this can be found here
A Revolutionary Tale: the story of Thomas Paine for Thetford Museum (2009)
Short Biography of George Ewart Evans for the George Ewart Evans Centre Website (2007)
Town Trail and 3 different Guided walks of Chatteris (2001)
Short History of Wimblington for village guide book (2001)
Research on the London Poor in 1851 for the British Library Education Service (2000)
Town Trail for Octavia Hill Museum (1998)
Links to published writings
Smallholder Magazine
Courses & Day Schools
Legends of the Carrs
Cambridgeshire Folk Tales
Lincolnshire Folk Tales
Recording His or Her Story
Fables, Tales, and Folklore – Fenland
Copyright 2011 tellinghistory.co.uk Misty Look Theme by wpthemes.info. Ported to Drupal by kiterminal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Biografia

È nato a Caracas, da genitori venezuelani di origine libanese.

Il padre, matematico, esperto in teoria dei numeri, ha incoraggiato i suoi studi scientifici, mentre la madre orienta il suo interesse verso le scienze umane. Ha vissuto in Inghilterra, dove ha studiato presso l'Università di Londra, conseguendo il PhD, nel 1969, in meccanica quantistica. Il suo campo di ricerca è l'astrobiologia, ossia l'origine, evoluzione, distribuzione e destino della vita nell'universo.

Dal 1971 al 1990 svolge continuativamente attività accademica, specialmente di ricerca sia presso il Centro di Fisica, Istituto Venezuelano per la Ricerca Scientifica,  che al Dipartimento di Fisica, Università Simón Bolívar, ambedue nella sua città natale. All'Istituto di Studi Avanzati  è Professore Titolare ad honorem.  Dal 1994 è membro associato all'Istituto di Studi Avanzati di Dublino, il DIAS.

Dal 1990 è scienziato in residenza presso il Centro internazionale di fisica teorica Abdus Salam in Trieste, dove continua le sue ricerche come Visiting Scientist. Ha organizzato sette conferenze internazionali sull'evoluzione chimica e l'origine della vita nell'universo, sia all'ICTP che all'IDEA, ed è stato condirettore della Scuola Iberoamericana di Astrobiologia a Caracas.

Opere
 Ponnamperuma, C. and Chela-Flores, J. (eds.). (1993). Chemical Evolution: Origin of Life A. Deepak Publishing, Vol. 135, Hampton, Virginia, USA. ISBN 9780937194317.
 Chela-Flores, J., M. Chadha, A. Negron-Mendoza, and T. Oshima (eds.). (1995). Chemical Evolution: Self-Organization of the Macromolecules of Life (A Cyril Ponnamperuma Festschrift.) A. Deepak Publishing, Vol. 139, Hampton, Virginia, USA. ISBN 9780937194324.
 Ponnamperuma, C. and Chela-Flores, J. (eds.). (1995). Chemical Evolution: The Structure and Model of the First Cell.  Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 0792335627.
 Chela-Flores, J. and Raulin, F. (eds.). (1996). Chemical Evolution: Physics of the Origin and Evolution of Life (The Cyril Ponnamperuma Memorial Conference). Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 0792341112.
 Chela-Flores, J. and Raulin, F. (eds.). (1998). Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe.  Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 079235172X.
 Chela-Flores, J., Lemarchand, G.A. and Oro, J. (eds.). (2000). Astrobiology: Origins from the Big Bang to Civilisation. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 0792365879.
 Chela-Flores, J. (2001). The New Science of Astrobiology From Genesis of the Living Cell to Evolution of Intelligent Behavior in the Universe. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands (279 pp.). ISBN 1402022298.
 Chela-Flores, J, Owen, T. and Raulin, F. (eds.). (2001). The First Steps of Life in the Universe. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 1402000774.
 Seckbach, J., Chela-Flores, J., Owen, T., Raulin, F. (eds.) (2004). Life in the Universe From the Miller Experiment to the Search for Life on Other Worlds Series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, Vol. 7, Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands 387 pp. Softcover ISBN 1402030932.
 Chela-Flores, J. (2004). The New Science of Astrobiology From Genesis of the Living Cell to Evolution of Intelligent Behavior in the Universe. Series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, Band 3 Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 251 p. Softcover edition of the 2001 book, ISBN 1402022298.
 Chela-Flores, J. (2009). A second Genesis: Stepping-stones towards the intelligibility of nature. World Scientific Publishers, Singapore, 248 pp. ISBN 9812835032.
 Chela-Flores, J. (2011). The Science of Astrobiology A Personal Point of View on Learning to Read the Book of Life (Second Edition). Book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Video
Nell'iTunes U
 3,8 miliardi di anni fa. (Anche in spagnolo ed inglese.)
 Alla ricerca delle nostre origini nel polvere delle stelle: Viaggi immaginari nel cosmos e verso il nostro passato.  (Anche in spagnolo ed inglese.)
Nell ICTP PIO YouTube
 A search for our origins in star dust: Imaginary journeys in the cosmos and into our past (8 minutes).
 La búsqueda de nuestros orígenes en el polvo de las estrellas: Viajes imaginarios en el cosmos y hacia nuestro pasado (8 minutos).

Note

Collegamenti esterni
 Sito ufficiale: http://www.ictp.it/~chelaf
 Pubblicazioni: http://www.ictp.it/~chelaf/Publications.pdf
 Comunicazione della scienza a un livello comprensibile: http://www.ictp.it/~chelaf/Science_comm.pdf

Esobiologia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Exceptional opportunity to further advance your Sales and Training career as a National Sales and Training Manager for a prestigious NZ owned and operated professional skin care and cosmetic company.
A unique quality and trait of this company is that they know and recognise their customers are key for the business; they are committed to going above and beyond with unsurpassed quality products, training and service.
Proven experience in the beauty therapy industry is essential to be successful in this role, along with being: a natural strong leader with a proven track record in sales, with strong negotiation skills and the ability to meet and exceed targets. Along with being incredibly self-motivated, highly organised and able to multi-task, you will have strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build exceptional rapport with both customers and staff.


A stage is an activity that is done sequentially per work item. A skill, on the other hand, is an ability that team members must have to complete work items. Skills can be defined per stage, and can be used to categorize different types of work within a stage. You can learn more about stages and skills here.
You can configure stages and skills simultaneously in Portfolio for Jira. However, we recommend that you create stages first, and then add skills to the stages as necessary.
An example of a stage would be Development, and sample skills that can be added to the development stage could be backend, frontend, and integration.
Click more ( ) next to the plan name > Configure > Stages and skills.
Give the new stage a name, and then click Add stage.
Give the new skill a name, and then click Create skill.
Choose the estimate allocation percentage for the skill.
The estimate allocation will define the percentage of that skill that someone needs to complete that issue.
You can add as many skills to a stage, as you see fit for how you and your teams work.
To delete a skill, hover over the skill > more ( ) > Delete.


Although Pakistan's Parliament has laws to protect women, they have been largely ineffective in stopping domestic abuse. Almost 5,000 cases of violence against women were registered by police in 2010. And, according to aid agencies, more than two-thirds of Pakistani women are abused in some way by family members. The "Madadgaar Helpline" was recently created to help women who have suffered from domestic violence.
This Helpline, the first of its kind in Pakistan, offers counseling and advice. It also refers women to doctors, lawyers, police, hospitals, or shelters.
Compiled from: AlJazeera, Pakistan: Helpline Opens to Help Prevent Violence Against Women, Interagency Gender Working Group (9 January 2012); Iqbal, Amjad, Violence Against Women in Pakistan, Allvoices (3 December 2010).
See the Domestic Violence section of this website.


The Tres Dias weekend activities are held in Sarto Retreat Center, a secluded full-service retreat center in Evansville, Indiana. The address for Sarto is 4200 N. Kentucky Ave. in Evansville, Indiana. The phone number for Sarto is (812) 424-5536.
The weekend begins on a Thursday evening and ends on Sunday. Your sponsor will make arrangements to pick you up to take you to Sarto on Thursday and get you home on Sunday unless you have other arrangements. Thirty-Two participants live, study, worship, and pray together, and they listen to a series of talks each day, most by lay people, a few by clergy. Each talk reveals how God has affected the speaker's life in a deeply personal way. You will learn from their insights, struggles, and triumphs as you reflect on your own faith journey. In the small group discussions that follow, the points from the talks expand to open each person's heart to the reality of God's grace in his or her life. You will not be pressured to participate in the discussion if that is not your nature. Meanwhile, members of the community will be praying for each person by name. We also have some fun and you will develop some great friendships.
If there is anything you forgot and/or need throughout the weekend please speak to anyone on the team and we will make sure that you get it. The entire team wants to ensure that you have the best weekend possible which includes making sure you're comfortable and free of worry so that you can relax, enjoy the weekend, and focus soley on your personal relationship with Christ.
- EXTRAS of any of the items provided by Sarto. Any photos, comforter, quilt, stuffed animals or things that will make your room feel like home. Anything else you may need to sleep comfortably: small fan, your own pillow, blanket etc.


As part of the regeneration of Vauxhall, we wish to improve the look and feel of Kennington Lane, the main shopping high street for Vauxhall. We want to give it vibrancy and a new lease of life.
Vauxhall is changing fast and there are many new developments taking place within the Vauxhall Nine Elms Area of Opportunity. However, Kennington Lane, adjacent to the busy gyratory, has suffered from years of neglect. Vauxhall One, the Business Improvement District, aims to change this environment to help create a vibrant town centre and High St. To this end, along with Lambeth Council, Vauxhall One applied successfully for the New Homes Bonus to regenerate Kennington Lane and its shopfronts. We believe this fits perfectly with the Mayor's High Street Fund as it seeks to regenerate a run down high street and bring it back to life as part of a vibrant community.
2 give support to local businesses and traders in a difficult and harsh trading environment.
Use local contractors to deliver the shopfront improvements.
These proposals are part of the broader plan by the Business Improvement District to regenerate and improve the public realm in Vauxhall. This is being done as part of the Urban Greening of the area, along with the rail arch regeneration, improved street cleaning and work within the day and night time economies. Vauxhall One is committed to improving the look and feel of Vauxhall, to make it a better place for residents and businesses alike. Kennington Lane was identified in various studies as requiring enhancement to give a better local high street. We hope the Mayor will support our ambition in doing this.
Vauxhall One is a not for profit, business led company, registered with Companies House, created to run Vauxhall's Business Improvement District. Our member businesses agreed through a ballot process in 2012 to pay a levy on top of their business rates to fund the improvements we are making to Vauxhall. A ballot will be held in 2017 for businesses to decide whether to continue to fund the Business Improvement District. Improvements underway are transforming the railway arches and open spaces, making the area safer through a warden service, enhancing cleansing services, marketing the area through an app and bringing attractons such as open air movie screenings,a temporary ice rink and Christmas tree maze and brokering positive relationships between employees, schools and local community organisations.
Project Delivery Manager: Chris Law The Project Delivery Manager takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
Contractor: Base Associates The team responsible for building or installing the project.


text:
Anne Litwin
Author, Keynote Speaker, Workshop Trainer, and OD Consultant
Diversity and Cross-cultural Consulting
Executive Coaching and Leadership Development
Organization Development (Corporate, Not-for-profit, Entrepreneurial)
Team Development (Domestic & International)
Women's Leadership Development
New Rules for Women
Case Study: Ann Marie Almeida
Case Studies: Mary Jo Brown
Case Studies: Suellynn Stark
Case Studies: Bob Conrad
Guest Scholar Positions
Media and Past Events
Publication: Combatting Harassment
by Anne Litwin and Sophie Hahn
Published in Managing in the Age of Change: Essential Skills to Manage Today's Workforce, Roger A. Ritvo, Anne Litwin, and Lee Butler, editors, Burr Ridge, Illinois: IRWIN Professional Publishing, 1995.
That there is no place for sexual harassment in the workplace, or anywhere else in American life, is obvious. However, the sad truth is that in many organizations it remains an ugly fact of life. Harassment of a woman by a man or of a man by a woman, or harassment between people of the same gender is in its essence the enactment of power, whether hierarchical, based on stronger physical attributes, or both. It reduces the other to an object.
As Anne Litwin and Sophie Hahn point out, it took the harassment charges brought by Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation hearings to bring harassment to light across America.
The responsible manager must be fully aware of the law and of the various levels of harassing behavior. Given the evolving nature of harassment law, managers must keep updated of changes in it as they are enacted. Litwin and Hahn also point out that if harassment is reported or observed, managers may have a most significant role to play in the investigation and resolution of alleged incidents. This may include supporting a victim, recommending or implementing punishment of a harasser, or healing the workplace in the aftermath.
Many managers shiver at the thought of having to take a proactive stance in a documented incident of harassment occurring within their purview. This is understandable. Often such incidents involve people in the workforce with whom a manager may have developed a positive work relationship. It can get messy. Yet failing to act appropriately can make the situation messier still.
Such failure continuously embeds the behavior as part of the fabric of the culture of the organization—an insidious outcome. It is in this context that becoming familiar with this chapter is a critically important dimension of the manager's role. Managers who fail to take this matter seriously are managers who are positioning themselves to become involved in potential litigation procedures, to the detriment of both themselves and their organizations.
Despite a previous lack of attention to the widespread problem of sexual harassment in the workplace, the subject has long been an issue for many employees and has been considered an illegal form of sex discrimination for more than a decade.
The issue of sexual harassment first attracted broad public attention during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation hearings in the fall of 1991. During those hearings, Anita Hill, an attorney and law professor who had formerly worked for Thomas, presented her allegations of sexual harassment and brought this previously hidden issue into the light. Today, all managers are expected to know about and work to combat sexual harassment.
Many organizations have policies defining and prohibiting sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is also against the law. Thus, every manager should familiarize herself or himself with the legal definition of sexual harassment and with the organization's own definition and policies, if any.
Because managers can be held responsible for the sexual harassment of one employee by another if the manager knew or should have known about the conduct and did nothing to stop it, they should also become familiar with and implement methods for the prevention and early detection of sexual harassment. Finally, managers may have a significant role to play in the investigation and resolution of an incident of alleged sexual harassment, including supporting a victim and recommending or implementing punishment of a harasser.
This chapter serves as an introduction to the issue of sexual harassment and the definitions, rules, policies, practices, and procedures all managers should be aware of and follow.
WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?
Sexual harassment usually falls into one of three categories: verbal, nonverbal, and physical.
Verbal sexual harassment includes suggestive comments about dress, sexual desirability, physique, or sexual orientation; jokes about gender-specific traits; sexual propositions; and sexually related threats and insults.
Non-verbal sexual harassment includes suggestive or insulting noises, obscene gestures, whistling, leering, and displaying obscene pictures.
Physical sexual harassment includes touching, pinching, standing or sitting too close, intentionally brushing against someone else's body, and coercing sexual intercourse and assault.
The Legal Definition of Sexual Harassment
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency charged with enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination (sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex), has defined sexual harassment as:
…unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature… when
submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic achievement,
submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions or academic decisions affecting such individual, or
such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment.
As more and more sexual harassment cases are reviewed by the EEOC, state and local agencies, and the courts, the legal definition of sexual harassment may be expanded or modified. Every few years, managers should request from a local EEOC office or human rights agency or from the legal or personnel department of their organizations, the most up-to-date legal definitions of sexual harassment available.
Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances. The vast majority of sexual harassment is done by a male supervisor toward a female subordinate. Although less common, victims can also be of the same gender as the harasser, and a man can be the victim of a female harasser.
In some instances, the harasser may not be the victim's own supervisor, but a colleague, a client, or another supervisory employee. Under the law, even an individual who has not been the direct recipient of unwelcome sexual conduct can be a victim of sexual harassment. For example, the direct sexual harassment of one worker can create an intimidating or hostile work environment for a co-worker who is upset by the harasser's behavior.
In general, the keys to the definition of sexual harassment are that the conduct is unwelcome and that it is of an explicitly or implicitly sexual nature.
To determine whether it would be considered sexual harassment, the severity, circumstances, and frequency of the conduct in question must be taken into account. If the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create an environment that a "reasonable person" would find hostile or abusive, and the victim perceives the environment as hostile or abusive, then the conduct is considered sexual harassment.
For example, if a male colleague asks a female colleague for a date, in a friendly manner, this alone would not be considered sexual harassment. However, if he persists, and his behavior becomes pervasive enough to detract from her job performance, it may become sexual harassment.
Some conduct could be considered sexual harassment the first time it occurs. For example, if a male supervisor suggests even once that a female subordinate can get a raise if she provides sexual favors, and this suggestion is perceived by the female subordinate to be serious, this could be considered sexual harassment.
Conduct that is considered to be of a sexual nature is conduct that makes reference, explicitly or implicitly, to a person's sexuality, sexual desirability, sexual organs, or other sexual attributes. More general comments about women or men, such as "Women are too emotional to be good managers," will not be considered to be of a sexual nature, although they may be evidence of or suggest other forms of discrimination.
Explicit conduct is obviously sexual. This would include, for example, touching sexual organs, asking a coworker to perform sexual acts, or other direct sexual conduct or requests.
Implicit conduct is less obvious behavior that would include, for example, looks or stares that, given the context, frequency, suggested intent, or accompanying body language, are in fact sexually inappropriate leers.
In many cases, behavior that is experienced as sexual harassment might not be considered sexual under other circumstances. As such, this implicit conduct can be the most difficult form of sexual harassment to understand.
For example, one colleague may occasionally compliment other colleagues on their clothes. This conduct can be harmless if done in a neutral and straightforward manner. But if these same compliments are delivered with sexual innuendo in the giver's tone of voice, or with a leer, or if a recipient indicates that such comments make her or him uncomfortable, and the compliments continue, then they may constitute sexual harassment. Thus, managers should always carefully evaluate the circumstances of conduct that may, when first described, seem entirely innocuous.
Managers should also take into account whether or not a power differential exists between two employees in evaluating conduct that appears innocuous. Unwelcome behavior is especially likely to be experienced as sexual harassment when one coworker has more formal or informal power than the other.
PREVENTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Managers can do much to create a work environment where sexual harassment is less likely to occur and where they will be able to learn about potential problems as soon as they arise. With preventive measures in place and with early warning, managers have the opportunity to address potential harassment before a situation escalates. The following are ways to create an environment in which sexual harassment will be less likely to occur.
Continually assess the work environment for signs that a problem may exist so that corrective action can be taken. Such signs may include:
Open displays of inappropriate material or behaviors such as pin-up calendars, common use of sexually explicit language, or the telling of lewd jokes
Friction between the sexes as manifested by frequent complaints or grievances pitting women and men against each other
Persistent gossip that includes whispered conversations or sexually oriented rumors
Sudden changes in an employee's job performance
Distribute and post the sexual harassment policy and reporting procedure of your organization. If none exists, post the EEOC guidelines and elaborate specific conduct that is considered unacceptable.
Educate all employees by providing sexual harassment workshops and information.
Be an example. Show a gender-neutral attitude. Ask for feedback regularly from female and male employees about your own behavior.
Be firm and consistent. Work for changes in others' attitudes. Do not tolerate offensive jokes or comments from women or men. Provide frequent feedback to employees who need to adjust their conduct.
Be personally accessible to employees and listen to their complaints.
Offer employees more than one route for registering complaints, including routes that bypass direct supervisors, who may be the source of harassment.
Respond quickly, fairly, and with as much confidentiality as possible to any complaint of sexual harassment.
INVESTIGATING AND RESOLVING INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT
If a manager observes sexual harassment or if sexual harassment is reported, that manager has an obligation to act. If the organization has a written policy, the policy and related procedures should be followed. Where no specific sexual harassment policy exists, a manager may follow a general grievance procedure.
How behavior or a complaint is handled sends a message about how the organization perceives sexual harassment. It sets a tone that has a lasting impact on future occurrences and complaints of sexual harassment. Some guidelines for properly conducting an investigation and resolving a complaint are described below. In most instances, managers should also seek the guidance of their personnel department when confronted with the possibility of sexual harassment.
Interview the complaining employee, making it clear that the complaint is taken seriously. Gather the details of what happened, including when, where, and with whom. Determine whether there were witnesses and whether the complaining employee discussed the behavior with any friends or colleagues or was seen by them to be visibly upset.
Interview the accused employee. Stay objective. Inform the accused employee that a complaint has been made against her or him and caution against any form of retaliation. It is generally not advised to reveal the name of the accuser at this point, unless she or he has agreed to be named.
Evaluate whether the matter is minor enough to be resolved through a face-to-face discussion. If so, and if the parties are willing, bring the two individuals together to try to reach agreement on what is appropriate behavior in the future. If the complainant does not agree to this session, or if the accused denies that the events occurred, then it will be necessary to proceed with a more in-depth investigation.
Interview all witnesses and individuals who may have first- or second-hand knowledge of the alleged conduct or of the complainant's reaction to the conduct. Phrase questions carefully to determine what other employees know about the situation and to protect the privacy and reputations of the employees involved.
Evaluate whether employees should be separated while the investigation is conducted. Consider whether continued day-to-day contact between the employees involved in the complaint is interfering with their ability to work, or whether the accused is able or likely to engage in intimidation or retaliation. If so, it is advisable to temporarily move the accused in order to avoid the perception of retaliation against the employee making the complaint.
Decide whether or not sexual harassment has occurred. Weigh all the evidence. Consider the credibility of each individual. Compare the reported behavior with the definition of sexual harassment. Assess the level of seriousness of the alleged behavior. In cases where there are no first- or second-hand witnesses, the EEOC rules state that the victim's word alone may prevail if it is sufficiently detailed and internally consistent.
Take action. If you determine that sexual harassment has not occurred, write a detailed report explaining why. If you determine that sexual harassment has occurred, follow the organization's disciplinary procedures. If no procedures exist, make recommendations for appropriate discipline based on the seriousness of the behavior and discuss these with the personnel department before implementation. Some examples of the range of disciplines possible are:
Mild discipline. Manager gives a verbal reprimand followed by a written warning that is not included in the employee's personnel file.
Moderate discipline. Manager gives a verbal reprimand followed by written warning that is included in the employee's personnel file. Outside counseling may also be required as a condition of continued employment, or the harasser may be transferred.
Severe discipline. Suspension, probation, demotion, or termination.
Support and/or provide restitution to the harassed employee. Tangible damage to the victim should be rectified. This may include invalidating poor performance reviews or delivering promotions or raises that were unjustly denied. Harassment victims should also be offered counseling to help them repair the psychological and emotional damage that is often sustained.
Monitor the work environment to prevent retaliation against either party by co-workers or from an accused toward an accuser. It often takes some time for the interpersonal relationships among all employees to return to normal. Employees should be provided with opportunities to discuss their feelings. Information and training can help the organization or department recover from the disruption of the harassment and/or the investigation.
Keep careful notes of all conversations and actions related to all phases of any investigation and resolution of all sexual harassment complaints.
Sexual harassment is damaging to the victims and to the workplace in general. It is also against the law. Managers can be held responsible for the sexual harassment of one employee by another if the manager knew or should have known about the conduct and did nothing to stop it.
Managers can do a lot to create work environments where sexual harassment will be less likely to occur. They have a duty to be vigilant for signs of a problem, to inform themselves and their employees, to act as role models, to be accessible to employees, to be good listeners, to be objective and consistent, and to respond quickly and with sensitivity to complaints.
If sexual harassment is reported or observed, managers may have a significant role to play in the investigation and resolution of an alleged incident, including supporting a victim, recommending or implementing punishment of a harasser, and healing the workplaces in the aftermath. It is important that managers know about the laws, policies, and procedures governing sexual harassment so they can fulfill their responsibilities, protect their organizations from costly legal action, and provide a respectful work environment for all.
Personal and Professional History
Send me more information
Buy New Rules for Women
How to Encourage Men to Take Family Leave: New Research
Misogyny in Politics: Women in Politics Face Violence and Abuse
Six Ways Female Start-Up Founders Succeed: New Research
New Research on Women in Politics from the Barbara Lee Family Foundation
Global Update on Gender Issues: Signs of Change
Archives Select Month January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014
Anne Litwin & Associates | 675 VFW Parkway, #257 | Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3656 | Phone: 617.983.0923 Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.


Ford's presents two readings of this companion play to The Laramie Project. Developed as an epilogue to the original play Ten Years Later explores what has and has not changed in Laramie in the 10 years after Matthew's death. Presented in conjunction with The Laramie Project.


In this part, I'm going to explain how to use the search function of your browser to find your Daily Bonus (or anything else you want to look for). Please know you do not need to know any of the following to play on GSN. This is for those who want a quick way to look for something in your Tokens or Oodles transactions.To find out how, keep reading.
Please note – you may have different versions of these browsers than I do. That's Ok, generally you will still have the same functionality, you may just need to look for it in a different place than I show.
Now you can scroll down looking for "Daily Bonus" under Description, and find your credits, or you can use the search functionality on your browser.
poor angel, we do ware you out don't we.
It is interesting to see how the other programs look.
or perhaps it's me that's tired.
I'll just roll with the program….and keep plugging along…..
lol, I love what I do, so no worries. 🙂 It's truly easy to download another browser if you decide to do so.
These "hot keys" skip the process of searching through the menus to find the "Find" or "Search" option. I believe this shortcut works with all three browsers you sampled.
The tokens I had after 2 pm on 1/1914 was 29000 and it there but not added to total. Then after 9pm on 1/19/14 I won 20000 tokens on wheel of fortune slots and it got added to total correctly. Thanks for letting me tell you what happened.
I typed a comment but I don't think you received it. I play wheel of fortune slots 300 bet usually. I had free spins and won 20900 tokens and was after 2pm on 1/19/14 and posted but not added to total. Then after 9pm I won 20000 on wheel slots royal blue flags . It posted and added correctly. Thanks for listening. I tried over 2hours trying to get answer and nothing.
Hi Linda, that's something you'd need to contact Player Services about.
Hi Linda, I just read your other comment. Be sure to contact Player Services with any game or account issues.
On 01/22/2014, the Oodles Bonus Trivia question asked: Who was the first US president to hold a televised news conference? The answer was Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was the first US president to hold a televised press conference but John F. Kennedy was the first US president to hold a televised news conference. This is confusing to me. Could you explain the difference in press conference and news conference please.
Hi ladybug2007, there's no difference between news and press conference. Eisenhower held the first ever televised press conference which is what the question asked. It was pre-recorded, so Kennedy is known to have held the first LIVE one.
Thank you, I understand now.
After reading the comment by ladybug2007, i had to ask this question….what if you don't agree with the answer to a trivia question posted on GSN and want to dispute the answer GSN wanted for the oodles?
You can contact Player Services.
Oh wow thanks GSNAngel for the advice for finding specific token transactions. It makes it so much easier to find my daily bonuses.
I'm sorry to switch to a different topic GSNAngel. It will only be this once for this time. Can you please check your email that I sent to you back from 1/19/13? Only if you have a chance to get to me Angel.
Oh noes! I'm sorry, I'm not seeing one on 1/19. Can you resend? My email box is weird sometimes.
I'm sorry GSNAngel. I should mean 1/22/14 that I've sent that new email to you.
Welcome to GSN SATXNana! I'm so glad you're enjoying the site. Sorry your laptop keeps freezing up. I know we're really flash heavy on the page, so if you haven't updated your flash player recently, you may want to do that. Occasionally clearing your browser cache is also a good idea too. You can also try contacting Player Services to see if they have any thoughts for you. To contact them click on GSN Help at the top of the main http://www.gsn.com page. Be sure you're logged on to your user name so you can see the contact link. We try to remove the flashing ads as we come across them. I know some people use ad blockers, but those can also block things like the Token Monkey and such.
That is because there is a LOT of Spyware on this site. seems like a new one pops up on every video you watch here. Is it me oe is there a LOT more ads and videos lately?
johnniegamshow, a lot of times ads trigger false positives for virus or spyware software. That may be what's going on for you. But it's always a good idea to clear cookies and cashe on a regular basis.
huh? spyware? I've been a member for 5 years and have never encountered any spyware.
Hi SATXNana, if you are using google chrome then I strongly suggest going to google, and looking up adblock. It will be the first one and it was made by google. Once you have that(takes a few seconds to get it) then you can go back to the page, click the stop sign with the hand in it on the end of your adress bar. Then from there you can select "Block an ad on this page" and click that pesky ad. There you go have fun SATXNana, I love this site.
Why is it when I have reached day 39 or 40 in a row my bonus tokens for each day dropped drastically. On my 40th and 41st day, I am only receiving or received 22k/21k. Before This drop off, I was getting over 100k each day. I just would like to know why I am receiving less and less now all of the sudden.
Hi Shane, When you log in you will get between 15,000 and one million tokens. These payouts will fluctuate, but please keep in mind that even the 15,000 is higher on average than the old daily spinner usually was.
Wait, are you not supposed to be able to use the spinner anymore?
Correct, this has taken the place of the spinner.
Its on our ipad, I just go online and get the extra tokens for him. The spinner that you get with the coins right when you log in is what he gets still.
I have another question GSNAngel. Do you look anything like that person in the picture at the very top of this page lol.
Haha totally. Actually it was inspired from a photograph of me. I love it!
It was for an Oodlectible a year or so ago.
I too would like to know why my bonus tokens have dropped so much! I have 136 days in a row going on my login. I know this does not matter on the tokens I get but I was part of the beta and like Shane I was getting over 100,000 tokens each day but in the last week they have dropped to less then 25,000 each day. Is this going to be like the old daily spinner where you could get up to 75,000 tokens but over the years I never came close to that. It would be nice to see some of the higher end tokens again. Has anyone seen one million tokens?
No one's posted they won a million, but I did see a post where someone got 500,000. I'm told the amounts will fluctuate over time, but people will never get below 15,000 Tokens which for me at least, is still better than the old daily spinner.
Yes 15,000 is better then the old daily spinner but to advertise up to 1 million tokens when you never see over 35,000 is not right. What are the odds of the higher payouts?
Lindsey, the payouts will fluctuate. There is no guarantee on any amount. You are averaging over 35,000. You got 38,000 today, 50,000 on Monday, 45,000 on Saturday. 43,000 day before that, etc. It's great you got in the 100,000's a couple times before, but it's not always going to do that.
Your averaging 35k!!! im averaging about 23k. You should not be upset.
I was one of the "lucky ones" that got 500,000, but that was a one shot deal and now mine has dropped also. I think everybody just got so excited at seeing the huge token payouts they were hoping that it would continue, but now that it has leveled out, they are feeling disappointed. Getting a minimum of 15,000 tokens still beats the old spinner hands down!
GSN ROCKS !YOU ARE THE GREATEST, ,but with some people the more you give the more they want!
But i'm the most confused by the Chachingo Bingo having Sochingo Bonus(?) What's that?
The My GSN page is different…it no longer shows the token case, the collections chest and the oodles safe.
I didn't even know that! It just looks as if it's changed. Go to My GSN and you still see Tokens, Collections, and Oodles in the upper-right hand corner. They're just different icons, partly hidden behind the blue banner. Just click on what you want to see, and they drop down.
Yes, i figured that out; i was just wondering why it was changed, especially since you did that very in-depth oodletorial…that's why i kidded about having to do part three. But, i still don't understand what this Sochingo Bonus is showing at the top of the Chachingo bingo. I did notice they increased the amount of tokens and oodles you get for matching numbers. Does that have anything to do with it?
my daily tokens have dropped to average of 15K – 18K from 45k -150K, but I knew that was going to happen. Fluctuating drastically.
So far today I won twice on the Valentines daily bonus for today and it took it away within minutes of winning.
Was wondering how points are counted if you won 200,000 tokens on one spin. This happened to me today 2-20-14 on Deal or No Deal!


One point I want to pound into you is that a novel is not reality, but you must make it seem real to the reader. You do this with realistic characters and a plot that makes sense—and also with the details that you select for your story. Each detail, no matter how small is important.
My own inclination is to know as much as I can before I start to write a manuscript, but some details will not come up until I'm in the midst. Nevertheless, these elements must be considered carefully.
I want to use DARK POWERS, my new Decorah Security novel, as an example. The idea for the book began with a character—Ben Walker, whom readers met in DARK MOON. During a near-death experience, Ben acquired the power to touch a dead body and get the person's last memories. I wanted to write his story, but what was the best way to do it?
First I needed a plot where he could use his psychic talent, and I decided that if he discovered the victims of a serial killer, he would know who murdered them.
Next I needed a heroine, and I came up with Sage Arnold, a hard-working accountant whose half sister, Laurel Baker, is kidnapped.
To create complications for Ben and Sage, I wanted the local police to insist that Laurel is a runaway. Why are they turning a blind eye to reality? What's their motivation? And how can they get away with their behavior?
Because this plot element had to be plausible, I thought about where I could set the story and determined that the best place would be a small town run by an "old-boy network" where most of the income comes from tourism. I could make those requirements work in a number of locations, but I decided to focus on Maryland's Eastern Shore because it's out of the mainstream and because I've gone there many times to do research for books.
Should you use real names of places for your work? I do think actual places add verisimilitude, and I often use genuine details like restaurant, city, and street names; but I have a rule that if I'm going to say something really bad about a place, I give it a fictitious name. Since the conspiracy of silence in town is a major theme in DARK POWERS, I set the story in a place I called Doncaster, although the physical features match St. Michaels, Maryland, pretty well.
The name of my fictitious town is a detail I considered carefully. Since Oxford and Cambridge are both located near St. Michaels, I continued the British theme and found Doncaster on a map of England.
Once I'd settled on Doncaster as my setting, I looked for authentic details that would make the story more vivid. The main industry on the Eastern Shore used to be fishing and crabbing, along with farming, which is why it makes sense to have abandoned warehouses and crab processing plants that are excellent locations to hide a dead body. And on the outskirts of St. Michaels is a newly developed golf course community—another prime setting for a body to turn up.
And where could a local resident stash a kidnap victim and keep her captive for several months before killing her? That would have to be in an isolated area but one that was an easy drive from downtown Doncaster—where my kidnapper/serial killer works.
My heroine, Sage Arnold, grew up in Doncaster and has a love/hate relationship with the town. We see the community and its people through her eyes and also through Ben Walker's eyes. I'm able to introduce the setting as Sage shows Ben around, commenting on the residents as she drives by shops and houses.
Scenes set in the various locations around town allowed me to drop clues about the kidnapper and the victim, clues that only become obvious near the end of the book.
And one detail that turned out to be essential—how does Ben see the last memories of murder victims and not the murderer's face? I decided he had to wear a black hood that hid his features from Ben—and from the reader.
In summary, never include a detail without carefully considering what role it will play in the story. Think of the details as enriching your book and helping to make your fictional universe real to the reader.
What do you think about when considering the setting for a story? How have you used details to make your fiction richer?
Thanks, Rebecca! This is an extremely useful analysis of the kinds of details that make your writing richer and more firmly "in place" in its setting.
I do a lot of research for my Scottish books, but I do need to walk the ground and get a visceral feel for the locations I use - not that I can jump back to the 16th century, but a trip to Scotland is on my radar. There's only so much I can get from reading.
As you said - you've made many trips to the Easter Shore. Your writing reflects the 'feel' of the place.
Another great post. I'm really enjoying this blog.
Sometimes I forget that my readers don't know my characters as well as I do. I also sometimes forget how important it is to remind readers of simple setting details. At the end of one chapter, I left my character with a great hook and it was raining. When I began the next chapter, I have him wiping moisture from his face. The first critique comment was WHERE DID THE MOISTURE COME FROM? I forgot to reset the scene--- remind reader where I left off.Those details, which clogged my head, need to be written down.
Again, I love this blog. It's so helpful. Keep them coming.
Yes, you have to pay attention to little details like that. And keep track of what they're wearing. I have to go back and check on their clothing to make sure I have the right outfit in a subsequent scene.
I know details can impact credibility and make a setting very real. The same applies to characters. You've done a masterful job with Dark Moon. The reader has no doubt that Ben can do what he says and experiencing it with him was icing on the cake. It's good to get these reminders because as basic as they are, they're easy to forget. Great going!
Yes, Dark Powers. For Dark Moon, I used a lot of what I've picked up on cruise ships.
Luckily for me, I write paranormals set in ancient Egypt - you can't get more rich detail than that to play with! But then when I do my SF adventures in the future, I don't have the luxury of 3000 years of someone's civilization to pull from. Really enjoyed the post.
Good advice on real locations and problems that they cause. Fortunately, you can't get the details of a made-up location wrong and the real estate in your imagination never changes, gets torn down or paved for a parking lot.
Actually, for me, that's not quite right. The real estate I make up sometimes DOES change, and I have to make sure the details stayed the same.
True that. If readers get annoyed by mistakes in reality, they get even more ticked (not to mention, confused) when you are inconsistent in a reality that you have created Considering all the world building that you have done in your work, it must sometimes be difficult to keep track of your own imaginary "real estate," particularly when you spread it out over a number of books, as you have done. How do you keep tabs on the rules and those fantasy settings that you use? Or can we look forward to a post on how you do your literary housekeeping?
I am not great at making notes. I know the rules of my werewolves, but I sometimes have to thumb through previous books to find details that I've forgotten--like the names of children, for example. Another problem is that you my set something up, then find it's hard to keep that going in subsequent books. I first wrote about my dragon shifters in a short story for the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. To fit that story in, I had to make my dragon shifter also a vampire. Now I'm writing the third novella in my Chronicles of Arandal series for Carina, and I wish I'd left out the vampire part. Oh well.
I,be written several books in a military setting and several with courtroom drama, because that's what I know. Someday, though, I'd like to make up a completely fictional world for my characters.
Very interesting reading. I usually write non-fiction so this is not something I've thought too much about other than when I am setting scenes and quoting. Sometimes what really is said or that actually happens seems implausible, but since it's non-fiction I don't have to worry about it being believable.
What a great post I loved it. Thanks for sharing and it makes a lot of good sense. I hope I can work something out with the two things I've been working with. I might be able to use some of this planning for NaNo in Nov. Awesome ideas and thanks for sharing.
I can't wait to dive into this addition to the Decorah Security series. I've always thought "the devil's in the details" and this is very true about writing fiction. I've set books in real locations where things can happen in public places and I can get a sense of place and time either by visiting in person or by using Google Street View. I've also created fictional locations for the same reasons as you outlined above.
Readers are very discerning. If there are glaring plot holes or quantum leaps of logic, they notice. Everything has to make sense--location, backstory, relationship, conflict, and resolution.
FYI, I always learn something from your posts, Rebecca. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom.
Thanks! If I can't visit a place, I do web research, but I also like to talk to people who live there. Long ago, I spent a week in Madrid researching a RS novel. In the midst of writing the book, I sent my characters to a theater in Madrid. Then I realized I didn't know how the theater told people intermission was over. I called up the Spanish department at George Washington University and asked a professor. (they ring a bell.) Oh--and the play the h/h were watching was one I'd studied in a Spanish class.
Excellent post! I've set my own first stories in my geographic location, changing names and some details. But I know the area so well that it just seemed natural for the stories I wanted to tell.
Once I'm finished with this series I may shift to another local.
It was quite eerie reading a book set in the fictional Doncaster, US, since I live in the real Doncaster, England! Worked for me, though. It felt very real.


Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since activists first denounced as "feminicides" the murders of women and girls occurring with alarming frequency around Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The accumulating, gender-based murders generated a vibrant anti-feminicide movement and captured public interest far beyond the transborder region. Analysis of the murders also ignited heated debates within academic and journalistic communities. A first generation of writers studying the murders largely analyzed them within this gender-based, feminicide framework. More recently, a number of journalists and scholars have challenged that approach, arguing that the death of women in Juárez did not arise from any gender specificity, and that they could only be understood by reference to the more numerous murders of men in the region. These revisionist approaches dismiss those who frame the murders as feminicides as either shoddy researchers or opportunists. In this article, I explore the historiography of these debates and place the revisionist analyses within a larger debate about the utility of empiricist approaches as a primary instrument of social explanation. I suggest that critical theory, in particular feminist analysis, provides a better conceptual tool for understanding the nature and causes of violence against women in Ciudad Juárez.


text:
Q: Jenkins does not restart slaves after idle timeout I've got Jenkins set up with a master and one EC2 slave.

*

*The master is set up with # of executors: 0

The slave is set up with

*

*of executors: 2

*Stop/Disconnect on Idle Timeout

*Utilize this node as much as possible

When the slave is offline, and a new build is scheduled, it just hangs on pending—Waiting for next available executor. The slave is not started.
Launching the slave manually via the UI in Jenkins works fine. My builds are then run.
Am I missing a setting? Should Jenkins not fire up the slave when it is needed?
Thanks

A: The latest stable release of Jenkins just looked at the instance AMI ID to determine if any slaves were running. Since our master had the same AMI as the slaves, Jenkins figured we had reached our maximum amount of slaves (1).
Upgrading to a SNAPSHOT version of Jenkins solved the issue. It now adds a tag to all slaves, and uses that when counting.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
/*
 *
 * PrototypeExplorer constants
 *
 */

export const DEFAULT_ACTION = 'app/PrototypeExplorer/DEFAULT_ACTION';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
import sys

from oslo_config import cfg

from st2common import config
from st2common import log as logging
from st2common.script_setup import setup as common_setup
from st2common.script_setup import teardown as common_teardown
from st2reactor.rules.tester import RuleTester

__all__ = [
    'main'
]

LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)

def _do_register_cli_opts(opts, ignore_errors=False):
    for opt in opts:
        try:
            cfg.CONF.register_cli_opt(opt)
        except:
            if not ignore_errors:
                raise

def _register_cli_opts():
    cli_opts = [
        cfg.StrOpt('rule', default=None,
                   help='Path to the file containing rule definition.'),
        cfg.StrOpt('rule-ref', default=None,
                   help='Ref of the rule.'),
        cfg.StrOpt('trigger-instance', default=None,
                   help='Path to the file containing trigger instance definition'),
        cfg.StrOpt('trigger-instance-id', default=None,
                   help='Id of the Trigger Instance to use for validation.')
    ]
    _do_register_cli_opts(cli_opts)

def main():
    _register_cli_opts()
    common_setup(config=config, setup_db=True, register_mq_exchanges=False)

    try:
        tester = RuleTester(rule_file_path=cfg.CONF.rule,
                            rule_ref=cfg.CONF.rule_ref,
                            trigger_instance_file_path=cfg.CONF.trigger_instance,
                            trigger_instance_id=cfg.CONF.trigger_instance_id)
        matches = tester.evaluate()
    finally:
        common_teardown()

    if matches:
        LOG.info('=== RULE MATCHES ===')
        sys.exit(0)
    else:
        LOG.info('=== RULE DOES NOT MATCH ===')
        sys.exit(1)


The farm is located at the 19 Km of Jalan Muar Pagoh, Johor and was featured in the "Jalan-jalan cari makan" TV3 program. The farm covers an area of over 3200 acres, known to be the largest Herbs and Spices farm in Asia, producing 6 to 10 metric tonnes of raw herbs and spices each day. The farm is planted with 135 types of herbs collected from all over the world.
The farm practises organic fertilization technique to prevent chemical contamination.
There are a restaurant, a herbal SPA, a resort and a processing plant inside the farm.
Nasuha Herbal Restaurant beckons visitors with it's uniquely crafted decorations that touches on nature and health-themed creations. The restaurant serves a variety of spicy and herbal cuisines with 8 selection of herbal teas based on individual specific health needs or merely just for general health.
Dormitory, villa and cottage can be rented from RM30 per person for dormitary up to RM600 for a cottage.
The Therapeutic Health Spa consist of 3 lodges. Each of these lodge has 2 sauna rooms that can accommodate 2 to 4 persons each time. These lodges are built from a combination of designs from Japan, China, Korea, Finland, Egypt to obtain the most effective herbal sauna. The saunas are heated using steam from underground. The rocks are slowly heated to 90 C. Herbal infused water is then splashed at the rocks to produce steam, thus giving a refreshing aroma and formation of negative ions which is beneficial to health.
Group tour can be arranged to visit the farm, bird watching, hiking, etc. and stress management course is also offered to public members.
From PLUS highway, get out at Pagoh Interchange and follow Jalan Muar-Pagoh to Muar direction. Nasuha Herbs and Spices Farm is at about 5 Km from Interchange and is situated on your left hand side.
From Muar city, take the Jalan Pagoh to PLUS highway, the farm is at 19 Km.


text:
fou un eminent pianista i compositor alemany.

Biografia
Va estudiar primer amb Peter Joseph von Lindpaintner. Va ser enviat a París pel rei de Wurtemberg, i es va quedar allà durant quatre anys per continuar els seus estudis, ensenyant i tocant. Després va anar a Berlín, on es va establir com a pianista de la cort i va ser deixeble de Siegfried Dehn.

El 1845 tornà a París i romangué com a professor de piano, continuant la seva activitat en solitari i dedicant-se a la composició. Compon 168 peces per a piano de tot tipus, incloent peces com: estudis, Six Jours de la Semaine són particularment coneguts, capricis, nocturns, peces de gènere, transcripcions, danses, un Bolero, una polonesa.

Va fundar la societat benèfica Alemanya, que sota el segon Imperi va ser un dels principals llocs d'intercanvi entre artistes francesos, com Édouard Lalo, Louis Théodore Gouvy i alemanys. Va cessar la seva activitat el 1870.

Va introduir intèrprets com Clara Schumann (1862), compositors com Bach i Händel, la música de teclat de la qual va editar. Organitzà diversos concerts cada any per ajudar els artistes alemanys a quedar-se a París. Juntament amb el violinista Richard Hammer i el violoncel·lista François-Emile Rignault, va interpretar per primera vegada el trio de Robert Schumann, Opus 63, a París, a principi de 1856.

El desembre de 1868, va obrir amb Benjamin Godard un curs de música Ensemble situat a la Rue Bergère 26 de París. Després de la declaració de guerra francoprussiana, va tornar a Stuttgart per ensenyar al Conservatori.

Referències

Bibliografia
 Johann Christian Kruger: la seva vida i obres: una contribució Alemanya Litteratur-i la història del Teatre del segle 18Th per Wilhelm Christian Wittekindt (114163595X)

Professors universitaris
Compositors alemanys del Romanticisme
Morts a Stuttgart
Compositors de Baden-Württemberg
Pianistes de Baden-Württemberg
Artistes de Stuttgart


This Sterling Silver Amethyst and Diamond Knot Pendant is selling today for just $29.00! You will be saving 90% off the listed price of $289.00 with this jewelry deal.
What I like about this amethyst necklace is the deep purple color of the stone.
This item comes with an 18" sterling silver chain and Free Shipping!


text:
package com.ait.lienzo.client.core.shape.json;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Set;

import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.Attribute;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.AttributeType;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.config.LienzoCore;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.image.filter.ImageDataFilter;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.image.filter.ImageDataFilterable;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.palette.Palette;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.palette.PaletteItem;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.shape.IContainer;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.shape.Node;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.shape.json.validators.ValidationContext;
import com.ait.lienzo.client.core.shape.json.validators.ValidationException;
import com.ait.tooling.common.api.java.util.StringOps;
import com.google.gwt.json.client.JSONArray;
import com.google.gwt.json.client.JSONObject;
import com.google.gwt.json.client.JSONParser;
import com.google.gwt.json.client.JSONString;
import com.google.gwt.json.client.JSONValue;

/**
 * JSONDeserializer deserializes {@link IJSONSerializable} objects from JSON strings.
 * IJSONSerializables can be serialized with {@link IJSONSerializable#toJSONString()}
 *
 * @see Node#toJSONString()
 */
public final class JSONDeserializer
{
    private static final JSONDeserializer INSTANCE = new JSONDeserializer();

    public static final JSONDeserializer get()// questionable? do we allow sub-classing? this is always a problem with singletons. Should the class be final?
    {
        return INSTANCE;
    }

    private JSONDeserializer()
    {
        // There can be only one. Therefore it's a Singleton and can't be sub-classed, all methods and variables can be final
    }

    /**
     * Parses the JSON string and returns the {@link IJSONSerializable}.
     * Same as {@link #fromString(String, boolean)} with validate set to true.
     *
     * @param string JSON string as produced by {@link IJSONSerializable#toJSONString()}
     * @return IJSONSerializable
     */
    public final IJSONSerializable<?> fromString(final String string) throws Exception, ValidationException
    {
        final ValidationContext ctx = new ValidationContext();

        ctx.setValidate(true);

        ctx.setStopOnError(true);

        final IJSONSerializable<?> result = fromString(string, ctx);

        if (ctx.getErrorCount() > 0)
        {
            throw new ValidationException(ctx);
        }
        if (null == result)
        {
            throw new Exception("Unknown reason for NULL result in JSONParser");
        }
        return result;
    }

    /**
     * Parses the JSON string and returns the IJSONSerializable.
     * If validate is true, it will attempt to validate the attributes and types of child nodes etc.
     * If validate is false, it assumes the JSON string is correct
     * (this is a little faster.)
     *
     * @param string JSON string as produced by {@link IJSONSerializable#toJSONString()}
     * @param validate Whether to validate the attributes and child node types
     * @return IJSONSerializable
     */
    public final IJSONSerializable<?> fromString(String string, final boolean validate)
    {
        if (null == (string = StringOps.toTrimOrNull(string)))
        {
            return null;
        }
        final JSONValue value = JSONParser.parseStrict(string);

        if (null == value)
        {
            return null;
        }
        final JSONObject json = value.isObject();

        if (null == json)
        {
            return null;
        }
        try
        {
            final ValidationContext ctx = new ValidationContext();

            ctx.setValidate(validate);

            ctx.setStopOnError(true);// bail if an error is encountered

            return fromJSON(json, ctx);
        }
        catch (ValidationException e)
        {
            return null;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Parses the JSON string and returns the IJSONSerializable.
     * Use this method if you need to parse JSON that may contain one or more errors.
     *

     * ValidationContext ctx = new ValidationContext();
     * ctx.setValidate(true);
     * ctx.setStopOnError(false); // find all errors
     * IJSONSerializable<?> node = JSONDeserializer.getInstance().fromString(jsonString, ctx);
     * if (ctx.getErrorCount() > 0)
     * {
     *   Console.log(ctx.getDebugString());
     * }
     *

     *
     * @param string JSON string as produced by {@link IJSONSerializable#toJSONString()}
     * @param ctx ValidationContext
     * @return IJSONSerializable
     */
    public final IJSONSerializable<?> fromString(String string, final ValidationContext ctx)
    {
        try
        {
            ctx.push("fromString");

            if (null == (string = StringOps.toTrimOrNull(string)))
            {
                ctx.addError("NULL JSON String");

                return null;
            }
            final JSONValue value = JSONParser.parseStrict(string);

            if (null == value)
            {
                ctx.addError("NULL from JSONParser");

                return null;
            }
            final JSONObject json = value.isObject();

            if (null == json)
            {
                ctx.addError("Result is not a JSONObject");

                return null;
            }
            return fromJSON(json, ctx);
        }
        catch (ValidationException e)
        {
            return null;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Creates a IJSONSerializable from the JSONObject, using the ValidationContext.
     *

     * You should only call this when you're writing your own node class
     * and you're building a custom {@link IFactory}.
     *
     * @param json JSONObject
     * @param ctx ValidationContext
     * @return IJSONSerializable
     * @throws ValidationException
     */
    public final IJSONSerializable<?> fromJSON(final JSONObject json, final ValidationContext ctx) throws ValidationException
    {
        if (null == json)
        {
            return null;
        }
        String type = null;

        IFactory<?> factory = null;

        final JSONValue tval = json.get("type");

        ctx.push("type");

        if (null == tval)
        {
            ctx.addRequiredError();
        }
        else
        {
            final JSONString styp = tval.isString();

            if (null == styp)
            {
                ctx.addBadTypeError("String");
            }
            else
            {
                type = styp.stringValue();

                factory = LienzoCore.get().getFactory(type);

                if (null == factory)
                {
                    ctx.addMissingNodeFactoryError(type);
                }
            }
        }
        ctx.pop();// type

        if (null == factory)
        {
            return null;
        }
        else
        {
            if (ctx.isValidate())
            {
                // we don't need to validate during a copy operation!

                validateAttributes(json, factory, type, ctx);
            }
            if (factory.isPostProcessed())
            {
                final IJSONSerializable<?> node = factory.create(json, ctx);

                if (null != node)
                {
                    factory.process(node, ctx);
                }
                return node;
            }
            else
            {
                return factory.create(json, ctx);
            }
        }
    }

    protected final void validateAttributes(final JSONObject json, final IFactory<?> factory, final String type, final ValidationContext ctx) throws ValidationException
    {
        final JSONValue aval = json.get("attributes");

        if (null == aval)
        {
            return;// OK - 'attributes' is optional
        }
        ctx.push("attributes");

        final JSONObject aobj = aval.isObject();

        if (aobj == null)
        {
            ctx.addBadTypeError("Object");

            return;
        }
        else
        {
            // Make sure all required attributes are defined (and not null)

            final Set<String> keys = aobj.keySet();

            for (Attribute attr : factory.getRequiredAttributes())
            {
                final String attrName = attr.getProperty();

                ctx.push(attrName);

                if (false == keys.contains(attrName))
                {
                    ctx.addRequiredError();// value is missing
                }
                else
                {
                    final JSONValue jval = aobj.get(attrName);

                    if (((jval == null) || (jval.isNull() != null)))
                    {
                        ctx.addRequiredError();// value is null
                    }
                }
                ctx.pop();// attrName
            }
            // Now check the attribute values

            for (String attrName : keys)
            {
                ctx.push(attrName);

                final AttributeType atyp = factory.getAttributeType(attrName);

                if (atyp == null)
                {
                    ctx.addInvalidAttributeError(type);
                }
                else
                {
                    atyp.validate(aobj.get(attrName), ctx);
                }
                ctx.pop();// attrName
            }
        }
        ctx.pop();// attributes
    }

    /**
     * Creates the child nodes for a {@link IJSONSerializable} that implements
     * {@link IContainer} from a JSONObject node.
     *

     * You should only call this when you're writing your own {@link IContainer} class
     * and you're building a custom {@link IFactory}.
     *
     * @param container IContainer
     * @param node parent JSONObject
     * @param factory IContainerFactory
     * @param ctx ValidationContext
     * @throws ValidationException
     */

    public final void deserializeChildren(final IContainer<?, ?> container, final JSONObject node, final IContainerFactory factory, final ValidationContext ctx) throws ValidationException
    {
        JSONValue jsonvalu = node.get("children");

        if (null == jsonvalu)
        {
            return;// OK - 'children' is optional
        }
        ctx.push("children");

        final JSONArray array = jsonvalu.isArray();

        if (null == array)
        {
            ctx.addBadTypeError("Array");
        }
        else
        {
            final int size = array.size();

            for (int i = 0; i < size; i++)
            {
                ctx.pushIndex(i);

                jsonvalu = array.get(i);

                final JSONObject object = jsonvalu.isObject();

                if (null == object)
                {
                    ctx.addBadTypeError("Object");
                }
                else
                {
                    final IJSONSerializable<?> serial = fromJSON(object, ctx);

                    if (null != serial)
                    {
                        if (serial instanceof Node)
                        {
                            if (false == factory.addNodeForContainer(container, (Node<?>) serial, ctx))
                            {
                                ;
                            }
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            ctx.addBadTypeError("Node");
                        }
                    }
                }
                ctx.pop();// index
            }
        }
        ctx.pop();// children
    }

    public final void deserializeFilters(final ImageDataFilterable<?> filterable, final JSONObject node, final ValidationContext ctx) throws ValidationException
    {
        JSONValue jsonvalu = node.get("filters");

        if (null == jsonvalu)
        {
            return;// OK - 'children' is optional
        }
        ctx.push("filters");

        final JSONArray array = jsonvalu.isArray();

        if (null == array)
        {
            ctx.addBadTypeError("Array");
        }
        else
        {
            final int size = array.size();

            final ArrayList<ImageDataFilter<?>> list = new ArrayList<ImageDataFilter<?>>(size);

            for (int i = 0; i < size; i++)
            {
                ctx.pushIndex(i);

                jsonvalu = array.get(i);

                final JSONObject object = jsonvalu.isObject();

                if (null == object)
                {
                    ctx.addBadTypeError("Object");
                }
                else
                {
                    final IJSONSerializable<?> serial = fromJSON(object, ctx);

                    if (null != serial)
                    {
                        if (serial instanceof ImageDataFilter)
                        {
                            list.add((ImageDataFilter<?>) serial);
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            ctx.addBadTypeError("ImageDataFilter");
                        }
                    }
                }
                ctx.pop();// index
            }
            filterable.setFilters(list);
        }
        ctx.pop();// children
    }

    public final void deserializePaletteItems(final Palette palette, final JSONObject node, final ValidationContext ctx) throws ValidationException
    {
        JSONValue jsonvalu = node.get("items");

        if (null == jsonvalu)
        {
            return;// OK - 'children' is optional
        }
        ctx.push("items");

        final JSONArray array = jsonvalu.isArray();

        if (null == array)
        {
            ctx.addBadTypeError("Array");
        }
        else
        {
            final int size = array.size();

            final ArrayList<PaletteItem> list = new ArrayList<PaletteItem>(size);

            for (int i = 0; i < size; i++)
            {
                ctx.pushIndex(i);

                jsonvalu = array.get(i);

                final JSONObject object = jsonvalu.isObject();

                if (null == object)
                {
                    ctx.addBadTypeError("Object");
                }
                else
                {
                    final IJSONSerializable<?> serial = fromJSON(object, ctx);

                    if (null != serial)
                    {
                        if (serial instanceof PaletteItem)
                        {
                            list.add((PaletteItem) serial);
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            ctx.addBadTypeError("PaletteItem");
                        }
                    }
                }
                ctx.pop();// index
            }
            palette.setPaletteItems(list);
        }
        ctx.pop();// children
    }
}


text:
Arbil Limited's Molly Smith Wins Prestigious Apprentice of the Year Title
Committed to leading the field when it comes to apprenticeships; West Midlands based Arbil Limited is pleased to announce one of its outstanding apprentices has won the title of City of Coventry Freemen's Guild Apprentice of the Year 2013.
Molly Smith, who joined the leading lifting gear, rail product and 4x4 accessory manufacturer and supplier back in August 2012, saw off competition in numbers from the midlands area to win the title. Molly began her apprenticeship in Business Administration with Arbil Limited after going through a highly competitive interview process. Molly explains,
"After completing my AS levels and attending college to begin a Level 3 Certificate in Principles of Business and Administration, I quickly realised that just sitting in a class room wasn't for me. I wanted to continue my learning but be doing this whilst in a job where I could gain real hands on experience whilst earning a salary. This was when I was put in touch with Arbil through City College Coventry and I haven't looked back since."
With its 50 year history, Arbil was one of the first midland manufacturing based employers to open up its doors to apprentices. Molly was one of a number of applicants who regularly apply to join the Arbil team in manufacturing, customer facing and 'behind the scenes' roles. Chris Maughan, Arbil Branch Controller, details why Molly stood out from the rest,
"When the requirement arose for a further member of office staff due to growth at the branch, we looked no further than City College Coventry and their apprenticeship schemes. Arbil employ in excess of 70 people and bringing in apprentices to add to this number is vital to continue to train individuals with the skill sets we need. The Principles of Business and Administration course which Molly applied for with us was inundated with CV's of a very high calibre. Molly stood out to us because of her level of maturity, people skills and enthusiasm, combined with the capabilities to do the job asked of her.' Maughan continues,
'Since joining us Molly has become an extremely popular member of the team, not only building relationships with work colleagues but also customers and suppliers. In a nationwide organisation made up of 5 fully owned sites, including a head office in Lye & the branch in Coventry which Molly primarily works from, it can sometimes be daunting starting a new role; however Molly has taken everything in her stride. Molly has gone over and above the call of duty on numerous occasions and has even managed to open brand new trading accounts with other local businesses within her first year."
Both Molly and Arbil have been presented with trophies to mark their successes as an employer and employee. Molly has also been awarded a cheque for £1000 by the City of Coventry Freemen's Guild for all of her hard work and efforts.
Keen to continue to develop its apprentice's careers, Arbil Limited is now also working with Molly to support her with her Higher Apprenticeship where she will study a Level 4 Diploma in Business and Professional Administration.
Arbil Limited is always keen to employ local, enthusiastic, young people. If Molly's success story is something you would like to achieve simply contact hr@arbil.co.uk with your CV and cover letter.


text:
Photograph by Greg Kahn, National Geographic
A true sanctuary for chimps?
This is part of our daily newsletter series. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe here.
By Rachael Bale, ANIMALS Executive Editor
Over the past decade, the "retirement" of chimpanzees from labs has filled sanctuaries across the country. Once used in medical research, the chimps would be able to live out their lives in relative comfort and freedom. But since then, there has been a lot of debate over what qualifies as proper chimp care, according to chimpanzee expert Steve Ross at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.
The debate recently boiled over at Project Chimps, a sanctuary in Georgia with 78 chimps, when former employees and volunteers began speaking out about their concerns that the chimps weren't getting proper veterinary care, enrichment, and housing—claims the sanctuary vehemently denies. One debate is over how much time chimps (pictured above) get in an open-air habitat.
Nat Geo reporter Rachel Fobar spent six months investigating. She spoke to dozens of current and former staff, volunteers, and interns, as well as outside experts, and she visited the sanctuary twice. (Read what she found here.) While she was working on the story, Project Chimps filed a defamation lawsuit against two of its most outspoken critics, saying they'd "embarked on a campaign to smear" the sanctuary.
This very public controversy highlights the challenges of caring for these highly intelligent animals in a captive setting. They require complex enrichment activities to keep their brains occupied and bodies healthy, for example, and because they're so smart and strong, they can get loose and pose a danger to humans if they're not in extra-secure enclosures.
"People on both sides agree that chimps aren't meant to be in captivity," Fobar told me. But these chimps are, "so then the question then becomes: What can sanctuaries do to provide the best possible care?"
Do you get this newsletter daily? If not, sign up here or forward to a friend.
Your Instagram photo of the day
PHOTOGRAPH BY @AMIVITALE
Little one: Photographer Ami Vitale captured this image of a baby panda, birthed by seven-year-old giant panda Min Min at Bifengxia Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center in Sichuan Province, China. It was three long days and nights of waiting for her to give birth, and the vets thought it was likely to be a stillbirth, Vitale tells us of the birth in 2015. "Much to our delight, a very healthy giant panda cub emerged with a loud scream. She was the largest cub born that year, and first-time mother Min Min proved to be an excellent mother," says Vitale, author of Panda Love. "Giant pandas are born tiny, blind, and helpless. The limbs of newborn pandas are so weak that they are not able to stand, and for the first two months baby pandas only nurse, sleep, and poo. They are weaned between eight or nine months and a year old." Note: Vitale has had to get into disguise to photograph the pandas.
Subscriber exclusive: Pandas get to know their wild side
Are you one of our 140 million Instagram followers? (If not, follow us now.)
Today in a minute
What's killing Botswana's elephants? They walk in circles and appear dizzy before suddenly dropping dead, sometimes face-first. Hundreds of them. Nat Geo'sDina Fine Maron explores the suspects: ingestion of toxic bacteria in water, anthrax poisoning, poisoning by humans, and a killer microbe. Also possible: viral infection from rodents, which killed off more than 60 elephants in South Africa in the early 1990s. "Sudden death preceded by neurological symptoms would be consistent with this rodent-borne virus, which causes heart failure," she writes.
Feline hitchhikers: Researchers say ancestors of the domesticated house cat tagged along with Neolithic farmers who migrated from the Fertile Crescent to modern-day Poland. That's the conclusion from a study that found the first known skeletal remains of Near Eastern wildcats in four Polish caves near 6,000-year-old farming settlements. "The feline's presence suggests it was comfortable living alongside, if not exactly with, humans—an important step on the road to becoming fully domesticated," Virginia Morell writes for Nat Geo.
Deadly: Poaching in Uganda is on the rise, with people using cheap wire snares and deadly steel traps to try to catch animals to sell or eat. Antelopes and boars are the usual targets, but giraffes, lions, and other animals also accidentally get caught. Authorities believe thousands of these devices have been hidden in national parks since the mid-March shutdown for the pandemic. "The sudden loss of visitors in the parks, where their presence helps deter poachers, has hampered ranger operations," Dina Fine Maron reports.
An unlikely ally in the fight against STDs: Koalas? Really? They may be key to studying chlamydia, one of the world's most persistent diseases. The bacteria causing chlamydia in humans is close to that infecting koalas, leading to severe inflammation, massive cysts, scarring of the reproductive tract of the animal, and sometimes infertility. "The koala is more than just a fancy animal model," microbiologist Peter Timms told the New York Times. "It actually is really useful for human studies."
The big takeaway
Photograph by MICHAEL NICHOLS WITH RONAN DONOVAN AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Good news from Yellowstone: Wolves reintroduced 25 years ago have had a positive effect on the ecosystem, researchers say. One example are elk herds, which are becoming stronger and more resilient because wolves are culling the weaker members, Christine Peterson writes for Nat Geo. That's the goal, says Doug Smith, Yellowstone's senior wildlife biologist. Because weather in the future will be very unpredictable, "we want a buffer" against mass die-offs, Smith says. Pictured above, wolves and black-billed magpies scavenge at a dump where carcasses are stored in Yellowstone National Park.
Overheard at Nat Geo
PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN SKERRY
Why track the biggest sharks? Not to tell their individual stories, but to answer the many questions scientists still have, Jason Bittel writes for Nat Geo. A large great white shark could help reveal "where great white sharks mate, where they gestate, and where they give birth," says Chris Fischer, whose Ocearch organization has tagged some of the biggest sharks on Earth. Pictured above, a great white shark checking out a caged diver off Australia.
Not enough sharks? Check out videos, articles and more at natgeo.com/Sharkfest and tune in to the launch of SharkFest this Sunday at 8/7c on National Geographic.
In a few words
We're the ones who are dangerous. It's not that sharks are without dangers, but if you want to say who poses the greater threat between the two, there's no doubt it's humans.
ByJuliet EilperinAuthor of Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks; From: It's the sharks that should be afraid of humans
Did a friend forward this to you?
Come back tomorrow for Whitney Johnson on the latest in photography news. If you're not a subscriber, sign up here to also get Debra Adams Simmons on history, George Stone on travel, and Victoria Jaggard on science.
The last glimpse
Photograph by Domenic Biagini
So many questions: What's a beluga whale doing swimming off San Diego? How come the beluga is all alone? This beluga, captured by a drone video, is the farthest south this species has ever been officially recorded, Jason G. Goldman writes for Nat Geo. The beluga appeared to be in good conditions, and there have been unconfirmed later sightings farther north, off the Channel Islands, near Los Angeles. Scientists are baffled. "I'd like to think that it's on a grand adventure," says Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a research associate at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
This newsletter has been curated and edited by David Beard, with photo selections by Jen Tse. Have an idea or a link? We'd love to hear from you at david.beard@natgeo.com . And thanks for reading.