text:
Further to resolution 2254 (2015) of the Security Council, unanimously adopted on 18 December 2015, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, has intensified efforts towards convening representatives of the Syrian Government and the broadest possible spectrum of the Syrian opposition and others to engage in a political process leading towards implementation of the objectives and principles for a political solution to the Syrian conflict as contained in the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012, and the Vienna Statements of 30 October and 14 November 2015.
In line with the clear parameters outlined in Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), the Special Envoy intends to complete his consultations in early January, with a view to initiating intra-Syrian talks on a target date of 25 January 2016 in Geneva. He counts on full cooperation of all the relevant Syrian parties in this process. Continuing developments on the ground should not be allowed to derail it. The Special Envoy also relies on the continued crucial support of the International Syria Support Group.
The people of Syria have suffered enough. Their tragedy is now felt throughout the region and beyond. They deserve the full attention and commitment from all their Syrian representatives, who should now show leadership and vision to overcome differences for the sake of Syria.
Geneva, 26 December 2015.
MR. STAFFAN DE MISTURA
Cairo, 13 September 2015
Mr. [President], Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby, distinguished ministers,
1.	It is with a great sense of responsibility that I address you today – for the first time in Cairo – about what has become the world's largest humanitarian disaster and perhaps one of the most complex political and security challenges of our times. History will judge us. I have said this at every occasion – the scope, danger and threat of the Syrian tragedy should force all of us to leave no stone unturned in trying to end this bloodshed helping Syrians to set their country on a path to healing and reconstruction.
Mr. [President],
2.	Let me take a moment to recall my Office's efforts to-date before we can address the way forward. I took on this assignment a few months after the end of the Geneva II process and the departure of Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, a person I respect a lot. At that time, the Secretary-General undertook a deep assessment of the situation in Syria. On 20 June 2014 he made a quite important policy speech to the Asia Society where he outlined six UN priorities on Syria.
3.	He emphasised the importance of saving lives and protecting the most precious for the Syrians, the dignity of the Syrian people. He called for new efforts to start a serious political process for a new Syria, and use the roadmap offered by the Geneva Communique for that purpose. The Communiqué is the roadmap. He urged regional and international players to lend their support to his Envoy in this respect. The Secretary-General also highlighted the importance of accountability for serious crimes, which we all know are being committed in Syria – and one day serious crimes need to be considered in the context of accountability -, and of addressing the regional dimensions of the conflict, including the extremist threat.
4.	Guided by these priorities, I started my mission last September. Very quickly it became clear to me, as it remained so for you, that the political complexities of the Syrian conflict are such that there was no prospect for any political process at that time, and we needed to break this sense and not give up. Regretfully, Syrian, regional and international players, despite continuously repeating their support for a political solution. Everybody wished me good luck, saying there could only be a political solution. But other agendas were being moved forward away from the negotiations table.
5.	Meanwhile Daesh took advantage of the chaos in Syria, set roots and started to expand, as well as threaten the entire region and beyond. Many, across all the political divides around the Syrian conflict, agreed on the urgent need to halt Daesh. I had hoped that this new factor, the threat of Daesh, would be enough to have a proactive discussion on fighting terrorism and the need for a political solution, as the two aspects go together. It should not be one before the other.
6.	I sincerely hoped then that this unity against a common enemy could be taken to the next level. I proposed the Aleppo Freeze. In that proposal, I was guided by only one objective – saving lives from being killed by a barrel bomb or a stray mortar or gas, giving hope. Many were skeptical and remain so. Where they were right to a certain degree was that any such initiative could not work absent a political horizon. I got that message. That sense of urgency for a political horizon only intensified as horrifying images of Daesh continued atrocities, aerial bombardment by the Syrian Government, rockets by armed opposition groups affecting civilians.
7.	Against this background, back in March in Sharm el-Sheikh addressing the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General instructed me to intensify efforts towards a political process. There was no indication of anything new, but he felt it essential after five years of war, 20 years after Srebrenica and as the UN was celebrating its 70th anniversary. He asked me to consult broadly with Syrians, and told me to look around to come up with recommendations on how to operationalize the Geneva Communique. On 5 May, I rolled-out a process of separate meetings with Syrian, regional and international stakeholders. We did my best to talk to all who could share any valuable analysis , and ensure that no Syrian could say he or she had not been heard.
8.	As a result of over [200] meetings, in early July, I reported back to the Secretary-General my own analysis. As requested, we put forth a way to operationalize the Geneva Communique. This is the famous paper that was leaked, referencing the TGB. But unfortunately there was not enough critical mass to support this. Then I presented a process, although I do not like the term because of MEPP connotations, but it is needed to work on non-controversial issues, and maintain the pressure for a real political dialogue, regionally and beyond.
9.	The themes are not new, but they require a new way to address them. They can be the beginning of a discussion. They include: safety and protection for all Syrian people; military, security and counter-terrorism issues; political and legal issues (and these two must start together, avoiding, with all due respect, what has happened in Libya), and this also include the whole essence of the TGB; and maintaining state institutions. The Secretary-General further stressed that no effort could be successful absent the substantive support from the region and the international community, except if we have a contact group to put political pressure fro countries with and influence on the situation. The plan is to start the working groups, but not giving up establishing the contact group.
10.	The Security Council has since taken a constructive look at what can be done politically for with a feeling of urgency. As such in its Presidential Statement adopted on 17 August, the Council endorsed the UN proposals for a way forward and themselves "emphasize[d] the need for robust international and regional assistance".
11.	We are now in a new phase. There is a massive movement of refugees. There is a danger of further militarisation. We have a clear vision of the Security Council for a way forward, that includes progress on both the political track and the fight against terrorism, not one at the expense of the other. I have a clear task to make the thematic working groups happen and establish dialogue with the countries that have an influence – some of them are in this room.
12.	Over the past two months, Deputy Ramzy and I have visited several capitals and engaged all the major Syrian interlocutors – and consultations continue to-date. We have worked out the internal organizational, but also conceptual, aspects of this next phase. From Cairo, I will have further discussions in Damascus and Istanbul to prepare the announcement of the working groups. We are ready to roll-out the working group process soon. But without a contact group we have no teeth.
13.	I trust you have all noted the extensive media coverage of the exacerbating suffering in Syria. Barrel bombs, gas canisters and many other nasty weapons continue to be used on human beings in Syria. Thousands of years old world heritage artefacts are being blown up in pieces. Women, men, children, elders, doctors, farmers, engineers, teachers are running away from Syria. These are the middle class, those who can contribute to the future of Syria. Some of our humanitarian colleagues assess that only some 16 million people, out of 23 million originally, are now left in Syria – with several millions living in the Daesh-controlled area.
14.	This situation is a defining humanitarian challenge of our times. It is now affecting Europe and has long been affecting the neighbourhood , which has been generously welcoming large numbers of refugees, such as in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. This requires us to move faster and to be more serious about helping the Syrians. Most importantly, we must share more effectively the burden of the humanitarian crisis - for which only 37% of the appeal has been covered so far -, many of you have been generous but if the Syrian people lose hope because of a harsh and cold winter ahead of them they will only be moving to more despration.
15.	Things are also changing, including in this region. I hope that the forthcoming developments would help Iran engage its neighbours in order to provide together regional support for a political solution. We hope Iran's neighbours would also reciprocate. The United States and Russia have also started to talk to each other more about Syria than before, but so far inconclusively. There will be more opportunities during the GA One must remember where the refugees come from. They are not fleeing a sudden rain or a terrorist group. They are leaving because of war.
16.	Syria is at the heart of the Arab world. Today, Syria is bleeding. It has been for the past four years. I cannot but believe all of us have an interest – moral and political - to put an end to this human tragedy and political disaster.
17.	A political solution to the Syrian problem – a very complicated one, I have never seen such a complex conflict in my career over four decades and twenty conflicts - cannot be resolved without active Arab participation. Almost every Syrian I have come across yearns for a unified country – they are proud of their country and they love it - in which its citizens, regardless of the religious or ethnic affiliation, live in freedom and dignity, but also a Syria that regains its historic position at the centre of the Arab world.
18.	In sum, three new 'accelerators' have appeared on the scene: the advances of ISIL; the sudden / massive movement of refugees – which culd become more massive; and the potential military escalation, are all additional stimuli for a political process. The UN Secretary-General's proposal includes two complementary tracks: (a) thematic working gorups in recognition that Syrians need to have their say on the Geneva Communique; and (b) a Contact Group in recognition of the regional and international dimensions of the conflict and their collective and individual responsibilities to see this conflict resolved. This will require the support of all around this table.
19.	In concluding, I would lijke to invite all of us to observe a minute of silence in tribute to the martyrs of Syria. Many have died in Syria and in the Mediterranean, as symbolised by the picture of the child.
Within the framework of the Geneva Consultations, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura met with leaders of the Syrian tribes yesterday. They briefed Mr. de Mistura on their assessments of the situation on the ground and concerns of their respective communities. They also discussed perspectives for a political solution to the Syrian conflict.
Today, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy met with Ms. Rajaa Altalli and Mr. Renas Sino of the Centre for Civil Society and Democracy in Syria. They briefed Mr. Ramzy on the escalating conflict and deteriorating situation on the ground as well as on the work of the Centre. They also shared their perspectives for a political solution in Syria and for ways civil society organizations could contribute to efforts for ending the Syrian conflict.
في إطار مشاورات جنيف، التقى المبعوث الخاص أمس ستيفان دي مستورا مع زعماء القبائل السورية الذين أطلعوا السيد دي مستورا على تقييمهم للوضع على الأرض واهتمامات مجتمعاتهم. كما ناقش الطرفان آفاق التوصل إلى حل سياسي للصراع السوري.
أمّا اليوم، فالتقى نائب المبعوث الخاص لسورية رمزي عز الدين رمزي مع السيدة رجاء التلّي والسيد ريناس سينو من مركز المجتمع المدني والديمقراطية في سوريا اللذين اطلعا السيد رمزي على حالة الصراع المتصاعد وتدهور الوضع على الارض فضلا عن أعمال المركز. كما تقاسم الطرفان وجهات النظر حول حل سياسي في سوريا والسبل التي يمكن لمنظمات المجتمع المدني أن تساهم فيها من أجل إنهاء النزاع السوري.
Within the framework of the Geneva Consultations, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy met today with representatives of the Syrian Feminist Lobby, Ms. Lama Kannout and Ms. Salma Jalkhi. They briefed Mr. Ramzy on the overall situation on the ground and the state of women's rights. They also shared perspectives for a political solution and ways to ensure women's participation in these process. Mr. Ramzy emphasized the important role that can and should be played by women in any conflict resolution efforts in Syria. He commended their tireless and positive efforts amidst the deteriorating situation on the ground.
Within the framework of the ongoing Geneva Consultations, Deputy Special Envoy Ramzy Ezzeldine Ramzy met today in Geneva with representatives of the Union of Syriac Women and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who briefed on the situation in Syria. They discussed ways to support people in Syria in their daily humanitarian needs. Mr. Ramzy also discussed with the representatives of the Union of Syriac Women perspectives on a political solution to the Syrian conflict which could meet the needs of diverse components, which make up integral parts of the Syrian society.
At the end of today's meetings, Mr. Ramzy stressed that, "all should put their differences aside to ensure that aid reaches all those in need, but ultimately only a political solution would allow to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in a sustainable manner." While highlighting the urgent need for a political solution to the Syrian conflict, he added that, "it is critical that women organizations are included in any political process, fully participate in it and contribute to it".
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Staffan de Mistura continued his meetings today in the framework of the Geneva Consultations.
He met with the president and members of the political committee of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces (SOC) in Istanbul.
Mr. de Mistura listened to the views of his interlocutors regarding the operationalization and implementation of the Geneva Communiqué.
Both parties agreed on the importance and urgency of finding a political solution to the current ongoing conflict.
They also concurred on the urgency of an immediate halt of the killing and targeting of civilians.
"My visit to SOC today demonstrates, once again, that the purpose of these Consultations was and remains to give the chance to all Syrians to share their views of what a future Syria should look like," Mr. de Mistura said.
Meanwhile in Geneva, Deputy Special Envoy Ramzy Ezzeldine Ramzy met with Mr. Samir Aita and Mr. Ziad Tlas who briefed on the deteriorating situation in Syria. Mr. Ramzy also met with a delegation of Japan, led by Ambassador Misako Kaji, who briefed on Japan's support for the United Nations' efforts to ameliorate the humanitarian situation in Syria. They discussed the ongoing initiatives to help Syrians reach a political solution to the conflict.
Mr. Ramzy observed that today's meetings in Geneva once again confirmed the desire of the international community, from far and near, to help resolve the Syrian conflict and mitigate its humanitarian consequences. He also noted that continued inaction to end the conflict is only making the military and security situation in Syria more complex.
In a press statement issued on 30 May, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, strongly condemned the death of at least 70 civilians in Syria's northern Aleppo province by barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters. "The news of aerial bombing by Syrian helicopters on a civilian market area of the Aleppo neighborhood of Al Shaar deserves the most strong international condemnation," he said. Mr. de Mistura stressed that the protection of civilians during armed conflicts is a cornerstone of international humanitarian law, and applies in all circumstances and without distinction.
On 24 May, Mr. de Mistura met with a delegation of the Assyrian Democratic Organization, and the Syrian Turkmen Council. He shared views with them on a political solution in Syria and the ongoing conflict on the ground. "Today I heard again about the importance of preserving Syria's social fabric and taking into account the diverse views from all corners of the country," Mr. de Mistura said. He stressed that "the United Nations will continue supporting efforts towards an all-inclusive Syrian-led political process."
On 22 May, the Special Envoy met with the Islamic scholar Muhammad Al Habash and Hind Kabawat and Asma Kftarou from a civil society organization called 'Tastaqil. He also received a delegation from the Kurdish National Council, with whom he shared views on ways to end the conflict, with due respect for Syrian diversity while maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. He also met with Najla Riachi Assaker, the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN in Geneva, and discussed ways to support Syria in launching a political process, as well as the urgent need to alleviate the humanitarian suffering and its impact on the neighbouring countries. Mr. de Mistura also received with deep sadness news of the kidnapping of a priest, Father Jacques Mourad, on 21 May in Homs, describing the "grave act" as being unfortunately not the first of its kind and "one of the sad consequences" of the raging conflict.


Anna Lindemann studied literature, philosophy and history at the University of Bielefeld and did her doctorate at the University of Vienna. Her first book Sigmund Freud, das 'Cocain' und die Morphinisten: Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der wissenschaftlichen und klinischen Praxis im Umgang mit Suchtmitteln (1850-1890) was published in July 2018. She currently works as a freelance historian in the field of the history of science and teaches at the SFU (Sigmund Freud Private University) Vienna.
Anna Lindemann: Freud was one of the most influential thinkers of his time and is part of our shared identity . If you are interested in psychology, you cannot ignore Freud.
Anna Lindemann: No, but a depth psychology-oriented psychotherapy. That was a great experience!
Anna Lindemann: I would definitely want to know Freud's opinion on the theses I have developed about him as a "cocaine" researcher. I certainly would also ask for clarification of some contradictory and controversial information in Freud´s research on Cocain (1884-1887), and then ask him for a review of the period.
Anna Lindemann: Preferably, a fabric couch, because I would feel ashamed and guilty for sitting on animal skin.
Anna Lindemann: I especially like the Sandman and the Golden Pot from E.T.A. Hoffmann, and the Blond Eckbert von Ludwig Tieck. As Nathanael (sandman protagonist) wonders if he´s dealing with actual powers or just his imagination, I often wonder if things in my life would develop (completely) differently if they were represented differently in my mind. Like the student Anselmus (protagonist of the Golden Pot), I strive for the ´miraculous´, but am always held back by profane life tasks.
Anna Lindemann: I dream of a staged alien attack that eliminates national and ethnic conflicts and makes us stop destroying nature, and thus our livelihoods. The initiators are rulers from the worlds of business, politics, media and science who are spreading a new ideology of a religious character worldwide. Its key elements (such as environmental protection, responsible behavior, human, animal and plant rights) promise ´salvation´, namely the protection against the alien enemy (with greenhouse gas allergy). In the sense of a ´positive mass psychosis´, the actual threat from within would be ignored and the external enemy would merely serve as a (medially processed) projection. Psychic mechanisms, which often cause destruction, are applied to bring about world salvation!
Anna Lindemann: I find it particularly good that the meaning of the unconscious is uncovered, that psychoanalysis also fits in well with the conscious phenomenal world, and, to some extent, its deterministic viewpoint, which sheds light on contexts. The strong focus of Freudian psychoanalysis on sexual conflicts is too one-sided for me (though it was probably justified given the society at that time). Some of Freud´s basic ideas are convincing, others not. Their verifiability is limited.
Anna Lindemann: "I do not consider the cocaine action itself to be a direct one – possibly on the motor-nerve substance or on the muscles - but indirect, effected by an improvement of the general state of well-being."
Anna Lindemann: At the moment, I´m more concerned with other areas of the academic psychology. On occasion, I would like to take a closer look at Freud´s student.


In less than an hour, you can have smoother skin with BOTOX injections at Elite Plastic Surgery. A popular aesthetic treatment for men and women, BOTOX, also known as botulinum toxin type A, is a nonsurgical injectable treatment to temporarily improve the appearance of facial expression lines, crow's feet, and dynamic wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Our injection specialist, Caren Kunda, provides BOTOX injections, which relaxes the muscles under the skin, to patients after a private consultation in their Phoenix, AZ office at Elite Plastic Surgery. If you would like to start BOTOX treatments, and defy your skin and age for beautiful results, we invite you to come in for a consultation.
Our injection specialist will look at the quantity, depth, and location of your dynamic wrinkles to mark the areas of the muscles of the face that will be treated. With an ultra-fine syringe, BOTOX will be carefully injected into the marked areas. Most patients report mild discomfort when the needle pierces the skin, but numbing creams and cold compresses can be used to make your treatment more comfortable.
Besides some swelling and redness for 3 – 4 hours, you should be able to return to your regular activities after the injection. We encourage all of our BOTOX patients to avoid exercise for 24 hours and to sleep upright the first night after the treatment. Complete results after BOTOX are visible (smoother forehead and diminished wrinkles) in about 5 – 7 days. Many patients feel that BOTOX treatments make their skin look radiant, they feel younger, and look well rested.
BOTOX has transformed the lives of millions of people, and you can be one of them. Many of our patients enjoy the benefits of BOTOX as it is a safely and effectively decreases facial wrinkles and age lines. We invite you to contact our Elite Plastic Surgery office with your questions, and to make a consultation appointment for your personalized treatment recommendations.
In less than an hour, you can have smoother skin with BOTOX injections at Elite Plastic Surgery. A popular aesthetic treatment for men and women, BOTOX, also known as botulinum toxin type A, is a nonsurgical injectable treatment to temporarily improve the appearance of facial expression lines, crow's feet, and dynamic wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Our injections specialist, Caren Kunda, provides BOTOX injections, which relaxes the muscles under the skin, to patients after a private consultation in their Phoenix, AZ office at Elite Plastic Surgery. If you would like to start BOTOX treatments, and defy your skin and age for beautiful results, we invite you to come in for a consultation.


Pelletier J., 2009: Description de Cyclobarus labriquei, nouvelle espece du Maroc (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). 5 pp. Biocosme Mésogéen 26(4): 133-137.
Pelletier J., 2010: Description de Strophosoma oroveci n. sp. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) du Maroc. 5 pp. (in French) Biocosme mésogéen 27(1): 88-92.
Pelletier J., Borovec R., 2003: A new species of Trichocaulus from Tunisia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae s. l.). 3 pp. [CUR 1369] Entomological Problems 33(1-2): 89-91.
Pelletier J., Weill P., 2007: Nouvelles captures et plante-hôte de Antoineus oribates Peyerimhoff (Coleoptera). 3 pp. Biocosme Mésogéen 24(4): 135-137.
Pellmyr O., 1985: Flower constancy in individuals of an anthophilous beetle, Byturus ochraceus (Scriba) (Coleoptera: Byturidae). 5 pp. The Coleopterists Bulletin 39(4): 341-345.
Pelsue F. W. Jr., 2004: Revision of the genus Schigizo of the world with descriptions of six new taxa and a new combination (Cuculionidae: Curculioninae). 9 pp. The Coleopterists Bulletin 58(4): 513-521.
Pelsue F. W. Jr., Zhang R., 2000: A review of the genus Curculio L. from China with descriptions of new taxa. Part I (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculionini). 18 pp. The Coleopterists Bulletin 54(2): 125-142.
Pelsue F. W. Jr., Zhang R., 2002: A review of the genus Curculio from China with descriptions of new taxa. Part III. The Curculio subfenestratus Voss group (Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Curculionini). 39 pp. The Coleopterists Bulletin 56(1): 1-39.
Pelsue F. W. Jr., Zhang R., 2003: A review of the genus Curculio from China with descriptions of fourteen new species. Part IV. The Curculio sikkimensis (Heller) group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Curculionini). 23 pp. The Coleopterists Bulletin 57(3): 311-333.
Pelsue F. W., 2001: A new species of Shizigo Morimoto from Borneo (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Curculionini). 4 pp. The Coleopterists Bulletin 55(2): 181-184.
Peltz W., 1908: Ein Beitrag zur Biologie des angeblich seltenen Wüstenkäfers Polyarthron komarovi Dohrn. 6 pp.
Peňa L. E., 1963: Las Nyctelia (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). 4 pp.
Peňa L. E., 1973: Nuevas especies del genero Psammetichus Latr., (Coleoptera – Tenebrionidae) para Chile y Peru. 8 pp.
Peňa L. E., 1973: Pseudothinobatis morenoi, nov. sp. de Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera), de la region interandina de Ecuador. 3 pp.
Peňa L. E., : Nuevos inscetos introducidos accidentalmente en Chile. 1 pp.
Penati F., 1997: Catalogo topografico commentato degli Histeridae (Insecta, Coleoptera) della provincia di Sondrio (Lombardia, Italia settentrionale). 52 pp. Il Naturalista Valtellinese - Atti Mus. civ. Stor. nat. Morbegno, 8: 43-94.
Penati F., 1997: Mountaineering-scientific expedition "Progetto Alpi Albanesi 1993". II. Contribution to the knowledge of the Histeridae of Albania (Coleoptera). 12 pp. [HIS 71] Elytron 11: 39-50.
Penati F., 2003: A contribution to the knowledge of the histerid fauna of Malawi (Coleoptera: Histeridae), and an up-to-date checklist. 6 pp. Cimbebasia 19: 31-36.
Penati F., Vienna P., 1993: Contributo allo studio delle specie afro-tropicali del genere Hypocacculus Bickhardt, 1916 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Histeridae). 36 pp. Atti Mus. civ. Stor. nat. Morbegno 4: 39-74.
Penati F., Vienna P., 1995: Descrizione di Hypocacculus (Nessus) amabilis specie nuova di Zimbabwe (Insecta, Coleoptera, Histeridae). 6 pp. Il Naturalista Valtellinese – Atti Mus. civ. Stor. nat. Morbegno, 6: 29-34.
Penati F., Vienna P., 1995: Descrizione e posizione sistematica di Dahlgrenius gen. n. (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Saprininae). 5 pp. [HIS 73] Elytron 9: 39-43.
Penati F., Vienna P., 2007: Nuova chiave di determinazione delle species del genere Saprinus di Italia, Francia e Spagna, con alcune osservazioni corologiche (Coleoptera Histerdae). 22 pp. Bolletino della Societa Entomologica Italiana 139(3): 131-152.
Penati F., Zhang Y.-J., 2009: Megagnathos terrificus, new platysomatine genus and species from Laos (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Histerinae). 12 pp. (in English). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di 'Giacomo Doria' 100: 671-682.
Penecke K. A., 1898: Coleopterologische Miscellen. 6 pp.
Pereira P. F. S., 1941: Contribuicao zoogeografica para o estudo dos passaliedos e pinotus do Parana. 3 pp.
Pérez-Lopéz F. J., Hernández-Ruiz J. A., 1994: Triodonta ruizi sp. n. del sur de Espaňa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Melolonthidae: Sericinae). 6 pp. Elytron 8: 73-78.
Pérez-Vera F., Ávila J. M., 2011: Contribución al conocimiento de los Asidini marroquíes III. Descripción de la hembra de Alphasida (Machlasida) nitidicosta Antoine, 1934. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). Contribution to the knowledge of the Moroccan Asidini III. Description of the female of Alphasida (Machlasida) nitidicosta Antoine, 1934. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). 8 pp. Zoologica Baetica 22: 171-178.
Perger R., Vitali F., Jiroux E., Garreau P., Juhel P., Bentanachs J., Galileo M. H. M., Martins U. R., Vives E., Drumont A., Barclay M. V. L., 2012: Seven papers on world Cerambycidae. 94 pp. Les cahiers Magellanes N.S. 7: 1-94.
Péricart J., Tempere G., 1972: Nouvelles notes sur les Curculionides de Corse (Col.). 12 pp.
Perinn A., 1869: Nouveaux coléoptéres francais. 9 pp.


text:
Pollution in NCR
Matt StevensSuhasini Raj
Updated: Nov 23, 2022, 13:59 IST
A decade ago, the capitals of Asia's two largest countries had some of the dirtiest skies in the world. On the worst days, millions were enveloped in thick grey canopies of smog that darkened the sun and besieged the lungs.
Since then, one of those cities has made significant improvements. After the Chinese government declared a war against pollution in 2013, Beijing pressed ahead with a multiyear, $100bn effort to clean its air. Authorities clamped down on factories, took old vehicles off the road and shifted from coal to natural gas. While more still needs to be done, Beijing officials say the city now has more than 100 more days of clear skies each year than when the campaign began.
Why this story
The return of smog season in the national capital region has once again left residents asking why nothing has changed. The answer may be largely political
Copyright © 2022 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


his new band's first ever tour.
The gobby singer kept stage banter to a minimum and made no mention of his brother Noel or their old band Oasis.
Not that this seemed to bother the crowd who showed their support by chanting his name as he came up on to the stage at Glasgow's Barrowlands although even this wasn't good enough for Liam who told the audience to 'try f***kin' harder'.
Critics applauded Beady Eye's decision to stick to their own songs from their debut album, Different Gear, Still Speeding even if it did mean having a short playlist.
The Independent said: 'A decision had clearly been taken to play no Oasis songs. It was a brave and creditable choice, although this meant the set stretched to only an hour and suffered a fallow period in the middle.
The group – composed of Liam and his former Oasis bandmates minus Noel – played a 14-song set which included every track from their new album apart from Wigwam.
The Sun said the band 'came out all guns blazing' last night.
'The lads' eyes were bulging and they were clearly desperate to prove they are the real deal.
'The album…works far better live, sounding less polished and with much more bite.
Beady Eye fans also raved about the gig on Twitter .
Beady Eye are set to play Manchester and London before embarking on a European tour.


A spiral-bristled brush for grooming brows and defining eyelashes. It combs and shapes the brows to frame the face. Use upward, outward strokes to lift and groom the brows, and then fill and shape with Natural Definition Brow Pencil or your favorite brow powder. Brush through again with the Spoolie to blend product.
Made with 100% cruelty-free Taklon synthetic bristles. Sturdy sleek black handles for a comfortable, stabilizing grip. Each Spoolie comes packaged in a box crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and printed with eco-friendly soy-based ink.
Measures: 5" brush with .75" bristles.


text:
Tag: Persephone
Spring into a Fresh Start
by Serena Jayne
The rebirth of the earth during spring signals the opportunity for new beginnings. Spring is the epitome of a juice cleanse after scarfing down an entire box of Girl Scout cookies. Spring cleaning allows people to shed their hoarder habits, and finally locate their lucky socks. There's no better time than spring to take an inventory of one's life, and use the fresh start to focus on what truly matters.
Charles Prendergast's painting "Untitled (Rites of Spring)," which is a part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, shows a number of maidens frolicking in celebration of the season. The gold and silver leaf makes the scene sparkle and shine. Even the birds look happy. Spring is not only in the air, but in the minds and hearts of every joyful creature depicted.
The seasons progress much like the triple goddess expressed as maiden, mother, and crone. Spring is the fresh-faced maiden, unspoiled and full of opportunity. Summer becomes the mother, whose energy is shifted to her kiddies who keep her busy chasing rainbows and unicorn dreams under a sunny sky. Fall and winter symbolize the crone, who brings wisdom and sometimes icy regret, a far cry from the promise and hope of spring.
In Greek Mythology, Hades abducts a maiden named Persephone and takes her to his home in the Underworld. Her mother Demeter, the goddess of agriculture among other things, expresses her grief over the loss of her daughter by making the earth barren. Persephone's return from the Underworld is arranged, but because of the pomegranate seeds she'd consumed there, Hades maintains a hold on her. A kind of shared custody agreement is struck, where she splits her time between Earth and the Underworld. When mother and daughter are reunited, Demeter's icy exterior melts bringing spring. The Earth remains fertile until Persephone's return to the Underworld come fall.
The myth of Persephone and Demeter demonstrates a new beginning. The mother-daughter relationship is ever changed by Persephone's abduction and her seasonal return to Earth. Demeter is forced to see her daughter, not as a child, but as a woman. Absence may make the heart grow fonder. A reunion with what was once lost brings a new appreciation and gratitude. The requirement to share her daughter with Hades makes each moment with Persephone a little more special—a little more precious. Something perhaps previously taken for granted is now cherished.
In his book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, Mark Manson encourages the reader to restrict her time and energy to the people and things that truly matter in life. Change generated by unsolicited self-evaluation beats regret, because as magical as spring may be, second chances aren't a guarantee. Time trudges ever forward. If one fails to take advantage of the renewal spring offers, soon it's time to pull out the boots, puffy coats, and snow shovels, and opportunities turn to might-have-beens.
Use spring to jump start positive change. Decide where best to channel time and energy. Make plans with friends and family. Dust off that To-Do list. Prioritize To-Be-Read lists and bucket lists or simply decide who and what matters most, and adjust time and energy accordingly. If things don't go as expected, don't worry. Persephone will be back for a return engagement bringing the gift of another opportunity for a fresh start and a bright future. Plan accordingly.
Demeter and Persephone
Due to slight technical difficulties this week, we are going to take this opportunity to cross-promote our friend @greekhistorypod and his podcast on "The Two Goddesses"–Demeter and Persephone, one the goddess of the harvest, the other the goddess of the seasons. One can't exist without the other, right? Enjoy!
http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/061-two-goddesses.html
Let's Get the Party Started: The Feast of the Thesmophoria and Laughter
Ancient Greek representation of Iambê, the Goddess of Humor
Harvest is a time of celebration and plenty. It is a time when the wealth of a civilization pours forth, is stored, stacked, preserved and consumed. For many ancient civilizations, the crop itself was an embodiment of the death of the god, the sacrifice of a male deity in order to feed the masses. Leaving a mother goddess, who is represented by the earth to go through the winter months solitary. In the ancient Greek world, the mother goddess Demeter must relinquish her daughter Persephone to the underworld for the winter. The world transforms from fruitful to barren for the season.
As desolate as this sounds, there is more to it. According the Hymn to Demeter, a text important to the Eleusinian Mystery cult, the goddess was indeed desolate without her daughter. She was in great mourning when Hades stole away her daughter Persephone. When Demeter later stayed at the hall of a great queen, she remained depressed and despondent, unable and unwilling to find joy in anything. "Unsmiling, not partaking of food or drink, she sat there, wasting away with yearning for her daughter…"[i] This story is horribly tragic. This is about a mother's loss, one that she could do nothing to change.
You're probably wondering when I'm going to start talking about partying. The feast of Thesmophoria was exactly that, a party that was meant to reenact the exchange between Iambê and Demeter. Oh, and this party had one very specific guest list – no one else but adult women.
Seeing Demeter's state, Iambê, true to her nature began to tease the mother goddess by telling jokes. Her use of humor brought a smile to Demeter, then eventually the mother goddess found herself laughing and enjoying herself. "Iambê, the one who knows what is dear and what is not, started making fun. Making many jokes, she turned the Holy Lady's disposition in another direction, making her smile and laugh and have a merry thûmos."[ii]
How does this fit together? How can a mother, stricken with sorrow over the loss of her daughter, find it alright to laugh, to find some measure of happiness?
The ancient Greek women who attended the Thesmophoria reenacted Iambê's actions by telling jokes of their own. The feast was meant to be fun, a place to let go of social graces and to bring laughter, including raunchy jokes. It was a moment to let go of pain, responsibility and burden. Temporary release, but a release nonetheless.
Without the presence of men and children, these ancient Greek women were free from labels that were defined women's roles by men and family. She is a woman, among women. In the Hymn, Iambê demonstrates camaraderie with Demeter and dearly wishes to please the mother goddess. She wishes to give Demeter some joy, any joy in a difficult time. Today, there is plenty of scientific evidence of the healing effects of laughter, it is even used by counselors and psychologists as a technique to help patients. Modern humorist Erma Bombeck said, "There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt." Most comedy today hits on painful experiences, with witty observations that reveal how absurd the truth really can be.
So each year, women in the ancient Greek world got together, had a party and sought to make each other laugh. There is much more to the rituals and celebrations of the Eleusinian Mysteries and a great deal of it remains…well, a mystery to us. However, the Thesmophoria remains my favorite. Perhaps it's because a part of me wishes we had something just like it today.
[i] "Homeric Hymn to Demeter." trans. Gregory Nagy, University of Houston, Accessed 08 Sep 2018, http://www.uh.edu/~cldue/texts/demeter.html.
[ii] Ibid.
Dualistic Identities and the Goddesses of Dark Places
In ancient mythologies, goddesses dominate the dark depths of the Earth. Early civilizations based particularly in Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean and Europe strongly associate the Earth with primordial forces of creation. In past articles I've discussed the ancient associations with wombs and the underground. Yet these are extremely cyclic and dualistic. Essentially, in the eyes many ancient belief systems, one cannot have death without birth, birth without death.
In the same vein, mother goddesses are just as prevalent as goddesses of death. Whether it be the womb or the grave, both sides have dark overtones. But understandably, goddesses of death also reign over the underworld, therefore have direct a connection with darkness. We tend to see death/dark goddesses as counterparts to goddesses that represent life or the living. I'd argue that we are thinking about it in reverse and instead those goddesses of life are counterparts to death. In some cases, such as Nyx (which I will discuss more below), dark goddesses are not directly linked to death, but instead with the lack of life and light. Or even a state that existed before creation. So importantly, these are goddesses that existed and reigned long before life itself.
The Sumerian Ereshkigal is one of the earliest examples of an underground death goddesses. She is featured prominently in the Descent of Inanna, as her sister who ultimately slays Inanna and hangs the body on a meat hook along the wall of the afterlife. Inanna's journey to the underworld is a process of stripping away parts of herself, culminating eventually in the stripping of her very life. Ereshkigal slays her sister because all those who enter the underworld must experience death. "She who receive the me of the underworld does not return. She who goes to the Dark City stays there."[1] It hits on the great mystery almost all of us wonder, what happens after life? If anything? Of course, the answer to this comes with great cost.
The Norse goddess Hel, dwells in Niflheim where she presides over the dead who were not chosen for Odin's Valhalla or Freyja's Fólkvangr. Meaning, she presides over the dead who did not die in battle or do not have what would qualify as a noble death. Hel's realm doesn't offer the feeling of continuance like Valhalla and Fólkvangr, it is a rather final, inglorious, an eternal state of dark. Even Baldur, one of the most loved of the gods cannot easily escape Hel's realm. When the gods sought his return to the living, Hel declared she would only allow it if all things grieved for him. Note, she held dominion over death and not even the gods could make demands of her. Of course, someone wasn't all that big of a fan of Baldur and did not grieve, so he continued to be quite dead.
The Greek goddess Nyx mentioned above, is an excellent example of a goddess of darkness, or in this case, specifically the goddess of the night. While she is not specifically linked to death, her nature is ultimately both primordial and dualistic. She existed before the world was created. Her identity is both the absence of light as well as the absence of order and one can further compare a symbolic connection to life and death cycles. Interestingly enough, Nyx is believed to have been the mother of the incarnations of light and day. Again, the dualistic existence is prominent. Cycles are of utmost importance as one exists alongside the other.
The Greek goddess Persephone contains this dualistic nature within one figure. She is both the goddess of spring (and therefore renewal and life), but cyclically dwells with her husband Hades in the underworld. Her absence on the surface brings the seasonal "death" of Autumn and Winter. (Check out other Unbound articles on Persephone here and here.)
These goddesses held such power that even the other deities in their pantheons were not immune from them. Burial of the dead is much like returning to the womb, to the dark sacred space of mystery.
To the ancients, the two states weren't much different.
[1] Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer, eds., Inanna Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns From Sumer, (New York: Harper & Row, 1983), 61.
Featured image credit: Demonic Paradise
Persephone and the Discomfort of Darkness
by Carrie Gessner
Imagery is one of the most important and versatile aspects of fiction. Especially in fantasy, we tend to default to symbolizing goodness with light and evil with darkness. Just consider Star Wars (which I classify as space fantasy). Not only are the villains aligned with the literal dark side, but the major bad guys—Darth Vader, Palpatine, even some stormtroopers—are decked out in black. Anakin's clothes start out as tan and light colors but slowly turn darker as he approaches his alliance with the dark side itself. Visually, this can be fantastic shorthand, and not just in movies. We use it in fiction all the time, too.
Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874
Outside of the black-and-white, good-and-bad binaries, though, darkness embodies uncertainty, and uncertainty makes us uncomfortable. What could be more uncertain and uncomfortable than the prospect of what happens to us after we die? It's a question people have been wrestling with for millennia, as evidenced by the some of the stories that have survived thousands of years. One of the most well known in the western world is the Greek myth of Persephone, sometimes known as Proserpina or Cora.
Together with her mother, Demeter, Persephone represents the natural agricultural cycle—the planting and sprouting of seeds followed by the maturation of the harvest. The last piece of the cycle, the coming of winter and dormancy of the natural world, comes later on, following Hades's abduction of Persephone (courtesy of the earth splitting open and a golden chariot). In her grief for her missing daughter, Demeter ceases to perform her godly duties and allows the earth to wither.
When Zeus realizes he must intervene, he sends other gods as messengers to Demeter, but Demeter doesn't listen. "Never would she let the earth bear fruit until she had seen her daughter" [1]. And so Zeus sends Hermes to retrieve Persephone from the underworld, but not before Hades gives her a pomegranate seed to eat, ensuring she must return to him. Rhea tells Demeter of the compromise:
Come once again to the halls of the gods where you shall have honor,
Where you will have your desire, your daughter, to comfort your sorrow
As each year is accomplished and bitter winter is ended.
For a third part only the kingdom of darkness shall hold her.
For the rest you will keep her, you and the happy immortals. [2]
Narcissus by John William Waterhouse, 1912
Though Persephone is allowed to live with her mother for two-thirds of the year, she must return to the underworld for the remaining four months. "In Homer the underworld is vague, a shadowy place inhabited by shadows. Nothing is real there. The ghosts' existence, if it can be called that, is like a miserable dream." [3] What must it be like to be like to be mistress of such a place?
I think that's one of the questions more modern fiction, in the form of retellings and adaptations of Persephone's tale, likes to explore. Roshani Chokshi's The Star-Touched Queen is a fantasy novel that's inspired by India and Indian mythology [4], but because every culture has myths exploring the mystery of death, there are obvious similarities to Persephone's story. The Star-Touched Queen tells the story of Mayavati, the princess of Bharata, whose fate is to be married to death and destruction. In an effort to escape war and almost certain death, Maya pledges herself to Amar, lord of Akaran, "a kingdom of impossible power" and "a kingdom that all nations feared." All too soon, Maya realizes that Akaran is really Naraka, the realm of the dead, and Amar is "the lord of justice in the afterlife" [5]. As the story goes on, she must learn how to trust the man who decides fates and how she fits into his world.
A lot of times, when we retell myths or write stories inspired by them, we give more agency to the female characters, which is part of the reason we keep returning to them. As for why Persephone's story in particular commands such attention, I think it has a lot to do with the liminal darkness of the underworld and the discomfort it inspires. We grow stagnant if we stay in one place for too long. Discomfort pushes us to change, and Persephone's story is a clear representation of that process.
[1] Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Warner Books, 1999. 53.
[2] Ibid., 54.
[3] Ibid., 39-40.
[4] "Questions about The Star-Touched Queen." Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/questions/766624-is-there-an-indian-myth-or-fairy-tale-this. Accessed 10 Aug. 2018.
[5] Chokshi, Roshani. The Star-Touched Queen. St. Martin's Press, 2016. 171.
Persephone's Side of the Story
March 20, 2017 April 16, 2018 2 Comments
by Kaitlin Bevis
The Persephone myth has resonated with women generation after generation. I can think of no other myth with more retellings, ranging from Disney classics like Beauty and the Beast, to classic literature-turned-Broadway shows like Phantom of the Opera, to dozens of contemporary retellings like my novel, Persephone.
Persephone is a fascinating figure in mythology. She goes from a nameless maiden (Kore) picking flowers in a meadow, to Hades's queen (Persephone), to the terrifying ruler of the Underworld (The Iron Queen). But through the entire transition, she never gets to tell her own story. The myth goes into Hades's motivations, his negotiations with Zeus, Demeter's panic, Ascalaphus's trickery to get Persephone to eat the pomegranate seeds, random nymph bystanders, and villagers seen along Demeter's quest. Every person in the story gets a voice except Persephone.
Her lack of her voice, her thoughts, and fears, and feelings, plucks at our subconscious, insisting there is more to the story. Is it any wonder there are so many retellings trying to fix that problem?
It's a story that demands to be told.
And for too many years it was told wrong. Her role reduced to that of a victim. Very few versions of the myth go into her role in the Underworld afterward. How it was widely acknowledged throughout Greece that Hades was a bit of a pushover, but do not mess with his wife. She was feared, revered, and had entire cults dedicated to worshiping her name.
It's a common problem for women in history, mythological and otherwise. Look at Helen Keller. If you walk up to a random person off the street, they can likely tell you she was blind and deaf, they can probably tell you her first sign, and the name of her teacher, but what they aren't likely to know are the legion of accomplishments to her name. Like Persephone's story ends when she emerges from hell for a portion of each year, reunited with her mother, Helen's story often ends with her ability to communicate unlocked.
Greek mythology is a very good microcosm for the way women are treated in history. Though the women in Greek mythology were powerful and complex, they were often reduced to a single, definable (often passive) trait. In popular culture, Athena isn't known as the war goddess she was, but the goddess of wisdom, known for popping up and giving heroes advice. Persephone is a victim, not a queen, Hera is a jealous lunatic, not the God-Queen, Aphrodite is painted as a whore. That's it. That's her entire role. While Zeus and Poseidon somehow get left off the hook for their ridiculous levels of promiscuity. If mentioned, it's never their sole defining trait.
I figured it's about time the stories of these amazing, powerful, flawed, and complex mythological figures got told right. So, I wrote the Daughters of Zeus series, starting with Persephone's myth. I take Persephone from the innocent maiden picking flowers all the way to her rise as one of the most feared goddesses in the Pantheon. My next trilogy tackles Aphrodite. The other gods and goddesses make appearances all throughout the series in their full complexity. I took liberties transitioning the myths to modern day, but I remained true to the spirit of the original myths. I am not the only author envisioning these myths for a modern audience, nor are my versions perfect. But they are full of powerful women with different flaws and strengths, leaning on each other as they navigate the horrors of a pantheon steeped in patriarchy.
You should check it out.
To learn more about Kaitlin Bevis, click here. Or go here to order your own copy of Persephone.


Though my science class has proven to be very boring thus far, I was really excited to be able to actually observe the emission spectra of Hydrogen and Helium (our teacher brought in hydrogen and helium bulbs and we looked at them through refractive plates).
A sample diagram of the spectra of H and He like what I saw.
It was better than being a little kid again.


Do you read? I do…a lot. Not fiction (which I should)…mostly business, marketing, social media (also known as marketing), and biographies. Two of this year's standouts are "Sleepless in Hollywood: Tales From the New Abnormal in the Movie Business" by movie producer Lynda Obst and "Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment" by Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, Anita Elberse.
The big news here is that both Anita Elberse and Lynda Obst will be guests at this year's Aspen Live Conference, December 12-15, 2013 at the St. Regis, Aspen.
If you till haven't registered (hard to imagine), it isn't too late. We have 26 spots remaining, but believe based on the above they will go fast. Register TODAY at http://www.aspenlive.com. Follow us on Twitter: @AspenLive, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspenlive…and me on Twitter: @jimlewi and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.lewi?fref=ts.
The above books should be required reading for anyone in the music and live entertainment businesses. In fact, please go to Amazon (or your local book store) and buy them today. Blockbusters: http://tinyurl.com/n4qbcrt and Sleepless: http://tinyurl.com/nxw7s46.
Below is the latest Aspen Live 2013 Conference Schedule. Please know that all are subject to change and probably will (just where meetings sit and what they are called…plus one or two more surprises).
Stay tuned, more announcements to come soon.
Please feel free to grab a cocktail and unwind after a long day on the slopes as we dive into the amazing career of an Icon.
5:15 pm-6:15 pm How Live Content Producers and YOU Can Partner and Make Money with StubHub.
Special Thanks To: Access Pass & Design, Adler Integrated, Bill Young Productions, Goldstar Events, Stubhub, Ticketfly and Voice Media Group and You for making such an exciting program possible.
It didn't take long for our friend and former Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard to land back another gig as he takes over Commerce for Twitter.
Nathan has a very interesting pedigree. He is a musician who played in the band Rockwell Church that toured and recorded 5 albums; is a graduate of Princeton as well as Stanford Business School; ran Music Today for Coran Capshaw; took over ticketing and digital initiatives at Live Nation after they acquired Music Today; and following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, Nathan moved over to run the company. Most importantly, Nathan is an Aspen Live alumnus. We feel that has a lot to do with his success.
TONIGHT, Thursday, August 29th at 9:30pm there is an Aspen Live meet-up at Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills (in the Beverly Hilton) to celebrate Steiny and Jason's LA Visit (Dan Steinberg from Square Peg Concerts and Jason Zink of Sherpa Concerts).
Whether an Aspen Live Alumni or just curious, come hang with a great group of people from the live entertainment business. If you have any questions, please email me at jim@liveworksevents.com.
As for this year's event, our dates are December 12-15 at the St. Regis, Aspen. Register now and save money http://www.aspenlive.com. Please know we are a little over half way to sell-out. Please don't wait till it is too late.
Aspen Live Alumni and owner of the Roxy, Adler Integrated, Sunset Strip Music Festival and more…Nic Adler and his wife Allison celebrated a new member of their family, a baby boy named Cassius (hope I spelled that right). Please make sure to congratulate them.
Another alumni and VP of Venue Relations for Goldstar Events, Wendi Lebow and her husband Peter welcomed a baby girl, Bianca to their clan. Please reach out to see pictures.
If you have news you want included in the LiveWorks Newsletter, please forward to jim@liveworksevents.com.
Make sure you are following on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Watching last night's ACM Awards reminded me of a conversation a group of us were having at February's Pollstar Live Conference. Everyone was asking what panel to go to. I said I was headed to the Country Music panel and a member of our group blurted out, "why, to hear Brian O'Connell tell us all how great he is". At the same time, myself and a very prominent agent from Nashville said, "He is great".
Ok so he dresses and travels (a tour bus with more large screen TV's than your local Best Buy) like a rock star. If you helped develop the number of superstars he has, you could to. Let's name a few…Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, and many more.
Brian created Live Nation's "Mega-Ticket" which gives country music fans the chance to purchase tickets to all country shows playing their local amphitheatre at a significant discount. It works great. Most recently, he has launched The Faster Horses Festival which Brian described to Ray Waddell of Billboard as a "three-day hillbilly sleepover". The event takes place July 19-21 in Brooklyn, Michigan and you can find out more at http://fasterhorsesfestival.com.
So you want to be in the country music business, you better know Brian…and Louis Messina @ AEG too, but that's for another newsletter.
The Aspen Live Conference, 2013 (December 12-15 @ The St. Regis, Aspen) will be going on-sale this Wednesday, April 10th at Noon Eastern / 9am Pacific http://www.aspenlive.com. Last year's highlights included talks by festival streaming guru and CEO of Springboard Productions, Hank Neuberger, Andrew Dreskin, CEO of Ticketfly, John Boyle from EDM giant, Insomniac, and Q&A's with The Lefsetz Letter's Bob Lefsetz interviewing Live Nation CEO, Michael Rapino while Square Peg Concerts' Dan Steinberg took us Inside the Agent's Studio with The Agency Group, NA's President, Steve Martin.
This year's line-up is shaping up nicely. Due to demand, we are capping this year's attendance at 200. You can find out more by following us on Twitter: @aspenlive Hashtag #aspenlive, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aspenlive, and Instagram: #aspenlive. To register Wednesday, go to http://www.aspenlive.com. The site also has information on special hotel rates, ski/snowboard rentals, activities and more.
Don't miss out, space is limited and prices go up the longer you wait.
You won't just love the Aspen Live Conference (December 13-16) because it has been around for 16-years. You won't just love the people, atmosphere, meetings, social events, speakers, and more. You will love being part of this family of ours.
16-years of doing business together, hearing from some of the greatest minds of our time, and most importantly, each of us having Aspen in common. That's what's made this event so special for all these years. You could think about it another way, half our group doesn't ski or board. They actually come to meet people, talk about ideas and bring a fresh approach to the New Year. But we learned early on, what's most important is the hang.
2012 promises more of the same. If you have anything to do with the music space, or touch music in anyway, register today @ http://www.aspenlive.com. You won't regret it. Use a "life-line" and call a friend that's attended. They will tell you the same.
So here's some of the dirt. Scott Tobias and the Voice Media Group are bringing back the Aspen Billiards party. Something we have all missed for years is now scheduled for Friday, December 14th @ Aspen Billiards and Eric's Bar from 7:30 – 9:30pm.
Adler Integrated Media will be working the full-court press on their "Aspen Integrated" day Saturday, December 15th, and will start the meeting portion of the event Thursday, December 13th with "Inside The Agent's Studio", the guest… The Agency Group's North American President, Steve Martin… the moderator, Square Peg Concert's Dan Steinberg.
This year, we have the guy who not only invented online ticketing; he has had second chance with the dice with Ticketfly, who now has over 500 clients and a whole bunch of new funding. We will hear from Ticketfly's CEO, Andrew Dreskin.
For those of you who come in Wednesday, there is the annual Peter Tempkins hosted dinner @ Hickory House (our Vegan family members may want to bring a snack), Thursday, December 13th after our meetings, our town host Michael Goldberg and his staff at the Belly Up will be throwing down from 7-9PM.
And believe it or not, there's more to be announced soon so stay tuned.
Hope to see in Aspen!
Last week I attended Billboard's Touring Conference (thanks Ray Waddell). Here are some observations that may help you.
Mother Hubbard– As I started my opening remarks moderating the Tour and Production Manager panel I looked down to see Barbara Hubbard with one of her students wearing her usual smile. At 84, Barbara has more energy and passion than most kids just out of school. Barbara doesn't just work in the concert business, she teaches it at New Mexico State. She can get anyone from our business on the phone and although promotes in a tertiary market (at best), manages to bring in acts as big as the Stones. If Mother Hubbard doesn't inspire you, nothing and no one will. Just follow her example. Passion is the key.
The Brooklyn Bowl – In the early 90's, one of the great music scenes in New York City was happening downtown at The Wetlands Preserve. As owner Pete Shapiro points out, "it had terrible sight lines"…yet the audience didn't seem to mind. It is hard to think of a "jam band" from that era that didn't play the club. At the same time, pin-pointing one thing that made it so popular is next to impossible. There was a beautiful wooden bar (facing away from the stage), artists were encouraged to play 2-sets versus one, and the basement was a great hang (no stage in sight). Ultimately it had to be the owners as they created the experience for the artists and audience. So it shouldn't be a surprise that the big buzz venue in New York is The Brooklyn Bowl, another Pete Shapiro room http://www.brooklynbowl.com/.
The venue is open 7-days a week with a 600-cap concert venue, 16-lanes of bowling, and serves food to guests through a partnership with Blue Ribbon Restaurants. They are very aggressive with social media and use it as part of the experience. On the Club panel, moderated by Dan Steinberg of Square Peg Concerts (best moderator I've ever witnessed…one tweet from the audience suggested that after watching Dan, compared the other panels to "sitting jury duty"), Pete explained how they are able to facilitate last-minute shows (e.g. act plays club…then weather forces a cancellation in the next city…so they just add a show the following night @ Brooklyn Bowl) by announcing them on Twitter. It benefits everyone and has created a community. Communities, Tribes (as Seth Godin would say), Friends, Connections, whatever you want to call it, we all want to belong.
Nic Adler– Also appearing on Billboard's Club panel was The Roxy's owner, Nic Adler. Nic also subscribes to the overall experience and has used his personal brand (vegan, music lover, etc) to bring young people back to The Sunset Strip. Nearly 18,000 follow Nic on Twitter while The Roxy is closing in on 100,000 followers!
Another piece to Nic's (and partners) puzzle for bringing the strip back to the center of LA music culture is The Sunset Strip Music Festival http://www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com/. It will celebrate its fifth year next August…and I will be attending for sure. How about you?
Tour & Production Managers– With experience comes knowledge and wisdom, and the Tour and Production Manager panel had plenty of both. Here are a few things I picked-up from moderating.
a) No matter who signs our checks, it is about the fans and this should never be forgotten. Remember who the real customer is.
b) Whether we like it or not, catering is one of the most important elements to a show. Honestly it sets the tone. So the next time you are thinking about a comment like "Corn Flakes are good enough for my kids, they are good enough for the crew", remember the crew and artists are your guests. Putting them in a bad mood to save a few hundred dollars (or thousand for that matter) isn't worth it.
c) Everyone wants to win! There shouldn't be sides (e.g. promoter, band, crew, venue, etc)…we should be pulling for each other.
d) Make large directional signs to toilets, stage, dressing rooms, catering and production offices prior to the crew's arrival. Also have any keys needed for the day handy.
e) All gates and entrances needed for load-in should be unlocked prior to the crew/act's arrival and should remain open till you see the last truck/bus depart.
f) Please have the venue's Wi-Fi on when buses arrive and stay-up until the last vehicle has left the parking lot.
g) Runners should know the local area well…and have a positive attitude.
h) Create a laminated phone list with all important cell and land line numbers for your show and give it to everyone to put on their lanyards. This will make everyone's job easier.
i) If your show is not going to make money, go to the act for a reduction rather than trying to save at the show. The crew, and more importantly fans should not be punished for lack of ticket sales. Cutting staff, security, catering and local crew could help a promoter/venue's bottom line in the short term…but how much and is it worth it?
Next is Aspen Live! We are less than a month away and have been able to open-up more rooms at the Limelight Hotel to accommodate guests as we have nearly doubled our numbers from 2010. Our dates are December 8-11 and you can still register for only $225. Find out more @ http://www.aspenlive.com.


First, you must print this "worksheet page".
All answer must be handwritten in the spaces provided.
The headings in red correspond to the links on the Scientific Method Tutorial.
You must read the Scientific Method Tutorial while you read the worksheet page.
4. The scientist then asks a question such as to how or why does the process work. Based on the knowledge gathered a _______________ is proposed.
5. The hypothesis is a ___________ _____________ of an observation. Often times several hypotheses are generated. Hypotheses are ____________ _____________ .
What were the results of the experiment in regards to the two different groups.
19. What are the three background observations?
What two ways did they test the hypothesis?
What was the conclusion of this experiment?
What is the cause of Patau Syndrome?
What is the difference between a theory, fact, or law?
What are the observations Frank makes?
How does Frank test his hypothesis?
What is the conclusion about Frank's hypothesis?
What are the observations about elephants?
Give a possible hypothesis about elephant matriarchs that can be tested.
How could the scientists test the hypothesis about elephants?
What is the difference between a law and a theory?
Are theories elevated to laws?
. How could the scientific method be used to determine the validity of this idea?
We now know DNA is composed of two strands. Why was the Paulings hypothesis rejected?


text:
The Plan to Give Android Users Their Own Version of iMessage Is Officially Dead
Florence Ion
Photo: Florence Ion/Gizmodo
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, was supposed to unite the Androids. But with the news that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have all abandoned the effort toward a unified messaging platform, it looks like more turbulent times for the green bubbles.
Nobody's Really Watching Reels
How to Remove Twitter Followers
Making the Facebook Papers Public
According to telecom news outlet Light Reading, the three big carriers have all pulled out from the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI) meant to standardize RCS by 2020. Spearheaded by Sprint back in 2019, the CCMI was a consortium with plans to develop an RCS-reliant messaging app for Android users so that they'd have a platform akin to Apple's iMessage. RCS allows for enhanced messaging and is already standard in markets overseas. It enables features like read receipts, higher quality media, and better group conversations—what iMessage users have been enjoying for years. The idea was that the CCMI would develop another app Android users could download to have all those features between one another.
But the CCMI was dead in the water the minute it was announced. Google has long been vocal about Android's support for RCS, but the company wasn't even mentioned in the original CCMI press release. Then Sprint, the torchbearer of the CCMI, folded under the wing of T-Mobile. And more RCS-compatible messaging apps arrived in the Play Store, including Google's Messages, further adding to the fragmentation already prevalent on the platform.
For their part, the three big U.S. carriers have been relatively quiet on the matter, with Verizon telling Light Reading that the blame was on the owners of the CCMI.
Thus far, the only carrier that's fully committed to RCS is T-Mobile, with plans to make Messages the default on all smartphones purchased from the carrier going forward. That doesn't solve the issue of interoperability between Android users, however. Verizon and AT&T are still peddling their own messaging apps on devices sold through their networks. And though both carriers have offered their commitments to RCS, it's still limited to chats within their respective networks.
RCS is a standard that was introduced back in 2008 as the next-generation version of SMS, which we still use to send text messages. However, SMS is fairly dated technology, and apps like WhatsApp have become popular because of their advanced abilities. Google has been the biggest cheerleader for RCS, even purchasing middleware company Jibe and bundling it into Messages to help speed up compatibility.
The only way that true RCS compatibility will come to all Android users is if the carriers default to the app that supports it already and trash the rest. But that's not going to happen because carriers haven't figured out how to make money off of it. And it still won't solve the problem of chatting with iOS devices—Apple doesn't support the standard, presumably to keep iMessage exclusive to Apple devices.
Android users have long complained about the siloed messaging economy on the platform. Perhaps the best way to deal with this as an Android user is to set the Messages app as your default in protest of all these convoluted efforts. That seems to be what Google is betting on, anyway.
TechInternet


text:
#ifndef POLARSSL_X509_CRL_H
#define POLARSSL_X509_CRL_H

#if !defined(POLARSSL_CONFIG_FILE)
#include "config.h"
#else
#include POLARSSL_CONFIG_FILE
#endif

#include "x509.h"

#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

/**
 * \addtogroup x509_module
 * \{ */

/**
 * \name Structures and functions for parsing CRLs
 * \{
 */

/**
 * Certificate revocation list entry.
 * Contains the CA-specific serial numbers and revocation dates.
 */
typedef struct _x509_crl_entry
{
    x509_buf raw;

    x509_buf serial;

    x509_time revocation_date;

    x509_buf entry_ext;

    struct _x509_crl_entry *next;
}
x509_crl_entry;

/**
 * Certificate revocation list structure.
 * Every CRL may have multiple entries.
 */
typedef struct _x509_crl
{
    x509_buf raw;           /**< The raw certificate data (DER). */
    x509_buf tbs;           /**< The raw certificate body (DER). The part that is To Be Signed. */

    int version;            /**< CRL version (1=v1, 2=v2) */
    x509_buf sig_oid1;

    x509_buf issuer_raw;    /**< The raw issuer data (DER). */

    x509_name issuer;       /**< The parsed issuer data (named information object). */

    x509_time this_update;
    x509_time next_update;

    x509_crl_entry entry;   /**< The CRL entries containing the certificate revocation times for this CA. */

    x509_buf crl_ext;

    x509_buf sig_oid2;
    x509_buf sig;
    md_type_t sig_md;           /**< Internal representation of the MD algorithm of the signature algorithm, e.g. POLARSSL_MD_SHA256 */
    pk_type_t sig_pk;           /**< Internal representation of the Public Key algorithm of the signature algorithm, e.g. POLARSSL_PK_RSA */
    void *sig_opts;             /**< Signature options to be passed to pk_verify_ext(), e.g. for RSASSA-PSS */

    struct _x509_crl *next;
}
x509_crl;

/**
 * \brief          Parse a DER-encoded CRL and append it to the chained list
 *
 * \param chain    points to the start of the chain
 * \param buf      buffer holding the CRL data in DER format
 * \param buflen   size of the buffer
 *
 * \return         0 if successful, or a specific X509 or PEM error code
 */
int x509_crl_parse_der( x509_crl *chain,
                        const unsigned char *buf, size_t buflen );
/**
 * \brief          Parse one or more CRLs and append them to the chained list
 *
 * \note           Mutliple CRLs are accepted only if using PEM format
 *
 * \param chain    points to the start of the chain
 * \param buf      buffer holding the CRL data in PEM or DER format
 * \param buflen   size of the buffer
 *
 * \return         0 if successful, or a specific X509 or PEM error code
 */
int x509_crl_parse( x509_crl *chain, const unsigned char *buf, size_t buflen );

#if defined(POLARSSL_FS_IO)
/**
 * \brief          Load one or more CRLs and append them to the chained list
 *
 * \note           Mutliple CRLs are accepted only if using PEM format
 *
 * \param chain    points to the start of the chain
 * \param path     filename to read the CRLs from (in PEM or DER encoding)
 *
 * \return         0 if successful, or a specific X509 or PEM error code
 */
int x509_crl_parse_file( x509_crl *chain, const char *path );
#endif /* POLARSSL_FS_IO */

/**
 * \brief          Returns an informational string about the CRL.
 *
 * \param buf      Buffer to write to
 * \param size     Maximum size of buffer
 * \param prefix   A line prefix
 * \param crl      The X509 CRL to represent
 *
 * \return         The amount of data written to the buffer, or -1 in
 *                 case of an error.
 */
int x509_crl_info( char *buf, size_t size, const char *prefix,
                   const x509_crl *crl );

/**
 * \brief          Initialize a CRL (chain)
 *
 * \param crl      CRL chain to initialize
 */
void x509_crl_init( x509_crl *crl );

/**
 * \brief          Unallocate all CRL data
 *
 * \param crl      CRL chain to free
 */
void x509_crl_free( x509_crl *crl );

/* \} name */
/* \} addtogroup x509_module */

#ifdef __cplusplus
}
#endif

#endif /* x509_crl.h */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


There has been a lot of controversy lately over influencers, pitching and freebies. Thanks to that hotel pitch, a lot of people (and businesses) are questioning why bloggers and influencers should "get things for free".
But influencer outreach is a huge part of marketing these days, and it can have a massive impact on a business.
There was fault on both sides in that example. The hotel should have replied with a polite "no thank you" and moved on, rather than publicly shaming the influencer. But, likewise, the influencer shouldn't have sent an impersonal pitch to a business which she hadn't really researched.
You shouldn't let incidents like this put you off from pitching to brands. There are lots of fantastic businesses out there who really understand the value of working with influencers, but you have to make sure your pitch is on point so brands can see why working with you would be mutually beneficial.
Here are some key points to keep in mind when you pitch to brands as a blogger.
Start by thinking about the sort of brands you want to work with and narrow down a list of businesses you potentially want to contact. But before you go any further, research each and every one of them until you find the perfect fit for the project you have in mind.
Take a look at their social media profiles – does their imagery and style fit in with yours? Read all about the brand's ethos and history on their website – does this fit in with your values? Find out if the brand has worked with influencers before – what kind of collaborations have they done? What sort of products or services do they sell – are they actually relevant to your blog or do you just like the brand?
First impressions really count, so make sure your blog and social media profiles are looking as good as they can be. Before reaching out to a brand, take some time to update your About page, proof-read and properly format your latest blog posts, update your blog design and delete any Instagram photos you're not happy with.
Also make sure you're writing the kind of content you want to be paid to write. If you're a fashion blogger, a travel brand isn't going to offer you a free holiday if it's something you've never written about before. Instead, take some time to write up travel diaries from holidays you've been on or city guides for the place you live. This will show the brand that you're able to write great travel content, and will give them an idea of how well your readers react to it.
Although you may love a brand, will your followers love it too? Even though you're the influencer, you're not actually the most important part of this collaboration – your audience is. In order for a campaign to benefit a business, they need to know that their brand will be seen by people who are interested in it and will hopefully become new customers.
Luckily, it's often the case that your followers are pretty similar to you. There's a reason they follow you, right? If you're a 20-something woman in Glasgow who loves restaurants, chances are a lot of your followers are also 20-something Glaswegian restaurant-goers. But it's always a good idea to check so you can say for definite what your audience looks like. You'll find demographics information in Google Analytics as well as in the stats section of social media platforms like Instagram.
If you don't already have one, you need to create a media kit if you're pitching to brands. This essentially acts as your blog's CV, so use the opportunity to really sell yourself. Explain a little bit about who you are and what your blog is all about.
Then go to town with the statistics! Make sure to include lots of information about your all-important audience. Don't worry if you don't have a huge number of followers – as long as your audience is the perfect fit for the brand, there's a good chance they'll want to work with you.
Also include information about previous collaborations you've worked on, and the type of content you can offer – do you only write blog posts, or would you be keen to do things like Instagram Stories takeovers too? Make it visual with some of your best photos and your blog's logo and branding. Include lots of information, but display it in a way that's engaging and easy to digest – and try to keep your media kit to around two pages long. If you're struggling to design it yourself, Etsy have lots of great pre-made templates.
Sometimes it's impossible to track down the exact person you want to talk to, but try your best to find someone specific. There's more chance your email will get read if you send it to the right person at the brand (or the PR person from the agency looking after their marketing).
If you can't find the email address you're looking for on their website, head over to LinkedIn to see if you can track down someone from the press, communications or digital department of the brand. Failing that, head to Twitter or Instagram to drop them a private message and ask who the best person to speak to would be.
Brands and agencies get multiple pitches from influencers every day, so you have to make sure yours stands out. Rather than a generic "please let me know about any upcoming opportunities" kind of email, go in with a carefully considered pitch that is tailored to both you and the brand. It has to be something that works for the brand in terms of coverage and potential sales, but it also has to fit in with your style and the sort of thing you're good at creating.
Why are you, specifically, a good fit for this campaign? Make sure to emphasise this. Explain what makes your blog unique, how you're going to create great content for the brand, and why your audience are going to react well to it.
Be specific about what you can offer. Instead of offering "coverage" or "exposure on my channels", go in with something like "a blog post featuring X, plus two Instagram posts and at least 5 Instagram Stories during my visit". Even better if you can show a previous example of a similar collaboration, and briefly explain the results it got.
Brands love it when their products or services are featured in a unique and engaging way, so try and be creative with your pitch idea. Is there something you can suggest that's a little bit different from what everyone else is doing?
"Big" brands (and especially small businesses) don't always have a massive budget for things like marketing and influencer outreach, so be prepared to alter your pitch. They might ask you for specific coverage or to promote a certain product that they're pushing at the moment. Or they might not be able to offer you payment for a campaign, but can send you free products instead. Work out if what they're offering is something you'd be happy with, or whether you'd prefer to politely decline.
If you're pitching for something like a hotel stay to review, be prepared to travel out of season or midweek. Businesses like hotels are always busy at weekends and peak times throughout the year, so you may have to work around this in order for them to be able to accommodate you. Consider this when writing your pitch, and try to offer them options that might work for both of you.
If you don't hear back from a brand or they decline your offer, it's not personal. There are thousands and thousands of influencers out there, but brands only have so much time, budget and resources to commit to projects like this. It doesn't mean your idea is terrible or your blog isn't worth working with, it just means you're not a good fit at that time – for a variety of reasons, many of which are out of your control.
Instead of getting upset about it, stay polite and keep in touch with the person you've contacted if possible. That way, if an opportunity does crop up in the future, they're likely to remember you. Pick yourself up, research another brand you'd love to work with and get pitching again!
Great post. What really bugs me after putting in the effort to be pro-active and pitch to people, not getting a reply. Not even a "thanks but no thanks" email. Very rude.


July 02, 2014 - "Company News"
Girard's right angle worm reducers provide precise rotary motion for highly dynamic cyclical or speed control servo applications. Available in 3 backlash levels to satisfy a variety of applications. Output options include single and dual shafts, hollow bore with keyway, hollow bore with shrink disc, and rotary output flanges.
Low Backlash: Three levels of backlash from 10 arc minutes to less than 1 arc minute assures the proper repeatability for your application.
Multiple Output Options: Available in single or double output shafts, hollow bore with keyway, hollow bore with shrink disc, and rotary output flanges.
Universal Motor Mounting: Provided with an adapter for virtually all servo motors and a torsionally rigid flexible coupling for optimum motor shaft alignment.
Optimized Gearing: Hardened and ground worms and bronze alloy wheels provide high torque, smooth operation, and superior shock absorption.
Higher Radial Load Capacity: Oversized taper roller bearings accommodate high radial forces.
Lower Noise: Precision worm gearing provides noise levels below 55dB.
Aluminum Alloy Housings: A hardened aliminum-magnesium alloy housing results in lower weight and higher torsional rigidity. XL series is cast iron for high strength.
Constant Worm Bearing Preload: A unique 3 bearing arrangement maintains proper worm bearing preload over all allowable temperature ranges.
Gearhead Mounting Options: Tapped holes, through holes, and centering flanges maximizes gearhead integration.
9 exact ratios from 5.2:1 to 90:1, housings in aluminum-magnesium alloy.
Output torque capacity in Nm at 3000 RPM input speed.
9 exact ratios from 5.125:1 to 90:1, housings in cast iron.
Output torque capacity in Nm at 2000 RPM input speed.


text:
Langrisser Mobile Smartphone Game's New Gameplay Video Streamed
posted on 2018-12-24 09:00 EST by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Smartphone game launches in English in early 2019
Beijing-based game company ZLONGAME began streaming a new gameplay video on Friday for the global version of its Langrisser Mobile smartphone game based on the Langrisser series.
The global version will launch in early 2019, and pre-registration on the game is now available. The franchise's copyright holder Extreme authorized ZLONGAME to develop the game. ZLONGAME released the game in China in August. The game will feature 300 levels, all of the heroes from the main series, and a soundtrack composed by series composer Noriyuki Iwadare .
Kadokawa Games previously announced an upcoming mobile game for the franchise in August.
Nippon Computer Systems' software division Masaya released the first Langrisser game for the Mega Drive and PC in 1991, and it was also released in North America the same year under the title Warsong . The series went on to release four more main games, with Langrisser V: The End of Legend being released only in Japan in 1998 for the Sega Saturn. The games have been ported and remade on multiple occasions.
The latest entry in the series is Langrisser Re:Incarnation Tensei for the Nintendo 3DS, which shipped in Japan in July 2015, and in the West in April 2016. Kadokawa Games will release Langrisser I & II , a compiled remake of the first two games in the series, in Japan on April 18 after a delay.


text:
Skip to main content Health Health Care Medical Mysteries Science Well+Being
They say runners need flexibility, but you may be surprised at the latest thinking
Dynamic warm-ups, range-of-motion work and strength training may keep you running better and for longe than static yoga poses. (DuxX/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
By Amanda Loudin
For years, runners have believed that their sport makes them too tight and that they should turn to yoga to lengthen their muscles, become more flexible and thereby develop into better runners. It turns out, though, that the opposite may be true: Coaches and physical therapists now say that bending like Gumby may, in fact, cause problems.
"When it comes to running, flexibility is overrated," says Steve Magness, author of "The Science of Running" and cross country coach at the University of Houston. "Research shows that if you are too flexible, you are a less efficient runner."
As Magness explains it, our muscles and tendons are designed like springs. As our feet hit the ground during a run, those springs release stored energy and propel us forward. If the springs aren't tight enough, they can't do their jobs properly.
Some research has touched on this in the past, but the idea that tightness can help runners is getting a new look in this era of yoga popularity. A 2010 study of eight distance runners looked at their overall running economy relative to flexibility.
The participants performed the classic "sit and reach" test before running, and their oxygen uptake was assessed. "We saw that those who were most flexible were the least efficient," says Tamra Llewellyn, an assistant professor of health and human performance at Nebraska Wesleyan University and a co-author of the study. "Those with lower flexibility had greater elastic energy storage in their muscles and didn't use as much oxygen." In other words, their muscles could do more with less, allowing them to get more out of each stride at a lower level of exertion.
Yet the perception persists that more flexibility — even as much as that of a yogi — is better for runners. "It's a myth we'll probably fight forever," Magness says. "We're all taught from a young age to stretch to improve flexibility and performance."
Running coach Jason Fitzgerald of Strength Running, a Denver-based coaching service, says he sees this notion everywhere: "People get the idea that runners need the flexibility of gymnasts, and it's just not true. You do need the right amount of flexibility to go through the range of motion for your sport. But you don't need advanced yoga moves to get it." As Fitzgerald explains, running requires only a limited range of motion, all in one plane. Stretching and yoga aim to increase that end range, which is more than necessary for running.
Instead of seeking extreme flexibility, says Gene Shirokobrod, a physical therapist in Maryland, runners should focus on exercises that target abilities that need improvement, such as strength and range of motion. Those attributes are different from flexibility, and they're more important for runners.
Shirokobrod says "there are broad concepts in running that help ward off injury and improve running efficiency, such as ideal hip extension, glute strength and sufficient ankle mobility," he explains, "and for some reason, runners often skip this work."
Range of motion is the ability of joints and muscles to move well and far in a given direction. Runners, for instance, benefit from good hip extension because this is the origin of most of a runner's power, allowing them to push into and off the ground, Magness says. Hip flexibility, however, is simply how far a muscle can be stretched in a mostly static state. If runners stay injury-free, odds are their range of motion is just fine. "You should be striving for the range of motion that your event requires of you," Magness says. "As long as you have that, there's nothing to worry about."
He encourages runners to swap out more-static yoga-type moves intended to improve flexibility with dynamic movement. A 2015 study showed that a dynamic warm-up enhanced performance in a small group of well-trained middle- and long-distance runners. Dynamic exercises performed in the 10 minutes just before running prime the body to go through the required range of motion.
A dynamic warm-up routine, Fitzgerald says, can include such movements as lunges, high-knee skips, squats and sideways leg swings.
This is how 58-year old Mike Fronsoe, a retired pharmaceutical sales rep from Florida, helps ensure he has the right range of motion. "I use a dynamic routine" of about 20 different exercises, he says. On days when he's strength training, he adds weights to some of those moves.
Since starting the routine about a year ago, Fronsoe says, he has had his first solid year of injury-free running, which has also helped him increase his mileage.
A small 2006 study of soccer players by Alain Aguilar, a lecturer at the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, compared the value of dynamic warm-ups with traditional stretching and with no warm-up at all. The results showed that the group who performed the dynamic warm-up had better range of motion and muscle strength than the other two.
A dynamic warm-up might include a wide variety of movement, but it should always start with something familiar to the body, says Aguilar, whose 2006 study was done for his master's degree. "It should be low-level movement similar to [what you use in] your specific sport," he explains. "It could be things like walking lunges, inchworms or leg swings, and progress from there to some short, progressively faster run intervals."
This dynamic work can be especially important for runners who spend much of their days sitting at desks, where hip flexors, which help hips achieve full range of motion, can become shortened and where glute muscles can grow weaker due to inactivity. "Many rehab exercises like donkey kicks, lunges and fire hydrants work well here," Fitzgerald says, "because they wake up the muscles by putting them under some tension."
He says he guides his running clients toward a "sandwich" approach to training. "I encourage them to spend 10 to 15 minutes with a dynamic warm-up, followed by their run and then some sort of cool-down routine. The cool-down post-run is where some light yoga movement can be a nice way to end an easy run." Here yoga can bridge the gap between fast-paced movement and a return to a sedentary state by providing a light cool-down.
For those still intent on stretching before running, Matthew Sedgley, a primary-care sports medicine physician with MedStar Health, sums it up like this: "Dynamic as your warm-up, static as your cool-down and never ballistic — bouncing — stretching."
None of this is to say that yoga isn't good for you, especially for overall health. Its benefits can include lowered stress levels, improved balance and better sleep, in addition to greater flexibility for those who need it. But for a runner, the dynamic warm-up, range-of-motion work and strength training may keep you running better and for longer.


text:
Dmitry Medvedev held talks with the Turkish President and Prime Minister during his official visit to Turkey
With President of Turkey Abdullah Gul.
President Medvedev and Turkish President Abdullah Gul discussed trade and economic cooperation, joint efforts to fight extremism and terrorism, the situation in the Southern Caucasus, the Iranian nuclear programme, the Middle East peace process, and joint steps in the Black Sea region.
The two leaders oversaw the signing of a number of cooperation agreements, including an agreement on air transport links, an intergovernmental agreement on sea transportation, a cooperation agreement between the two countries' interior ministries, and a memorandum of understanding on combating trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.
Mr Medvedev also held talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders signed a declaration on the creation of the Russian-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council and chaired the council's first meeting. The council will act as the guiding body in setting the strategy and main directions for developing Russian-Turkish relations.
Also signed following the talks between Mr Medvedev and Mr Erdogan were intergovernmental agreements on reciprocal visa requirements, cooperation on construction and operation of a nuclear power plant at the Akkuyu site, and organisation of a mixed international rail and ferry link between the ports of Kavkaz (Russia) and Samsun (Turkey).
Mr Medvedev also addressed the Russian-Turkish Business Forum.
Published in section: News
Publication date: May 12, 2010, 20:36
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/48816


Load your family into the 2019 Subaru XV Crosstrek. It features an automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a 2 liter 4 cylinder engine. Subaru prioritized practicality, efficiency, and style by including: a built-in garage door transmitter, a trip computer, heated seats, fully automatic headlights, power door mirrors, power windows, and cruise control. Audio features include a CD player with MP3 capability, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and 6 speakers, providing excellent sound throughout the cabin. Passenger security is always assured thanks to various safety features, such as: dual front impact airbags, front side impact airbags, traction control, brake assist, ignition disabling, an emergency communication system, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. Various mechanical systems are monitored by electronic stability control, keeping you on your intended path. We know that you have high expectations, and we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding them! Stop by our dealership or give us a call for more information.


text:
Jared Kushner (AP/Alex Brandon)
Why special counsel Robert Mueller's court filing on Michael Flynn should scare Jared Kushner
Is there now evidence that the special counsel could be coming after Trump's son-in-law?
Check out this article! https://www.salon.com/2018/12/06/why-robert-muellers-court-filing-on-michael-flynn-should-terrify-jared-kushner_partner/
Matthew Chapman
December 6, 2018 10:30PM (UTC)
This article originally appeared on AlterNet.
With special counsel Robert Mueller wrapping up the investigation of President Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and noting in a heavily-redacted court filing that he has been of "substantial assistance" to the Russia investigation following his plea agreement, many in Trump's inner circle may be fearful of what will happen next in the probe.
One person who should be worried, argued Daily Beast reporter Betsy Woodruff to MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace on "Deadline: White House," is the president's son-in-law.
"Flynn had unique, and arguably unparalleled, insight into the Trump administration all the way back through transition, where he was a very senior official running the National Security Council's transition project," said Woodruff. "And of course, through the bulk of the presidential campaign, the most interesting campaign times, Flynn had a front row seat. And Flynn's cooperation with Mueller should potentially cause concern not just for the president but also for Jared Kushner."
"Mueller seems to hint in this memo that he's interested in the conversations in the lead-up to the U.N. Security Council's resolution that would have criticized Israel for building settlements in the West Bank," Woodruff continued. "Now, in court filings, it says that a very senior transition team official directed Flynn to reach out to the Russian ambassador and ask the Russians to try to postpone that key and geopolitically significant U.N. Security Council vote."
"Flynn made that ask," she concluded. "It's been reported, though it hasn't showed up in any court filings, that the individual who directed Flynn to make that outreach to the Russians, to try to change the way that geopolitics worked, was Jared Kushner."
MORE FROM Matthew Chapman
Best Sex Ever advice: Break or breakup?
Author of GOP tax bill: Who knows?