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THE BRITBALL NUMBERS GAME – A&B TEAMS V 8V8!
By Sean Robert | 2nd October 2020 | 0
Discussing the numbers game in Britball and the viability of 8v8 teams vs established teams creating A&B teams in large cities!
There has been A LOT of chat over the last couple of weeks around the creation of an 8v8 league but to my knowledge and experience of teams, I think it would be better to have fewer clubs and more teams within single organisations. The best teams to look at are the London Blitz and Manchester Titans who although have the warriors to contend with are probably two of the best setups in British American Football. A&B teams in the same organisation would allow for movement up and down of players as they develop their skills and would provide great competition for spots in both teams. The coaching quality tends to be (but not always be) higher in premiership teams, sponsors, funding and organisation tends to be better across the board.
What I have done for this article is based purely off of the population of areas compared to the number of members in teams and used teams I have played for as examples.
BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER THESE NUMBERS ARE BASED ENTIRELY OFF OF 2020 ESTIMATE VALUES JUST TO GIVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. EXACT NUMBERS WITHIN CITIES AND TEAMS ARE SOMEWHAT EDUCATED GUESS WORK.
Edinburgh, not including women and junior teams, currently has 54 people on their adult contact roster which meets the game-day roster size of 53. Whether they are all there every game or not is a different story, but it's enough to comfortably make a squad every week. Edinburgh has a rough population of 500,000.
Aberdeen currently has 38 people on their adult contact roster which is a little low for a division one team but meets current BAFA standards for numbers. Aberdeen has a rough population of 240,000.
Edinburgh – one player for every 10,000 people
Aberdeen – one player for every 6,000 People
So let's say for an average we have one player per 8000 people in each city.
For this article we will take into account some of the major cities listed below.
Glasgow – 1,600,000 (200 Potential Players)
Glasgow currently has four teams within the area which is too many. They are likely all fighting for the same players and with three of those teams in division one they obviously have decent standards but this will be stopping them having a premiership team. Imagine if this was two teams with an A&B team. They would have two strong clubs with most likely one premiership squad and a division one or two squad for each club.
Newcastle – 800,000 (100 Potential Players)
Newcastle currently has two teams, a division one and a division two team but no premiership team. If they had one club with an A &B team they likely have one in the premiership and one in division one or two.
Leeds – 800,000 (100 Potential Players)
Supports two teams in the Yorkshire Rams & Leeds Bobcats with the Knottingley raiders potentially coming under this area as well, but not a single team makes the premiership from this major city. This is the same situation as Newcastle.
Manchester/Liverpool – 2,700,000 + 900,000 (3,600,000 Combined) (450 Potential Players)
Most people will hate me for grouping these two, but they are so close together it makes sense. Currently supports a number of teams including two premiership teams (Manchester Titans & Merseyside Nighthawks, a number of division one and two teams plus a large number of 8GL teams. This area, in particular, could have two really strong organisations, one in Liverpool, one in Manchester with A & B teams, one represented in the premiership and the other in division one or two.
Sheffield – 730,000 (90 Potential Players)
One team here and they are in the premiership. No surprise there.
Nottingham – 780,000 (97 Potential Players)
This area has one team that has been in division one football for a long period of time.
Leicester – 550,000 (68 potential players)
This area has one team that is relatively new to the league. They worked their way through the leagues to the premiership and currently reside in division one.
Birmingham – 2,600,000 (325 Potential Players)
Currently supports three teams with two of those being the Tamworth Phoenix and Sandwell Steelers in the Premiership. This is probably about correct but there is no real need for the third organisation even though they are by far the oldest.
London – 9,300,000 (1,162 Players)
Now London supports a ridiculous amount of teams and there are three of those in the premiership, a number in division one and some in division two. This area has a large enough population that it can probably support five organisations comfortably with both A & B teams in the Central, North, East, South and West Regions of the city. The Exiles and Olympians are close together and the London Hornets sit directly in the middle of the London Blitz and Hertfordshire Cheetahs.
I have obviously only looked at the bigger cities here, however, if a team is looking to set up in an area they should really look at the demographics. If the city/town you are setting up in has less than 400,000 people the likelihood of you having a squad meeting the maximum 53 man roster is small. It would be better to join already established teams and when required have them create a second team to compete within the three divisions in the BAFA structure.
For those teams in outlying areas, make a team in a central location of some minor cities. For example, Bury is a 30-mile drive from Ipswich and a 47-mile drive from Norwich. These three teams could easily form one large powerful team to have a premiership team. Between the three cities, there are roughly 600,000 people which would cover one extremely solid team and potentially a B team if numbers were good.
For those players who don't want to commit to travelling into an area where a football team is then 8v8 may be for you but you should feed into the bigger organisations.
Posted in Article, Blog, Britball, Leagues and tagged BAFA, bafa facebook, Britball, britball 8v8, Britbowl 33, British American Football, british gridiron league, Double Coverage, Gridiron Hub, UK American Football, Uniball


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"war is coooooool" - Janani
Juliet's Soliloquy
* Act II Scene (ii) illustrates the intensity of Romeo and Juliet's love. This love contrasts with the artificial 'courtly love' played out by Romeo for Rosaline earlier in the play. This is the scene in which Juliet proposes marriage. Remember that Juliet was not yet even 14 years old. In those days it would have been very unusual for a woman to do the proposing but, as we learned when Paris talks to Lord Capulet, not all that unusual for teenagers to become married. Many marriages were arranged by parents and were based on suitability, not love - and, of course, this is the conflict of the play: Lord Capulet wants his daughter to marry Paris and the wedding between Juliet and Romeo remains a secret.
There is an element of danger in this scene and both parties are aware of the suddenness of their passion. Juliet makes several references to names and unlike Romeo, seems very aware of the precariousness of their situation. Both Juliet and Romeo have misgivings, That Juliet is being to unadvised and sudden whereas Romeo being petrarchan.
she that, 'It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden...' - he that, 'all this is but a dream'. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to remind us of the events to come: 'Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye...'
Romeo stands in the shadows beneath Juliet's bedroom window. Juliet appears on the balcony and thinking she's alone, reveals in a soliloquy her love for Romeo. She despairs over the feud between the two families and the problems the feud presents. Romeo listens and when Juliet calls on him to "doff" his name, he steps from the darkness saying, "call me but love."
After the two exchange expressions of devotion, the Nurse calls Juliet from the balcony. Juliet leaves, but returns momentarily. They agree to marry. Juliet promises to send a messenger the next day so that Romeo can tell her what wedding arrangements he has made. The scene concludes as day breaks and Romeo leaves to seek the advice of Friar Laurence....
The Fate Of Romeo And Juliet
Love In Romeo And Juliet
Romeo And Juliet-a Play Of Lust
Baz luhrman´s Version Of...
Summary Of Romeo And Juliet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Occult / Spirituality
The Fabric of Dreams
By Katherine Taylor Craig
Science, history, symbolism, and collective wisdomcombine for a fascinating blend of scholarship and spirituality in this exploration of ancient and modern dream lore and dream interpretation. Originally published in 1918, The Fabric of Dreams compilesdream-related beliefs and practices from a broad range of sources to offer a comprehensive and objective view of the subject. Readers are provided with a wealth of fact and fancy from which to arrive at their own conclusions.
Author Katherine Taylor Craig, an expert on occult subjects, begins by drawing upon the literature and history of antiquity as well as medieval civilizations. In addition to age-old folklore, including methods of ancient divination, she cites scientists and psychiatrists such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Morton Prince, and Havelock Ellis, discussing and comparing their theories and explanations of dream phenomena. The teachings and observations of mystics such as William Blake and Madame Blavatsky receive their due, along with reflections from modern writers in the fields of literature, science, religion, art, and philosophy. Themes include dreams that have come true, dream analysis and interpretation, and the role of narcotics in inducing dream states. The book concludes with a guide to dream interpretation using the art of geomancy.


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Photo Credit: Dylan DaCunha
Due to their practicality and stylish appeal, buyers may be left wondering whether to buy Vans or Converse. You can't go wrong with either, but it's important to learn about both.
By: Dylan DaCunha, Reporter
Originating in the early and mid 20th century, Converse and Vans shoes have been popular for decades. Although created for different reasons, both are in style and a practical shoe choice; which may leave you wondering which to buy this holiday season.
Opening for business in 1908, the Converse Rubber Company originally made rain boots. After seeing the rising popularity of basketball, they decided to use their rubber to make shoes for the sport. In the 1920s, they became the first company to mass-produce basketball shoes in the United States. After basketball player Charles H. Taylor joined the Converse sales force in 1921, sales skyrocketed. In 1932, Charles' name, Chuck Taylor was added to the patch on the side of the shoe.
Almost 60 years after the creation of Converse, Vans was born in Anaheim, California in 1966. Skateboarders and BMX riders in Southern California were the target audience for Vans from the beginning. Taking off in the late 70s and early 80s, Vans became increasingly popular after being worn in the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Converse Pros and Cons
Although Converse was originally made for basketball, they are rarely used for that anymore. Other companies such as Nike and Underarmour have made sneakers that perform better on the court. However, the classic shoe with the rubber toe is still fashionable and used as a leisure shoe. Nowadays, they come in an array of colors, both neutral and bold. When ordering online, you can even customize a pair to your liking, with free shipping for members. With high-top, low-rise, and even platform styles, they are a versatile shoe.
While Converse shoes sound appealing, they have some aspects that aren't. The rubber toe and long sole often make your foot look narrow. In addition to that, after an adequate amount of use, the rubber toe begins to separate from the canvas, and the canvas may even rip in some areas. The thick sole in the shoes can make it difficult to form to your feet and may cause blisters. Podiatrists, doctors of the feet, advise against them. Dr. Leslie Campbell says that Converse is nothing more than a "glorified sock" and can lead to problems such as Plantar Fasciitis.
Vans Pros and Cons
Still being worn by skaters for their thin, flat soles, Van's have shown to be both practical and stylish. Famous skater, Tony Hawk, has worn the brand since 1978, mesmerized by the brand's signature waffle grip. Similar to Converse, Vans come in an assortment of colors and designs, and can be customizable. You can even own a pair for less than $100, as most range from $50-$75. Unlike Converse though, the shoes don't make your foot look as narrow due to not having a rubber toe. The reason why skaters prefer Vans is because of their comfortable and padded soles.
Like Converse, Vans will rip after much use. Also, eventually, the rubber separates from the canvas, resulting in holes. Especially with new slip-on Vans, the backs of the shoes are prone to giving blisters. The flat soles of the shoes aren't good for those with foot arch support issues either and may lead to similar problems related to Converse shoes.
Fashion Review
Dylan DaCunha, Reporter
Dylan DaCunha is a sophomore at Colonia High School. She has enjoyed writing all her life, going all the way back to elementary school. She plays softball...


July 6th marks the 72nd anniversary of last journey of Wellington R1465. This walk will journey through the Brecon Beacons to the memorial on the slopes of Waun Rydd.
Spaces must be booked in advance. The £10 booking fee will be donated to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
If you are unsure if this walk is suitable for you please contact us first.
You can also reserve a space by either calling or emailing us - we also accept cheques and PayPal.


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Fire investigators pin two small October wildfires on PG&E
David R. Baker Feb. 5, 2018 Updated: Feb. 5, 2018 5:26 p.m.
A staircase stands at a home leveled by the Tubbs Fire in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa. The city's fire department has pinned the cause of two small October fires on PG&E's power lines. Neither fire, however, appears to have been connected to the Tubbs Fire, which destroyed several Santa Rosa neighborhoods.
For the first time since flames tore across the North Bay in October, government fire investigators have pinned the blame for some of the fires on Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power lines swaying and arcing in a fierce wind.
Incident reports from the Santa Rosa Fire Department found two small fires that started within the city on the night of Oct. 8 and early morning of Oct. 9 were likely sparked by electrical lines arcing and setting vegetation on fire during a windstorm.
In one of the two incidents, along Brush Creek Road, electrical lines kept arcing and starting more flames even after firefighters arrived. The other fire covered by the reports destroyed two homes along Sullivan Way before firefighters extinguished it.
"Ignition of vegetation resulted from the arcing overhead power lines that were damaged by the extreme winds," reads the Sullivan Way incident report.
Neither blaze was connected to the massive Tubbs Fire, which started near Calistoga and swept into Santa Rosa in the early morning hours of Oct. 9, destroying entire neighborhoods.
Sullivan Way Brush Creek Incident Reports October 2017 (PDF)
Sullivan Way Brush Creek Incident Reports October 2017 (Text)
Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, are trying to determine the causes of the Tubbs Fire and the other major blazes that erupted across Northern California that evening, leveling 8,889 buildings and killing 45 people. Cal Fire may not release the results of its investigations for months.
But many homeowners have already sued PG&E, blaming the utility's power lines for starting the fires. Sonoma County supervisors voted unanimously last week to do the same. And PG&E's own records show that the company found damaged equipment at the suspected ignition points for all four of the most destructive fires across the North Bay that night, including the Tubbs Fire.
The reports from the Santa Rosa Fire Department will probably become fodder for those lawsuits, even though the small fires covered in the report were not directly related to the larger blazes driving the litigation. PG&E, in response, emphasized that the major fires remain under investigation.
"There has been no determination by Cal Fire on the causes of any of the fires, and we remain focused on doing everything we can to help Sonoma and Napa Counties recover and rebuild," said spokeswoman Ari Vanrenen in an email. "Our thoughts continue to be with everyone impacted by these devastating wildfires."
Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said he was not aware of any other North Bay jurisdictions conducting their own investigations of fires that broke out Oct. 8 and 9, during the event that state officials are now calling a "fire siege." In contrast, several city, county and state agencies are investigating December's Southern California wildfires.
"As far as the North Bay fires, the siege, we have the lion's share," McLean said.
Small fires burst out across Sonoma and Napa counties that night, some of them merging into larger blazes, while others were extinguished by fire crews. Both of the incident reports from the Santa Rosa Fire Department concern blazes that were quickly contained.
The first started around 10:13 p.m. on Oct. 8, near the Brush Creek Montessori School at 1569 Brush Creek Road. Crews arrived to find grass and a chicken coop on fire, and electrical lines arcing as they swayed in the wind. One of the crews reported seeing trees hitting the lines. The fire also burned a wooden handball board at the school before it was extinguished.
The second blaze started around 12:17 a.m., Oct. 9, near 4822 Sullivan Way. According to the report, a neighbor spotted arcs from an electrical line, and a PG&E field technician told a fire department official that a line had broken in the trees along the road. Flames burned up a slope and into two homes. The only injury reported, however, was a firefighter spraining his knee.
David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
David R. Baker
Follow David R. on:
https://www.facebook.com/SFChronicle/davidbakersf
David Baker covers energy, clean tech, electric vehicles and self-driving cars for the San Francisco Chronicle. He joined the paper in 2000 after spending five years in Southern California reporting for the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News of Los Angeles. He has reported from wind farms, geothermal fields, solar power plants, oil fields and an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. He also visited Baghdad and Basra in 2003 to write about Iraq's reconstruction. He graduated from Amherst College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He lives in San Francisco with his wife.
Electric cars could cost about the same as gas guzzlers in a few years
Second U.S. Virus Wave Emerges as Cases Top 2 Million
Burying PG&E's lines to stop fires could cost $240 billion


So the connect box has finally done it for me.
2) Now I cannot access pages without the connect box asking for password as if I wanted to access the settings!!!! And this is even when I log on to my Apple router that is wired to the connect box. Started today after I was told an firmware update was taking place..
So thank you UPC making me realize how utter poor the service is, so today I signed up to a different supplier.
We had 6 good years together but we must part ways and I will send my notise a little later.
Sent my notice to UPC today (October 23rd) by registred post so the divorce has now been offically requested.
Unfortunately there are two full months I have to fork out for UPC, so an additional cost for something I won't use, but that's what the T&C reads and which I accepted when signing up for the service so I won't be complaining.


We accept wire (SEPA) payments.
Normally, account will be credited within 1 working day. For emergency top ups (during weekends for example) a credit card payment can be done online directly from your account web page. A commission of 3% extra will charged for credit card top ups!
IMPORTANT: ensure that you've put your account ID in the description of your SEPA transfer!
IMPORTANT: only payments originating from the account owner/company will be credited!


Concerta Coupon 2018, Start Your Savings With Printable Concerta Discount Card. Get Other Available Manufacturer Voucher/Rebate and Copay Assistance Program.
Get extra percentage off with usmle-rx.com Coupon codes June 2018. Check out all the latest usmle-rx.com coupons and apply them for instantly savings.


Complete our very simple form below to book your MOT online, we will call you back very quickly, or we will email you if you choose.
Here at Harlow Harrogate MOT station we are very busy most of the time... Nonetheless we can aim to fit you in if you want a last minute MOT Test. If you have noticed your MOT is outstanding, or you might have overlooked it, then Harlow Harrogate MOT can certainly help - SORTED!


Potamotrygon magdalenae, commonly known as the Magdalena River stingray, is a species of freshwater ray in the Potamotrygonidae and only found in the Magdalena and Atrato basins in Colombia. It is a small stingray measuring about 20 cm (8 in) in disc width (DW); however, it seems they can reach up to 35 cm (14 in) in DW. The maximum published weight for this critter is 755.10 grams.
Ever wonder where the name Potamotrygon came from? It's Greek! Two Greek words, actually: potamos which means "river" and trygon which means "a sting ray." This benthopelagic animal likes shallow muddy bottoms with turbid waters and feeds on insect larvae. The IUCN has assessed them as Least Concern (LC).


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package com.dtolabs.rundeck.core.plugins;

import java.io.Closeable;
import java.util.function.Function;

/**
 * A Loaded plugin provider which can be closed when no longer needed
 *
 * @author greg
 * @since 3/8/17
 */
public interface CloseableProvider<T>
    extends Closeable
{
    /**
     * @return the provided instance
     */
    T getProvider();

    /**
     * Convert a closeable provider of one type to a closeable of another type given a conversion function. The returned
     * closeable will manage closing this original closeable as well as the converted object if it is also closeable.
     *
     * @param converter converter function
     */
    default <X> CloseableProvider<X> convert(Function<T, X> converter) {
        X result = converter.apply(getProvider());
        //wrap the built source into another closeable provider
        return Closeables.closeableProvider(
            result,
            //close both the result if it is closeable, and this original closeable reference, when
            // released
            Closeables.single(Closeables.maybeCloseable(result), this)
        );
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';

import { Pie2Component } from './pie2.component';

describe('Pie2Component', () => {
  let component: Pie2Component;
  let fixture: ComponentFixture<Pie2Component>;

  beforeEach(async(() => {
    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      declarations: [ Pie2Component ]
    })
    .compileComponents();
  }));

  beforeEach(() => {
    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Pie2Component);
    component = fixture.componentInstance;
    fixture.detectChanges();
  });

  it('should create', () => {
    expect(component).toBeTruthy();
  });
});


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Chem-Dry Raises Over $28,000 in First Year of Partnership with Best Friends Animal Society
Leading Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Company Surpasses Fundraising Goal, Continuing Partnership Supporting Rescue Pet Adoption
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — To encourage pet adoption in the United States and further its commitment to providing healthier homes for families and their pets, Chem-Dry launched a Cleaning for the Paws initiative. As part of the initiative, Chem-Dry teamed up with Best Friends Animal Society to raise awareness and funds to support shelter pet adoption and help the organization in its efforts to find homes for all rescue pets. At the end of March, Chem-Dry wrapped up its first year of this partnership, for which they set a goal of raising $25,000. Through successful fundraising activities and community events, Chem-Dry and its franchise owners surpassed their goal by raising over $28,000 and have already committed to and launched their second of year of the partnership.
For more than 30 years, Best Friends has worked to end the killing of pets around the country simply because they don't have a place to call home. Recently the organization planted a stake in the ground to help achieve No Kill across the country by 2025. In an effort to raise funds to help achieve its mission, the organization has partnered with companies like Chem-Dry, which is the country's leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service with a network of over 2,000 U.S. locations serving 7,000 homes and businesses each day.
In 2017, Best Friends transferred nearly 10,000 animals from county shelters into regional programs, and overall, helped more than 191,000 animals through programs made possible from partnerships with brands like Chem-Dry. Best Friends is working to discover the individual needs of each community and its animals by providing lifesaving resources where they are needed most. The support of donors like Chem-Dry is what makes this important work possible.
"We couldn't be more thrilled with the effort and passion that our franchise owners invested in this program and the outcome we achieved — it was a rewarding experience from every perspective, but mostly with the impact we are having with Best Friends toward such an important cause," said Dan Tarantin, CEO of Harris Research, Inc., parent company to Chem-Dry. "We are confident our second year of the partnership will build on the network participation and success we had this past year as we help even more rescue pets find homes. Since Chem-Dry's mission is to help people live more healthfully through our wide array of services, encouraging people to adopt rescue pets and helping families create a happy and healthy home for their families and pets is a perfect fit for us."
With 85 percent of Chem-Dry customers owning pets, the brand is dedicated to helping families maintain a happy, healthy home for all members including pets. During the first year of the partnership, funds were raised through multiple methods including the sale of specially marked cans of Chem-Dry World Famous Spot Remover– with each can generating a $1 donation to Best Friends – plus customer add-on donations, local promotional offers with a built-in donation, participation in Best Friends' "Strut your Mutt" events around the country, and direct online donations at Chem-Dry Cares. Chem-Dry franchise owners from across 40 states participated in the program and accounted for the roughly 20,000 promotional cans that were sold.
"Our national partnership with Chem-Dry was such a success and their support for our organization has made an impact on the lives of thousands of animals," said Eric Rayvid, director of public relations for Best Friends Animal Society. "It's important to our organization to work with brands whose mission aligns with ours and we are excited to build on last year's accomplishments with Chem-Dry to have an even stronger year two together."
Having launched the second year of its partnership with Best Friends earlier this month, Chem-Dry has set a year two fundraising goal of $30,000. To achieve this goal, Chem-Dry will be having two major promotional pushes this year, one in the spring that is already underway and one in the fall. In addition, the company has continued its promotional can program, has printed up special Cleaning for the Paws t-shirts for franchisees who participate and expects to gain more involvement and support for local events, including Best Friends-organized 'Strut Your Mutt' events taking place in numerous cities around the country.
To make a donation, please visit www.chemdrycares.com. A small donation can help keep dogs and cats out of shelters and help find safe, permanent homes for rescue pets.
For more information on Chem-Dry or to find a local operator, please visit www.chemdry.com.
About Chem-Dry
Founded in 1977, Chem-Dry is the world's leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service with a network spanning 55 countries and serving over 11,000 homes and business a day worldwide. Its green-certified solution and proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process provide a deeper clean, allow surfaces to dry faster, and leave homes and workplaces healthier. In addition to being ranked the number one carpet cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 30 consecutive years and ranked among the top 10 concepts in the magazine's list of Top Home-Based Franchises for 19 consecutive years, Chem-Dry has been ranked as the world's Best House & Office Franchise in the 2018 Global Franchise Awards. For more information about Chem-Dry and to find a local operator, visit www.chemdry.com, or for information on franchise opportunities, visit www.chemdryfranchise.com. Chem-Dry is owned by Harris Research, Inc., which is also the owner of the fast-growing N-Hance Wood Refinishing and Delta Disaster Services property restoration franchises.
Chem-Dry's Whole-Home Cleaning Services Create Higher Ticket Totals
Chem-Dry's Alignment With IAQA Offers Major Benefits To Franchise Owners
Chem-Dry Online Marketing Savvy Boosts Business For Franchises
Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning Franchise Opportunity Recognized With 2020 FranchiseHelp Award


For general enquiries please call 020 3096 7870 or complete our form below. If you require information on a possible air transfer for a child please call 07795 192952.
If you have any comments or complaints please email info@lucyaac.org.uk, or for further information see our Fundraising Complaints Procedure.


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Associate Director, Liver Disease Biology
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Academic / Research, Consultancy/Private Sector
Conservation science
Energy, Biology
Why Join Intellia?
Our mission is to develop curative genome editing treatments that can positively transform the lives of people living with severe and life-threatening diseases.
Beyond our science, we live our four core values: One, Explore, Disrupt, Deliver and feel strongly that you can achieve more at Intellia. We have a single-minded determination to excel and succeed together. We believe in the power of curiosity and pushing boundaries. We welcome challenging thoughts and imagination to develop innovative solutions. And we know that patients are counting on us to make the promise a reality, so we must maintain high standards and get it done.
We want all of our people to go beyond what is possible. We aren't constrained by typical end rails, and we aren't out to just "treat" people. We're all in this for something more. We're driven to cure and motivated for change. Just imagine the possibilities of what we can do together.
How you will Achieve More with Intellia:
As an Associate Director, Liver Disease Biology, you will be joining a company where we are applying CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and gene therapy technologies for therapeutic benefit. In your role as an Associate Director, you will oversee the advancement of our liver disease projects, bringing novel drug candidates with high potential for efficacy in humans into the early-stage pipeline. You will lead a team that generates key data for evaluating the mechanism of action and/or drug candidate efficacy and pharmacodynamics. Main responsibilities include:
Leading multiple cross-functional, disease-focused project teams from initiation to DC stage and onwards to IND
Directly supervising a team of amazing scientists working on novel applications of our hepatic genome editing platform
Overseeing the development of in vitro and in vivo assays to interrogate biological processes and test novel therapeutics
Delivering high-quality data to help advance drug discovery projects in the therapeutic portfolio
Generate new therapeutic hypotheses leveraging CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing
Proposing and developing innovative methodologies and technologies for project development
Presenting data to other scientific staff or cross-functional project team; may present data/posters to external research or scientific community
Acting as a scientific mentor and cultural ambassador within the company
Are you a scientific leader with strong management experience and deep subject-matter expertise in liver disease biology? Candidates interested in applying should have a PhD in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field. The ideal candidate will also have experience in drug discovery or target validation research. If you consider yourself a strong communicator and enjoy managing a team, we encourage you to apply! Other qualifications include:
Experience leading a diverse project team to successfully achieve objectives under tight timelines and with rapidly changing priorities
Deep knowledge of inherited diseases of the liver and relevant animal models of liver disease Bioassay development, optimization, and validation
Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 technology
Meet your future team:
The Disease Biology team is a group of bright, fun, and team-first individuals. Your future hiring manager is the Vice President, Disease Biology. Having spent nearly 6 years with Intellia, the hiring manager is very knowledgeable on the company's history and mission. Your future team is a group of dedicated individuals, driven to change patients' lives. As we build our team, we're excited to work with people who share our commitment and energy to making a difference.
The team is currently working mostly onsite. Therefore, we hope you are currently local to Cambridge, MA, or that you are open to relocating. While much of the day-to-day operations require wet-lab work, our team is focused on building not just technical expertise but fostering an environment for the growth of scientists interested in a career in therapeutic biotechnology. If you join our team, you can expect to join a fast, exciting, and collaborative environment. We look forward to fostering your skills, learning from your experiences, and building a larger team together.
#LI-DG1
Covid-19 Vaccination Policy: Effective Monday, January 3, 2022, all Intellia employees, regardless of work location, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Requests for exemption for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs will be considered.
EEOC Statement: Intellia believes in a diverse environment, and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all its employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Intellia will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
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How has your summer been going? For me it is the perfect time to unwind with the stack of books I've accumulated all year on my night stand while the kids play outside or splash in the pool.
I'll be dedicating a post to each of these titles to highlight my favorite parts about each one AND I have a giveaway for one of the books at the end of this post, too! In the meantime, here is my summer reading list. Join me to discuss over on our Facebook group and we can have a virtual book club together!


Massive transfusion is arbitrarily defined as the replacement of a patient's total blood volume in less than 24 hours, or as the acute administration of more than half the patient's estimated blood volume per hour.
Control of bleeding is the single most important intervention.
Tamponade techniques for PPH: eg Uterine packing, Intrauterine balloon devices, B-Lynch suture, manual compression, oxytocic agents.
ABC Score (Assessment of Blood Consumption) for Massive Transfusion.
TASH Score (Trauma Associated Severe Hemorrhage) for Massive Transfusion.
Poly trauma with multiple system injuries and unstable haemodynamics.
Massive post-partum haemorrhage with measured blood loss > 1500 mls.
Post-surgical bleeding from major vessels.
Lab team need to know early – they will need to prep products and process your incoming blood samples.
Early thawing of 2 units FFP if large volumes are expected.
Dedicated nurse / team member to run the rapid infusion device.
Orderly to run samples and bloods to the lab for processing.
Scribe to document the products / volumes and response.
Request immediately available blood products.
Crystalloids – aim to minimise the use of crystalloids – they will make your coagulopathy, temp and possibly acidosis worse.
NOTE: thawing FFP takes ~ 30 minutes – so you need to alert the lab to this possibility early.
Recommend invasive monitoring (arterial line) if available.
Send repeat investigations every ~ 30 minutes: FBP, coagulation profile, fibrinogen, ABG / lactate, Ca++.
Frequent / continuous temperature monitoring.
Obstetric haemorrhage: early use of cryoprecipitate is recommended.
Platelets: only recommended in thrombocytopenia < 50,000.
Tranexamic acid: give 1 g loading dose (over 10 mins) as early as possible in traumatic bleeding.
Factor VII remains controversial – this should only be used in consultation with Haematologist and once other reversible causes of coagulopathy have been addressed / targets reached.
In smaller centres the early evacuation planning should commence as soon as the patient is received.
In the absence of a definitive surgical service – evacuation should be expatiated to such a centre.
The retrieval team should be made aware of the product availability and stock so they can plan to bring further agents for the ongoing resuscitation / transfer.
Suggest early liaison with RFDS, receiving hospital ED / surgeon and clinical Haematologist.
2. Management of massive blood loss: a template guideline. Br. J. Anaesth. (2000) 85 (3): 487-491.
9. Massive Transfusion Protocols for Patients With Substantial Hemorrhage	Transfus Med Rev. 2011 October; 25(4): 293–303.
Critical Bleeding/Massive Transfusion module: National Blood Authority of Australia.
Percutaneous catheterization is a frequently-used technique to gain access to the central venous circulation. Inadvertent arterial puncture is often without consequence, but can lead to devastating complications if it goes unrecognized and a large-bore dilator or catheter is inserted.
Several studies have reported the incidence of arterial cannulation to be between 0.1-1.0%.
The most common injury to arteries is related to puncture or cannulation of the carotid artery. Puncturing the carotid artery with a small needle occurs in about 6% of all procedures and, although undesirable, does not generally produce any harm. However if the arterial puncture is not recognized and a guidewire is placed into the artery and followed with a CVC or a pulmonary artery catheter introducer sheath there is the possibility of a major problem.
Ultrasound and pressure waveform measurement are two commonly used methods to reduce the chances of injury to the carotid artery.
Arterial cannulation can occur despite the use of ultrasound guidance.
The low internal jugular approach can injure the subclavian or innominate arteries or even the aorta. Arterial injury below the sternoclavicular joint cannot be repaired through a cervical approach. Clinical suspicion of an intrathoracic injury should prompt imaging to locate the site of injury and plan surgical or endovascular treatment.
Prolonged arterial cannulation can result in thrombus formation and stroke.
A normal carotid duplex exam following removal of a catheter from the carotid does not rule out the possibility of a stroke. Because of this, postponing elective surgery has been recommended to avoid unrecognized stroke in an anesthetized patient.
3. Complication of central venous cannulation Can J Surg. 2008 October; 51(5): E113–E114.
Rapid defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Continuous quantitative waveform capnography is recommended for confirmation and monitoring of endotracheal tube placement.
Cardiac arrest algorithms are simplified and redesigned to emphasize the importance of high-quality CPR.
Atropine is no longer recommended for routine use in the management of pulseless electrical activity (PEA)/asystole.
There is an increased emphasis on physiologic monitoring to optimize CPR quality and detect ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation). Rhythm assessment using ECG and pulse checks as the only physiologic parameters to guide therapy. (Monitoring of Petco2, coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), and central venous oxygen saturation (Scvo2) provides valuable information on both the patient's condition and response to therapy).
Chronotropic drugs (dopamine, epinephrine, and isoproterenol) infusions are recommended as an alternative to pacing in symptomatic and unstable bradycardia.
Adenosine is recommended as a safe and potentially effective therapy in the initial management of stable undifferentiated regular monomorphic wide-complex tachycardia.
The new circular algorithm is introduced in 2010 emphasizes the importance of high-quality CPR.
In 1940-41, ASA asked a committee of three physicians (Meyer Saklad, M.D., Emery Rovenstine, M.D., and Ivan Taylor, M.D.) to study, examine, experiment and devise a system for the collection and tabulation of statistical data in anesthesia which could be applicable under any circumstances.
They were given the task to devise a grading system to assess the operative risk, but after detailed studies research and discussion they stated that "In attempting to standardize and define what has heretofore been considered 'Operative Risk', it was found that the term ... could not be used. It was felt that for the purposes of the anesthesia record and for any future evaluation of anesthetic agents or surgical procedures, it would be best to classify and grade the patient in relation to his physical status only."
They described a six-point scale, ranging from a healthy patient (class 1) to one with an extreme systemic disorder that is an imminent threat to life (class 4). The first four points of their scale roughly correspond to today's ASA classes 1-4, which were first published in 1963.The original authors included two classes that encompassed emergencies which otherwise would have been coded in either the first two classes (class 5) or the second two (class 6). By the time of the 1963 publication of the present classification, two modifications were made. First, previous classes 5 and 6 were removed and a new class 5 was added for moribund patients not expected to survive 24 hours, with or without surgery. Second, separate classes for emergencies were eliminated in lieu of the "E" modifier of the other classes.
In 1961, Dripps et all proposed a classification consists of 5 categories.
The new classification was amended by the 1962 House of Delegates of American Society of Anaesthesiologists,Inc. Two modifications were made in the new classification, the previous classes 5 and 6 were removed and a new class 5 was added for moribund patients not expected to survive 24 hours, with or without surgery. In addition emergency cases were designated by the letter 'E'.
The sixth class is a recent addition for declared brain dead organ donors.
E. Emergency surgery, E is placed after the Roman numeral.
Inconsistency of grading between anesthetists.
Age; is not considered as an influencing factor, extremes of age like elderly patients and neonates may have poor tolerance to surgery and anaesthesia in the absence of systemic illness and cannot be considered as ASA 1 patients.
The grading system is not well suited for assessing physical status of special clinical conditions like burns, trauma and metabolic disorders.
No grade was available to describe moderate systemic illness.
The ASA Grading System shows poor inter rater reliability in pediatric practice.
Tomoaki and Yoshihisa reported that it is difficult to estimate whether the class II patients have an accurate risk ranging from mild to moderate-severe systemic disorders since the ASA class II is very broad and does not accurately reflect the patients' risk.
They assessed 1933 patients scheduled for surgical procedures both by 5-grade ASA physical status protocol and by their new 7-grade preoperative status assessment dividing classes I and II into a and b.
SA Physical Status (7-grade) can provide a better grading outcome for predicting the incidence of intra- and postoperative complications in surgical patients.
Normal healthy patient with anaesthetic or operative risk.
Patient with moderate systemic disease.
Patient with mild systemic disease with anaesthetic or operative risk.
Patient with moderate to severe systemic disease that does not limit activity.
Patient with mild systemic disease with anaesthetic and operative risk.
Patient with moderate systemic disease with anaesthetic or operative risk.
Patients with severe systemic disease that limits activity, but is not incapacitating.
1. Grading of Patients for Surgical Procedures Saklad, Meyer M.D.
Indian J Anaesth. 2011 Mar-Apr; 55(2): 111–115.
7. Tomoaki H, Yoshihisa K. Modified ASA physical status (7 grades) may be more practical in recent use for preoperative risk assessment.


Earlier this month, Lucara Diamond Corp. recovered a 127 carat top white diamond from its Karowe mine. And the good new just keeps coming. This time the company has recovered a 240 carat top white gem from the same mine.


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Drunken Marmoset
Videogames and Film
DRUNKEN MARMOSET/
Videogames and Film/
Creative Writing/
Opinion - Retire These Gaming Trends
February 26, 2017 / Jeremiah French
It's sad, but we all grow up at some point. That means a lot of our time goes into our professions, our families, and just surviving. Some activities we loved, even as passions, get less attention as we grow. Videogames are one of those passions of mine that I can't seem to let go entirely, but that I honestly don't have much time for anymore. So when I do play games, I want to know I'm playing ones that engage me, thrill me, give me a sense of accomplishment, and are, most importantly, fun. I've incorporated videogames into my research as a graduate student and plan to continue on that path, so I've had more time than others, but still my game time needs to be directed at experiences that are truly worth the many hours they require. So as I've grown, I've found some gaming trends that as a child I could handle, but as an adult I'd love to throw out the window.
I played a great deal of Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) as a kid. Final Fantasy was a staple and constant in my life. I was always extremely excited about an upcoming release, and completely disappeared into a new title once it was in my hands. I would do everything and anything within a title, beating every boss no matter how much extra effort I had to put in, including grinding for experience. My recent purchase of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD reminded me of how much grinding might be necessary to accomplish some endgame or secret material, and as an adult, the aspect of repetition in my game is an absolute turn-off. Grinding for experience adds no substance to my game or my experience of it, and I'm quick to put one down once I realize the material I want to experience requires it.
Grinding…for rare stuff!
Related to the last section is a different type of grinding peeve: grinding to find something particular one needs. Sometimes it can be in the hunt for a rare creature (like in Final Fantasy X's creature hunting) or for specific items. Resonance of Fate by Tri-Ace was a peculiar title I picked up years ago with a very unique combat system I grew to love. All the elements of the system were introduced right from the beginning of the game, so I could immediately get to mastering all of it. Unfortunately, the game requires that players find items called hexes to unlock new areas on maps. Neutral hexes were easy enough to get a hold of, but colored hexes were only dropped by certain enemies in certain areas, and only some of the time. Most of the later areas in the game require an exorbitant amount of said hexes, and as much as I had fun until that point, it was this hex-hunting that stopped me. When I was younger, I wouldn't have batted an eye at such a feat, but these days I just feel like I'm wasting my extra time and feel somewhat cheated when the repetition is required to get to even core material. There's something great about finding rare loot, but if there's not some other form of access other than repetition, I'd like to at least have the freedom to choose if that's something I care about.
Bad Mini-Games
Mini-games can be fun distractions, like Rage's card game, but they can sometimes be awfully droll when they are required to receive certain bonuses or make progress, especially when the nature of the mini-game detracts from what is actually fun in the title. Again I'll use Final Fantasy X HD as an example. In order to get each characters' ultimate weapons one must complete mini-games, some of which take a great deal of time. Lulu, the black-mage type character who arguably has the capacity to do the most damage, cannot unlock the potential of her celestial weapon unless the player can dodge lightning bolts consecutively 250 times in a particular area. No saving, no leaving, it must all be done at once. Players must stand their character still in the particular area and tap the X button when the screen flashes, and repeatedly tapping X doesn't work. It's repetitive, and worse, has absolutely nothing to do with or has no bearing on the focal gameplay: combat. Hers is definitely the most difficult and requires the most patience, but all the other characters require players to champion mini-games (blitzball, butterfly catching, cactuar hide-and-seek, etc.).
How much of this did I need to do? Too much. Was it fun? Not at all.
Some focus more on combat than others, but I find it odd that a game that was superb most of the way through would then distract players from the key element that made the game so fun. It saddens me on a personal level, because there are some awesome challenges in the HD version that I've never tackled, but as an adult, whenever I sit down to do some chocobo-balloon-catch-racer or blitzball, I get bored very quick, and feel like my time could be better spent. If unlocking things like this were more related to the core gameplay (like other hidden bosses, maybe?), I'd be more inclined to get to it.
A Lack of Challenge
Repetition can be unfulfilling, but so can a great system that has no challenge. The aforementioned title Resonance of Fate is a clear example of this; the game is pretty darn challenging when one begins it, but about halfway through it becomes a cakewalk. The combat system I had grown to love and had mastered ended up feeling bland without any surmountable challenges, and the repetition of hex-collecting only exacerbated the feeling of being finished with the game. To this day I've never finished the title, and I only rarely never finish a game I've picked up, but the repetition and downward slope of challenges sent my attention to the direction of other games.
Many games of late have avoided these awful trends. The Mass Effect series was a very focused experience, and each title improved on the silly resource-gathering gimmick so as to improve the core experience. The Souls series has resoundingly brought back challenge in action-role playing games with centralized, technical gameplay, and other developers and publishers are taking notice. Gearbox's Borderlands never seems to get old for me because the gameplay is so focused on the action, skills progression, and the astounding loot system. As an adult, I lean towards core experiences that have a great deal to offer in quality, rather than in quantity of things that can be done. I just don't seem to enjoy some of these trends I used to have no problem with.
What are some game elements you used to cruise through that now you pull your hair out from boredom? What are some trends you've come to love?
February 26, 2017 / Jeremiah French/ Comment
Jeremiah French
Violence and the Post-Apocalypse in ...
Preamble - No Man's Sky
Sep 13, 2018 Just a Taste: Denstiny 2: Forsaken Sep 13, 2018
Jul 29, 2018 Celeste Jul 29, 2018
Apr 29, 2017 Inside Apr 29, 2017
Apr 17, 2017 SOMA: What Does it Mean, Anyway? Apr 17, 2017
Apr 1, 2017 Horizon: Zero Dawn Apr 1, 2017
Mar 28, 2017 Just a Taste: For Honor Mar 28, 2017
Mar 21, 2017 Habitica: The Fun Organizer Mar 21, 2017
Mar 21, 2017 Final Fantasy XV: Not Much of a Fantasy Mar 21, 2017
Mar 20, 2017 No Man's Sky: Some Man's Dream Mar 20, 2017
Mar 12, 2017 The Evil Within the Evil Within Mar 12, 2017
Mar 11, 2017 Gone Home: Feel the House, Be the House Mar 11, 2017
Mar 11, 2017 The Division: Tactical Bullet Sponge Mar 11, 2017
Mar 4, 2017 Go for a Swim in flOw Mar 4, 2017
Feb 26, 2017 Remember Me is a Nifty Memory That Risks Being Forgotten Feb 26, 2017
Feb 26, 2017 Thomas Was Alone: A Charmingly Intelligent Adventure Feb 26, 2017
Feb 26, 2017 Sound Shapes: Make the Music as you Make the Game Feb 26, 2017
Jun 4, 2017 Video Gamers Hawai'i: Bringing Cause and Comraderie to the Gaming Community Jun 4, 2017
Apr 8, 2017 Diversity: Transgender Representation in Mass Effect: Andromeda Apr 8, 2017
Mar 28, 2017 Preamble - Death Stranding Mar 28, 2017
Mar 11, 2017 A New Evil Look: Resident Evil VII Teaser Demo Mar 11, 2017
Mar 4, 2017 Simulation as Storytelling Mar 4, 2017
Mar 4, 2017 The Post-Apocalyptic Western Mar 4, 2017
Feb 26, 2017 Violence and the Post-Apocalypse in Videogames Feb 26, 2017
Feb 26, 2017 Opinion - Retire These Gaming Trends Feb 26, 2017
Feb 26, 2017 Preamble - No Man's Sky Feb 26, 2017
Copyright 2017 Drunken Marmoset LLC


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Davina McCall: "I want to present Bake Off"
After her mammoth Comic Relief challenge, the presenter's been offered even more extreme challenges – but jokes she'd rather be in a tent with Mary Berry
Monday, 11th May 2015 at 1:44 pm
Ever since her herculean efforts on a bicycle for Comic Relief in 2014, presenter Davina McCall has been offered plenty of hair-raising challenges. She's currently on a break from doing all sorts of toe-curling things for her next ITV show, Life at the Extreme. But actually, Davina would be quite happy with a gentler gig.
"I'm my own worst enemy, I've got to stop," McCall told RadioTimes.com at last night's TV Baftas. "I want to do Bake Off. I want to present Bake Off – bloody Sue Perkins," she added with a laugh.
"People keep thinking I'm gung ho – and I'm not!"
Davina's Extreme show, which won't air until February next year, will see the presenter visit far flung places including Namibia and the Arctic to experience the hottest, coldest, deepest and wettest places on earth.
"I just went a thousand meters under the sea in a tiny submersible," McCall revealed. And it doesn't seem she'll be rushing to do it again.
"It's not fun at all, it's really scary."
You won't catch her joining in with the contestants when she returns to hosting Channel 4's winter sports-themed reality show The Jump next year either:
"No way. The Jump is really dangerous. I've got three kids. The older I get, the more scared I get."
Here she is on the red carpet with Graham Norton, Lee Mack and Anton Du Beke:
More Bafta:
Bafta TV 2015 in pictures
Bafta TV 2015: the winners in full
Davina McCall
Five reasons to be excited about The Great British Bake Off's return
10 reasons The Jump is so much better this year
All about The Jump
Get money off a BodyFit folding electric treadmill
With this great offer you can improve your fitness levels at home!


text:
<?php

    class migration_271 extends Migration
    {
        public static function getVersion()
        {
            return '2.7.1';
        }

        public static function getReleaseNotes()
        {
            return 'https://www.getsymphony.com/download/releases/version/2.7.1/';
        }
    }


Google has a pair of new security features that will warn users in cases when they should be cautious about revealing sensitive information over email.
Users will be shown a small red unlocked padlock icon in the upper right-hand corner of a message to let them know that someone they're sending messages to or receiving email from doesn't support TLS encryption that would keep information from prying eyes in transit.
Odds are, the overwhelming majority of email that users see on a regular basis likely won't contain one of these warnings, as most major email providers like Microsoft and Yahoo already support TLS encryption.
But Google's move might pressure other email providers -- especially companies that run their own email servers -- to set up encryption in order to clear that check.
In addition to the encryption warnings, Google will also show a question mark in place of a profile picture for emails sent by people whose identities Google can't authenticate. It's designed to help people avoid phishing emails that claim to be from a domain like bankofamerica.com, but can't be verified.
Google pointed out that not all of the emails that generate these warnings will actually be dangerous or untrustworthy, but the new features are designed to remind users to take care with what information they transmit.
The new warnings will be available to consumer Gmail users Tuesday, and will roll out to Google for Work customers over the coming weeks.


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Back Travel » A Pilgrimage to the Grave of Vo Thi Sau on Con Dao Island
A Pilgrimage to the Grave of Vo Thi Sau on Con Dao Island
Wednesday, 14 March 2018.
Written by Peter Ford. Photos by Peter Ford.
"Every time they had a chance to go by the grave, they would put a stone on it, burn an incense stick or stick a flower they had picked up from the roadside on the grave to show their respect and adoration to the sacredness of a maiden that had become a legend." Vo Thi Sau - A Legendary Heroine, by Nguyen Dinh Thong.
The smoke from the fistfuls of burning incense sticks settles over Con Son's Hang Duong Cemetery, the red embers resembling fireflies in the midnight dark. A steady stream of somber visitors pause to pay their respects at the grave of a long-dead 19-year-old woman.
By dawn, her grave has already received fresh offerings of cut flowers and fruit.
"All of the local people come to clean the graves, especially for those without names as they have no family to do it for them," explains Pham Lanh, putting down his gloves and wire brush as the morning sun rises above the wooded cemetery.
"It is a sign of respect for those who died here, and to keep Vo Thi Sau happy," he adds in a hushed tone, before heading to start his shift at a local guesthouse.
As the 30 or so local residents who came to clean the graves leave for work, the first mainland visitors arrive in a taxi, unloading their plastic-wrapped offerings for Vo Thi Sau onto a VASCO airlines airport trolley cart for the five-minute walk to her grave.
A VASCO airlines trolley used to carry pilgrims' offerings of fruit, flowers and gifts for Vo Thi Sau from the cemetery parking lot to her grave.
Vo Thi Sau was born in what is today Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in 1933. At age 13, she joined the Viet Minh resistance against French colonial rule, initially as a lookout and later a scout, before she was caught following an attempted grenade assassination in 1950. She was executed on Con Son Island in 1952, aged 19, the first woman to be executed on the island and one of 35 prisoners shot that year as French authorities struggled to suppress anti-colonial resistance.
Hang Duong Cemetery is home to over 20,000 graves. Between 1862 and 1975, an unknown number of tortured prisoners died or were killed by French colonial and, later, American-supported prison staff. The island's large museum describes the graves as "evidences of the colonialism and imperialism crime."
Vo Thi Sau only spent one night on the island, at the police station that now contains a small exhibition to her, but her grave has become a site of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese, for whom her struggle and martyrdom under the French marks her as someone truly special.
The statue of Vo Thi Sau outside the police headquarters in Con Dao town, where she spent her only night on the island before her execution.
In 1993, President Le Duc Anh made Vo Thi Sau a "heroine of the People's Armed Forces," but her fame was already well known. According to her biography by Nguyen Dinh Thong, from the day of her execution: "The island inhabitants do not swear to God or Heaven any longer, instead, they swear to Ms. Sau."
For 85-year-old former NVA soldier Nguyen Tan Dao, visiting her grave is a yearly pilgrimage from Hanoi.
"I want her to know that I remember her sacrifice, and I always have good luck after visiting," he said, after leaving incense sticks at her grave, and in those near hers.
The legend surrounding Vo Thi Sau's legacy is rich and centers on her resistance to French authority. Early efforts by prisoners to build and maintain a grave for her were repeatedly smashed by prison authorities until rumors of her ghost walking Con Son's empty beaches ended that. Suicides of prison guards and collaborating prisoners were attributed to Vo Thi Sau's vengeance.
Even her execution has become legend. According to the vivid account in Dinh Tong's biography, she requested not to be blindfolded and survived the first volley of shots from the seven guards.
"The limpid eyes of the girl seemed to have a supernatural force that pierced their heart and made them tremble."
In the end, the officer in charge shot her in the head with his pistol.
"She was strangely unruffled. She enjoyed life till the last moment. Her valor still showed even after she had lain down. That was really a heroine," Dinh Tong quotes one of the guards tasked with executing her.
At the Southern Women's Museum in Saigon, three floors are dedicated to showcasing the achievements of women across the region. The second floor is dedicated to women involved in Vietnam's various conflicts in the past century. A white marble statue of Vo Thi Sau is one of many honoring the sacrifice of women, while numerous photos depict the various roles women undertook in the fighting, from nursing the wounded to armed combat.
A white marble relief of Vo Thi Sau's face also adorns her relatively new black grave on Con Son, which replaced a more modest one upon which visitors would leave stones and flowers in respect.
Elderly visitors read the inscription on the prisoner-made headstone that once marked Vo Thi Sau's grave.
University student Tran Thi Anh, dressed in a pink pajama suit, gently touches the relief before rubbing her own hair with the same hand three times and then putting her hands together in prayer.
"She helps me remember what to focus on in my life," she shared. "She gave her life for Vietnam, it is important to remember her."
Peter Ford is a freelance journalist based in Cambodia. A former reporter at the now-closed Cambodia Daily, he writes on a wide range of topics from across Asia. Find him on Twitter @PeteaFord.
- Saigoneer Getaways: Indulging Your Inner Castaway on Con Dao
- [Photos] Con Dao: From Prison to Paradise
- Speedboats to Con Dao Will Begin This June
Saigoneer in Travel
5 Localities Aim to Welcome Vaccinated Foreign Tourists From Next Month
Tourism destinations in Vietnam are eager to restart their economies after it appears that the current outbreak is subsiding.
Tran Duy Minh in Travel
A Day in the Life of Madame Xuân, Hoi An's 85-Year-Old Vegetable Vendor
She is not famous but has silently become a part of Hoi An's cultural beauty for years.
Airlines in Vietnam Prepare to Resume Domestic Flights on Thursday
The two airlines plan to begin offering more domestic routes from April 16, following the scheduled ending of the national social distancing campaign.
Michael Tatarski in Travel
An Eye-Opening Mushroom Farm in Da Lat for Budding Mycologists
It could be argued that mushrooms are among nature's strangest creations.
Anatomy of a Teen Magnet: Da Nang's Golden Bridge and the Giant Hands
In the midst of the forest high above Ba Na Hills outside of Da Nang, the Golden Bridge has grabbed visitors' attention thanks to its striking appearance.
At Da Lat's Biological Museum, a Demented Homage to Vietnam's Vanishing Wildlife
Sometimes when traveling, you come across something so utterly odd that you simply don't know what to make of it.
Saigoneer Sài·gòn·eer Saigoneer한글판 Urbanist Travel


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Mercy Vocational High School tapped among 10 fair trade schools in U.S.
Eyeing retirement, Cardinal O'Hara president reflects on career in education
Ardsley school launches video to promote Open House
Queen of Angels Regional School hosts open house
Willow Grove school gets ready for kindergarten
Bishop Shanahan's high-achieving junior overcomes more than most
Exton Catholic school students counting benefits of math
Eighth grader Matt Delphais (left) and seventh grader David Carangan of SS. Philip and James School, Exton, ranked high in a math competition in which their school took part.
By Lou Baldwin • Posted February 6, 2014
"The foundation of knowledge is in mathematics," said Roger Bacon, a Franciscan friar and philosopher back in the 13th century. Yet in world surveys, American students have slipped to 29th place in math assessments, according to a recent international survey.
The foundation for a solid math education is laid in elementary school, and some schools are taking notice of this.
At St. Philip and James School in Exton, all students in grades six through eight are exposed to algebra, according to Cindy Schneider, who is the honors and eighth grade math teacher at SS. Philip and James, with 11 years teaching experience at the school.
This year for the first time, the school entered the annual Catholic Math League competition, a nationwide program developed by Online Testing Solutions Inc.
The algebra class ranked 12th out of the 87 schools participating and third in the region. The pre-algebra class ranked eighth out of 64 schools nationwide, and first in Pennsylvania.
The testing is done in four 30-minute sessions at the participating schools that then pass the results on to the South Carolina-based Catholic Math League for ranking.
In all, 125 students in grades six through eight participated. There were 33 students in the honors and 92 in the non-honors program.
"This has been a wonderful opportunity for all of our middle school students," Schneider said. "Most of our contests are geared towards honor students, but we are requiring all of our middle school students to take this test. Some of them have never participated in an academic competition prior to the Catholic Math League."
Encouraging students to compete at the middle school level, Schneider said, "introduces them to out-of-the-box thinking so that they may explore problems they haven't yet learned or experienced and to discover the level of problem-solving required by competitive mathematics."
Getting back to Roger Bacon's thesis that mathematics is the foundation of knowledge, the question is, how will mathematics impact the future lives of Cindy Schneider's students, at least as they understand it now?
"Math is one of the most important things we can learn," said eighth grader Katie Bradley. "We use math to pay taxes and bills, to calculate tips in a restaurant and to find the better buy in a store. I will use math in all of those ways no matter what my profession may be. Math will be even more important in the future, when I am responsible for all of my own taxes, bills and payments."
"In my future I will use math to maybe teach," said seventh grader David Carangan, who ranked ninth nationally out of 1,315 pre-algebra students. "I will do my taxes to the exact amount to save money. I will probably use it to find the better buy and save money."
"I will use math in my future in everything I do," said Samantha Capriotti, grade eight. "I plan to open my own bakery where I will have to measure and multiply ingredients. I will have to pay my workers' salaries and bills for my business. From my job to finding the tax while shopping, math will be an important part of my whole life."
"I plan to use math every day of my life," said Matt Delphais, an eighth grader who ranked 18th in the nation in algebra out of 1,100 students and first in Pennsylvania. "I hope to continue learning math through high school and college. I believe I can build my future on my mathematical knowledge."
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Pest Control (WDI, WDO and Rodents)
Article: With A Little Help From My Friends: A Home Inspection Insurance Pre-Claim
pre-claims assistance
By InspectorPro Insurance,
September 17, 2019 in Pest Control (WDI, WDO and Rodents)
InspectorPro Insurance 4
InspectorPro Insurance
Hi TIJ readers,
Every few months or so, we try to share a story from our pre-claim and claim archives. By choosing cases representative of the allegations coming in, we hope to help you manage your own business' risk against similar complaints.
With A Little Help From My Friends: A Home Inspection Insurance Pre-Claim
The following is a real home inspection insurance pre-claim from our insurance claim archives. In order to protect the insured's identity, all identifiable characteristics—including names, associations, and locations—have been omitted or removed.
A year after their inspection, a client began to perform renovations to their recently purchased property. Upon removing some exterior siding by the basement entrance and some insulation in the basement ceiling, the client discovered some powder post beetle damage.
The client asked their home inspector to take a look at what he'd uncovered. When the inspector returned to re-inspect the property, the inspector took photos of the damage. Additionally, the inspector explained that, because of the siding and the insulation, the beetle damage was not visible during the inspection. The client resolved to ask the sellers to compensate him for the damage.
Two months after the re-inspection, the client called the home inspector again. He hadn't heard back from the sellers, he explained, so he had reached out to some lawyers to ask what to do. The lawyers advised that he redirect his complaint to the home inspector. The inspectors' insurance, the lawyers said, should cover the cost to repair the damage.
Having heard about pre-claims assistance in a recent newsletter, the home inspector reached out to our pre-claims team for assistance. Because his client's complaint lacked a written demand for money—which is how his insurance policy defines a claim—the inspector's incident qualified for free legal help stifling the grievance. Additionally, should the complaint escalate to a claim after pre-claims assistance tried to help, the inspector would qualify for up to 50 percent off his deductible through his policy's Waiver of Deductible endorsement. (You can learn more about pre-claims assistance here.)
The home inspector discussed the issue with pre-claims assistance over the phone. During the conversation, the home inspector was able to tell his side of the story and receive helpful risk management tips.
"[My pre-claims agent] explained to me that, the faster you deal with these situations and get [a response] out to the client so that they understand what the limitations of the inspection are, the better chance you have of them not following up further with litigation," the home inspector told us in an interview for this article.
Marc 83
Coastal Louisiana
Keep the stories coming.
Jim Katen 138
Jim Katen
Gaston, Oregon
Once again, the article starts off great and then goes off into the weeds.
Instead of advising people to never exceed the standards of practice, here's an idea:
Take the time to find the problems and tell your customers about them.
3 hours ago, Jim Katen said:
That approach is designed to avoid the situation that would bring the insurance company into the picture in the first place. It's unreasonable to expect an insurance company to adopt such an approach as policy.
Having said that, the number of substantial client complaints I've had in over 16 years can be counted on the fingers of one hand. I credit that on satisfying whatever client needs I can reasonably offer, even if it means exceeding the SOP.
The SOP, without an educational standard and a mandated writing style to go with it, is a ridiculous standard upon which to base a quality inspection/report.
JMHO.
Hi @Jim Katen. I think that both are important. Yes, we want home inspectors to stay within the SOP, but we want them to take the time to find problems and tell customers about them, too.
In this particular scenario, staying within the SOP is extremely relevant. Note that the beetle damage wasn't visible during the inspection; the client only discovered the beetle damage during renovations. Thus, our primary argument in defense of the inspector was that a home inspection is a limited, non-invasive, visual inspection that cannot see through walls or predict the future.
But, let's say the home inspector had exceeded that definition in another way. Perhaps he moved furniture and belongings during the inspection. Or maybe he probed the wall to identify water intrusion. If he had exceeded the SOP in those instances, the claimant and their lawyer could have argued that he should have exceeded the SOP in others, too.
The SOP helps set customer expectations and determine inspection scope. But, when inspectors go above or below those standards, things can get muddled.
Ya know, I wonder: I have an IR attachment to my iphone that I deploy when, and only when, visible conditions suggest a moisture issue. It's for confirmation of the issue. Without that visible evidence, the attachment stays in my truck. So what do you think? Bad practice?
Edited September 18, 2019 by Marc
9 minutes ago, Marc said:
Great question. The answer remains to be seen. So far, we haven't run into any issues with courts arguing that IR exceeds the SOP of a visual, non-invasive inspection. That doesn't mean we never will. But, IR isn't something our claims team or carrier are concerned about at the moment. In fact, we've seen many instances in which the use of IR helped prevent or defend against claims.
getting pretty close to inspecting for insurance coverage. 'bout the same as bowling for dollars!
2 minutes ago, Les said:
I get your point. We argue that a balance is possible: You can provide a stellar service to your inspection clients while still managing your risk. But, we recognize, too, that there are plenty of instances where what best serves the client and what best protects the inspector seem to be in conflict. In these situations, as insurance providers, it's always our job to always advocate for what's most likely to avoid claims. It's then up to the inspectors individually to weigh the options and decide what's best for their businesses.
8 hours ago, InspectorPro Insurance said:
But, we recognize, too, that there are plenty of instances where what best serves the client and what best protects the inspector seem to be in conflict. In these situations, as insurance providers, it's always our job to always advocate for what's most likely to avoid claims.
I think your just plain wrong here. There are, of course, times when those conflicts are present, but they're rare. In the vast majority of instances, the thing that best protects the inspector is for him or her to do that thing that best serves the customer. In other words, cover the client's butt and yours will be covered automatically.
By the way, the people who framed the original standard of practice for this profession clearly intended for that standard to be a *minimum*, not a maximum.
An inspection report that doesn't exceed the standard of practice is a piss-poor report.
"An inspection report that doesn't exceed the standard of practice is a piss-poor report. "
Dear James Katen,
Please tell us how you feel about home inspector standards of practice and what purpose they serve.
Leslie Van Alstine
51 minutes ago, Les said:
It serves the state legislatures that had to come up with some sort of standard to round out their regulatory chapter but had only one choice on the shelf: ASHI's SOP.
I don't mock the SOP. My gripe is that not a single new-born HI regulatory body in this country has yet to 'grab the ball and run with it' by following up with educational and report writing standards.
It's by these two standards that the bar is raised. The SOP can't do it.
JMHO
hausdok 19
hausdok
TIJ Founder
Edmonds, Washington
On 9/17/2019 at 10:25 PM, Jim Katen said:
Absolutely the best advice ever. I carried E & O for the first 4 - 5 years and dropped it after a nutcase threatened to sue me for obvious earthquake damage and the insurance company agreed, after soaking me for a $1000 deductible, to refund her the $350 fee.
For the next 18 years I never went to any arbitrations, never had to go to small claims court, and was never sued. I figure I saved the equivalent cost of an M class Mercedes by not carrying E & O and simply concentrating on doing the absolute best damned home inspection I could, calling everything out, documenting it, and letting the chips fall where they may without giving even one second's thought to whether or not my being "too picky" would affect the number or future referrals or cause agents to lose my phone number and forget my name.
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Hi, @Jim Katen. I agree that, in many instances, what protects the client and the inspector are the same thing.
As for the SoP being a minimum rather than a maximum, that's just not how we've seen the SoP interpreted by attorneys, arbitrators, and judges. That's why we recommend staying within the SoP rather than exceeding it. Whether meeting rather than exceeding the SoP was what the people who framed the SoP intended, I can't say. But, I can say that's not how the SoP is regularly being used in both claims filings and defense.
24 minutes ago, hausdok said:
Hi, @hausdok. Your claims example is an interesting one. Here at InspectorPro, we only charge the deductible when the claim amount--including payment and legal fees--meets or exceeds the deductible. So, in your particular case, you likely would have just paid the $350 to the client and nothing to us.
As for your 18 years since, it's great that you haven't had any claims since you dropped your insurance coverage, and it's likely that your inspection practices have a lot to do with it. Unfortunately, you may be the exception to the rule. Just looking at the inspectors we've insured over the past 10 years, about 60 percent of them have at least one claim in their career. And of those claims that we receive, 80 percent of the claims are meritless, meaning the technical inspection was accurate and the home inspector still received a claim.
Ultimately, in states where insurance isn't required, whether you buy insurance is up to your risk tolerance: how much you want to protect yourself versus how much you're willing to leave up to chance. As insurance providers, we'd say that inspectors like you who choose not to carry insurance have a high risk tolerance. In contrast, an inspector who chooses to carry all the insurance coverage they can has a low risk tolerance. It's a personal choice.
This isn't an interpretation. It's a fact.
The first sentence of the ASHI SOP under "purpose" reads:
The purpose of the Standards of Practice is to establish a minimum and uniform standard for home inspectors who subscribe to these Standards of Practice.
The opening paragraph of the Oregon State Standards reads:
OAR 812-008-0202 through 812-008-0214 of this rule set forth the minimum standards of practice required by Oregon certified home inspector.
Nothing in either of these standards even comes close to suggesting that the standard is not to be exceeded. (I can't speak to the standards of other organizations or other states - especially stupid states like Texas.)
By parroting myth that exceeding the standards increases your liability, InspectorPro is contributing to the problem, not helping it.
10 hours ago, Les said:
Home inspector standards of practice are the bare minimum performance standard; the floor that you stand on when you do a home inspection. They define a dollar-store home inspection product.
13 hours ago, Jim Katen said:
Mostly for other readers - I have always known what Jim thinks about SOPs. I have always had that understanding of any sop. My comment was sarcasm.
I agree with Katen.
I do like the Dollar Store comparison. Hopefully mine is more of a Nieman-Marcus piece of goods!
Thanks for sharing that. That section from the ASHI SOP does shed some much needed light on the SOP's intended use.
However, I do think you misunderstand our purpose as insurance providers. The risk management tips we provide are meant to do just that: manage risk. We aim to help home inspectors limit their liability and prevent potential claims by sharing the information we've gathered from a decade of insuring and defending inspectors from allegations. While you may disagree with the counsel to stay within the SOP rather than exceed it, that counsel isn't based on personal opinion. Rather, it's based on actual cases we've faced. To not recognize that inspecting beyond the SOP can make claims more difficult to defend would be a disservice to our clients and other inspectors who read our articles in hopes of being able to apply various techniques to shield their businesses from claims. So, while there are some inspectors who disagree with the principle, we continue to share that counsel so that inspectors can then make an educated decision about how they run their inspection businesses.
20 minutes ago, InspectorPro Insurance said:
carefully reading her response will guide you to enlightenment why we are in this mess. Do what you want. I will exceed standards.
Bill Kibbel 77
Bill Kibbel
PA, NJ
As an insurer, I suspect your experiences and advice are focused more toward the "bottom end" of this profession. I've been fortunate to have been able to interact with the "top end" folks for over 3 decades. Deflecting, defending, or even worrying about claims is not part of any discussion in that group.
Training, educating and inspecting to a level well above the minimum standard would probably reduce the claims significantly. This whole profession should be constantly improving their knowledge and service to their clients, not hiding behind minimum sop.
It seems that if an inspector wants to serves his client as best he can, he's gonna have to tolerate more liability on the job. Fine with me. Is Inspector Pro going to deny me if I apply for coverage next year? No claims in 16 years.
5 hours ago, Bill Kibbel said:
I'd like to think our audience is broader than the "bottom end" you've described! However, most of the questions we get asked have to do with managing risk, so I must acknowledge that we're speaking with different groups of inspectors.
While I have to stand beside my earlier comments about the SOP, I do agree with the idea of better training, educating, and inspecting likely reducing claims. We've definitely seen a relationship between a lack of experience and training and claims.
2 hours ago, Marc said:
Ha! While we recommend staying within the SOP, we don't penalize people for exceeding it. Frankly, we don't ask. As for a denial, the only way to know for sure is apply! However, unless you have any other experiences I'm unaware of, like an inspection-related felony, I can't see there being a problem.
On 9/20/2019 at 7:46 AM, InspectorPro Insurance said:
I fully understand your purpose as an insurance provider. But I think that your advice is short-sighted and, ultimately, self-defeating. Inspectors don't get sued for finding problems, they get sued for missing them. The very slight increase in liability caused by exceeding the standards is far outweighed by the very great decrease in liability gained by finding otherwise hidden problems.
I'm old enough to remember when inspectors first started to use moisture meters. My insurer a the time advised me not to use one and, if I were to use one, never to mention it in the report or to let the customer see me using it. Their reasoning was that using a moisture meter would instantly make my inspection "technically exhaustive" and open me up to all kinds of disastrous claims. That was dumb reasoning at the time and every inspector I know uses a moisture meter today. What really happens is that the moisture meters help to find problems and reduce the inspectors' liability. They are, of course, beyond the standards. (The same argument is now playing out with IR cameras.)
Likewise, I remember when we first started to use digital cameras. Again, my insurer advised against taking any pictures during the inspection because one of the pictures might capture a defect that I didn't include in my report and that picture could be used against me in court. They were also concerned about a seller suing if I took pictures of personal property. None of that turned out to be much of an issue. (And if an inspector does take a picture of a defect and not report on it, then he or she probably should be responsible for the oversight.) In the long term, pictures reduce liability and InspectorPro (and probably every other insurer out there) knows that perfectly well (you having just written an article about how every inspector should take hundreds of thousands of pictures every minute). They, of course, go beyond the standards.
You stand at one small corner of the home inspection profession and your view is distorted by your perspective from that corner. I suggest that by taking a step or two back, you'll see that advising people not to exceed the standards is actually increasing rather than decreasing the overall risk of your customer pool.
Bottom line: exceeding the standards might make it a little bit more difficult for an attorney to defend an inspector, but it makes it much less likely that the inspector will need that attorney in the first place.
Here's an idea:
Instead of advising your inspectors to *never* exceed the standards, I suggest introducing the concept of "tactical exceedance."
Begin by including a statement like this in the inspection agreement, "The inspector may occasionally exceed the standard of practice as a courtesy to the customer, who agrees that, in doing so, the inspector will not exceed the standard in every regard or in every instance." Or something like that. I'm sure that your lawyers can get the gist across.
Then, inspectors can feel a bit more free to perform risk assessments to decide when it's more beneficial to go the extra mile or so to find problems.
As an insurer, providing guidance about how to perform that risk assessment and when it's actually beneficial to exceed the standard would be a lot more useful - and do more to reduce claims - than simply issuing blanket advice to never exceed.
By the way, if you implement this concept, I want full credit. It should be called, "The Katen Method" and spoken of reverently, in hushed and respectful tones.
On 9/21/2019 at 10:24 AM, Jim Katen said:
Hi @Jim Katen. Thank you for your thoughts on this. I find your examples with the moisture meter and digital camera particularly interesting since they do show a definitive change in risk management recommendations. While I don't see us changing our recommendation to "tactical exceedance" just yet, I do think "The Katen Method" concept presents an interesting compromise. I'll pass the idea on to our claims team, who determines our recommendations, as an item of interest.
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