This article is designed for intermediate ActionScript developers. An understanding of ActionScript 3 language fundamentals, using inheritance, and using encapsulation in ActionScript 3 is required.
Inheritance, encapsulation, abstraction and polymorphism are four of the fundamental concepts of object-oriented programming. You should have already learned about inheritance and encapsulation in previous articles. This article focuses on polymorphism, which requires an understanding of inheritance and encapsulation. Please read Object-oriented programming concepts: Inheritance and Object-oriented programming concepts: Encapsulation if you have not already.
Polymorphism is the concept that multiple types of objects might be able to work in a given situation. For example, if you needed to write a message on a piece of paper, you could use a pen, pencil, marker or even a crayon. You only require that the item you use can fit in your hand and can make a mark when pressed against the paper. Interfaces are a way to wrap all of those requirements into a single word (or phrase), for example: I need a writing instrument. This article will cover how to use polymorphism and interfaces in ActionScript 3.
Then Pen class has two methods: one for drawing a line and one for drawing a circle. Using inheritance, you can create two new types of Pens: FountainPen and RollerBallPen . The FountainPen class extends the Pen class and adds one additional method named refill().
The RollerBallPen also extends the Pen class.
Pen drew a line Pen drew a circle FountainPen drew a line... and a splotch FountainPen almost drew a circle. Need more ink.
In both cases, the usePen() function was expecting a Pen instance. However, since both Pen and FountainPen are of type Pen , this function can accept either. In its most basic sense, this is subclass polymorphism. Pen or any of its subclasses can be used when the code requires a Pen , just as you would be willing to accept any type of pen from a colleague when you need to sign a document.
Subclass polymorphism is one technique that provides flexibility and allows future extension of your code base. Look at the code below. In it, each type of Pen is added to an array and the usePen() function is called.
Pen drew a line Pen drew a circle FountainPen drew a line... and a splotch FountainPen almost drew a circle. Need more ink. RollerBallPen drew a super smooth line. RollerBallPen easily drew a circle.
Implicit coercion of a value with static type writing:Pen to a possibly unrelated type writing:FountainPen.
You receive this error because you are trying to treat a Pen as a FountainPen . Because it is missing the refill() method, Pen is not the same as FountainPen . With subclass polymorphism, you can only substitute subclasses for their super class. You cannot substitute a super class for one of its subclasses.
Subclassing is one way to achieve polymorphism and it works for a number of cases; however, there are times when it is too inflexible. Continuing with the writing instrument example, what happens if you desperately need to draw a line and a circle but the only thing your artistic colleague has to offer is a hunk of charcoal? Could you still draw that line and circle? Of course, but does it make logical sense to say that charcoal is a type of Pen? Not really.
Initially, extending WritingInstrument seems fine. Pen and Charcoal are now both types of writing instruments. You could write a new function named useWritingInstrument() and you could use either a Pen or Charcoal to draw lines and circles.
So far so good. You can write with your charcoal and you can burn it when you are done. However, as long as you are burning things, there are likely a number of other things around the office that could burn. What if you wanted to burn that paper you were drawing lines and circles upon?
How would you pass the paper to the burnIt() function? The function requires Charcoal presently. It doesn't make logical sense to have Paper extend Charcoal because that would mean that Paper is Charcoal . Additionally, because Charcoal is a WritingInstrument , it would mean that Paper is a WritingInstrument , which doesn't make any sense at all.
Hopefully you see that although Paper is not Charcoal , Paper and Charcoal can both burn. Further, Charcoal is not just a writing instrument, but Charcoal and Pen can both draw lines and circles. Thus, using inheritance in this situation won't achieve the desired results. Instead, you need to use interfaces.
The combination of all public methods and properties of an object form the object's public interface. In other words, the public methods and properties form a set of expectations that you can always count on. Interfaces define the required behavior for something to be considered a specific type of thing. They do not actually contain the required functionality. An interface is often called a contract.
You know that the line() and circle() methods exist as public methods in Pen . You can call them anytime in your code. By contract, being a Pen means always having those two methods available and public.
This reasoning is the basis of subclass polymorphism as discussed above. Continue with this contract example.
Now you see why a super class cannot be substituted for one its subclasses—the super class does not fulfill the same contract as its subclass.
You've already determined that Paper , Charcoal , and Pen should not be related through inheritance but that both Paper and Charcoal should have the ability to burn and that both Charcoal and Pen should have the ability to draw lines and circles. To achieve that goal, define interfaces with those behaviors that those objects can fulfill.
Because you are defining an interface, use the interface keyword followed by the name of the interface. By convention, interface names begin with an "I" so you can quickly distinguish them from classes. Note that the function definitions do not have access modifiers such as public or private . In a public interface, it is a requirement that the methods are public. Also note that the function definitions do not have function bodies because interfaces do not contain any functionality. This example interface is defining a contract that says in order to be considered an IWritingInstrument object, an object must have public line() and circle() methods that do not have parameters and return nothing.
To apply an interface to a class, use the implements keyword followed by the name of the interface in your class declaration. Below, the Pen class is changed to implement the IWritingInstrument interface.
You can see that the Pen class now fulfills the contract required to be an IWritingInstrument . As with inheritance, you can say that Pen is an IWritingInstrument . Further, because FountainPen and RollerBallPen inherit from Pen , it is proper to say that both of those classes are of type IWritingInstrument .
You can also use an interface as a type for properties or parameters. In this example, the useWritingInstrument() method can accept any object that implements the IWritingInstrument and call its line() and circle() methods.
Charcoal is now a valid type of IWritingInstrument . Hence, you can also pass it to the useWritingInstrument() function.
The useWritingInstrument() function does not care if you give it a Pen , Charcoal or any other specific implementation. Instead, it only cares that you provide it something that fulfills the correct contract—the IWritingInstrument contract. Using an interface in this way is a very useful technique, often referred to a programming to an interface instead of an implementation.
Finally, Paper should also have the ability to burn. Change the Paper class to implement the ICombustionSource interface then it too can burn.
Programming to interfaces instead of implementations provides for future expansion as well as flexibility in the way you construct the objects in your applications. Further, it forces you to consider the actual function of each of your classes. These techniques form the basis of the largest and most maintainable applications.


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"Nobody Will Tell You This But Me"
April 2, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter
In this upbeat, personable and welcoming memoir, Bobby Bell narrates from the grave, speaking not to us as readers (what we are used to) but speaking to Bessie, her granddaughter, the book's author. It confuses at first, until the person behind the narrating "I" (Bobby) talks about her funeral and addresses her dear Bessie by name.
It's a terrible thing to be dead. Oh, how boring. How maddening. Nothing to do. Nothing to read. No one to talk to. And everyone's a mess. Thank God for that, at least. The rabbi at the service didn't know me from Adam. I didn't pay attention. I was watching your grandfather. I always hated Hebrew – Bessie, there was too much of it! – but when everyone started the chants he finally stopped crying. Fine. Good for Hebrew. I will say this: I'm more upset that any of you.
The switch in thinking of the narrator addressing the author isn't hard to make, nor is this a complaint. The mention here is important merely as preparation; it took me three times rereading the first two pages of the prologue to settle in. After that, get ready to laugh out loud: Bobby is a riot, and this story is filled with colorful, outrageous stories delivered with perfect pitch and timing, a testament to author Bess Kalb's comedic talent (she's a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!) and her gift for storytelling.
Bobby begins by sharing stories about her mother (Bessie's great-grandmother) who fled Tsarist Russia when she was 13 years old, married at 18 and raised four boys (one set of twins) and Bobby in Brooklyn. Bobby came later (her brothers at the time teenagers and older), arriving on the kitchen table, like the boys. Their mother sent David, Jesse and the twins, Georgie and Leo, to the Social Security office to register the new baby's name as Gloria Otis. "Too Jewish," the boys thought, and took it upon themselves to change their baby sister's name to Barbara Dorothy Otis.
Kalb inserts at this point in the story a phone conversation with Bobby in October 2009, where they talk about Kalb's new boyfriend. It has nothing to do with the story of Bobby's birth and name. Neither do other phone conversations and saved voicemails Kalb randomly includes in this section, but that's the point – and counterpoint – to creating a true representation of life with Bobby. And these entertaining conversations and voicemails are not in this section alone, but throughout, a chorus of endearing true-life moments in this generational story.
They talk about Bessie's move to San Francisco ("Your hair is going to be frizzy … I've already FedExed you a serum.") and lipstick ("If you ever finally find a lipstick that actually, certifiably looks good on you, buy twenty of them.") and Bessie's desire to wear a favorite black dress to a daytime wedding ("It's vulgar."). About Bessie's new boyfriend, an excerpt:
Bessie, is he Jewish?
Hello to you, too!
Is he Jewish?
He's not. He's from Maine. He's a WASP from Maine.
So he's a Christian.
He's nonpracticing—I think he's an atheist. We haven't really gotten into it. He's actually taking a class on Buddhism.
Oh my god.
Bobby shares stories about growing up with her brothers who took her to Coney Island, quizzed her on classic books and multiplication tables and schooled her in bravely taking on the world. She clearly comes from solid family stock of ingenuity, fearless confidence and disregard for what others think, not only from her brothers but also her mother, who saw no need for a new pair of shoes for Bobby's wedding and instead applied black paint to her brown work boots.
[My mother] was indifferent to her appearance—everything was sacrificed for us kids. She had disdain for the Italian family next door, with the matriarch in lipstick and a fur coat heading off to church every Sunday. "Who's it for, the Holy Ghost?"
Bobby's marriage to Hank tells of hardship and success, and also a tense relationship with her daughter Robin (Bessie's mother) whose rebellious self-realizing included a brief involvement with the Chicago Seven and skipping college to join an Israeli kibbutz. Keep in mind, Bobby narrates never with frowning woes and always with humor and a shrug. On her way home from Israel, during a stopover in Paris, Robin said she would call Bobby but didn't. On a whim, Bobby called the American Hospital of Paris and got put through to her daughter, who'd been admitted with viral encephalitis. Bobby grabbed her handbag and drove to Kennedy Airport. The flight to Paris was full.
I took out my wallet and started counting out bills. I paid double, all in cash, and sat in the jump seat next to the stewardesses in the galley. I don't think I blinked the whole flight. I was by your mother's side in eight hours.
Robin went back to school and graduated with a medical degree. She and Bobby became close with the birth of Bessie.
Nothing I write here can capably capture the flare and humor of this book: the opinionated, dramatic, loving Bobby who rises up off the page with sparkling verve and the perfectly timed conversational pauses that create the comedy. More than anything, I want to keep sharing what I read, this inspiring event and that priceless remark, no wait, this one! Which ultimately boils down to saying, this is a terrific book. I didn't want it to end because I didn't want Bobby to stop talking, and I didn't want to leave her generous spirit.
The longest Bobby and her Bessie went without speaking was the week and a half before Bobby died.
Just one more. An excerpt from a phone call February 2013. Bessie is cooking salmon for dinner. Her husband is still at work. (She married the boy from Maine).
Grandmother: Oh I love to make salmon.
Granddaughter: You make salmon?
Of course I make salmon. I just put it in the microwave on high.
And that works?
I don't think I'm going to do that.
Bessie, can I say something?
Throw out the fish and order some decent food. Nobody wants to come home to salmon.
A note about publishing during the pandemic: Authors whose books are being published now have lost promotional opportunities due to the cancellation of tours, readings and other public events. From Bess Kalb's interview on Vulture.com about lost publicity:
Even though [Nobody Will Tell You This But Me] is not going to get to the wide audience that a book tour or wide press push might have brought it, it's getting to a smaller audience that is soothed by it. That is meaningful to me. Knowing there are people who are reading my grandma's words and falling in love with her — and feeling comforted by her message of resilience, grace, and wit — that makes me happy. Because that's exactly what she was talking about when she told me, When the world is cracking behind your feet, you put one foot in front of the other.
Posted in Book Review, Good Books, Humor Writing, Literature, Memoir, New Books, Nonfiction, This Reading Life	Bess KalbBobby Bellbook reviewbooksNobody Will Tell You This But Me
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One thought on ""Nobody Will Tell You This But Me""
Laralyn says:
Thanks for the laugh! I can't wait to read this — much needed! Stay well.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If you have been pulled over and charged with a DWI in South Brunswick, New Jersey, it is vital to understand the consequences and penalties of the charges that you face. A New Jersey DWI conviction results in the mandatory loss of your driver's license for up to 12 months if you are a first time offender. Penalties increase with subsequent offenses. Other lesser known consequences exist that you will inevitably face if convicted. These include the installation of an interlock device in your car, mandatory community service, mandatory drunk driving courses, thousands of dollars in fines and surcharges, and even the damaged reputation and "stigma." Now that you understand the severe penalties that you face, it is also important that you avail yourself of the options that are best suited assist you in overcoming the charges. An experienced DWI defense attorney will provide the best chance to confront the state's case against you by challenging the state's case against you and taking a close look at every level of the DWI case- from the initial traffic stop to the court date. The DUI attorneys at the Law Offices of Proetta & Oliver have successfully defended against hundreds of DWI cases over years throughout South Brunswick, Middlesex County, and New Jersey. Additionally, the firm's founding attorney, Will Proetta, holds dual certification as a Standard Field Sobriety Testing Instructor (SFST) and certified Alcotest operator. This unique expertise allows our attorneys to understand the intricate technicalities and protocol that the police must follow to bring DWI or DUI charges against you. We would appreciate the chance to discuss the specifics of your case. Please give us a call at (732) 659-9600 for a free initial consultation. Our experienced attorneys are available 24/7 to work with you to create a customized case strategy to meet your needs.
In addition to 3 ½ miles of New Jersey Turnpike within its borders, South Brunswick also hosts various busy highways that include Routes 1, 27, 32, and 130. This well-traversed Middlesex County town sees a large number of DWI arrests every year. If you or your loved one has been pulled over and charged with a first offense or second offense DWI in South Brunswick, then you must be prepared to spend a substantial amount of time in South Brunswick Municipal Court, where your case will be heard. Please remember to arrive on time and notify your attorney in advance in order to be well prepared to beat the charges.
As you have undoubtedly read, New Jersey driving while intoxicated charges are adjudicated severely. To make matters worse, DWI cases are not tried before a jury of your peers but rather ruled upon by the sole discretion of a judge. Due to time, workload, and cost restraints, it is important to put your best foot forward and retain a skilled and aggressive DWI attorney. Our defense lawyers will analyze the elements of your charge and challenge the state's case against you to negotiate a downgrade or even a dismissal of your charges. Feel free to give us a call at (732) 659-9600 for a free initial consultation with an experienced South Brunswick DWI defense lawyer who can explain your options and address your concerns.


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The Nuclear Crisis - A Digital Archive created by the German Historical Institute (GHI), Washington, DC Conference 2010
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HOME DOCUMENTS IMAGES INTERVIEWS EVENTS LINKS & LITERATURE ABOUT CONTACT
You are here: Home EVENTS Uncategorised Conference 2010
Ein bisschen Frieden?
Der Wunsch nach Frieden und seine Manifestationsformen in den 1980er Jahren
NC-Chronology
Archival Guide USA & Germany
"Entrüstet Euch!"
Nuklearkrise, NATO-Doppelbeschluss und Friedensbewegung
C. Becker-Schaum, P. Gassert, M. Klimke, W. Mausbach,
and M. Zepp, eds.
(Schöningh Verlag, 2012)
Media and the Cold War, 1975-1991
Conveners: R. Werenskjold, H. G. Bastiansen (Volda University College), M. Klimke (NYU Abu Dhabi)
Volda University College, Norway
Published on Thursday, 03 December 2009 17:57
Accidental Armageddons: The Nuclear Crisis and the Culture of the Second Cold War, 1975-1989
Conveners: Eckart Conze (University of Marburg), Martin Klimke (German Historical Institute, Washington, D.C.), Jeremy Varon (New School for Social Research, New York City)
Date: November 4-6, 2010
Location: German Historical Institute, Washington, DC
Co-sponsored by the New School for Social Research/Eugene Lang College, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the National Security Archive, Washington, DC
> Final Program (PDF)
> Conference Report
> Images and Videos from the Lecture & Panel Discussion with Jonathan Schell
In the most significant accident in the history of the U.S. nuclear power industry, the reactor at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial core meltdown on March 28, 1979, allowing large amounts of radioactive reactor coolant to escape. Exacerbating the panicked public reaction to this incident was the fact that a popular movie depicting a major nuclear accident, The China Syndrome, had been released only 12 days earlier. Three Mile Island was not only a turning point in public opinion regarding atomic technology but also helped fuse two protest movements together: that against nuclear energy and that against nuclear weapons.
Over the next several years, this combined "anti-nuclear" movement staged mass protests around the globe. On October 10, 1981, in the largest peace demonstration in German history to that point, between 250,000 and 300,000 demonstrators of diverse social, political, and cultural backgrounds gathered in Bonn to voice their opposition to the renewed arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union and the Federal Republic's role in it. This protest was matched by other mass rallies in Europe and North America. Two weeks later, some 200,000 people assembled in Brussels; on November 21, Amsterdam saw almost 400,000 demonstrators; and on June 12, 1982, more than one million people participated in a Nuclear Weapons Freeze demonstration in Central Park and the streets of New York City. In the fall of 1983 alone, about five million people, mostly in Western Europe, took part in demonstrations against the deployment of "Euro Missiles" (Pershing II). Protests stretched as well to Japan and Australia. Anti-nuclear activism even emerged in Eastern European countries, paving the way for greater political dissent toward the end of the decade. The nuclear disaster in Chernobyl in April 1986 served to intensify the global anti-nuclear movement.
The proliferation of the anti-nuclear movement, which entailed the founding of countless national and transnational grassroots organizations, think tanks, and pressure groups, as well as the mass mobilization of people in street protests in diverse countries, was brought about by escalating fears of nuclear annihilation. This new anxiety over a "nuclear holocaust" had several sources, among them concerns raised by the growing environmental movement and heightened public distrust of the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Increased East-West confrontations that departed in alarming ways from the détente policies of the previous decade also fueled new worries.
In December 1979, NATO announced its "Double-Track" strategy: If arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union should fail, the West would station intermediate nuclear forces to counterbalance the Soviet Union's recent deployment of SS-20 mid-range missiles. This momentous decision, alongside the contemporaneous Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, heightened international tensions. Finally, a new brand of conservative leader — embodied in Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Helmut Kohl — came to power in the West, fomenting domestic protest and renewing fears of an actual nuclear war. The world thus moved from an era of reduced tension during the détente years of the 1970s to a "Second Cold War" in the 1980s.
Nuclear fears, partly precipitated by scientists' warnings that even a limited nuclear war could cause an apocalyptic "nuclear winter," also reverberated within popular culture. The American television movie The Day After (1983), which depicted this doomsday scenario, reached a record audience of 100 million, noticeably impacting leading decision-makers. Anti-nuclear messages abounded: in movies such as War Games (1983) and When the Wind Blows (1986); in Jonathan Schell's best seller The Fate of the Earth (1982); in songs by David Bowie, The Clash, and the German singer Nena; and in all-star concerts accompanying demonstrations. The "Second Cold War," in sum, entailed a deep and widespread cultural response to new, perceived dangers generated by the renewed nuclear arms race.
The first of its kind, the conference "Accidental Armaggedons" seeks to explore the political and cultural discourse on nuclear weapons and atomic energy during the Second Cold War. While welcoming myriad approaches, the conference has several core goals:
(1) To explore diplomatic, political, and strategic debates surrounding nuclear armaments and the doctrines governing their possible use. "Traditional" actors, such as the political, diplomatic, and military elites, certainly shaped these debates, but "anti-establishment" forces such as civil society organizations and activist groups also played an important role within them.
(2) To merge "establishment" perspectives with an analyses of protest cultures by looking at non-state actors, grassroots activists, civil society organizations, and artists.
(3) To transcend the traditional East-West divide of the Cold War by examining both sides of the Iron Curtain, the views and activities of those in "non-aligned" countries, and the cooperation of policy makers, organizations, activists, scientists, and intellectuals across borders.
(4) To understand how "ecological" protests against the civilian use of nuclear energy and activism against nuclear weapons converged in a new, comprehensive anti-nuclear movement. That movement, from diverse vantage points, articulated a new and profound critique of the postwar, industrial, and technological modernity that had emerged after 1945.
(5) To establish how nuclear anxiety and fears of environmental apocalypse facilitated the rise of global consciousness and conceptions of global citizenship.
The conference will place special emphasis on the cultural and trans-/international dimensions of nuclear discourse.
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Alan Harwick is a candidate for Readington Township Committee, located in Hunterdon County.
Alan has served on the local Planning Board and Board of Adjustment and currently sits on the Historic Preservation Commission where he has been vice chair for four years. He has organized efforts in town to support local businesses and encourage improvement of the economic opportunities since 2014. While serving on the Township's Land Use Board, Alan secured electric vehicle charging stations throughout the town. He is also an advocate for protecting clean water and secured the inclusion of rain water gardens in several commercial spaces.
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Conrad Varrentrapp (17 August 1844, in Braunschweig – 28 April 1911, in Marburg) was a German historian.
He studied at the University of Göttingen as a pupil of Georg Waitz and at the University of Berlin as a student of Leopold von Ranke. In 1865 he received his doctorate at the University of Bonn under the direction of Heinrich von Sybel. In 1868 he obtained his habilitation at Bonn, where in 1873 he became an associate professor. From 1867 to 1874 he was an editor of Sybel's Historische Zeitschrift.
In 1874 he was named a professor of medieval and modern history at the University of Marburg. In 1890 he relocated as a professor to the University of Strasbourg, then in 1901 returned to Marburg, where he served as director of historical seminars.
Erzbischof Christian I. von Mainz, 1867 – Archbishop Christian I of Mainz.
Beiträge zur Geschichte der Kurkölnischen Universität Bonn, 1868 – Contributions to the history of the University of Bonn.
Hermann von Wied und sein Reformationsversuch in Köln. Ein Beitrag zur deutschen Reformationsgeschichte, 1878 – Hermann von Wied and his reformation attempt in Cologne. A contribution to the German Reformation.
Johannes Schulze und das höhere preussische Unterrichtswesen in seiner Zeit, 1889 – Johannes Schulze and higher Prussian education of his era.
Landgraf Philipp von Hessen und die Universität Marburg, 1904 – Landgrave Philip of Hesse and the University of Marburg.


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Where's Pace-SI
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Now that the curtain has fallen on right tackle Kyle Turley's season before it even began, Grant Williams and the rest of the St. Louis Rams' offensive line could find solace Monday in at least one thing: One huge distraction down, one more to go.
In a preseason that has resembled a soap opera in terms of the Rams' blockers, the nagging question now is when, and if, five-time All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace will end his holdout, perhaps even in time for the Rams' preseason finale Thursday at Oakland.
"Just from a team standpoint, it'd be nice to get what looks like would be the starting five out there for a quarter or a half against Oakland, just get some time together as a unit before we go into the season," Williams said Monday, two days after the Rams placed Turley on injured reserve because of his ailing back.
Turley, among the NFL's steadiest linemen throughout his six seasons, started every game in 2003 after joining the Rams in an offseason trade with New Orleans.
But when he reinjured his surgically repaired back in late July and left training camp Aug. 1 to visit doctors, coach Mike Martz _ already dealing with the no-show Pace -- had to piece together an offensive line, even luring veterans Chris Dishman and Tom Nutten out of retirement.
Martz waited for word from Turley on the prognosis about his back. Then on Saturday -- a day after the Rams' offensive line held the Washington Redskins at bay in a 28-3 preseason victory -- Martz finally declared Turley's season was history.
"I talked to Kyle today, and he was very vague about his plans," Martz said. When quizzed about the significance of losing Turley, he added without elaborating: "I'm happy with the guys we have."
Turley's agent, Tom Condon, did not return telephone messages left Monday. Messages also were left with Pace's agent, Carl Poston.
So it goes in what a Rams staffer quipped Monday was the latest in "As the World Turns," with Williams -- a nine-year veteran filling in for Pace -- perhaps playing Turley's role if Pace agrees to a one-year tender offer as the team's designated franchise player and returns.
"It'll be nice when he reports," said Dishman, a 350-pound guard nursing a right ankle he rolled in the first quarter against the Redskins, though he went on to play the entire game. "It'd be nice to get some work in with him. But his thing is his thing, and when he comes in he comes in."
Williams' advice to Pace: Get back sooner rather than later, certainly before the Rams' Sept. 12 opener at home against Arizona.
"I know if I was in that situation I would want to play in the last preseason game and get ready for the season," Williams said, convinced Pace would benefit from getting some reps -- and perhaps more importantly, some conditioning -- against Oakland.
Beyond that, Williams said, the value of "Big O" to the team is immeasurable.
"You can't ask more for an offense to have a solid left tackle," Williams said, willing to shift positions if it meant Pace was back. "That's all you can do is work hard and see what happens. If you get an injury, that's part of the deal. Or if an All-Pro tackle comes in and you can't play, that's part of the deal, too.
"But you have to be glad from a team standpoint that you have an All-Pro tackle."
Martz has said that with or without Pace, he expects the line to be solid by the time Arizona comes to town.
Regardless, Scott Tercero wouldn't mind not ever hearing or reading one phrase again.
"Everyone's tired of hearing 'patchwork offensive line,"' Tercero, a sixth-round pick last year who has been playing right tackle, said after Friday's victory. "Yeah, we have a couple of young guys playing, but with time, experience comes. And I think we're doing really well."
Rams are losing now to win later
Tuesday, Aug. 31 2004
One of the reasons for Grant Williams' improved play this preseason is that he
is carrying around 30 fewer pounds.
"I definitely feel like I'm moving better laterally," Williams said. "There's a
lot less pressure on my back. I just feel better overall. The joints,
everything, feels better."
With that in mind, Williams is doing what he can to help teammate Chris Dishman
fight the battle of the bulge. For instance, when Williams sees Dishman
reaching for that extra roll at lunchtime at Rams Park ...
"We split it," Williams joked. "We're just sharing it right now."
Williams and Dishman are kindred spirits beyond dieting and nutrition. It is
looking more and more like they will be opening day starters on a revamped
offensive line. All five starters on the line were expected to return this
season, but the depth chart changed in a hurry once camp started.
"Just a few months ago we (thought), 'Yeah, everything should be intact,'"
offensive guard Adam Timmerman said. "But that changed in a matter of a couple
weeks."
Hip problems led to the release of center Dave Wohlabaugh, who may retire.
Continuing back problems put right tackle Kyle Turley on the injured reserve
list, ending his season. Throw in left tackle Orlando Pace's continued absence
in a contract impasse, and it's been a tumultuous preseason for the line.
"Each year's different," offensive line coach John Matsko said. "The challenge
this year was to bring a bunch of guys together - we brought two guys out of
retirement - and develop the continuity, the unity, and the pride that you need
to have on an offensive line. It's an ongoing process."
The development of Dishman and Williams has helped that process. Williams has
spent most of the preseason at left tackle, which is Pace's position. But on
Monday and Tuesday, Williams practiced at right tackle, his position once Pace
shows up.
Left or right doesn't matter to Williams.
"I've made a career out of going back and forth," said Williams, a nine-year
NFL veteran in his third year with St. Louis. "So at this point, it's not a big
deal."
The big deal is that Williams has a chance to be a full-time starter for the
first time since 1999, the last of his four seasons in Seattle. Last preseason,
Williams did the heavy lifting at left tackle until Pace reported, suffering a
back injury in the process. But once Pace reported, Williams returned to the
It looked like the same thing...
by Nick
bench. ...
O Line in trouble ?
by RamDez
O-line components are out of sync as Rams camp nears
By Bill Coats
When the Rams assemble Wednesday morning for their first training camp practice, the offensive line will be far from intact: Left tackle Orlando Pace will be absent, center Dave Wohlabaugh will be on the sideline, and right tackle Kyle Turley will be trying to chip away rust.
"We've got a lot of work to do," coach Mike Martz said.
No area is of greater importance for the Rams. Without a solid line, the team will be hard-pressed to produce the kind of numbers that led to a 56-24 regular-season record and four playoff appearances over the last five years.
That's not to suggest that this year's unit won't perform effectively. But with Pace embroiled in another contract dispute, Wohlabaugh still experiencing hip pain after offseason surgery, and Turley recovering from a back operation that kept him out of minicamp practices and has limited his workouts, the O-line is in flux as the team heads for Western Illinois University in Macomb.
Here's a look at each of those situations:
Pace missed the first month of camp last year before reluctantly signing a one-year, $5.73 million tender as the club's franchise player. He again has the franchise tag, but his agent, Carl Poston, has been negotiating with Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt on a multiyear contract.
Martz said he expects Pace, a reigning All-Pro, "to be at camp probably a little sooner than he was last year. I think he understands the effect it has on this team. And also, no matter how hard he thinks he's training, it's not the same. It takes awhile to get going."
Wohlabaugh started all 17 games last season despite the nagging hip problem. Martz said the Rams would be cautious with the nine-year NFL veteran and wait for the discomfort to ease.
Turley, the team's major offseason acquisition in 2003, improved steadily, particularly with his pass-blocking, after struggling early in the season. "Kyle brings a toughness and a nastiness," offensive line coach John Matsko said. "And he's got tremendous leadership. Kyle leads by performance; he does his talking with his headgear, elbows and shoulder pads."
Beginning his second year in the Rams' system should be an asset for Turley. "Normally, it makes a big difference," Martz said. "It's an advantage coming into camp that he's had this stuff, but also, he's missed an awful lot in the offseason. . . . It won't be easy for Kyle. It's not going to be like getting on a bike again; it just doesn't work that way."
Veteran Adam Timmerman returns at right guard. With Wohlabaugh out, Andy McCollum moves to center from left guard, and Andy King, a second-year pro from Illinois State
Williams, Tercero Ease Concerns
With about two weeks until the start of the regular season, anticipation is building around Rams Park. Not for the first kickoff, but for the return of All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace.
Pace, who has missed all of camp because of a contract stalemate, is expected to arrive at any time this week before St. Louis plays Oakland on Thursday at 9 p.m. Right tackle Kyle Turley was placed on injured reserve Saturday and will miss the season. Those pair of absences has left plenty of repetitions for other linemen to step up.
Rams' coach Mike Martz said he doesn't worry about Pace's absence, but is pleased with the performances of his pair of former backup tackles.
"When he comes, I'll welcome him with open arms," Martz said. "Until then, we've got Grant (Williams), who is playing well and Scotty (Tercero). Whatever happens, happens, but I'm happy with the guys we have playing."
While the line has seen new faces in different places for most of the preseason, the backup tackles have proved to be starter-capable. Williams, who has held down Pace's spot on the left side and Scott Tercero, who has played on the right side, have been two of the Rams' most pleasant surprises and consistent performers.
Williams has spent the better part of his career bouncing between the tackle positions and has made a habit of playing the role of Pace on the left side during training camp. Never satisfied to be backup, Williams worked extra hard in the offseason and shaved his weight down to 320 pounds. Williams' 6-foot-7 frame holds the weight well and he said he notices a major difference.
"I've made a career out of going back and forth, so at this point it's not a big deal," Williams said. "It definitely feels like I'm moving better laterally, there's a lot less pressure on my back. Just overall, I feel better."
Williams, a nine-year veteran, will probably move to the right side when Pace returns, but Tercero's improved play could provide Williams with a challenge. Williams is used to moving back and forth, but so is Tercero. Tercero's flexibility allows him to play anywhere on the line. He played guard in college at California and center on last season's practice squad.
The injury bug hasn't stayed away from Williams and Tercero, either, but the ailments have been less severe. Williams sprained his right ankle and Tercero suffered a slight concussion against Washington.
Williams took some time to recover from the injury, which was buoyed by scar tissue from when he broke the foot two years ago, but he appears to be at full strength. He played most of the game Friday night and Martz said it was "his best game."
Tercero, who didn't play at all in 2003, was forced to sit out the second half after his concussion, but is fine. He has received...
Rams fin e without Turley and Pace ---- so far
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- So far, the St. Louis Rams are doing just fine without their two bookend offensive tackles.
It would have been logical for quarterback Marc Bulger be concerned before the preseason opener, considering Orlando Pace is holding out again and Kyle Turley hasn't practiced since re-injuring his surgically repaired back early in training camp.
But Bulger was hit only twice in the first quarter in a 13-10 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, when the first team was on the field. So the concerns about the makeshift alignment eased.
``They did a fantastic job,'' Bulger said. ``I didn't have too many pressures, and the one sack was a hot route.''
Grant Williams stepped in for Pace, as he's done in the past. Scott Tercero, a sixth-round pick last year who missed the entire season with a knee injury, was solid at Turley's right tackle spot.
Andy McCollum, who has moved from guard to center while Dave Wohlabaugh recovers from hip surgery, is more experienced at center, anyway. And Andy King, who has minimal NFL experience and played in only one game last year, was solid at McCollum's left guard spot.
``They came through fine,'' coach Mike Martz said. ``I really watched the offensive line in the first half as much as I could. The protection held up well.''
Right guard Adam Timmerman helped hold things together with a quick recovery from a nerve injury to his neck and back. A cortisone shot Wednesday helped matters.
``I was a little sore, but we don't have a lot of numbers,'' Timmerman said.
``I took a few days off and it's feeling pretty good.
``Hopefully, it all kicks in.''
Help is definitely on the way. It is just a matter of time before Pace, designated as the franchise player for the second straight year, agrees to a one-year tender offer and joins the team.
Team doctors are hopeful that Turley will be back soon after he visited two specialists. Turley roamed the sideline in street clothes during the game, although he didn't stick around afterward.
``I didn't get any details from him,'' McCollum said. ``I think he wanted to escape before you guys (the media) grabbed him.''
Updated on Friday, Aug 13, 2004 1:23 pm EDT


United States 20-Jun-2016 Linking the provider recommendation to adolescent hpv vaccine uptake (r03).
United States 20-Jun-2016 Linking the provider recommendation to adolescent hpv vaccine uptake (r01).
United States 20-Jun-2016 Linking the provider recommendation to adolescent hpv vaccine uptake (r21).
India 26-Mar-2019 Creation of Bio-safety Level-II and Bio-safety Level-III Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Other Zoonotic pathogens at Disease Investigation Section, Aundh, Pune.
France 15-Mar-2019 The Framework Agreement Concerns The Purchase And Delivery Of Influenza Vaccines For Prefectures (mainland France And Corsica) And For The Central Administration For Ministry Of The Interior Staff..
Honduras 15-Mar-2019 Supply Of Eight Hundred (800) Tetravalent Vaccines (four Components) Of Inactivated Fractionated Viruses That Protect Against The Influenza Virus, Season 2019-2020, Injectable Suspension In Pre-filled.
Macedonia 22-Mar-2019 Vaccines For Continuous Immunization And Vaccines Following Epidemiological Indications Of The Population In The Republic Of Macedonia For The Period June 2018 - June 2020 With A Multi-annual Public Procurement.
Belarus 02-Apr-2019 19/17 Immunobiological Drug (flu Vaccine).
Estonia 04-Apr-2019 Purchase Of Influenza Vaccines During The 2019-2020 Season.


text:
For sale of chalet in La Manga del Mar Menor, poligono E
La Manga del Mar Menor, poligono E map
Chalet , with 800 m² built, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 garage/s, good condition, outward, 2 cupboards, 2 terraces, kitchen furnished, orientation southeast, between 10 and 15 years, , private pool, 2 floors, heating central
La Manga del Mar Menor / VILLA BLANCA DEL PEDRUCHO
La Manga del Mar Menor / Castillo
La Manga del Mar Menor / poligono S
La Manga del Mar Menor / EDIFICIO LA COLINA
La Manga del Mar Menor / OPTIMIST
La Manga del Mar Menor / HAWAI III


text:
On the road: The most beautiful concept car of the year is now a reality
Those who said money can't buy happiness have clearly not seen Aston Martin's limited edition sports car, Vanquish Zagato
It's not uncommon for concept cars to be unveiled at motor shows around the world. But for most part they remain—at best—concepts. But not Aston Martin's Vanquish Zagato. Hours after it was unveiled at the prestigious Concorso d'eleganza Villa d'Este in Lake Como, Italy, customers wasted no time in making it known that they wanted it, and were willing to do (pay?) anything to get their hands on it.
Photo Courtesy: Aston Martin
Only a month after it was unveiled, Aston Martin has confirmed that 99 of these gorgeous automobiles will soon be a four-wheeled reality, one which moves at the pace of 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and costs half a million pounds. But what we love most about it is the design: body panels made of carbon fibre, Zagato's trademark round taillights, vents made of aniline leather and the classic Z stitched on to its seats, and emblazoned on the headrests. The world will soon have two kinds of people: 99 privileged souls who own the most beautiful car on earth, and the rest of us who don't. Vicarious living, for the win.
In This Story: Aston Martin Car Concept Cars Hands


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Without comment, here's the synopsis for two consecutive episodes - yes, two full, 30-minute episodes - of Kahaani Hamaaray Mahabharat Ki, as provided on the Tata Sky menu.
Aunty asks Radha not to think about Krishna as her father wouldn't allow her to marry him. Radha tells her that she is attracted to Krishna and can't help thinking about him. Radha's father arranges for her marriage. Sudhir informs Krishna that Radha wants to meet him near river Yamuna. Radha tells Krishna that her parents are getting her married. They part ways.
After she leaves, Krishna plays with his flute. You know what teenage boys are like these days.
Okay, okay, the last bit is my contribution to the saga. Ekta should totally pay me to do this.
You mean you don't know about those very important characters? When was the last time you read your Vyasa?
I should clarify that "aunty" is a sympathetic elderly lady in the Radha household (not sure what the exact relationship is). She's played by one of Ekta Kapoor's regulars, I'm told; presumably the role was created just for her. When she sees Krishna and Radha frolicking by the Yamuna, she smiles a soft smile and then weeps silently at the knowledge that they must part. All of this happens in slow motion.
You are still watching it?
dhananjay: obviously he is. he did say it was all in slow motion, didn't he?
jai: which sudhir is this? tailang?
Your posts on this saga are the only reason I feel tempted to watch it. Haven't quite mustered up the courage though.
I guess reading Tata Sky's synopsis in a few seconds saves us from 30-minute trauma.
Haha, good one! Your Ekta-related posts remind me of an article I wrote looooong ago on her style of serial making. Not much has changed since then, I guess. Whether she conjures up her regular saas-bahu stuff or a debacle of 'epic' proportions.
Ah for a minute I read that Radha was playing with Krishna's flute and that set off an imagery and sexual innuendos which would have done Vatsyanana proud..
Do you feel Ekta Kapoor is harping on this Radha-Krishna angle a bit too much coz she thinks the audience likes love stories? And it gives her a chance to make up all these instances of love, intrigue and heart break?
what to be saying ji.
two episodes and just this? dayum..
aap purush nahin, maha purush ho!
That explains Aunty. Who is Sudhir?
The entire schmaltzy love story got remarkably boring after a while. I ended up forwarding through all of the scenes in Gokul and just watching the Hastinapura scenes.
Sudhir is a random friend of Krishna, and if his name is anything to go by, I think Krishna's next friend should be named Bunty.
I much prefer Ramesh Menon's version of the Radha-Krishna storyline. Tons of flute-playing, and not the boring, musical kind.
Do you realise that some of your posts are indistinguishable from Amit V's? Go back and read this one.
Thanks for the Lubitsch and Newman posts, loved 'em.
J.A.P. I insist that I know more about Krishna's adolescence than Amit does (though perhaps he knows more about the Gokul cows). And did you intend to link to a post? I got the impression your comment was incomplete.


text:
Tag: family life
Importance of this tradition thing
Passover traditions like the seder connect family and friends, and remind us who we are. (photo from flickr.com)
"I know I read an article somewhere that the greatest number of suicides happen on holidays," Naomi said to her mother.
Rebecca ignored her. "Just keep lining the shelves."
"But it makes sense, truly it does. Why are we taking this perfectly clean kitchen apart and practically rebuilding it? Does it say anywhere in the Bible that you go straight to hell if you don't drop with exhaustion the week before Pesach?"
"This is the way my mother did it, and her mother did it, and one day you'll do it for your kids, too."
"You're kidding yourself. If you think I'd ever inflict all this work on my daughter, you're crazy. And why doesn't Joe have to help?"
"He will. He'll kosher the stove and the sinks."
"And that's another thing. Two minutes with a blowtorch and then he'll pour a kettle of water. Big deal. And Dad doesn't even do that."
"He conducts the seder."
"Another big deal. We take the place apart, vacuum chairs and wash curtains and change over dishes, not to mention 40 kilos of kneidl and all that stuff that gives you indigestion. What am I saying, indigestion? All those eggs – you're probably giving us a gift of coronary heart disease. Jesus!"
"Naomi, stop it."
"I'm sick of it. I want to escape like Faye."
Rebecca's lips tightened. "Fagie's coming to the seder, too."
But Naomi was not to be sidetracked. "Fagie, what a name! No wonder she rebelled. Naomi and Joseph, they're bad enough. But Fagie, what were you thinking of?"
"It's a good Jewish name. I was thinking of my grandmother. If you and your sister could have known her, you'd understand. The least I could do was keep her name alive."
The spotless refrigerator was being polished within an inch of its life. Naomi sat down and watched her mother.
"I thought Passover celebrated freedom from slavery. But every year, you become a slave and you make me one, too. If you think you're giving me wonderful memories, forget it. As soon as I can leave home, I will. Faye told me the best thing about marriage was being able to run her house like the 20th century. Now we're in the 21st, for chrissake."
"I hate it when you talk like that."
"So tough. All those profanities. What happened to femininity?" she asked her daughter sadly.
"Feminism came along, only you've never heard of it. Dad and Joe get out of everything 'cos they're men. You're the biggest chauvinist ever, because you not only condone this status quo, you actually perpetuate it."
Rebecca sighed. "You don't understand. Neither does Fagie."
"You bet we don't. Here, I've lined the last bloody shelf. I'm going out."
"Out, as in O-U-T."
"When will you be back?"
"If I had my way, it'd be around May or June – after Pesach." She slammed the door. Rebecca heard the car start up. Her eyes filled with tears. She was exhausted. "This is gratitude," she thought bitterly. "Here's Naomi, barely 18, with her own car. We were married six years before we had one."
Fagie started her marriage with all the things that she and Sam still don't have after 27 years. And look how she is bringing up Brendan. Brendan! What sort of name is that? No wonder Fagie and Joel hadn't wanted to give him a brit. If she and Sam hadn't insisted, their grandson wouldn't even have had that. They'd treated his Hebrew name, Baruch, as some sort of joke. Well, maybe in their circles it sounded strange. But at least among the family…. Everything with Fagie was a war. If she bought the child a kippah, Fagie would get upset. If she wouldn't eat in her daughter's treif house, it meant another argument. What did you have children for?
She heard loud music from upstairs. The Grateful Dead. No wonder they were grateful – they can't hear the cacophony, she surmised.
When the key turned in the lock, she didn't have the strength even to go and say hello to Sam. He wandered into the kitchen. "It looks beautiful," he said, patting her shoulder and taking in the sparkling clean room.
"To us, maybe."
"What's wrong? Fagie been getting to you?"
"Not just her. Naomi's just as bad now."
Sam sat down heavily. "I don't understand it. We sent them to day school – forked out in a year more than our education cost in a lifetime. And what do they give back? Where's Joe?"
"Can't you hear? He's studying. That's his usual accompaniment."
"Even so, he's a good student. He'll make us proud one day. He's talking about medicine or law, maybe architecture…."
"We're kidding ourselves, Sam. Even if we're proud of him, he'll be ashamed of us."
"No, not Joe. Why do you say that?"
"Because we're fighting a losing battle. The things that are important to us are hateful to them."
Sam's shoulders sagged. "Joe's turning his back on our traditions, too?"
"Not yet. He's only 14. But he will – give him a few years."
Wearily, Rebecca made dinner. The three of them ate in near silence. Joe had a book next to his plate and didn't seem to notice. He had already left for school next morning when Rebecca, Sam and Naomi sat down for breakfast. Naomi avoided her mother's eyes. "I'm sorry about yesterday."
"No, you're not," Rebecca answered, "you meant it."
"I just wanted you to understand…."
"Oh, I understand. Your father and I made a decision last night. You tell her Sam."
He cleared his throat. "Naomi, since Pesach is so distasteful to you, you can go and stay with your sister. Your mother and I are taking Joe and going away for the week. That kosher guest house in the mountains –"
"You mean no seder?"
"What for? For Fagie's family, who barely tolerate it. For you, who finds it such a chore? You know what it says in the Zohar? It says a little hurt from kin is worse than a big hurt from a stranger. Who needs it?" He pushed his chair back abruptly and, a minute later, they heard the front door close.
Naomi pushed the food around on her plate. "I think you're overreacting. We always have a seder."
"We always used to have a seder. We're not going to do it any more. I didn't care about the work, the exhaustion, because I thought it meant something. If it doesn't, there's no point."
"It meant something to you and Dad."
"So, we'll sit at someone else's seder. Naomi, go to university. You'll be late for class."
An hour later, the telephone rang. "Mum, it's Fagie."
"Oh, it's Fagie today. What happened to Faye?"
"Don't be sarcastic Mum – it doesn't suit you. Listen, are you home? Can I come round?"
"I need to talk to you."
"I'm not babysitting if that's what you want."
"Brendan's at play group. I just want to talk to you."
"I don't think there's anything to talk about. But come if you want."
Thirty minutes later, Fagie's car drew up. Rebecca poured her a coffee and pushed it towards her.
"So?"
"It's about the seder."
"Naomi didn't waste much time. What's wrong? You don't want your sister's company for a week?"
"Please listen. It's not right what you're doing."
"Not right? For whom?"
"For anyone. Dad will hate not conducting the seder."
"He'll survive."
Fagie's voice trembled. "Maybe we won't."
"I don't know how to say this. It's just…."
Rebecca remained silent, not attempting to help.
"It did mean something to us – me and Naomi – even Joel."
"What did it mean?"
"It meant we were a family. It kind of bound us together. We need it. Brendan needs it. That once a year at least – to remind us who we are."
"Who are you exactly? You can go and celebrate Easter. It's all the same to you."
Fagie's voice trembled. "You're making it hard for me. Mum, it's true we don't keep all the things you and Dad do. Most people don't anymore."
"And that makes it right?"
"Yes – no – I don't know. It's hard for us, to be different from our friends. But we need something. We need to know it's there for us."
"Not good enough. What happens when we go?"
"Maybe we'll take it on then. When there's no one else."
"Why would you want to do that, if it's not meaningful now?"
"For our children. I can't explain. We can only give up these – traditions – because we know you still keep them. That they're there for us to come back to. Sure, we ridicule them, but it's like a family. We insult one another all the time because it's easier than saying, 'I love you and I need you.' Do you understand me?"
Fagie was crying openly now. Rebecca didn't trust herself to speak.
Three nights later, the candles were lit in the candelabra in Rebecca's dining room, the flames casting shadows on the snowy white tablecloth. Sam sat at the head of the table and inspected the seder plate with its three matzot, the parsley, saltwater, horseradish, charoset, shank bone and roasted egg. He planned where to hide the afikoman, so that it would not be too hard for Brendan to find. Joe was filling the wine glasses, with the extra big one for the prophet Elijah, while Naomi handed out Haggadot. His grandson sat between Fagie and Joel, his face flushed with excitement. Sam's eyes met his wife's, which were moist with unshed tears, as were his.
"Baruch atah," he began. "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine."
Dvora Waysman is a Jerusalem-based author. She has written 14 books, including The Pomegranate Pendant, which was made into a movie, and her latest novella, Searching for Sarah. She can be contacted at [email protected] or through her blog dvorawaysman.com.
Format ImagePosted on April 3, 2020 April 2, 2020 Author Dvora WaysmanCategories Celebrating the HolidaysTags family life, Judaism, Passover, tradition
Baking under quarantine
These "quarantini" cookies were baked by Lynne Altow and her aunt, Alexandra Altow. When Queen's University closed earlier this month, Lynne stayed at her uncle David and aunt Alexandra's house in Toronto on her way home to Vancouver, where her parents, Lisa and Andrew Altow, and grandparents, Bill and Debby Altow, live. Debby shared this photo with the Independent.
Format ImagePosted on March 27, 2020 March 26, 2020 Author Debby AltowCategories NationalTags Altow, baking, coronavirus, COVID-19, family life
Understanding a teen's brain
Dr. Mike Teschuk created this image to illustrate how a teen brain prioritizes.
"First thing you'll notice is the largest lobe is the love lobe," said Dr. Mike Teschuk, showing an image of how a teen brain prioritizes. "For teenagers, this is the capital lobe. 'I love my new outfit. I love my girlfriend of two weeks, the latest YouTube video … but not necessarily my parents. Maybe they still do love their parents, but they don't show it, for sure. You'll notice, in the smallest corner, is the memory for chores and homework. That's the smallest part of the teenage brain."
Teschuk was speaking at a National Council of Jewish Women of Canada event on Feb. 6, held at the Rady JCC's Berney Theatre in Winnipeg. It offered parents insights and suggestions as to how to best work with their (and other) teens.
Teschuk is a clinical psychologist at the University of Manitoba and with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Besides having parented three adolescents who are now young adults, he has provided clinical services to children, adolescents and parents at the Health Sciences Centre in the department of clinical health psychology for the past 20 years.
According to Teschuk, while addiction to cellphones might be somewhat new, the way a teen brain is drawn to new and different things, and their contempt for authority, has always been present. Knowing this, he said, can help put teens' odd and/or inconsistent behaviours into perspective for parents, and help them become more effective and empathetic caregivers. Changes that the teen brain goes through can be very intense and overwhelming.
"There is a great little analogy in Ron Clavier's book Teen Brain, Teen Mind," said Teschuk. He likens this new, more efficient brain that is emerging to getting a new computer. You get a new computer, it can do so much more than the old one. It takes awhile to get the hang of it, a new operating system. If you're like me, it can be an intense learning process, sometimes frustrating. Sometimes, you're overwhelmed. You long for the old computer, because it was more simple. Right? It was more predictable. I think we can feel more empathy for teenagers if we realize that this kind of stuff is happening in the brain.
"These changes create a sense of anxiety and stress. And, though they vacillate, they show signs of more maturity than regression backwards. They don't want to be treated like a little kid anymore. You get this ambivalence.
"There are interesting studies that show that early to mid teens, when they have to process information and emotional tasks – when you look at the brain with more function and see what's happening – you see they are using those temporal lobes, the middle of the brain, to process those emotions," he said. "Eventually, what happens with age is they move into that later stage of adolescence [and] the frontal lobes take over.
"It's what all parents are waiting for. As the frontal lobes develop, the individual can see into the future more, inhibit their impulsive behaviours, better plan, socialize and make decisions. But remember, this is a work in process," he cautioned.
Teens become more able to consider hypothetical ideas and are more flexible in their thinking, he said. "You begin to see it by 12, 13, 14 years old – they can consider alternative possibilities. What if there is no God? What if I decide not to continue dance class or hockey … these activities my parents signed me up for when I was 5 years old?"
Dr. Mike Teschuk spoke at a National Council of Jewish Women of Canada event on Feb. 6, held at the Rady JCC's Berney Theatre in Winnipeg. (photo by Rebeca Kuropatwa)
Teschuk is a big proponent of looking at situations from the other person's perspective. He said laying down the law and being confrontational does not work well with teens. He suggested instead to take the time to understand why they do things a certain way, and to find a way to work together to create a better outcome. This can be done by asking questions and listening, by dialogue.
"So, how do all these changes impact self-esteem?" he asked. "We know it has a big impact. Research says self-esteem often declines during early adolescence, and then improves again as they get a bit older. The idea is there can be discrepancies between who you are and who you think you should be. [Teens] start to reflect on how they are not the ideal person they want to be. At this stage, teens need a lot of reassurance from us. There is a symbolic kind of transition that has to happen. Like, in our family, the transition from the kids' table to the grown-ups' table. Going to the grown-up table is about also having your own views to express."
According to Teschuk, at around 14 years of age, teens go through a "rejecting stage," they don't want to be with their parents at all. They want to pretend they don't even have parents. But, Teschuk reassured the 100-person audience by way of personal example, his 23-year-old daughter, who went through this stage, now likes to go out for coffee with him – so, these things, too, shall pass. Your kids will not feel the same way at 23 as they did at 14, he said.
As parents, he said, we need to recognize that this is a normal stage of development. You don't have to argue about it or be upset about it. Your teens will feel the need to reject a lot of the things they had until then taken for granted. They want to be independent, but it's daunting for them."
According to Teschuk, parent-to-adolescent connectedness is very important, especially when things are rough. Simply by hanging in there as a parent and showing how much you care has a large impact, he said, acknowledging that this is the most fundamental, yet hardest, thing to do when teens push back. "It's easy to want to reject them, when someone is making your life very difficult," said Teschuk. "It's natural to feel that way, but, being able to hang in there is huge.
"Relationships with adults outside the family are important, too – with teachers, coaches, people in church or synagogue, extended family members – having other trusted adults. School connectedness is super-important, too. Schools offer so much more than academics," he said. "If teens want to go to school because they're on sports teams, in a play, or some other engaging activities … follow their lead and support them in those interests. Positive peer environments are important … but, of course, parents can have a role in creating those peer environments. Knowing your teenagers' friends … and making your house a place where they want to hang out is a great strategy."
Teschuk offered a couple of other tips. He suggested that parents, when driving their kids around, take the time to talk with their children and to connect with them. Also, he said, talking with them in this way gives the teens the chance to talk without being face-to-face, which can be uncomfortable and stress-inducing. Last but not least, Teschuk said family meals are also a great time to connect.
Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.
Format ImagePosted on March 23, 2018 March 23, 2018 Author Rebeca KuropatwaCategories NationalTags family life, health, Mike Teschuk, science, teenagers
The two sides of surrogacy
Jennifer Clarke with three of her children. (photo from Jennifer Clarke)
By the time Cyrus and Pam Mizrahi met in the summer of 2015, Pam had already gone through menopause, yet they wanted to have kids. After getting married in December of that year, the couple decided to explore their options.
"We both wanted to have children and Pam was not in a condition to have babies, so it was adoption or a surrogating program," said Cyrus.
They chose surrogacy, Cyrus explained, because with "surrogacy you have all sorts of options when it comes to having your own kids or children. Adoption is different. You take babies from another parent."
The Mizrahis did some research and opted for an agency in their home city of Boston, called Circle Surrogacy, an established firm that connected them with a surrogate from the City of Surprise, Ariz. Though they would have loved to have found a Jewish surrogate, none was available at the time. They consulted their rabbi.
"We contacted the rabbi who officiated our wedding," said Cyrus. "He approved it and said it was a great idea. He said that what is more important is how we bring up our babies – providing Jewish education and raising them Jewish, if we want them to maintain a Jewish identity. It's certainly important, of high importance, to us."
The next step was working with the laboratory to produce the embryos. The Mizrahis wanted a boy and a girl. Luckily, both embryos took, and the twins were born on May 17, 2016.
"The first thing we did when the babies were born was we had the bris for the boy, of course," said Cyrus. "I've taken them to shul a number of times and I'll continue doing that. We have a kosher kitchen at home. We're not Orthodox, but we observe to some degree. We're hoping to send them to Jewish school and provide them with a Hebrew education."
He said, "We named them after my parents' Hebrew names. Our son is named Sol for Solomon (but only Sol) and our daughter is named Alexa. Sol is after my father – we have the tradition that we can name him after someone who is alive – and his middle name is Michael, named after my wife's uncle. Alexa is a Hebrew name, named after my mom." (It is an Ashkenazi custom to not name a child after a living person.)
The connection with the surrogate was very positive and strong. She has come to visit the twins and new parents three times within the past year.
"She lives far away, but she comes from time to time to visit us," said Cyrus. "We're always welcoming and it's fine with us. We want to keep her as a friend in the family."
With Cyrus having many relatives in Israel, he is anxious to take his kids for a visit there – and he and Pam are planning to do so when the twins turn 4 or 5 years old. "I have many cousins, first and second cousins," said Cyrus. "A whole tribe. They are all over Israel – Petah Tikva, Jerusalem, Kfar Saba, all over."
As for the surrogate, her name is Jennifer Clarke. She teaches high school Spanish just outside Surprise, which is a suburb of Phoenix.
For Clarke, the idea of surrogacy arose a few years back when she saw an ad at her church posted by a couple who could not have their own children. They were seeking a surrogate, and Clarke thought to herself, "I can have babies so easily…. I have four. I've never had any problems or complications, and others can't and really want kids. So, I thought I'd offer to do that if she'd cover the medical expenses…. I talked my then-husband into it – he did think I was crazy … but he was used to my crazy ideas and eventually was accepting of it. I approached the girl about it and they had just received confirmation of getting two children from Mexico, a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, so they didn't need a service like that any longer."
But, as Clarke already had made up her mind to help, she began doing some research, looking for someone else she might be able to assist. Clarke found a few companies that provide surrogacy service and went through the extensive application process.
"They want to make sure you're mentally stable and that you're financially sound," she said. "You can't be doing this if you want money … they don't offer very much. It's mostly just expenses plus a bonus. You can't be in it for the money."
The application took about two hours to complete over the phone. The company also screens the surrogacy applicant's friends and spouse (if there is one). Everyone gets at least one hour-long phone call, to try and ensure that the surrogate has a strong support system and that there will not be an issue with the spouse or anyone else close to the surrogate. If the applicant qualifies – including being given the green light by their doctor and obstetrician/gynecologist – a profile is created of her, which is shown to "intended parents" (IPs).
The company selects some potential surrogates who match what the IPs are seeking – including factors such as how much communication they want with the surrogate, what the surrogate's habits are (for example, diet, activity level, etc.) – and shows their files to the potential parents. "They sort of match you like a dating service," said Clarke. "It might take a couple of interviews to find someone who fully suits you, but then you get matched and start the process of hormone treatments, implantation and such."
Having Our Baby: The Surrogacy Boom, a documentary by Vancouver filmmaker Nick Orchard, aired recently on the Documentary Channel in Canada. While there are some differences between Canada and the United States when it comes to surrogacy, it seems that both countries' systems work to ensure that the surrogate is entering the arrangement with mainly altruistic rather than monetary aims.
According to Orchard, infertility is often a "disability, for lack of a better word," that couples hide. Therefore, he said, "most people are unaware of how, for some couples, it's a real problem – conceiving and having a child of their own. So, it's a situation where couples and gay couples and, every now and again, some single people really want to have a child, but they can't do it without help from someone else. That's when they reach out."
He said, "The surrogates are doing this because they very much want to help someone. What they are doing is incredibly selfless – to put their … in many cases … own lives on the line. There are dangers involved in having a baby and to do all of that, I find it quite incredible. That was one of the things that first drew me to the topic."
Some of the costs involved in hiring a surrogate in Canada, according to Orchard, include $10,000 to an agency; $20,000 for a surrogate's expenses; $30,000 in fees for the clinics doing the transfers, developing the embryos, and so on; and $30,000 in legal fees for agreements drawn up between the surrogate and the IPs, to reduce the risks of having a surrogate change her mind and keep the baby once the process is done.
"You have to really want to have a child and, of course, it's never a sure thing either," said Orchard. "You can pay that money and you create the embryo … you might have to get the eggs from an egg donor … who you cannot pay [it is illegal]. You can get the embryos created and implant them, but, in many cases, they don't take on the first go-around. So, you've just lost $10,000 and you have to start all over again."
For more information on Orchard's documentary and some of the facts about surrogacy in Canada, visit cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/having-our-baby.
Format ImagePosted on July 7, 2017 July 5, 2017 Author Rebeca KuropatwaCategories WorldTags family life, infertility, Judaism, surrogacy
Families key for shul
Michael Sachs, left, and Rabbi Levi Varnai of the Bayit. (photo from Michael Sachs)
The Bayit, a small shul in Richmond, is seeing a resurgence. The increase in attendance and birth of new programming seems to be due to the growth of young Jewish families. Rabbi Levi Varnai, who took his post at the Bayit in July of this year, said their Shabbat morning services are busy and full, and a recent dinner welcomed 80 people to the shul, which only has 42 chairs.
Though Varnai is himself a Chabad rabbi, the shul is not affiliated with any denomination and stresses its inclusivity.
"There is a huge movement of young families into Richmond," Varnai told the Independent. "We are not here to compete with the existing shuls, which are doing a great job. We are here to make a place for young families who haven't yet found their place in the Richmond Jewish community."
Varnai was born in Vancouver, but his family made aliyah in 2000. After yeshivah, he was drafted into the Israel Defence Forces and became an army chaplain, since he had semichah (ordination). In 2011, he married his wife Rivky, the daughter of Rabbi Shaul and Chaya Brocha Leiter, who run Ascent, a hostel in Tzfat known for its classes on Jewish mysticism. The couple moved to Vancouver in 2013 and have three children: Mendel, Shmuli and Chaya.
Children are a very important part of their vision for the synagogue. They have Shabbat programs for kids and are planning an afterschool program which will be a club featuring a number of fun, hands-on activities, like baking and arts and crafts, imbued with Jewish culture. The shul is currently preparing for Rosh Hashanah and, on Sept. 18, gathered to decorate family honey jars. "We aim to make this place a dynamic centre for young families and, so far, there is a lot of energy and interest," said Varnai.
According to its website, the Bayit has the only kosher mikvah in Richmond.
Michael Sachs is the current president of the synagogue. He and his family moved to Richmond in January 2015, priced out of the Vancouver market, and has since been instrumental in the Bayit's rebirth.
"My favorite thing is probably our Carlebach-style Friday night services," said Sachs. "One thing that I really love is the difference we are making in people's lives, either with help finding housing or support during hard times … we are there, with our local Jewish partners, for the Richmond community."
Matthew Gindin is a freelance journalist, writer and lecturer. He writes regularly for the Forward and All That Is Interesting, and has been published in Religion Dispatches, Situate Magazine, Tikkun and elsewhere. He can be found on Medium and Twitter.
Format ImagePosted on September 30, 2016 September 28, 2016 Author Matthew GindinCategories LocalTags Bayit, Carlebach, family life, Judaism, Sachs, synagogues, Varnai
Ways to engage teens
Free Spirit Experience helps troubled teens "restart" their lives. (photo from freespiritexperience.org)
Adolescence is a time of transition and confusion and teens themselves often don't understand what's happening. They frequently send mixed messages and get angry when adults do the same. They want to be independent and strong, but they also need adults' physical and emotional support. Navigating the turbulent landscape of the teenage experience can be equally challenging for teens and the adults in their lives.
Dr. Tamir Rotman, founder of Free Spirit Experience. (photo from freespiritexperience.org)
Although it can be compelling to dismiss their experiences, making the effort to understand teens can have an enormous impact on their ability to channel their energy, passion and idealism. When teens are feeling confident, clear, safe and supported, they can accomplish incredible things.
Like any other effort to improve, consistency is key. With a little understanding, compassion and sensitive and intentional practices, you can improve your relationship and help your teen tap into their potential.
Dr. Tamir Rotman, clinical psychologist and founder of Free Spirit Experience, which helps troubled teens "restart" their lives, shares his advice on how to improve communication and connection with your teen.
Go with their flow. Pay attention to when they need you close by and when they want some distance. Give them choice to connect by saying, "I'll be around if you need me." This is a great way to be available without imposing on them.
Be an anchor of stability. Although they may fight you on it, for teens, stability is safety. Be predictable, in a good way, so they can rely on you when they need to.
Start young. If you want them to feel safe to talk to you, it's important to start listening to them when they are young children. Be curious about the things that interest them and know enough about their interests to ask relevant questions. This effectively says, "I am interested in you, I care." If it's late in the game, you can still earn their trust, but you will have to show genuine and persistent interest for them to buy it and take you seriously.
Listen during a conflict. If you really listen and try to understand them, they will try to listen to you, too. Even when you're sure you've heard it all already or that they are trying to rock the boat, stay curious. Genuinely ask them what happened to truly seek to understand where they are coming from.
Validate their feelings. It's crucial to validate their feelings. It's a very common mistake to start by giving advice or explaining yourself or the other person involved. However, that will only alienate your teen and make them feel more isolated. Always start by acknowledging their experience and their side. You can say, "It must be really difficult/sad/frustrating to…," so they hear that you are interested in understanding them and they have a safe space to be heard.
Be proactive. Reach out to your teen when you see that they are struggling. Find a good time to say, "I see that you are having a tough time and I really want to help." Don't be afraid to be creative, ask for outside help, and use trial and error with your teen to find a solution.
Be patient. Trust yourself and be patient with the process. Even when your teen is acting stormy, just know that the turbulence reflects their thoughts. Do your best to have compassion for your teen and for yourself. Involve your teen in the process in whatever way possible. The best solutions come when change comes from a conscious choice.
Format ImagePosted on September 23, 2016 September 21, 2016 Author IMP Group Ltd.Categories LifeTags at-risk youth, family life, teenagers


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Apply a thin, soft line. Substantial liner on i would say the lower lash line ends up scouting around like your mascara has smeared. Moreover if you consume black for each of our lower lash line, apply it gentler than you would for the upper lash line.
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Make absolutely yes that the eyeliner entirely on the lower lash series connects with the the back corner to the leading lash row. This creates a more natural, logical look.
Dab concealer just below your eyelash line that would keep filling in post.
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September has been good to my garden, bringing lots of new blooms. You'll actually notice many little tour guides in these September photos. The end of this post shows a couple of our new pets - visitors for the interim before their fall vaca in Mexico (thanks to my friend Grace for the inspiration and instruction)! But for now, stop and smell the roses! See that little refrigerator looking thing next to the side of the road? Big brother is watching you (and will ensure you at least SLOW your driving to take a peek). Seriously though, the roses in the first several photos aren't fragrant - but they ARE reliable summer-long sources of color. The fragrant roses are in hiding at this point in the summer.
Better slow your roll, happy blue car, or this little roadside furnace will send you a tsk tsk ticket in the mail!
Some oregano blooms left out for the pollinators.
DO YOU HAVE VERBENA? It's a MUST. Verbena growers know what I'm talking about.
With dwarf butterfly bushes available, everyone has a chance to grow these in his/her garden.
A pretty but jacked-up buckeye. Good old moonbeam coreopsis in the background.
The gaura still going - all summer long. Its twin's stems are turning red. Lamb's ear still green and lush - and great foil for any perennial.
Sassy the cat on the prowl.
This bee must be new at the pollen-gathering thing.
This clematis is on its third rebloom.
My backyard downspout clematis - also currently covered in reblooms.
Morning glory - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Am I right?!
Gomphrena 'strawberry fields' - the annual I coveted this year. Can you see why?
Check out May Dreams Gardens to see what else is blooming in the gardening world!
Fixing up a little home with a jar of water, a few milkweed cuttings, and some carefully searched for caterpillars.
Transferring the specimen to its new, safe, well-stocked home.
Yes, I've read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but I didn't realize exactly how voracious these little guys are. Updates to come!
The bee photo is very funny. Lovely butterfly photos. Don't have much left to harvest. Just one more batch of basil and time to freeze the parsley.
Me oh my...sweet caterpillar shots!
I bet you are glad there is something there to slow down speeding cars. Don't you wish you could get some of that revenue?
Your flowers are very abundant for mid September.
I love that Gomphrena SF too. It is elegant!
Wow! Lots of beautiful flowers from your garden. I especially love to see the ones that you take with bees, moths and butterflies.
The close-up shot of the caterpillar in the last photo is stunning!
Those catterpillars are very voracious ! They finished my milkweed leaves in just two days. They will grow back though, so I will just leave those cats alone. Your sept. garden looks really beautiful and blooming!
I had a verbena (potted) until I left town for a week and came home to a dead verbera. Didn't even get a chance to bloom this year, so I don't know what you talkin' 'bout Willis. But maybe next year I will.
I'm still laughing at the bee photo/caption combination!
Those blooms are lovely! And so are the butterflies. Looking forward to seeing the monarch grow!
I'm drooling, drooling, drooling! Great captures of all those winged wonders! I grew a bed of 'strawberry fields' this year...they're a new favorite! Didn't take many pictures before the deer mowed them down...argh!!
Darling daughter is too precious! Have a great FALL, Wendy!
LOVE your "greenish thumb," and oh wow, that buckeye is a show stopper. One of my favorite butterflies (well, maybe they're all my favorites).
Wendy!! Such dazzling photos..i am spellbound by aaaaall the beuaty you have shared!Awesome!! Gorgeous blooms...yay!
PS: thankyou for your super awesome comments ..so cool you found a leaf adorning the the yafrow..very magical!
Awesome shot of garden flowers, butterflies and caterpillars pictures! I like your Verbena.
caterpillars are real voracious! I hate them!
Wow! Thanks for all these wonderful pictures. pretty blooms and attractive creatures!
Nice capture of the Buckeye butterfly. Most people like butterflies with all those brilliant colors, but I've always thought the Buckeye's patterns and contrasts were amongst the prettiest.
Sassy looks just like my Sammy, and she is ALWAYS on the prowl.


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Located in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, The Balancing Center is a unique, one-of-a-kind chiropractic office that offers a variety of incredibly specialized therapeutic techniques. Our chiropractors use a holistic approach to wellness that looks at the body as a self-correcting system. We believe that the body is made to be well, and our job is to help you unlock the quality of life that you already have.
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The Balancing Center was established by Dr. Daniel J. Fedeli in 1987 to bring innovative and forward-thinking alternative health care to Chicago. The practice is designed to treat each patient from a physical, mental, and emotional angle, providing a comprehensive approach that helps with both acute and chronic conditions.
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The newest chapter in the famous A Kiss For The Petals franchise, Remembering How We Met takes a long look back at Risa and Miya's relationship, telling the tale of how they first met and came to be lovers.
For those who are new to the franchise, this series is a must-follow for every fan of yuri. Focusing on the relationships between two girls who fall in love with each other, A Kiss For The Petals stays true to the romance between two women. Though adult scenes are plentiful, this series is characterized by the charming, natural development of relationships as the heroines go on dates, try to steal moments alone to express their love, and bond with each other in a very tender fashion.
Remembering How We Met is a great chapter for those who new to the series as it tells the brand new story of Risa and Miya's romance while looking back on the history of their time in St. Michael's Girls' School. Their story is unique, even within the franchise, as Risa and Miya were initially antagonistic toward each other. Though both are smart in different ways, they're almost polar opposites?Risa is studious and works hard for her achievements while Miya seeks the freedom to pursue her own interests, her innate intelligence making class a bore for her. How did love manage to blossom between such rivals? Find out as they recount the tale.
Risa's girlfriend and classmate in the Year 2 "Snow" class. One of the brightest minds on campus, and although still not terribly sociable, she has started to become more outgoing through her interactions as a member of the St. Michael's Best Couples.
Class Representative of the Year 2 "Snow" class, she currently lives with her girlfriend and classmate, Miya. She has a studious and hardworking personality.


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