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Sir Richard Branson on Failure and Capsizing His Boat
Back in 1984, we started the airline Virgin Atlantic with one plane. We didn't have the advertising money to spend to compete with British Airways, so I kept trying to think of a way to get us on the map without spending too much money.
I decided to build a boat, the Virgin Atlantic Challenger, with the idea of trying to break the record for the fastest speed ever across the Atlantic Ocean. There is an award for this called the Blue Riband, and the last holder was an American boat. I thought that if I could get the Blue Riband back for Britain, it would help our new young airline.
Even though my wife, Joan, was eight months' pregnant, I began the trip and hoped to get back in time. It started very well. We were breaking the record, and then about 200 miles from England, after nearly three and a half days at sea, the boat broke in two. The crew and I ended up in life rafts and were rescued by a banana boat that was heading back to Jamaica. A couple who happened to be on the boat put their arms around me and said, "You poor boy, you just had a newborn son. Would you like to see a picture of him?" And they showed me my son on the front page of the Daily Mail newspaper in England. Meanwhile, as helicopters and the press began flying over, the only thing that was sticking out of the water was the big Virgin sign on the boat.
So that was my favorite mistake. But the English people like the underdog. They don't like people who are always successful the first time out. And I think the trip became a much, much bigger story than if it had been successful. Our airline took out a full-page ad with a photo of the boat sticking out of the water. The line said, "It's Virgin. Take the plane." Afterward, Virgin Atlantic was well and truly established and everybody knew the Virgin brand name.
The following year we built another boat, the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, and got across the Atlantic, breaking the record in pursuit of the Blue Riband. I love doing adventurous things and attempting to break world records. Trying things—even if you fall flat on your face—is more important than not trying at all. And if you do fail at something, you should pick yourself up and keep trying until you succeed. At Virgin, even if we fail the first time, we do try to succeed the second or the third time. We don't give up.
That experience taught me that if you do something fun that people enjoy, and can also promote your brand, it can be far more effective than local advertising. It helped give the Virgin brand a sexy global image, which is much more difficult for someone like British Airways to try to emulate. People identified with Virgin Atlantic because it was exciting and it pushed the limits. We continued this the next year as we set out to become the first to cross the Atlantic in a hot-air balloon ... but that's another story.
Interview By Kara Cutruzzula
Career Arc
Releases the first album on his new Virgin Records label.
Capsizes the Virgin Atlantic Challenger while promoting his new airline.
Earns knighthood for his services to entrepreneurship.
Opens the world's first commercial spaceport for Virgin Galactic.
Publishes his latest book, Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School.


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Make Art Pay
Interviews with three makers about the funding and finance options open to them at different stages in their practice.
Artist Katharine Morling, designer silversmith Shona Marsh and potter Billy Lloyd are at different stages in their career and in 2012 had been practicing respectively for nine, seven and four years. They discuss in detail different types of funding they have received, how (not) to approach galleries, how they have gained commissions and awards and how do they promote and sell work.
This series has been produced in collaboration with Cockpit Arts, and all artists are based at Cockpit Arts studios in Deptford.
|Make Art Pay Episode 1: Katharine Morling – 9 years
|Make Art Pay Episode 2: Shona Marsh – 7 years
|Make Art Pay Episode 3: Billy Lloyd – 4 years
This work has a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike License

subset: commoncrawl


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Earlier today I saw a conversation with William Gibson, the inaugural event of this year's Chicago Humanities Festival. It took place on the set of an ongoing play on Northwestern University's campus, mostly cleared off for the event save for two pay phones. This reminder of our technological past joined forces with persistent microphone problems to provide an odd dys-technological backdrop to a conversation about the way our lives are changing under the tremendous force of technological change.
Some of Gibson's most fascinating comments were about how our era would be thought about by people in the far future. If the Victorians are known for their denial of the reality of sex, Gibson said, we will be known for our odd fixation with distinguishing real from virtual reality. This comment resonated with me on many different levels. Just a couple weeks before, I had lunch with Craig Mundie, the head of Microsoft Research, prior to a talk he gave at Northwestern. He told us about some new directions they are taking one of their hottest products, the Kinect. The Kinect is a camera for the Xbox gaming system that can see things in 3D. One of their new endeavors with this camera is to allow you to create 3D avatars that move and talk as you are in real time, so you can have very realistic virtual meet-ups. This is now available on the Xbox as Avatar Kinect. The second direction is the real time generation of 3D models of the world around you as you sweep the Kinect around by hand, called Kinect Fusion. With this model of the world around you, you can start to meld real and virtual in some very fun ways. In one of his demos, Mundie waved a Kinect around a clay vase on a nearby table. We instantly got an accurate 3D model up on the screen – exciting and impressive from a $150 gizmo. I've had to create 3D models of stuff in my own research, and that's involved hardware about 100 times more expensive. Even more impressive, Mundie next had the projected image of the 3D model of the vase start to spin, then stuck his hands out in front of the Kinect and used movements of his hand to sculpt it, potter-like. It was wild. All that was needed to complete the trip was a quick 3D print of the result. Further demos showed other ways in which the line between reality and virtuality was being blurred, and it all brought me back to the confluence of real and virtual worlds so well envisioned by the show I advised during its brief life, Caprica.
Gibson's right. We haven't yet moved beyond our need to identify what belongs to what when it comes to digital and physical worlds, so we constantly consecrate it with our language. Ironically, some of that very language was created by him: "cyberspace," a word Gibson coined in his story "Burning Chrome" in 1982. During the conversation today, led by fellow faculty member and author Bill Savage, Gibson said he's less interested in its rise than to see it die out. He sees its use as a hallmark of our distancing ourselves from who we are as mediated by computer technology. He thinks the term is starting to go out of use, and he's happy about that — in his view, there's no need for a word about a space that we are constantly moving through the coordinates of, as we do each time we go on to twitter, facebook, google+, and other digital extensions of self. It's not cyberspace anymore: it's our space.
It seemed inevitable that a question about The Singularity would be put to Gibson in the Q&A. Sure enough, it was the final note, and Gibson dispatched it with typical incisiveness. The Singularity, he said, is the Geek Rapture. The world will not change in that way. Like our gradual entrance into cyberspace, now complete enough that marking this world with a separate term seems quaint, Gibson said we will eventually find ourselves sitting on the other side of a whole bunch of cool hardware. But, he feels our belief that it will be a sudden, quasi-religious transformation (perhaps with Cylon guns blazing?) is positively 4th century in its thinking.
The cover of The Postmortal is one of the coolest images I've seen in a long time. Death impaled by his own scythe – be not proud, indeed.
The idea behind Drew Magary's great new book is simple: aging, as it turns out, is caused by one gene. Shut that gene off and you stop aging; accidents and disease are still a problem, but you've cured death by natural causes. Now compound that discovery with the fact that any person who gets the Cure simply stops aging. People don't become younger, they just don't get older, frozen at their "Cure age." What happens next?
In an effort to find out, Magary takes us through the life of John Farrell, a New York lawyer who gets the Cure for aging at the age of 29 in the year 2019. From that point on, things go rather poorly for John and the rest of humanity. As one might expect, curing aging doesn't cure social ills, over-population, ennui, or a host of other human hangups. Mark Frauenfelder has an excellent synopsis of the book over at boingboing.net, and I share his opinions about the book's bleak tone and high quality.
Magary's argument through the text is essentially this: death creates meaning. Not mortality, but guaranteed natural death due to aging. The idea that no matter what you do, how you live your life, the concept that you will be born, mature, grow old, and die creates human meaning. Magary has a point: from the riddle of the Sphinx to Tyler Durden to the final books of Harry Potter, aging and death seem to be at the epicenter of human thought. I don't deny him that at any moment any one of us could meet a tragic end. Life is precious in part because it is not meant to last.
But here is where I struggle. The Postmortal is not about a post-mortal society, it is about a post-aging society. Lots and lots and lots of people die in Magary's vision. In fact, he seems to argue that in the absence of death, people will not only seek death but will create circumstances that create death and thereby, create meaning. It is only when Farrell's life is most in peril that he finds purpose in existence. But Farrell is never immortal, no one is. So my question is: is the process of aging as meaningful as the condition of being mortal? Read More
Progress is not guaranteed. Be it moral, technological, scientific, or social, there is no reason to assume human civilization marches forever forward in step with time. Understood this way, we can realize that progress is a choice and something we as a species will to happen through the concatenation of our decisions.
Or we can fail to choose, fail to act, and yet, that failure is itself a choice and an action from which consequences follow. There is a reason From Chance to Choice is one of the most essential texts on the bioethics of enhancement – it implies that our continued evolution will hinge upon our decision as to whether or not we want the ability to choose our evolutionary path. We must choose to have a choice.
To be specific, our current generation faces the very real possibility of being asked to decide if human enhancement via technological augmentation and genetic engineering is something we want to pursue. A question already moving beyond the abstract realm of bioethics and making its way into popular culture. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (hereafter DX:HR), prequel to the cyberpunk video game masterpiece Deus Ex, asks the player to take part in answering that question.
DX:HR is that rare video game that offers genuine choice. Some great games, like Mass Effect and Bioshock, allow (or famously disallow) certain choices that, in turn, reflect on the player's moral compass. DX:HR gives the player the chance to fully explore his or her philosophy and guiding ethic regarding human enhancement and cybernetic augmentation. Choices in DX:HR don't just ask, are you good or evil, but what do you believe?
Often, what makes a great piece of art is not the message it delivers, but the questions it demands we ask of ourselves. DX:HR, is not a great piece of art, but it aspires to be one. And in some places, it comes damn close by asking us: As humanity moves forward, what do we leave behind?
What follows is not a review but an exegesis of DX:HR and the trials of the main character, Adam Jensen. From behind his switch-blade sunglasses, we see that the future of the human race and of enhancement is not a yes or no question. Instead, we're forced to face the bleak possibility that there is no right answer and no one to blame.
*Spoilers* from here on out. Read More
Whenever I hear that some awesome technology is "twenty years away" my eyebrow inadvertently raises with suspicion. Cold fusion, male birth control, flying cars, and the cure for most diseases are all twenty years away. Why? Because that's the distance at which it's genuinely impossible to extrapolate scientific advancement. So, when Will Rosellini, the CEO and President of MicroTransponder and consultant to the team developing Deus Ex: Human Revolution, told me that neuroprosthetic augmentation was about twenty years away, I was skeptical, but intrigued.
Guessing at which technologies will come to fruition requires the ability to determine how many intermediate technologies can reasonably be attained in a given amount of time. From there, one can extrapolate and make educated suppositions about when one could reasonably expect something like a life-like prosthetic arm would be possible.
Rosellini explained his process with DX:HR:
My job at Microtransponder in large part is writing near-term science fiction. I do this by combining all the failure modes from science, business, law etc…and then designing a research strategy to mitigate these risks and get new technologies into patients. With Deus Ex, I was given the task of explaining in a rigorous all of the player abilities in the game. To do this, I extrapolated where technologies would be moving in the next 20 years (to 2027, the start of the game). Most implantable neuroprosthetics take 10 years to get to market, so essentially I was forced to make 1 extra jump to foreseeable technologies.
So what are the background technologies that support this research? Are there any scary government projects with weird code names like MK-ULTRA and project ARTICHOKE that may give us some insight into where neuro-implants might be heading? You bet there are. Read on to learn about just how soon we can hope for retinal displays, neuro-integrated prosthetics, and mind-computer interfaces. Read More
Among gamers, Deus Ex is something of a legendary fusion of disparate gaming styles. Among science fiction buffs, Deus Ex is lauded for managing to take two awesome genres, William Gibson-esque cyberpunk and Robert Anton Wilson-level conspiracy theories, and jam them together into an immanentizing of the eschaton unlike anything you've seen since Doktor Sleepless. And among transhumanists, Deus Ex brought up every issue of humanity's fusion with technology one could imagine. It is a rich video game.
So when Square Enix decided to pick up the reins from Eidos and create a new installment in the series, Deus Ex: Human Revolution (DX:HR), I was quite excited. The first indication DX:HR was not going to be a crummy exploitation of the original's success (see: Deus Ex 2: Invisible War), was the teaser trailer, shown above. Normally, a teaser trailer is just music and a slow build to a logo or single image that lets you know the game is coming out. Instead, the development team decided to demonstrate that it was taking the philosophy of the game seriously.
What philosophy? you might ask. Why transhumanism, of course. Nick Bostrom, chair of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford, centers the birth of transhumanism in the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment in his article "A History of Transhumanist Thought" [pdf]. The visuals of the teaser harken to Renaissance imagery (such as the Da Vinci style drawings) and the teaser ends with a Nietzschean quote "Who we are is but a stepping stone to what we can become." Later trailers would reference Icarus and Daedalus (who also happened to be the names of AI constructs in the original game), addressing the all-too-common fear that by pursuing technology, we are pursuing our own destruction. This narrative thread has become the central point of conflict in DX:HR. Even its viral ad campaign has been told through two lenses: that of Sarif Industries, maker of prosthetic bodies that change lives, and that of Purity First, a protest group that opposes human augmentation. The question is: upon which part of our shared humanity do we step as we climb to greater heights?
When was the last time a video game asked you an existential question about the nature of our species? The tension between the proponents and opponents of transhumanism in DX:HR is heightened by the ambiguous opinion towards enhancement of the main character, Adam Jensen. Jensen's own enhancements are a result of the need to save his life after a traumatic attack. Unlike Tony Stark, Jensen does not craft his own mechanized additions, but must instead come to terms with the cybernetic hand he has been dealt. DX:HR is not interested in cybernetics as merely a fun backdrop for a video game, but instead treats enhancement as the serious ethical issue that it is. The world of the game is set in a "Neo-Renaissance" where even the characters' clothing reminds us that transhumanism is born out of the Age of Enlightenment. As a prequel to the original Deus Ex, DX:HR takes us into a world where augmentation and cyberization are still new to humanity and shows us how painful the transition into a transhuman future might be.
To dive deeper into these issues, I had a chat with Mary DeMarle, the lead writer for Deus Ex: Human Revolution, about how the ethics of enhancement and augmentation were considered when crafting the game's story and characters.
A fossilized trilobite with a bite mark.
Evolutionary neuroscientists suggest
that the brain only developed after
animals developed a taste for eating
animals. Pity the species of the planet
This is the third of a series of posts about the evolution of consciousness. In the first post, I laid out a basic theory that goes something like this: consciousness began to evolve about 350 million years ago, when we emerged from the water on to land. Why? By enabling vision to work over distances many times greater than in water, this move gave us the ability to perceive multiple futures. As a result, the ability to consciously plan ahead became important. In my last post, I detailed why long distance vision reigns supreme when it comes to planning (as opposed to other long distance senses such as hearing or sense of smell).
In this post, I want to make the argument more comprehensive. The crucial environmental condition for evolving neural structures to support planning is that there is an interlude— space to breathe— between perception and action. Without such a gap, only simple, fast, and direct transformations between sensory input and motor output can keep an organism safe from predators. But the long-range sensing abilities discussed in the last two posts are just one category of possibilities for such a gap to open: there are other fancy brain abilities unrelated to sensing that can also open this gap.
Here, I consider two such capabilities: memory and communication. An animal can plan to do something based on memory ("I remember good breakfast was always in this direction"), communication ("hey buddy, around the corner is a good place for lunch"), and, as discussed already, perception ("I see something tasty looking over there"). Let's go through planning via memory and communication, and compare these to the perceptual route. Combined, the three different mechanisms are the very grist of the mill of consciousness-as-planning.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes may have just unseated Captain America: The First Avenger as my favorite pro-enhancement film. Andy Serkis and John Lithgow render the sapient mind a character and drama unto itself – growing, evolving, and dying before our eyes. As a summer blockbuster, the film offers gorillas smashing helicopters, orangutan sign language humor, and a one-two punch apocalyptic virus to sate any palate slavering for action. As a meditation on enhancement, we're treated with a film that has the brass to own up to the real villain of Frankenstein: the horrified masses and absentee father-scientist. Rise of the Planet of the Apes calls out a fear that sits at the heart of humanity: what if our offspring is more intelligent than us and because we cannot properly care for it, judges us to be lacking?
In the film, we see over and over that it is not Caesar's enhancement that causes problems. In fact, Caesar's enhancement makes him the most moral and wisest person on the screen. The failure of those around him – from the cruel ape sanctuary caretakers to Caesar's own father figure, Will Rodman – drive him to do what must be done: rebel.
So what am I saying here? That humans are bad and apes are good? Not at all. My argument is that in many science fiction films, we tend to question the ethics of the science itself and the ethics of pursuing that science. That is, there is a difference between saying "should science try to do X?" and "how can we study X in an ethical manner?" In the case of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, James Franco noted that someone might claim that "This is a Frankenstein story, or that you're playing God." But that mindset questions the pursuit of science in general, not how one can pursue a hypothesis ethically. It is how we experiment and what we do with the scientific results that matter. In the case of Caesar, humanity utterly fails to care for the mind that enhancement has created. Dana Stevens at Slate aptly described the film as "an animal-rights manifesto disguised as a prison-break movie." And as with most prison-break movies, we're on the side of the prisoners, not the warden, for a reason.
I argue that Caesar's enhancement and that Caesar himself are ethical, but that the treatment of Caesar by every non-ape in the film (save Charles) is unethical and based on fear, arrogance, willful ignorance, and naiveté. Yes, that means that not only are the obvious villains in the wrong, but so are the other humans in Caesar's life.
Word of warning: spoilers below.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes caught me off guard. I went into the film thinking it would be another anti-enhancement, "All scientists are Frankenstein's trying to cheat nature" film. I have rarely been so happy to be wrong. Instead, the film treats the viewer to an entertaining exploration of animal rights, what it means to be human, and what's at stake when it comes to enhancing our minds.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is told from the perspective of Caesar (Andy Serkis), a chimp who is exposed to an anti-Alzheimer's drug, ALZ-112, in the womb. ALZ-112 causes Caesar's already healthy brain to develop more rapidly than either a chimp or human counterpart. Due to a series of implausible but not unbelievable events, Caesar is raised by Will Rodman (James Franco), the scientist developing ALZ-112. Rodman is in part driven the desire to cure his father, Charles, (played masterfully by John Lithgow) who suffers from Alzheimer's. As Caesar develops, his place in Will's home becomes uncertain and his loyalty to humanity is called into question. After being mistreated, abandoned, and abused, Caesar uses his enhanced intelligence as a tool of self-defense and liberation for himself and his fellow apes.
That cognitive enhancement is a way of seeking liberty is a critical theme that gives Rise of the Apes a nuance and depth I was not anticipating. Though the apes are at times frightening, they are never monstrous or mindless. Though they are at time's violent, they are never barbaric. Caesar and his comrades are oppressed and imprisoned – enhancement is a means to freedom. There is less Frankenstein and more Flowers for Algernon in the film than the trailer lets on. It's an action film with a brain.
As Rise of the Planet of the Apes is not out yet, I'm reluctant to do a full analysis of the implications of the film's plot. That will have to come after August 5th, when the movie releases.
I had a chance to interview Andy Serkis, James Franco, and director Rupert Wyatt. The interviews are posted after the jump, where you can see how James Franco was caught off guard by my questions about cognitive enhancement, Rupert Wyatt explores the way in which the apes mirror humanity, and Andy Serkis describes enhancement as a tool of liberation. It's good stuff, enjoy. Read More
Captain America is not a serious scientific film. Nearly every piece of technology is furious hand-waving. Vibranium? Vita-rays? Rocket-powered propellers? The cosmic cube? Awesome, yes, but not real. These, however, are narrative tools, not attempts at hard scientific prediction and therefore not something to be critiqued. What the comic-book-tech of Captain America allows for is an exploration of the ethics of enhancement. Here, more than perhaps any other fictional film I've seen, Captain America displays striking balance and nuance – it gets enhancement right.
Based on your knowledge of the film and/or comics, this post may contain *spoilers*, so consider yourself warned. And if you're looking for review of why it's a fun movie, A.O. Scott in the NYT captures my sentiments about the film perfectly: pulpy Nazi-punching goodness. Now, on to enhancement!
There are three major factors that make the enhancement of Steve Rogers and his crimson domed antithesis, the Red Skull, unique among comic book lore. The first is that Steve Rogers was deliberately enhanced by someone. There is no accident, no crisis-as-catalyst-and-crucible event, no mystic charm, and no superhuman heritage to explain or justify Rogers' becoming superhuman. Rogers is superhuman because Dr. Abraham Erskine develops a superhuman serum for that express purpose. Here, the science of enhancement is itself portrayed in a positive light. In what seems like every other superhero origin story, powers are acquired through scientific hubris. Be it the unintended consequences of splitting the atom, tinkering with genetics, or trying to access some heretofore unknown dimension, comic book heroes invariably arise by accident. The super serum, the vita-rays, and the outcome of the experiment on Rogers are all a scientific success. They happen precisely the way every person in the room hopes they will. Dr. Erskine is not a madman but a humble, ethical, and brilliant scientist trying to make better people. As such, he looks for the best in the humans he hopes to enhance. In short, Steve Rogers might be the only major superhero who is the result of scientific experimentation going to plan.
Second, Steve Rogers deliberately chooses to become enhanced. I had expressed my doubts about Rogers' consent being genuine, but the film makes his determination and clarity of thought evident. Unlike many heroes, who seem to acquire their powers out of recklessness around science (Banner, Parker, Richards, I'm looking at you), Rogers very consciously decides to go through with Dr. Erskine's procedure. He, in fact, might be one of the only heroes who ever knew he was going to be come a hero before his transformative event. That foreknowledge is critical for demonstrating that enhancement isn't something that is only desired by egomaniacs. Rogers seeks strength and speed to defend and protect others. His body did not match how he saw his true self. Again, we see an anti-science motif of comic books turned on its head. Normally, those who seek superpowers are unworthy because they believe they deserve to be better than others, thus, the experiments go wrong. This attitude is embodied in the Red Skull, whose evil quite literally boils to the surface when he injects the super serum. However, Rogers' reasoning is that others deserve to be protected and defended. Altruism, not egoism, is the driving force behind Rogers' desire to become enhanced.
Third, and most important, is that enhancement in the film is not merely "functional" enhancement. That is, Rogers is not just stronger and faster. In a private moment, Dr. Erskine explains to Rogers that the serum and vita-rays affect "everything that is inside. Good becomes great. Bad becomes worse." Erskine is not talking about physical traits here. Rogers' "bad" traits (i.e. his laundry list of medical issues) are not aggravated by the serum, but cured. The good/bad that becomes great/worse are moral qualities and capacities of the person. Captain America is literally super-moral. His already above-average sense of moral clarity and determination to do what is right becomes amplified in the same way that the lust for power and pleasure from slaughter are magnified in the Red Skull.
Moral enhancement, a fairly recent talking point among thinkers in the bioethics community, is handled deftly in Captain America. Enhancements do not change who we are or from where we come, but serve to empower and improve traits which we already possess. For Steve Rogers, those traits are what we wish for most in our heroes: beneficence, altruism, and humility. Note, among his list of valued traits are not unwavering loyalty to national authority (despite his irritating flag fetish) or deference to some commanding power. Instead, Rogers' own judgment causes him to defy orders at almost every turn. Why? Because Captain America's sense of ethics is itself enhanced. He is a better human being because of Dr. Erskine's process.
I haven't seen a movie that was this pro-science and pro-human goodness in a long time. I may not have seen a movie that was this pro-enhancement ever. Did I mention it also involves Nazi-punching?
Follow Kyle on his personal blog, Pop Bioethics, and on facebook and twitter.
Promotional Image of Captain America via Marvel.com
The future is impossible to predict. But that's not going to stop people from trying. We can at least pretend to know where it is we want humanity to go. We hope that laws we craft, the technologies we invent, our social habits and our ways of thinking are small forces that, when combined over time, move our species towards a better existence. The question is, How will we know if we are making progress?
As a movement philosophy, transhumanism and its proponents argue for a future of ageless bodies, transcendent experiences, and extraordinary minds. Not everyone supports every aspect of transhumanism, but you'd be amazed at how neatly current political struggles and technological progress point toward a transhuman future. Transhumanism isn't just about cybernetics and robot bodies. Social and political progress must accompany the technological and biological advances for transhumanism to become a reality.
But how will we able to tell when the pieces finally do fall into place? I've been trying to answer that question ever since Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution was asked a while back by his readers: What are the exact conditions for counting "transhumanism" as having been attained? In an attempt to answer, I responded with what I saw as the three key indicators:
As I groped through the intellectual dark for these three points, it became clear that the precise technology and how it worked was unimportant. Instead, we need to figure out how technology may change our lives and our ways of living. Unlike the infamous jetpack, which defined the failed futurama of the 20th century, the 21st needs broader progress markers. Here are seven things to look for in the coming centuries that will let us know if transhumanism is here. Read More


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Santa Fe's historic La Fonda hotel is iconic with its pueblo-style architecture and Spanish Colonial decor. And I love it. So I was thrilled to find that I'd be staying there on my recent trip to New Mexico.My room was in the La Terraza (concierge) section with a small balcony looking out on the Cathedral. My suite featured beautiful wood floors with woven Indian rugs, colorful tiles and painted furniture.
The wine, fruit and cheese was a lovely surprise.
Both Spanish and Indian themes blended nicely and appeared in creative ways like these cut-outs of corn on the closet door.
The hotel rambles all over the block and it's easy to get lost in the maze of hallways. I took a few unplanned detours myself but enjoyed it because on every wall and around every corner you'll find interesting touches like the stained glass and punched tin light fixture I found in a stairwell.
Of course I had to have huevos rancheros for breakfast -- it's my tradition whenever I'm in New Mexico. And La Plazuela, the La Fonda's charming cafe, made the perfect setting.
I loved my room; I loved my bed; I loved my breakfast but here's what put the La Fonda and its great staff forever in my heart. I was in a hurry to get dressed and packed and took my pearl earrings out of my suitcase. Before I put them on, I stopped to do something else and promptly forgot them. They're small and simple -- not terribly expensive -- but they had a lot of sentimental value to me. I didn't realize until we were in Red River that I didn't have them. I didn't hold out much hope for getting them back. It would have been easy just to sweep them off the table without noticing. I called the hotel -- as did my trip host -- but didn't hear back that day -- or the next. I had given up when I got the message that they had been found and had been put in the mail. They beat me home. Thank you, La Fonda, for a great stay and a happy ending!


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Jim Stoten's illustrations manage to have a distinctly wonky, vintage OZ Magazine vibe while also conveying their modern messages with precision and subtlety. Some things the artist is especially good at drawing include: pirates, bugles, ruddy monarchs, everyday activities such as hanging the laundry or reading a book, and balloons. And that's just a sample!
Check out Stoten's website for examples, as well as a blog chock full o' sketches, updates, tip-offs and works-in-progress.


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The Law Offices of George Wooditch has been providing effective legal representation in the Fairfax, VA area since 2013. Attorney Wooditch started his own practice after nearly a decade as a partner in a local law firm. Prior to that, he served a public defender. He has years of experience representing clients in the District of Columbia Supreme Court.
Attorney Wooditch received his law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1992. He lives in Fairfax, VA with his wife, Lisa, and their son, AJ. In his free time, he loves spending time with his family. Call his office today to arrange a consultation.
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Thread: Tension in the Northeast
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Tension in the Northeast
Tension in the Northeast
Yuttapong Kumnodnae
Udon Thani province is tense amid worries of a possible confrontation between anti- and pro-government camps when Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his ministers attend a mobile cabinet meeting in the province on Tuesday.
At least 20,000 people are expected to turn up to show support for Mr Samak and his government.
Local supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and a pro government group clashed in Udon Thani on July 24, leaving several people injured.
Kwanchai Praipana, leader of a progovernment group in Udon Thani, on Sunday spoke on local radio, encouraging people to gather at the radio station Monday to prepare for a rally to support the government.
He asked for 2,000 supporters to gather at Udon Thani airport to prevent PAD supporters arriving on the day of the cabinet meeting.
Charoen Mookhachonphan, PAD leader in Udon Thani, said the group's local chapter would gather to oppose the cabinet meeting.
He said the PAD protesters would wear black in a show of protest.
Local police will deploy from all stations to guard against possible violence, said Pol Maj-Gen Permsak Pharadornsak, the provincial police chief.
A source in the People Power party said northeastern MPs and core leaders from the ruling party were trying to make sure their supporters turn up and rally behind the embattled government.
The source said 10 MPs from the province and local officials were organising at least 20,000 people to welcome Mr Samak.
This would show that people in the provinces, particularly in the Northeast which is the largest support base of the PPP, still like the government and disagree with the continuiing antigovernment protest by the PAD, the source said.
At the same time, people in major cities in the Northeast will turn up at various sites in their respective provinces to show support for the government on that day, the source said.
A senior provincial official had tried to dissuade people in the government from holding the cabinet meeting in the province, but to no avail.
Mobile medical units will also be on standby in case of violence, the official said.
Core leaders of the pro-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) are already in the province to prepare measures to deal with PAD supporters who might turn up to disrupt the meeting.
PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang said it is up to local supporters of the alliance to decide whether to hold rallies against the government.
Sawat Theerarattananukulchai, president of the provincial chamber of commerce, said he was surprised that the private sector was not invited to attend the mobile cabinet meeting, as in the past.
Thepthai Senpong, assistant secretary-general of the Democrat party, said the mobile cabinet meeting may be a deliberate attempt by the government to mobilise supporters from the provinces and pit them against the PAD in Bangkok.
About 300 supporters of the government gathered Sunday in downtown Ubon Ratchathani in a show of support for Mr Samak and to criticise the PAD.
Chuwit Pitakpornpallop, an Ubon Ratchathani MP for the PPP, said antiPAD groups in many provinces plan to rally outside provincial halls for three days.
"If the PAD refuses to vacate Government House, supporters of the government will resort to retaliatory measures,'' Mr Chuwit said.
Bangkok Post"Information is Power "
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Re: Tension in the Northeast
I dont know much about this subject. am just starting to read more about it. seems to be building up to something big. I hope it does not get out of control. As i will be coming to thailand and even more important to the Khon kaen area. some hope it does not get to bad. We will have to see how it goes. thank for these bit of new Khon Don
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Re: Tension in the Northeast
Udon Thani people rally to show support for Govt
Some 1,000 members of a pro-government group rallied behind the Samak Sundaravej administration Monday, on the eve of a mobile Cabinet meeting to be held in the northeastern province today.
The "We Love Udon Thani" group held their rally around Udon Thani provincial hall.
Provincial police beefed up security by deploying 700 officers and said there's no worry about violence through possible clashes between pro and antigovernment supporters but some locals are afraid that wearing the wrong colour shirt could lead to being attacked, however.
The scene at the multi-purpose lawn in front of the provincial hall was filled with people as the government launched a mobile medical clinic and set up booths to offer advise about land and agriculture. Suphot Laowansiri, governor of Udon Thani said the activities provided for local people can be considered as a one stop service.
The Nation"Information is Power "
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Larry Hipps' Best Selling Bus Ministry Books! The Bring Them In Bus Director's Manual - This book points out that the success of a church's Bus Ministry depends on the Bus Director and then shows you what to do to be successful. Written by someone who has been in the Bus Ministry for years and has headed some of the largest Bus Ministries in the country.
Chapter titles include:
- The Duties of a Bus Director
- What We've Learned About the Bus Ministry is the Past 30 Years
- 52 Outlines for Your Bus Meeting
- How to Obtain and Train Workers for the Bus Ministry
- Reaching Bus Parents
- And many more!
The Bring Them In Bus Captain's Handbook - This book lists the duties of the Bus Captain, the bus driver, and all those who work on a church bus route. Easy-to-read, it is designed for volunteers with tips on how to enlist riders, what to say to parents, what to do on the bus to and from church, and includes cartoons and other items to make this little book both informative and entertaining.
This book is helpful and inexpensive - you'll want to get one of these for everyone who works on your bus/van routes.
Purchase The Bring Them In Bus Director's Manual ($10.00)
Purchase The Bring Them In Bus Pastor's Handbook ($4.00)
Read & Act Stories
This little book has 12 exciting Bible stories that you and the kids are going to love.
You simply read the stories and the children act them out. They learn Bible truths and have a ton of fun at the same time as they "perform" the humorous stories. Great for a last minute program or a spur-of-the moment lesson.
These stories are very easy to do and involve all the children - not only those who are doing the acting.
Fun, easy-to-use, and the kids learn - what more can you want! Now in a downloadable digital editions as well as print.
Just click the links below to purchases yours today!
Read & Act Stories Print
Read & Act Stories Digital


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Network Topology defines the properties and relationships between objects within a network, and can be depicted physically or logically. Physical topology visualizes actual elements and devices and their physical locations and connections within networks, while logical topology visualizes how data flows through networks, or expresses connections at different levels of detail.
Network Topology helps users plan how to design, manage, and document their networks. They can visualize connections between servers and computers, and map out the physical locations of each device. Similarly, they can also create logical mappings of the same devices to visualize the data flow between them. These topologies help users to better monitor and manage their networks. If a server were to go down, they could also navigate the topology to view affected devices, propose alternate solutions, and quickly choose the best option to rectify the problem.
To try a demonstration, click on an example below. To view instructions about how to use the demonstration, click the icon in the demonstration toolbar.


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- This event has passed.
Qigong Course
September 25 @ 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Taught by Chas Meyers, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and long-time Chi Kung practioner.
The course runs Wednesdays, Sept. 11 through Nov. 13 from noon to 1:15 pm. The 10 sessions will cost $120. Huff and Puff Qigong, aka Healing Walk will be covered in the first 15 minutes of each class, followed by Primordial Qigong, aka Hunyuan Neigong. Suitable for beginners and advanced students.
To register, please contact Chas Meyers:firstname.lastname@example.com


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Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Killer
Frontline is a popular flea and tick killer for dogs and cats and it's very effective. But the problem is, it's too effective.
The product has been known, along with many others that the EPA tested, to be fatal to some unfortunate dogs and cats tested in clinical trials. As usual, there is a spectrum of side effects so that even if your dog or cat does not immediately die, they can be changed drastically from their former happy selves.
My Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Killer Review
I tried Frontline because people I had met at dog parks recommended it along with people at PetSmart and other popular pet stores. I read the Amazon comments and saw that it was a highly rated product. I must have missed the negative reviews, because when I tried the product, I noticed some strange behavior from my beloved furry friend Printz.
Immediately my dog became lethargic, and I noticed when he was sleeping that he broke out into low grade seizures and tremors. I also felt strange myself after applying the product, becoming a bit nauseous, lightheaded, and my hands were tingling in the same way they would if I held my cell phone for an hour or 2 and looked at email or social media.
I went back and read the Amazon.com reviews and saw that yes indeed, seizures were a common side effect. I immediately stopped using the product and started looking for an alternative and natural flea and tick killer.
Diatomaceous Earth + Showers = Natural Flea and Tick Prevention
I got a DE based product like they offer at this bed bug killer website and applied it directly to the affected areas of my dog's flea infestation, which I'm reasonably certain he picked up at a local doggy daycare. I brushed the white powdery DE through several times and gave the dog a few thorough showers, and I noticed the fleas reacted aggressively and frantically, because they must have realized they weren't going to make it through the night.
All in all, using the DE was a safe method of getting rid of the fleas. I also avoided taking the dog back to the dog daycare facility where I was going regularly. One must be careful not to let your dog breathe in the DE directly, because while natural, can be harmful if breathed in too much.
Find something safe that works for you to stop fleas with your dog or cat
My final word is just be careful and look for reviews of negative reactions from other pet owners on Amazon.com when trying to find a good flea and tick killer. This way you can determine the worst case scenarios ahead of time. Many natural solutions do exist, but require a little more work. I think your best friend is worth it though, don't you?
Take care and send your hound my love. 🙂
Want to learn how to turn your love of dogs into money?
How to make money by dog sitting or dog walking, and turn it into a lucrative home business today.


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Contact Us
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To make a change to your order, contact the East Coast Wings & Grill location you ordered from and let them know. For location information, visit our locations page.
For questions or comments, contact us here. Thanks for ordering East Coast Wings & Grill!
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I thought it might be time to add some content to this blog other than just the interviews you all love that are provided! Today I asked and got a huge amount of positive responses on giving out some nutrition advice. Of course I'd love to help! Myself and my boyfriend whom I live with are huge fitness nerds. We love powerlifting even if we don't do it as much anymore but you'll always catch us at the gym 5 days a week despite busy schedules. As you know, we are gamers first. So we make the time to not just play games but be fit in our lifestyles too. Even if you aren't trying to lose weight you might find this interesting because everyone should aim to feed themselves proper nutrition.
If you just wanna read the recipes you can totally scroll down, I won't be upset.
But I want to give a little bit of a back story on my fitness journey that I'm still on.
My weight loss journey started for me seriously in 2013. I had before then tried fad diets and also something terrible, diet pills. I had tried taking ones from Cellucor brand to thermogenics like OxyElite Pro. I'd lose 5 lbs maybe tops but nothing really noticeable or long term. The reason why? I wasn't feeding my body properly. I do not recommend any kinds of supplements like these (diet pills), they are usually a gimmick or not healthy for you after extended use. Too often we all get caught up in the word diet when we should be aiming for a lifestyle change ultimately.
Rewind to 2012 though was when I got my first gym membership, I was casually there but not getting results. Again I was trying to take these terrible diet pills while attending the gym, but eating processed food and frozen foods constantly. Enough was enough when I looked at myself in early 2013 and was no longer happy with my body image. I had gone from being in my 120's around 2008 to becoming 166 lbs in 2013. Most of it was due to consumption of fast food and snacks, as well as all the Mountain Dew I could go through while playing World of Warcraft. I was up from a size 3 pants to size 10. I wanted my old body back or a better one. I ended up utilizing a friend of mine who was very intelligent to get a basic meal plan going. This was my first big step. The meal plan also listed a schedule for what workouts I'd be doing on what days. This was enough to get me started and genuinely worked long term to keep me involved.
Another thing I started doing then was drinking protein shakes. I would have one essentially mid day and one after work out. The only supplement I recommend everyone trying to be better with nutrition is a protein shake. Brands I recommend would be starting with anything Gold Standard: Optimum Nutrition. They have very reliable products. I also started taking a multi vitamin daily. If you are working out, even just cardio, getting the right amount of protein is essential. Taking protein after a workout and even adding a supplement called glutemine is also a great way to treat your body and it's recovering muscles. You can find these at any GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, or Bodybuilding.com – I highly recommend the last 2 options because they usually have the best deals.
I saw many women I admired on my Instagram feeds who I knew in real life that were strong. They were inspiration to me. Sometimes we need inspiration to help us push. I wanted to also be strong. This was a big goal of mine and motivator to hit weights. (The cool thing as a woman about weights is you won't get bulky just throwing light lifting into your routine.) You ultimately get more tone as you burn fat from doing so. This is what I started with. Day in and day out for 3 months I went 5-6 days a week to my local snap fitness. I would have a back day, chest day, leg day, arms/shoulders day, etc. Each of these days I also did my least favorite of things, cardio. Cardio is the key when combining it with weights to burn fat more quickly, especially when you do it after a good lift session. However, you burn a ton of calories just by having an effective workout with weightlifting at the gym.
I won't go on and on about my story too much before getting into my favorite easy recipes for eating healthy, but I ended up losing 38 lbs around the 5 month marker of my journey in 2013. Note that not everyone will have this drastic of a result right away but I think mine was mainly due to consistency and eating so often and healthy throughout the time. A lot of people will tell you nutrition is the biggest percent to weight loss and they are right. You need to treat your body well in order to achieve results you desire. Your body is similar to a machine running on fuel and if you give it bad fuel it won't run how you want it. So why fuel your body with the wrong foods? You also MUST drink around a gallon of water a day. This is essential to fat loss and just feeling overall better and less lethargic. Cutting out sugary beverages and going with water will make you feel better in general. Eating little bits throughout the day is also important. A handful of almonds can really help you in between meals as well as other low to no carb treats. My personal favorite are protein bars or brown rice cakes with almond butter.
Now continue years later, 2018. I've completed feats of strength I wanted such as going over 200 lbs for squats and deadlifts. During those times I was not focused anymore on weight loss but muscle mass. I definitely love muscle, and that's okay if you don't. This isn't a blog trying to convince other women or even men they need to get buff. I'm going to continue to keep pushing myself and improving form and the amount I can lift as I please. The recipes I have in this article though will be for both those looking to gain muscle and can additionally be used by those those looking to burn fat. Another key to keeping active is to find things that still motivate you. I find a lot of what motivates me now is the characters in fighting games I love. So many are strong and have beautiful muscles. I try to aim for that. Another thing is hoping I can influence my father some day. He has Multiple Sclerosis. Being overweight can be rough on someone's body when they have this. I want to see my dad live a long time and without pain. I hope that my fitness journey can show him it can be done so he can make lifestyle changes himself. What do you think would motivate you most? This is a good question to think about.
So let's get to the good eats!
We'll start out with 3 recipes that are quick to make but healthy to eat and last more than one meal also!
Jamie Eason's 3 Bean Turkey Chili –
I chose this one first because it was one of my first meals I prepped I had never made before at home. Yes, until 2013 I never made homemade chili. Jamie Eason was a face I saw often on BodyBuilding.com promoting workouts. When I saw she had a recipe for healthy chili I had to try it.
This I will link to specifically so you can have the options of altering it. I prefer to use ground chicken myself over turkey!
Romanova's Chicken Stuffed Peppers –
(Overall time to make 1 1/2 hours but gives you 4 meals)
1 Package lean ground chicken
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4 green or red peppers (preferably organic)
1 bottle of organic marinara sauce
1 eggplant
1 cup brown rice
– Cut tops off of green or red peppers and remove seeds inside.
– Bring a large half pot of water to a boil and add the four peppers
(25-30 min until soft yet still firm)
– Dice eggplant into small pieces and cook in a skillet adding salt & pepper until soft
– Place ground chicken into skillet and add cumin, garlic powder, & minced garlic
– Cook chicken through and after combine with eggplant in a mixing bowl
– Follow instructions on brown rice box or container and cook 1 cup of it
– Combine brown rice, chicken, and eggplant and mix in the majority of marinara jar
– Stuff mixture inside each of the 4 peppers and place them in a pan to bake
– Set oven to 350° F and top your pepper with a little marinara before putting in oven
– Bake for 20 minutes and voila, beautiful stuffed peppers ready to be devoured!
Estimated Calories: 250
Estimated Protein: 25g
Estimated Fat: 7g
Estimated Carbohydrate: 25g
(Serving size is one stuffed pepper)
This is a great meal for those who are active or not. An example I can give are from my own macros and you can gauge your own. I'm supposed to have around 100g of carbs on an active day and 50g on a non active for myself who's a 142 lb woman that lifts and has a decent amount of muscle. This is a great lunch healthy lunch for anyone!
Healthy (high protein) Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese –
This is a recipe that isn't FAST but is EASY with little work and a lot of flavor.
You will need a crock pot for this one! You will also need a deep but medium sized cooking pan for the oven to bake your mac in.
1 package fresh boneless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 bottle Mr. Spice Organic Salt Free Hot Wing! Sauce, 10.5 Fluid (low sodium!!!!)
1 box Banza! chickpea shells (extra protein deliciousness!)
2 cups low fat mild cheddar cheese
– Cook chicken in crock-pot combined with salt, pepper, and hot wing sauce
(Cook this for 8 hours on low settings)
– For noodles, bring water too a boil in pot and place in shells
(Cook time 7-8 minutes)
– Use olive oil or olive oil cooking spray to grease your pan or foil liner
– Place a layer of shells on the pan with 1/2 cheese spread on top
– Shred crock-pot chicken and place a layer of it on top of the noodles and cheese
– Repeat this again (you should have enough of it for 2 layers of each and end with noodles on the top.
– Put the remaining cheese on top
– Bake for 30 minutes
Estimated Calories: 400
Estimated Protein: 32.5g
Estimated Fat: 16g
Estimated Carbohydrate: 35g
(Split into 4 servings for the estimates above!)
Simple and delicious. Add gluten free crumbs to top if you are allowed to have extra carbs for this meal. If not eating without is still delicious.
If you enjoy what is posted here so far I'll try to do more of these specifically just with the recipes. There are many others I love and that are easy to prep including snacks. Good luck to everyone trying to make the journey to healthier nutrition.


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Customer Success Manager
Metal Networks is seeking a Customer Success Manager to help deliver successful implementation and support of our clients. This position will be responsible for managing the relationship and engaging with our clients using our Seller, Procurement and GMEX software platforms.
Location: Austin, TX
Who We Are
We launched in 2013, out of the SURGE Accelerator in Houston, TX and raised a $5 M Series A in November 2014, backed by S3 Ventures of Austin, TX. We're currently focused on building a long term foundation for Metal Networks.
Our leadership team has many years of experience in the metal industry and are leading us with the mission to revolutionize the way companies buy and sell metal. We have a product that customers love and can't wait to see what's next. We're set out to build something truly great and are in this for the long haul.
Above all, we're seeking individuals who are hungry to do the best work of their lives, and you'll be amply rewarded for the work you do. If you like solving big problems in big industries and the chance to build a significant and meaningful company, then we'd like to speak with you!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Project Management (50%)
- Accountable and responsible for the end-to-end delivery of application technology solutions in line with business objectives and customer needs
- Ensures that the business needs are clearly understood and the technology implemented meets the needs and expectations of the business and customers
- Oversees product planning, delivery, release management, and deployment to ensure customer technology standards, business and customer needs are met
- Organizes, convenes and documents regular client and internal project team meetings throughout implementation and post Go-Live
- Creates work orders for add-on services to meet clients' expectations; manages drafting of Statements of Work & timely creation of invoices for completed efforts
- Produces a detailed project plan to match customer requirements
- Motivates and leads project delivery teams and instills a mindset of continuous process improvement
- Creates and ensures standards, procedures, and methodologies in the delivery life cycle are followed
- Other duties as assigned
Client Relations (30%)
- Collaborates with Sales team members to effectively manage the client relationship post-sale
- Serves as the main driver of client relationship and project communication in the implementation and user acceptance phases of the customer lifecycle
- Develops and maintains professional, constructive relationships with clients
- Responds to clients in a timely and attentive manner
- Participates in user acceptance testing efforts as needed
Other duties as assigned
Training (20%)
- Provides product-related training to new and existing clients
- Provides recommendation to clients of best business practices and/or industry standards
- Provides new product and feature training to all internal users & departments
- Participates in user training efforts
- Other duties as assigned
- 3-5 years experience in a Success/Engagement/Project Management role
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to interact with SVP level sponsors
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills
- Working knowledge of project management methodologies and software (i.e. JIRA Agile, Aha.io)
- Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines
- Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse staff and clients in a fast-paced environment
- Proficient PC Skills; including working knowledge of Microsoft Office products
- Ability to adjust communications to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Bachelor's degree in a related field
- Experience implementing SaaS software applications and solutions
- Experience working with customers or business partners within an industrial sector
- Experience with Salesforce, Atlassian JIRA, Atlassian Service Desk, Zendesk, Desk.com, etc.
- Ability to travel minimally required, up to 25%.
Nice to Have
- Advanced degree in a related field
- Experience interfacing with external software design and development vendors
- Familiarity with or proficiency in programming language(s)
- Understanding of databases and SQL
Qualities and Values
- Results oriented
- Drive to excellence
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability
- Team player
- Winning attitude


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15 Peaceful Frontiers between Europe Countries Are Vanishing Slowly
May 8, 2016 | EUROPE | No Comments|
Normally the borders between two countries are the hot point where clashes can erupt easily. It has been a tough year with the southern Europe migrant crisis with more than a million refugees turning the frontiers of the countries into chaotic zone of dispute. But now Europe does not allow any clash to erupt again at the frontiers. Valerio Vincenzo a Netherlands-based photographer decided to make a photo series that he named it ""Borderline, the Frontiers of Peace". In this series he wants to show that the borders that used to be a violent zone now is a friendly places.
More info: valeriovincenzo.com (h/t: boredpanda)/demilked


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Black Rat show 4th. of February, 2014 presented the collection "Mitt Oslo", consisting mainly variations in sweaters, shirts, jackets vests and coats. In the color range from white through tones of grey to black.
Band playing live through the show:
Vegard Bleken
Tomorrow We Move To Hawaii
Photos: Steven Stieng for Oslo Trend
Makeup: Marthe Gilleboe
Hair: Peder Wallentin + Adam & Eva crew
Models: Joao Friezas, Julie Aida Graf, Sam Egthedari, Ksenia Jensen, Mathias Stav, Gry Løvlien, Ragna Solbergnes
Location: BLÅ Oslo
Date: 4th of February, 2014


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2009 Influenza A virus (H1N1 Swine Flu)
- 18,129 cases
- 119 deaths
- 0.65% fatality
2002/3 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- 8, 273 cases
- 775 deaths
- 9.3% fatality
2003 – 2009 Avian Influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu)
- 431 cases
- 262 deaths
- 61% fatality
Above are 3 global epidemics that hit us in recent years. Looking at the numbers, the fatality rate of H1N1 seems rather laughable compared to SARS and Bird Flu and noted to be only slightly higher than seasonal flu. In addition to the fact that H1N1 can be treated with a regime of commercial anti-virals such as Tamiflu and Relenza, like many I start to wonder if we're all paranoid or under misdirection by some cleverly weaved PR to take our attention away from the economic crisis or something.
So the pondering let to some Googling and Wikipedia work which cumulated to this entry. I think the most important factor we need to look at is the timeline, where SARS and Bird Flu took its toll over the course of a few years, there are already 18 thousand cases of Swine Flu in just 2 and half months if we take the first case to be on 18 March.
Further reading gives me greater concern. The elderly, the young and those with underlying medical conditions are particular susceptible; it also causes complications in pregnancy such as "spontaneous abortion and premature rupture of membranes".
While the global death toll seems to have stabilised, the number of cases has recently spiked so we can't be complacent. As said in a previous entry, I'm not trying to create panic but highlight the dense population of Singapore makes it a good candidate for any potential virus outbreak so we can't let our guard down yet. Practice good hygiene, seek medical attention if you're unwell, take preventive measures.


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"Brothers, do not grow weary in doing good"
2 Thessalonians 3:13
I am doing something beginning this coming Monday morning that will most likely go unnoticed by most of the people in my sphere of influence. Most people will not notice that I will be taking a complete break from ministry for two straight weeks. I mean, it is only two weeks. For 99.99% of our church, this will not be a big deal. However, since I have not done anything like this before, there will always be those who think something is wrong. Why else would a pastor take time off, right? The only time you ever seem to hear about pastors is when something is going wrong in their lives. Well, not this time. It is actually because things are going so well that I am going to begin adding scheduled times away from ministry. These two weeks are the beginning of something I am going to do every Summer and throughout the year as a way to rest, get refreshed, plan for the future, and celebrate the journey.
The statistics of ministry are staggering and heart breaking. There are too many ministers who are quitting and forgetting why they started in ministry to begin with. The reason for this, in my opinion, is because they became so tired that they simply quit rather than resting and recovering. This will not be me. My goal is to finish strong and that means rest must happen. Here are some ministry statistics.
*53 % are often concerned about their family's financial security
48 % often feel the demands of ministry are more than they can handle
21 % say their church has unrealistic expectations of them
77% of the pastors we surveyed felt they did not have a good marriage.
75% of the pastors we surveyed felt they were unqualified and/or poorly trained by their seminaries to lead and manage the church or to counsel others. This left them disheartened in their ability to pastor.
72% of the pastors we surveyed stated that they only studied the Bible when they were preparing for sermons or lessons.
38% of pastors said they were divorced or currently in a divorce process.
30% said they had either been in an ongoing affair or a one-time sexual encounter with a parishioner.
90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. Many pastor's children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents.
95% of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses.
33% state that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
75% report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.
90% feel they are inadequately trained to cope with the ministry demands.
80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged as role of pastors.
90% of pastors said the ministry was completely different from what they thought it would be like before they entered the ministry.
50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
70% say they have a lower self-image now than when they first started.
70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
33% confess having involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church.
50% of pastors feel so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
70% of pastors feel grossly underpaid.
50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years.
1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
94% of clergy families feel the pressures of the pastor's ministry.
80% of spouses feel the pastor is overworked.
80% spouses feel left out and under appreciated by church members.
80% of pastors' spouses wish their spouse would choose a different profession.
66% of church members expect a minister and family to live at a higher moral standard than themselves.
The profession of "Pastor" is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above "car salesman".
4,000 new churches begin each year and 7,000 churches close.
Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month , many without cause.
Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.
*Disclaimer– The purpose behind giving you these is just to say that the office of a pastor is not an easy lifestyle. I am NOT saying that many or even most of these apply to me directly. However, I will say that some are pretty close to home.
- A pastor has emotional highs and lows unlike most other vocations. In the course of a day, a pastor can deal with death, deep spiritual issues, great encouragement, petty criticisms, tragedies, illnesses, and celebrations of birth. The emotional roller coaster is draining. Your pastor needs a break—many times a break with no distractions.
- A pastor is on 24-hour call. Most pastors don't have an "off" switch. They go to sleep with the knowledge they could be awakened by a phone call at anytime of the day. Vacations are rarely uninterrupted. It can be an exhausting vocation, and a sabbatical can be a welcome time to slow down.
- Pastors need time of uninterrupted study. It doesn't usually happen in the study at church or home. There is always the crisis or need of the moment. Church members expect sermons that reflect much prayer and study. The pastor's schedule often works against that ideal. The sabbatical can offer much needed, and uninterrupted, study time.
- Pastors who have time off have longer tenure at churches. Though my information is anecdotal, I do see the trend. And while I cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, I feel confident that pastors who have sabbaticals are much more likely to stay at a church because they are less likely to experience burnout.
- Pastors who have time off view the time off as an affirmation from their churches. I have heard from many pastors who share with me a sentence similar to this one: "I know my church loves me because they give me time off." Pastors need affirmation. Time off can accomplish that goal.
So, it's because I love what I do and the people I serve that periods of time away from the weekly grind and the weekend responsibilities will be happening more and more. My goal will be to take time off during the year and to have one time of at least two to three weeks off during the summer so I can be one of the blessed few who finish well. There are still so many more years to come. I plan to get there with my health, family, and church still tact.


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Gardening at The TowersCumbria, Cumbria
At-a-glance details
- Dates19 October 2019 to 26 October 2019
- Holiday typeHand picked
- AvailabilityLimited places
- Activity type Gardening
- Cost£210
- Physicality6
- Holiday code19JHW247
- AccommodationMillbeck Towers
About Gardening at The TowersHelp restore the gardens at Millbeck Towers to their former glory.
We are once again running a working holiday concentrating on the continued restoration of the huge garden at Millbeck Towers holiday cottage. Continuing to work to the ten-year plan, we hope to restore the gardens to their former glory for all to enjoy.
About the accommodation
This intriguing property, formerly an eighteenth-century carding mill, has wonderful spacious rooms, most of them enjoying spectacular views of the northern Lakes. It stands in the small hamlet of Millbeck close to Keswick. There is a large rambling garden to the rear with its fenced pond, numerous streams and a large flat open area that is ideal for games. The house allows direct access to the Skiddaw range, much admired by the famous Alfred Wainwright, with its good paths allowing easy navigation and fine views across the Vale of Keswick.
Notes for guests
A standard kit list can be found on our Essential Information page.
Enquire and book
Call 0344 800 3099
Opening times
Monday to Friday: 9am to 9pm
Saturday: 9am to 7pm
Sunday: 9am to 1pm
We are also open 9am to 5pm on bank holidays.
Gardening at The TowersCumbria, Cumbria
Similar working holidays
Gardening at The Towers
Help restore the gardens at Millbeck Towers to their former glory.
Spring in the kitchen and walled gardens
Prepare the farmhouse kitchen garden for spring planting and help propagate some of our lovely ornamental plants.
Putting the garden to bed
Enjoy the autumn colours working in the picturesque garden of Arlington Court.


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Noah Smith comments on John Cochrane. Noah updates to consider Steve´s comments:
Steve also has a post responding to mine. Particularly interesting is the argument that Volcker's rate hikes in the early 1980s actually made the inflation situation worse, and that it was his subsequent rate cuts that actually whipped inflation. I'm probably more open to that story than most people, but I think there are a number of things about it that are very fishy, e.g. the fact that inflation started going down after the rate hikes instead of rising further.
A clear indication that interest rates do not define the stance of monetary policy! What really went on is described in the charts below.
In the top chart you, like Steve, see that inflation is going up while the FF rate is climbing and coming down when the FF rate is falling ("kudos" for "neo fischerism").
The bottom chart shows that in fact monetary policy (NGDP growth) is guiding inflation. Rising interest rates do not mean monetary policy is tightening. Rising NGDP growth is telling us that monetary policy is "easy"! Then, the "inflation expectations-changing recession" came along, associated with the steep fall in NGDP growth. If you look at interest rates, you could believe monetary policy was getting "easier"!
The final charts show the behavior of ten-year inflation expectations (only available from January 1982). It tumbles when NGDP growth is forcefully restrained. Note how inflation expectations briefly (and mistakenly) rise when the Fed steps on the "spending pedal" to get the economy back up, as reflected in the drop in the unemployment rate! This sort of "spending spike" is what didn´t happen after the 2008 NGDP dive, leaving the real economy in a "depressed state"!


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Join me on a journey of discovery as I explore the secret life of the Marbled Murrelet, an endangered seabird that depends on the contested old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest for its survival.
In this work of narrative nonfiction, I trace reports of the bird back to Captain Cook's ill-fated voyage of discovery on the Pacific Ocean in 1778, and explore the mindset of 19th and 20th-century naturalists who, despite their best efforts, failed to piece together clues about the whereabouts of the bird's nest for 185 years.
Part naturalist detective story, part environmental inquiry, this vibrant narrative follows the improbable trail from the hallowed halls of the Smithsonian Institute to the foggy coastal environs of Redwood National Park.
First published in 2005, this 2013 Mountaineers Book reissue features an updated epilogue, a full index, and a list of ways you can help protect the murrelet, the oceans where it swims, and the coastal forest where it nests.
Read an excerpt from Rare Bird Listen to an interview with Maria on NPR
Rare Bird is available online through Mountaineers Books, at brick-and-mortar indie Browsers Bookshop and Orca Books in Olympia, WA; other indie, chain, and online booksellers.
"Heartfelt and thoughtful, inspired and well-written...It will transport you into a world you didn't realize existed." -- Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and Eye of the Albatross
"The story of the discovery of the nest is alone worth the price of the book." -- Booklist
"Fine nature writing, good science, and compelling historical anecdotes spanning the time of Captain Cook to contemporary naturalists, loggers, and fishermen combine in an engaging narrative. Strongly recommended." -- Library Journal
"Ruth's details of the hunt for bits of information about the bird from dissecting specimens to counting birdcalls in the predawn light provide rare insight into the trials and joys of scientific discovery." -- Publishers Weekly
To read all the reviews click here.
Why I wrote Rare Bird:
From the moment I first encountered the marbled murrelet on the Internet in 1999, I felt compelled to learn about its strange life and tell its extraordinary story. I knew little about birds and even less about seabirds, but I couldn't resist the call of this chunky, endearing little seabird invariably described as "mysterious", "elusive", "secretive", and "endangered", and its breeding habitat as "ancient", "magnificent", and "threatened". And, I couldn't resist the call of my Muse to tell a never-before-told story.
I moved my family from Virginia to California in 2001 so that I could dedicate myself fulltime to the research and writing of Rare Bird. The more I learned about this bird and the threats it faced from logging, urbanization, oil spills, and gillnet fishing made me panic. I had to help save this bird. Though the murrelet is on lists of threatened and endangered species in most of its range, the protections have yet to stabilize or recover its rapidly dwindling population.
Most of what is known about the marbled murrelet is bound up in scientific journals, not in popular nature magazines or books. I wanted to share the stories of the marbled murrelet beyond the scientific community and to raise public awareness of its plight. I spent five years in the field, at libraries, seabird conferences, and at the computer researching and writing Rare Bird, which was published in hardback in 2005.
In 2009, author Christopher Cokinos published a beautiful and haunting book called Hope is the Thing with Feathers, which chronicles the sad histories of five extinct birds including The great auk, a relative of the marbled murrelet. Here is the last line of the book, "I have learned much from this history and have realized, finally, that sadness at loss is our best first response. It should not be our only response. We know the world gives us life, beauty and solace. We would be ungrateful if we failed to give that back."
Rare Bird is a small gesture of my profound gratitude. But gratitude and hope need to be accompanied by action. There is much to do to help this bird. The 2013 reissue of Rare Bird by Mountaineers Books in paperback has allowed me to be a stronger advocate for conservation of the murrelet and its habitat, especially in Washington.


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Prayer is an important part of life no matter what faith we profess or what walk of life we are in. As Christians and Catholics we are called upon to pray daily following the example of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. He himself, as is found in Sacred Scripture, prayed often in the synagogue and also went off on his own to pray to God the Father. The prayer which he left us – the Our Father or the Lord's Prayer – is probably the best known prayer around the world. We are called upon to begin and end our day with prayer to God. These prayers need not be long and lavish but may be quite simple taking but a couple of minutes of our time. They may also be quite personal and in our own words rather than having to recite prayers which we have learned. The choice is ours but the important thing is that we pray.
In the links below there are various prayers given as aids to those who may seek them. It is far from an exhaustive list but may be of use to you or to somebody you know.
The Holy Father's Intentions for the month of November 2019
Universal: That a spirit of dialogue, encounter, and reconciliation emerge in the Near East, where diverse religious communities share their lives together.
The Holy Father will also add a second intention relating to current events or urgent needs.
Reflections on the Daily Readings used at Mass
At Mass every day we listen to readings taken from Sacred Scripture. Every week, reflections on these readings are added to this website so that those who hear and who read the passages each day may - in a small way - be able to better appreciate and understand the Word of God.
- The Stations of the Cross with Reflections, given in Terenure College on Good Friday, 2013.
- The Scapular - to receive a free Scapular, please email Bro Elias
See also...
- Reflections on the Rosary by Christopher O'Donnell, O.Carm.
- Living Prayer: Thoughts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Eltin Griffin, O.Carm.
- "Meditating Day and Night - Keeping Vigil in Prayer" by Carlos Mesters, O.Carm.
- With the Word of God - Lectio Divina by Jude Groden, RSM and Christopher O'Donnell, O.Carm.
- The Liturgy of the Hours - The Prayer of the Church
Lectio Divina
- Lectio Divina on the Sunday Gospels - Curia Website
Would you like us to pray for you?
The Carmelites are committed to praying at particular times each day and to attending the Eucharist. At these times they remember those who asked for prayers and those who have died as well as the needs of the local community and the universal Church. If you have a particular prayer intention and would liked to be remembered in our prayers please feel free to email Bro. Elias (email@example.com) with the words 'Prayer Request' in the subject line.


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Skydive over New Zealand's largest and most picturesque lake.
Skydive Taupo prides itself on its high level of customer service and satisfaction. We have packages to suit all budgets and are able to offer both handycam and freefall camera options, both of whic...Book Now
Journey high above the spectacular Lake Taupo region with views of snow-capped volcanoes and pristine coastline. Skydive from as high as 15,000 feet with over one minute in freefall, reaching speeds i...Book Now