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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Visiting the Oracle @ San Juan Island
Ripping the white caps off skyward reaching waves - hurling them across my bow –slapping the side of my face
"Hold on Fred!" I screamed, but the contrary wind outshouted me.
"It's cold." He mumbled, almost lackadaisically.
"Hold on Fred!" I screamed again. "Don't give up!"
"It's cold." He pouted. "I'm tired." His pale clenched knuckles relaxed a bit. No color returned to the skin.
"Don't you let go!" I shouted.
But he let go. My kayak, un-burdened, leaped away.
Waves jumped in-between us.
"It's O.K." he said, "I'm tired."
He disappeared behind a swell, popped up once or twice like a shooting gallery duck, then feebly waved goodbye.
"We've got to get Fred!" I screamed for Troy, but turned in time to see a flash of red beneath the emerald surface, his Pungo turned submarine, and Troy invisible. Suddenly a sucker punch from a hydraulic fist, I go down easy into the quiet cold water and gasp for breath where there is no air.
On that dreary coast, I waited for 100 years (or so it seemed), wandering the banks, and waiting for passage to some other realm (the psychopomps kept asking me if I had an obolus. "Look," I said, "If you're such great guides, why didn't you tell me I needed an obolus before I got here?) I was sad for myself that Fred and Troy were not there to keep me company, but I had an intuition that they must be in a better place (Well, at least Fred).
"It's just a useful metaphor," the ferryman said evenly, my projected anger flowing around and away from him like water off a duck. "You can get on now – or not – it's up to you." he added.
The ferry was ancient, but undeniably powerful. Its great mass shuddered as it pulled away from the dock.
The throbbing of the diesel-electric engines soon became an almost subliminal vibration as the ferry quickly attained cruising speed. It was a very detailed metaphor.
I didn't have a map and I wasn't sure how long the journey would last. Considering the circumstances, I would have thought the ferry would be much more crowded. I paced the length of the cabin, looking for a familiar face, but didn't find any. "Has anybody seen Imaginary Jesus by any chance?" I asked a small cluster of shades. They just looked at me with thinly disguised humor. It was the wrong metaphor I guessed. I thought hard. "O.K., has anyone seen Persephone? At that name, all the shades quickly turned away pretending they hadn't heard. Even I could tell I'd committed some serious faux pas. "Well have a nice day." I offered as dark gloomy fog swirled outside the windows.
Finally we arrived at the other shore. "Is this heaven?" I asked.
"No." said a baby seal floating in formaldehyde.
"Welcome to Friday Harbor." said a friendly whale skeleton, offering me its flipper.
I was a little disorientated. Transported to the western margin of the earth, encircled by the Ocean's streams, I didn't expect to walk the Elysian Fields.
"…Where soothing breezes off the Ocean
Breathe over the Isle of the Blessed:
All around flowers are blazing with a
Dazzling light…"
Pindar (Ancient Greek Poet)
But not all the omens were good. Shades of would-be heroes set sail from DEADMAN Bay in titanic tandem kayaks – kayaks thought to be unsinkable.
I came to rest at San Juan County Park.
I launched my kayak from SMALLPOX Bay. The story goes that Indians, suffering the terrible (likely fatal) fever of smallpox would seek respite in the icy water of the bay, and eventually die from pneumonia instead. It wasn't a very auspicious tale with which to begin an odyssey.
Did I mention icy water?
Smallpox Bay empties out into Haro Strait, a great six mile wide channel that approaches 1,356 feet in depth. Deep running currents of Arctic water collide with the cliffs of the San Juan archipelago causing an upwelling that brings an abundance of nutrients towards the surface. It is part of a vast circulatory system that fuels the food chain from krill to killer whales.
On the horizon, I could barely see the Garden of Hesperides or maybe it was Vancouver B.C. (It's one or the other.) It finally started to occur to me that I was paddling on the ocean. I thought back to Miller Island and the half mile of Columbia River channel that proved to be something of a challenge under brisk winds. I remembered how Fred was in the water for close to an hour.
While the Haro Strait isn't a river, the gardens of kelp between me and the shore gave testimony (as sure as a weather vane's) that virtual rivers were flowing beneath the surface – rivers that were somewhat capricious regarding which direction they intended to go. My imagination began to work and I wondered how long it would take me to get back into my kayak if I tipped over. Failing to get into the kayak, how long would it take to swim it to shore? What if the tide became a factor? Faced with these questions and a gently rising breeze, I subtly began angling closer to shore. Long trailing leaves from floating kelp bulbs entangled my paddle and broke my rhythm. How hard would it be to swim through this crap?
I patrolled the water between Lime Kiln Point and San Juan County Park, but didn't cross paths with any whales.
I made it back to Smallpox Bay before sunset.
(I noted that other kayakers were equipped with drysuits.)
I sought wisdom. Athena's owl sent me to seek answers from the oracle at a kayak shop in Friday Harbor.
I asked the oracle, "Suppose someone falls out of their kayak without a dry-suit," I paused, "How long before such a hypothetical person would be impaired?"
The oracle said, "About ten minutes -" he said it quickly like he didn't have to think about it, but then he eyed the protective blubbery coat around my midsection and added, "- you, maybe fifteen to twenty minutes."
Those oracles don't miss much.
"Ten minutes!" I was horrified. But the oracle didn't change his story. "So, with your guided kayak tours, do you put everybody in a dry-suit?"
"No," he answered, "but the guides wear them and they are very experienced. If someone tips over, we get them back in the kayak very quickly."
Suddenly I realized that while I'd become quite an old hand at tipping over in my canoe, I'd never actually tipped over in my kayak – that is, I hadn't the vaguest notion of how long it would take me to get back in it – hell, I had no practical basis for determining how long it would take me to get out. The blood drained from my face. I said, "I don't think I have the experience to be out in the ocean by myself."
And the oracle didn't disagree.
I guess I am a big fat chicken because I scaled back my ambitious island hopping plans and spent some time familiarizing myself with San Juan Island and its history.
I learned that an American farmer killed a British Pig for eating the American potatoes he planted on land which the British figured didn't belong to him which almost became an excuse for a war to decide who would get to keep San Juan Island.
I learned a soldier named Robert supervised the construction of fortifications at this strategic point (vulnerable to British warships from two sides).
They named this rock for him. Not satisfied with this apparent accomplishment, Robert went on to write Robert's Rules of Order.
Also, someone figured out how to take advantage of exceptionally pure limestone deposits on the island. They built giant three story kilns and fired them up to temperatures well over a thousand degrees. Then they quarried limestone and broke it into eight inch chunks (approximately) and dumped the small stones into the tops of the kilns, and waited…
…for pure lime to come out here.
Over a hundred years later, the old quarry sites are still unstable.
Slowly, nature works to heal the scars.
Discarded lime still stains portions of the coast.
It was while I was surveying the nature and extent of the lime scars, that I heard an explosive noise like a tire popping…
…which alerted me to the whale parade.
It turns out that the folks in the San Juan Islands are very protective of their whales. If you see them (the whales), you're supposed to stay at least 100 yards away. You also can't follow them and you better not be in front of them either. If you look at them you have to apologize and then sign documents promising not to tell anyone you saw anything.
The oracle told me of some areas that were relatively safe from tidal currents and which, because of the prevailing direction of the wind, would likely allow me to be blown back to shore (rather than out to sea) if the weather started acting up.
Mostly, tooling around in protected bays was much like taking a real estate tour…
…except for when Cerberus, the three headed seal, briefly contemplated tipping me over.
When rainclouds settled in, I took it as an omen that it was time to bargain with the ferryman and see if I could talk him into returning me to the world I had briefly left behind.


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Today marks Wasps' first Heineken Cup game of the season. They are at home to the French club, Castres Olympique. Both Wasps and Castres Olympique have had a bad start to the season.
Wasps have played in two competitions. They played Gloucester (away) in the Anglo Welsh competition and lost. In the Guinness Premiership, Wasps have only had one victory. Satisfyingly, that was away at Leicester.
In their respective leagues, Wasps are currently 10th (from 12). Castres Olympique are 13th from 14.
So, from Wasps point of view, this looks like a good match to start with - the teams are on similar form, and the French sides traditionally view the H-cup (as they call it) with less importance than their domestic competition. Josh Lewsey and Danny Cipriani had a spat on the training field this week, which was much publicised - as a result I'm hoping that these two especially will want to show that things are, not 'business as usual', but back to the form of previous seasons.
The team will want to produce a good performance on the field, not just because the club sees the Heineken Cup as an important competition, but to raise morale prior to the return of the premiership.
I for one will be shouting myself hoarse! Edinburgh and Leinster are also in Pool 2. Edinburgh lost to Leinster 16-27 on friday. Next week, Wasps are away to Leinster. That'll be a tough match for Wasps...
Leinster are currently 4th from 10 in the Magners League. Edinburgh are 9th.
Rugby Competition Primer
- The Guinness Premiership is the top division in England, the bottom team of the premiership is relegated (assuming that the top team in National Division One is eligible for promotion).
- The Magners League contains Welsh, Scottish and Irish teams. There is no relegation - which I think is a bad thing in the long term as there is no jeopardy.
- The Anglo Welsh competition is a cup competition. There are pools, and every team plays the other teams in the pools once. As a result, some teams will play more home games and as such get an advantage. The winners of the pools enter a knockout competition.
- Heineken Cup is the European competition. As well as the Home Nations of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it includes teams from France and Italy. Currently there are six pools. The top teams in each pool plus the two best second place teams go through to a knockout competition. Personally, I think this structure is rather poor - an average second team in an 'easy group' might go through in preference due to a very good team being in a 'group of death'. That said, it's also the fan's favourite (although the premiership is more important - get relegated or do badly and the other competitions start to go away...)
Update: As of 10:40am. Wasps are the 1/12 favourite. Castres are quoted as 13/2 against. A draw is listed as 25/1.

subset: commoncrawl


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We meet the first Tuesday of every month and welcome all in the community to join us to talk about current campaigns, road challenges, and upcoming cycling events.


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Susquehanna Nuclear plant, owned by Allentown, PA-based Talen Energy Corp., received a federal notice of violation for its timetable to declare an emergency in the event of one particular kind of failure in the reactor coolant system.
The coolant system at the Susquehanna plant did not fail, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said the potential was there for an incident where "the public could have been placed at a greater risk."
NE Nuke Fires Back Up
NY Nuke Shuts Down Again
MA Nuke Valve Failures Preventable: NRC
Turbine Trip Shuts MN Nuke
Talen said it already addressed the issue, which related to procedure and training, company spokesman Todd Martin said.
"There was no actual loss of reactor coolant," said commission spokesman Neil Sheehan. "Susquehanna will be subjected to an NRC team inspection to review the company's root cause evaluation and any corrective actions."
The notice of violation follows a preliminary finding issued by the NRC on May 15 of low-to-moderate safety significance, or white on the commission's ranking system.
"When the preliminary white finding was issued, we immediately took action to address procedure and training," Martin said. "The public wellbeing, the public safety was not impacted. This is a potential scenario and we recognize the importance of this."
At issue was Susquehanna Nuclear's interpretation of NRC regulations for its dual-reactor Susquehanna Steam Electric Station in Salem Township, Luzerne County, about seven miles north of Berwick, Pennsylvania, and about 50 miles northwest of Allentown.
Commission rules require "the capability to assess, classify and declare an emergency condition" within 15 minutes of learning "that an emergency action level has been exceeded."
"The preliminary finding relates to one specific accident type – a primary coolant system leak outside primary containment, and inside the secondary containment," NRC records said. "The performance deficiency was not noted in any other accident scenario."
Susquehanna Nuclear had been interpreting the rule to start that 15-minute clock "when operator actions were, or expected to be, unsuccessful in isolating" the leak, records said.
"They are relating this to a potential scenario and in actuality this has not taken place in the operating history of the Susquehanna station," Martin said, adding later: "Safety is the No. 1 priority for every single employee at the Susquehanna station."
The Susquehanna plant's Unit 1 and Unit 2 reactors began commercial operation in 1983 and 1985, respectively, and have licenses to operate into 2042 and 2044, respectively. They are General Electric Co. boiling water reactors generating a combined maximum 2,600 megawatts of electricity.


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The regulation applies from 25th May 2018, and will apply even after the UK leaves the EU. Please click here for more GDPR information.
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The mean earnings for GPs working in Haverthwaite Surgery in the finacial year ended 31st March 2018 was £34,728 before deduction of employee's superannuation contributions, tax and National Insurance. This is the average pay for the 2 part-time GPs and 1 GP locum who worked in the practice for more than 6 months during that year.
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Shannon O'Callaghan.
Business Development Executive
Shannon O'Callaghan brings over 20 years of management experience to Commersphere. Extensive knowledge in the trade/consumer show industry lead to her current position where she continues to provide clients with superior assistance helping them get to the next level with Commersphere's networking platforms. Shannon is passionate about the needs and goals of clients and takes pride in her ability to help develop business strategies for the continued growth and success of trade shows, consumer shows and corporate events. She is also a Certified Association Executive with the Canadian Society of Association Executives. On a personal note Shannon stays connected to her local community by volunteering for various organizations including the Tim's Tribute Charity.


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The Full 90
On Second Thought: It was deja vu all over again
While the 4-1 thrashing Kansas City put on New England last weekend will probably be remembered for its unlikely hero (Birahim Diop), there's likely something that will get lost to time that was possibly a bit more important. Something that seemed so familiar at the time and has seemed so much more evident as the week has progressed.
The New England Revolution gave up their shot to win the game before the referee blew the whistle.
I'll use Peter Vermes' post-game quote to explain.
"What I was shocked about was that they went to a 3-5-2. I was not expecting that. I think it played to our favor, though."
The 3-5-2. Can anyone recall off the top of their head what happened the last time an opposing team was naive enough to field a 3-5-2 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark?
Give yourself a bonus blog point if you said something along the lines of "Kansas City won the game in a goal avalanche that had many fans hoisting the MLS Cup." Give yourself another bonus blog point if you remembered correctly that it was this year when D.C. United was in town to open the season
Which is why Saturday's game felt so familiar. New England and D.C. United had an idea they thought would work: Boss the midfield, negate the pressure. Of course, United had no idea what they were in for pressure-wise really.
The results were both the same: 4 goal wins by KC. (Oddly enough, both games featured 70th minute goals by Jack Jewsbury. His only two goals on the year by the by.)
On the surface, employing a three-man defensive line and a five-man midfield seems like a great idea on the small-ish pitch of the CAB. Of course, you can say the same thing about the trailers for every M. Night Shyamalan movie.
The truth is, if you try to "own" the midfield against a high-pressure team used to playing on a small-ish field and only leave three guys back to cover, you're going to get sliced open by a player who hadn't started a game in MLS in over 8 years.
The Wizards like to establish a high-line of confrontation with other teams, often having pests like Davy Arnaud and Stephane Auvray getting up close and personal with the other team's main supplier in the midfielder. To counter this pressure, teams will often attempt to push the play up further and draw KC into their own half. This makes a lot of sense; after all, you'd rather be hassled in the opposing half of the field than your own.
But... That's a trap. If the Wizards can suck all five midfielders into the attacking third (which they did) a quick diagonal ball or a trailing inside run can slice open the meager three men left in front of the keeper (which they did).**With four guys out back a team can at least retain a sturdy defensive shape -- in a 4-4-2, if the fullbacks push up, the defensive midfielder will stay home usually. With just three guys on a narrow-looking field, and a defensive midfielder like Shalrie Joseph pushed up to try and break the pressure, the diagonal ball across the field and the trailing run behind the inside defender on the counter are both in play.
Diop's first goal was a trailing run behind the inside defender. The third goal, Diop to Kei Kamara, was a combination of those two moves.
Unfortunately, there aren't many other teams that employ a three-man backfield. And, after this weekend's showing, there aren't likely to be many teams that field that formation in Kansas City again for a long time.
It's a shame too. Forty percent of the Wizards goals this season have come against that formation.
Actually, on second though, that's sort of depressing.


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K Swiss X CoCo & Breezy
Neon Fix
Behind the scenes at our shoot with CoCo & Breezy this past Tuesday for K Swiss Entrepreneurs Campaign. Makeup by Jhenelle Hill ( Jhenelle Neon) of Neonfix. A Vayard Media Production. Scroll down for more photos & video footage of the exclusive shoot!!!


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Apple and Tesla at Trump Tower
Here's the context: "After Wednesday's meeting, Mr. Cook of Apple and Mr. Musk of Tesla stayed at Trump Tower to meet privately with Mr. Trump." It's a small detail but the Wall Street Journal has it and none of its rivals, either by omission, commission or lack of access, does.
At the start of yesterday's meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, the "tech titans" introduced themselves individually in a breaking-the-ice ceremony. "Larry Page, Alphabet and Google, probably the youngest company here," said Larry Page.
Donald Trump: "Looks like the youngest person." [Laughs]
Mr. Page: "Really excited to be here."
Larry Page is 43, so one can understand his boyish enthusiasm. The CEO of Apple is 56 and less excitable, however. "Tim Cook, very good to be here. And I look very forward to talking to the president-elect about the things that we can do to help you achieve some things you want."
As many have pointed out, he was the only leader who didn't say what company he worked for. But when the others had left, Mr. Cook of Apple and Mr. Musk of Tesla stayed at Trump Tower to meet privately with Mr. Trump.Tweet


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This includes individually advising students, providing resources, and coordinating events that will enable students to recognize the diverse career opportunities in the health professions, and to become strong candidates for their chosen health professions schools.
Pre-Health Advising is a part of Academic Services. We are located in the Academic Services suite in Usdan 130.
Please check in at the main Academic Services Reception Desk for your appointment.
- Appointments are available Monday through Friday during business hours.
- Schedule an appointment online here or call Academic Services at 781-736-3470.


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How to Get Better Roleplay from Your Players/
This article is part of a bloggers roundtable of other GMs. Here is the question that was posed:
How would you, as GM, encourage roleplaying in a player who doesn't roleplay as much as you'd like, whether it's roleplaying with NPCs, being more descriptive in combat, or referring to themselves in the third person. If you want to take the roleplaying at your table to the next level, how do you get your players on board?
If you GM for very long, and if you play with a variety of players, then this is a situation you will inevitably run into. You may have a group where most people roleplay well, but you have one player who won't (this is easier to handle), of you may have a group where none of the players roleplay (this is more difficult).
I grew up in rural Indiana, and it was always hard to find people to play RPGs with. I often recruited players who'd never played an RPG before, so in addition to the teaching the mechanics of the game, I had to also teach them how to roleplay and what that was.
The first step happens before you even bring the group together (or it should). That is that you want to have players that have the same goals as you as a GM—players who want the same kind of experience. Some players don't like to RP for various reasons, and some will never do it no matter what you do. If having good RP is important to you as a GM, then you don't want those players at your table. It will be easier for everyone not to invite them in the first place.
Talk with each potential player and let them know what you expect. Try to get a feel if he's into the RP, or if he'd rather just build min-maxed characters, roll dice, move miniatures and kill things. It shouldn't be too hard to decide whether or not each potential player is a good fit for your group.
If you don't find out until too late (the game has already started), consider having a talk with the player and explain to him that it's not working out. If he really dislikes roleplaying, and you're running an RP heavy game, he'll probably be as relieved to go as you will be to have him leave.
Define the Ideal
If you're dealing with a player new to RPGs, you may need to explain what good roleplaying is. The simplest way to do this is to describe an ideal of roleplaying. For instance, I often tell new players that the ideal is an actor on the stage. The player makes the character come alive, and takes on a new persona using techniques including: changing voice timbre (perhaps speaking in a lower pitch than he usually does), using an accent (only if he can do it well), choice of vocabulary (a blacksmith who always uses smithing terms and analogies), body language, costume (dressing the part), etc.
Unless you have a true thespian in your group, no player is going to achieve this ideal, but that's not the point. The point is to give the player something to shoot for. Explain that he probably won't be able to use all the techniques (maybe he can't do accents), but the more of them he can employ, the more real and distinct the character becomes.
Encourage the use of first person.
Tell the player in the very beginning that you want him to use first person perspective when describing what his character does and says.
This means he will say things like, "I try to pick the lock with my thieves' tools," or, when speaking to an innkeeper says, "How dare you charge so much for a room? That's outrageous! I will pay five silver and not a copper more!"
Oftentimes new players will want to describe their character's actions and words in third person. You want to break this habit right away. Speaking in first person will inherently put them more into character without them even realizing it. The previous statements done from third person would sound like:
"Anton tries to pick the lock with his thieves' tools," or "Anton is offended and tells the innkeeper he won't pay any more than five silver for the room."
See the difference? In the first examples (first person) the player IS the character, which is roleplaying. In the second example (third person), the player is describing what a character does, which is storytelling, but it's not roleplaying.
If you have a new player, you really want to build good habits in the beginning, from the very start. If the player isn't new to RPGs, but is speaking in third person, you want to inform him of your expectations right away and be consistent in always asking him to speak in first person.
Do a prelude with each player, and develop a background for the character.
The prelude is a perfect opportunity to break a new player in, show him what you expect and give some good examples yourself of good roleplay. It's also a chance for a new player to ease into roleplaying with only one other person (you, the GM) as opposed to having to do it with a table full of people. Most of us are a little shy when we first start roleplaying. We feel silly. It's a lot easier to do with an audience of one. I discuss preludes in detail in episode 71 of the GM Intrusions podcast.
The prelude is also a great time to work out the character's background and attachments to the other PCs. Do your best to help the player flesh out his background. Make sure there are at least a few interesting hooks into the story that you have planned. Make sure the character has some compelling connections and history with at least some of the other PCs at the table. With a new player, I really recommend giving the character connections to all the other PCs.
Do you best to pull the character's background into the story into the story whenever possible. Having a rich background that is relevant to what's going on will really help the player get into his character and the story.
While you're running the game, lead by example.
Use NPCs to roleplay with PCs. Show the PCs good roleplay by using good roleplay yourself. Even something simple like buying a new piece of equipment or renting a room at an inn is a chance for you to roleplay with the PCs using your NPCs. Give each NPC a distinct personality and voice, do your best to live up to the RP ideal with each NPC you play. Don't let your NPCs be one-dimensional merchants or barmaids. Make each one a character with a story.
Do the same with creatures and monsters that the PCs encounter. Challenge preconceptions. Is every goblin really evil? Does every "monster" need to be killed?
As GM you set the tone and the stage of your game. If you're not getting good RP at the table, a lot of the times the real problem isn't the players—it's you.
Ask for descriptions in combat.
Don't let the RP stop because you roll for initiative. Show your players that even in combat this is a roleplaying game, not just a rollplaying game. Don't allow metagaming or talk of tactics that wouldn't be possible in the situation. Don't let your roleplaying game devolve into a tactical miniatures wargame.
Ask for more than "I attack the thing." Ask for descriptions of exactly how the character attacks. Whenever possible award those descriptions with situational bonuses. Not only is descriptive combat more fun and engaging, but if you're giving bonuses, it gives a tactical edge as well. Your players will catch on.
Ask for help from the other players.
If you have a good roleplayer at the table, encourage her to ham it up and pull the other players into her RP. Ask her to RP with the other PC—ask him about his past, about his strange scar, or how he got the sword he carries. Get the player to talk about his character's background, goals, dreams, etc. The other players are an invaluable resource. If you have one or more good roleplayers at your table, pull them aside and ask for their help in bringing more RP into the game.
Set up situations for roleplay.
One of the best RP sessions I've run was a game of Changeling where the characters went to a party thrown by the local nobility. We had a whole night of excellent roleplay where the PCs interacted with many of the influential NPCs in the area.
Sometimes putting the PCs in a situation where they need to accomplish something, and there's nothing to do BUT roleplay can work wonders. Perhaps they need some information, and the only way they can get it is to attend the Duke's annual costume ball.
Use NPCs the players respond to more often.
If a player responds to a specific NPC, make that NPC a major character (even if you didn't originally intend to) and use him more. This works with NPCs the players really like and NPCs the players really don't like. Players are much more likely to get into character when dealing with NPCs they have a strong reaction to, whether positive or negative.
Award good roleplay with experience and other rewards.
Award roleplay with xp and let the players know why they're getting xp. It's often better to award xp as the players earn it, as opposed to waiting till the end of the session. Let them know what the xp is for. If a player sees other players getting rewards for roleplay, he's more likely to try to roleplay more.
Look for other ways to award roleplay as well. I already mentioned giving bonuses in combat. If a player roleplays well with an NPC, perhaps he can get that NPC as a contact, or perhaps learn a secret the NPC wouldn't have otherwise shared.
NPCs may help out a PC they in all kinds of ways—supplying equipment, money, food, etc.
It's easy as a GM to blame the players when we're not seeing the level of roleplay we want, but a lot of it comes back to us. We have a lot of tools in our toolbox that we can use to encourage the kind of roleplay we want in our games. There's a lot to be said for leading by example and showing the players what's desired as well as telling them. Set yourself up in the beginning for the experience you want by communicating your expectations to the players and making sure they're compatible. Reward the behavior you want to see in every way you can think to do so, and encourage the better roleplayers in the group to do what they can to draw the others out of their shells.
Other articles in this series:
Inspiration Strikes by Marc Plourde
Strange Encounters by Scott Robinson


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Haulage firm fined €1m for crash that left hurling star's wife dead
A HAULAGE company with a "flagrant disregard" for safety has been fined €1m almost six years after the horrific deaths of a Kilkenny hurler's wife and a second young mother.
Mother-of-one Vanessa McGarry (31) – the wife of former goalkeeper James McGarry – and Mary Lonergan (48), a mother of two, were killed after a lorry shed its load and crashed at Kilfane, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, on July 19, 2007.
Vanessa's husband was supported by family members as he attended Wexford Circuit Criminal Court yesterday where the penalty was handed down to Nolan Transport.
Mr McGarry described in a victim impact statement how the haulage firm had shown "absolutely no respect" to the families of the dead women.
"Not once have they had the decency to apologise," he said, adding that the company had "never sympathised" with him on Vanessa's death. "It took them over five years to plead guilty," he said.
Vanessa's son Darragh and three others, Louise Lonergan, James Furlong and Gerard Corcoran, were also injured in the accident.
Vanessa was a well-known face on the hurling scene. She was always there to cheer on her husband. When Kilkenny won the All-Ireland Hurling Final after the young woman's death, the Cats' then captain Henry Shefflin shared the moment with her son, Darragh, who helped him to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Yesterday, Judge Raymond Fullam said the accident was "clearly foreseeable". He said Nolan Transport had shown a "flagrant disregard" for safety and criticised the "dangerous manner in which the load was being transported" on its lorry.
The court heard how the truck and trailer carrying six steel coils weighing over 25 tonnes had not been properly secured. The trailer shed its load on a bend and it was seen "moving like a snake" before it struck two cars.
The lorry collided with the car driven by Vanessa while Ms Lonergan's car was struck by the shed load.
The Nolan Transport vehicle had been travelling at a speed of 52kmh when it came to a bad bend before the collision.
The driver of the lorry, Rafal Luszacki, of Rosbercon Court, New Ross, Co Wexford, was fined and given a three-year driving ban arising from the incident.
Patricia Nolan, a director of Nolan Transport, had not undertaken a course in transport safety at the time of the crash. She has subsequently done so.
Judge Fullam said the firm has since introduced driver training and improved its safety practices. However, he said implementation "still seems to be a problem" at the company as two Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspections found loads to have been "inadequately secured" since the accident.
He imposed a fine of €1m on Nolan Transport which is to be paid in three instalments between now and the end of 2015.
The company was also ordered to pay the HSA's costs of around €70,000. The court heard that the civil claims for compensation arising from the accident have all been settled apart from one, from the Lonergan family.
Nolan Transport issued a statement offering its "deepest sympathies and apologies to the families of Vanessa McGarry and Mary Lonergan" after yesterday's hearing.
The chief executive of the Health and Safety Authority, Martin O'Halloran, said: "A failure to ensure loads are restrained and secured can lead them to become unstable while being transported. In this case, those failures lead to tragedy."
Irish Independent


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All of Denmark is pretty flat, but especially the west side. It was almost eerie to not see any hills or elevation. Just perfectly level farmland, far into the distance. The only things blocking the view were buildings and occasional trees. And lots of massive wind turbines, which provide almost half of Denmark's energy.
I'd felt a slight headache all day, and when I reached the shore of the Vadehavet National Park, it got worse. Suddenly I felt completely out of it and was barely able to pitch my tent on some grass by the sea. Skipping all my usual evening routines, I went straight to bed to sleep it off. This kind of thing seems to happen to me a couple times a year. Headache accompanied by nausea, and for the rest of the day I can't function at all. Some kind of 'mangraine', I suppose.
The next day I felt fine again. I backtracked a couple kilometres to visit the nearby Nature Centre, but it would've cost 14€ just to get in the building. That's an unreasonable price tag for information that ought to be free. I dried my tent and clothes in the sun outside while muttering about how Finnish national parks are better.
Vadehavet (or the Wadden Sea) is a huge national park and another UNESCO World Heritage site. It spans 10000km2 off the coasts of Denmark and Germany. I assumed (probably incorrectly) that the name means something like "The Wading Sea", because it's so shallow that you could walk into it for miles, especially during low tide. Even the sea was flat here.
I was about to continue towards Germany, when an older gentleman suggested I visit the island of Mandø. It was connected to the mainland by five kilometres of rocky road, which was inaccessible every 12 hours or so, because it got submerged during high tide! This sounded like a fun place to visit. At the start of the road there were warning signs saying "Tide Race" and "No crossing without knowledge of the tides". The old man had said it was several hours until the water would rise. I googled to double check, and then crossed the sea like some bicycle touring Moses.
Mandø was surrounded by a three-meter tall dike, a sloping seawall, covered in grass. It kept the water away during storms and also provided grazing ground for a lot of sheep. The mainland had the same kind of dike. (And it continued very, very far, as I would later find out.)
The island was a few kilometres across, with some farms, houses, summer cabins, and a small village centre. There was a camping ground, a shop, a couple restaurants and a very nice-looking windmill. I figured I'd stay at least until the next low tide. I showered at the campsite, took some photos, ate dinner, and chatted with a couple bird spotters. There were many different migratory birds in the nature reserve and subsequently also many enthusiastic people with binoculars and telescopes.
When the stars came out I returned to the windmill. The village had quieted down. I took a few still photos and then set a time-lapse of the scene below. This gave me an hour and a half to lie down and look at the stars while waiting for the camera. I really enjoy these moments of doing nothing while the camera's shutter clicks away, recording movement where I see stillness.
I've been hooked on time-lapse since the first clip I ever shot, three years ago in Finland. It was the second week of my photography studies at the Kuusamo College, and I had a new camera with a timer to play with. The northern lights were expected to appear, and I had recently moved there from South Finland so had never seen them before. I cycled out at night to a lake by a forest, and waited until there was a hint of green in the sky.
I set the tripod and shot a sequence over something like half an hour, with stars and auroras reflecting off the water. Even now I remember thinking how cool it was, and I couldn't wait to see the video. Of course it was out of focus, and unstable because I kept touching the camera's buttons. I even composed the shot vertically, which really shows how clueless I was.
But I loved it, and kept doing it. And here I am now, traveling the world and shooting time-lapses semi-professionally.
Funny how one night can change the course of your whole life.


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The Best Dining in Las Vegas
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When you're looking for a fast and affordable place to grab a quick bite, Palace Station is the spot to stop. We've got something for every appetite.


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Professor Edward ChungScience and Engineering Faculty,
Civil Engineering and Built Environment,
Civil Engineering and The Built Environment
Personal details
- Name
- Professor Edward Chung
- Position(s)
- Adjunct Professor
Science and Engineering Faculty,
Civil Engineering and Built Environment,
Civil Engineering and The Built Environment
- Discipline *
- Civil Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning
- Phone
- +61 7 3138 1143
- email@example.com
- Location
- View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
- Qualifications
PhD (Monash University)
- Professional memberships
and associations
- Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia
- Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, USA
- Keywords
Cooperative ITS, Intelligent Transport Systems, Managed Motorways, Transport Modelling, Travellers Information, Bluetooth data, Traffic Simulation
Broad area of research: Transport
Main areas of research
- Traffic management strategies for enhancing network performance and capacity
- Travel time prediction for motorways and arterial roads using fixed and mobile sensors data
- Data fusion techniques to integrate data from multi sources for providing comprehensive, robust and accurate information to traffic management system
- Traffic noise and emission models for evaluation of transport strategies
- Real time network simulation for evaluating traffic management strategies.
Awards and recognitions
- 1997: Post doctorate fellowship, Foundation for the Promotion of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo
- 1989: Education Abroad Program, University of California, Berkeley
- 1988: Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award
- 1987: Monash University Research Scholarship
Career history
2011 – Present: Centre Director, Smart Transport Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology
2009 – Present: Professor of Intelligent Transport Systems, Queensland University of Technology2005 – Present: Visiting Professor, Collaborative Research Centre for Advanced Mobility (ITS Centre), University of Tokyo2005 – 2009: Collaborateur Scientifique, Head of ITS Group, LAVOC, EPFL2002 – 2004: Visiting Professor, Centre for Collaborative Research, University of Tokyo1999 – 2001: Manager, Infrastructure Analysis and Modelling, Department of Infrastructure, Victoria, Australia1996 – 1999: Senior Research Scientist, ARRB Transport Research Ltd, Australia1997: Post Doctorate Fellow, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo1994 – 1995: Engineer/Analyst, R.J.Jairn and Partners, Australia1993 – 1994: Research Scientist, ARRB Transport Research Ltd, Australia
Interests and community service
- 2010: Present Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of ITS Research
- 2008: Present Working Group Leader of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TU0702
- 2008: Scientific Committee, International Workshop on Traffic Data Collection and Standardisation, Barcelona
- 2008: Scientific Committee, International Symposium on Transport Simulation, Queensland
- 2006: Organising Chair, International Symposium on Transport Simulation (ISTS)
- Kieu L, Bhaskar A, Chung E, (2015) A modified Density-Based Scanning Algorithm with Noise for spatial travel pattern analysis from Smart Card AFC data, Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies p193-207
- Jiang R, Chung E, (2015) A ramp metering strategy for rapid congestion recovery, Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering p202-216
- Kieu L, Bhaskar A, Chung E, (2015) Passenger segmentation using smart card data, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transport System p1537-1548
- Nantes A, Ngoduy D, Bhaskar A, Miska MP, Chung E, (2016) Real-time traffic state estimation in urban corridors from heterogeneous data, Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies p99-118
- Tsubota T, Bhaskar A, Chung E, (2014) Macroscopic fundamental diagram for Brisbane, Australia: empirical findings on network partitioning and incident detection, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board p12-21
- Abedi N, Bhaskar A, Chung E, (2014) Tracking spatio temporal movement of human in terms of space utilization using media access control address data, Applied Geography p72-81
- Bhaskar A, Chung E, (2013) Fundamental understanding on the use of Bluetooth scanner as a complementary transport data, Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies p42-72
- Bhaskar A, Chung E, Dumont A, (2012) Average travel time estimations for urban routes that consider exit turning movements, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board p47-60
- Bhaskar A, Chung E, Dumont A, (2011) Fusing loop detector and probe vehicle data to estimate travel time statistics on signalized urban networks, Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering p433-450
- Bhaskar A, Chung E, Dumont A, (2009) Estimation of travel time on urban networks with midlink sources and sinks, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board p41-54
For more publications by this staff member, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.
Research projects
Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)
- Title
- A novel integrated motorway management system for less congested, more reliable and safer motorways
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- Start year
- 2012
- Keywords
- Intelligent Transport Systems; Congestion Management; Ramp Metering; Variable Speed Limit; Traffic Safety; Traffic Simulation
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Utilising Big Transit Data for Transfer Coordination (2015)
- Exploring the Properties of Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram: Analysing Brisbane Urban Network (2014)
- Strategies for Rapid Congestion Recovery using Ramp Metering (2014)
- Effectiveness of Eco-driving during Queue Discharge at Urban Signalised Intersections (2013)
- The Development of a Naturalistic Car Following Model for Assessing Managed Motorway Systems' Safety Effects (2013)


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Dept. of Renewal: A Pharma Foundation Keeps the Money Flowing to Its Global Health Grantees/ Jon Pattee
The outcomes of half-hearted giving can be crushing, especially in poor countries: programs that stall and fail, populations whose hopes are raised only to see them dashed. One need look no farther than broken-down "dig-and-dash" water and sanitation programs to see the negative effects of inconsistent or one-off giving, from disease to community-wide setbacks.
That's why it's good to see the Pfizer Foundation staying the course with the recent announcement that it is continuing to support local organizations through its 2018 Global Health Innovation Grants (CHIG).
Twenty organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America will benefit from the grants, which aim to "enable these organizations to expand their unique approaches to tackling some of today's most complex healthcare challenges—from addressing health inequities faced by women and children, to advancing innovative healthcare models that target underserved populations."
The Pfizer Foundation launched the CHIG program in 2016. In an encouraging sign of the foundation's commitment to offering consistent support, 17 of the organizations among this year's winners received GHIG grants last year, as well.
This group of grantees includes Afya Research Africa, which runs a network of clinics in Kenya. Their "Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks" aim to boost primary care in underserved, rural areas. A total of 15,000 people are served by their 11 clinics in farming and fishing communities. Another is Clínicas del Azúcar, which is using its grant to expand low-cost services to more than 3,000 people with diabetes in rural areas of Mexico.
The Pfizer Foundation, a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc., aims at improving access to healthcare and promoting medical innovation through education.
As we've noted, the foundation tends to be very generous overall, funding initiatives both internationally and stateside. It spreads its giving around to a pretty good number of grantees. On top of that, the foundation is definitely choosy about which health initiatives it supports. (You can read our take on its giving here.)
Disease-related grant out of Pfizer vary pretty widely in size, from a low end of $500 to a high end of around $300,000. However, most grants fall into the $5,000 to $50,000 range.
As we've reported, the Pfizer Foundation also places bigger bets. In 2014, it announced that it was awarding $2 million in grants to UNICEF, Save the Children, and International Rescue Committee. The grant money funded a pilot vaccine delivery program focusing on individuals living in remote villages and underserved populations in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.
Related: Pfizer Gives Big to Help Bridge the Last Mile Vaccine Gap


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© Depositphotos.com/ Stuart Miles
Hollywood Press: Will Smith has just been pronounced dead after undergoing an immediate spinal surgery caused by an accident while filming Hancock 2 (2014). The negligence of the doctor with medication overdose was blamed to be the cause of his death. Watch the full video of CCTV cam installed in the operating room where he was admitted: [Link Removed]
Meanwhile, the rogue app will spam out the same fake death messages to the friends of those who installed it.
Celebrity death hoaxes are increasingly common on social media sites, and an increasing number of them contain links to rogue apps, survey scams or malicious websites.
If a high profile celebrity such as Will Smith dies, then the sad demise will be covered avidly by the mainstream media. A search of a news source such as Google News should quickly reveal if news of a celebrity's death is true. If you receive a social media message or email claiming that a celebrity has died, always verify it via a reputable news source before passing it on. And be very cautious of following any links contained in such death messages.
Last updated: October 22, 2013
Celebrity Hoaxes
Jackie Chan is NOT Dead
How do I remove a game or app that I've downloaded?


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Did the 2010 Economic Slump Just Surpass the 2008 Great Recession? Let's Ask Rick Davis
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 14th, 2010 7:26 AM |
Economics is the most inexact of sciences. As much as we may think we can understand our future economic landscape based upon the study of the past, a variety of twists, turns, and unknown challenges inevitably come upon us. This reality has never been more prevalent than in our 'Uncle Sam' economy circa 2010. Do not think for a second that the 'grand wizards' in Washington currently undertaking the massive financial experiment throughout our economy do not appreciate this. They do. They just would not admit it.
Can we look toward private enterprises in an attempt to 'see through' the Washington smoke and mirrors? In fact we can. I make no bones about my admiration for the work of Rick Davis at Consumer Metrics Institute. As Rick so boldly states, the work at CMI is focused on:
"Bringing the measurements of critical economic activities into the twenty-first century by mining tracking data for an understanding of what American consumers were doing yesterday."
Well, what were our fellow Americans doing yesterday and the days before that? (more…)
Economics: An Art or a Science? Checking in with Rick Davis of Consumer Metrics Institute
Posted by Larry Doyle on September 27th, 2010 7:21 AM |
The study of human behavior may be considered a science but to me it is the greatest and most challenging of arts. Why is that? For the very simple reason that while we are limited in the ability to study human behavior by reviewing the past, we are challenged by the fact that future behaviors are forever changing. The lessons of the past often do repeat themselves in the future; however, the environment of the PRESENT has NEVER truly been experienced so our current and future behaviors are so hard to forecast. Thus, is economics more art or science? Perhaps we can cover both bases and call it as much an art as a science especially in the Uncle Sam Economy circa 2010.
I raise this topic based upon a recent commentary put forth by a Sense on Cents favorite site, Consumer Metrics Institute. Rick Davis continues to paint an exquisite work as he recently penned, The Diverging GDP,
Prior to each revision to the GDP we are asked for insights into the likely course of those corrections from the Bureau of Economic Analysis ("BEA") of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Most of the questions we have received recently center on the increasing divergence of our Daily Growth Index from the BEA's GDP over the past couple of quarters: (more…)


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Paula Mignucci is a needle felting artist and owner of Ophelia & the Bear. She lives and works in the beautiful Surrey Hills where her love and respect for nature, combined with her design background, inspires her work. She also uses her work to bring awareness to some of the most endangered species on our planet.
Using only 100% British wool that is ethically sourced from slaughter-free flocks and is part of the sheep's natural shearing process. She has full traceability of where her wool comes from and knows all of her wonderful suppliers personally, including most of the sheep's names!
Working so closely with the raw product is crucial to Paula's work and gives her a deeper respect for these beautiful creatures. Using the natural supply of wools from a variety of breeds ensures that each creation remains unique.
Her handcrafted collections range from playful creations for children's rooms to commissioned pieces of framed art and can be found at www.opheliaandthebear.com.
Not suitable for babies or small children.


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my Twinner will be the new Wholesale Director for Quills here in Louisville!
Just in time before they start turning this 1897 firehouse on East Main into a roastery and cafe.
Good things happening in the 502 ... so many good things!
Yah great news. Good job S! Much love from the 925
What a blessing it will be to have some family in the same town!! It's been over 8 years for myself so I can appreciate your happiness! Many good time ahead for sure
Congrats Twinner! I lived apart from my sister for 15 years or more. 4 years ago she moved her family to Nashville along with my mom. So. Much. Joy. having family close. Exploring waterfalls, hiking trails and seeing nieces and nephews grow up - memories being made right in front of us. Happy for your family Emily. God is good.
wcwalker :)
michelle, thank you for your kind words! it's been such a gift having twinner here!
heather, you always leave the nicest comments. thank you! you couldn't have said it better ... so much joy in having family close! xo
3rd Floor Loft : Private Entrance! in Louisville
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The moment generating function of $X$ is given by $M_X(t)=e^{2e^t-2}$ and that of $Y$ by $M_Y(t)=\left(\frac34e^t+\frac14\right)^{10}$. If $X$ and $Y$ are independent, what are $P(XY=0)$?
For every nonnegative random variable $Z$, $\mathbb P(Z=0)=\lim\limits_{t\to-\infty}M_Z(t)$, called $M_Z(-\infty)$.
Using this identity for $X$ and $Y$, the independence of $X$ and $Y$ leads to $$ \mathbb P(XY\ne0)=\mathbb P(X\ne0)\mathbb P(Y\ne0)=(1-M_X(-\infty))(1-M_Y(-\infty)). $$ In the present case, $$ \mathbb P(XY=0)=1-(1-\mathrm e^{-2})(1-4^{-10})=\mathrm e^{-2}+4^{-10}-\mathrm e^{-2}4^{-10}. $$
Hint: $X$ has a Poisson distribution. You probably have a typo in your $M_Y(t)$, but it has a discrete distribution with a finite number of possible values, and you can find the probability of $Y=0$.
$X$ is Poisson with $\lambda = 2$
$Y$ is Binomial with $p = \frac{3}{4}$ and $n=10$ given these I think you can solve for $P(XY=0)$


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This past weekend was Grammy weekend in Los Angeles. I usually get out to at least one party but this year, I was in Mommie-mode so I didn't do too much for the Grammys. I went to see Gucci Mane on Friday night, Shopping on Saturday and Sunday I went to Cafe Sushi in Beverly Hills for an early dinner with my honey and the baby. I actually watched the show in my bed with the latest InStyle magazine (my favorite) and a glass (or two, or three..) of wine. It was perfection!
Here is my look for Sushi with the fam:
|Top: HM || Leggings: AA || Shoes: Reebok || Vest: Allen B. || Bag: Gucci
This outfit was cute but super comfy for a early dinner with the fam bam. Being a Mommie has truly shown me less is more when travelling with the little one! I loved how my Good Time Girl necklace perfectly complimented my sneakers.
Here is Adara's Cafe Sushi look. She is such a ham but refused to look at the camera when I was snapping this shot...
|Top and Pants: Carters || Shoes: Skechers
Now for some fun shots from the Gucci Mane concert!
|Me and my bestie #MirrorPics
Can we please get into Patty's ensemble for the night.. colorblocking, leather pants, neutral accessories!!! She killed it!
|My sexy face....
|Patty's makeup was beyond beat #MACGIRLS
|My outfit. This wasnt planned but it definitely came together well :)
Well that was my weekend in a nutshell. Did you guys do anything fun for Grammy weekend?
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instagram: @goodtimegirlari


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Editor's note: The holidays are here and that means hectic travel is officially underway, but we're trying to make things a little less stressful with these gems from Trish Feaster. Because 'tis the season to be jolly—not crying at the airport because our suitcase won't close all the way and is so heavy it's costing us 2.1 million dollars in fees.
Hi, my name is Hillary, and I'm a pack-a-holic.
Some of you won't understand this addiction, especially those who think packing means "just throw your shit in a carry-on and hit the road." My trips, you see, often hover around the six-day mark—the magic number that screws up all good intentions. Just short enough that I think I should be able to fit all items into a carry-on bag; just long enough that I know I won't be able to.
And finally, I add the most dangerous category—the one I like to refer to as the "Just In Casers."
Let me explain: I'm going to New York for six days. This will include time spent moving my son into his apartment (read: schlepping, hauling, cleaning), so I'll need a pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and tee shirts. The trip will also involve a couple of business lunches, which require a really nice pant/sweater/jacket combo, comfortable heels or boots, and a handbag. Did I mention I'm also meeting friends for drinks and dinner at the Carlyle? In goes the dress or blingy top and skirt, some extra jewelry, a pair of heels, nighttime makeup, and the flat iron. Next come necessities like pajamas, undergarments, toiletries, and laptop.
And finally, I add the most dangerous category—the one I like to refer to as the "Just In Casers"—an extra couple of white tee shirts just in case I spill food or get sweaty. My favorite, comfy wedge boots just in case I get blisters from the high heels. Three different belts just in case I want to switch from gold to silver. You get the idea.
So I end up in big, heavy suitcase territory, which is a deal breaker (and backbreaker) in this age of lost baggage and herniated discs.
One Month in Europe. One Carry-On. Could It Be Done? Trish Feaster to the Rescue!
This summer, however, my 18-year-old daughter was heading to Europe for a month, and I had an epiphany. Her itinerary was going to include constant city-to-city travel, a slew of hostels and hotels, and daily sightseeing: it soon became clear that a carry-on bag was the only way to go. (Insert teenager screaming.)
That's when I called in the big guns: my friend, international travel expert, Rick Steves, whose life partner, Trish Feaster, is a packing genius. Trish, you see, works as a tour guide and researcher for Rick Steves' Europe, spending six to eight weeks on the road at a time, in conditions that don't lend themselves to my style of hoarding. "It can be a whirlwind—blitzing the continent and never really unpacking," explains Trish. "Many European historic or boutique hotels simply don't have elevators, so it's essential that I can turn on a dime and stay lightweight and portable."
But here's the clincher: Trish isn't one of those no-nonsense, Eddie Bauer-types whose idea of a nice outfit is cargo pants and clean underwear. Trish is a girly-girl who loves her bling, her makeup, her accessories, and lots of outfit choices—all of which she mysteriously fits into one perfect little Rick Steves "Roll Aboard" bag, and a Tumi tote. Watching her unpack everything is not unlike seeing 40 clowns climb out of a mini car.
Travel Packing Tips: Ahead of the Pack
In a generous act of philanthropy, Trish gave my daughter and her travel companion a three-hour tutorial, and despite protestations and pessimism, the girls successfully pulled off a carry-on-only maneuver that got them through Europe in style and comfort. Sure, they had to pare down a bit, but more than anything, they learned an important lesson: If you pack correctly, you can fit an entire wardrobe in a breadbox.
Even more generously, Trish is sharing some of her favorite go-to tricks here. (I tried them. They work.)
Roll With It
Rather than filling your suitcase with bulky folded items, roll everything teeny tiny and stuff it (literally) into light-as-air nylon packing cubes: Eagle Creek's Spector line is a favorite. They can be smartly arranged, Tetris-style, in any suitcase, have expandable zip sides, and one measly 3 x 14 x 10 bag will actually hold upwards of seven shirts. You have to see it to believe it.
Do The Math
Add two or three lightweight scarves for a pop of color and extra warmth.
Seven tops times five bottoms equals, at a minimum, 35 different outfit combinations—even more if you layer creatively. Stick with a few base colors, like black, grey, and navy, and choose things that go with all three options. Then, add two or three lightweight scarves for a pop of color and extra warmth. They can also be used as a pareo at the beach, a picnic blanket, or a shoulder/head covering when you visit a place of faith.
Next, bust out your geometry skills and start thinking about spatial relationships.
Stuff your sneakers with deodorant, belts, even jewelry. Take advantage of every nook and cranny.
Weigh In
Every ounce counts. Whether it's jeans, a sweater, or a container to hold cosmetics, always choose the lightest-weight option. Trish actually uses a kitchen scale to weigh every single thing she packs. "It's always surprising when you learn that your yoga pants weigh more than your jeans."
Follow the Rule of Threes
If you aren't going to use something at least three times on a journey of ten days or more, leave it at home. The only caveat: a special-occasion outfit for a destination wedding, formal event, or cruise-ship dress code.
Test-Run Your Shampoo
Wondering how much lather you really need for your ten-day vacay? Here's how to know: Ten days before your trip, fill up a two- or three-ounce travel bottle with product, then use it exclusively at home. If you don't make a dent, try bringing a smaller bottle on your trip. If you find you need more—highly unlikely, says Trish—consider bringing an extra one-ounce bottle to supplement. Go through this regimen with all your toiletries, and chances are, you'll be paring way down.
An Iron-Clad Tip
If you're wedded to heat-styling appliances, bring just one and make it a flat iron with a one-inch barrel. You can use it for straightening, for curling, and, in a pinch, for ironing your clothes.
The Trial
So I tried it. A week-long trip in one carry-on suitcase. Yes, I am both boasting and glowing with pride. My itinerary consisted of a relaxed weekend at a country house, followed by four action-packed days in Manhattan. The latter included one Broadway show, three dinner dates, two coffees—and while there was no partridge, the country house did, indeed, have a pear tree.
Watching her unpack everything is not unlike seeing 40 clowns climb out of a mini car.
I used a packing cube and stuffed that sucker to the gills. Shoes were the biggest problem (even Trish acknowledges this is where she bends the rules a bit), seeing as I "needed" heels, tennis shoes, walking shoes, and flip flops. And though I wanted to bring boots—I briefly considered wearing them on the plane for six hours—they ended up in the no-go column. Nevertheless, that little suitcase was freaking heavy, and I will admit to accepting an assist from a tall, brawny man when I went to hoist it into the overhead compartment.
Believe it or not, I didn't wear everything I brought, but that doesn't mean I'm going to lighten up even more on my next trip. I can't quite shake the "umbrella" thinking: You'll only need it if you leave it home.
A version of this article was originally published in December 2017.


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When We are Motivated...
"When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all. We all need some form of deeply rooted, powerful motivation/it empowers us to overcome obstacles so we can live our dreams."
~Les Brown
Have a blessed day!
Journal Page Elements: acrylics, rubber stamps, stencils, black pen, old paper and collage element from Papaya.
Daily Journal Prompt: What's the best birthday party you can imagine?


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Open Derby Results:
The Derby Open at the Ike was full of great horses and several exceptional runs. It is exciting to see all of the new four year olds starting their careers and coming into their own. Metallic Rebel (Metallic Cat x Sweet Abra) and Beau Galyean marked a 225 to take home the Championship and a check for $21,750.67
Metallic Rebel or "Cecil", as he is affectionately referred to after Alvin Fults' middle name, has always had the potential to be great and is proving to be getting the hang of things to say the least. Beau was not sure if Cecil would make the NCHA Futurity as he was a little "green" and needed a good bit of work. It was around Derby time when he called Tom Guinn about the talented, young stallion as Tom had always had a special feeling about this horse. Beau has been very excited about the string of horses he currently has showing including Cecil and other Open Derby finalist from the Ike, Chrome Cadillac (Metallic Cat x Tootsie Rey). "Chrome", owned by Ellen Carter, was not only a finalist but also the Novice Champion and Gelding Champion accumulating checks equaling $5,723.20.


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ResearchIn-Press PreviewImmunologyOncology Free access | 10.1172/JCI130952
Find articles by Mahiddine, K. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Blaisdell, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Ma, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Créquer-Grandhomme, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Lowell, C. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |
Find articles by Erlebacher, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
First published October 10, 2019 - More info
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are increasingly recognized to influence solid tumor development, but why their effects are so context-dependent and even frequently divergent remains poorly understood. Using an autochthonous mouse model of uterine cancer and the administration of respiratory hyperoxia as a means to improve tumor oxygenation, we provide in vivo evidence that hypoxia is a potent determinant of tumor-associated PMN phenotypes and direct PMN-tumor cell interactions. Upon relief of tumor hypoxia, PMNs were recruited less intensely to the tumor-bearing uterus but the recruited cells much more effectively killed tumor cells, an activity our data moreover suggested was mediated via their production of NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species and MMP-9. Simultaneously, their ability to promote tumor cell proliferation, which appeared mediated via their production of neutrophil elastase, was rendered less effective. Relieving tumor hypoxia thus greatly improved net PMN-dependent tumor control, leading to a massive reduction in tumor burden. Remarkably, this outcome was T cell-independent. Together, these findings identify key hypoxia-regulated molecular mechanisms through which PMNs directly induce tumor cell death and proliferation in vivo and suggest that the contrasting properties of PMNs in different tumor settings may in part reflect the effects of hypoxia on direct PMN-tumor cell interactions.


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Enough About Love, a newly translated novel by prolific French experimental writer Hervé Le Tellier (with a beautifully clear and concise rendering in English by Adriana Hunter), concerns the coming together and subsequent deliquescence of relationships between separate sets of couples and individuals in their late 30s and 40s among the intellectual class of present-day Paris. The novel explores the emotional shades of love and heartbreak of its characters, whose lives are depicted in muted tones, with Le Tellier playing down the grander themes of life in order to focus on quotidian (albeit romantic) ways in which people move on from one change, and one transition from happiness to sadness, to another.
The primary strength of the novel is its sense of balance in maintaining an even-tempered treatment of identity with a degree of high-mindedness: although the storyline succeeds in brevity and lightness, Le Tellier composes his narrative in pellucid sentences that bring about a cerebral seriousness and a dark sense of irony. For instance, when Anna, a psychiatrist and a married woman, falls in love with Yves, a writer, she is confronted with the adjustments this surreptitious decision will bring to her marriage; similarly, when Thomas, also a psychiatrist, meets Louise, a lawyer, a painful reexamination of both their lives and past relationships occurs.
Chapters alternate between studies of these couples and those of individuals within their orbit, and in this fugue-like use of theme, variation, and movement of distinctly separate characters, the novel is similar to Aldous Huxley's now-underrated Point Counter Point. Indeed, Enough About Love's structure mirrors Yves's own book, which he is composing on an arbitrary and arcane set of rules derived from a version of dominoes that he has read about being played in Abkhazia, a former Soviet republic. The novel also contains an entire book by Yves near its end.
These moments point to the literary experiments of Le Tellier, who recently told Sampsonia Way Magazine that "I like when a constraint leads me away from an expected path. I am a member of OuLiPo [a movement of mathematicians and writers], thus, according to the definition by Raymond Queneau, 'a rat who builds the maze from which he sets out to escape'"—that is, Le Tellier applies systems to his writing that he must configure his narrative to, in order to bring about new discoveries in form.
That this artistic attempt at testing different conceptual ideas finds its reflection in the characters' lives is reiterated again and again throughout the story; each chapter seems to follow the progression of a game, much in the same way the characters' love affairs develop through moments of chance.1
Unfortunately, it is also the case that in Le Tellier's descriptions of his chosen subject matter—upper-middle class life—his work becomes susceptible to that class's particular type of shallowness. This is most probably because Le Tellier is trying to draw his scenarios from life, and in doing so he is documenting that part of society as it is, not as he wishes it to be. But it can be exasperating, for example, when reading the work of a genuine artist, that everything from relationships to career choices within the novel seem to be affected by a need for comfort and lifestyle, or when phrases such as "spacious modern kitchen" appear in the text. (In one scene weighted with irony, Yves brings Anna back to his spacious Paris loft apartment, surprising her with his state of financial success, as opposed to the penniless "artistic" existence she has expected from him.)
These observations on the conventional aspects of life can make the book feel like a minor work, as the wider society that the characters live in isn't significantly addressed. But what redeems these diluted moments is Le Tellier's poetic seriousness and honesty as a writer. In a passage describing Yves's writing habits, Le Tellier seems to delineate the balance he himself attempts to maintain in his own artistic attempts: "[Yves's] words try to depict real things, like flagstones covering beaten earth: but, in places, rebellious weeds poke through. He could go on deleting and reworking forever. He is hoping for a miracle, for absolute grace, and senses it only in other people's work. He is not sure whether this dissatisfaction is proof of being an artist."
These dissimilar aspects make up the novel's two major voices—both insular, reflective, and searching for genuine artistic expression, and simultaneously extroverted and concerned with appearances. In the end, they combine to make a promising but frustrating reading experience. While this duality would not work in a novel of less ambition and honesty, there is an uneasy feeling in reading Enough About Love that more could have been achieved by the author had he brought the weaker sections of his novel up to the level of his strengths.
Jordan Anderson is a writer living in Oregon whose main interests are the 19th century and contemporary literatures. He can be reached at anders [dot] jordan [at] gmail [dot] com.
1 It is interesting to note that Abbas Kiarostami has made a similar point about making films under the harsh laws of censorship within Iran, noting that creating a work of art within certain limits can provide interesting scenario developments that would not have occurred in the event that the artist had an unlimited palette of subject matter to choose from.
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Out & About: Hickory Chair Book Signing.../
Few things are better than a tour through the Hickory Chair showroom at Market. This particular brand offers furniture I swoon over each and every time I visit. The only thing that can top wandering through the spectacular showroom? Having an all-star book signing with the designers themselves in the house. Hello, fabulous!
I've professed my gushing love for Suzanne Kasler again and again. She is an icon for me. Trust me when I tell you that Mariette, Thomas and Alexa are total rockstars. Mariette offers undeniable glamour and innovation in her products and designs, Thomas is (in my opinion) an intellectual force to be reckoned with and Alexa is a powerhouse of energy, with and starpower. Yes, that is me above (far left) with the lovely, lively and glamorous Alexa. Love her!!
All four are accomplished designers, furniture designers and authors. This fall fans (like moi) are in for a treat as there are books GALORE coming out to be added to my collection. The signing will give you the opportunity to meet these powerhouses and have your hardback copies of their latest volumes signed. Love!
So if you are headed to High Point in just a few short weeks you'd better carve out time on your calendar for what will no doubt be an amazing book signing event. It is not to be missed!


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CEDEJ library threatened with closure
I just found out from a friend that the library at the Centre d'Études et de Documentation Économiques, Juridiques et Sociales (CEDEJ) in Cairo is scheduled to be closed due to budgetary constraints. A number of academics are appealing to the French government (the center's funder) and the CEDEJ itself to maintain the library, an invaluable resource on modern Egyptian history. Notably, the CEDEJ is thought to have one of the best archives of press clippings on Egypt, maintained since 1977 and one of the best managed and most accessible in the country.
The academics' letter is after the jump, but on a personal note I'd like to also voice my concern for the CEDEJ librarian, the Tunisian intellectual Mustafa Khayati. Khayati was one of the original Arab members of the Situationist movement in France in the 1950s and 1960s (writing the great "On The Poverty of Student Life" and other radical texts), and is a great resource himself on a wide range of subjects. He would have his own interpretation of the bizarre steps that would lead to the closure of a library at a place supposed to be a research center, but I'll leave it at that.
Update: Here is another petition in French.
December 11, 2009
His Excellency Jean-Félix Paganon
Ambassador, Embassy of France to the Arab Republic of Egypt
29 Rue Charles de Gaulle
Giza, Egypt
Fax: 20-2-3-567-3201
Consul-General Marie Masdupuy
Consulate General of France in Egypt
5 Sekket El Fadl
Cairo, Egypt
Dear Ambassador Paganon and Consul Masdupuy:
The undersigned scholars and researchers are writing to express serious concern and dismay at the recent decision to close by the end of this month the valuable library of the Centre d'Études et de Documentation Économiques, Juridiques et Sociales (CEDEJ). CEDEJ is one of the premier research institutions in Egypt, supporting a steady stream of significant social research on Egypt and the Arab world.
Shuttering any kind of library in Egypt is a real loss. Social science research in the country is hamstrung by scant resources, political and bureaucratic constraints, and notorious difficulty in securing even the most basic information. In such a context, the resources offered by CEDEJ are nothing short of indispensable for both generalists and specialists working in dozens of disciplines.
Closing the CEDEJ library in particular would be tragic. Since 1969, the library has been a unique and welcoming space for researchers hailing from all parts of the world. Its holdings have been raw materials for hundreds of theses, articles, and books. And its dedicated staff of seven is unfailingly helpful and professional; some have been serving library patrons for more than two decades.
As you know, the library houses in one compact space a wealth of sources: social science periodicals published in Egypt, Europe, and elsewhere, including publications of the Egyptian women's press of the 1920s and 1930s; books on Egyptian and Arab politics in several languages, some dating from the early 20th century; a rich archive of Egyptian press clippings from 1977 to the present on a wide range of topics, perhaps the best and only such archive in Egypt; and Egyptian government documents, including contemporary ministerial reports and censuses dating from 1848.
In the spirit of knowledge-building that CEDEJ has embodied for so many years, we strongly urge you to reconsider the decision and keep the library doors open. Generations of past and future researchers will be grateful.


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Cover Band Vernissage was created by Natalya in 2011
Promo Video
The Band has Rock, Latino, Disco programs.
The repertoire is based on world hits (English, Spanish, Italian songs), soundtracks, famous Russian Disco of the 60th-70th-80th.
Here you can see and listen to the promo Video and
Archieve Video 1
Archieve Video 2


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Why Your 'Social Jet Lag' Could Be Packing on Pounds
Ah, the demands of modern life: early morning workouts, late nights at the office, midnight Facebook/Pinterest sessions ... thank goodness for alarm clocks, right? Where would we be without them?
According to a new study -- healthier and slimmer, that's where.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Munich (LMU) and published online May 10 in the journal Current Biology, looked at the weekday and weekend sleep patterns of more than 65,000 people, and found that (surprise!) not only do most people not get the sleep they need, but their sleeping patterns are constantly interrupted. And, according to the researchers, a lifestyle that conflicts with your internal physiological rhythms can promote the development of obesity.
"Our surveys suggest that in Western societies two thirds of the population are burdened with a significant discrepancy between their internal time and the demands imposed by school and work schedules and leisure stress," says LMU chronobiologist Professor Till Roenneberg, giving this phenomenon the name "social jetlag."
"Sleep is frequently the first casualty of our busy schedules and 24-hour society," says Joseph M. Ojile, MD, founder and CEO of Clayton Sleep Institute in St Louis, Mo., who was not involved in the study. "Social jet lag," according to Dr. Ojile, is essentially what happens when you adjust your sleeping schedule to accommodate your lifestyle, and "your body's biological rhythm gets out of sync or out of phase with your daily schedule." It is similar to jet lag, he explains, because both conditions involve circadian rhythm abnormalities (jet lag, of course, occurs when you travel across time zones, upsetting your body's natural sleep pattern).
"Your circadian rhythm," Dr. Ojile explains, "is your body's natural pattern of physiological and behavioral processes that are timed to a near 24-hour period."
According to Ronnenberg's team, for each hour of sleep discrepancy someone experienced, they were 33 percent more likely to have a high body mass index (BMI) -- something that doesn't surprise Dr. Ojile. "When your body lacks the proper amount of sleep, there is an attempt to compensate for the insufficiency in order to maintain adequate functions of wakefulness," he explains. "Consequently, the hormones that suppress your appetite are reduced and those hormones that boost the appetite are increased. Though the relationship between obesity and sleep is complex, weight gain and obesity may be the result of the body's attempt to maintain wakefulness in a state of sleep deprivation."
Think you might be suffering from social jet lag? You're not alone -- according to Yahoo! web trend expert Carolyn Clark, "sleep disorder" is a popular topic searched on Yahoo! (with 81 percent of searches in the past 30 days coming from females), as are searches for "tips to sleep better, ways to get more sleep, tips for undisturbed sleep, and how to sleep better."
Sleeping better -- and cutting back on your social jet lag -- is a good goal. "Sleep health is a vital to your overall health and wellness," says Dr. Ojile, "and ignoring signs and symptoms of 'social jet lag,' for instance, may result in further ailments or even injury."
Just what are the signs and symptoms of social jet lag? According to Dr. Ojile, excessive daytime sleepiness, trouble falling or staying asleep, feeling unrefreshed after a night's sleep, snoring, waking frequently during the night and excessive limb movement at night are all warning signs that you're not getting the sleep you need, when you need it.
Alas, it may not be possible to totally rearrange your work and play schedule to accommodate your sleeping needs every night, but Dr. Ojile offers these tips for improving the sleep you do get:
- As much as possible, stick with a consistent bedtime and wake-up time.
- Avoid excessive time in bed or napping.
- Eliminate pre-sleep habits that invoke hyper-arousal (no more bedtime pillow fights!).
- Avoid caffeine within several hours of bedtime and alcohol at bedtime.
- Reserve your bed for sleep and sex.
- Remove technology from your bedroom: TV, computer, iPad, iPhone, e-readers, etc.
- Exercise in the late afternoon.
Sweet dreams!
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The Dominican Republic is a country that prides itself on "firsts." Wander through the streets of Old Santo Domingo, and you will find the coral stones of the first Cathedral ever built in the Americas, the steps of the first university, the ruins of the first hospital. It doesn't matter to Dominicans that these "firsts" were quickly superseded, that the island's glory as launch pad for Spain's colonial misadventures in the new world was brief, and that the country's subsequent history was shaped by the malign neglect of various world powers.
In late June, the Dominican Republic continued their legacy of "firsts;" challenging the nomination of James Brewster, who, if confirmed by the senate, will be the first openly gay U.S. ambassador to the island nation. James Brewster's assignment coincides with Obama's nomination of five other gay ambassadors within the last two months, and the Dominican Republic has been, to date, the only nation to complain. This was not a "first" that the Dominican Republic wanted to claim as their own.
LGBT groups in the Dominican Republic and the United States have adamantly defended the nomination, accusing the religious leaders of homophobic, reactionary views.
Dominican religious leaders, claiming to represent lay opinion in a deeply religious country, responded to the nomination with various forms of outrage, even demanding the administration of President Danilo Medina publicly reject Brewster. Reverend Cristobal Cardozo, leader of the Dominican Evangelical Fraternity, contested that sending a gay ambassador was "an insult to good Dominican customs." Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, archbishop of Santo Domingo, observed, "In the United States anything can happen. But there's no one in this country who doesn't know what my position is on the matter." In perhaps the most vitriolic of the responses, Vicar Pablo Cedano warned "If he arrives, he'll suffer and will be forced to leave."
News of the controversy has made its way into U.S. publications in the form of headlines like "Catholic Cardinal Calls Gays Faggots During Interview About Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador Nominee" and "Dominicans Freak Out Over Gay Ambassador Pick." LGBT groups in the Dominican Republic and the United States have adamantly defended the nomination, accusing the religious leaders of homophobic, reactionary views.
The judicial consultant to the Dominican president, preferring to adhere to diplomatic protocol, offered only one statement: "It would be in bad taste for the state to comment on this nomination."
The Dominican Republic's right-wing reaction could simply be categorized as homophobia; backwards priests in the tropics spreading words of hate. But to truly grasp the significance of the country's response, beyond derogatory slurs, one must first understand the relationship between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
Serial American interventions have brought infrastructure and economic development, but at the price of self-determination in foreign and domestic affairs.
Over the course of the last century, America has taken only a desultory interest in the Dominican Republic. Haiti's more developed neighbor has turned heads in the U.S. only as an occasional strategic market or political nuisance. In fact, this month marks the 48th anniversary of Operation Power Pack, the second of four U.S. interventions in the Dominican Republic. At the urging of W. Tapley Bennett Jr., the incumbent U.S. Ambassador at the time, America sent over 20,000 marines to stymie a popular revolutionary uprising against a fascist military junta and "prevent another Cuba." Serial American interventions have brought infrastructure and economic development, but at the price of self-determination in foreign and domestic affairs.
U.S. Ambassadors maintain irrefutable political power, second only to the republic's president. The success, or demise, of a regime can depend on the ambassador's agenda. Free and fair elections have been rigged and marred by violence at the Ambassador's behest. Steward of over 1.7 billion dollars of direct U.S. investment, and some 11.5 billion dollars in two-way trade, the ambassador is an exceptionally powerful envoy in an exceptionally weak country.
Transparency International listed the Dominican Republic as the second most corrupt country in the hemisphere. Machismo, an ordering societal principal on the island, is an expression of hegemonic masculinity, manifesting itself in a tendency towards clientelistic politics. This exaggerated masculinity also girds a world view that boils homosexuality down to buggery and draws a distinction between the receiving and the penetrating partners, reserving the most scorn for the bugarrón, or receiver.
Though homosexuality is legal within the Dominican Republic, there are few public spaces where openness is tolerated. Yet, if keeping behind closed doors is common on the island, it is not just a symptom of widespread prejudice. Machismo guards the boundary of "straight" very differently than North American heterosexuality does. In the Dominican Republic, men who sleep with other men might not be considered "gay" if they are the penetrating partner. Men who perform their sexuality in a less masculine way, however, often become the targets of discrimination and violence.
The Dominican Republic has historically been the testing ground for projects of modernity, imposed by empires on the populace with often detrimental outcomes.
While the appointment of an openly gay ambassador is a sign of a civil rights victory in the United States, it has other meanings in the Dominican Republic: when the Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez observes that "we can expect anything from the United States," he is referring not only to the moral license and depravity that he perceives in American culture, but also to the unexpected ways that victories in America's culture wars become imperial policy. Despite U.S. embassy spokesman Daniel Foote's clarification that "Brewster arrives as an ambassador, [not] as an activist for the gay community," he has already become an energizing figure for the Dominican Republics' fledgling LGBQT community. Are we to give any shrift, then, to the echoes of anti-imperialism in the Cardinal's statements?
A civil rights victory has become foreign policy, enforced through the same vectors of power and influence that have historically characterized the relationship between the two countries. It matters little if the power disparity that exists between the United States and Dominican Republic dates back to the Spanish-American War of 1898, when the U.S. declared the Caribbean its Mare Nostrum. The embodiment of this power imbalance now is a gay white male, which indicates that either the powers-that-be knew little or nothing of the status and practice of homosexuality in the Dominican Republic, or, more troublingly, knew and did not care.
And yet, if the appointment of James Brewster as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic leads to greater freedom for the country's gay, lesbian, and transgendered community, why should we protest the means that achieved it?
The Dominican Republic has historically been the testing ground for projects of modernity, imposed by empires on the populace with often detrimental outcomes. The Spaniards came bearing Christianity and agriculture, the Haitians enforced abolition and land reform, and the Americans promised capital and market integration. But the benevolence of empires comes at a price: Spain slaughtered the native Indians, Haiti's occupation triggered an insurrection, and the United States suzerainty has led to chronic underdevelopment. Though the Dominican religious right's reaction to Brewster's nomination is blatantly homophobic, it points to the fact that social equality for the LGBQT community has now been added to the long list of civilizing efforts by outside powers. Only time will tell how this latest addition will complicate or liberate the lives of Dominicans.


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Chris O'Dowd Sheepishly Admits to Pulling the Meanest Long Con on His Newborn Son
By Cindy Davis | Celebrity | May 6, 2015 |
By Cindy Davis | Celebrity | May 6, 2015 |
This is all at once, both terrible and wonderful. Adorable (who could ever be mad with this guy?) comedian and IT Crowd-er, Chris O'Dowd recently became a father. His baby son is only 15 weeks old, and already the victim of a well-planned Daddyprank. But the best part may be that a) O'Dowd hasn't even told his wife, and b) his delightfully embarrassed demeanor as he tells Conan about the long con his son won't even discover until he's "14 or 15."
Mean, mean, mean! But also damned clever and hilarious. Can you imagine this poor kid's reaction?
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