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Koho Anma
Traditional Japanese Massage & Bodywork
(Japanese Doctor Administering Anma Therapy)
Junen Ho - Kneading Method
Appaku Ho - Pressure Method
Kenbiki Ho - Point Rocking Method
Kyosei Ho - Adjustment Method
Anma Tebiki 按摩手引
Written by Fujibayashi Ryohaku in 1835 during the early Edo period.
Introduction page of the Anma Tebiki
Anpuku Zukai 按腹圖解
(Illustrated Manual of Abdominal Massage) written by Shinsai Ota in 1827.
Anpuku technique: Konki (descending energy) method of adjusting the Ki of the abdomen.
Anma 按摩 means to press 按 (An) and rub 摩 (Ma). It also means to spread peace by rubbing or to calm with the hands. Anma is one of the oldest forms of massage in the world, and it is the oldest form of bodywork in the orient. This therapy comes from ancient China and is at least 7000 years old. Some speculate that Anma's true origins lie in India and is well over 10,000 years old. Anma was first brought to Japan by warrior monks from China through Korea about 1,500 years ago. In China this therapy is pronounced Anmo. When Anmo was brought to Japan the technique was further refined and developed into its own therapeutic art form. Over the years Anma has influenced the birth of many other forms of massage. Such as Shiatsu, Tuina and Swedish Massage.
Anma traditionally was the base of all oriental medical training. Anma techniques develop the sensitivity of the practitioner's hands which is considered crucial for the proper application of other areas of medicine. Traditionally one had to train in Anma for three years before beginning any other areas of training such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, etc. which required seven years of training.
Anma therapy is based on the principles of Oriental Medicine. This ancient healing art uses special techniques to stimulate key points (Tsubo) on the surface of the skin to promote the body's natural self healing abilities. When these points are stimulated they release muscular tension which facilitates the circulation of blood and energy (Kiketsu). This is the intention of Anma massage.
Unlike Western Massage, Anma utilizes no oils, can be done through the clothing with the client either sitting or lying down. Also this therapy can be applied anywhere and at anytime. One can also learn to give Anma to oneself or others. This makes Anma an extremely flexible style of massage, suitable to a wide variety of client needs and environments.
Development of Anmo in China:
Development of Anma in Japan:
Anma in Japan for the most part developed separately from the Chinese Anmo tradition. There are a number of kinds of techniques that are only found in the Japanese form of Anma. In Japan, Anma eventually went into the formation of the art of Shiatsu. This is similar to how the art of Tuina was created in China. Some of the categories of Anma techniques were combined together to create a new art. In this manner, a number of arts were created using the techniques of Anma. Even Swedish massage was created using the 7 core techniques of Anma.
Schools of Anma in Japan:
The main traditions or schools of Anma in Japan are:
Most schools of Anma alive today can be traced back the the Fujibayashi Ryu 藤林流.
In Japan, Anma was practiced in government-sponsored hospitals. Anma as a unique system was founded in 1320 by Akashi Kan Ichi. Anma was popularized in the seventeenth century by acupuncturist Sugiyama Waichi, and around the same time the first books on the subject, including Fujibayashi Ryohaku's Anma Tebiki (Anma Hand Procedures), appeared. The Fujibayashi school is the foundation of modern Anma.
The Effects of Anma Therapy
Anma massage is a way to balance the body and calm irritated nerves. It normalizes sluggish bodily functions and is used to keep the body healthy and strong. Anma reduces tension, increases circulation and revives and rejuvenates the body while enabling the body to also deeply relax. When tensions are released in the body the immune system functions smoothly. This allows the body to adapt to environmental changes and resist illness. Tension in the body is caused by a build up of lactic acid and is a result of fatigue, trauma, stress, chemical imbalances and above all poor circulation. During Anma massage, muscles relax which allows blood and energy (Kiketsu) to flow freely, then toxins are released and eliminated. Unlike Western Medicine, Anma therapy does not ignore simple symptoms of everyday complaints. These symptoms of headache, dizziness, back pains, etc. are considered an expression of the condition of the body as a whole. Anma responds before these symptoms or imbalances can do further damage to the body which leads to "dis-ease".
The Various Uses of Anma Massage
Anma massage compliments your medical care by allowing you to take a vital part in getting and staying well. In addition to maintaining health, Anma can also be used to relieve and prevent sports injuries, compliment chiropractic treatments, and restore and balance the emotions. Psychotherapy patients benefit greatly from this. Since ancient times, Anma has been used as a beauty treatment and has many cosmetic benefits. Such as, beautifying the skin, face, and the eyes. Anma massage therapy is also applied for a wide range of ailments such as, headache, colds, asthma, numbness, high or low blood pressure, constipation, stomach cramps, menstrual irregularity, sexual vitality, and insomnia.
One of the most important uses of Anma is its use in effecting the quality of our breathing. When our breath is shallow, all the body's functions become sluggish. Anma promotes deep long breaths which aids the release of blockages in our energy pathways (Keiraku). This process increases our resistance to illness. Anma is not only used to restore health but is also instrumental in assisting you in discovering your own healing potential. This can at times be an overwhelming blessing.
The Nine Major Technique Categories of Anma
There are nine major categories of techniques within the art of Anma. Seven are original and two were added later on: (Kyosatsu Ho and Haaku Ho). Also, the Kyokute Ho methods are only found within the Japanese tradition of Anma and not in any other art form. Each section allows you to work the body in a uniquely different way. These nine sections create various effects that assist in the achievement of the goals of Anma Therapy. During an Anma massage all nine areas are utilized which creates a very complete full body therapy. In Japan some therapist specialize in applying only three or four sections of techniques in combination for their practice. Another use of Anma techniques is the cultivation of the therapist's own health. As a whole human beings have grown very weak in health, endurance, and we use less of our brain's capacity. Anma techniques are not only designed to help assist the client increase their health but when applied correctly these nine sections of techniques cultivate the therapists health and deepen our consciousness and expand our awareness as well. So Anma massage is also a kind of spiritual practice and meditation which allows one to become a better human being. These techniques are directed at specific Tsubo (vital points) and Keiraku (meridian energy pathways) of the body. Methods of Anpuku 按腹 (abdominal palpitation and therapy), developed by Shinsai Ota in the seventeenth century, are also used. The art of Anma is only one science within many teachings from the tradition of Do-In Ankyo. This was developed by Chinese Taoist Mountain Ascetics, known as Sennin or Jiyujin (Free Men) in Japan.
Precautions For Receiving Anma Massage


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Hatters fans are being invited to watch Nathan Jones' squad in an open training session at Kenilworth Road next Tuesday (August 29).
Entry, via the press gate at the top of Kenilworth Road, and a turnstile on the Maple Road bridge, will be from 9.30am with the training session beginning at 10am.
You'll be able to watch the Luton Town squad go through their drills from the main stand enclosure, with the main kiosk open for supporters to purchase refreshments.
Junior Diamond Season ticket holders will receive a voucher for free entry for themselves and an accompanying adult in the post this week. This voucher will also allow a complimentary hot dog or burger and drink.
The training session is open to anyone else for a nominal £1 fee, which will be donated to our new club charity of the year – Transitions UK.
A club spokesman said: "We look forward to seeing you at Kenilworth Road next Tuesday!"

subset: commoncrawl


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Jessica Swale's Nell Gwynn is a historical drama about the life of the seventeenth-century actress who rose from obscure roots to win the heart of King Charles II. It was first performed at Shakespeare's Globe, London, on 19 September 2015. The play received its West End premiere at the Apollo Theatre, London, on 12 February 2016 (previews from 4 February), produced by Nica Burns, Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Paula Marie Black. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2016.
The play is set in the 1660s, after the ascension to the throne of Charles II. It begins in the playhouse in Drury Lane, London, where Nell Gwynn is an 'orange hawker' whose quick wit and remarkable beauty soon get her noticed. When she takes to the stage as an actress, she causes merry havoc in a traditionally male world, and soon comes to the attention of the King. But can her charm and spirit protect her from the dangers of the Court?
The premiere at Shakespeare's Globe was directed by Christopher Luscombe and designed by Hugh Durrant, with a cast including Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Nell and David Sturzaker as King Charles II.
The production transferred to the West End with Gemma Arterton taking over the role of Nell.
An earlier version of the play was performed by students at LAMDA, as part of the 2014 Long Project, directed by Raz Shaw.


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Salutations, We all know that 2016 wasn't the best year in the history of time for several reasons, but I … More
Tag: science
A Cure for Stutters?
Salutations, After an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas break, on Thursday I started back at school. Today I read an article … More
Chemistry and Energy Lecture
Salutations, Today I visited the Open University to attend a lecture titled : 'Chemistry and Energy: from Steam to Nuclear … More
Drugs, Genes & Vampires
Salutations, Today at Science Journal Club, I read a very unusual article named, 'The ten strangest ideas in science.' I … More


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by Ali Washington | Meditation. If you are thinking of yourself or someone you know sitting on the floor with their legs crossed and their eyes closed right now, then you are like the majority of the western world who sees this picture when they think of meditation. What Is Meditation? While it is possible to be in a meditative state ...Read More »
Home » Tag Archives: Meditation Will Encourage You To Love Yourself More


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EPA-Estimated MPG
Cargo Space
9951 Coors Blvd. NW
Directions Albuquerque, NM 87114
If you're in the market for a high-end sports car at an affordable price, look no further than the 2017 Nissan 370Z in Albuquerque. Emphasizing driving precision and superb styling, the new 370Z is a smaller sports car that boasts an energetic engine and agile handling - two qualities that are hard to find in larger two-door vehicles.
Featuring an exterior design that is incredibly aerodynamic and handsome, the new 370Z is a head turner for sure, but it goes much further than its good looks. As many 2017 Nissan 370Z reviews point out, the car is extremely nimble, making it easy to conquer even the curviest of roads. In addition, it offers car buyers plenty of styling options that are tailored to fit a large group of sports car fanatics.
The new 370Z is offered as a as a hatchback coupe or soft-top convertible (Roadster). The coupe is available in the following grades: base, Sport, Touring, Sport Tech, Nismo and Nismo Tech. The Roadster comes in base, Touring and Touring Sport trims. Each one offers a wide variety of features and technologies, including automatic climate control, heated mirrors, navigation and Bluetooth phone connectivity. In addition, a 7-inch touchscreen and an eight-speaker Bose audio system can be found on upper models.
Powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that makes 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, several 2017 Nissan 370Z reviews praise the vehicle's high-end power. The automaker's exclusive SynchroRev Match technology is mated to the car's manual gearbox that is found on Sport coupes and Touring Sport roadsters. A seven-speed automatic is offered on all 370Z coupes and is standard on the base 370Z Roadster.
Being able to firmly grip the road is an important function for vehicles to possess, especially sports cars. That's why Nissan has equipped every 370Z with stability and traction control, which significantly improves handling. Roadster models also get airbags that extend upward for enhanced head protection during a car accident.
To find out more about the 2017 Nissan 370Z in Albuquerque, please contact us or stop by our dealership, and one of our friendly associates will be happy to help answer all your inquiries.
Sorry, we do not currently have any featured inventory on our website.
Please call 866-559-7058 for further assistance.
If you've been searching for car models like the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger near Albuquerque, you should think about the 2017 Nissan 370Z. Its bounty of features and welcoming personality may be just what you need in an everyday vehicle. After using our 2017 Nissan 370Z review and compare page, view the latest exclusive offers online!
Interested in a Nissan 370Z and looking for amazing manufacturer incentives? If so visit us pronto! It's paramount to make a self-assured choice when deciding on a car, and we hope our 2017 Nissan 370Z review offers help when it comes to this. Scan through our vast selection of Nissan 370Z models online. Then visit Reliable Nissan for a test drive. Before stopping by, you can take a peek at its premium cabin amenities by viewing the embedded video walk-around.
Purchase prices do not include tax, title, license and $299.00 dealer transfer service fee. Prices include the listed rebates and incentives. Please verify all information. We are not responsible for typographical, technical, or misprint errors. Inventory is subject to prior sale. Contact us via phone or email for more details. *MPG Based on 2017 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery-pack age/condition, and other factors.


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Digital Curriculum Resources:
Thalit Sqwelqwel – Stories of Truth
Locally developed Residential School Curriculum Website for students and teachers from Kindergarten through to grade 12.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada presented its 94 Calls to Action in December 2015. Call to Action #63 (i) included: Developing and Implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve Curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal Peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of Residential Schools. This website is a direct result of this call to action. The goal of this effort is to build student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect. Please visit https://greatspirithand.com and continue your journey towards Reconciliation today!
British Columbia Digital Classroom (Grade K-12 ERAC Resources):
MPSD has purchased a collection of excellent digital resources for use by staff and students. We are currently testing these links and the log-ins. Please contact your teacher if you have difficulty accessing any of the sites or if the log in for your school does not work.
Access to more EBSCO Resources:
Examples include: Canadian Points of View, Canadian Student Research Centre, Student Research Centre (High School/Middle School), Explora Canada, Novelist Plus, Literature Reference Centre, Explora Educator Edition, Poetry and Short Story Reference Centre.
Access EBSCO Magazines :
- Jack and Jill: Health focus (US) (Ages 7-10)
- Ask: Science focus (US)
- Canadian Geographic: (Physical, Human, Historical Geography, Earth Science, Social Studies)
- ChildArt: (US) (Ages 8-12) (Critical Thinking, Creativity)
- Cricket: (US) (Ages 6-14) (Literacy, Promotes love of reading)
- Fun for Kidz: (US) (Children's Interst)
- Highlights: (US) (Children's Interest) (Connections to Science, Arts, Social Studies)
- Horse and Rider (US): (Equestrian sports) (Physical Education, Passion Projects, Animal Science)
- Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids (Ages 7-11) (Social Studies)


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Reuben Faloughi, DE
6-5, 220, Martinez GA (Evans HS), True Freshman
I had to rearrange some players to make room to include this player in the Countdown, given the noise he has been making so far in offseason drills, and looking early into fall camp. Of Nigerian descent, Faloughi was being considered for scholarships by UConn and Vanderbilt, but ultimately took UGA up on its offer as a preferred walk-on. He has excellent grades and is at UGA on the Hope Scholarship. Based on what we've heard so far, he might have an athletic scholarship before we know it. Supposedly he has been giving the first team tackles fits thus far.
Depth Chart Analysis: It is hard to imagine Faloughi seeing time this year given his size, but given the way the defensive ends performed last year, there may be a hint of desperation if things don't improve early this season. If I had to lay money on it, I'd say he gets a redshirt this year. But there's a good possibility he'll be a significant contributor at some point in future seasons.
Famous #40s in UGA history: FB Theron Sapp
Monday, July 27, 2009
Countdown to UGA-OSU: 40 Days (Reuben Faloughi)
Posted by JJ at 6:08 PM
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ReConsidering Russia Part 1: Russia Today
Joining us is Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog and Podcast, at seansrussiablog.org. He has a PhD in Russian History from UCLA.
Sean helps us dive into the nitty gritty about what's actually going on with Russia today. We ask:
-Who's in charge? How does Russia's leadership work?
-Why is United Russia so popular?
-What's the economy really look like?
-How corrupt is Russia?
-How do Russians feel about the world?
-What's the plan in Ukraine? How's it going?
-What about the Syria intervention?
-Did Russia manipulate US elections?
-Why is Russia picking a fight with NATO?
-What common narratives about Russia just don't make sense?
Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy


text: Home Live From The Trailer Park Podcast Episode 4 – Wal-Mart StuffJolene Skrimshaw on Facebook HoaxesEpisode 3 – Finding Your PorpoiseEpisode 2 – Elwood talks crazy check-out women, samples and Hugh McTaggartEpisode 1: Getting To Know Elwood Contact firstname.lastname@example.com Facebook Podcast Page Facebook Personal Page Twitter Patreon Almost True. Sorta. Shut-up Stupid PeopleLittle man disease, or banty rooster syndrome. Or, why are you so mad little fella?Your Political Opinion and Other Crap I Don't Care AboutWhere I wasA Visit From Lute Fenwick – A Trailer Park Christmas PoemCousin Turbo and Other People Who Don't Facebook RightHow to survive your family at ThanksgivingTop Scary Movies (picked by 3 drunk fellers)Elwood's Rules for Deer CampWorst Halloween Candy Share this:TweetEmailPrint


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I have always enjoyed soft toy sculpture, whether it be toy animals or dolls, due to the infinite opportunities this medium affords for creativity, originality and self-expression, as well as the way that the further the project develops, the more it takes on a life of its own!
My soft toy journey started with Edward and Rosie, two bears I made for my young daughters at a workshop in Hobart.
A stint at the Steiner school introduced me to Steiner dolls, felt and wool fairies and animals and hobby horses.
When the children were older, I attended another weekend workshop in Armidale with Helen Gould, where I made a classic country rag doll, Country Sally. My 8 year old daughter had to join me on the Saturday afternoon, as her Dad was busy and the other participants and Caroline were so enamoured with each other that they made her a mini doll for her to dress and decorate on the Sunday (white-haired doll on the right). It resulted in a further Mother-and-Daughter workshop for Mothers Day, where my two daughters and I made three delightful dolls based on Helen's pattern Petal and Flower Bud. Jen made a green doll, Caro a blue doll and mine is in the middle!
After that experience, there was no stopping them. Ten year old Jenny went on to make me another doll for my birthday (the remaining doll in the Country Sally photo) and the two girls enjoyed crafting Christmas angels on the kitchen table.In late August 2000, I treated myself with a good friend to Millenium Madness, the first Doll-O-Rama Cloth Doll Symposium at Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, in Brisbane, Queensland. It was wonderfully stimulating and creative! See if you can find me! We were given a showbag of goodies, including a cute sun badge, each one unique.
We had to take along a small brooch for a pin doll swap on registration. I replaced my Wollomombi Wock Wallaby (a play on the rock wallabies, who lived in the nearby Wollomombi Gorge, NSW) with a beaded totem doll made by well-known dollmaker Lynne Butcher (http://members.tripod.com/lynne_butcher/index.html).
There were fabulous displays, competitions, shopping bazaars with all manner of wonderful doll making paraphernalia and a huge variety of workshops. I enjoyed three totally different courses. My first workshop was a Felting Madness with Ann Maullin (http://gumnutdolliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/2009/07/ann-maullin-oriental-dance.html and http://annmaullin.blogspot.com/), who had beautiful dolls in sea colours and a lovely manner. Here is a photo of my friend and I on the right with Ann Maullin (yellow tshirt) and two other students.Geraldene Just was next with her highly creative Shellyback Bogles, mythical creatures who arrived from Scotland as stowaways in the convict ships' ballast and went on to colonise the drains and sewers of Brisbane. Because they lived in dark places, their colours were dull and neutral, their character relying more on textures and feel.
It was a full-on fast workshop with no time for cutting threads or tidying up ends, as Geraldine was keen for us to go home with a finished sculpture, plus the requirements list had been a bit sparse, so a few of us found the whole process slightly stressful, but after being given some of the missing materials required and getting to the decorating stage, I relaxed and got lost in the wonderful world of imagination! I had taken in an old broken metal steamer, which came in very handy as a metal collar for my warrior of the drains, who cleaned old bird nests off the sewer walls with an old toothbrush.
Another concern Geraldine had was the fact that all the bogles might look the same, but she need not have worried. All took on different appearances and personas, depending on the materials used and their makers' different personalities. I have noticed this trait time and time again when doing workshops with other participants. See how different they all are!
I enjoyed making this creature so much that I made him a bride when I returned home.
My final workshop, Amazing Annie, was with the bubbly, energetic and enthusiastic Jane Coughlan (http://clothdollpatterns.com/patterns2/id32.htm and https://dollmakersjourney.com/coughlan.html) with her humorous dolls, which shared their designer's happiness and joy. However, I was exhausted by this stage, so never finished this doll. It certainly was a memorable experience and a great way to celebrate the first year of the new millennium!Another very happy and joyful dollmaker, who shares my love of colour, is another American dollmaker, Patti Medaris Culea (http://www.pmcdesigns.com/). My daughters and I met her at a Craft Show in Sydney in February 2002 (photo above) and I own a number of her books.
Jodie Carleton (http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/) of Ric Rac taught me to make her toy elephants Parsley and Beet at a workshop in Ballarat (see photo below) and I also attended a weekend workshop in 2011 with Melly and Me (https://www.mellyandme.com/) and other textile artists at Peppers, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford.
I also booked in for a workshop with the highly imaginative and creative American doll artist, Akira Blount, at the Geelong Fibre Forum 2011, but unfortunately had to cancel, much to my everlasting regret, as I have since found out she died in 2013. Here is her obituary: http://www.923wnpc.com/cgi-bin/newspost/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1375876604.
She really created some amazing and original artworks, which you can see in her gallery: https://www.akirastudios.com. I particularly loved her work from 2001 to 2004. Below is a selection of toys I have made over the years…
I really enjoy toymaking and while I get many of my patterns online or commercially, I also own a number of books in my craft library.
So, the next three book posts will cover felt toys and animals; soft toy dolls; and finally, sewing with children.


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– Heartwood Path Waypoint 1.113 –
Unlock Your Subconscious Mind
The following activity is a way to experience the benefits of building the circuitry between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Doing so will show you a simple yet effective way to unlock barely noticeable memories, notions, and information in your subconscious mind. Use this activity to increase your creativity, evoke relaxation, and help you to fall asleep. It will also help you deal with low to moderate traumas and nagging feelings of depression. For serious depression, for mood swings that last longer than a month, or for any psychological malady beyond mild post-traumatic stress, seek out the assistance of a psychologist (to obtain a diagnosis and begin psychotherapy) or, if needed, a psychiatrist (if medications are needed).
The following activity involves a do-it-yourself method of EMDR--Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This psychotherapeutic method helps with emotional healing and lack of creativity. "When the process is complete, the brain has discarded the distorted subjective experience that had overwhelmed and remain frozen in the patient and replaced it with a positive perception of present reality" (Grand, 2001, p. 35). EMDR's hallmark is the movement of the patients' eyes from left to right repeatedly. This helps the patient because as the eyes move from left to right and right to left they simulate both sides of the brain. The "alternating bilateral stimulation enhances communication between the left and the right brains" (Grand, 2001, 24). This bilateral stimulation allows "the brain to reevaluate information frozen in a system that was overwhelmed at the time of the traumatic event" (Grand, 2001, 24).
Try it even if you are not aware that you need such healing. Doing so may reveal buried wounds that are adversely affecting your life, even if you are not presently aware that they exist.
I have tried EMDR and have found it to work amazingly well at revealing hidden sources of stress. It also was a good way for me to relieve the low-grade but persistent physical symptoms of emotional trauma.
EMDR helped me with an unnoticed trauma that I was not aware was affecting my life. After six one-hour sessions of eye movement therapy, I discovered that I had buried emotional trauma from some neglect I experienced in my early childhood and, to make up for my feelings of being neglected (and, therefore, not mattering to my parents), I have overcompensated by being a persistent nurturer in an attempt to matter, after all.
Be sure to do the following activity. EMDR will help you recover from emotional and psychological trauma (which many people have, perhaps subconsciously). Uncovering such trauma may be a critical step towards achieving success in your life. Doing the following EMDR activity repeatedly may also prepare your brain circuitry for any future samadhi meditations (like those at Waypoint 55 in the next Heartwood Path course).


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A little over 5 years ago, Adam and I adopted two cats, who we named JPEG and MPEG (suggested by a good friend with a cat named Pixel). Being young-ish shelter cats, they were the same size when we got them, but they grew into their names with MPEG becoming the larger, more active cat.
|MPEG (left) and JPEG (right)
Over the last two days, we were investigating JPEG's recent stomach troubles and why he'd been sporadically vomiting and losing weight, and why diet changes seemed to have no impact. He got an ultrasound on Friday, October 30, which revealed a "poorly encapsulated" mass mostly blocking his GI tract, and nodules and fluid in his abdomen. We were emailed a terrible "J-PEG.pdf" full of passive doctor language and cryptic medical words that basically spelled out BAD NEWS, CAN'T FIX. He had been sedated for the ultrasound, and he was awake when we brought him home, but that evening, he struggled to recover from the anesthesia. We brought him to an emergency vet around 5am on Halloween, two blocks away from where I lived when I first adopted JPEG. He was in poor shape, with a 10% chance of surviving the weekend until we got more biopsy results, so we decided to let him go. We couldn't have known how bad his sickness was until we did this ultrasound, and unfortunately, he was too sick to bounce back from that procedure.
Adam and I sifted through all my online photos for the past 5 years, pulling out 200+ .jpgs of JPEG to post on facebook, but I wanted to specifically highlight JPEG's participation in my image processing and computer vision hacking throughout the years.
JPEG, the computer vision muse:
|JPEG, working hard at the computer while sitting on my lap
|JPEG reading a research paper
|MPEG and JPEG learning about recursion.
That Time Picasa Detected JPEG's Face
Normally, I don't use Picasa. But once day, I let Picasa try to detect faces in my photos... so guess who's kitty face greeted me when I scanned through the results (I still have no idea who those people in the adjacent pictures are):
|Picasa face detection - Who's a kitty!
Picasa actually detected several JPEG faces.
|Faces of JPEG the cat, as detected by Picasa
I took screenshots of the hilarity, and Picasa recursively went and recognized JPEG's face in those new images, until there were TONS OF JPEG FACES:
Another time, I wanted to understand OpenCV's object detection and train my own detector. I wrote a blog post here. Basically, I figured out OpenCV's pipeline for training a new detector, but I didn't give it good enough data to make it work. Here is JPEG stealing magnets off the fridge, and the detector firing on his butt.
|OpenCV cat-butt-detector
That Time JPEG Helped Me Play With Live Face Detection
One time, I was experimenting with Jason Saragih's realtime face detector (now maintained by Kyle McDonald), available here on GitHub.
|Sitting on the couch, trying out the face tracker, under JPEG's supervision.
Of course, JPEG and Adam wanted to try it, too.
|JPEG's face, loved by computers
|JPEG is less impressed with a face being detected on his arm.
That Time JPEG Was HUGE!
I saw this on the internet once and had to recreate it. Adam's biggest question: "How did you hold the camera??" (One of these hanging on a mirror.)
|Look how big JPEG is!! Just kidding.
Those Times JPEG Helped Me Make Panoramas
Of course, JPEG was there when I discovered panorama mode on my camera.
|JPEG is chilling on the ledge in the kitchen (left)
|JPEG finally being larger than MPEG, thanks to panorama magic.
That Recent Time JPEG Was The Subject of DEEP DREAM
Adam and I wanted to run Deep Dream code ourselves, so we used this ipython notebook and this docker setup that we ran on Digital Ocean.
|Original image: JPEG liked to bring this stuffed penguin around the house.
|Eyes and faces everywhere!!
|Visualizing one of those lower edgy-layers.
|Visualizing a different, low level wiggly layer.
That Time You Read A Blog Post About My Cat
This last picture has nothing to do with computer vision, it's just a time that JPEG got out on the deck of our 3rd floor apartment and then got on the roof to explore and chase pigeons.


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Thirty-five cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in north Queensland, with health authorities investigating another seven probable cases.
Public health physician Stephen Donohue said 18 cases were from inner-residential areas in Charters Towers, while the other 17 were from Townsville.
"This is a worrying and very unusual trend for this time of year," Dr Donohue said.
He urged residents in affected areas to rid their properties of stagnant water to prevent the insects breeding, and urged them to spray dark areas where they like to inhabit.
"We really need the community to help stop this outbreak from worsening," he said.


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Be sure to read the Ceramic Coating Break-In Procedure!
All prices below are estimates only. Prices are subject to change upon inspection. The price minimum for any job is $50.
Additional charges apply to the colors Glacier Chrome & White. The Glacier Chrome needs to be polished after being sprayed and the White is a two coat process.
Automotive Part Description Price starting at:
V8 Long Tube Headers $250.00 pair
V8 Short Tube Headers $225.00 pair
V8 Cast Exhaust Manifolds $160.00 pair
V6 Long Tube Headers $225.00 pair
6 cyl. 1 Piece Long Tube Header $150.00
V6 Cast Exhaust Manifolds $150.00 pair
4 cyl. Long Tube Header $125.00
4 cyl. Short Tubular Header $100.00
4 cyl. Cast Exhaust Manifold $80.00
Muffler $50.00-$75.00
Turbo Housing $75.00
O2 Housing/Turbo Outlet $60.00
Heat Shield $40.00-$60.00
Exhaust Piping $16.00 per foot up to 2"
Exhaust Piping $18.00 per foot 2"-3"
Exhaust Piping $20.00 per foot 3"-4"
Exhaust Piping $24.00 per foot 4"-5"
Automotive Ceramic Coating Prices
Be sure to read the Ceramic Coating Break-In Procedure!


text:
The Department for Infrastructure has vowed to look into concerns about safety at a busy road junction in the centre of Banbridge.
A series of prangs and near misses have prompted calls for clarification over who has right of way on Dromore Street, heading towards Dromore Road, near the turn-off for Ballymoney Hill where the road narrows and drivers are forced to filter into one lane.
The carriageway is marked with a large arrow indicating that traffic should merge from the right, but it seems some road users in the town are still confused about who has right of way.
Some motorists in the town have suggested that the left lane is for drivers going up Ballymoney Hill, while the right is for those heading out of town towards the A1 dual carriageway. However, others are adamant that that isn't the case, and that those in the left hand lane have priority as traffic has to merge from the right as the road becomes single carriageway.
John McCourt, who runs a furniture shop on Dromore Street, said road traffic collisions and near misses are a regular occurrence at the junction.
"Everyday you hear the horns going and drivers arguing about who has right of way. Everyone is complaining about it so Roads Service (now TransportNI) are going to have to do something about it. There have been a lot of minor incidents, but it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt," he commented.
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart revealed that she has been contacted by a number of concerned road users about the "confusing" junction.
"This is, in my opinion, a very confusing junction and I believe that TransportNI need to work towards informing the public better about the rights and wrongs of using the junction in question.
"I have consulted with TransportNI and am seeking a meeting at the junction. I will be in a better position to better inform the public after this meeting takes place," she said.
Responding to the concerns raised, a spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure commented: "The department is aware of concerns at this location and will review them. This junction has always been operational in this manner and motorists should follow the guidance indicated by the road markings and sign."


text:
You bet I do!
I've been working really hard at getting better at pull-ups and there's a reason: They are one of the BEST upper body exercises you can do!
I went from doing ZERO to being able to do multiple reps assisted, and now I can do multiple sets of 5-10 during a workout circuit. I'm going to teach you how to do it, too! This was 8 months after having Quinn…it is possible!
It's not everyday you see a girl hammering out a few (or more) in a row, but us ladies need to be working on lifting our body weight. It's not only important for our health and posture, but it is key to creating the sexy back and sculpted arms we all long for. So why don't we focus on pull-ups?
Easy! They are hard for us. The center of mass for our body is our hips, legs and booty! A man has broad shoulders, a broad chest and narrow hips which means his center of mass is higher (plus more muscle) and this makes it easier for them to do a pull-up.
The best time to start is yesterday…
Dead Hang
Try just hanging with regular grip and reverse grip. Just a dead hang gives you some grip and forearm strength. While hanging, focus on keeping your core tight and look up at the bar. Once you can do this a few times for more than 30 seconds, it's time to move on.
Dead Hang > Packed Shoulders
Start your hang and then pull your shoulders down and back to lift your self into a "packed" position. Watch this awesome video demonstration. Once you are able to do 10-15 reps of this movement, try moving on.
Dead Hang > Packed Shoulders > Pull
Now that you are hanging and are able to engage your lats by packing your shoulders, try pulling up as much as you can. It's okay if you only come half way or even one inch. The idea behind this is to work your way up. In a few weeks of practicing this, you will be able to do more. **Remember, no swinging or using momentum!**
Dead Hang > Packed Shoulders > Pull (with assistance)
You can also try adding some assistance like a chair or Chin-Up Max bands that I own. I love them to decrease resistance or add a little assistance with just sliding the strap.
Dead Hang > Packed Shoulders > Pull
Go for it. All the way up! How many can you do? Keep track for a few weeks and that is going to increase!
Negatives You may also want to try starting at the top with your chin above the bar and lowering slowly. Keep your legs straight and core tight! Lower as slowly as possible until you are at the bottom.
Eventually, you will be a pull-up QUEEN! Seriously, check out all these fun variations from the awesome Tony Horton.
Tomorrow, I am going to post a home workout for you that will help you strengthen the muscles that are key to doing a pull-up. We NEED to be working toward being able to lift ourselves with just our upper body strength, and in order to do it, we have to focus on strengthening a few key areas of the body such as upper body (biceps, forearms, shoulders) back and lats, as well as our core.
Stay tuned!
What fitness move have you greatly improved on?
Are you able to do at least ONE pull-up?
Do you think women should be doing pull-ups?
If you are a pull-up pro, what is your favorite move? I love vaulters and the W!


text:
Full Demo
September 11, 2017
Full Download:(File Size: 558MB, Unpacked Size: 0KB, Amount of Files: 0)
'Urban Chillout' from Equinox Sounds features five Construction Kits and 28 one-shot samples for producers looking to combine Hip Hop and Trap beats with lush and atmospheric Chillout and Downtempo sounds to create laid-back urban moods.
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Each Kit offers a complete mix of the particular groove for demonstrative purposes followed by it's component parts and labelled with the original key and tempo when recorded.
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All the Kits include all the separate elements such as synth hooks, guitars, keys, basslines, pads, synths, FX, and more.
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The collection also includes the MIDI files for the melodic parts of the Construction Kits.
Product Details:
Construction Kits
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text:
There is no problem, so there is no answer. A DLYW status comes because the program runs a DLYJOB command.
"DLY-5" is not a valid status. That would be the 'Function'. It indicates that the DLYJOB is set for a 5 second delay.
If you don't want a program to have a delay, then don't execute a DLYJOB command.
If none of your programming includes a DLYJOB command, then the command is running in some control function such as a routing program. In that case, you need to ask your system administrator about it. There is nothing you can do without help from your administrator.
So far, there is no problem. DLYW and MSGW aren't problems. They are normal states. If your programming does not have a DLYJOB function nor a RCVMSG function, then you need to run DSPJOB to look at the call stack to see what program is at the bottom of the stack.
A MSGW status could indicate that a problem happened if the job is waiting on a reply from QSYSOPR, but you need to supply us with the message ID that the job is waiting on. If there is no message ID, then there is no problem.


text:
Instructions: Answer the 7 questions by clicking on the appropriate check box. To total your score, click on "Step 1. Calculate." To print your quiz, click on "Step 2. Print to PDF." To view your results, click on "Step 3. See Your Quiz Results."
To print a blank quiz, click on "Print Blank Quiz."
Date: 1/29/2020
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Support Us By Becoming A Reaction Room Patron Or VIC Member
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Join our mailing list, listen to our podcast, visit The SMARKetplace, access the Patron Only/VIC Area by becoming a Patron or VIC member of The Reaction Room universe!
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World Federalists of Canada
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Issues Action Briefing Paper No. 45
February, 1999
Stabilizing the world economy: Tobin Tax may be best bet
We are currently in the midst of economic turmoil involving several
Asian countries (Thailand, Japan, South Korea), Russia, and Mexico;
Brazil is threatened. There is great concern that this economic turmoil
could envelope other countries, including Canada, the US, Europe,
eventually the World. The turmoil has been economically, socially and
politically devastating in those countries it has hit, causing
widespread loss of jobs, poverty for millions, sometimes even
starvation. With economic collapse, governments lose control of their
economic policies. Revenue to pay for much needed social programs
(health, education) dries up.
Can anything be done about this? We must first understand the causes of
this turmoil, and then learn something about the advantages and
disadvantages of various possible remedies.
One important cause of the turmoil is international currency
speculation. Speculators can profit from buying and selling large
amounts of money in different countries' currencies as the exchanges
vary, even if they vary only slightly.
Here's a simplistic example of how it works. Suppose you had a million
Canadian dollars to invest, and you have just heard on the early morning
radio that new figures show the unemployment rate in Canada has risen,
again. You decide this probably means the value of the Canadian dollar
relative to the U.S. dollar will dip later in the day, but only
temporarily. Therefore you quickly turn your million Canadian dollars
into U.S. $634,500 at an exchange rate of 63.45. Sure enough, a few
hours later you hear that the value of the Canadian dollar has fallen to
63.42 cents U.S.. Quickly you turn your U.S. dollars back into Canadian
dollars - you can buy more of them now because they're cheaper than they
were that morning, so instead of the million Can. dollars you started
with, you now have $1,000,473. Of course these are still worth only U.S.
$634,500, but by the following morning the panic over the unemployment
rate has evaporated, as you expected, the Can dollar is worth 63.45
again, and if you wanted to change your Canadian dollars back into
American ones, you'd now have U.S. $634,800. However you look at it,
you've made $473 Canadian, or $300 U.S. in 24 hours. That's not a bad
day's pay! Keep it up for 300 days of the year, and you'll have made Can
$141,900, even if you've spent each day's profit along the way, and not
added it to your $1 million capital. That's an annual interest rate of
There are several things to note. First, the fluctuation in the
exchange rate on which you've made so much money was only 3/10ths of a
percent, or 0.03%. Second, to make your two transactions worthwhile,
they had to be done in a very short time (because the difference in
exchange rates was so small). You had to gamble on how currencies would
change value, which is why this marketplace has become known as the
"Global Casino". Third, your overnight "investment" in American dollars
did nothing to improve American manufacturing or production. Not all
investment is like this; much of it is longer term and beneficial.
In the example, only a million dollars was transferred, but in total
the daily transactions of this sort exceed U.S. $1.4 trillion! The
"sloshing about", as it has been described, of so much money can have
devastating repercussions on national economies. If, for instance,
everyone holding Thai bahts, hears that the value of the baht is likely
to fall, they will start selling them. Since nobody wants bahts, their
value tumbles. When this happens in countries with strong economies,
their central banks buy back their own money, using reserves of U.S.
dollars (or now maybe Euros) which they are holding for that purpose.
Countries with weaker economies, and Thailand is one of them, don't have
enough reserves to prevent the value of their currency from crashing.
Even strong but small economies can have trouble maintaining a
reasonably stable exchange rate. The result is that overnight the cost
of all imported goods in the affected country can become prohibitively
expensive for the common person. The populace and the economy can be
devastated; political instability can follow.
Obviously there are good reasons for wanting to prevent the speculative
short-term buying and selling of different currencies to prevent this
sort of devastation. There's more than one possible remedy. We'll
quickly look at several of them, before examining an apparently
promising one - the "Tobin Tax" - in more detail.
There are various methods of regulating international capital flows, of
which some major ones are: 1) currency exchange rate controls, 2) direct
controls on capital in- and outflow, 3) national and international taxes
on currency transfers.
Currency exchange rate controls limit the volume or price at which a
currency may be traded. Fixed exchange rates lead to black markets if
the market value of the currency differs much from the pegged value.
Floating exchange rates can be controlled to some extent by a country's
central bank buying or selling foreign currency to protect the value of
its money, as outlined above, or by adjusting interest rates on
government held bonds.
Many countries impose direct controls on capital moving in and out by
making investors adhere to requirements such as a minimal time for
investments, or the type of industry to be invested in. Such controls
can be difficult and complex in practice, but Chile has used it
effectively. (They would likely have become illegal under the
Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI), a controversial
international treaty which was recently shelved following protests from
numerous citizens groups around the world.)
That leaves taxes. Taxes can be imposed upon transfer of funds, equity,
bonds, stocks etc. both within and between nations. Nationally imposed
taxes include the "Security Transition Excise Tax" or STET, the
Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) and the Securities Transition Tax
(STT). These national taxes require payment upon the sale of
"securities" (bonds, stocks, etc., but not "capital" or money, per se)
within each country. Because most trading of foreign exchange is for the
purpose of buying or selling these assets, the tax would lessen
volatility in the foreign exchange market. Individual countries can
impose them, and benefit from the proceeds. Many countries have such
taxes, but not Canada or the US.
The "Tobin Tax", proposed by the Nobel Prize winning economist James
Tobin in 1978, if implemented, would be an international tax on currency
transactions and other "exchange equivalents" (things that can be used
instead of money, such as Treasury bills (T bills), and stocks and
bonds). It would be effective in curbing international currency
speculation even if the taxation rate were low; in the example above, a
tax of as little as 0.02% would have removed all profits. However, since
more profitable situations abound, a slightly higher tax, probably
between 0.2% and 0.5%, is suggested as necessary to stop the unwanted
currency speculation.
One problem with any tax is that at the mere word economists,
politicians, and many other people react like the proverbial cat with
its tail in a light socket! Nonetheless, there are such things as "good
taxes", and the Tobin Tax would appear to be one of them. Like all
taxes, it slows commerce; this is usually bad, but in this case it is
precisely what is needed and intended. The commerce being slowed mostly
benefits banks, plus a few individuals or corporations - is there any
reason they shouldn't pay something for benefiting from the system?
Currency stability generally benefits business, and certainly benefits
control of national economic policies. The revenue provided, by one
reasonably and conservative estimate as much as U.S. $54 billion per
year, could pay for much needed social programs in developing countries.
Nevertheless, even if the Tobin Tax is a "good tax", there are
potential problems and difficulties which must be considered before
governments will muster the political will to agree to try and implement
(1) Need for Universality
There is a consensus that to be effective the Tobin Tax must be all but
universal. Unlike the STET, FTT and STT (see above) which can be applied
by individual national governments, the Tobin Tax would have to be
applied by at least a majority of developed countries. If not, currency
transactions would simply move to "tax havens", countries where the tax
is not applied.
However, if a majority of powerful economic countries can be persuaded
the tax is a good thing, there are carrots and sticks available for
encouraging developing countries to comply as well. For instance, some
of the revenues can be turned over to them for social programs (the
carrot); or they can be told the IMF will provide no loans if they run
into financial trouble unless they implement the Tobin Tax (the stick).
Countries applying the Tobin Tax must apply it not only to currency
transfers, but also to other "foreign exchange equivalents" to prevent
evasion of the tax by transferring currency as, say, T-bills instead of
dollars. There is disagreement on how easily people could evade taxation
through tax havens and foreign exchange equivalents, and therefore on
how truly universal the Tax must be. It would depend, in part, on the
rate of taxation: if the rate is sufficiently low, currency traders
might feel the trouble, risk and cost of working through tax havens was
greater than the small amount of tax to be paid. By keeping the tax rate
low, therefore, evasion can be made not worthwhile. The rate of taxation
must, of course, also be universally uniform.
In sum, there would certainly be difficulties getting a majority of
countries to agree to apply the tax to a wide range of transfers and at
a uniform rate, but these difficulties are surmountable.
(2) Collection and Use
The financial industry has the sophisticated technology required for
tracking the kinds of transactions that would need to be taxed.
Computers can be programmed to deposit the tax automatically upon each
transaction in an agreed upon account. Would this 'account' be
administered by the IMF, or World Bank, or some new agency established
for this purpose? A much trickier question would be deciding what
should be done with the revenues. There are literally thousands of
worthy projects and causes, and eyes will glitter at the thought of so
much booty!
(3) Opposition from financiers
The people who would suffer most under such a tax, wealthy investors,
financiers and bankers, have more political clout than any other group
in the world, and some of them are bound to resist. Indeed, some are
already doing so. Decreased bank profits may mean decreased interest
rates on your and my savings in those banks, a fact which opponents of
the tax will doubtless point out. However, other bankers and investors,
remembering the great losses from such things as the Barings Bank
fiasco, see the value of the reduced risk and exchange rate volatility
which this tax would bring.
Powerful opposition should not dissuade attempts to have the tax
implemented. The many environmental, church, labour, women's and other
groups, and their coalitions (such as the Halifax Initiative), which
already support this tax, have a reasonable expectation that democratic
governments will listen to them.
There are some other difficulties in addition to the three major ones
listed above, but they would all appear more easily surmountable.
Canada's Parliament considers the Tobin Tax
A motion (M239) has been brought before the House of Commons by Lorne
Nystrom (NDP Member of Parliament for Regina-Qu'Appelle). Second reading
was scheduled for Feb. 3rd, 1999. A vote on the Motion will take place
some time later in this session of Parliament. The motion calls upon the
government to show leadership in enacting a tax on financial
transactions in concert with the International Community.
The motion is supported by NDP and Bloc Quebecois MPs and,
significantly, by some Liberals (including Tony Valeri, Parliamentary
Secretary to Minister of Finance). A number of non-governmental
organizations and affiliates of the Canadian Labour Congress are
campaigning in support of the Motion.
A motion is not a bill. It does not become law, nor force the government
to act. However, if a motion is adopted by the House, it will help build
political momentum for the idea. Passage of the Motion would strengthen
the hand of the Minister of Finance, Paul Martin, who has supported
Tobin Tax proposals in the past but run into opposition from others from
within his own Ministry as well as G7 allies.
The world badly needs more economic stability, more revenue for social
programs, and more room for increased democratic decision making on
economic policies. G7 governments recognize the inadequacies of present
arrangements. That's why they recently called for "new institutional
architecture" to regulate international finance. (Too bad though that
they can't seem to agree on what this "new architecture" should look
The Tobin Tax would appear to be one of the best, but certainly not the
only, tool for helping to stabilize world economies. Its adoption poses
some difficulties, but none of these seems insurmountable if sufficient
political will can be mustered in support of the idea.
The Motion before Canada's Parliament would help move political opinion
to supporting the Tobin Tax, at least in principle. Experts can then
turn their attention away from dwelling on the theoretical problems of
implementation, to finding ways to overcome these problems and make the
Tobin Tax work.
World Federalist Analysis
Regulation of the global economy in order to promote the public good is
one of the main reasons why World Federalists support the goal of a
democratic, federal world government. Arguably, if we had a world
government, then we would also have the means (taxes, a global currency,
central banking and regulatory structures) to manage the economy and
address global problems, such as poverty and instability in
international financial markets.
However, we don't have a world government. And there is no sign that
this larger goal is about to attain widespread political support in the
foreseeable future. In the meantime, what we do have is an increasingly
interdependent global economy, and a growing roster of global economic
problems which are inadequately addressed by the governance structures
which states have established to date.
The real challenge for World Federalists is to put forward pragmatic
proposals which improve global economic governance, while also being
marketable in the current political context.
The Tobin Tax may be such an idea, one whose time may be coming. Then
again, it may not. What's needed at this stage is more support for the
idea in principle. Governments should commit their support for measures
like the Tobin Tax which would increase international cooperation to
promote the common interest in global economic stability and increased
resources for shared public policy objectives. Once governments are
committed in principle, then the likelihood is greater that some of the
problems associated with implementation of the Tax will be overcome.
Recommended Action
Write polite, constructive letters to your local Member of Parliament
asking him or her to support the Motion (M239) for discussion of the
Tobin Tax. If possible send the letters to your Member's local
constituency office, but otherwise to the House of Commons (where no
stamp is needed). Send a copy of your letter to the Hon. Paul Martin,
Minister of Finance. Letters to Members of Parliament can be mailed to:
House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6.
This paper was prepared by Philip Symons, Victoria and Fergus Watt, WFC
national office, with files from the Sierra Club, The Halifax
Initiative and Friends of the Earth U.S.A.
For more on the Tobin Tax, see the book,
"Good Taxes" by Alex C. Michalos
(1997, Science for Peace, Dundurn Press, Toronto).
World Federalists of Canada
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text:
At first glance, a stage adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days might seem counterintuitive. This 1873 Jules Verne novel is regarded less as a hallmark of literature than as a cracking adventure story set in exotic locales — and unless you're Cameron Macintosh, exotic locales aren't readily recreated on stage. But playwright Mark Brown has done a very clever thing. In lieu of the far-flung, outsized fittings, he's substituted that old standby — Show Biz!
In the Pittsburgh Public Theater production, our hero, Phileas Fogg, and his servant, Passepartout, are played by two actors, and everyone else they meet in their bet to circumnavigate the globe in two-and-a-half months are played by only three other actors. So the show becomes a theatrical event where the manner in which the story is told is — possibly — more interesting than the story itself.
Five actors, two stairwells, five doors and four chairs are shuffled repeatedly to move us through Verne's tale. If you've seen The 39 Steps or The Mystery of Irma Vep, you have a pretty good idea of what you're in for. Though it's perhaps not as "meta-theater" as Irma Vep, what Brown has done is probably the best stage presentation this story could have. We end up rooting not just for Fogg to reach the end of his journey, but also for this company to do the same.
Director Marcia Milgrom Dodge has done a terrific job imbuing the production with drive and lots of high energy. If it drags in the second act, that's only because Brown — or possibly Verne — has overstuffed the story. Dodge, to her credit, almost overcomes that.
She's elicited several strong performances from the cast (though why everyone spends the first 30 minutes shouting their lines I didn't quite understand).
Ron Bohmer's turn as Fogg is so good you might miss how difficult is his task to make this unemotional, "veddy proper" Englishman enjoyable ... which he does. And Richard B. Watson plays his nine different characters with exquisite precision and exacting detail.


text:
There Was A Country, Chinua Achebe's autobiographical account of the Nigerian Civil War, raised a dust storm of reaction in Nigeria. Jeremy Weate suggests the books controversy and power lies outside the simple tectonics of ethnicity.
There Was A Country, Chinua Achebe's autobiographical account of the Nigerian Civil War, has raised a dust storm of reaction in Nigeria and exposed the unprepossessing tectonics of ethnicity. Opinions have been largely divided by differing allegiances either side of the river Niger. What is an outsider to make of it all?
In the celebrated text The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon outlines three phases in the development of the "native intellectual". In the first phase, Fanon writes that "the native intellectual gives proof that he has assimilated the culture of the occupying power […] His inspiration is European and we can easily link up these works with definite trends in the literature of the mother country. This is the period of unqualified assimilation."
This characterisation fits neatly with Chinua Achebe's journey to manhood, as portrayed in his latest work. Although an uncle versed in the old pre-Christian ways piqued the young Achebe's curiosity, his account of his childhood and schooldays is one of being increasingly held within the colonial embrace, in the warm-embered years of the end of empire. The bright lad found favour among British teachers at the prestigious Government College Umuahia, where speaking in any indigenous Nigerian language was strictly forbidden. From Umuahia, he eventually went on to read English literature at University College, Ibadan, alongside fellow student Wole Soyinka. Later, Achebe entitled two of his books after lines in poems by Europeans (Things Fall Apart and No Longer At Ease are both drawn from poems by Yeats). The inspiration for the young writer was Europe, even if, as in the case of Things Fall Apart and Conrad's Heart of Darkness, he was sometimes writing against the European canon and not for it.
Achebe confirms phase one of Fanon's schema in There Was A Country, when he outlines how issues such as imperialism, slavery, independence, gender and racism should be tackled by African writers:
Engaging such heavy subjects while at the same time trying to help create a unique and authentic African literary tradition would mean that some of us would decide to use the colonizer's tools: his language, altered sufficiently to bear the weight of an African creative aesthetic, infused with elements of the African literary tradition.
This personal backstory to Biafra goes some way to explaining a question that Achebe avoids in his latest book (or elsewhere, it seems): why did he never write in Igbo? Or at the very least, experiment with it? Why not write from his own language, rooted in his own culture, rather than that of the coloniser? While this debate is at risk of battle fatigue, it is an issue that must be continuously discussed at a time when many African languages are disappearing or are losing their richness. The question is all the more pressing when one learns that Achebe's first school lessons were in Igbo and that he only started to learn English aged eight. With his deep interest in Igbo culture and oral stories, it seems that Igboland has lost an opportunity to develop its own literary culture. Who knows what might have been, had the English language not been so imperative? Instead, all the richness of Igbo culture and idiom is used to enrich and legitimise the coloniser's language further.
In Fanon's second phase:
we find the native is disturbed; he decides to remember what he is … Past happenings of the bygone days of his childhood will be brought up out of the depths of his memory; old legends will be reinterpreted in the light of a borrowed aestheticism and of a conception of the world which was discovered under other skies.
Elements of the second phase lurk between the lines in There Was A Country. Throughout the book, there is an unresolved tension between the gratitude Achebe feels towards British colonialism (as he experienced it growing up) and a bitter rejection of western influence, especially during the Biafran war. He writes that "the callous interference of the great powers led to great despair and a prolongation of the tragedy." This statement is itself in tension with elsewhere in the book where he expresses appreciation for the role of the French during Biafra.
Achebe's relationship to colonialism and the post-colonial aftermath is clearly complex, if not fully contradictory. In line with Fanon's reference to "old legends", in There Was A Country, Achebe describes what he calls the "era of purity" before the coming of Europe to Africa, with specific reference to an Igbo cultural heritage. It is hard, nonetheless, to reconcile this notion of purity with historical realities. As Achebe himself notes, the origin of the word 'Biafra' is likely to come from the Portuguese and is therefore hardly autochthonic. Why wasn't an Igbo word chosen as the name of the country that never was?
The book has several other examples where claims of cultural purity mask hybridity: Take the reference to nsibidi, an ancient script Achebe rightly attributed to the Ejagham group. Achebe brings nsibidi up in the context of discussing the village of Nnokwa, which "played a vital role in Igbo cosmology". Nsibidi clearly has a complex trans-cultural lineage in southeastern Nigeria, which cannot be reduced to or appropriated by the cosmology of any specific culture in the region. Achebe makes the same mistake again in his note on the relation between the Igbos and minority groups in the Eastern Region. He refers to a "high degree of cultural assimilation among the four major linguistic groups of the area the Igbo, Efik, Ijaw and Ogoja". There is some degree of ontological violence at work here, silencing the other minority tribes of the region, specifically those of the Niger Delta: the Urhobos, the Itsekiris and so on and at the same time not acknowledging the complex heterogeneity of the region beyond the four he privileges.
In general, There Was A Country underplays the internal resistance to the Biafra project within the Eastern Region. For instance, Achebe makes no mention of Isaac Boro, the archetype of today's Niger Delta militant, who during the civil war fought on the side of the Nigerians. Like Boro, there were many in the Niger Delta who had no wish for Igbo hegemony (and the capture of the oil profits) in the region.
In the same vein, Achebe plays down the internal tensions within the Biafran experience in favour of ethnic purity. He makes no mention of what might have been the Osu outcast experience of the war, a 'tradition' that continues in largely unspoken form to this day and a theme in No Longer At Ease. What was the Osu experience of the conflict? Were Osu Igbos integrated within the war effort, or were they marginalised, as in everyday life?
Nor does Achebe refer at any point to other forms of historical internal tensions in Igboland, such as the conscious rejection of being Igbo among Aro and Onitsa groups in pre-independence Nigeria. Given the ascendancy of the Aros in the nineteenth century (due to their control of the slave supply chain), it's difficult, if not impossible to imagine a pan-Igbo identity at work one-hundred or more years ago. Meanwhile, myriad borrowings, exchanges and transfers between the two largest groups of southern Nigeria, the Igbo and the Yoruba, tell their own story of linguistic-cultural hybridity and the lack of a pure essence in the pre-colonial space that is now known as Nigeria. All these themes would trouble the "era of purity" language that Achebe requires when reminiscing about Biafra.
At this point, it is worth giving pause to ask which country There Was A Country refers to: is it Biafra or Nigeria? Of course, the obvious reading is that Achebe is referring to what might have been in the south-east, had secession succeeded. However, an almost equally available interpretation is that he is referring to the Nigeria that never came to be, which is hinted at when he writes that: "Nigeria had people of great quality, and what befell us – the corruption, the political ineptitude, the war – was a great disappointment and truly devastating to those of us who witnessed it."
Here again, the projection of purity is on full display: as if pre-Independence Nigeria were not chockfull with corruption scandals and examples of political ineptitude. We only need review the Lagos Town Council Enquiry of 1953 and the Foster Sutton Enquiry of 1956 (exposing Nnamdi Azikiwe's diversion of the Eastern Region's public funds into the African Continental Bank) to see two examples of corruption that are in a continuum with the outrages of present-day Nigeria. In contrast to other African countries, Nigeria was not blessed with a unified narrative at independence; there was no Nkrumah or Nyerere founding father figure around which a national narrative could be woven. Instead, there was a collection of ethnicities playing along the continuum between late colonial corruption and ineptitude (among both the British and the emergent Nigerian bourgeois elite) and post-independence kleptocracy. Independence was not a rupture with the past in any definitive sense. But then, as other reviews of the book have pointed out, a class analysis of Nigerian is not on prominent display in There Was A Country. A more focused attention on class as opposed to a reification of ethnicity would have exposed the contradictions within the Biafra project.
Although Achebe's desire to project purity onto the Nigeria that existed before the Biafran war is historical fantasy, it nonetheless reveals a deeper emotional truth. Achebe, like many other Igbos, was devastated and marked by what happened during the civil war, and Nigeria could never be the same again: "That night of January 15, 1966, is something Nigeria has never really recovered from." In this respect, There Was A Country serves not as an historical account of a country torn apart (and should not be read as such), but as a painfully poignant and honest memoir of a trauma.
In her recent essay on Biafra, 'Scattered limbs, scattered stories: the silence of Biafra', Bibi Bakare-Yusuf argues that the experience of trauma – especially trauma that has not being worked through – often stimulates a retrospective search for a coherent and pure ethnicity where there was never one, alongside the invention of different stories to make sense of the traumatic experience. The subjective experience of the text reaches its dramatic zenith in the weeks Achebe spent in hiding in Lagos. He writes: "I realised suddenly that I had not been living in my home; I had been living in a strange place." The uncanny morphing of the familiar into the unknown, the surreal flight from danger, the realisation that nothing would be the same again: Achebe's book paints these ghastly segues with bare and bold colours. We should look underneath the surface of facts, events and chronologies to a dispiriting emotional descent into hell that Achebe characterises with deft skill and sparse, simple prose. Despite Achebe being the chief propagandist for Biafra, There Was A Country cannot be simply read as the definitive truth about Biafra. There are many truths and many more narratives still waiting to be written about Africa's first genocide. There Was A Country has to be situated as part of post-traumatic literature of genocide survivors in the tradition of the Jewish writer Primo Levi. The book is a work of trauma in search of resolution.
We can leave to one side some of the issues that have sparked intense debate in earlier reviews of the book, most notably, the role of Yoruba political leader Obafemi Awolowo in the war, and the issue of why the transport corridor that could have brought food into Biafra remained blocked throughout the war, ensuring mass starvation. We can also leave aside the question of whether Igbos are now politically integrated within the Nigerian system (Achebe vehemently thinks not and I disagree). Positions on both have become entrenched, especially in the wake of the book's publication. It makes little productive sense, when reviewing a book that was not set out to be the authoritative account of the war, to add another view here.
More interesting is the alternative Nigeria that Achebe suggests was on the brink of realisation, were it not for the stubbornness of Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu. He summarises Senator Francis Ellah's view that there were "many who believed that the Biafrans, not just the Nigerians, missed a number of opportunities to compromise and end the war earlier than they did". Achebe (and Ellah) is referring most pointedly here to the talks in Kampala in May 1968, where many on the Biafran side were prepared to concede to the Nigerians and agree to a confederated country of four or six states. Instead of the consequences of Biafra's failure: the fracturing of Nigeria into ever smaller sub-national states, an alternative decentralised Nigeria could have unfolded, were it not for Ojukwu's pride and Yokubu Gowon's brutal retribution in creating East Central State and cutting Igboland off from the resource wealth of the Niger Delta.
All of which brings us to a key critical point: there wasn't ever a country in Biafra. Without access to Niger Delta oil, the coast (and a transport corridor to Port Harcourt), it's hard to imagine how the independent state would have survived and developed a viable economy for any length of time, had the war turned out otherwise and a landlocked rump had been salvaged. The idea that Biafra could ever have extended across what are now Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states is contentious at best, given the forces stacked against the Biafrans. Achebe reveals a distorted sense of geography when he writes – and note the strange (unconscious?) use of the present tense – "Calabar is in the southeastern part of Biafra, on the banks of the majestic Calabar River." Who would the landlocked state have traded with surrounded as they would have been by an indifferent (at best) or hostile (at worst) neighbour?
Reading There Was A Country reveals Achebe to be a figure caught up in an unresolved tragedy. From a gilded dream of a country nurtured in late colonial Nigeria by an emergent elite, the nightmare has continued, long since most non-Igbo Nigerians appear to have forgotten or indifferent to the civil war. Clearly, Achebe has not forgiven Nigeria for what happened to Igboland and for what happened to Nigeria itself. We should not forget that likely far more Igbos died in the civil war – perhaps two million – than Tutsis died in Rwanda, and yet no far-reaching truth and reconciliation process has taken place. As Achebe notes:
Not a single person has been punished for these crimes. It was not just human nature, a case of somebody hating his neighbour chopping off his head. It was something far more devastating, because it was a premeditated plan that involved careful coordination, awaiting only the right spark.
Even today, the Nigerian civil war is not taught in schools. As Bakare-Yusuf notes: "The curriculum's silence on Biafra cannot conceal the background noise of expectation. Many Igbos take the war to be incomplete, unfinished business. Rightly so! There has been no 'national conversation'. Just silence."
In Fanon's third "fighting phase" of the native intellectual:
the native, after having tried to lose himself in the people and with people, will on the contrary shake the people. Instead of according the people's lethargy an honoured place in his esteem, he turns himself into an awakener of the people; hence comes a fighting literature, a revolutionary literature, and a national literature.
Perhaps we should characterise Achebe's latest book as precisely this: part of a fighting literature, but not necessarily a national literature. Although he has not fully left the nostalgic romanticism of a mythicised pre-colonial Igboland (the quasi mythic realm of the Nri Kingdom) behind, Achebe is most certainly not playing the role of the magnanimous elder statesman in There Was A Country. There is still fire aplenty in his belly, and visceral outrage at the unacknowledged violence at work in the defeat of the dream of Biafra. This anger informs Achebe's conviction of the role of the African writer: "I believe that it is impossible to write anything in Africa without some kind of commitment, some kind of message, some kind of protest." It is questionable how many younger writers would agree with this vision of the African writer.
Should books from the continent continue to be protesting tales of war, of famine and of suffering, and confined to some dusty corner of the bookshelf (or some obscure page on Amazon)? Or is a new era of writing now upon us, which normalises our experience across all its differences and is increasingly curious about the locality of language? Writing that sings and cries and laughs, like all other tragic-comedic narratives that circulate around the globe.
Jeremy Weate is co-founder of Cassava Republic Press, a publishing company based in Abuja.


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HydraTool v0.3.1.0 released on GitHub
HydraTool first public version v0.3.1.0 is now released with source code under GPLv3
This PC tool use Qt5.x GUI and is available with pre-built exe for Windows & GNU/Linux
The actual Hydratool GUI has a main window mainly related to HydraBus+HydraNFC extension in order to display […]
HydraBus Free Talk/Workshop RMLL 2017 4&5July
We are pleased to announce Free HydraBus Talk & Workshop RMLL 2017 4&5July
About the Talk 4 July 2017 14h00 (40mins):
This talk will focus on the hardware and mainly embedded open source firmware(hydrafw) / user commands features to be used by any guys interested in embedded hardware hacking from beginner […]
HydraBus & HydraNFC assembly video
Thanks to our official re-seller https://lab401.com as now we have some nice video for HydraBus & HydraNFC products:
Lab401: HydraBus Assembly Video See also https://lab401.com/development/15-hydrabus.html Lab401: HydraNFC Getting Started Video Lab401: HydraBus / HydraNFC unboxing & […]
HydraBus Team RHME2 write-up
HydraBus Team RHME2 challenges write-up released for all challenges(22)
see https://github.com/hydrabus/rhme-2016
HydraBus Team have participated to Riscure, RHME2 and we are 1st !!
Thanks to all participants and Riscure for those amazing challenges
HydraBus back in stock with new PCB new MCU and case for same price
HydraBus boards are now back in stock (with same price as before) and new features:
New PCB v1.0 Rev1.2+ (add capacitor for MicroSD +3V3 for even more stable supply for big microSD/SDIO …) Replaced MCU STM32F405 by STM32F415 with hardware cryptographic acceleration for: AES 128, 192, 256 Triple DES […]
HydraESP32 v1.1 Rev1.0 with ESP-32S is alive
HydraESP32 HydraBus v1.0 Shield for ESP-WROOM-32 V1.1 Rev1.0 is alive
This new version allow to measure ESP32 power consumption (and/or manage power ON/OFF of ESP32 with any MCU…)
This version can be fully managed using HydraBus STM32 MCU
For more details (BOM, Eagle board […]
How to debug ESP32 with JTAG / OpenOCD / GDB 1st part connect the hardware
This 1st part is mainly how to connect FTDI C232HM DDHSL-0 to ESP32 DevKitC (also called ESP32-CoreBoard V2)
For more details on JTAG /GDB /ESP32 OpenOCD see https://esp-idf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api-guides/jtag-debugging/index.html
HydraBus v1.0 Shield / Breakout board for ESP-WROOM-32 (ESP32) Version1.1
HydraBus Shield / Breakout board for ESP-WROOM-32 new version 1.1(rev1.0)
This shield can be used with or without HydraBus board, you can even cut HydraBus specific right side (on the line) to have a tiny ESP-WROOM-32 breakout board.
New features versus previous version V1.0 Rev1.1: Added LDO […]
HydraBus + HydraNFC sniffer ISO14443A real-time infinite trace mode
New feature NFC sniffer ISO14443A real-time infinite trace mode:
For more details see:


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What we do
At Community Futures, we work for you. Our loans support small and medium sized businesses as they grow. Your success is our success!
We specialize in small business loans with customized re-payment schedules. We can fill the financial gap, leverage funds that will take an idea from rocky to possible. Our loan packages can help you when you're ready to start a business, when it's time to expand your business, and help with a smooth exit from your business. Is it time to get started? Then it's time to explore our brochure for more details.
We work in partnership with other business lenders, educational institutions, not-for-profits and community governments to grow and diversify our local economy. We are completely focused on the needs of our clients, our local businesses, and our area's economy. Our Nanaimo office assists entrepreneurs throughout central Vancouver Island ... from Ladysmith to Bowser and Whiskey Creek, Gabriola and Lasqueti Island.
Community Futures are developmental lenders. That means we work in collaboration with, not in competition to, conventional lenders like banks and credit unions. For over 25 years we have successfully helped local entrepreneurs get financing to:
- Start or expand a business
- Apply new technology to a business
- Upgrade a business' facilities and/or equipment
- Develop new products and services
- Access new markets
- Expand into the global marketplace
Our Community Futures office provides services and program supports to rural small and medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs.
- Business plan critiquing and coaching
- Small business training
- One-on-one start-up or expansion consulting
- Support in gaining access to other small business supports, information, and access to capital
In addition to these client services, we offer facility rentals to local groups and businesses, as well as state-of-the-art video conferencing technology for use in training sessions, conferences and business meetings.
Our Community Futures office is a non-profit organization guided by a volunteer Board of Directors and staffed with business professionals. We work with community partners to help foster entrepreneurship and economic development in our region. Community Futures is funded in western Canada by Western Economic Diversification Canada.


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Spotted: Iver Ambassador Emerges from Makeover
In today's spotted we present you Iver Ambassador, a bitumen tanker owned by Dutch shipping company Iver Ships, part of Vroon, which recently underwent a drydocking in Singapore.
During a five-day period, the 7,709 gross ton vessel was repainted from black into red and made Marine Environmental, Safety and Quality Assurance Criteria (MESQAC) compliant, in line with Exxon Mobil time-charter requirements.
One of the main MESQA items was the addition of emergency stops for cargo installation, according to Iver Ships.
The vessel has now left the shipyard to recommence bitumen transport in the Far East, Iver Ships said.
Built by Chinese shipbuilder Zijinshan in 2015, Iver Ambassador features a length of 109.9 meters and a width of 20 meters.
Including Iver Ambassador, Iver Ships currently operates a fleet of 14 asphalt/bitumen carriers and 11 product/chemical tankers.
World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: Iver Ships


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The Steps to Expect During Dental Bridge Treatment
A dental bridge in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is a great product that can help you replace your missing teeth. In fact, it is so great that it can provide long-term results without the need for surgery.
If you're interested in improving your smile and oral health with a dental bridge but you would like to know more about the treatment involved, then our Sandpiper Dental team is more than happy to help you! Dental bridge treatment involves three steps, and those steps are:
Step 1:
First, your dentist will need to prepare your mouth for the treatment, which will involve him numbing your teeth and gums with a local anesthetic. This will help you have a comfortable experience in the dental chair. Then, he will trim the outer layers of the teeth that will anchor the dental bridge in place. This will make room for the dental crowns that make up the dental bridge.
Step 2:
When your teeth are the perfect size and shape, your dentist will make impressions of those teeth and will send the impressions to a dental lab. The impressions will help the lab technicians create the perfect bridge for your smile. While you wait for your new bridge, you will be given a temporary bridge to help you eat, talk, and smile normally.
Step 3:
Once the bridge is created, you will need to come into our office for your final appointment. When you meet with your dentist, he will remove your temporary bridge and will cement your new bridge into place, giving you the beautiful smile you've been waiting for.
As you can see, dental bridge treatment is easy and painless. In order to get started, all you need to do is call our office at 763-561-7000 and schedule an appointment with your dentist, Dr. David Trebisovsky. We will be happy to meet with you and determine if this is the best dental restoration for you!


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Crisp Waffles
Thin crisp waffles without eggs.
In Sweden, waffles are very popular. It is common to serve crisp waffles as a light meal for lunch or dinner, or as a snack.
In fact, Swedes have converted the Christian Feast of the Annunciation to the Waffle-day or "Vĺffeldagen".
Traditionally, waffles are served together with whipped cream and cloudberry, raspberry or bluebery jam.
I think they make great company to smoked salmon, whitefish roe, sour cream and chopped spring onions.
160 g all purpose flour (100%)
3g salt (1,875%)
5g baking soda (3,125%)
300 ml heavy cream, whipped (187,5%)
225 ml water, sparkling, ice cold (140,625%)
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add the water and whisk to a smooth batter.
Add the whipped cream and mix very gently to a get a puffy result.
Fry the waffles in a hot waffle iron. They should be pretty thin to get a light and crisp result.
Serve the waffles as soon as possible. On a grille, they keep crisp, but they loose some freshness when the cool.
Use ghee (clarified butter oil) to grease the waffle iron to avoid oozing.
if you want egg waffles, replace 20 ml cream and 40 ml water with one medium sized egg.
if you use a non-stick waffle iron, this batter doesn't require greasing the iron.
If you've run out of sparkling water, still water will due, but you may loose some crisp.
I've added the percentages relative to the flour contents of the recipy, should you have to make more or less waffles than what the original recipy makes.


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Higher Education
Photo: © Albert Vecerka / Esto
The building brings the architecture, landscape architecture, and building technology departments...read more
USC Village, a six-building, 1.25-million-sf expansion of the University of Southern California's University Park campus, will be ready for occpancy this fall. The project took 12 years from conception to completion. Image: USC
Prefabrication of the six buildings' walls reduced construction time by a year.
A rendering of the 42,500-sf, $29 million Innovation and Discovery Center at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., which broke ground last October. Kinsley Construction is the GC on the project, designed by Ellenzweig. Last year, spending on education construction spending rose nationally by 6.5% to $88.9 billion. And a new survey of preK-12 school districts and colleges finds strong construction and renovation activities underway this year. The Ursinus project should be completed in time for the fall 2018 semester. Image: Ellenzweig
Surveys of school districts and colleges, though, raise questions about financing for future proj...read more
Rendering courtesy of BIG
The 70,000-sf building was developed in collaboration with Boston-based Goody Clancy.
The 50,600-sf John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building is highlighted by an atrium that connects labs and serves as a "learning commons." Achieving zero-net-energy in this building did not impact its $31.5 million construction budget. Image: Courtesy of Bond
Bristol Community College wants to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The 36,700-sf Taubman Complex is connected to neighboring buildings on campus by lifted bridges. Image: ©Nic Lehoux
A giant carbon-fiber orb is a focal point for the Michigan-based school.
Image courtesy SOM / © Smilodon
The building marks the first purpose built structure for cyber studies based at an academy.
Courtesy of Perkins+Will
Planning for places that foster effective innovation is still an emerging process, but the consta...read more
The Campus North Residential Commons, located at the north edge of the University of Chicago's campus in the Windy City's Hyde Park section, is meant to create a "gateway" for students and the community alike. Image: Tom Harris Photography/courtesy of the University of Chicago
Abundant common spaces give students more chances to interact.
The best new learning centers showcase latest design trends in education.
Rendering courtesy of Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. via ArchDaily
The arts center will foster creativity for making and presenting works across all disciplines...
A dramatic, three-story wood sculpture of North Carolina State University's wolf mascot highlights the central atrium of the school's $120 million Talley Student Union in Raleigh, N.C. On the Building Team: Duda Paine Architects (design architect), Cooper Carry (interior architect), Stewart, Inc. (SE), Stanford White (MEP), Kimley-Horn & Associates (CE), and Rodgers Builders/Russell/Dayeco (joint CM). Photo courtesy of Rodgers Builders.
Budget constraints are compelling some public institutions to pursue alternative methods of finan...read more
UW Health at The American Center, Madison, Wis. Photo: Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing 2015, courtesy Flad Architects.
AECOM, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Jacobs top Building Design+Construction's annual ranking o...read more
Westcott Building Auditorium at Florida State University. Photo: Pixabay
Turner Construction Co., The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co, and Skanska USA top Building Design+C...read more
Talley Student Union, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. Duda Paine Architects (design architect), Cooper Carry (interior architect), Stewart, Inc. (SE), Stanford White (MEP), Kimley-Horn & Associates (CE), and Rodgers Builders/Russell/Dayeco (joint CM). Photo courtesy of Rodgers Builders.
Gensler, Perkins+Will, and CannonDesign top Building Design+Construction's annual ranking of the...read more
Innovation Curve Technology Park in Palo Alto, Calif. Renderings courtesy Form4 Architecture. Click here to enlarge.
Fabricated of painted recycled aluminum, the wavy roofs at the Innovation Curve campus will symbo...read more
AltaSea's Engagement Center. All renderings courtesy Gensler. Click here to enlarge.
New and renovated facilities will help researchers, educators, and visitors better understand the...read more
The University of Chicago's David M. Rubenstein Forum. Courtesy Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Click here to enlarge.
With a two-story base and 165-foot tower, the Rubenstein Forum will have room for informal meetin...read more
The atrium of the Taylor Institute. Image courtesy Diamond Schmitt Architects. Click here for larger view.
The heart of the Taylor Institute can be anything from a teaching lab to a 400-seat theater.... read more
The proposed Science and Engineering Complex, located on Harvard University's Allston campus, integrates one of the country's most diverse and exciting engineering programs into a 497,000-sf structure. Renderings courtesy Harvard/Behnisch Architekten. Click here for larger image
The 497,000-sf building will be the home of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied...read more
Westin hotel and transit center at Denver International Airport, Denver. Photo courtesy Gensler
Technology is running wild in Gensler's 2016 forecast, as things like virtual reality, "smart" bu...read more
(Pictured) The Hall of Languages on Syracuse University's Campus . The NVRC building is planned for the western portion of the campus' Waverly block. Photo Credit: David A. Sonnenfeld, Wikimedia Commons
Representatives of the firms will travel to Syracuse University to plan the next steps of their d...read more
Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Photo: Joe Mabel via Wikimedia Commons
Morphosis' Perot Museum and Studio Gang's WMS Boathouse are among the projects to win AIA's highe...read more
This AIA CES Discovery course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS fa...read more
Colorado State University students gather outside of the school's LEED Platinum Pavilion at Laurel Village in Fort Collins. The 11,500-sf, $5.5 million facility was designed by 4240 Architecture to function as a village square, with a sloped green lawn for outdoor performances and outdoor seating areas. Photo: Raul Garcia, courtesy 4240 Architecture
Buzzwords like "living lab" and "experiential learning" are indicative of the trend toward more h...read more
Rending courtesy Yale-NUS. Video courtesy Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
The Yale-NUS College has three residence halls and two administrative and academic buildings, wit...read more
The University of Chicago is adding a new building, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, that will hold plenty of meeting space. Photo: Luiz Gadelha Jr./Creative Commons
The David M. Rubenstein Forum will be both formal and informal, and will host lectures, workshops...read more
New York's Juilliard School, renovated in 2009 by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Paul Masck/Wikimedia Commons
The Tianjin Juilliard School will have graduate courses, a pre-college program, an instrumental t...read more
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Innovation Accelerator in Wauwatosa, Wis., was conceived as a place where business and industry meets academic research to launch intellectual property. On the Building Team: UWM Real Estate Foundation (developer), Eppstein Uhen Architects (architect), and Miron Construction (GC). Photo: C&N Photography, courtesy Eppstein Uhen Architects
BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest S+T sector design and construction firms, as reported in...read more
Renderings courtesy Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Pockets of plantings will be dispersed throughout the staggered floors of the building, framing t...read more


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This past week our huge giveaway that we held just finished, and with that we have completed most of our Ambassadorship with U.S.Bilby company.
This blog mostly exists due to the support that we receive from the generous companies that we work with – we receive products for reviews, and these products inspire us to learn more about the newest and most trending ideas are offered, and showcase how we get to use and test these products. We have loved working with U.S.Bilby this season, and are so happy to have had the beautiful liquid chalk markers that our kids have tried using, and using these nice softest bibs that allowed us to keep our baby clean, and her clothes tidy despite the messy food she has been eating.
My days are always going by in a flash, every day is like this. I am not one of those mothers who is constantly taking photos of her kids, and it is often quite a challenge to do with our youngest one being always on the go, moving every second of her day. Often times the only pictures I can get of her taken are the pictures when she is strapped in her high chair, but looking through those gets old quite quickly, and I always attempt to take pictures of her when she is running around as well.
This week I was lucky to grab some shots of my toddler wearing those awesome and prettiest bibs by U.S. Bilby. The reason that I love those bibs is that they are made of natural materials, stay well on the toddler, and keep her clothing clean. What's not to like?
Finding bibs has always been a difficult task – there are a lot of models available out there, but how do you find the bibs that you can actually use? You want your child to look beautiful even when eating messy food, and look stylish, and those designs on the bibs will do just that. The pictures are awesome to wear on any day – whether it is an All-American holiday of the 4th of July, during a birthday party, or for a weekday meal at home. The bibs are so easy to wash, and keep clean – just throw them in the laundry, and you are all set.
I love U.S.Bilby bibs because they look stunning, stay put on the baby even when she pulls on them, and are as soft as our baby's skin itself. The design of a bandana style baby bib looks so modern and cute!
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This is a sponsored post.
This post may contain affiliate links.