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Liam's birth was planned to be a waterbirth, but as it turned out there wasn't even enough time to fill the tub! Throughout my birthing time, we made the choice to "proceed with caution," knowing that as long as the answers to "is mom doing well?" and "is baby doing well?" were "yes," we could proceed with our birth plan.
For those of you wondering, waterbirth really isn't as mysterious as it sounds. It's simply natural childbirth's version of an epidural, and I saw it as one more tool available to me to help aid the process. Especially because I'd had a prolonged pushing phase with our daughter (also a Hypnobaby), I was looking forward to the soothing nature of the water which would help Liam to be born more gently. I did a lot of research about what happens in a waterbirth, making sure that it would be safe for him. Essentially he is unable to take his first breath until he is gently lifted above the water. It's quite fascinating to read about the way it works.
Liam's "guess date" was Friday, October 8th. I had started having a few pressure waves Monday, October 3rd indicating he might be thinking about making his arrival, but then they stopped. The next time I remember noticing some mild pressure waves was Friday, October 13th. They stopped again.
Liam scored an 8 out of a possible 8 on the biophysical profile at my visit on Monday, October 10th. It was also revealed that he was facing out (posterior) but at the time I didn't think much of it. Looking back I realized that using a wait and see approach was not the way to go.
It was clear by the time the following week had nearly come and gone that Liam wasn't planning on exiting any time soon. I was doing kick counts and knew he was happy as a clam in there, which generally means he needs a bit more time to cook. We even walked around the entire zoo Sunday the 9th, and it felt awesome to be out in the sunshine.
Since I wasn't yet having any consistent pressure waves (the ones I'd had throughout the night had barely been enough to keep me awake), we decided we'd request to go home, relax, and try getting things going naturally with brief walks, bouncing on the yoga ball, and just resting up. The midwife was cool with that, and said to call her that afternoon to check in, but indicated without saying it outright that we might be admitted that night if nothing had changed.
The good thing about her role in my birth is that she used her experience regarding infection to guide her advice to us. Knowing me as a patient told her that it wasn't very likely that I would get an infection, especially if I was declining cervical checks, which I did have to do once with the nurse upon arriving at the hospital, not having sex, etc. Sure, infections are still possible, however the good thing is the baby's head had created a seal which eventually stopped the fluid from leaking and created a protective barrier. I was still leaking some fluid though, which was causing me anxiety.
We called the on-call staff at the hospital on Saturday night, approaching 24 hours since my water had broken. I spoke to the doctor who was on duty, who explained that typical hospital policy calls for induction 18 hours after the water breaks. She knew having spoken with my regular midwife, that as someone who wanted a natural childbirth, this wouldn't be my preference, but she informed me of the policy which gave me more anxiety. She also said, "you should talk to the midwife on call."
However, entering the scene is now our wonderful care provider who I had never met before because she sees patients in the other office. She has a wonderful, supportive philosophy which is completely no-pressure. The patient's body is their own, and she is just there to advise. She is highly skilled and competent in her job, and immediately we know we're in good hands. When the doctor handed over the phone, the midwife said, "Darn! I wish they had sent you to me earlier!" She started me on a breast pumping regimen, once every hour for 15 minutes. This was 10 PM. Our doula reminded us to REST in between. The pump allows your body to produce more oxytocin naturally, as opposed to Pitocin which is the synthetic form.
Pressure waves are still sporadic and not intense. We rested some until 6 AM, but not well. Trying to stay aware of Liam's movements kept me pretty anxious and awake.
October 15, 2011 at 8 AM we arrived at hospital with Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits. I was in tears, feeling like we were walking into prison. But when we got admitted, I knew that things were going to be alright. Much to our delight and surprise, the midwife recommended continuing on the pumping regimen for awhile, and if it didn't work, then we could talk about starting a low dose of Pitocin with the goal of getting my body in a pattern and then turning the Pitocin back off. She also recommended an antibiotic as a precaution. I felt good about the decision to have that administered, and it was given every 6 hours and didn't take very long so that I could be up and about as I wished in between. (I have a suspicion it might be causing us a case of thrush right now though, since an antibiotic can upset your natural balance.)
Even though I hadn't slept well the night before, I had gotten fantastic sleep the week before being off work, so I was really ready for this with plenty of sleep in my "bank." Really grateful for that.
Our doula and I walked the L&D floor for about 30-40 minutes and it was way boring. We actually thought about checking ourselves back out. (Basically signing a form saying "against medical advice," we're outta here.) Looking back, I'm glad that we didn't do that. Really glad. The midwife checked in again at 1:30 PM and suggested more breast pump stimulation. With intermittent monitoring we were still confident Liam was doing great.
Our nurse had been watching us from afar, and must have seen me gazing longingly at the sunshine outside. Bless her soul, she suggested to the midwife that we be released for a walk outside. (YAY!!!!) Best news EVER. I honestly didn't believe they were serious when they came in to tell us. And I gave her the biggest hug and was nearly in tears. We had a great time on our walk, went across the street for a milkshake and walked until it got REALLY warm out. I felt like a freak in my PJ pants and IV lock, but whatever. We were outside enjoying the day!
We came back to the hospital for an afternoon nap. Liam still looks great on the monitor. His heartrate dipped momentarily as I was on the breast pump, because I'd started having pressure waves one on top of the other, which we attributed to the calzones we ate for dinner. The body's natural response to fuel and yet another reason to eat.
As our doula and I discussed the events of the week, it dawned on me that the biophysical profile had shown that Liam was posterior. Thankfully she had some tricks up her sleeve to try to turn him. We did "figure 8s" on the yoga ball, pelvic rocks, and Rebozo sifting which is a gentle scarf shimmy under the belly while the mother is on all fours (which felt great)! I felt a little ridiculous during all of this but I'll try anything at this point to get this party started! I just want to meet him! It's things like this that make a doula worth her weight in gold!
Also worth noting that a nurse shift change occurred at 7 PM. Time to bid farewell to our heroine nurse and little sad that we could not yet introduce her to our new baby. Enter nurse 2, who immediately said she had read our birth plan and had a very positive, "let's do this" attitude. Honestly I think these nurses were excited to be seeing something a little different. The midwife would later thank me for doing a birth plan and giving them the chance to support it. That made me feel so good!
When my pressure waves stopped yet AGAIN, I knew it was my body telling me to rest. So we talked with the midwife and I was about to fall asleep as she was saying that she would check in again at 5 AM and that we'd get serious about the low-dose Pit at that point, approaching 48 hours since my water had broken! In another hospital, this scenario would NEVER have happened. Major props to the care providers for their confidence and knowledge in what the body can do. She was completely trusting that since I had no fever, Liam was getting antibiotics and was looking great on the monitor, that there wasn't a need to rush it. Again, cannot stress enough what a blessing this was!
At 1 AM I got up to pee, and was feeling intense pressure in my back and saw some bloody show. I relied on our doula for counter pressure and double hip squeeze which felt awesome, and rocked on the ball which was bringing the baby down very quickly. I could now feel him making direct contact with my pubic bone. This baby was finally coming and coming fast! When your baby says it's "go time," there is very little that can be done to slow it down. And heck, we'd been waiting ALL weekend for this moment, so most of what I felt was joy and excitement!
Our doula suggested side lying as a way that I could start to use my tools. That worked for about 2.5 seconds when I began vocalizing loudly. "Ahhhhh" nd blowing air out my lips like a horse. I was completely surprised by my involuntary ability to make these sounds and how awesome they felt.
However I was so excited that with Liam's birth, I was really able to tune into my body in a way that I hadn't with my first birth. I used hypnosis very successfully with our first birth. Almost so much, that at times I wasn't listening to my body because I was so relaxed and felt as though I was in a dream-like state.
With Liam's birth, I experienced it to the fullest, knowing the whole time that my body was doing what it needed to do, and that gave me so much confidence and was so empowering! And I was able to choose my own positions which helped not only to relieve discomfort, but to give me even more confidence that I was doing this correctly.
At 1:50 AM after a brief time lying on my side, I exclaimed "I have to poop!" And truly I did. To the potty I go. TMI, sorry. Our doula reminded me while I was on the potty that I should use my uterine muscles to push Liam out rather than go with the pressure I was feeling in my bottom. Babies don't come out of bottoms, in case you hadn't noticed. 🙂
Miraculously I was able to achieve both efforts nearly simultaneously. LOL. But the important thing is that I immediately felt a difference when she reminded me to push Liam out by pretending to "push the seat belt" away from me. When I said "do you think I could get in the tub?" I needed some relief. I thought surely I'm at least at 6 cm. They want you at a 6 before you can get in the tub. I believe that is to avoid having to get in and out, if it relaxes you so much that your birthing time stops, which has been known to happen. Kinda silly if you ask me.
The nurse came in to check me on the potty (how rockin' is that?!) and said I was NINE centimeters! I cannot tell you what a moment this was and how grateful we were to her for not requiring me to get on the bed for the exam. I knew that Liamwould be here soon!
I swayed and rocked through the next several pressure waves which was a nice little break from the inevitable, while the nurse came and checked Liam's heartbeat. Still perfect. The midwife was still not here; she had been resting at home and had just gotten the call. She was rushing into the parking deck by about 2:20 AM.
As soon as they finished changing the sheets I moved up on the bed on all fours which felt so great, and Baby Liam was beginning to crown! My doula whispered to me to remember the pushing technique (push as though you are pushing away your seat belt. Do NOT bear down like you are having to poop) and that it was not important to 'resist' or wait for the midwife or the nurses to deliver Liam, but to relax into it and gently guide Liam out. His head was gently born at 2:35, so quietly that we hardly knew what had happened. But we heard his first cry and that was an AWESOME moment, especially for me because I couldn't see him yet. But I could hear him! At 2:36, just as the midwife ran in the door, Liam was born into Daddy's arms!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
He weighed 6.74 oz, 19 inches long and his head was 13 inches. He was born anterior, facing my back, with his hand up by his face.
[…] of an epidural, and I saw it as one more tool available to me & Go here to read the rest: Baby Liam Born in the Hospital…into His Daddys Hands & Tags: birth, birth-videos, facebook, hypnobabies, midwife, phone, stumbleupon, time January 5th, […]


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The immersive experience doesn't end with the visuals — the DualSense wireless controller lets you feel the game. Haptic feedback and responsive triggers put the environment in the palms of your hands, and the Tempest 3D AudioTech sound surrounds you whether you use a headset or just your television speakers. From Sony.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, action-adventure game set in the Western Frontier. Abducted by the human militaristic corporation known as the RDA, you, a Na'vi, were molded to serve their purpose. Fifteen years later, you are free, but find yourself a stranger in your birthplace. Reconnect with your lost heritage and discover what it truly means to be Na'vi as you join other clans to protect Pandora from the RDA. Rated T. From Ubisoft.
- Includes PS5 Slim disc console, DualSense wireless controller, power cord, HDMI cable, and USB-C to USB-A cable; pre-installed Astro's PlayRoom game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game, dual charging dock, silicone sleeve, wired headphones, and voucherZen 2 Core octa-core processor
- AMD RDNA 2 GPU with 10.3 Teraflops power
- 1TB solid-state drive
- 16GB GDDR6 memory
- Built-in Wi-Fi 6
- Up to 120fps with 120Hz output
- Ultra HD Blu-ray player
- Ray tracing technology
- HDR technology
- Tempest 3D AudioTech
- Haptic feedback
- Adaptive triggers
- USB-C port
- Two USB-A ports
- HDMI, ethernet ports
- UL listed
Holiday Return Policy: Any holiday gift you purchase now until December 24, 2023 can be returned for any reason for a refund of the purchase price, minus the S&H and Q Return Label fee until 1/31/24, or exchanged for a free replacement of the same item in a different color or size. Restrictions may apply.
Glossary of Video Game Terms
Whether you're a gamer or just shopping for one, these common terms should help you out.
Accessory: In gaming, this refers to a distinct piece of hardware that is required to use a video game console, or one that enriches the gameplay experience; essentially, accessories are everything except the console itself. This includes controllers, headsets, cables, and any specialized peripherals.
Alienware: A subsidiary of Dell™ that makes dedicated gaming computers. Alienwares generally have better processors and more RAM than the average computer, as well as a dedicated graphics card, as opposed to integrated graphics.
Amiibo: Nintendo's near-field communication (NFC)-based platform, which uses physical action figures to represent in-game characters, similar to Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Unlike those titles, Nintendo's Amiibo figures will work with several games, such as Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8, and Yoshi's Woolly World. Figures will include iconic Nintendo characters like Mario, Pokemon's Pikachu, and The Legend of Zelda's resident hero Link.
Backward-compatible: Able to play games or use accessories from an older generation of hardware. For example, the PlayStation 2 was backward-compatible with the first PlayStation, meaning that PS1 games could be played in the PS2. Once a common feature, backward compatibility is becoming increasingly rare; of the current-gen systems, only the Wii U has this function, meaning it can play Wii games.
Blu-ray: A high-definition digital optical disc used for movies and video games. Blu-rays typically store around 50GB of data, five times the storage capacity of the DVD format, and are capable of displaying Full HD resolution. Currently, the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3 are the only consoles with built-in Blu-ray players.
Console: Also called a "system," it's non-PC video game hardware. Generally, consoles refer to gaming systems that are meant to be hooked up to a television, as opposed to standalone handhelds. Examples of consoles are the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U.
Controller: A device used with video game hardware to provide input to the game; more simply, it's what's used to control what is happening in the game. Each console manufacturer has its own specific first-party controllers (for example, the PS4's DualShock 4), while third-party manufacturers also offer alternative controllers for each console. Controllers are also sometimes used with PC games as an alternative to the mouse-and-keyboard setup.
Developer: This could refer to a company that actually physically makes a game or an individual that does the same. Game developers often turn to publishers to cover the cost of printing, advertising, and/or distributing games; however, some publish directly to their games' platforms (such as Steam or the PlayStation Network). Those that forgo the traditional developer/publisher relationship are known as indie developers, and their products often referred to as indie games.
Disney Infinity: An action-adventure game series published by Disney Interactive that uses physical action figures and discs to represent in-game characters and items. The first wave of figures and gameplay included a range of new and classic Disney characters, like Frozen's Anna and Elsa, The Incredibles' titular family, and Fantasia's Mickey Mouse. The second wave, Disney Infinity 2.0, introduces Marvel characters into the mix.
DLC (downloadable content): Though individual games might be downloadable, DLC specifically refers to add-on content for video games downloaded through channels such as Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network, or Steam, to name a few. This additional game content varies in price and content; some popular uses for DLC are expansion packs, character skins, multiplayer modes, and extra weapons.
Downloadable: A game or other piece of content that can be downloaded and saved on a hard drive, as opposed to being contained on a physical disc. Popular channels from which people download games are Valve's Steam, EA's Origin, Microsoft's Xbox Live, and Sony's PlayStation Network, to name a few.
D-pad (directional pad): The four-directional cross-shaped button on a controller or handheld system, usually operated by the left thumb.
DualShock: Sony's first-party brand of controllers for the PlayStation family of consoles. There have been four iterations of the DualShock, one for each generation of Sony consoles, with the DualShock 4 currently accompanying the PlayStation 4.
ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board): The board that assigns ratings to games meant to serve as a guideline for parents and guardians of younger gamers. Though not legally enforced, most retailers take ESRB ratings seriously and will not sell M-rated games to individuals under 17.
The ratings generally found at most retailers are as follows:
- E (Everyone): Ages 6 and up. Games rated E might have mild language or cartoony violence.
- E10+ (Everyone 10+): As the name states, for gamers 10 and older. These games might have mild violence, language, or suggestive themes.
- T (Teen): Appropriate for ages 13 and up. T-rated games can contain moderate use of violence, small amounts of blood, mild to moderate language and/or suggestive themes, and crude humor.
- M (Mature): Ages 17 and up, this rating is assigned to games with intense and/or realistic portrayals of violence (including blood and gore), stronger adult themes and content, and a heavier use of vulgar language.
Ethernet: A wired Internet connection. While ethernet connections don't allow for the portability and convenience of Wi-Fi, they can sometimes result in faster download and upload speeds and more reliable connections while playing online, making them advantageous in certain situations.
Face buttons: A set of buttons usually found on the right side of the controller or handheld system with some denomination of letters or shapes to identify each one. For example, the DualShock famously uses an X, circle, triangle, and square to mark its face buttons, while Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U controllers use A, B, X, and Y.
First-party: A game or accessory made by the same company as the platform on which it appears. For example, the DualShock 4 is a first-party PS4 controller. Super Smash Bros. is a first-party Nintendo game.
FPS (first-person shooter): A popular game genre in which the camera is centered on the protagonist's weapon, giving the player that character's perspective. Classic games like Doom and Wolfenstein 3D helped popularize the genre, while more modern series like Halo and Call of Duty keep it thriving year after year.
Full HD: 1920×1080 resolution, also written as 1080p. To experience games in Full HD, you must have an HDTV or monitor capable of such resolution; be aware that even with a high-def display, not all games are presented in 1080p.
GamePad: The Wii U's first-party controller. The GamePad is unique in that it looks similar to a tablet, with a touchscreen and stylus, but also has the face buttons and analog sticks of a controller. It can be used to control games as you play on the TV, or, for some games, for off-screen play (meaning you can see and control the action right on the GamePad screen).
Generation: A period of time in video game history determined by which consoles were new at that time. For example, the 16-bit era of the early 1990s (Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, etc.) was the fourth generation of video games; the industry is currently in its eighth generation, which kicked off with the Wii U in 2012 and continued with the releases of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2013. The latest (or upcoming) game systems and their accompanying games are often referred to as "current-gen" or "next-gen."
Handheld: A portable gaming system, such as the Nintendo 3DS or PlayStation Vita. Handhelds typically run on built-in rechargeable batteries and are designed for portable use. Current-gen handhelds also have secondary features beyond just playing games, like Wi-Fi, social networking built into the interface, and various social features and apps.
Hardware: The physical components of anything used to play video games (as opposed to the games themselves). This includes consoles, handhelds, and controllers.
Headset: A combination of a headphone and microphone typically used for communicating during online multiplayer games.
HDMI pass-through: A feature of the Xbox One that allows a high-def device to be connected to the console, which is then connected to the HDTV via HDMI. Its primary function is to allow users to watch cable television through the Xbox One, which adds Kinect voice controls and the ability to snap live TV to the side of the screen while playing a game.
Kinect: Microsoft's motion-sensing device, which adds motion control and voice commands to its consoles. There are two different versions, both simply called Kinect; the first iteration was launched in 2010 for the Xbox 360, with the newer version (featuring a 1080p camera and improved motion and voice recognition) was bundled with the Xbox One during its 2013 launch.
Microsoft: A major video game publisher and electronics manufacturer. Though Microsoft has been around since the 1970s, it didn't enter the video game domain until 2001 with the release of the original Xbox. To date, Microsoft has released three consoles: Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It is also the publisher of several major gaming franchises, including Halo and Gears of War.
MMO (massively multiplayer online): Just as the name states, an MMO is a game played exclusively online that can support a large number of players, with some MMOs boasting subscribers in the millions. This type of game was popularized with the rise of MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) like EverQuest and World of Warcraft, though other genres have entered the MMO space as well, such as MMOFPS titles like Planetside 2. Costs vary from game to game: some MMOs are free to play up to a certain level; some are free after purchasing the initial game disc; and some have monthly subscription fees.
Mobile game: Generally refers to games played on portable devices, particularly those not primarily designed to play games, such as smartphones and tablets.
NFC (Near Field Communication): An electromagnetic wireless technology that enables communication between two devices, generally with a shorter range than Bluetooth technology. Disney Infinity, Activision's Skylanders franchise, and Nintendo's forthcoming Amiibo platform are a few ways video games utilize NFC technology.
Nintendo: Founded in the late 1800s as a card game company, Nintendo rose to prominence as a video game developer and hardware publisher in the early 1980s. Its initial successes were based around the handheld Game & Watch platform and the Donkey Kong arcade game, and the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (called the Famicom in Japan) in 1985 helped the video game industry recover from a major crash in the early 1980s. After conquering the console market, Nintendo released the Game Boy in 1989, which was the first in a long line of successful handhelds.
To date, Nintendo has released six consoles: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Wii, and Wii U. The Game Boy was eventually succeeded by the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo DS (in various iterations), Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo 2DS.
Nintendo Network: Nintendo's online service for the Wii U and 3DS, used both to play multiplayer games online and as a social platform. The Nintendo Network has no subscription fees.
Nintendo TVii: A service for Nintendo's Wii U that allows users to access services like Hulu Plus and Netflix (which require separate subscriptions) and their own cable network through the GamePad controller. Nintendo TVii content can be watched on the television or GamePad display, with social networks and extra information about the content integrated and readily accessible via the controller.
Online multiplayer: A catch-all term for games played over the internet with other people; this includes competitive multiplayer, MMOs, cooperative titles, and more across all consoles, handhelds, PCs, and other devices. Each gaming console has a proprietary service for online gaming (such as Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network) that may require a subscription fee; on the PC, online gaming is generally free, unless the game itself requires a fee.
PlayStation: Sony's video game brand; the name designated to the publisher's consoles and handhelds since the launch of the original PlayStation in 1995. Since then, Sony has released three subsequent PlayStations (aptly named the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4) and two handhelds: the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation Vita (often called PS Vita or just Vita).
PlayStation Camera: An optional motion-sensing accessory for the PlayStation 4 that has two built-in cameras and a microphone.
PlayStation Eye: A digital camera for the PlayStation 3. Complete with a built-in microphone, it was used as an optional peripheral for some PS3 games, as well as all PlayStation Move titles.
PlayStation Move: Sony's motion-sensing controller accessory, introduced as an optional PlayStation 3 peripheral in 2010. A bit reminiscent of the Wii Remote, the Move looks sort of like a wand with a ping pong ball on top, and has the familiar PlayStation face buttons on its body. Also compatible with the PS4, the Move can be used alone or with the secondary Navigator controller, depending on the game.
PlayStation Navigation: A one-handed secondary controller meant to be used with the PlayStation Move, similar to how the Wii's Nunchuk is used with the Remote.
PlayStation Network (PSN): Sony's online gaming and digital media service for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PSP, and PS Vita. Through the PSN, gamers can play online multiplayer games, as well as purchase and download new games and DLC. Though online gaming is free on the PS3, it requires a PlayStation Plus subscription on the PS4; however, there's no fee on either system for using third-party streaming apps (such as Netflix), aside from their separate subscriptions.
PlayStation Now: A streaming service used to provide PlayStation content to Sony's various devices, which includes HDTVs and mobile devices as well as gaming systems. The service is sent to enter open beta in summer 2014, and will give access to a library of PS3 games for per-game or subscription fees.
PlayStation Plus: A paid subscription service for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita (only one subscription is needed across all Sony devices). It's required for multiplayer gaming on the PS4, but not the other systems. Additionally, PS+ gives subscribers access to early demos, automatic system update downloads, discounted games, and a rotating library of free titles.
PlayStation TV: A streaming device that allows you to remote play PlayStation 4 games from any location with a Wi-Fi connection. PlayStation TV also provides access to streaming PS3 games and certain PlayStation Vita, PS1, and PSP games, as well as movies, TV shows, and music from the Sony Entertainment Network.
Publisher: In video games, the publisher is the company responsible for manufacturing and marketing the games that may have been developed internally or by an outside developer. Some games, generally referred to as indie games, forgo the publishing process by being released directly to digital distribution services by their developers.
Rumble: A feature of most console controllers made popular in the Nintendo 64/PS1 era. It makes the controller vibrate based on contextual situations, which vary from game to game; popular uses are to build suspense or let the player know he or she is in danger.
RPG (role-playing game): Like tabletop RPGs, video game role-playing games usually emphasize characters and story, with statistical means of progression (generally a leveling system based on experience gained in battle). Many subgenres of RPGs exist within games: MMORPGs like World of Warcraft; tactical and strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics and Valkyria Chronicles; turned-based RPGs like the early Final Fantasy games; and action RPGs such as Kingdom Hearts and Fallout 3.
Western and Japanese-developed RPGs often vary in style; more traditional RPGs with turn-based combat made by Japanese developers are often referred to as JPRGs, with action-based combat role-playing games sometimes called ARPGs.
Software: The actual games themselves, whether on physical discs or digitally downloaded.
Sony: A major video game publisher and electronics manufacturer. Sony's roots date back to post-WWII Japan, but it didn't enter the video game market until the release of the first PlayStation in the mid-90s. Sony is also the maker of the popular DualShock line of first-party controls and a number of first-party franchises, among them Uncharted, Killzone, and LittleBigPlanet.
Steam: A digital distribution service created and maintained by software publisher Valve, most notable for the Half-Life and Portal series. Available for Windows, Mac OS®, and Linux, Steam itself is a free service that acts as an online game store. The games themselves vary in price, though Steam is notorious for holding frequent sales, including its annual Summer Sale that has steep discounts on popular games with new deals every day. Steam also allows PC games to be easily optimized for an HDTV via Big Picture mode.
Steam Box: A computer build specifically for gaming on an HDTV, particularly meant for playing Steam games. Currently in production from Valve and a number of computer manufacturers, Steam Boxes were supposed to launch with the new Steam operating system and controller. However, due to Valve's delay of these services, the first Steam Box (the Alienware Alpha) will instead launch with a custom overlay for Windows 8 and an Xbox 360 controller.
Streaming: In gaming, this could refer to the act of playing video games over an Internet connection that aren't actually available on your hard drive via services like PlayStation Now. It also refers to the act of live streaming, or playing video games live for an audience using services like Twitch. Live streaming is one of the defining features of the eighth console generation, with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One utilizing Twitch support.
Stylus: In electronics, this refers to a utensil meant to be used with a touchscreen device.
Skylanders: An Activision-published video game franchise that utilizes NFC technology, making digital representations of physical character models appear in-game.
Third-party: A game or accessory published by a non-console maker. For example, the Assassin's Creed series, which is published by Ubisoft and appears on multiple systems, is a third-party game, and Ubisoft is a third-party publisher.
Touchpad: A specialized surface that can translate the motion and position of a user's fingers to a relative position on the screen. You may be familiar with the touchpad on your laptop, but video games are also incorporating this technology into various devices, like the PlayStation 4 and Vita.
Touchscreen: A display you can interact with by touching it with an object, typically a finger or stylus. The Nintendo DS popularized the use of touchscreens in gaming, and they're now used on the Wii U's GamePad and PlayStation Vita's display.
Triggers: A fixture of most modern, traditional controllers, triggers are generally located at the top of the controller, behind the shoulder buttons. They're typically used for zooming and firing in shooters, gas and reverse in driving games, and various other functions.
Twitch: A live-streaming service that allows gamers to broadcast themselves to (potentially) a wide audience. Any gamer can set up his or her own Twitch channel for free, though live-streaming may require additional equipment. Consoles with built-in Twitch functionality, like the PS4 and Xbox One, eliminate the need for a separate cable box and other accessories.
Ultra HD: Ultra HD refers to displays with a resolution of at least 3840×2160 (sometimes referred to as 4K resolution or 4K2K resolution) and aspects ratios of at least 16:9.
Wi-Fi: Wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high speed Internet and network connections; you may just know it as wireless Internet or wireless LAN.
Wii Remote: The primary controller for the Nintendo Wii system, this motion controller can be used alone or with a Nunchuk attachment; some games require it to be turned sideways, emulating the simplicity of an early NES controller. The Remote is also compatible with the Wii U and used for many multiplayer games on the system, like Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8.
Xbox: Microsoft's video game brand, which debuted in 2001 with the original Xbox. That was succeeded by the Xbox 360 in 2005, which was in turn succeeded by the Xbox One in 2013. Unlike PlayStation and Nintendo, there is no handheld Xbox line.
Xbox Live: Microsoft's online gaming service, which launched on the Xbox in 2002. Xbox Live helped popularize online gaming on video game consoles; the other systems of that generation, the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, did not utilize online services at launch. Though Xbox Live has been discontinued on the original Xbox, it's still up and running on the last-gen Xbox 360.
There are two versions: Xbox Live Gold, a $60 annual service required to play games online that also provides access to different free games monthly; and Xbox Live Silver, a free service needed for access to basic online functionality.

subset: commoncrawl


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I am sure most of you have seen this TED talk about a neuroscientist's experience of her own brain haemorrhage and how she got to experience the separate hemispheres of her brain. Anyway, watching again this morning with two dharma friends I was struck by how much the brain hemispheres and the way they process reality correspond to absolute and relative reality.
During her stroke, Jill lost touch with her rational, logical brain side and instead experienced reality directly and non-conceptually. She maintains that all of us have the ability to experience life in both ways and by getting more in touch with the absolute/right-brained part, we become more in touch with the whole picture, even if we are still reliant on conceptual thinking to function.


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this isnt really a tutorial its more of a finding that i thought i would share.
i have an old intel triton 430VX 200mhz that was running with two sticks of
FPM(8MB a piece) in bays 0 and 1 and two sticks of EDO(also 8MB a piece) in 2 and 3. then
a 64MB stick of SDRAM in the only SDRAM bay. now the SDRAM didnt read the full 64MB, which sucks, but it had a total of 44MB and ran quite smoothly. even games like half-life and baldurs gate II ran like it would on a 500. (granted i have a voodoo3 2000 in it) but anyway, if someone could tell me how this is working or even if its supposed to then i'd like to know.


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Weather Radar for Ingham
Townsville (Hervey Range)
LOCATION: Hervey RangeTYPE: DWSR 2502 C bandAVAILABILITY: 24 hours
Interpretation Notes: The site at Hervey Range is at elevation (590m) making it a fairly good site for Townsville's main weather watch radar. It does however suffer some obstruction to its view due to the higher terrain around the region. Mt Elliott (1234m) lies approximately 40km to the ESE and considerably restricts the radar's ability to see light to moderate precipitation echoes in that direction. The Hervey Range itself to the west and the Paluma Range to the northwest can obscure early development of thunderstorms, but fully developed storms are picked up well. SE trade wind showers are common along the coast during the dry season and the radar's range for these extends from offshore Innisfail to Bowen. It is possible that coastal locations between these towns and locations inland of Ingham may experience light to moderate showers that are not picked up on the Hervey Range radar, that might be detected by the adjacent radars at Bowen (Abbot Point) and Cairns (Saddle Mountain). Very distant showers in the Coral Sea may also not be better detected by these adjacent radars due to their superior ocean outlook. Low level drizzle can also go undetected due to the radar beam going over the top of the precipitation. Heavy rain over the radar site will cause attenuation of all signals. Path attenuation also occurs when the radar beam passes through an intense thunderstorm cell; the returned signal from cells further along that path will be reduced. Apart from these features, the radar performs well and gives a reasonably accurate representation of rainfall intensity.
QLD radars:


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Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening skin disorder. It causes blistering and peeling of the skin. It can be caused by a medicine reaction. A milder form of the disorder is known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
The condition is most often triggered in the first 8 weeks of using a new medicine. It may be caused by medicines for:
Infections (antibiotics)
In rare cases, the condition may be caused by:
A vaccine
Herbal medicine
Contact with chemicals
Infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae or cytomegalovirus
A child is at risk if he or she has:
Weak immune system
Family history of toxic epidermal necrolysis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Symptoms can be a bit different for each child. They can include:
Skin peeling in sheets with or without blistering, leaving large, raw areas
A painful, red skin area that spreads quickly
High fever and flu-like symptoms 1 to 3 days before skin peeling
Pain when exposed to light (photosensitivity)
Extreme tiredness (fatigue), muscle pain, and joint pain
Trouble swallowing
The condition may spread to the eyes, mouth or throat. And it may spread to the genitals, urethra, or anus. The loss of skin allows fluids and salts to ooze from the raw, damaged areas. These areas can easily become infected.
The symptoms of toxic epidermal necrolysis can seem like other health conditions. Have your child see his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
The healthcare provider will ask about your child's symptoms and health history. He or she may also ask what medicines your child has had recently. The provider will give your child a physical exam. Your child may also have tests, such as:
Skin biopsy. A tiny sample of skin is taken and checked under a microscope.
Cultures. These are simple tests to check for infection. Cultures may be done of the blood, skin, and mucous membranes.
Treatment will depend on your child's symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. If a medicine is causing the skin reaction, your child will stop taking it right away. The disease progresses fast, often within 3 days. Your child will need to be treated in the hospital. He or she may be in the burn unit of the hospital. This is because the treatment is similar to treating a child with burns. Or your child may be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Treatment may include:
Isolation to prevent infection
Protective bandages
IV fluid and electrolytes
IV immunoglobulin G
IV steroids
Feeding by nasogastric tube, if needed
Eye exam by an eye care provider (ophthalmologist) and prompt eye care with cleaning of eyelids and daily lubrication
Complications can include:
Skin color changes
Growth of many moles that don't look normal (nevi)
Abnormal growth of fingernails and toenails
Loss of hair
Skin scarring, from a moderate to severe infection
Eye changes
Oral changes such as periodontal disease
Lung damage
There is no known way to prevent the condition. But a child who has had the disease must stay away from all possible triggers. A future episode of the condition may be fatal. Your child needs to stay away from not only the medicine that triggered the disease, but medicines in the same class. Talk with your child's healthcare provider about which medicines your child needs to stay away from.
Get medical care right away if your child has any skin problems after taking a new medicine.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening skin disorder that causes blistering and peeling of the skin.
It is most often triggered in the first 8 weeks of using a new medicine.
A high fever and flu-like symptoms often occur first. Then skin changes occur. These include painful redness, peeling, and raw areas of skin.
If your child has a fever and skin changes after starting a new medicine, get medical care right away.
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child's healthcare provider:
Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your child's condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your child's provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.


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Article Text
Aim: To analyse how age-related losses in crystalline lens transmittance and pupillary area affect circadian photoreception and compare the circadian performance of phakic and pseudophakic individuals of the same age.
Methods: The spectral sensitivity of circadian photoreception peaks in the blue part of the spectrum at approximately 460 nm. Photosensitive retinal ganglion cells send unconscious information about environmental illumination to non-visual brain centres including the human body's master biological clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei. This information permits human physiology to be optimised and aligned with geophysical day–night cycles using neural and hormonal messengers including melatonin. Age-related transmittance spectra of crystalline lenses and photopic pupil diameter are used with the spectral sensitivity of melatonin suppression and the transmittance spectra of intraocular lenses (IOLs) to analyse how ageing and IOL chromophores affect circadian photoreception.
Results: Ageing increases crystalline lens light absorption and decreases pupil area resulting in progressive loss of circadian photoreception. A 10-year-old child has circadian photoreception 10-fold greater than a 95-year-old phakic adult. A 45-year-old adult retains only half the circadian photoreception of early youth. Pseudophakia improves circadian photoreception at all ages, particularly with UV-only blocking IOLs which transmit blue wavelengths optimal for non-visual photoreception.
Conclusions: Non-visual retinal ganglion photoreceptor responses to bright, properly timed light exposures help assure effective circadian photoentrainment and optimal diurnal physiological processes. Circadian photoreception can persist in visually blind individuals if retinal ganglion cell photoreceptors and their suprachiasmatic connections are intact. Retinal illumination decreases with ageing due to pupillary miosis and reduced crystalline lens light transmission especially of short wavelengths. Inadequate environmental light and/or ganglion photoreception can cause circadian disruption, increasing the risk of insomnia, depression, numerous systemic disorders and possibly early mortality. Artificial lighting is dimmer and less blue-weighted than natural daylight, contributing to age-related losses in unconscious circadian photoreception. Optimal intraocular lens design should consider the spectral requirements of both conscious and unconscious retinal photoreception.
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Fewer than 1% of retinal ganglion cells are photoreceptive,1 but these photoreceptors play a vital role in human physiology and health. Photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGC) were discovered in 2002.2 They express the blue-light sensitive photopigment melanopsin3 in their cell bodies and elongated dendrites.4 Human retinas are spanned by a light sensitive network of roughly 3000 widely dispersed pRGCs.1 4 Spectral absorption by melanopsin2 and sensitivity of human nocturnal melatonin suppression5 6 both peak in the blue portion of the spectrum at 480 and 460 nm, respectively. As shown in fig 1, this short-wavelength sensitivity differs significantly from longer-wavelength peak sensitivities for rod-mediated scotopic (506 nm, green) and cone-mediated photopic (555 nm, green–yellow) vision.5 7 8
Suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus serve as the body's master biological clock.9 Ganglion photoreceptors send unconscious, non-visual photic information through the retinohypothalamic tract to the SCN permitting alignment of internal biological with external environmental time. They differ in many ways from the rods and cones that subserve conscious image-based vision.4 Ganglion photoreceptors require much more light to respond than cones and have thresholds well above those for photopic vision.2 9–11 They lack spatial resolution and can adapt to ambient lighting over days12 and months.13 These properties are well suited to non-directional detection of gross environmental illumination essential for integrated circadian, neuroendocrine and neurobehavioural effects.4 Absent or deficient pRGC photoreception cannot be perceived subjectively,14 but ensuing circadian disturbances can have significant physiological and psychological consequences.15 16
The SCN initiate events timed to allow preparation for impending metabolic, biochemical and physical activities.15 Prior to awakening, they activate a morning cortisol surge and trigger changes vital to transitioning from sleep to wakefulness.14 Morning exposure to sunlight increases core body temperature,17 alerting,18 cognition19 and brain serotonin levels20 which enhance mood and vitality. As the day progresses, peak cognition occurs commensurate with maximal core body temperature. By evening, SCN actively inhibit cortisol secretion for recovery from the morning surge15 and initiate pineal secretion of the hormone melatonin which reduces alertness and decreases core body temperature.14 As sleep ensues, its slow wave stages and SCN suppression reduce cortisol to a healthy daily nadir as SCN orchestrate a nightly surge of melatonin and other sleep-related hormones.15 16 21
Molecular mechanisms controlling self-sustaining SCN clock oscillations have been studied extensively.22 Similar mechanisms generating daily rhythms are present in most cells.23 Peripheral cell oscillations quickly desynchronise with each other, however, unless constant temporal alignment is provided by the SCN's neural and hormonal timing signals.22 23 Proper SCN functioning is critical for good health due to the numerous functions it coordinates.15 16 18 21 23 24 Without robust SCN signals, circadian rhythms of peripheral organs and cells can decouple, producing biochemical disarray and flattened rhythm amplitudes, and increasing risk of disease.15 25–27
Melatonin produced by the pineal gland is the hormone most closely associated with SCN function.28 29 SCN neurons suppress or stimulate melatonin synthesis at appropriate times using a multisynaptic sympathetic pathway.28 30 Upregulation of the rate-limiting enzyme in melatonin synthesis (N-acetyltransferase) is directly and immediately suppressed by the SCN in response to light.10 28 31 Darkness therefore permits pineal melatonin production during the proper phase of the SCN cycle. Melatonin signals time of day and simultaneously provides potent antioxidant and numerous other beneficial effects.28 Experimental nocturnal suppression of melatonin synthesis by light is the widely used surrogate for photic effects on SCN function.32
The effectiveness of light exposure for pRGC-mediated biological effects depends on its intensity,33 duration,34 spectrum5 6 and timing relative to the phase of the circadian rhythm.35 Internal biological clocks are entrained to external environmental time by timing cues known as zeitgebers.28 Daily environmental light is by far the most important zeitgeber in humans,4 9 10 36 photoentraining the SCN to light–dark cycles. Suprathreshold early morning light advances, while evening light delays rhythms.35
Sunlight has been the primary stimulus for pRGC photoreception throughout human history. Skylight has a dominant wavelength of 477 nm,37 similar to peak pRGC sensitivity. Daylight illuminance can exceed 100 000 lux, as shown in fig 2. Contemporary artificial sources rarely provide more than 1% of the brightness of outdoor natural light,38 with spectra shifted to longer (redder) wavelengths that are less effective for pRGC photoreception.39
Brighter, longer, bluer light exposures are most efficient for retinal ganglion mediated effects including melatonin suppression,5 6 photoentrainment,40 thermoregulation,17 improved nocturnal sleep quality,41–43 heart-rate variability,17 treatment of non-seasonal44 or seasonal depression,45 enhanced mood/well-being,46 47 alertness,17 18 46 48 cognition,19 46 49 reaction time, performance and vigilance.18 48 The crystalline lens transmits progressively less visible light and particularly less blue light as it ages.50 51 Senescent miosis also progressively reduces retinal illumination.52 53 Deficient circadian photoreception results in significant neurobiological morbidity. We therefore examined how ageing and cataract surgery potentially affect the light available for circadian photoreception.
Figure 2 is a compilation of published environmental and therapeutic light levels.39 44 54–57 Typical indoor and outdoor illuminances were confirmed with standard light meters (Models 403125 and EA30s, Extech Instruments Corporation, Waltham, MA). The age-related decline in retinal illumination in fig 3 was calculated by multiplying human crystalline lens transmittance at different ages51 with photopic pupil area for those ages.53 Results are presented relative to a 10-year-old eye. Pupil-weighted spectral retinal illumination was multiplied wavelength by wavelength with melatonin suppression sensitivity5 58 between 350 and 700 nm to determine how ageing affects circadian photoreception for an isoquantal light source. Resultant areas under the curve for 10 years of age and 15 through 95 years of age represent relative circadian illumination and are presented in table 1. Similar calculations are shown in fig 4 but with the spectral transmittance of 20 and 30-dioptre blue-blocking (AcrySof SN60AT, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) or UV-only blocking (ClariFlex, Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana) intraocular lenses8 (IOLs) used in addition to that of crystalline lenses (cf, fig 1).
Figure 3 shows how losses in crystalline lens transmittance and pupil area due to ageing produce progressive decreases in pupil-weighted spectral retinal illumination. Percentage losses are reasonably uniform with each passing decade. They are most prominent at shorter violet (400–440 nm) and blue (440–500 nm) wavelengths.
Table 1 presents relative effectiveness of circadian photoreception at different ages. By 45 years of age, crystalline lens yellowing and pupillary miosis reduces circadian photoreception to roughly half that of a 10-year-old. People in their eighth and ninth decades retain only 10% of a 10-year-old's circadian photoreception, so they need 10 times more light for equivalent circadian photoreception under similar illumination, in agreement with Charman's findings.58 Deficits will be underestimates if pRGC populations decline with ageing as do those of non-photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells.59 Additional reductions in pRGC photoreception may occur if ocular light transmission is decreased further by factors such as ethnicity, iris pigmentation,60 reduced corneal clarity, cataract or sunglass usage.
Figure 4 illustrates age-related losses or gains in circadian photoreception relative to a 10-year-old eye. Cataract extraction with implantation of a UV-only blocking IOL results in significant gains, with performances in older adults comparable with phakic individuals up to four decades younger. People under 50 years of age with UV-only blocking IOLs attain better circadian photoreception than in their youth. UV-only blocking IOLs provide circadian photoreception at any given age roughly 15–20 years younger than blue-blocking IOLs, depending on the latter's dioptric power.
There is little current information on the susceptibility of retinal ganglion photoreceptors to ocular disease. Retinitis pigmentosa may affect ganglion as well as rod and cone photoreceptors because by 50 years of age, 95% of people with retinitis pigmentosa experience intermittent insomnia, daytime sleepiness and reduced alertness.61 62 Glaucoma is associated with ganglion cell losses, but pRGCs were resistant to ocular hypertension in one experimental rodent study.63 Cortical blindness would not affect light-mediated pRGC functions so patients should retain normal sleep patterns with appropriate light exposure and potentially benefit from light therapy for coincident depression even though visually blind. Conversely, whiplash injury,64 tetraplegia,30 autonomic neuropathy or other conditions affecting the retinohypothalamic tract, SCN-pineal connections or intermediate nuclei can impair or abolish specific circadian rhythms.
SCN cycle at fixed, inherited, individually specific periods that typically differ from 24 h and average 24.2 h in humans.9 If environmental timing cues are inadequate or absent,36 65 SCN cycle daily at their own intrinsic period independent of geophysical day–night cycles. Repetitive cycling without daily resetting is termed free-running.9 In free-running, the phase of physiological cycles progressively deviates from and then returns to that of environmental day–night cycles over days or months.
Most totally blind individuals have abnormal or free-running circadian rhythms,36 66 but some visually blind individuals retain pRGC photoreception.67 Visually blind people without pRGC photoentrainment suffer the additional burden of periodic extreme circadian desynchrony with daytime drowsiness from elevated daytime melatonin levels and night-time insomnia due to circadian alerting.68 Their condition is equivalent to a lifetime of recurrent profound jetlag which in itself is disabling.69 Blind individuals with intermittent insomnia and daytime napping despite adequate light exposure36 should be suspected of free-running. They typically entrain with daily exogenous melatonin, which can improve their quality of life70 and possibly reduce otherwise increased early mortality risks.71–76
Inadequate environmental light exposure can also cause free-running circadian rhythms. People with normal vision in their mid-twenties free-run at room illuminances under 200 lux77 or even 80 lux.78 Astronauts (37–43 years of age) become free-running at typical space shuttle illuminances below 80 lux, producing circadian disruption, poor sleep quality and neurobehavioural performance decrements.65 If 80–200 lux does not prevent free-running with its adverse consequences in 25-year-olds, much higher illuminances would be inadequate for older people with their declining crystalline lens transmittance and pupil area (cf, table 1). For example, 184–460, 256–640, 400–1000 and 536–1340 lux would be inadequate to prevent free-running in 55, 65, 75 and 85-year-old adults, respectively. Residential illuminances are much lower than those needed to prevent free-running in older adults, typically averaging only 100 lux (cf, fig 2).29 38 57 This light level is very dim compared with natural outdoor lighting.39
Daily light exposures necessary for non-visual photoreception depend on numerous intrinsic13 60 79 80 and extrinsic factors.5 33–35 For example, older women even with dilated pupils are insensitive to blue light exposures sufficient to suppress melatonin significantly in younger women, demonstrating that age-related crystalline lens yellowing reduces circadian photoreception.81 As shown in fig 4, cataract surgery provides older adults with more youthful circadian photoreception.
Sunlight's importance is underscored by seasonal and weather-related neuropsychological disorders that would not occur if indoor lighting were sufficient for all neurobiological needs. Midwinter insomnia affects up to 80% of certain populations at higher latitudes.82 Over 90% of people have some mood reduction during sporadically overcast weather or seasonal decreases in daylight length or intensity.83–85 Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) causes disabling depression, hypersomnolence and weight gain during the fall and winter in approximately 10% of the population.86 Non-seasonal depression is also closely associated with reduced light exposure.87 88 Reduced sunlight exposure in sighted individuals can cause insomnia, free-running rhythms, extreme flattening of hormonal profiles and cognitive difficulties that are reversible with restoration of adequate sunshine.89 90
Environmental illumination is inversely correlated with insomnia42 91 and depression,87 88 both of which increase with ageing.92 Chronic sleep disturbances affect 40–70% of elderly populations.92 Indeed, only 12% of 9000 subjects aged 65 or older denied sleep complaints.93 Chronic insomnia and depression are closely associated.93 94 Up to 30% of older populations have depression,95 96 which, like insomnia, frequently goes undiagnosed.97 98 Insomnia and depression are significant risk factors for cancer,99 diabetes,100 cognitive deficiencies,93 101 dementia,102 cardiovascular disease95 and premature mortality.96 103 Flattened nocturnal melatonin amplitudes occur with ageing in some104 but not all105 people probably because of differences in environmental light exposure.42 Reduced circadian amplitudes are also associated with higher risks of cancer106 and other diseases.107 Bright light (⩾2500 lux) particularly from bluer sources such as outdoor daylight can reduce or eliminate insomnia42 and depression;44 immediately increase brain serotonin,20 mood,47 alertness, and cognitive function;17 19 49 and normalise otherwise decreased circadian hormonal amplitudes including nocturnal melatonin levels that may have been undetectable previously.42 89 90
Young adults in industrialised countries typically receive only 20–120 min of daily light exposure exceeding 1000 lux.42 87 108 109 Elderly adults' bright light exposures average only 1/3 to 2/3 that duration.42 110 Institutionalised elderly receive less than 10 min per day of light exposure exceeding 1000 lux,55 111 with median illuminances as low as 54 lux.55 The declining bright light exposure of many older adults combined with their reduced retinal illuminance due to pupillary miosis and crystalline lens yellowing places them at risk for retinal ganglion photoreception deficiency, possibly contributing to age-related insomnia, depression and cognitive decline. Cataract surgery with a UV-only blocking IOL has been shown to decrease the incidence of insomnia and daytime sleepiness.112 113
The eye's critical role in good health has become increasingly evident. Unconscious retinal ganglion photoreceptor responses to bright, properly timed light exposures ensure optimal circadian rhythms, photoentrainment and other neurobiological responses. Inadequate environmental light and/or ganglion photoreception can cause circadian disruption, increasing the risk of insomnia, depression and numerous systemic disorders. Complete blindness involving both conscious vision and unconscious, non-visual photoreception should be differentiated from visual blindness affecting only the conscious perception of light. Visually blind patients should be encouraged to get sufficient light, while completely blind individuals typically benefit from melatonin therapy.
Circadian photoreception decreases with ageing caused by age-related pupillary miosis and reduced crystalline lens transmission, particularly of blue light. Circadian studies should control for subjects' pupil size and crystalline lens or IOL transmittance. Patient lifestyle education and architectural designs addressing the increased photic needs of older adults are potentially beneficial, as are retinal photocoagulation procedures localised to the outer retina that potentially spare ganglion photoreceptors.114 115 Light deficiency, whether due to improper timing, suboptimal spectrum or insufficient intensity, may contribute to medical conditions commonly assumed to be age-related inevitabilities. Unconscious and conscious photoreception should both be considered in IOL design and selection in order to maximise the non-visual as well as visual benefits of cataract surgery.8 43
Competing interests: PLT has received travel grants from Advanced Medical Optics, Incorporated. MAM serves as a consultant for Advanced Medical Optics, Iridex and Ocular Instruments Corporations.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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Some scholars doubt that St. Patrick ever existed. They say that the Irish may have felt a need to create a powerful founder in order to glorify the origin of their church. Rome had Saints Peter and Paul; the founding of the church in England was definite, but muddy as to provenance; so, this argument goes, the Irish would do the British one better and find themselves a strong, saintly leader.
Perhaps the powerful Patrick and the legends about him (some are indeed quite fanciful) were invented and then placed upon the life of a much more ordinary missionary of that name. Heinrich Zimmer held this line of reasoning about a century ago in his book, The Celtic Church in Britain and Ireland:
It would not require a long stretch of imagination if we assume that, about 625 [when the first Life of Patrick was published], Ireland's pious wish of having an apostle of her own was realized by reviving the memory of this Patricius, who had been forgotten everywhere except in the southeast. It was in this way, I think, that the Patrick legend sprang up with its two chief premises: first, that Ireland was entirely pagan in 432…and secondly, that Patrick converted Ireland within a short time and introduced a Christian Church, overcoming all obstacles and winning the favor of King Loigaire.
Zimmer's is one response to the fantastic legends: Do not believe them at all; they must have been manufactured. But most scholars disagree with Zimmer. They say that Patrick not only existed but did some remarkable things, even if he was not the first missionary to Ireland.
Patrick's two acknowledged writings are the Confession (written when he was an old man responding to charges made against him by British priests) and the Letter Against Coroticus (also polemical, written earlier). These are the only reliable witnesses to Patrick's life and work. From these we know that Patrick's Latin was not good; that his father was a deacon named Calpornius; and that Patrick's grandfather, Potitus, was a presbyter in his village in Britain. At age 16 Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland, where his faith was kindled while in captivity; he worked as a shepherd and heard the "voice" of God speak to him. After six years, he fled Ireland, stowed away on a ship. The ship traveled for three days until reaching land; Patrick visited his parents in Britain a few years after he escaped; he returned to Ireland and claimed to have baptized thousands of people.
If none of that sounds familiar, it is because you rarely see any of it in the iconography of the saint. The St. Patrick of art tells stories that move beyond what the experts say we can know for sure. Some of us heard legends of St. Patrick as children, and we repeat them to our own children. That great Irish poet of the last century, Patrick Kavanagh, wrote in "To Be Dead":
And you perhaps, take up religion
Which you laughed at in your
Well not actually laughed
But it wasn't your kind of truth.
I do not think it harms anyone to believe that Patrick combated Druids in remarkable ways, that he performed magician-like miracles and all of the other stories that fill the pages of Jacobus de Voragine's Golden Legend and Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints. In art, Patrick is most often represented in these legendary ways.
Most often, Patrick is shown holding a bishop's crosier, a serpent snaking around the length of it. Various legends exist as to how, where and when he was supposed to have obtained this staff. One legend intimates that Christ himself had once used it—hence one of the other names for it, baculus Jesu. Medieval believers latched onto Patrick's comments in his autobiographical Confession about being divinely instructed in his mission as evidence that the crosier had been mystically passed from Jesus to Patrick, over a circuitous route spanning four centuries. Now there is a story to be told! It would be beautiful, whether true or not.
Patrick is supposed to have used that staff to beat the snakes, symbolizing heathenism and evil, out of Ireland. Other legends say that a black bell (which can still be seen in The National Museum of Ireland in Dublin) was the tool for driving the snakes away. For this reason, you will often see Patrick in paintings with a bell. Legend has it that Patrick rang this bell from the summit of Croagh Patrick and then threw it over the side of the mountain. Angels retrieved and returned the bell to him. Again and again this happened, and each time snakes and other crawling creatures fled.
There are no snakes in all of Ireland. Natural scientists tell us that, in fact, Ireland never had any snakes. When snakes first evolved from lizards about 100 million years ago (the same era as the first tyrannosaurs), they lived entirely on the southern continents. Meanwhile, the land that became Ireland was underwater. Sixty-five to fifty million years ago, when the climate of Earth changed, drying out, snakes quickly proliferated—but not by swimming across vast bodies of water to islands, such as Ireland, Greenland and New Zealand. Somewhat more recently, ice ages have eliminated snakes from northern continents, only to see them return again, but not across icy waters such as the English Channel or the Northern Channel, which separates Ireland from Scotland (where a few species can occasionally be found).
In the iconography of Patrick, two other traditional images appear: a three-petaled shamrock and a wind-swept scene. A shamrock is pictured most often in trinkets and on saint cards; it captures the story of when Patrick, who was always known to use ordinary things to make extraordinary points, picked up a shamrock to explain the Trinity to a group of pagans. The wind-swept imagery recalls a particular scene, as well as a nonparticular setting. The scene was the one preserved in the Golden Legend, when Patrick dug a circular hole with his staff, and the earth opened to reveal purgatory, demonstrating the existence of such a place and the necessity of being baptized. Hot air rushed to the surface and scared the people straight. The nonparticular setting, common in more contemporary illustrations of St. Patrick, shows him in the west of Ireland—the land to which, by most scholarly accounts, he may have genuinely been the first Christian missionary. Patrick probably spent many occasions standing on high and craggy bluffs in the west of Ireland, the wind buffeting and strengthening him.
Another image of St. Patrick intrigues me more than the others, and it is especially meaningful now, as Easter approaches. It is the image of Patrick on the Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of the Irish kings, where he lit the Paschal fire as a dramatic nighttime gesture (some of the greatest saints were also dramatic virtuosos) to sanctify the island for Christ. Look for this remarkable story in any major biography of the saint, and look to—of all things—a postage stamp for one of its most beautiful representations. The artist is unknown. The stamps were issued from Dublin in 1937, and you can see them on the Web page about notable events in postal history (http://shoebox.heindorffhus. dk/frame-StPatrick.htm).
Both the hard facts and the fanciful legends about Patrick have the power to fascinate and instruct; it is best to strike a balance between the two. Since so many centuries have passed, we will likely never know more about the man who was Patrick than we do today.


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A new version of GNU C Library (glibc) has been released and with this new version comes support for the upcoming 64-bit ARM architecture a.k.a. AArch64. Version 2.17 of glibc not only includes support for ARM, it also comes with better support for cross-compilation and testing; optimized versions of memcpy, memset, and memcmp for System z10 and zEnterprise z196; and optimized version of string functions, on top of some quite a few other performance improvements, states the mailing list release announcement. Glibc v 2.17 can be used with a minimum Linux kernel version 2.6.16
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Lightweight Quarter Dollar
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This is a coin that weighs 70/80 per cent less than a regular coin. So, you can use this coin with any kind of reel, as ITR, Tarantula, etc.In this package you will find a finely crafted gimmicked coin set produced by Tango Magic.Tango Magic produces the highest quality gimmicked coins in the world. Tango stands behind their products to guarantee your success. As a bonus to thank you for your purchase, Tango has included in this package Tangopedia, a four-hour instructional DVD. This DVD includes basic instructions for more than 50 gimmick coin routines using a variety of our specialty coins such as Expanded Shell-Coins, Copper/Silver/Brass, Scotch and Soda, Pen Through Coin, Folding Coins, Okito Boxes, and more. From this DVD you will learn the basics of using your new Tango Magic products as well as gaining insight into the amazing of possibilities the Tango line of coins provides.
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EBay's PayPal funds freeze plan draws fireEBay's new policy of holding PayPal funds on "high-risk" transactions for up to 21 days has business owners spooked.Photos Sick of PayPal? Check out these e-commerce solutions for business owners.
Talk back: eBay forum discussion
Video: eBay sellers' rebellion
Gallery: 5 PayPal alternatives
(FORTUNE Small Business) -- Editor's note: This story was originally published Feb. 8 and is being updated to add links to follow-up stories. In the uproar that erupted over the planned fee hikes and other policy changes eBay announced last week, one drew particular ire and incredulity: eBay's plan to hold payments sent through its PayPal payment service for up to 21 days in certain circumstances. The freeze will apply to transactions eBay (EBAY, Fortune 500) considers high-risk, and is intended to protect buyers from the hazards of a bad transaction. By hanging on to funds, eBay can easily refund them if a seller doesn't ship a purchased item or sends damaged goods. What is sparking reactions ranging from annoyance to panic among some of eBay's sellers is the company's criteria for determining what transactions fall into the "high-risk" category. Factors beyond sellers' control, including the number of "feedback" comments they have from previous buyers and how many of those comments are positive, can trigger the freeze. "It's like a bad dream, really," said Dana White, an eBay seller who lives outside Ocean City, Md., and deals in used clothing, shoes and accessories. "I'm a small seller. All I need is two negatives in a 30-day period, and they will hold funds." Representatives from PayPal, which eBay acquired in 2002, declined to comment on how the new policy would affect individual cases, but noted that the changes are paired with increased protections for merchants who use the service. If Paypal deems a transaction fraudulent, it currently covers merchants for up to $5,000 per year. That cap will be lifted for eBay's PowerSellers, the site's highest-volume merchants, who will now receive unlimited coverage. PayPal will also offer PowerSellers protection on items sent to any address (not just confirmed addresses, the current policy) and expand its merchant coverage for international sales. PayPal estimates that its new hold policy will affect less than 5% of eBay transactions, and it emphasizes that only relatively untested sellers risk incurring a freeze. Merchants who have been registered with eBay for more than six months, have a feedback score of 100 or higher (meaning they've received positive comments for at least that many transactions), and have a "dissatisfied buyer" rate of less than 5% will never have their funds held. But on a site that hosts an estimated 113 million listings worldwide at any given time, a policy affecting as many as 5% of those transactions puts millions in jeopardy. If funds are frozen after a sale, PayPal will release them after the buyer leaves positive feedback, three days after the item's confirmed delivery, or at the end of 21 days without a dispute, whichever happens first. Paypal says the factors that will play into its formula for triggering a hold include the length of time a seller has been on eBay, the seller's feedback rating, and the final cost and shipping fees for the item. Because PayPal has sole discretion over whether to freeze funds, sellers are upset about a perceived lack of accountability. They're also grouchy about eBay's efforts to force buyers to rely on PayPal: in some categories and for all new sellers, eBay requires vendors to offer PayPal as an option or have their own merchant credit card account. The site has blocked rival payment systems such as Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) Checkout, saying they are not yet proven safe. "The feeling among my forum members is that this new [21-day hold] policy is beneficial for buyers but negatively affects sellers," said Bob Lee, who runs PowerSellersUnite, a popular outlet for entrepreneurs who run businesses on eBay. "A seller is at risk of being taken advantage of by the buyer. Not having access to revenue and having to wait for a buyer to leave positive feedback leaves sellers in the lurch. PayPal and eBay are not allowing sellers to play on a level field." The new policy has some questioning its legitimacy: Can PayPal legally freeze funds at will for up to three weeks? The answer is yes. While PayPal offers interest-bearing accounts, debit cards, and other trappings traditionally associated with banks, it legally isn't one. PayPal is classified as a "deposit broker," according to David Barr, a spokesman for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). A deposit broker can perform some of the same functions that bank might, but it ultimately depends on banks to hold its money. Other examples of deposit brokers include companies like Charles Schwab (SCHW, Fortune 500), the discount brokerage house. Buyer and seller money passes through PayPal - "a conduit, so to speak," Barr said - and is then deposited in a traditional bank. That means money parked with PayPal can be eligible for so-called "pass-through" insurance by the FDIC. However, that protection doesn't apply to funds held in a PayPal money market account, which are not FDIC-insured. (Coincidentally, PayPal money-market holders were recently issued incorrectly low January dividends, but that mistake stemmed from a third-party glitch and is now being corrected, according to a PayPal representative.) While PayPal's operations lie outside of U.S. federal banking regulations, states can individually decide to regulate the company - and in the past some have made overtures in that direction. In 2002, Louisiana banking officials asked the company to cease offering its services to the state's residents until it received a money transmitter's license. PayPal did, and hasn't faced any significant state-level action since. A spokeswoman for the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions confirmed this week that PayPal is a registered money transmitter with the state. Some sellers have talked of challenging PayPal money freezes in courts, something that's been done before. In 2002, PayPal users in California sued, arguing that PayPal violated the state's consumer-protection laws by locking accounts containing money involved in a fraud investigation. (PayPal froze all cash in affected accounts, not just the money involved in the investigation.) However, the case did not result in any determination of liability: PayPal paid a $9.5 million settlement to end the case in 2004. PayPal spokeswoman Amanda Pires said the issues at stake in the California case were "totally unrelated" to those being raised in relation to the new 21-day hold provision. "Obviously, it's legal. We wouldn't do it if it wasn't," Pires said of the provision, noting that the right to temporarily hold funds is reserved in PayPal's user agreement. PowerSellersUnite's Lee conceded that point: "Everyone who joins PayPal agrees to their terms. Unless a court finds PayPal subject to the same regulations as a bank, it would be a hard case to make." PayPal's Pires says the changes will increase buyer confidence and generate more sales for eBay's merchants. Some eBay entrepreneurs agree with that assessment. Jon and Stacie Sefton are the owners of B & H Factory Outlet, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, designer-clothing retailer that sells exclusively on eBay. What began as a home business five years ago now has 70 employees and is eBay's largest clothing merchant. The Seftons are in favor of PayPal's new policies, and believe the changes will achieve PayPal's aim of boosting protections for both buyers and sellers. B&H does 20% of its business internationally, so PayPal's expanded global protections will directly benefit the company's bottom line, as will its move to expand PowerSeller protections for shipments to any address, not just confirmed ones. Overall, Paypal's effort to weed out unreliable sellers helps everyone who does business through its marketplace, Jon Sefton said. Also backing the changes is Jonathan Garriss, CEO of eBay shoe store Gotham City Online and executive director of the eBay Professional Sellers Alliance, an influential outside lobbying group. "That is a big deal because now eBay and PayPal are getting involved in the transaction to make sure buyers get what they are expecting," Garriss said. His group has long been frustrated by the hands-off, "buyer beware" stance eBay's management has traditionally had about its marketplace: "Imagine if that was the case at the local mall," Garriss said. "That's no way to shop." But eBay's PayPal changes have already cost the company Suzy Lancaster, a 52-year-old seller from Wichita Falls, Tex., who has been selling on eBay for more than a decade - or, as she puts it, since "back when [eBay founder] Pierre Omidyar started it as Auction Web and ads looked more like e-mail." Lancaster remembers the days when bidders sent cash to sellers through the mail to pay for their purchases. After last week's announcement of eBay's upcoming policy changes, she closed her Pigeon Alley Books store on eBay and began working on a standalone e-commerce website. EBay's PayPal changes will make small sellers even more vulnerable to unscrupulous buyers, because they will have every incentive to avoid getting dinged with bad feedback that might trigger a freeze on their PayPal account, she said. "We've spent years trying to build up a good business reputation," she said. "It's going get shredded by someone who doesn't realize [the impact of their feedback]." Lancaster echoed a common sentiment expressed by eBay business owners in this week's uproar: concern that the site is transitioning to a marketplace only for professional sellers, with no room for smaller vendors or hobbyists. John Donahoe, elevated to CEO-elect two weeks ago when Meg Whitman announced her impending retirement, fed those fears with an oft-repeated dismissive comment to the Financial Times in December, complaining that "our home page still looks like a flea market." Lancaster said she is sad to see eBay becoming a marketplace only for businesses that "buy inventory by the boatload." "They already have a place for that," she said. "It's called Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500)." A discussion of eBay's changes is raging on our forum. Have your say. Read our full coverage of eBay's changes: 5 PayPal alternatives Outraged eBay sellers plot strike eBay backlash: 5 sellers who ditched it Rivals court eBay sellers Fee hike sparks seller rebellion |


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Tuesday, October 04, 2011
WASHINGTON — Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumer Law Center, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates and AARP today sent a joint letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise serious concerns about the broadband industry's proposal to restructure the Universal Service Fund (USF).
In the letter to the four members of the FCC, the groups said the industry's proposal "would harm consumers, especially the most vulnerable, including seniors and low-income households."
"In particular, the industry plan would significantly and unfairly increase the cost of basic home phone service," the groups wrote.
Instead of moving forward with the industry's America's Broadband Connectivity (ABC) Plan, the organizations urged the FCC to reform USF in a way that they said would better serve the public interest.
They said the proposal would place a greater financial burden on consumers at a time when they can least afford the extra costs, pointing to the ABC plan's increase in the Subscriber Line Charge (SLC).
The proposal would wipe out key consumer rights and protections, and it contains no mechanisms to ensure that USF funds would be used to provide affordable, quality service, the organizations said.
"For years, our organizations have been working to promote a vision of universal service for basic telephone service – and now broadband – so that all consumers can benefit from the tremendous opportunities provided by a basic communication service," the groups said. "While we recognize that USF reform is truly needed, we cannot accept the premise of the ABC Plan – that consumers, especially the most vulnerable, should bear the burden of increased costs while allowing the companies to maintain excessive profits with no oversight or accountability. Thus, rather than endorsing or pursuing the ABC Plan, the Commission should move forward on a plan that promotes the public interest and provides for affordable universal service."
For a copy of the letter, please contact David Butler or Kara Kelber at Consumers Union, the public policy division of Consumer Reports, at 202-462-6262.
David Butler or Kara Kelber, 202-462-6262


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During normal office hours, the Petition for Injunction should be filed with the Clerk of Courts office in the Citrus County Courthouse. There are currently no costs associated with injunctions.
Once the forms are completed, the Clerk of Courts Office will file the petition and take the file to the judge for review. If the judge finds merit to the petition, a Temporary Injunction or an Order Setting Hearing may be entered.
Show All Answers
A hearing must be scheduled and the violator must be personally served with a copy of the Petition, Notice of Hearing, and the Temporary Injunction. The formal hearing will be scheduled for the next available court session. You must attend the hearing or the injunction will be dismissed.
Any injunction granted by the Court will remain in effect until modified, dissolved, or expired by the judge. Copies of all injunctions are placed on file with local law enforcement agencies.


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CORTINA, JOSIANE - Universidade Federal De Mato Grosso | |
THEODORO, GUSTAVO - Universidade Federal De Mato Grosso | |
Walker, David |
Submitted to: Bioscience Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2013 Publication Date: 5/3/2013 Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59346 Citation: Cortina, J.V., Theodoro, G., Walker, D.R. 2013. Identification of fungi on diseased soybean seeds harvested during a high rainfall period in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Bioscience Journal. 29:386-391. Interpretive Summary: Excessive rainfall during the harvest period can increase the incidence of diseases on soybean seeds by prolonging the period of time that the seeds are exposed to fungal pathogens and by promoting the growth, dispersal and reproduction of the fungi. An abundance of rain during the 2010/2011 soybean harvest season in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (west-central Brazil) resulted in an unusually high incidence of seed disease and presented an opportunity to survey seeds for pathogens. To determine which fungal genera were present in or on diseased seeds, a sample of 800 seeds harvested from 110 plants was incubated for 7 days before being inspected with microscopes to identify the fungi to the genus level. Half of the 800 seeds were superficially disinfected prior to incubation to allow determination of which fungi were actually established in the seed tissue, and not only on the surface of the seed coat. On average, 32% of the seeds inspected had visible disease symptoms. The most frequently observed fungal genera were Fusarium (on 80-90% of the visibly diseased seeds), Phomopsis (39-45%), and Cercospora (22-30%), while Colletotrichum, Rhizoctonia and Penicillium spp. occurred at frequencies of 10% or less. Since seed fungal diseases cannot be controlled by fungicide applications, the development of cultivars with higher resistance to the most common seed pathogens found would provide soybean growers with an effective way to reduce losses in seed yield and quality resulting from excessive rainfall during the harvest season. This information will be useful to soybean pathologists and breeders. Technical Abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the incidence of several genera of fungi on soybean seeds harvested during a period of high rainfall in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. These plants had received four fungicide applications between the R1 and R6 developmental stages, but disease symptom were nevertheless observed on many seeds. Agronomic trait means from 110 plants were determined from data obtained at the time of harvest. From the seeds obtained, 800 were selected that showed discoloration of the tegument, with or without visible fungal colonies. Half of the seeds were superficially disinfected by immersion in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 3 minutes, and all 800 seeds were then incubated to stimulate fungal growth. A modified blotter-test method was used in which 25 seeds were deposited on filter paper placed in a germination box, and a saturated NaCl solution (-1,0 MPa) was used to inhibit germination of the seeds. After incubation for 7 days at 25ºC, fungal growth was inspected using optical and stereoscopic microscopes to identify the genera of the fungi present on the basis of their morphologies. On average, there were 50.3 pods per plant, 2.0 seeds per pod, and 31.7 visibly diseased seeds per soybean plant. The mean weight of 100 seeds was 14.72 g and there were 15.30 g of seed per plant, of which 4.58 g were visibly diseased on average. Among the fungi observed were Fusarium spp. (80-90%), Phomopsis spp. (39-45%), Cercospora spp. (22-30%), Colletotrichum spp. (5-10%), Rhizoctonia spp (<2%). and Penicillium spp. These results showed that there is a need to breed new genotypes with resistance to the most common seed diseases. |