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What Are the Health Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice?
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/166129-what-are-the-health-benefi...
Mar 31, 2011 | By Dacia Rivers
Aloe vera juice is made from the leaves of the aloe plant. The juice has natural anti-inflammatory properties, according to the Aloe Vera Studies website. Loaded with beneficial amino acids, aloe vera is most commonly used to treat sunburns topically. Drinking aloe vera juice provides a variety of health benefits. You can find aloe vera juice for sale at health food stores, drugstores and natural grocers. Talk to your doctor before drinking aloe vera juice to treat a medical condition.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/166129-what-are-the-health-benefi...
Views: 318
I tried drinking Aloe Vera juice a number of years ago and really could not see any difference. Now that I am a little older, I may try it again. I could use a congestive aid.
I just bought some Lillie because my stomach has been hurting lately - all week. So I decided to try it out. Since I have taken it my stomach problems stopped. I am feeling much better now. I was surprised it worked as well as it did.
You have convinced me. I am out to purchase some right now.
I hope it works for you too! : )
Keep me posted.
Here in Japan, I haven't seen many aloe drinks, but they will put aloe in with yogurt. 90% of yogurt here is sweetened, though, so that's something to consider. If I can find plain yogurt, then I'm good to go with a nice parfait in the morning. :) ...But the aloe yogurt is sweetened. Oh well.
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The acceptance of the M 32 C long-stroke engine series in the marine industry is a success story, whose equal is hard to find in this power class. Since its introduction in 1994, more than 1600 engines have been sold. 80% of them are marine propulsion engines, and 20% are electrical generator sets. The M 32 C series is a genuine heavy fuel engine, and 75% of all engines commissioned burn the economical heavy fuel oil. The M 32 C long-stroke series with a bore of 320 mm has continued the market success of its predecessor in this bore size. Decisive factors in its development have been maximum customer benefit requirements, i.e. economy and operational reliability. Environmental aspects, however, have also been important. Operational results have fully confirmed the design objectives.
|Speed Range
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Nodular cast iron engine block and crankcase with integrated ducts for lubricating oil and charge air, No piping, No cooling water in the engine block, Easy maintenance, High level of operational safety
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Plug-in connections for the cooling water pipes with standard closure fittings, Easy to fit, very maintenance-friendly, Identical parts for each cylinder version, Reduced number of components/parts, Increased operational safety
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Lubricating oil automatic filter fitted to the engine, Replaces duplex filter and separate automatic filters, Pumps and filters operate without any external power, Reduces the parts requirements
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subset: commoncrawl


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Even as the Iranian government clamped down harder on dissent, defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi urged his followers on Wednesday to protest en masse again.
Already, tens of thousands have begun to gather in Tehran's Haft-e Tir Square and march silently through the streets.
"We want a peaceful rally to protest the unhealthy trend of the election and realize our goal of annulling the results," said Mr. Mousavi, who has rejected as insufficient Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's move the day before to recount votes in certain contested areas.
And Mousavi is keeping the pressure on: He called for a day of mourning on Thursday.
Though considering a recount, just days after Ayatollah Khamenei called President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's reelection "divine," the regime on Tuesday barred foreign journalists from leaving their offices and arrested prominent reformists.
Here is a rundown of what's happening on various fronts, as reported by different outlets. Click on the news source's name to see the full article.
Crackdown on dissidents
"Iran was braced for a fifth day of unrest today as the government intensified its crackdown on opposition figures with the arrest of dozens of leading critics and issued a further warning against reporting of the protest movement," reported the Guardian in London.
"Iranian intelligence and security forces are using the public protests to engage in what appears to be a major purge of reform-oriented individuals whose situations in detention could be life-threatening," said Aaron Rhodes, a spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.
10 days and counting
"The country's Guardian Council, a 12-man committee that serves to uphold the constitution, announced Tuesday that it had begun a 10-day investigation into allegations of voting irregularities, but also praised the election process and said the reevaluation would be limited to specific areas where alleged infractions took place," reported the Los Angeles Times.
Agence France-Presse quotes Khamenei as saying Wednesday: "If the examination of the problems requires recounting of some ballot boxes, it should be definitely done in the presence of the representatives of candidates so that everybody is assured," he said.
Interestingly, at a pro-government rally Tuesday in Tehran, "many of the placards and slogans at the pro-government rally were in support of Khamenei rather than Ahmadinejad," another L.A. Times article reported.
What the protesters want
Here's how a commenter on Farq summed it up:
1. Dismissal of Khamenei for not being a fair leader
2. Dismissal of Ahmadinejad for his illegal acts
3. Temporary appointment of Ayatollah Montazeri as the Supreme Leader
4. Recognition of Mousavi as the President
5. Forming the Cabinet by Mousavi to prepare for revising the Constitution
6. unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners
7. Dissolution of all organs of repression, public or secret.
How they're getting the word out
Iran has blamed Western news outlets, bloggers, and others participating in a widespread Internet campaign for fomenting unrest. Despite sustained interruptions in TV, Internet, text messaging, and cellphone services; an increasing number of websites being blocked; and even proxy servers – which Mousavi supporters have used to get around Iranian censorship of Facebook and other sites – being targeted, protesters are persistently finding a way to get the message out.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it would take legal action against websites. It said US and Canadian companies were supporting these websites that were inciting people to riot.
"[C]ertain countries have rushed to judgment and have supported the illegal gatherings and the disturbances that a number of opportunists had created," Iran's foreign ministry said.
Ahmadinejad's miracle
"Read carefully: What I saw today was the most elegant scene I had ever witnessed in my life," wrote a participant in Monday's massive pro-reformist rally whose blog post was picked up by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. After "about 15 people" attacked him while riding in a taxi with his wife and daughter, he joined the crowds where he said he saw signs reading, "The Miracle of the Third Millennium: 2 x 2 = 24 millions" – a reference to Ahmadinejad's surprisingly high total of 24 million votes, according to official results.
An "Iranian graduate" quoted in the Guardian said the Iranian blogger community was one of the top 10 in the world, saying its "social function" played a more significant role in Iran than Europe due to censorship.
Is this the next Tiananmen?
Abbas Barzegar argues in the Guardian that it is not. He says the rallies – estimated to be the most massive since the 1979 Islamic revolution – are evidence of an Iranian identity crisis spawned 30 years ago. The wealthy elite, he writes, and the "extremely large conservative segment" of the Iranian population have increasingly grown apart.
"Living in separate sections of the cities and working and socialising among their own, they have thus come to understand themselves and Iran in entirely different trajectories. Thirty years of mutual distaste has now burst forth upon the streets in the form of an election contest....
"Anyone expecting [or encouraging] another Prague Spring or Tiananmen Square severely misunderstands the situation here. Instead, the long-term solution to the predicament in Iran today is much more complex than any political reform could provide – Iranians have to solve an identity crisis generations in the making. From my estimation, the calming climate of the mass gatherings is the first indication that Iranians would rather tackle that challenge than return to the dark days of the early [1980s]."
Read the full article here.
What the rest of the world thinks
According to the premier Pan-Arab network Al Jazeera, President Obama is not particularly enamored of President Ahmadinejad's challenger. Here's how Al Jazeera summed it up:
"The US president has played down differences between Iran's two main presidential election rivals, saying both were hostile towards the US.
"Barack Obama said on Tuesday that he would continue his policy of 'tough diplomacy' towards Tehran, as protests in support of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, and his rival Mir Hossein Mousavi, continued.
" 'It's important to understand that although there is amazing ferment taking place in Iran, the difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi in terms of their actual policies may not be as great as has been advertised,' Obama told CNBC news.
" 'Either way we were going to be dealing with an Iranian regime that has historically been hostile to the United States, that has caused some problems in the neighbourhood and has been pursuing nuclear weapons,' Obama said."
Whether Mousavi, or Ahmadinejad, a nuke is coming, says ElBaradei
The New York Times reports:
"Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, said it was his 'gut feeling' that Iran's leaders wanted the technology to build nuclear weapons 'to send a message to their neighbors, to the rest of the world: don't mess with us....'
"Dr. ElBaradei has made similar points in the past, officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday, but his latest remarks were more dramatic and less hedged with diplomatic caveats than previously."
The Monitor recently ran a briefing page on how close Iran is to the making a nuclear bomb, citing a wide array of reports – most of which concluded that Iran was further away from having a bomb capable of being launched via long-range missile than had been widely believed. Read the full story here.


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Helio Must Improve In 2010
Although many people found the 2009 season finale dull, if you were a fan of the "red cars" – it was a nail-biter. The top three cars in points; Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe, quickly pulled away from the rest of the field and waged their own battle with Franchitti winning the race and the championship. One of the four red cars was not part of the fight the front, that being the one driven by longtime Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves.
In fact, Helio's results began to taper off since he won the race at Texas, where he benefited from having the first pit stall and won over teammate Ryan Briscoe even though Briscoe had the superior car. He had a semi-respectable seventh-place finish in the following race at Iowa and then it was downhill from there.
Helio's tax problems have been well documented, by now. At this time last year, it was debatable how much jail-time he would be spending – not to mention how his racing career was hanging in the balance. It simply didn't look good for the Brazilian who was a favorite to so many. His trial started on March 2 in Miami and lasted for seven weeks. In that time, the already small driver lost thirteen pounds due to the stress that he endured. Will Power had been hired to drive Helio's car until the legal process played out – one way or another.
As it turned out, Helio was acquitted on a Friday – the opening day of practice for the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the second race of the season. By Saturday morning, he had flown across the country and was in the car practicing. Some journalists (Bob Kravitz) openly questioned if he should be driving that weekend, as he was clearly running on pure adrenaline. Helio managed to pull out a seventh-place finish in that race. With no time to catch his breath, the IndyCar Series headed to Kansas the very next weekend where he finished second.
It appeared that Helio was on a mission to make up for the off-season that he had lost. Even though he had missed the first race, he found himself right in the championship hunt. After a magical Month of May that saw him win the pole and then his third Indianapolis 500, Helio was on a roll. He had his first hiccup at Milwaukee, where he crashed during qualifying and had to race his backup with no practice. He finished eleventh, but made up for it in the next race when he won at Texas.
That's when the wheels began to come off of Helio's season. Up to that point, in the five races Helio ran — his average finishing position was 4.4. After the Texas race, Helio's average finish dropped to 10.6 – with four DNF's. He was showing signs of inconsistency and frustration.
There are a million different theories as to what happened to cause the sudden drop-off in the final two-thirds of the season. Most agree that the pressure of his legal problems finally surfaced. Through Indianapolis, he was running on adrenaline and energy. After the highly-charged win at Indy, he simply became emotionally drained and didn't have the energy to focus on the remainder of the season after the Month of May.
We also now know that Helio is soon to be a father. Some speculated as early as May that his girlfriend was expecting, but when asked – he flat-out lied. I can't say that I blame him, given the circumstances. All of the outside pressures with that bit of news would be enough to take his focus off of his duties.
There was also the Will Power factor. In Helio's absence, Will Power proved to be more than just an adequate fill-in. He proved himself worthy of full-time staus at Team Penske. He drove in a few races for Penske as a reward for a job well-done and stayed with the team all season, sometimes in just a cheerleading role, until he was seriously injured in practice at Sonoma. No matter how good of a working relationship they had, it could not have been very comforting to see Power sitting behind the wall as Helio kept racking up the DNF's.
Only the very hard-hearted would not give Helio a pass for the 2009 season. To go thorough what he had to endure from the time the indictments were handed down in October of 2008 until his acquittal in April of 2009, could have crushed the strongest of spirits. Some would say that he far surpassed all expectations by winning two races, one of which was the Indianapolis 500, and finishing fourth in the championship. Many consider that performance almost miraculous.
But those same people will also tell you that Helio had better rest up mentally this offseason. He needs to get the strain of the tax trial behind him, while also dealing with the excitement/anxiety of becoming a father for the first time. Regardless of what is going on in Helio's personal life, he needs to get his head right before the 2010 season begins. Roger Penske is a fair man, fairer than most people give him credit for. But The Captain won't put up with the continued lackluster performance that Helio produced in the second half of the 2009 season.
While some of the crashes were clearly the fault of something breaking on the car, many of Helio's problems in 2009 were self-induced. I don't think it's a stretch to say that if this streak continues for Helio in 2010, that he may not be a part of Team Penske in 2011. Although he has done it several times before, I get the impression that Roger Penske doesn't really want to run three cars full-time right now.
Ryan Briscoe certainly proved he is worthy of a long-term career at Team Penske. Will Power proved himself in the short time that he spent in a cockpit at Penske. It's now Helio that has to prove that HE is worthy. It's an uncomfortable position. Two years ago, this was unquestionably Helio's team. He is now only the third best driver on the team. When Al Unser, Jr. was brought into the Penske fold in 1994, Penske expanded to a three-car team that season. The following year, they went back to being a two-car team with Paul Tracy being the odd man out. In the mid-eighties, Al Unser, Sr. found himself on the outside looking in, only to be brought back for the 1987 Indy 500 to replace the injured Danny Ongais.
Helio returns to Team Penske in 2010 for his eleventh straight season with the team – a mark of longevity at team Penske that is eclipsed by only one other driver, that being Rick Mears who drove for fifteen straight seasons. Roger Penske has a history of dropping drivers before they hit the age where they are no longer competitive. He follows the theory that it's better to cut them loose a year or two too early, than to keep them around a year or two too late. Few drivers leave the Penske fold to go on to success at other teams. Paul Tracy is about the only true exception that comes to mind. Penske realized that the rest of them were past their prime, before the drivers themselves did.
Helio may soon be fitting into this category. He turns thirty-five next May, which is a little long in the tooth for today's IndyCar driver. Helio continues to battle the label of having never won a championship at any level. He has come close on many occasions, but was never able to close the deal.
I am a big Helio Castroneves fan. I am a fan of many drivers in the Izod IndyCar Series, but Helio is probably my favorite current driver. My hope is that the weight of his legal troubles finally caught up with him and wore him down last season. Helio is a very emotional driver. He runs on his seemingly never-ending supply of energy. Unfortunately, when he became so emotionally drained last year – that energy seemed to dissipate and he had nothing left to give. Near the end of the season, he appeared to simply be going through the motions.
I am pulling for Helio to come out of his current doldrums. The league needs his charm and charisma. It is over five months between the season finale at Homestead and the opener next spring in Brazil. Hopefully, Helio is using this time to re-charge his batteries in order to hit the ground running. If he gets off to a fast start in 2010, this time he needs to sustain it throughout the entire season. Otherwise, we may be witnessing the beginning of the end of the IndyCar driving career of Helio Castroneves.
George Phillips
22 Responses to "Helio Must Improve In 2010"
I think you are spot-on here, George. I, too, am rooting for Helio to get it together this coming season. I think he has the talent and drive to become our next 4 time winner at Indy. He just has to put everything behind him, grab on to the energy and joy that comes from being a father the first time, and channel that into driving. By all accounts, he is a truly kind and enthusiastic guy. I think his personality is part of what makes him a good driver. And if that is being squelched by the trauma of last season, he won't be a good driver. I'm guessing Roger won't stick it out with him if this season doesn't produce results. There are too many up-and-coming drivers out there ready to jump into a choice ride.
I suspect if and when Helio wins the championship it will be with a great deal of consistency, and gutty driving when his car is not as fast as he would like.
Helio wins Indy. That's enough for Helio. Mears was never a threat at a championship, especially after his Sanair wreck. Helio is going nowhere as long as he's a threat for #4 (or #5).
Plus, Helio might have never won a championship for Penske… but I don't recall him gagging on a solid 25 point lead by stuffing his 1st place car into the outside pit wall either ❗ I don't get this Helio-has-a short-rope talk 💡
I think Helio & Ryan will be championship contenders again… & Will Power will discover its much harder to be a full-time "star" @ Penske. JMO.
How was a 3-time CART Champion never a threat at a championship?
No championships post-Sanair, but Mears was sqaurely in the championship hunt in 1989, and wound up second to Fittipaldi.
Funny how Helio always has been the one never to win the championship. If you really look at all his years it really is the same story year after year. Always win a few races but never clinches the championship, partly I question his focus on the whole year, and this continues to be a trend year after year. Funny how things work out
Great piece George,
At 34, I also how much the full-time presence of Will Power is playing on his mind. Tim Cindric may have thought that Penske had the perfect sub, but may have in fact found the perfect replacement for Helio.
Whether they rest the No. 3 and let Power make the No. 12 his own is yet to be seen, but I think Will's excellent performances was the final nail for Helio. I have no doubt that Helio will be around until 2011 or even 2012; at which point we may see him become a "driver-coach".
Who knows – when Helio retires, the powers that be at the top of the sport could utilise Helio to encourage drivers from South and Central America and lead them through the ranks.
(Actually I also think that in time, Hunter-Raey could also be a replacement for Kanaan when he retires in a few years).
you are crazy if you think RP will ever cut loose a 3-time 500 winner. HCN owns that team. he can suck big time next year and he's still there. you need to get real.
Great post as always George. My take, and simply my opinion, as long as HCN wins Indy, The Captain will be happy. Indy matters more to Penske than IZOD IndyCar Championships. If you want a guy that compete at Indy, Helio is as good as it gets!
"Few drivers leave the Penske fold to go on to success at other teams. Paul Tracy is about the only true exception that comes to mind."
Tom Sneva would argue that point with you George. Especially considering he got his sweet revenge by winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500 over Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears, both of them driving Penske PC-11's. To be fair, Sneva did admit it wasn't until after he left Penske racing that he realized how good they were.
Helio's issue is he's never been a championship threat for the entire season throughout his career. It's odd that he can handle the pressure of Indianapolis with relative ease, but into the last 3rd of the season he makes the big mistakes that take him out of contention. Contrast him with Dixon or Franchitti, who can shrug off a bad race result and come through with the finish needed to close the gap. Helio and Ryan Briscoe seem to "jinx" themselves out of championship contention when the heat is on.
Good one George and I think Helio will have his hands full with just the Penske teammates of Will Power and my boy Ryan Briscoe.
Very good article. While I (along with most of the indycar fans out there) remain a fan of Helio, I am wishing greater success on guys who showed promise for years and now are on the top team (read: Briscoe and WP). I voted for his slide to continue, and Helio to be let go after this year. True, he's won Indy THREE TIMES but, Roger is no fool and if Helio isn't performing he won't was a third car on him when he has two other very talented drivers.
side note: *if* Helio gets let go, I don't see him retiring, but joining up as a driver for his old teammate, de Ferran. But that's enough future speculation to give me a headache…
*if* De Ferran is even there by 2011…
I would disagree that Roger Penske only cares about Indy. He is a racer at heart. He is just like every other team owner and wants to win as many races as possible. If he wins Indy thats an added bonus for the record books for him. If he cares only about Indy, then why would he bother to spend all the money/effort he does employing the best drivers and staff for the rest of the season? Just for purposes of winning Indy? I don't think so. That would be a odd business structure which we know Roger Penske would not even bother with.
I'm late on this, but I'll type it anyway.
From a historical standpoint, the Indy 500 is the main accomplishment which gets remembered. I never hear AJ Foyt referred to as 6-time USAC National Champion. I only hear 4-time Indy 500 winner. You have to be a hard-core open-wheel fan to remember the series winner stats. But Indy500 winners, particularly multiple winners, are more commonly known. And you know when the driver's obit is printed, it'll say (as of now) 3-time Indy500 Winner Helio Castroneves, regardless of anything else he does.
I'm not sure what Penske's personal priorities and plans are, but my gut feeling is that the prestige of being a 500 winner, both from a sponsorship side and a bragging-rights side, far outweighs anything he'd get for winning the Indycar series.
Point being: he'll run Helio as long as he things Helio has a good chance of winning the Indy 500. And since he's already won 3, there's a very good chance he'll win 4 if he stays with Penske. Winning 3 times means he knows how to win it. Having done it recently means he hasn't forgotten. Right now I think Helio is more likely to end his career with 4 wins than Tony Kanaan will have won once (and I'm a TK fan).
Unless Helio seriously unravels next year (on or off the track), I can't imagine Penske dropping him.
Helio just had an off year in 2009. Every driver has them. He'll be back on top in 2010. I got a big feeling he'll being winning #4 at Indy and he WILL be a championship contender. And maybe the it will finally be his big moment as Mr. Champion.


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Do What to the Mayo?
Did you know that on this day in 1862, the Mexican army enjoyed an unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla?* Yep. It was such an auspicious occasion that they named that fateful 5th of May... [consulting clipboard] the...er...5th of May.
Wait - is that right? [searching through papers]
Oh, but they named it in Spanish - I see. That way, instead of sounding silly, it sounds all "exotic-like" to us Gringos.
Anyhoo, these days we Americans have put our own spin on Cinco de Mayo:
Namely, we consume copious amounts of alcohol at extended happy hours across the country. Though to be fair, some of us will be wearing sombreros at the time.
"Hey Jo, what'd you find down at the bakery?"
"Meh. Just a couple of Mexican clowns waving flags."
(Anyone else think those "music notes" look like a pack of sky-diving sixes?)
I was going to suggest that something like a taco cake might be more appropriate today, but then I realized that's stereotyping. So instead, how about this?
Display it in a sink**, and all your Spanish-speaking friends will think you're hilarious. Or stupid. But then, they probably already think you're one of those anyway, so what have you got to lose?
Yenni, Matt J., & Kristin M., I hear happy hour starts at noon. Chop chop!
*Thank you, Wikipedia.
**Sink o' de Mayo? Get it?


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Recognizing Communities Around the World: Part 1
During the past several years I have had the great opportunity to work with the leaders from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the annual Community Policing Awards (CPA).
For the 14th year, IACP and Cisco are proud to celebrate and pay tribute to departments worldwide practicing the community policing philosophy. These departments bring change, address crime and terrorism, and make their communities safe places to live, work, and play.
Please help us spread the word and encourage others to share their success. The application deadline is midnight EST on June 3, 2012.
Community policing organizations from around the world can apply now for the opportunity to be recognized for the ways it has made public safety a priority through the use of collaboration, crime prevention, and partnership formation. Winners will be honored at the 2012 IACP Annual Conference in San Diego, CA.
The Chiefs leading the CPA committee are dedicated and each your do a great job recognizing the winners and also sharing best practices during a session at IACP. Last year was fantastic and we expect IACP 2012 in San Diego to be even better!
Please let me know if you know any communities that deserve to be recognized.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.
1 Comments
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public.


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Cairo, Egypt, 25 March 2005 - Her Excellency Madame Suzanne Mubarak today inaugurated the 30-hectare (74-acre) Al Azhar Park in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims. The Al-Azhar Park Project is a catalyst for social, economic and cultural renewal and improvement and will have far reaching consequences for the 200,000 residents of the neighbouring Darb al-Ahmar district.
The 500-year-old accumulation of fill and debris has been transformed into much-needed leisure and recreational space while functioning as a "green lung" for Cairo - a city with a population of 17 million and one of the lowest ratios of green space to urban population in the world - an area the size of a footprint per inhabitant, according to one estimate.
The US$ 30 million project was envisaged over 20 years ago and has since developed into a catalyst for economic development, becoming a case study for creative solutions to a spectrum of challenges facing historic cities, including ecological rehabilitation.
The construction of the park and the restoration of cultural monuments are meant to be catalysts for social and economic development and the overall improvement of the quality of life in the district. At the same time, the park offers a new vantage point with spectacular views of Historic Cairo's countless architectural treasures, which will no doubt draw foreign tourists and the inhabitants of greater Cairo alike to the once-neglected area. Park entry fees range from 1-6 EGP. Residents of neighbouring Darb al-Ahmar and Gamaliya districts will benefit from reduced rates.
"A fundamental lesson, which reinforced our experience in other countries, is that public-private partnerships can be effective mechanisms for enhancing the value of underused, unappreciated or even unknown social, cultural and economic assets," said the Aga Khan in his address at the inauguration ceremony. He underlined that the project would not have been successful without effective partnerships with a number of international, national and local NGOs and institutions such as the Swiss Egyptian Development Fund, the Ford Foundation, the World Monuments Fund, the French Institute of Archaeology, the city of Stuttgart and the newest donor, the Social Development Fund.
Although it started as a project to design and construct a park, the project took on additional elements such as the excavation and extensive restoration of the adjoining 12th century Ayyubid wall and the rehabilitation of important monuments and landmark buildings in the neighbouring Historic City. It also encompasses an extensive social development programme, including apprenticeship arrangements, housing rehabilitation, micro-credit and health care facilities.
The project presented several challenges such as the highly saline soils and the incorporation in the park of three large fresh water reservoirs for the city of Cairo, each 80 metres in diameter and 14 metres deep. The horticultural challenges were also formidable. After the creation of specialist nurseries to identify and grow the best plants and trees for the soil, terrain and climate, over two million plants and trees were propagated. Over 655,000 have now been planted in the park. In addition, in order to restore the 12th century Ayyubid wall, which had been buried up to its crenellated battlements, it proved necessary to excavate to a depth of 15 metres.
Three landmark buildings, the 14th Century Umm Sultan Shaban Mosque, the Khayrbek complex (encompassing a 13th century palace, a mosque and an Ottoman house), and the Darb Shoughlan School are also being restored. Local housing rehabilitation activities undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture are expected to average 50 houses per year until 2007. A housing credit scheme is aiding individuals in the rehabilitation of their own houses.
"Another lesson here was the important role that microfinance could play in helping residents of this community lift themselves beyond subsistence, enabling them to grow businesses and upgrade the quality of their living conditions," explained the Aga Khan. In the low-income neighbourhood of Darb al-Ahmar, which is adjacent to the park, micro-credit loans have enabled residents to open small businesses such as carpentry shops and a drycleaner. In addition, job training and employment opportunities are being offered in different sectors such as shoemaking, furniture manufacturing and tourist goods production. Apprenticeships are available for automobile electronics, mobile telephones, computers, masonry, carpentry and office skills. Hundreds of young men and women in Darb al-Ahmar have found work in the park, in horticulture and on project teams restoring the Ayyubid wall.
As with all its undertakings, the Trust's approach has been to work with local residents to identify priorities and then take practical steps to address these needs. Community priorities, including restoration of houses, health, education, solid waste disposal, job training and jobs, are now being addressed.
"In our excavations and our historical investigations, I constantly have been reminded that we were touching the very foundations of my ancestors, the Fatimids, and the pluralistic history and intellectual profile of this city and this country to which they contributed so profoundly," ended the Aga Khan. "I am very humbled by the opportunity to return to Cairo, founded over a thousand years ago by the Fatimid Caliph Al-Muiz, to build on that history. Thirty-five generations later, through the work done here by my institutions, it is my prayer that this park will be a continuing contribution to the people of this great city."
For further information, please contact:
Eman Wahby
Aga Khan Cultural Services- Egypt
Tel: +202 510 3868/ 510 7378
Fax: +202 512 1054
Sam Pickens
Information Officer
Aga Khan Development Network
1-3 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 909 7277
Mobile: 078 661 8714
Fax: +41 22 909 7291
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Department of Public Affairs
Secretariat of His Highness the Aga Khan
60270 Gouvieux
Tel: +22.214.171.124.40.0
Fax: +126.96.36.199.42.79
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: www.akdn.org
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture focuses on the physical, social, cultural and economic revitalisation of communities in the Muslim world. It includes the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Historic Cities Support Programme, the Music Initiative in Central Asia, the Humanities Project, the on-line resource ArchNet, the Museum Projects and the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture is a part of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities in specific regions of Africa and Asia. Active in over 30 countries, the Network's underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society and its agencies and institutions work for the common good of all citizens, regardless of origin, gender or religion.


text:
Microsoft Orders UK's National Health Service To Pay Overdue Licensing Fees; NHS Presses 'Remind Me Later' Button In Response
from the ...and-sets-internal-clock-back-to-1901 dept
How adorable! The government thinks it's people!
The UK's National Health Service is apparently doing what we all do when software starts asking to apply updates or renew licenses: it's hitting the snooze button. But all that snooze tapping has apparently awoken the slumbering giant (to abuse many metaphors…). Microsoft is now demanding the NHS perform a speedy but thorough compliance check and forward all owed licensing fees to the software giant posthaste.
The tough talking comes more than a year after an organisational shift began across the NHS (April '13) saw some Primary Care Trusts and strategic health authorities abolished and clinical commissioning groups taking their place.The June 30th deadline is directly related to the end of Microsoft's fiscal year. It would definitely like to see a bunch of licensing fees applied to the bottom line before it wraps up the year. Of course, this same desperation to put anything it can in the sales column for FY13 also works against its gruffly-delivered demands.
The company this month wrote to NHS organisations saying the overhaul made "this latest review and subsequent re-allocation necessary". It told the bodies to assess their software estate and cough for any "identified shortfall" by 30 June.
The NHS already takes advantage of the steep discounts Microsoft offers to public sector entities, which gives it a 28% discount compared to private sector prices. On top of that, more discounts may apply if Microsoft feels it can make it up in volume. Add to that the fact that the company has previously struck some pretty sweet last-minute details in late June just to rack up a few more sales for the ending fiscal year, and the NHS has absolutely no compelling reason to get right on that compliance audit.
Channel partners told us that Microsoft had talked tough with the public sector before but said this was a risky strategy, and one claimed "when the rubber meets the road Microsoft will back down"...Microsoft realizes this too, and added stronger-than-usual language to its pay-up-or-else threat, implying that existing discounts will be removed if the NHS doesn't stop acting so disinterested in paying license fees.
"Microsoft talks tough but at the last minute when it needs a deal it capitulates. Microsoft is the victim of its own commissions plans and quarterly targets. Smart buyers manipulate the situation, those that can wait for deals in June," he added.
This is your decision but given your high risk status without action you will be asked to undertake a software licensing review. This review will start in July and if further non-compliance is identified, and commitment is not given to resolve it, you may be liable for the full amount under the commercial select level A pricing and may be subject to further compliance action".To which the response has been a resounding "whatever." Even Microsoft knows its threats don't amount to much. Wherever this year's portion of the £500m contract (over nine years) lands, it will make an impact.
Any failure by an NHS body to hit the deadline this month will equally be a welcome boost to Microsoft's Q1 sales ledger for the next financial year.As is the case almost every time you let a subscription lapse, the entity on the other hand will cut you a deal just to get you back on the ledger. And like everyone else everywhere, the government -- even with all its [well, not really its] money and power -- is no different. Microsoft delivers bold pronouncements and dire warnings and the NHS hits the "remind me later" button and goes back to what it was doing.
Sure, we'd all like to think that our government agencies are composed of better, sterner stuff, paying all their dues on time and never, ever throwing "YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS EXPIRING!" notices directly into the trash, but underneath it all, every government agency is made up of people no better (and sometimes, much worse) than your or I.


text:
Peter Hanson was thrilled to end a traumatic week on a high note after overhauling Pablo Larrazábal to claim victory in the KLM Open.
The European Ryder Cup player came close to withdrawing from the event at Hilversumsche GC after his one year old son Tim was hospitalised with a respiratory virus on Friday.
Upon receiving positive news on his child's condition, Hanson opted to continue and the decision paid off as he secured a fifth European Tour title with a stunning eagle at the 18th.
He finished on 14 under, having surpassed the four players – including Larrazábal – who had held the lead at the beginning of the final round to triumph by two strokes.
"It's always a nice feeling (to win), but especially this week with how things have been with my son being a little bit ill," said Hanson.
"He has managed to get over that and he's getting better and better, which is the most important thing.
"When he was put into hospital on Friday, I was panicking. He was not good for 12 to 14 hours there and as a parent that makes you feel very vulnerable.
"I just wanted to go back home and look after the family, but my wife convinced me to stay. They were in good hands; there was nothing I could do and she was telling me that, but when your kids get sick you don't think straight."
Quizzed on how he was able to maintain his concentration in trying circumstances, Hanson replied: "When we get a chance to lift these trophies, something just clicks in your head. I was just trying to stay focussed.
"This was needed. It's been a bit of a slow summer for me, so this came at a perfect time to get confidence back and feel ready for The Ryder Cup."
Larrazábal looked set to triumph when Hanson, trailing by one, drove into trouble at 16.
However, the Swede rescued a stunning par from the trees and was soon back in a tie for the lead as Larrazábal bogeyed the same hole.
Hanson then knocked in a monster putt for a three on the closing par five and was able to celebrate soon after as his nearest rival finished with a par.
"I kind of knew it was going to be hard for Pablo to make three up the last to force a play-off," Hanson added.
"When you make a long putt like that for victory, there is something inside you that just goes berserk.
"On 16 I had a little gap between the two trees and I needed to hit it through that with a bit of draw. Sometimes you have to take a chance and a risk and luckily it was my day."
Larrazábal's closing 70 meant he shared second place with Richie Ramsay, the winner of last week's Omega European Masters.
"Every time you finish second it is a good week," said the Spaniard. "But I'm disappointed with the finish. I played good enough to win today but when your putter is cold on Sunday you can forget it.
"That is what happened today. Level par with the way I played today tee to green is a poor score. You have to make the birdie putts.
Ramsay birdied three of the last four to match Hanson's 67, but could not make it three SCottish victories in a row.
"I birdied three out of the last four which aren't easy holes, especially under pressure," he said. "It is a great feeling and I can go away with my head held high. I definitely chased him down. I said to him I gave you a scare there. It's nice to see him win but I'm massively pleased with my performance and more world ranking points.
"On the last hole I was thinking I could hole my eagle putt and have a little run around the green but he got in first. I didn't happen for me this week but I'm proud that I gave it a go. The last three weeks have been great. Sixth, a victory and second. It's nice to see hard work paying off.
Scott Jamieson claimed fourth on 11 under, while Graeme Storm and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, the other players to share top spot overnight, were two shots further back along with Henrik Stenson.
Storm, 114th in The Race to Dubai, had previously admitted his focus was on securing his European Tour card for another season.
A cheque for € 64,440 therefore represented significant reason for cheer.
Stenson benefited from two eagles, yet it was Richard Finch who enjoyed the round of the day.
The Englishman moved to seven under courtesy of a 64 containing a holed bunker shot for birdie at four, an eagle at 12 and a stunning albatross at the last.
|Player name
|HANSON, Peter
|RAMSAY, Richie
|LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo
|JAMIESON, Scott
|STENSON, Henrik
|STORM, Graeme


text:
NCLB Update
NAEP Forecasting
Other K-12 Reports
Senate Confirmation
Focus: Higher Education
Speak Up Survey
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
NCLB Update
As Congressional members continue to debate legislative language for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush issued a stern warning to those who would change the law's focus on student achievement. "Any effort to weaken No Child Left Behind will get a presidential veto," he said during a town hall-style meeting in Arkansas. "I believe this piece of legislation is important, and I believe it's hopeful, and I believe it's necessary to make sure we've got an educated group of students who can compete in the global economy when they get older." While the No Child Left Behind Act does not formally authorize spending for its programs beyond fiscal year 2007 (which ended September 30, 2007), it included an automatic extension for fiscal year 2008 (which started October 1, 2007). Nevertheless, the leaders of both chambers' education committees have pledged to approve a bill to reauthorize the law by the end of the year. For more information, please go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/
To ensure more students will receive supplemental educational services (SES), the Department has granted flexibility to four school districts identified in need of improvement to become SES providers. Normally, sanctioned districts are prohibited from serving as SES providers. Also, the agency has granted flexibility to four states, allowing some of their districts to offer SES to students in Title I schools in the first year of improvement (in lieu of public school choice). If a school is identified for a second year, it would have to offer both choice and SES. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice/help/ses/07agreements.html.
The Department's LEP Partnership seeks to improve the assessments of English language proficiency, reading, and math for limited English proficient (LEP) students. The partnership's web site holds transcripts of public meetings (the next meeting is October 28), practical guidelines for the education of LEP students, and descriptions of six technical assistance projects. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/lep-partnership/.
NAEP Forecasting
A recent study by the Department's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) attempts to relate student achievement on the twelfth-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in math in terms of postsecondary educational outcomes. For example, of the seniors who scored below NAEP's "Basic" level, 46% did not go on to higher education and only 18% went on to receive a bachelor's degree. In contrast, of the seniors who scored at NAEP's "Basic" level, 82% went on to college (53% to a four-year institution) and 50% went on to receive a bachelor's degree. Moreover, of the seniors who scored at NAEP's "Proficient" level, most students (95%) went on to college (84% to a four-year institution) and 79% went on to receive a bachelor's degree. And, of the seniors who scored at NAEP's "Advanced" level, nearly all students (98%) went on to college (94% to a four-year institution) and 91% went on to receive a bachelor's degree. On their own, the study's findings are intuitive. Yet, in light of an earlier NCES study (http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007482), which found that most state fourth- and eighth-grade proficiency standards fall at or below NAEP's "Basic" range, they do suggest the need to raise expectations to improve students' odds in higher education. For more information, please go to http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007328.
Other K-12 Reports
Several new K-12 reports are worth noting:
"Why Rural Matters 2007" (http://www.ruraledu.org/site/apps/nl/
content.asp?c=beJMIZOCIrH&b=3508831&ct=4537855), from the Rural School and Community Trust, analyzes the importance of rural education in each of the 50 states and calls attention to the urgency with which policymakers should address rural issues. Overall enrollment in rural schools is up by 15%reversing years of declinesand there has been a 55% increase in rural minority students, with some states experiencing increases of more than 100%.
A cost-benefit analysis of high-quality teacher induction programs (http://www.newteachercenter.org/pdfs/hill-brief-release.pdf), from the University of California at Santa Cruz's New Teacher Center, finds that every $1 spent on such programs generates a return of $1.66, after five years. The return on investment is primarily enhanced student learning and reduced teacher turnover costs.
"The School Health Policies and Programs Study" (http://www.cdc.gov/SHPPS/), by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proclaims U.S. schools have made "significant progress" in health, fitness, and nutrition over the last six years. 30% of school districts have eliminated junk food from vending machines (up from 4% in 2000), and the percentage of schools that sell french fries a la carte in their cafeterias has decreased from 40% to 19%. On the other hand, about one-fifth of schools still do not require any physical education.
Senate Confirmation
The Senate has confirmed Williamson "Bill" Evers as Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. As assistant secretary, he will serve as the principal advisor to Secretary Spellings on all matters relating to K-12 and higher education policy development and review, performance measurements and evaluation, and budget processes. Evers joined the Department in February 2007 as a senior advisor to the Secretary. Previously, he worked at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, where he was a research fellow and a member of the Koret Task Force on K-12 Education. In 2003, he was senior advisor for education to Administrator Paul Bremer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Evers received his bachelor's degree, master's degree, and Ph.D. in political science from Stanford. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/news/
Focus: Higher Education
On October 25, the Department announced national and state-level data from the first year of Academic Competitiveness (AC) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grants. These grants encourage students to take more challenging courses in high school and pursue college majors in high demand in the global economymath, science, technology, engineering, and critical foreign languages. The agency's goal is to double the number of AC/SMART grant recipients by 2011. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/smart/performance.html.
Other higher education-related resources:
"First Look at the Initial Postsecondary Experiences of the High School Sophomore Class of 2002" (http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008308), an NCES brief, provides selected, nationally representative information about the transition of 2002 high school sophomores to college.
As promised, the Department has posted clips from the 2007 Community College Virtual Summit (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/
cclo/virtualcc07.html). The event targeted the two-to-four-year transition, approaches for serving adults and working students, accountability, and leadership. A panel of community college leaders interacted with a live audience in Washington, D.C., and four downlink sites.
The College Board recently released its annual "trends" reports, "Trends in College Pricing 2007" and Trends in Student Aid 2007" (http://www.collegeboard.com/press/
releases/189547.html), with data on the price of higher education and the financial aid available to help pay that price.
Speak Up Survey
Through December 15, K-12 students, teachers, administrators, and parents from across the nation have the opportunity to share their ideas and opinions on how technology should be used in the education process through Project Tomorrow's fifth annual Speak Up survey. This year's survey features new questions, addressing student interest (and parent support) in math, science, and technology careers; utilizing web 2.0 tools, like MySpace, in school; the merit of 21st century skills, such as learning a new language; the value of emerging technologies, such as video games, in education; and designing the ultimate, 21st century school. Results are shared with participating schools and school districts so they can use the data for planning and community discussion. Results are also used by government agencies and various organizations to inform new programs and polices. For more information, please go to http://www.netdayspeakup.org/.
Quote to Note
"Education is not something that is done best in isolation. It's most effective when private sector, government, and educators work together.... Through shared collaboration of ideas and invention, we can make our world and the world our children inherit one of great promise and opportunity. And, as we pioneer new frontiers in health, energy, and space, let it be a race we run together and in doing so accomplish great things for both our nations and our citizens."
|Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings (10/22/07),
speaking at Moscow State University in Russia
Upcoming Events
National Veterans Awareness Week (November 11-17) reminds schools to invite veterans into their classrooms in the days leading up to and following Veterans Day (November 11). Veterans are asked to share their experiences and teach short lessons about the history and significance of Veterans Day, helping students reflect upon the ideals of liberty, freedom, and democracy. For more information, please go to http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/. (Note: A school kit, with sections for students and teachers, may be downloaded at http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/schoolkit.asp.)
The Department's next "Education News Parents Can Use" broadcast, concerning higher education, is scheduled for November 20. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/.
The Department will be exhibiting at the National Coalition of ESEA Title I Parents' 34th Annual In-Service Training Conference in Rochester, New York (October 31-November 4). If you are attending this event, please stop by the Department's booth.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental AffairsRogers Johnson, (202) 401-0026, email@example.com
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To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!), please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/index.html.
This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.


text:
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
The Starfleet tricorder was the versatile, portable sensing device developed by Starfleet R&D specifically for use by Federation Starfleet personnel. Tricorders were outfitted with the latest cutting-edge sensory and emitter technology.
Varying models of the Starfleet tricorder were put into service, beginning as early as the 23rd century through the 24th century, possibly lasting well into the 29th century.
23rd centuryEdit
In service aboard the early 2230s ship the USS Kelvin, the tricorder was a large flat device resembling a briefcase, complete with a handle for carrying the device. In the alternate reality, one was used to monitor the heavily pregnant Winona Kirk's health during the Narada's attack. (Star Trek)
In service during the mid-2260s, the standard Starfleet tricorder incorporated a segmented design. This tricorder, a generally square-shaped device, utilized three sections: a pivoting upper portion containing the display readout and controls; a compartmented mid-section containing data chips; and an adaptable lower portion, sometimes containing a hand-held sensor as with the medical tricorder. The tricorder of the 2260s was mostly black with silver trim and featured a leather-like strap, allowing one to sling the tricorder over the shoulder when not in use. (TOS: "The Naked Time")
Yeomen serving aboard Starfleet starships (such as Janice Rand aboard the USS Enterprise) often carried tricorders in order to record and retrieve information for the starship captain. More often however, the tricorder was standard equipment included on away missions. (TOS: "The Man Trap", "Charlie X")
These devices could also be set to transmit an automatic distress call. (TOS: "That Which Survives")
One of the Dax hosts owned this version of the tricorder, remembered fondly by Jadzia Dax. (DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
A heavier version of the tricorder was also used by landing parties and aboard ship. This configuration sported a pistol-grip and its controls were located on the top of the unit. It was used primarily to detect contamination caused by ores and gases, as well as to register radiation and atmospheric pressure. (TOS: "The Naked Time", "The Enemy Within", "The Doomsday Machine", "Obsession")
- See also Psycho-tricorder and medical tricorder.
With the widespread redesign of many facets of Starfleet and Federation technology in the early 2270s, so too did the tricorder advance toward a new design.
Smaller than that of the 2260s, the new hand-held Starfleet tricorder was blue-gray in color and featured two grips on either side of the body. Controls and readout displays were located beneath a lid at the top of the device. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
This type of tricorder was still in use in the 2280s. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
As early as 2285, Starfleet personnel like those serving aboard the refit starship Enterprise had at their disposal at least two distinct versions of the Starfleet tricorder.
Type AEdit
Among the options was a heavy-duty tricorder, often used during landing parties. Bulkier than previous designs, this tricorder featured a handle and a large head featuring a line of blinking indicator lights. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
Type BEdit
Harking back to the designs of the 2260s, a second tricorder option in use during the mid-2280s featured a familiar square, black and silver design.
Much smaller than the heavy-duty version, this model featured a slide-up top studded with controls and indicator lights. Also incorporating a strap, the tricorder could be slung over the shoulder when not in use. Unlike its predecessors, this tricorder possessed control surfaces over much of the body of the instrument. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
24th centuryEdit
By the early 2360s, the Starfleet tricorder had taken on a more streamlined appearance, distinguished by a flip-open design maximizing both portability and interface surface availability.
Incorporating several sensor clusters, these tricorders featured multi-channel communications assemblies, and multiple databank modules. Encompassing visual displays and graphic touch pad interfaces, the tricorder of the 2360s provided easy means for on the spot archive retrieval, the recording of away mission events, and constant scientific measurements including biological, geographical or meteorological.
TR-560 Tricorder VIEdit
Standard tricorderEdit
In service as early as 2361, the TR-560 Tricorder VI model sensing device was available to officers serving aboard such vessels as the USS Victory and the USS Enterprise-D.
With an array of sensors on the front of the device, this tricorder design flipped open to reveal a large number of control surfaces and a square display screen, roughly the same size as those utilized as early as the 2260s.
Equipped with a small hand sensor, stowed below the sensors, the TR-560 tricorder was capable of communicating with non-Starfleet computer systems, and were therefore vulnerable to some computer viruses, even capable of transmitting them to other systems.
Gray in color, these tricorders were constructed with a durable casing, but could easily be destroyed by a phaser set to "disintegrate". (TNG: "Identity Crisis", "Encounter at Farpoint", "Angel One", "Contagion")
TR-580 Tricorder VIIEdit
Standard tricorderEdit
In service between 2366 and 2372, the Starfleet TR-580 Tricorder VII succeeded the TR-560 Tricorder VI. Retaining the same basic shape as the previous design, the TR-580s also incorporated hand sensors, but this feature was eventually phased out by 2370. (TNG: "Evolution"; DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
TR-580s could be used for a variety of tasks, including recording time trials and playing holographic messages. This model featured a directory structure and built-in universal translator. This tricorder was also configured to perform proximity checks every two minutes and was able to emit a photoplasmic trail to help locate lost crewmembers. (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part I", "The Chase", "Booby Trap", "Attached"; DS9: "Move Along Home"; VOY: "Twisted")
One version of the TR-580 used by Jadzia Dax in 2370 featured a larger screen on the upper section. (DS9: "Blood Oath")
TR-580s were capable of detecting dampening fields and if doors were magnetically sealed. (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part I"; Star Trek Generations; VOY: "Phage")
To prevent interference with objects, the TR-580 could be set to perform a passive scan. The model could also be locked into a continuous scan, thereby recording data, even when stowed. Capable of communicating with non-Starfleet computer systems, the tricorder could be linked to other units, acting as a small computer network, easily relaying information to other locations. (TNG: "Schisms", "Brothers"; VOY: "Emanations", "Heroes and Demons")
Sensor emissions from TR-580s could cause unpredictable changes in certain temporal distortions, and sometimes included polaric fields, allowing a user to scan for subspace fractures caused by polaric detonation. (TNG: "Timescape"; VOY: "Time and Again")
TR-580s were stored in most equipment lockers aboard Federation starships though it was common for personnel to keep them in their quarters. (TNG: "Disaster", "The Game", "A Matter of Time")
Starfleet sometimes distributed TR-580 model tricorders to Federation allied worlds, including Bajoran personnel on space station Deep Space 9. They could also be used by civilians, and were shipped en masse to areas in need, such as disaster sites. (TNG: "True Q"; DS9: "Babel", "Tears of the Prophets")
The standard TR-580 could function as a makeshift medical tricorder if necessary, although not all medical personnel were happy to do this. (TNG: "Time's Arrow, Part II"; DS9: "Emissary"; VOY: "Caretaker")
Individuals were instructed in the use of the TR-580 by reading the tricorder operations manual. (VOY: "Phage")
Red tricorderEdit
A variety of the standard tricorder appeared in USS Voyager's sickbay in the year 2371. Five tricorders of this type were included in little alcoves behind the three biobeds and to the left and right of the main entry to sickbay. (VOY: "Eye of the Needle") In 2372, these tricorders were replaced by PADDs. Similar tricorders were included in the same locations in sickbay aboard the USS Enterprise-E in 2373.
Medical tricorderEdit
Medical TR-580s used were essentially similar in design to that of the standard TR-580, with the same available features and interface. The major difference was the addition of a deployable hand scanner. While some standard TR-580s also had removable scanners, the medical TR-580s were much more advanced and could provide detailed scans of an entire individual, or give focus to a single area. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks") It was not necessary to use the scanner for the TR-580 to function. The scanner could be separated from the tricorder, either to feed data to another source or not be attached to the tricorder at all. (TNG: "Up The Long Ladder"; DS9: "Babel"; VOY: "Time and Again")
The medical sensor unit was also equipped with additional sensor ports. (TNG: "Transfigurations")
The TR-580 medical tricorder was capable of recording audio. (TNG: "Cause and Effect")
This medical tricorder is apparently incapable of performing accurate scans on deceased people. This can be learned during the first year of Starfleet Medical Academy. (DS9: "The Passenger")
The 24th century versions of the medical TR-580 were equipped with holographic imaging diodes. (TNG: "The Chase")
While the suite of sensors installed on medical TR-580s was advanced, it was generally no substitute for the advanced and specialized equipment in a sickbay facility. (TNG: "Genesis", "All Good Things...") Genetically-engineered microviruses were not generally detected by a standard medical TR-580 scan. (TNG: "The Vengeance Factor")
TR-580s could communicate with many Starfleet devices, including PADDs and starship library computers. They were also designed to work closely with the surgical support frames attached to biobeds. (TNG: "Identity Crisis", "Realm of Fear") In conjunction with a neural pad, a medical TR-580 could be used to link the nervous system of a healthy individual to that of an injured individual in order to stabilize the injured for transport. (TNG: "Transfigurations")
Medical TR-580s could be configured to briefly disrupt a force field. (TNG: "Attached")
TR-590 Tricorder XEdit
Standard tricorderEdit
Succeeding the TR-580 Tricorder VII, the TR-590 Mark X tricorder featured nearly identical control interfaces. The entire unit, however, was streamlined and made much smaller, featuring a more angular design. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior"; VOY: "Initiations")
Functioning very much like the previous model of Starfleet tricorder, the Mark Xs were stored in most equipment lockers on board Federation starships. (VOY: "Relativity")
The Mark X tricorder could upload data it acquired remotely to a Federation starship. (VOY: "Initiations", "Future's End", "Year of Hell", "Equinox", "Good Shepherd")
Discovered by the Maquis, the Mark X tricorder could be prevented from attaining credible readings when subjected to concentrated thoron particles. (VOY: "Basics, Part II")
The Mark X tricorder was reportedly heavy for its size as indicated by B'Elanna Torres when she received a small gift from Tuvok during a holodeck generated baby shower. Torres asked if it was her child's first tricorder as the gift was small yet heavy. (VOY: "Human Error")
The Mark X tricorder could still function after being underwater. (DS9: "Rocks and Shoals"; Star Trek: Insurrection) It could also function in hostile environments such as temperatures of 500 Kelvin, (VOY: "Demon") the upper atmosphere of a planet, (VOY: "Rise") and planets suffering nuclear winter. (VOY: "Friendship One")
The upper component of the TR-590 was capable of interfacing with a Starfleet desktop monitor and projecting a recorded image from the tricorder onto the screen. (VOY: "Timeless") This tricorder was also able to access secured files on a 20th century computer. (VOY: "Future's End")
Despite being introduced in 2372, Mark X tricorders were already in use on board the USS Voyager during 2371. (VOY: "Relativity", "Fury", "Shattered")
Medical tricorderEdit
Introduced along with the Mark X standard tricorder, a medical tricorder variant was in use aboard Federation starships as early as 2373.
Generally identical to the standard tricorder, the medical featured a detachable hand scanner (as in previous models) that fit into the back of the unit. It was distinguished by blue ID indicator lights and a blue-glowing sensor surface. (Star Trek: First Contact; VOY: "Favorite Son", "Prey"; DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire")
The medical tricorder had duritanium casing, and measured 7.6 × 9.8 × 3.2 centimeters, and featured an alphanumeric display. (VOY: "Retrospect")
Wrist tricorderEdit
A model of tricorder mounted in a arm/wrist brace was used in conjunction with holographic isolation suits during the Starfleet mission to the Ba'ku planet in 2375. (Star Trek: Insurrection)
TR-590 Tricorder XIEdit
The TR-590 Tricorder Mark XI was used concurrently with a new tricorder design that was also seen in 2379. (Star Trek Nemesis)
New tricorderEdit
Introduced as late as 2379, yet another iteration of Starfleet tricorder departed from the distinct, flip-open style preceding it.
Distinguished by a slim, PADD-like appearance, the tricorder in use aboard such Starfleet vessels as the Enterprise-E in the late 2370s featured a large touchscreen interface. Silver in color, it was trimmed with black pads at the bottom and sides, with several buttons at the top. These buttons could be covered by a small hinged door, lined with indicator lights.
Among common data-gathering tasks, this version tricorder could be used to interface with starship systems including force field control.
The medical tricorder of the same make was identical. (Star Trek Nemesis)
Alternate tricordersEdit
Tricorders have appeared in various alternate timelines.
In the alternate reality, the tricorder of the 2250s resembled its prime reality counterpart but was a smaller handheld device. Spock used the tricorder to activate a cold fusion device in the heart of a volcano on Nibiru in 2259. (Star Trek Into Darkness)
The medical tricorder in 2258 had a unique appearance consisting of a scanning rod and a handheld feedback monitor. (Star Trek) The following year, it had been redesigned to resemble a general tricorder but with an white oval-shaped scanner that could flip out to examine subjects. (Star Trek Into Darkness)
In a timeline erased due to the actions of Admiral Kathryn Janeway, a new version of the tricorder was in use by the year 2404.
An extension of the Mark X model, this tricorder featured the familiar hinged cover design, but contained more touch control surfaces in place of toggle switches. The casing was black or dark-gray.
The medical tricorder variant featured a small antenna scanner. (VOY: "Endgame")
During a possible version of the 29th century, the crew of the USS Relativity used a slim and sleek version of the tricorder, labeled a TR-890 Tricorder XV. Seven of Nine was given a TR-890 as she hunted for a temporal disruptor hidden on Voyager by Captain Braxton. (VOY: "Relativity")
In addition to the TR-890, a smaller, palm-sized device was in use during this period. Henry Starling found one aboard the Aeon and carried it with him at all times. He used it in an attempt to escape Voyager's transporter when the ship tried to retrieve the Aeon in 1996. (VOY: "Future's End, Part II")
Background information Edit
In 2012, Scanadu announced the SCOUT, which has been described as the real-life tricorder. The US$150 device can show one's temperature, respiratory rate, electrocardiography, blood pressure (systolic, diastolic), stress and oximetry levels by scanning a person's left temple. [4]
Mike Lazaridis, inventor of the BlackBerry, has set up a fund to make the tricorder a reality using quantum technology. [5]
In the future 2400's timeline of Star Trek Online, tricorders are shown to have a more hinged design reminiscent of the Mark VI through X designs, including removable scanners. To perform various tasks, Starfleet, Klingon Defense Force and Romulan personnel all use tricorders in conjunction with other equipment (both worn and carried) capable of projecting "floating" holographic interfaces.


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philo11 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 75 designs submitted by 26 freelance designers.
Ascension Lounge & Cigar Bar
Elevate Your Night Life - Awaken Your Aficionado (Concepts - not yet definitive)
Ascension Cigar Bar is
A place that caters to an upscale crowd, where people are networking and enjoying cigars, hookah and fine liquor. Think of a upscale Turkish hookah lounge. We will have a health conscious menu of vegan food and a juice bar. Music will flow and provide the ambiance for enhancing the experience. The bar is open all day and everyday. Ascension will be a place where successful and mature individual gathers. Our logo can be used on glasses, shirts, caps, and should be bold and readily recognizable.
Ascension :
The act of rising to an important position - A higher level
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2008--In response to media reports, SanDisk(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), the world's largest supplier of flash storage card products, has issued the following statement:
"SanDisk periodically has conversations with multiple parties, including Samsung, regarding a variety of potential business opportunities. We evaluate all of these opportunities, but maintain a policy of not commenting on market rumors or speculation."
About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation, the inventor and world's largest supplier of flash storage cards, is a global leader in flash memory - from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders, digital audio/video players, USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise, embedded memory for mobile devices, and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate) is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.
SanDisk, and the SanDisk logo are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries.
CONTACT: For SanDisk Corporation Investors: Lori Barker Padon, 408-801-1384 or Media: Mike Wong, 408-801-1240 SOURCE: SanDisk Corporation


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With all of that looking me in the eye, I still wanted to make time to get another one of these "Ain't Misbehavin'" blogs out there. Today will focus on the 1940s, which was THE decade of "Ain't Misbehavin'" in Armstrong's career. I have over ten versions in my collection from this decade...and I'd be a nut to share all ten. But I'd at least like to pepper in four or five because this is probably going to me last "normal" blog until I get back from the Crescent City, so you can savor each version at your own pace over the coming days.
So let's jump right in with the first version I'd like to share, taken from a Jubilee radio broadcast down in the early spring of 1943. In my last post, I shared two broadcast versions (with Victor Young's orchestra and Benny Goodman's sextet) and the 1938 Decca studio version made up by a group of session musicians. Finally, for the first time since 1929's original recording, we'll hear how Armstrong's own big band tackled the timeless Fats Waller standard. Dig it:
The band stomps it off at a jumping medium tempo, driven by drummer Chick Morrison's accents and four-to-the-floor bass drum playing. After eight bars, Armstrong's trumpet enters to play eight bars of melody and the bridge, sticking fairly straight to the written music. The band swings out the final eight (Armstrong shouting his approval in the background) before Joe Garland tenor saxophone break sets up Armstrong's vocal, almost every syllable--English and scatted--perfectly in place (listen to what he does on one pitch in the final eight bars). I believe that's Garland's tenor following the vocal, while (again, a guess), Rupert Cole's alto handles the bridge. Then Armstrong enters with his signature spiraling downward breaks for a good run at his set solo (hello, "Rhapsody and Blue" quote, our old friend). Armstrong and the band wail towards the finish before Pops goes into a fun extended coda, urged on by the hand-claps and cheerleading of trombonist George Washington. Pops gets downright bluesy and the slow climb the top is a fun trip. Good stuff.
The following year, Armstrong appeared in a Republic film, Atlantic City, performing "Ain't Misbehavin'." Armstrong was set up by a young Dorothy Dandridge doing "Harlem on Parade," leading seamlessly to Armstrong's performance of today's featured number. It's a good version because the tempo is the slowest we've hard possibly since the original 1929 recording. Unfortunately, the only version of it uploaded online abruptly ends during Armstrong's trumpet solo. It's a shame because, as you can hear, Armstrong was full of all sorts of new ideas for the occasion. Still, it's a joy watching him sing it in the only surviving footage of Pops perform this number:
Louis Armstrong and Dorothy Dandridge-Harlem on Parade
Uploaded by redhotjazz. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.
During 1944 and 1945, Armstrong performed "Ain't Misbehavin'" almost every time he appeared on the radio, perhaps because of the exposure from Atlantic City. We'd be hear for a month if I shared all of them so I've decided to pick my favorite one from an ABC Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands broadcast of September 12, 1944. This version has a lot to recommend besides Armstrong's terrific singing and playing. For one, there's the hilariously unhip announcer joyfully introducing it as "Ain't Misbelievin'"! But for the sake of jazz history, it's a great glimpse of young Dexter Gordon, who was personally hired by Pops after he heard the tenor legend at a Los Angeles jam session. Gordon's deep in his Lester Young bag here (save for a few Illinois Jacquet-type squeals) in his final eight and it's a kick hearing Pops intone, "Brother Dexter!" It's only a year after the Jubilee broadcast but the arrangement is different, eliminating Armstrong's opening reading of the melody as well as the extended coda. Enough from me, here's the audio:
We're now going to swing out all the way to 1947, usually known as the year of the famed Town Hall concert and the birth of Armstrong's small group, the All Stars. But before getting to Town Hall, Armstrong spent some time experimenting with small groups earlier that year. On February 7, he took part in a Carnegie Hall concert that found him fronting Edmond Hall's sextet for a set of good old good ones, mostly songs Armstrong probably hadn't played with regularity in years. The second half featured Armstrong's regular big band with special guests Billie Holiday and Big Sid Catlett but the next day, all anyone could talk about was hearing Armstrong in that small group setting during the first half. Honestly, the first half had its share of ragged moments but it cannot be denied that Armstrong definitely played with a sense of inspired abandon. The first half closed with this romp on "Ain't Misbehavin'":
With no big band and no arrangement, Armstrong was forced to jump headfirst into the opening ensemble with 24 bars of melody playing, handing the ball over to trumpeter Irving "Mouse" Randolph for the final eight. The vocal is a swinging one with great Hall backing before the spiky clarinetist takes a free-wheeling half-chorus, driven by Jimmy Crawford's drumming (that's Henderson Chamber's trombone on the bridge if you're keeping score at home). Then Pops enters with his patented break and tears into his established solo. The rest of the band doesn't quite know what to do behind him, some playing countermelodies, others holding harmony notes but finally, after the bridge everyone jumps in for a jammed ending, finding Armstrong taking some chances. It was a swinging way to end a pretty historic set.
Two months later, on April 26, 1947, Armstrong appeared on a WNEW broadcast of the Saturday Night Swing Show, hosted by Art Ford. One again, Pops was placed in a small group setting, joined by Jack Teagarden on trombone in the front line...and the accordion of Irving "Roy" Ross, whose contributions are perfectly suitable for the occasion. After the Town Hall version, this is my favorite one from the 1940s. Here 'tis:
The tempo is up again (dig Big Sid on drums) and Pops is incredibly inspired form, tearing through the opening ensemble and crafting one of the best vocals he ever took on this song. Just listen to those last eight bars, where he sings it all on almost one pitch, goes up for the word "radio"...and just holds it! Apologies to Andy Razaf for leaving out a chunk of his lyrics, but it's a terrific touch. Teagarden then takes 16 (Pops warming up quietly in the background) before a surprising half-chorus by Pops made up of entirely fresh ideas. The inspiration continues into the final chorus where, except for the patented breaks, Armstrong infuses his playing with a number of fresh ideas. One of my favorites.
Less than a month later, the historic Town Hall concert took place. I shouldn't have to go into too much detail on that evening other than to say that what started out as a one-time-only concert opened the door for the last 24 years of Armstrong's career as the leader of a small group. The concert was recorded but for decades, Victor only released the six sides they deemed to feature the best sound quality. All six are classics of classics but finally, when the rest of the concert surfaced, listeners could finally hear that the entire evening's performance, not just those elite six, were ones to remember. But "Ain't Misbehavin'" was one of the six originals to be released and has been granted legendary status for over 60 years. There's not much I can say other than please give this one a listen and be prepared to spend four of the best minutes you'll have all day!
Doesn't get any better, right from the opening ensemble. Armstrong's inspired from note one, getting tremendously creative backing by Sid Catlett, who should get a co-starring credit on this performance. The final eight bars of the opening chorus are handled by the evening's music director, cornetist Bobby Hackett, an Armstrong worshipper tried and true. Armstrong, as usual, sings the hell out of it, getting nice backing by Dick Cary's piano, Jack Teagarden's trombone, Peanuts Hucko's clarinet and Hackett. Armstrong sings more than just the "radio" line this time around but still edits out the final "for you" in order to bring Hucko up for a solo (I love Sid Catlett). Hackett then takes a typically lyrical 16 bars (I love Sid Catlett) before Teagarden takes a full chorus--a classic--getting some light riffs behind him at the start (I love Sid Catlett). And then it's time for Pops, who plays his set solo that we've heard now multiple times. But this time it seems different; there's the historic nature of the night, the empathetic playing of the other musicians on stage, the drumming of Sid Catlett (I love Sid Catlett), everything, all the stars aligned to create this truly timeless performance.
Well, as history goes, Town Hall showed Armstrong (and Joe Glaser) the road to take and by August of 1947, the All Stars were born. In February 1948, they headed to Europe for the first time to play Hughes Panassie's international jazz festival in Nice, France. A recording survives of the group tackling "Ain't Misbehavin'" there and after the fireworks of the Town Hall version, it makes for an interesting listen:
First off, you can hear the tempo is back down to a medium bounce, almost on the slow side, the slowest tempo we've encountered since the 1944 film clip. Also, it opens with the Armstrong vocal, which makes me wonder if this was an incomplete performance. You can hear Armstrong sweating and swinging on the uptempo versions but there's something equally gratifying at hearing him relax and indulge in a little more storytelling at this tempo (dig Sid Catlett giving him some stop-time accents during the bridge, though nobody else stops). The tempo is slow enough for Armstrong to immediately pick up his horn and go into his concluding solo. "Rhapsody" is there but otherwise, this is a relaxed, free-floating solo, in relation to the 1929 version in terms of approach. Catlett begins laying out the backbeats during the bridge and Pops rides them beautifully, right into the finish line. A nice, relaxed performance.
There aren't many surviving versions of "Ain't Misbehavin'" in the All Stars discography but there's at least one version from every year between 1947 and 1952; thus, if there's one version, you can probably multiply it by one hundred to get a grasp of how many times Armstrong played it each year. To close out this look at "Ain't Misbehavin'," here are the All Stars playing it at The Click in Philadelphia on August 5, 1949, with Cozy Cole replacing Catlett on drums. Here 'tis:
Well, I suppose I should apologize for the somewhat annoying sound quality early on, with a sound that I once described as sounding like someone tapping on a glass bottle for about half the performance. It's annoying, but don't let it detract you from the superb music. Once again, the tempo is up a bit, but not quite the quick pace of those 1947 versions. Armstrong's back to playing a chorus of melody up front. After the vocal, we hear from Jack Teagarden, opening with a quote from "Mean to Me." Clarinetist Barney Bigard takes the bridge, but unfortunately, Pops swoops in and takes eight exciting bars towards the finish and never plays his entire chorus. Were they running out of time? We'll never know for sure why Pops cut it short but still, it's a very nice version and Teagarden's playing gets me every time.
That concludes this look at "Ain't Misbehavin'" in the 1940s. I'll be back later in the week with updates from New Orleans before completing the "Ain't Misbehavin'" saga next week. S'all for now, I'm off to the land of the red beans!


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FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Fears about the emotional, financial, social and legal consequences of divorce explain why the percentage of married adults in the United States has reached an all-time low, researchers report.
The study of 122 people in cohabitating couples found that 67 percent said they worried about having to deal with the fallout of divorce, the University of Central Oklahoma and Cornell University researchers said in a Cornell news release.
Compared to working-class people, their middle-class counterparts had a more favorable view of marriage and regarded cohabitation as a natural stepping stone to marriage.
Lower-income women were especially likely to have doubts about the "trap" of marriage. Many believed it would lead to more domestic responsibilities with few benefits or that it could hard to get out of a marriage if things go wrong.
The researchers also found that cohabitating working-class couples were more likely to view marriage as "just a piece of paper," that would be nearly the same as their existing relationship.
These couples were twice as likely to have fears about being stuck in a bad marriage once they became reliant on their partner's share of income.
The study was published in the December issue of the journal Family Relations.
The findings could help premarital counselors devise lessons that ease fears of divorce and address the specific concerns of various socioeconomic classes, the researchers said.
More information
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy offers advice about marriage.


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Joel Cannon wrote:
> In hopes that someone might find it useful here is an excerpt from my
> critique of the movie "Contact", which has been (thankfully) edited
> extensively since I posted a premature version here. I believe that
> this critique applies equally to any naturalistic claims
> (e.g. Dawkins, and Dennet) that science provides a privileged
> viewpoint for looking for evidence of God.
> The complete critique can be read at
> http://alpha.centenary.edu/joel/contact.html or if you want I can send
> you a copy.
> Concerning Sagan's "No Evidence" assertion:
> {\bf A Dissenting Opinion}\\ It looks dark indeed for Christians when
> an internationally renowned astronomer applies the same techniques he
> used to unlock Mars's secrets to investigate our God and finds no
> evidence of the His existence. Thankfully, closer scrutiny
> produces a brighter outlook. Sagan confuses assumptions for evidence,
> and provides sufficient personal data to discredit his claim to go
> only where evidence leads him.
> Indeed, the dubious logic in Sagan's ``no evidence'' claim bears an
> instructive symmetry to the Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gugarin's statement
> after returning from the first manned space flight: He knew God didn't
> exist because he had looked for and not found God while in outer
> space. The algorithm: Make an assumption of God's signature--if you
> don't find it you can safely conclude God's non-existence.
> Like Gugarin, Sagan's claim's central feature, his ``no evidence''
> assertion rests directly on assumptions, specifically:
> 1) his assumptions concerning God's nature (which is at odds with
> Judaism, Christianity, and presumably Islam); and 2) his assumption
> concerning the likelihood that God exists.
> Before Sagan could look for evidence, he had to assume or determine by
> empirical means what might constitute valid evidence. Deciding just
> how God could or couldn't act could not be tested empirically so he
> had to make assumptions about the character and action of
> God. Arguably, in this case Sagan was likely to guess wrong, casting
> doubt on his conclusions. Garbage in--garbage out; bad assumptions
> yield bad answers.
> In the case of God's existence, the only evidence Sagan would accept is the
> miraculous violation of the laws of cause and effect. Sagan assumes
> that any self-respecting deity would interrupt the natural flow of his/her
> creation so that even the most skeptical scientist could be convinced.
> Interestingly, in the book {\it Contact}, Ellie suggests some means by
> which God could do this such as ``a monster crucifix orbiting the Earth.''
> or ``the surface of the moon covered with the Ten Commandments '' (p. 164).
> Perhaps less evidence for biological evolution might also have made Sagan
> more inclined to trust the Almighty.
> Sagan's failure to find flying crosses or holes in evolutionary theory
> may entail God's non-existence but that seems dubious. Bad assumption
> might be a better conclusion; God need not operate in the miraculous
> way Sagan expects him to. Or perhaps God's secure self-image may
> preclude having to prove himself to every gun-slinging scientist
> challenging his existence.
> Note that which alternative one chooses from these or other choices
> depends strictly on one's prior assumptions concerning God, rendering
> Sagan's ``data'' useless as an empirical test. If you begin thinking
> it probable God exists you reject Sagan's interpretation (and vice
> versa). The ``evidence'' doesn't change peoples minds; only reinforces
> prior prejudices. To claim otherwise, as Sagan does, is sheer
> self-deception. Like the Cosmonaut, he's failed to see that his
> assumptions determined his conclusion.
> ......http://alpha.centenary.edu/joel/contact.html
> -------
> Joel W. Cannon
> Dept. of Physics
> Centenary College of Louisiana
> P. O. Box 41188
> Shreveport, LA 71134-1188
> (318)869-5160
Salu2 ------------------------------------------- "many times when reading "science" I have the annoying sensation I'm reading science fiction."


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Find us on:
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States focused entirely on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PPMD takes a comprehensive approach in the fight against Duchenne—funding research, raising awareness, promoting advocacy, connecting the community, and broadening treatment options. PPMD continually shares vital and up-to-date information about Duchenne to the world through the media and quickly and effectively connects journalists to experts on Duchenne, as well as an array of disability-related subjects. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy's mission is to end Duchenne.
Review Date: Thursday, December 29, 2011
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14 May 2013 at 5.30pm | Comment on this article
The Royal Opera House is to offer a number of new Derek Butler Apprenticeships across production departments, commencing in September 2013.
Those aged 18 and over will have the chance to learn from some of the best skilled people in the industry as they study towards a formal qualification related to their specialism. Positions will be available in the Armoury, Collections, Costume and Footwear, Education Tours and Events, Scenic Carpentry, Stage Engineering and Technical Theatre. All Derek Butler Apprentices will be paid and their college fees covered by the Royal Opera House.
The Royal Opera House has benefited hugely from apprenticeships at both Covent Garden and Thurrock, with a number of staff hired after completing training. Many more develop transferrable skills which increase their employability, with former apprentices going on to work for Sydney Opera House, BBC Proms and the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.
'I've found my career through the scheme. I didn't know what I wanted to do before,' said Exhibition Apprentice Georgia when she was interviewed as part of a recent Twitter Q&A to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week.
'When we're together, we're like a family,' added her colleague Tommy, a Scenic Metalwork Apprentice, 'but we're from completely different backgrounds.'
Find out what ROH Apprentices do on a day to day basis:
The closing date for applications is 10am on 3 June.
Find out more about ROH Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships at the Royal Opera House are generously supported by the Derek Butler Trust, John Lyon's Charity, the Headley Trust, Ashley Family Foundation, Gordon Foundation, the Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers and an anonymous donor. The closing date is 10am on 3 June.