text:
Feb. 6, 2006
DELAND, Fla. _ The race to the regular season Atlantic Sun title is a lot closer than it was two days ago.
The Bisons lost 85-67 Monday night, slipping to 10-4 in the conference. The loss puts the Bisons in a tie with Belmont for second with 10-4 records. East Tennessee State takes a half-game lead at 11-4.
"There are three weeks left in the regular season," said Lipscomb Coach Scott Sanderson. "We have to zero in on why we are where we are right now. We have to go home and regroup. We have to understand where we are and why we have gotten there. The way we played in this game is not how we got there. We have to rechannel our focus as far as defending and rebounding."
The Bisons have not won a game at the Edmunds Center, Stetson's homecourt. The Bisons are 14-8 overall. Stetson is 6-17 overall, 5-9 in the A-Sun.
"Every time we play Stetson they punch us right in the mouth and we take it," said Sanderson. "I know our team is tired of hearing me say that. They just absolutely out-toughed us."
The Bisons have struggled at Stetson since joining the Atlantic Sun Conference. Stetson's Anthony Register hit two free throws before the game started as the Bisons were hit for a rare technical for dunking during pre-game drills.
With Stetson ahead 2-0 before the ball was tipped, the Bisons trailed 18-11 at 15:31. The Bisons went on a 12-0 run to take a 23-18 lead at 11:25.
"We lost that game in the first four minutes," said Sanderson. "They had 17 points before the first media timeout. When you establish yourself defensively like that you are not going to win that game at all."
Stetson answered with a run of their own going on an 11-0 scoring spree to take a 29-25 advantage.
At 4:16 Stetson took its biggest lead at eight points (33-27).
The Bisons were able to mount a rally in the final two minutes of the first half with a 5-0 effort. Fisk fired up a 30-footer at the buzzer to trim the lead to three points at 35-32.
In the second half the Bisons jumped out to a 40-34 lead with 18:21 left in the second half.
Eddie Ard hit a jumper for the Bisons at 17:25 to pull the Bisons to within one at 40-39. Lipscomb center Shaun Durant tied the game with a free throw at 16:40 at 41-41. Durant then put the Bisons ahead at 43-41.
Ard hit a jump shot to give the Bisons a 45-43 lead with approximately 16 minutes left.
With 14:37 remaining the game was tied at 45-45. Stetson took the lead at 47-45 before Ard answered again for a 47-47 tie.
Stetson's shooting was red-hot from the field, especially from 3-point range. The Bisons struggled at the 3-point line as Stetson's defense concentrated on the perimeter. With 11:43 left Stetson led 54-47 as the Bisons continued to struggle from 3-point range. At 10:46 Stetson extended the scoring run to 9-0 for a 56-47 lead.
Ard stopped the run with a 3-pointer with a little over 10 minutes left to play.
Fisk put up a pair of field goals to trim an 11-point Stetson lead to six points at .
With eight minutes left the Bisons were down by eight at 62-54. Stetson continued to build on the lead, ahead by 10 with 6:02 left to play and 11 with 5:59 on the clock.
With 4:28 left to play the Bisons were down by 16 at 74-58. With 3:33 left Stetson was up by 19 as they shot a sizzling rate from 3-point range. Ironically, Stetson has the worst 3-point field goal statistics in the A-Sun.
"Give them credit, they played great," said Sanderson. "They shot it well. The basket was big for them."
Ard put together another outstanding game from the field with 25 points which also ties his career high.
Fisk scored 19 points, his 17th straight game in double figures, setting a new NCAA era school record for consecutive double figure games. Cameron Robinson added 10 points.
The Bisons shot 48.2 percent from the field, and struggled from 3-point range hitting 5-of-20.
Four Stetson players scored in double figures as the Hatters shot 62 percent from the field, 75 percent from 3-point range. E.J. Gordon led the way with 23 points. Anthony Register added 20 followed by Gabe McMillen with 12 and Garfield Blair with 10.
"We guarded absolutely nobody," said Sanderson. "I'm upset with our defense and rebounding. The better team won.
"We got out-rebounded by 10 in the second half after outrebounding them by five in the first half. If you don't defend and rebound you have no chance to win."
The Bisons return home Thursday night to welcome North Florida to Allen Arena for its first visit at 7. The Bisons will also be at home Saturday at 1 p.m. against Jacksonville as part of homecoming festivities.
"We can look at North Florida's record and be deceived all we want about that, but they are good," said Sanderson.


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|Jerry Nelson
Robot Abraham Lincoln is a robot built by Muppet Labs in the likeness of the 16th President of the United States. He terrorizes the cast and crew of Muppets Tonight in episode 206. The character is a spoof of the Disneyland attraction, "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," which features an audio-animatronic Lincoln who stands, speaks and gestures to the audience.
Abraham Lincoln was previously caricatured with Mount Rushmore.

subset: commoncrawl


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Teacher convicted of innapropriate relationship
A Nederland teacher has been sentenced to serve time in state prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually molesting one of his students.
Reagan Hawkins, 37, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury in July 2011 for improper relationship between a student and educator and sexual assault of a child, both second-degree felonies.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Examiner, police were first made aware of the relationship by the 16-year-old's mother, who told police her daughter had been in a sexual relationship with Hawkins, the girl's debate coach and teacher.
The mother told police she had noticed some strange behavior between her daughter and Hawkins and confronted her young daughter about the two's relationship. According to the affidavit, at first, her daughter admitted only that the two had kissed before, but upon pressing her daughter further, the mother got her to eventually admit to a sexual relationship with Hawkins.
According to the affidavit, the victim told police the sexual relationship began in December of 2009 and continued until at least March 2011.
The student, who was 14 years old at the time, also told police she had intercourse with Hawkins at least three times at Nederland High School and they performed oral sex acts on each other at the school and while on a debate trip to Oklahoma.
Two other students at Nederland High School gave statements to police, saying the young victim had confided in them about the relationship with Hawkins.
When he was brought before Judge Layne Walker's 252nd Criminal District Court, Hawkins pleaded guilty to the offenses and was sentenced to six years in a state institutional division. Hawkins must also register as a sex offender.


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EZ Gluten test strips are easy to use, at home test kits that detect the presence of Gluten in food or beverages. I've personally used some of these in the past to help determine the status of Great Specialty Products bread items. Of course, the tests I conducted on those products came back as High Positive. The application of these tests could really help folks determine what is safe and what is not safe if they are in doubt. In light of the fact that the FDA still has not made a ruling on what a Gluten Free label claim means, along with the lack of enforcement (it's up to each company), leaves us wide open to gluten filled foods to be incorrectly labeled Gluten Free. EZ Gluten tests are sensitive enough to detect down to 10 PPM. In the EZ Gluten Test, a food sample is ground to a fine consistency, added to the gluten extraction solution, and then mixed. A few drops of the sample extract are placed into a test tube. The EZ Gluten® test strip is placed into the test tube and allowed to absorb the sample extract. After 10 minutes, the test strip can be read visually for the presence of gluten in the sample. Click here for a brochure with some more details. Click here to see the product usage instructions.
The other common application of these tests is for food manufacturers. I've seen several local companies employ these tests to verify the ingredients they are being supplied as well as testing the final products before delivery. Companies that perform this kind of testing (due to the expense involved) should be treated differently than companies that don't in my opinion. Nothing in your Gluten Free life is 100% all the time, but this is a great step in the right direction if companies perform this kind of testing. If you are not sure if a company tests, you should ask them directly and refer them to this blog post if they are not aware of the EZ Gluten product.
So what's the downside you might ask? Well, obviously it's the price of this product. If you were to simply order 2 kits (smallest package for sale), you'd be set back $25 ($12.50 each). Did I mention that the kit can only be used once? The price per test gets a little better the more you order but even ordering a package of 10 will cost you $110 ($11 each), a package of 25 runs $262.50 ($10.50 each) and a package of 100 runs $950 ($9.50 each). I guess the real question is this - what price do you put on knowing your GF products are safe? A simple $10 - $12 test back in November when I first wrote about Great Specialty Products would have saved a lot of people (including me) time and trouble. I personally am still being affected with a DH rash (and who knows what other more hidden health problems) from the products I ate from GSP almost 4 months ago. I'd venture to say the $12 is worth it. I'd especially employ this test if the product had not formal packaging with an ingredient statement. I've also now incorporated these tests in a Product Testing Policy here at GFR.
On that note, I had the idea that maybe if we pulled our resources together and ordered a large number of these test kits, the cost for each of us would be minimized? I am planning on ordering some of these kits anyway but thought I would offer up the opportunity for you to jump in. So, if you are a GF consumer out there and want to test some of the products you eat regularly and might be worried about or if you are local company looking to begin a new Product Testing Policy of your own, please let me know via email or a comment on this blog post. I'll gather feedback on the order until the end of March and then will place my order. We can also establish some way to share the results with each other so that duplicate tests are not done - still thinking about this...we could really test a ton of products if we did this in a well organized fashion.
Click here to email me with your order.
So far I have emails from folks requesting a total of 45-65 test kits. Please keep your emails coming. If we get enough folks, we can really organize a mass testing of the Raleigh market - something I don't think has been done before anywhere in the US! Also, the current batch of kits expire in November 2010. If you want to order but would rather wait for a fresh batch of kits (they have expiration dates of 1 year when they are first manufacturered) please let me know.


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For more than 30 years we've been providing businesses, like yours, the breathing room to build, expand and grow. Now on demand, our custom space and containment solutions were designed to meet your most complex logistic and supply chain needs. Call now and let us show you how to make the most of your space.
Available positions coast to coast


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Versatility, depth leave A's in position to repeat
OAKLAND -- A deep roster and effective platoon system will again be at the core of Oakland's quest for the American League West.
The A's have finished at the top of the division in each of the past two seasons and, despite a dip in pitching depth, with frontline man Jarrod Parker out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery Monday, a third straight title remains in reach for this club.
OAKLAND -- A deep roster and effective platoon system will again be at the core of Oakland's quest for the American League West.
The A's have finished at the top of the division in each of the past two seasons and, despite a dip in pitching depth, with frontline man Jarrod Parker out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery Monday, a third straight title remains in reach for this club.
Oakland will front a rotation led by Sonny Gray, who will be followed in order by Scott Kazmir, Jesse Chavez, Dan Straily and Tommy Milone. A.J. Griffin (elbow), who compiled 200 innings last year, is expected back sometime in May.
"Obviously the loss of Parker means there's going to be big shoes to fill," said shortstop Jed Lowrie, "but I think we have the personnel to step up. This is still an exciting group, and there's no reason we can't be just as good, if not better, than we were last year."
Last year the A's ran away with the division on 96 wins, before bowing out of the playoffs after a second straight Game 5 loss to the Tigers in the AL Division Series. The early departure inspired a bevy of offseason moves, beginning with the signing of another player to add to Team Versatile: Nick Punto.
The A's got loud in December, pulling the trigger on four significant moves in a span of 40 hours, coming out of it with Kazmir, All-Star closer Jim Johnson, setup extraordinaire Luke Gregerson and perhaps the game's best part-time player in Craig Gentry on their side. A week later, they dealt for former first-round Draft pick Drew Pomeranz, a lefty swingman with plenty of upside despite a down stint in Colorado.
Along the way they lost their top outfield prospect Michael Choice and one of the top lefties, when healthy, Brett Anderson, along with DH Seth Smith. The decision to part ways with Choice, in particular, reflected their win-now approach.
Gentry, like reliever Ryan Cook, will start the season on the disabled list, after being set back in spring by a lower back strain, but both are expected back when eligible April 5. In the meantime, depth again comes to the club's rescue.
Late offseason pickup Sam Fuld, a defensive whiz, will serve as the club's fourth outfielder, and the A's don't figure to miss a beat in the later innings, either, with an abundance of arms from both the left and right side readily available to step in for Cook.
Right-handers Johnson, Gregerson, Dan Otero and Evan Scribner, and southpaws Sean Doolittle, Fernando Abad and Pomeranz are expected to begin the season in a bullpen that figures to be the club's biggest strength.
"Billy does a great job of targeting not just a couple guys, but a whole team worth of guys," said manager Bob Melvin, beginning his third full season at the helm in Oakland.
The A's reel in such players and put them in a position to succeed, thanks to prime matchup opportunities. Just ask Brandon Moss, the poster boy for this formula. The first baseman managed to hit 30 homers in a platoon last year.
Josh Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes bring just as much power to the table, and what the A's lack in not employing a Robinson Cano or Mike Trout they make up for in fielding proficient hitters top to bottom, and against both lefties and righties.
"That's why we've had such a potent offense," said Lowrie. "I think we have a bunch of guys that know who they are, and they don't change that. They stick to the game plan, and that's what being a pro is all about. Because of that, we have a good balance. There's no easy out. Everyone is going to give you a tough at-bat, and nobody is trying to do too much. Know your game and stick to it."
"We thrive on pitching and a balanced lineup that makes other pitchers work," added Melvin. "It's definitely a philosophy of Billy's to target a whole group of guys like this, and from either side of the plate."
The pitching depth will no doubt be tested, as the rotation appears uncertain behind Gray. Kazmir, signed for two years and $22 million, is coming off his first full big league season since 2010. Chavez, who excelled in a long-relief role last year, has yet to taste Major League success as a starter. Straily and Milone, though both capable, need to prove consistent.
But in them, one of their catchers sees the makings of another solid group, even without Parker or Griffin.
"You can talk about what we've lost, and I feel for Jarrod, but I think that the guys we have coming in have things that can definitely contribute to a ballclub," said Derek Norris. "I like Chavez's repertoire, and I think Tommy has developed a nice two-seamer to complement his changeup. That's something he's been searching for a while. And then we have guys beyond that. So as easy as it would be to talk about what we've lost, we've also gained some things, too."
Pitching is what the Athletics' division counterparts have lacked in recent years, so it could again separate them from potential powerhouses Texas and Los Angeles. Seattle has also improved by way of several offensive additions, led by Cano, and the Astros won't necessarily field the same pushover team it was last year.
"I think it's probably the best division," Melvin said. "I thought it was last year, and I think it's better this year. That means business as usual for us, worry about ourselves. We know we have difficult opponents, but we always focus on what we need to do. We try to focus on what we do best and kind of leave it at that."
"I think we'll be very successful," said Norris. "We have a very talented ballclub, especially on the pitching side. I think that we're going to see a lot of very well-pitched ballgames, and we're going to come up with the clutch hits to come through and get some wins. As a whole, we're very confident going into the season. We don't feel overmatched with anyone. We can compete with any ballclub, and we feel we still have something to prove no matter what we've done."
Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com.


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Faster page load
Up to 30% faster page load. Optimizing images is is the easiest, fastest way to improve performance.
Less image data
ImageEngine reduces the image payload up to 80% while maintaining visual quality.
Cache hit rate
Offload your origin servers. Advanced caching on CDN edge servers further accelerates performance.
Global image CDN with powerful edge servers
ImageEngine has powerful POPs around the globe. Its scalable next-generation server architecture pushes device detection and image resizing logic to the network's edge.
In addition to optimization, customers receive support for customer SSL certificates, HTTP2, and a cache-purging API.
Mobile Centric with device detection
Most of the traffic on the web today is mobile. The increasing diversity of mobile devices makes it difficult for developers to optimize images correctly. This is no job for human beings. Too many moving parts.
This is why ImageEngine is different from the average image optimizer. Unlike its competitors, ImageEngine optimizes content for mobile devices by leveraging proactive device detection.
ScientiaMobile's industry-leading WURFL device detection is built into ImageEngine's CDN to enable automatic image optimization based on the device's size and capabilities. No other solution on the market effectively leverages device detection.
ImageEngine proactively uses the device information and, depending on the browser, OS, size, and capabilities of the device, the image may be resized, compressed and converted differently. And even though ImageEngine delivers amazing results on mobile devices and apps, images are optimized equally well for desktop browsers.
Reduced Payload = faster site
ImageEngine's Smart Byte guarantee promises that every customer's image payload will be reduced. Users see up to 80% lower payload because of device-specific tailoring using the most efficient file formats.
This amounts to an increase in savings with no meaningful change in visual quality. Multiple studies have been done that prove the relation between great web performance and business metrics. A faster and leaner site means higher conversion rates, lower bounce rates, increased cart size, more page views per session, and ultimately higher revenue.
Pricing: Pay only for Optimized Payload
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30 Day Trial
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All Standard features plus multiple TLS/SSL certificates.
Ticketed Enterprise Support
The Smart Byte Difference: Improved Performance and Savings
What are Smart Bytes? We measure your image payload after ImageEngine dramatically reduces it. We call this optimized payload "Smart Bytes".
You pay based on the improved performance and reduced payload generated by ImageEngine Smart Bytes. For example, a typical CDN will charge you for 1 GB of full image payload. But ImageEngine promises to reduce your image payload by at least 40% – or 0.6 GB of Smart Bytes. This means savings in your CDN bill. If ImageEngine does not reduce your image payload by at least 40%, then we will give you 3 months of service for free. We stand behind our performance.
"We found ImageEngine on the nuu:bit edge platform to be the best choice. It has already improved customer browsing experience, reduced our image payload by more than 60%, and has created other efficiencies"
Compare ImageEngine with Other CDNs
ImageEngine is the most effective and fastest image-optimizing CDN on the market today. On average, websites using ImageEngine load 28% faster than most CDNs, and 35% faster than Image Management solutions. And when it comes to image payload optimization, ImageEngine is 46% more efficient than the closest competitor.
But you don't have to take our word. Trial ImageEngine for free for 30 Days. And if we don't meet the Smart Byte guarantee, we will give you 3 months of free service. That's how confident we are we can improve your website.
What You Get with ImageEngine
ImageEngine is a fully fledged CDN. Not only for image optimization and acceleration. ImageEngine offers all the features you expect from a global next-generation CDN.
Customers can easily host whole sites using the ImageEngine CDN. ImageEngine will accelerate delivery of any content type (html, css, js, fonts, video) and even dynamic content.
ImageEngine is a pull-based CDN meaning that customers don't have to "upload" their site anywhere. ImageEngine will pull on demand. The only thing needed is to refer requests through our network either by prefixing URLs or pointing a DNS record.
Getting started
Get started with a 30-day free trial.
- Sign up for an ImageEngine account.
You'll get a unique ImageEngine hostname. Our team will reach out to you and assist you through the process.
- Define the origin server from where ImageEngine will pull assets.
Can be any resource as long as it's accessible over http, for example your publishing system or an S3 bucket.
- Create a CNAME record (hostname of your choice) in your DNS and point it to the ImageEngine hostname assigned in step 1:
images.example.com. CNAME xxxx.imgeng.in.(Exchange "xxxx.imgeng.in with the ImageEngine hostname provided upon signup.) *
*) Alternatively, ImageEngine also offer a method where you can prefix all image URLs with the ImageEngine hostname.
Read more about getting started in the full documentation.
Dynamic Image Optimization
With ImageEngine, there's no need to install server-side libraries, JavaScript hacks, or other dependencies.
ImageEngine has a truly unique approach to image optimization. Knowing that the majority of internet traffic is generated by mobile devices, knowledge about these devices is crucial in order to give good results. ImageEngine has built in device detection by WURFL which provides all the information required to optimize any image perfectly for any device, browser, or app.
Device detection is only one of the ingredients which makes ImageEngine so effective. In addition, client hints are supported. Client hints is an initiative by Google which enable ImageEngine to be more specific in determining the best size and resolution of an image. Client hints is great together with responsive images syntax as it addresses most of the short-comings with responsive images.
More information about how to work with ImageEngine and responsive images can be found in the documentation. To summarize, all the responsive images syntax you need to handle any scenario is the following:

Of course, if customers would like to use the full verbosity of responsive images, they can still do that with ImageEngine utilizing its directives to specify size, formats and crops.
How much ImageEngine compresses the image is dependent on variables such as original image size, quality and format, client capabilities such as screen size, resolution and DPI and image format support, and lastly network conditions along with client hints and any explicit directives.
ImageEngine's unique image optimization algorithm consider all aspects and make sure that any image is optimized and cached accordingly.
Because of this advanced logic, there is no need to proactively define breakpoints in one's web design and create specific image sizes and formats to go with the breakpoints like responsive images requires. ImageEngine will automatically generate an optimized version of the correctly sized and formatted image on demand. This saves development time. Further, if the web design or layout changes over time, there is no need to go back and re-generate new sizes of old images. To proactively manage ongoing maintenance like this, ImageEngine makes sure new versions of images are generated as needed.
Customers can instruct ImageEngine to treat an image in a certain way. This is done through directives. Directives are parameters in the URL which define size, format, compression and more. that should be applied to the given image resource. In most cases, ImageEngine performs best in "auto mode", without directives, but for specific requirements, directives may be useful. One example of this is if a customer explicitly wants to use the responsive images syntax:

In the example above, the resolution of the image is manually set by using directives. Directives are appended in the query string.
Try out the directives
It is important to remember that ImageEngine is not an asset management platform, but an Image CDN. Still, ImageEngine does support a range of image manipulation functions. Below are some examples for testing. (See full list of directives) Please note that one's browser may not support all the image formats listed.
For comparison, the image to the left is optimized automatically by ImageEngine.
Optimized image
For more directives see documentation.
Automatically optimized image
Original image.
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Enter the site URL and email in the form below and see how the site images perform now and compare it to how it would perform with ImageEngine.
The demo is powered by webpagetest.org and image requests are proxied through ImageEngine.


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Elecom's 4-port USB 2.0 hub U2H-TC410B (god, who comes up with these product names anyway?) is shaped like an ordinary wall socket. It sports a magnets in the back for easy mounting on metal surfaces, but there's hooks for regular screws as well.
AudioCubes: Elecom U2H-TC410B Wall Socket USB Hub ($39.99)
(via ohgizmo)


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About voice and video chat
Sometimes reading a chat message doesn't deliver the same impact as hearing the message or having a face-to-face conversation. You might therefore want to use voice and video capabilities in your Gmail chat. From within Gmail, you can have an actual voice conversation with someone, or even chat face-to-face over video.
When you participate in a video call in Gmail, you can join or start a video call with up to 15 other people using the full functionality of Google Hangouts for G Suite.
See Make a computer-to-computer voice or video call and review the Hangouts system requirements to get started using video calls in Gmail. For more information about voice and video calls features in Talk or Hangouts chat, see our feature comparison chart.
Note that Hangouts in Gmail and Calendar respect the Google Admin console setting for disabling video calls. If you have video calls disabled, users won't be able to participate in Hangouts or the legacy video chat functionality.To disable Hangouts video calls
- Sign in to the Google Admin console.
- Click Apps > G Suite > Talk/Hangouts.
- Select the organization where you want to disable video calls.
- In the Additional Services section, uncheck Allow users to place video calls from chat to other chat users.


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*Type exactly as shown below *Every line must be flush left, no indents. *For team names never put Folsom in front of team name. For example: Hornets 3, Blue Jammers 2 is correct (not Folsom Hornets 3, Folsom Blue Jammers 2). *Winning team is always listed first *Always include first and last names in that order. Do not list the entire roster every week. There's plenty of time for everyone to be mentioned throughout the season. *Do not include statistics. *Never use all caps. *Spacing must be exactly as shown below.
Sample format: Major (change division as necessary) Hornets 3, Blue Jammers 2 Players of note – H – Manny Wells, John Davis. BJ – Lincoln Wilson. *Results received any other way will not be accepted *Scores reported not following the sample format above will be discarded.


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Hello, Welcome to the blog PhotoScape Editor, the first and most comprehensive blog about PhotoScape! Here You Will Find Tutorials, Materials And Tips Regarding PhotoScape.Thanks for visiting and check back often!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Valentine Day Png
Posted by yaron ke Yaar at 9:10 AM
Labels: PNG Images
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Loren Patricia needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 91 designs submitted by 42 freelance designers.
Require a new logo for commercial digital printing company.
CS Digital Design Print Copy
like the logo to have a contemporary, yet professional look to compete in our
crowded printing marketplace. Needs to be created as vector artwork.
- These two cmyk values are to be used in the design.
Yellow: c=0 m=0 y=100 k=0
Blue/Purple: c=100 m=100 y=0 k=0
- However incorporating Red: c=0 m=100 y=100, k=0 would be nice as it exists in our current logo.
- Anything cheesy.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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One Ugly Plant!
by Jane Scherer
What do actor Tom Cruise and the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis have in common? Well, one thing's for certain. . .it isn't good looks. Remember the greenhouse scene in the movie Minority Report? Yep, that wasn't a creeping spider or a pile of trash behind the star. It was Welwitschia, one of the ugliest plants alive!
"It is without question the most wonderful plant ever brought to this country, and one of the ugliest," said the Keeper of the Royal Botanic Gardens in England in 1863 when he was given a specimen. Today, botanic gardens around the world grow Welwitschia, but they are infants compared to the ancient ones growing in the wild.
Welwitschias live in the coastal desert regions of Namibia and Angola, Africa. They get the moisture they need to survive from fog rolling in from the ocean. Carbon-14 dating has placed the age of two of the plants at 1,500-years-plus!
"It's a fascinating plant because it is so bizarre," says Judy Jernstedt, a plant morphologist at the University of California who has traveled halfway around the world to see them. "Basically, Welwitschia has only two ratty-looking leaves that last hundreds if not thousands of years."
The stem of an adult plant is a look-alike for an upside-down traffic cone. From it, two long, straplike leaves grow and grow and never fall off. As the centuries pass, the desert winds whip, shred, and tangle them into a shoulder-high mass of twisted ribbons. An African name for the plant says it all: "long-haired thing." Named after Friedrich Welwitsch, the explorer, Welwitschia, bears small cones instead of flowers. Its male and female organs are separated. Where in the scheme of plants does it belong?
And there is another mystery. Desert plants grow with little or no water. They can't seal their tissues completely to hold what little there is, because they need to take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. As a result, most have no leaves, or tiny ones. Welwitschia's leaves spread a quarter of a meter and release a liter of water a day! Botanists think it must come from the plant's collection of soil moisture.
A female plant produces some 20,000 seeds each year. In a greenhouse they germinate freely, but in the desert 90 percent of them mold. The 10 percent that survive send down long taproots in just a few weeks.
"Welwitschia combines some traits of gymnosperms such as conifers and also traits of flowering plants, but it still isn't clear to plant biologists exactly where it fits into the emerging picture of plant evolution," says Jernstedt.
- carbon-14 dating: Determining the age of an ancient specimen by the amount of carbon-14 it contains.
- morphologist: A biologist who deals with the form and the structure of organisms, without consideration of function.
- Some Welwitchia mirabilis plants are female, and others are male. The female plants produce seed cones, and the male plants produce cones that flower. The flowers contain pollen. Why do these characteristics make it difficult to classify the Welwitchia mirabilis? Write a few sentences in answer to these questions.
[anno: The plant is difficult to classify because it produces both cones, like a gymnosperm, and flowers, like an angiosperm.]
- How do you think the Welwitchia mirabilis reproduces?
[anno: Answers will vary but could include that wind or insects carry pollen from the male plant to the female plant. When a seed has been fertilized inside a cone, the cone opens and releases the seeds.]
- What advantages do you think there are to a plant species that produces male and female plants? Write a few sentences to explain your answer.
[anno: Answers will vary but could include that if a species produces male and female plants the species might be more likely to survive if a change occurs in the climate or weather conditions.]


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The Details:
- Bentley SUV to go on sale in 2016
- Fourth model line to be built in Crewe, UK
- Claimed to become the most luxurious and powerful SUV on market
- MSRP speculation in the $200,000 to $250,000 range
Range Rover, Porsche and BMW have all seen success within the performance-luxury Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) market. Bentley now wants a slice of that pie and recently made its step into this niche official. Adding to its line of luxury sedans and coupes, the British marque will develop its first fourth model line, an SUV, to go on sale in 2016.
The Bentley SUV will be built in Crewe, England with what is expected to be an extreme focus on luxury. Performance will of course be a factor as well. Bentley is claiming its SUV will be the most powerful and luxurious SUV on the market. So what will it cost?
According to Motor Trend speculation in a recent news post, "Considering the Bentley Continental GT lineup starts just under $200,000, expect the Bentley's base price to be at least that much, given how much of a premium many are willing to pay for SUVs."
The Bentley EXP 9 F concept, unveiled at the 2012 Geneva auto show gives some indication of what to expect. While the exterior body styling of that concept was heavily debated, the handcrafted interior could be called nothing more than opulent. The EXP 9 F's wood and metal trim, luxurious leather seats, silk-topped floor mats and private jet-class amenities all point to a 2016 Bentley SUV that will offer passengers a large, king-quality respite from the road outside.
When talking power, we have seen extreme SUV examples in the past such as the BMW X6 M first released in 2011 as you will find in the Truck Trend Magazine's X6 M First Drive. Motor Trend speculates Bentley's SUV, "could use the Continental GT's 500-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 with an eight-speed automatic, and the 6.0-liter W-12 may survive for use under the hood of the long-wheelbase SUV, too."
This isn't the first exotic car manufacturer to step into the performance-luxury SUV market. Remember the Lamborghini Urus concept in 2012? Maybe will see something concrete from Lamborghini in the future based on that concept design and Bentley's official model addition announcement.
For a quick overview of two existing high-performance luxury SUVs, see below. The Bentley variant will no doubt be unique from the Cayenne and X6 M but they offer a window into what is currently available on luxury and performance end.
Model: Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
Engine: 4.8-liter Twin-Turbo V-8
Weight: 4883 lbs. (unladen)
Performance: 550hp, 553 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, 175mph top speed
*Specs provided by Porsche
Model: 2013 BMW X6 M
MSRP: $92,900 base
Engine: 4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8
Weight: 4883 lbs. (unladen)
Performance: 555hp, 500 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, 155mph top speed (limited)
*Specs provided by BMW


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A man is in jail in St. Louis, accused of beating his girlfriend to death with a baseball bat.
Police say the crime happened Thursday evening. The 71-year-old suspect's name has not been released.
Police say the man was arguing with his girlfriend, 54-year-old Carolyn Richardson, then struck her in the head several times with the bat. Richardson was pronounced dead at a hospital.


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LameA deviation from a normal gait due to pain in a limb or its supporting structures.
LasixA medication which acts as a diuretic and aids in breathing
Late DoubleA second daily double offered during the latter part of the program; usually the last two races.
Lathered UpA horse that is overly nervous and sweaty is said to be lathered up. Also referred to as being washed out.
Lead (pronounced led)Lead weights carried in pockets on both sides of the saddle, used to make up the difference between the actual weight of the jockey and the weight the horse has been assigned to carry during the race.
Lead (Pronounced leed)The front leg that is last to hit the ground during a gallop or canter. In order to minimize fatigue, a horse should switch leads at least once during a race.
Leg Up1) To help a jockey mount a horse. 2) A jockey having a mount.
LengthA measurement approximating the length of a horse, used to denote distance between horses in a race. Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths.
Listed RaceA stakes race just below a group race or graded race in quality.
LockSlang for a "sure" winner.


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A Chinese Detective Meets Movie Technology
Tsui Hark's latest film is the 3-D Chinese blockbuster "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon." Mr. Tsui explains why he embraced 3-D innovations to tell his story of a Tang Dynasty official.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... you knew ... I ... the the ... the need to make detected e as a Chinese version of Sherlock Holmes ... I want to make it as Detective D ... some people ask why there were so many big crying scenes of the two movies ... that's because we want to make the story more exciting and attractive picture of Colmes ... so we now have the advantage to shape the character where is the older detective characters can no longer change argued can still change a lot ... so we want to introduce key to global audiences as someone in a remarkable world ... when I saw the screenplay for my first detected the movie ... I said this actually can be filled in three D ... I really wanted to do that in essence director James Cameron explored this technology ... we discussed shooting the first detected the movie in three D ... so strictly speaking they don't attack Tuesday is our third three D movie though ... we have a higher bar and standard for the film's qualities and we hope to achieve it ... the ... the ... three D sets for some genres but doesn't necessarily fit for others ... for those which don't need a very spacious are few vocal effect it's pointless to do that in three D ... but for some movies it's really worthwhile ... do we always have in the first three D and other movies ... we will see ...


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William J. Smith, author of the science fiction novel, Straight from Heaven; Delivered from Hell recently submitted his work for a Helix Review. This is what he had to say about his experience.
Tell us a bit about your book:
The Smith family was a normal,middle-class family living happily in the suburbs of New York,with three gorgeous children,and a fourth on the way,but almost as soon as that child is born,a group calling themselves The Apocalypse Watchers,shows up at their house, preaching that the Anti-Christ has been born,and they come to believe that this new member of the family is the Anti-Christ and that they must rid the world of her by any means necessary to avoid Armageddon.Can the Smiths protect their little girl,Carol Anne,from these crazy cultists,or will The Apocalypse Watchers succeed in putting an end to the Anti-Christ's reign once and for all?
How would you describe your writing style:
I usually like to write in the third person in which I'm the narrator telling the reader about events that happened to me, my fictional family, fictional children, and set these books 5-10 years into the future (which,right now,is 2020-2025).
Why did you decide to try Helix:
To give me some advice and constructive criticism of my writing style.
What were you able to learn from the Helix Review:
That my writing style, in some areas matches those of other, more notable and well-known authors.
How do you plan to use the Helix information:
To tweak my writing style to make it more professional and appealing to readers.
What would you tell someone considering trying Helix:
Helix is a useful tool to help you evaluate your writing style.
About the Helix Review
Back in May we launched an experimental new offering called Helix, and dubbed it The Personality Test for Your Book. Helix is powered by The Book Genome Project, a massive database of over 100,000 of the world's best-known books. And basically, it gives you a way to upload your manuscript and get back an incredibly rich and unbiased perspective on your book. – See more at: http://www.lulu.com/blog/category/helix-review/#sthash.RIG4o0bN.dpuf
Lulu authors are currently using Helix to gain a better understanding of their book for marketing purposes, and in some cases to gain insight into their writing style. For the first time, we've caught up with some of the earliest Helix Review customers to hear more about their book and writing style and what they hoped to learn from Helix.
If you are an author that has used Helix and would like to be featured in the future, please tell us about your experience here.
Meg Crawford writes for the Lulu Blog – Archived


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DKing (Shout out from Meek Mill) - Written In Cursive [Artist Submitted]
Dking TGZH handcrafts another banger with the chorus driven by Rick Ross & the homie Meek Mill, its definitely the Kings Anthem. Shouts to the entire MMG family: Download @ http://www.dkingonline.com
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Info Photos News Forum 58 Reviews
Average Ratings
Clear as a bell
This phone is a dream to use: it's simply a phone; clear voice quality; excellent reception. I made a cross-country call on two bars and it sounded like a land-line!
Superb sound quality and simple to use.
Digital and analog service so you have a chance of getting calls if you're in the boondocks.
Monochrome front screen which stays visible ALL THE TIME. Virtually all the newer phones have color screens which turn off. You have to press a button to see the time or know if you have calls. If you choose to keep the color display lit, you'll drain your battery faster.
You don't have all those feature buttons to press accidentally! I haven't once accidentally gone on the internet, taken blank photos, etc, etc. There's no camera.
Front screen announces in large print when you miss a call or get a voicemail. No tiny icons!
Good battery life with standard battery. I was also able to use the extended battery from my last LG after buying the extended case back from Verizon for $5.
Not the best phone for heavy business use: no Bluetooth and the address book cannot be backed up to the Verizon website.
Almost too small-I can't always locate it before missing a call.
Great Basic Phone!
The VX3450 phone is in line with the base LG VX base phones(VX3200, VX3300) the structure is pretty much the same.
Great Reception
Ease of Use
Caller ID
None at this time
If you need a base phone and don't want all of the bells and whistles, this is the phone for you. The reason I didn't list the fact that Verizon doesn't list the phone in VTEXT so you can get ring tones is that if you go into VTEXT and tell it that you have a VX3300 the ring tones will work for you
AD reviews continues below...
Great little phone.
Got the 3400 in the mail about a week ago. Itâs been rock solid without any problems. Reception is very good almost as good as my Nokia 3589i that got a signal anywhere. Another great thing is it has Lgâs operating software not that horrible VZW overlay. I hate the overlay. When I buy a Toyota I donât want it to have the same exact interior as a Nissan. So when I by a LG phone I donât want the same UI as a Motorola.
The only fault may be the size of the phone, its small almost too small. Someone with large hands will find it difficult to hold and dial.
Overall a very good low-end phone, glad I got it.
Shuts off by itself
The UX-210 is perfect for basic use, however, it will randomly power-off. I have sent my phone to the retailer (US cell) and to the manufacturer for service and they have yet to fix the problem. I may have received a 'lemon,' but don't take the risk on this phone. You get what you pay for, it this case-you get nothing. It can't stay on so that you get your calls!
I hate this phone
I've had this phone for a couple of months now... I've had it replaced 2xs so far. the cover for the battery refuses to stay on, the keys stick, and you need to turn it on and off every 3 days or so or else all the person your trying to talk to hears is static. (verizon) You can't really Customize the screen because you only get 5 choices of backgrounds. The ring tones are awful. overall, it is a durable phone, I've thrown it several times, hasn't broken yet... it's a good phone aside from all the little quirks with it.
Great little phone
I was looking for a light basic phone and the LG VX 3450 is exactly that. It's perfect and simple but yet has a very nice curvy shape which makes it very comfortable and nice to handle. It's also super easy to use!
Great phone for kids!
I just got this phone for my son (7 years old) and it's perfect for him. It's a great basic phone for those that just want a phone and not an over converged device.
- Light weight
- Very easy to use
- Great reception (think Motorola E815 or LG8300)
- Nice sound quality (loud is loud)
- Internal and external displays
- It has exceptional restrictions built in, such as:
o restrict incoming calls to contacts
o restrict outgoing calls to contacts
o restrict inbound text messaging
o restrict outbound text messaging
o two distinct codes, one for accessing phone features and the other for configuring settings
- Power connector seems precarious
The best basic phone
If you are looking for a basic phone, I would definitely recommend choosing this one. The design is very smooth and curvy so it's easy to handle. It is sturdy and very good quality.
LG 3400 is a good basic phone!
I just needed a basic phone and this phone is very good.
Signal & sound quality on the LG 3400 is great! However, in Minneapolis there towers are good, so it might be diff somewhere else.
The layout of the phone is simple and easy to use. It's a bought time there was a external screen on the 3xxxx series.
*No web
*No swaping covers
* I don't like the cover. It's easy to get your finger prints all over it.
Where in the past 3XXXX series, they had better covers.
Overall, if your looking for a basic phone. This is winner!
I love it!
I was planning to get the lg vx3300 because I needed a phone without a camera. I saw that the vx3400 just came out and had a outter caller ID which sold me on getting the 3400 over the 3300. I couldn't be happier with the 3400!


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Feel free to post decision on this thread, as I foresee at least 5 of them being started Thursday
an update from Florio, who I know isnt the most popular writer...But he has some interesting points
As Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman waits for a ruling on the appeal of his suspension, he's inclined to push the issue to court — if he can.
"I wish I could," Sherman said regarding the possibility of the Wapner-Llewelyn option after Sunday night's thumping of the 49ers. "I don't know if it's possible. If I could pursue it further, because I'd win in a neutral court, but I don't know if I can pursue it further."
Technically, he can pursue the matter in court. But he'd have to prove that the outcome of the arbitration procedure that arises from the collective bargaining process should be disregarded, and that's a high standard.
Others have tried, and few (if any) have prevailed. The problem is that the players don't have the tools at their disposal to challenge irregularities in the collection and testing of their urine samples.


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Ever So Stunning from All Angles
Let the Fall 2014 shopping sessions roll! Although we're still basking in the summer rays, the month of August calls for some major fashion preparations and a little revamp to our current wardrobe. And with school just around the corner, there's another major event that many young ladies need to prepare for – HOMECOMING!
And just like prom, finding the perfect homecoming dress isn't always simple. This may include many weekends of some serious dress shopping dedication. But luckily, CLV.com makes the mission much easier and a whole lot more fabulous! So this month, we're turning our focus towards showcasing only the HOTTEST styles worthy of gracing your personal fashion closets. And on today's post, all eyes are entranced on this extremely gorgeous short halter dress with beading and fierce cracked mirror details. And when combined with its luxurious illusion fabric, stunning dimension is achieved to help highlight the look's "curvalicious" appeal. It's a definite MUST-OWN piece.


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Dog Obedience Training Classes in North Olmsted
Our dog training process begins with an evaluation to identify behaviors you'd like to address, and discuss what you can expect from your dog training courses with us. From there, we can build an obedience training program best suited to you and your dog or puppy. We can work on skills such as sit, down, come, heel, place mat, house training, or leash training. We also deal with more specific areas such as: excessive barking, biting, confidence building, dog aggression training, jumping, separation anxiety, food aggression, and more.
Get more information about how to train your dog. Learn more about us and our dog training certifications. View a gallery of dogs we have worked with, including our favorite dogs, Boomer and Daisy. Whether you are looking for private puppy training, or adult dog training classes in North Olmsted, we can help.
Schedule your evaluation today and take the first step to improving the relationship you have with your dog or puppy. Call or email at: 440-695-0134 or email@example.com.


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LONDON (AP) ? They were very ordinary would-be terrorists, with big plans but bad luck.
On Thursday, a London jury convicted the three young British men of being ringleaders of an al-Qaida-inspired plot to explode knapsack bombs in crowded parts of Birmingham, England's second-largest city. The men had pleaded not guilty, but were recorded discussing plans for attacks that one said would be "another 9/11."
The trial exposed how the trio ? Ashik Ali, 27; Irfan Khalid, also 27; and 31-year-old Irfan "Chubbs" Naseer ? were foiled by a mix of police intelligence, personal incompetence, and lousy luck as they tried to spread terror.
They attempted to recruit others to their cause, but four young men they dispatched to Pakistan for training were sent home within days when the family of one man found out. Those four have since pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offenses.
The plotters initially raised cash as street collectors for Muslim charities. But when Rahin Ahmed, an alleged co-conspirator described as the cell's "chief financier," tried to boost the group's budget on the financial markets, he lost the bulk of the funds through his "unwise and incompetent" trading, prosecutor Brian Altman said.
Among the pieces of evidence at the four-month trial was a sports injury cool pack, which prosecutors said Naseer had mistakenly believed would contain ammonium nitrate, a key bomb-making ingredient.
The group considered a variety of outlandish attacks, including tying sharp blades to the front of a truck and driving it into a crowd. Naseer was heard talking about the possibility of mixing poison into creams such as Vaseline or Nivea and smearing them on car handles to cause mass deaths.
Despite the amateurish nature of some of their efforts, officials said the group was serious about sowing chaos.
The men were "the real deal" and, if successful, would have perpetrated "another 9/11 or another 7/7 in the U.K.," said Detective Inspector Adam Gough, the case's senior investigating officer, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people, as well as the July 7, 2005, London transit bombings, which killed 52 commuters.
Prosecutors described the men as a home-grown terror cell inspired by the anti-Western sermons of U.S.-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed in Yemen in a U.S. drone strike in September 2011.
Among evidence found by investigators was a partially burned note written by Naseer detailing how to make what an expert witness said would have been a viable bomb ? although no evidence of such an explosive was recovered.
Prosecutors said the men ultimately gravitated toward a plan to detonate up to eight knapsack bombs ? either on timers or in suicide attacks ? in a bid to bring mass carnage to Birmingham.
Judge Richard Henriques told the men they face life in prison when sentences are imposed in April or May. "It's clear that you were planning a terrorist outrage," he said at London's Woolwich Crown Court.
Police said the terrorist conspiracy was the most significant uncovered in Britain since a plot to blow up airliners in mid-air was foiled in 2006. However, no specific targets had been chosen and no bombs built when the men were arrested in a police swoop in September 2011. Twelve suspects were arrested in all, several of whom have pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses.
Prosecutors traced the plot's origins to Naseer and Khalid, who had traveled to Pakistan for terror training and learned details of poisons, bomb-making and weaponry. The pair also made "martyrdom videos" justifying their planned attacks.
On their return to England in July 2011, prosecutors said they began their recruitment and fundraising drive, and also began experimenting with chemicals, aided by Naseer's university degree in pharmacy.
Fatally for the plot, by mid-2011 the men were under surveillance by police and the intelligence services. Their car was followed and their safe house bugged.
Naseer was recorded talking about knapsack bombs going "boom, boom, boom everywhere," while Khalid said the attack would be "revenge for everything, what we're doing is another 9/11."
On the recordings, the trio spoke of themselves as martyrs and jihadi warriors ? but also, tellingly, compared themselves to the hapless protagonists of the 2010 British comedy film "Four Lions," which tells the story of four clueless jihadists whose attempts to wage holy war degenerate into tragic farce. In the movie the bombs go off.
Ali was recorded saying to his ex-wife: "Oh, you think this is a flipping 'Four Lions.' We're one man short."
Raffaello Pantucci, a terrorism expert at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said the foiled plot bore the hallmarks of a decentralized al-Qaida, in which local cells operate independently, often after receiving rudimentary training.
He said that "the time spent training foreign fighters by al-Qaida or affiliated networks is now being constrained because there is the threat of drone strikes" on the Pakistan-Afghan border.
"The command and control element is drawing back," he said. "It has a negative impact on their capacity to launch attacks because people aren't being trained as well. There is sometimes a clownish element to it."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/3-british-men-convicted-terrorist-bomb-plot-131529518.html
sopa and pipa piracy sopa marg helgenberger censorship wikipedia sopa and pipa bills


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Raising Student Learning in Latin America (2007)
The Challenge of the 21st Century
Author/Publisher: World Bank
Language: English
Download: PDF
But some countries in the region trail far behind comparable nations in other areas of the world. In 1960, Latin America, East Asia, Scandinavia, and Spain had similar levels of school attainment. By 2005, however, Latin America had fallen behind, as measured by the number of children completing 12 years of education. Moreover, the countries of the region are now among the lowest performers in international assessments of student skills, with a high share of students scoring below the minimum threshold in all subjects.
According to a new World Bank reportRaising Student Learning in Latin America: The Challenge of the 21st Centurysuggests that in their quest for universal enrollment many countries in the region overlooked the goals of improving the quality of teaching and raising educational achievement. The oversight has proved unfortunate because the quality of education may have a greater bearing than years of schooling on economic growth, and because differences in educational quality can reinforce inequality in society.
The report reveals wide disparities in the educational achievement of students of different backgrounds in several of the regions countries: poor and minority students in the region score lower on international tests than do their peers of higher socioeconomic status. But even students from the regions privileged groups score lower on the same tests than do students from the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The latter finding dispels the myth that the region offers top-quality education for students of means. The fact is that quality and achievement are problems in most countries of the region and across all levels of society.
Latin America has relatively standard inequality levels in education, along with high income inequality, said Pamela Cox, World Bank Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean. Although the countries in the region have expanded educational coverage and provide equitable access to learning opportunities for Raising Student Learning in Latin America: The Challenge of the 21st Century marshals evidence that quality of education, not quantity, may be responsible for perpetuating income inequality. Fortunately, the converse is also true: education of good quality can help to shrink inequality, pointing to potential rewards for policies that raise quality.
But even where education of high quality is available, it will translate into higher incomes for individuals and greater economic growth only in the presence of a conducive national macroeconomic framework and a labor market that encourages hiring and job mobility.most children, income inequalities, underdevelopment, and poverty are persistent.


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Are You Tired of Working?
It's is true for many of us in the world, our current reality virtually enslaves into a system where we must work to survive. Working is the only way we can put food on our tables, roofs over our heads and clothes on our backs. Due to the vast amount of people all competing for work, it is very rare that we can truly do things we love to do as we get stuck with what's left.
It seems dull doesn't it? This is where I feel we can shift our perception to make best of the situation we are living in right now. I would be the first to say that our system is in dire need of a big overhaul. The massive gears of the system need turning still and we are the pieces that keep them going. Until we are able to make enough of a global conscious shift in the way we see our world, it is likely the case that many of us will still need to work to survive. It is true that the system is like this due to the greed of a few. It is true that it doesn't have to function this way. But it is ultimately true that our perception of the work we do can also change the experience entirely while it's still around.
I am in my mid twenty's and can hear the voices now "You don't know what you are talking about when it comes to work. When you've worked 30 years of your life then come talk to me." Bluntly put, I feel this statement is nothing more than a cop out as we refuse to change our ways. I have worked A LOT in my life. Each summer in high school I worked full time for Yellow Pages. From there I swapped between dropping out of college programs and into more office jobs until I finally quit 4 years ago to take CE full time. I worked with people who had worked for 25 years+ at the same job. I got to know them, understand them and hear all about what got them to the point they were at. It did not take any form of rocket science to figure out that the sheer judgement we have towards our jobs and working is what creates the greatest amount of suffering.
If you are unhappy about your job and are looking to find some joy in it, here are a few ways to achieve that.
Much like you feel terrible when you sit and judge or gossip about people for hours, doing this with our job is the same thing. We cringe at the idea of waking up in the morning, seeing the people there, and doing the mundane work that might be involved. We think we are better than it, that it's stupid and we can half ass our way through it. As we judge it we make it worse and worse and in the end we make ourselves miserable. Stop judging your job and see it for a task that simply needs to be done at this point. When you do this, the environment, the people, the job and your own joy will transform dramatically. Before I finally left work 4 years ago, I told myself that I would not leave until I could find peace in what I was doing. Once I did I stuck it out for another 6 months. During those 6 months I can say that I did not dread waking up and going to work. I didn't hate it and when I finally left, it was like walking through a different door that was open already due to my state of peace.
One thing I always find interesting about work complaining is that most of us complain like no tomorrow about the silly job we have and how it's not fun and stressful. What we haven't realized yet, is that if our job is able to create that much challenge in our lives, then we are right where we need to be. Think about it, if the "silly" job is creating so much distress, isn't it time we begin to realize we are the ones who hold the issues? Our job can pull us from peace? Our job can make us unhappy and stressed? Or is it possible that we take some of it too seriously — or that we aren't open to adjusting and instead getting stuck in a place of suffering. We have much more control over our state while working than we think. Take the time to look at what exactly makes you unhappy about your job and what you are doing. It often becomes quite clear that we are resisting some form of it or are still caught judging it. Work beyond it and once again there will be peace on the other side.
Find Your Joy
I put this one last because I feel it in some ways should be looked at after we observe the judgement and challenges. I say this because sometimes we can miss out on a great deal of growth by running from what exists within us through fear of not being honest with ourselves. When it comes to having to work and do a job, try to find something you find joy in and just go after it. So often we get caught in the idea that we have to stay where we are and we leave our dreams aside. If you know something brings you joy, make the move to try it out, you can always find some other way to make things work. Once again, I say this at the end as sometimes it's simply not an option for us RIGHT NOW to make the move, so that is why finding peace and removing judgment in what we are doing now is so important. My feeling is, if you are able to find peace in what you do now, doors open up everywhere for you to make moves forward.
At the end of the day, working and jobs are here for now. We are not better than them, above them nor are they not still providing us with valuable lessons to grow from. A change is happening and in time things will transform. While this change occurs, our level of suffering when it comes to jobs is entirely in our control.
Help Support Collective Evolution
The demand for Collective Evolution's content is bigger than ever, except ad agencies and social media keep cutting our revenues. This is making it hard for us to continue.
In order to stay truly independent, we need your help. We are not going to put up paywalls on this website, as we want to get our info out far and wide. For as little as $3 a month, you can help keep CE alive!
Supermoon In Virgo: Balancing Practical Matters With Idealism
We are having a Full Moon in Virgo on February 19th at 3:53pm Universal Time. This is the peak of the Lunar Cycle that began on February 4th with a New Moon in Aquarius. It will also be a Supermoon, which is when the Moon appears larger and brighter due to its closer proximity to the Earth. For those in North and South America, it appears the brightest on the night of the 18th.
A Full Moon is when we feel a push-pull between the two opposite signs where the Sun and Moon are located, in this case being Pisces and Virgo. It gradually builds up and becomes more noticeable on the day of and days surrounding it. It is also part of the backdrop of the other astrological energies over the following 2 weeks.
Pisces season begins less than a day before this Full Moon occurs. It is associated with sensitivity, compassion, empathy, spirituality, creativity, inspiration, dreams, imagination, oneness, and idealism. Negatively, this sign can also be unrealistic, flaky, elusive, delusional, deceptive, and is associated with escapism and intoxication.
The Moon brings in the sign of Virgo into the equation which can either be at odds with Pisces energies or could work harmoniously with them in some sort of balance. Virgo is associated with duty, service, productivity, practicality, organizing, analyzing, perfection, cleanliness, and purity. It is systematic, detailed, discerning, and good at problem solving. Negatively, Virgo can be cynical, overly critical, fussy, high strung, and too much in the the head.
Both signs are associated with health, wellness, and healing, with Virgo being more about physical health and physical modalities, while Pisces is more about spiritual/emotional health and modalities. They are adaptable signs and are both about helping others.
Full Moon Trine Mars and Uranus
This Full Moon is in a trine with Mars and Uranus which are separating from a conjunction with each other. Mars just recently entered Taurus on February 14th. Uranus is making its final transition from Aries to Taurus which will happen on March 6th, hours before the next New Moon.
The Mars-Uranus influence could signify a period of doing certain things differently or acting on new experiences. It could be about applying ourselves in a way that is more liberating, exciting, innovative, unconventional, experimental, or breaking from limitations. Considering that Uranus is changing signs, over the next few weeks there can also be some surprises, significant shifts, and sudden changes which can either be harmonious and supportive or disruptive and challenging.
The Sun will also be travelling while in a close aspect with Mars until early March, but will be strongest from February 27th-28th. With Mars in Taurus, this is a time of asserting ourselves in a way that is methodical, practical, and even sensual in some cases.
Sun and Moon Aligned With Prominent Stars
This Full Moon will be in a tight alignment with the star Regulus which is known as the 'heart of the lion.' This star is in the constellation of Leo but moved into the tropical sign of Virgo in 2012 and still on the cusp of those signs. It is about courage, leadership, and prominence. It is daring, proud, and can also be big hearted.
The Sun is aligned with the star Fomalhaut which is in both the constellation and sign of Pisces This star amplifies the qualities of its sign and has magical, artistic, and otherworldly qualities.
The 'Great American Eclipse' that occurred in August 2017 and the following Solar Eclipse in February 2018 were near the same spots of where the Sun and Moon are during this Full Moon, yet in different signs. It is possible that you may see some areas of your life get triggered over the next few weeks similarly to areas of your life that were affected over a year long period from mid 2017 until mid 2018. However, it will still be different and those eclipses had more significance overall.
Mercury In Pisces Conjunct Neptune, Sextile Venus/Saturn/Pluto, Square Jupiter and Going Retrograde In Two Weeks
Mercury begins its pre-retrograde shadow period hours before the peak of this Full Moon. Over the next few weeks, much of what plays out or develops will go through a sorting out and adjustment period throughout March until early April. I will be writing a separate article on it, you can join my mailing list here to ensure that you receive my content.
Virgo's ruler Mercury is in the opposing sign of Pisces which is where the Sun is. It is also aligned with Neptune, a modern ruler of Pisces, which makes it even more Piscean. Mercury doesn't perform the way it wants to when in this sign. It lessens the analytical, intellectual, and rational qualities of this planet. Instead it perceives things in a more abstract, symbolic, sensory, or intuitive way.
All the Neptune/Pisces energy can make us more dreamy, less in touch with reality, forgetful, and inhibit mental focus. Communications and thoughts can be less direct, confusing, and misunderstood. However it can also be divinely inspired, psychic, compassionate, fantasy based, or directed by emotional energy.
Mercury and Neptune are also in a sextile with Saturn, Venus, and Pluto. Usually Mercury in aspect with Saturn can be good for practical thinking and focus, however, the Neptune influence mentioned is a lot stronger here. If anything this aspect with Saturn can good for constructive effort towards ideals, visions, creativity, selfless acts, or anything to do with spirituality.
Many people can also experience increased social interactions or romantic developments that can have some significance. However, considering that the South Node and an upcoming retrograde is in the mix, some of of this could have to do with the past or perhaps old behaviours and aspirations being triggered.
Mercury is moving towards a square with Jupiter which is the traditional ruler of Pisces. We can be overly broad minded, idealistic, or even judgemental. We can overlook details easily, over-exaggerate, and overextend ourselves. However, this can also be good for learning and expanding our minds. This energy will be strongest on February 22nd in the West, and the 23rd in the East.
Chiron Returns To Aries, Will Be There Until 2027
Chiron has just re-entered Aries where it will be until April 2027. We already got a taste of this energy last year from April to September before it retrograded back into Pisces. This Full Moon is in a quincunx with Chiron, and therefore it is possible that some of the issues below might come up during this period.
Chiron is the 'wounded healer', it reflects our wounds, blocks, traumas, and negative patterns. However, it is also the key unlocking our untapped or suppressed potential. Through our own healing and self-awareness, we become more whole and more of who we truly are. This is what Chiron is about, it is both the roadblock and the bridge.
Collectively, Chiron is going to trigger Aries themes for the next 8 years. However, like all other astrological influences, much of how it plays out for depends on how it is interacting with your personal birth chart based on the exact time you were born.
Aries is about self-identity, independence, leadership, initiation, and assertiveness. It can be direct, competitive, combative, hot tempered, impulsive, and forceful. Our wounds and challenges connected to these things could come to help us grow, become more aware, and make positive changes. We will see more of this unfold during certain periods over the upcoming years.
This Chiron in Aries period will be the most significant for those born between February 1969 and May 1976, as well as for those born between early April and mid-October of 1968. For these groups it will bring up deeper core wounds to help facilitate the potential for healing, awareness, and empowerment. It can help to develop a constructive relationship with aspects of oneself that have either been destructive, limiting, distorted, or inhibiting.
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Science Says Silence Is Vital For Our Brains
In Brief
- The Facts:
Studies have shown that excessive environmental noise not only decreases one's quality of life and cognitive function, but also reduces lifespan. The good news is that spending time in silence can reverse these effects.
- Reflect On:
Are you living in an environment that is consistently loud? Do you take much time for intended silence? Have you tried the 5 Days of You Challenge?
If you're the average person, you wake up to the sound of an alarm. That alarm sends you to the bathroom where you quickly get yourself ready for your workday. If you have the time, you might eat something before jumping into your car to listen to music or the radio while you sit in traffic on your way to work.
Once you get there, it's all people, customers, co-workers, cars, trucks, planes, lawn mowers, construction, phone calls, and tasks for the next 8 hours. These noises that most of us experience in excess send our bodies into stress states, decreasing our quality of life and potentially reducing our lifespan. It appears that noise, in excess, is not healthy for humans. Silence, on the other hand, can have huge benefits, but let's explore the damage caused by noise before we get to the benefits of silence.
Before we get into the research, I'd like to note that the word 'noise' is said to come from the Latin word nausea, or the Latin word noxia, meaning seasickness, sickness, hurt, damage, or injury. Is it any wonder 'noise' is not healthy for us?
The Studies
Outside of your anecdotal reflection, there is scientific evidence that supports the negative effects of noise on our health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) examined and quantified its health burden based on a European study that involved 340 million people living in Western Europe. It found that residents were cumulatively losing about a million years off their lives due to noise every year. That's like one in every three people losing an entire year off their life due to excessive noise!
A study that was published in 2011 in Psychological Science examined the effects Munich's airport had on children's health and cognition. Professor Gary W. Evans of Cornell University noted that the children who were exposed to noise developed a stress response that caused them to ignore the noise. These children not only ignored harmful noises, but also regular stimuli that are important to pay attention to like speech. Wonder why people have trouble paying attention these days? Perhaps we are exposed to too much noise and too many sounds.
This study is among the strongest, probably the most definitive proof that noise–even at levels that do not produce any hearing damage–causes stress and is harmful to humans. – Professor Gary Evans
Going back to anecdotal evidence for a moment, I always find that staying with my friends who live in cities produces a much more uncomfortable situation for myself than when I'm in more quiet situations, or living at my quiet, somewhat isolated home in nature. I always share with friends that the environment of living in a city seems to be unhealthy; not just the air, but the energy, hustle and bustle, and the noise as well. Reading these studies clearly illustrates that it does not appear to be natural or healthy for humans to live or work in loud environments every day.
Noise has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, tinnitus, and loss of sleep. Living in consistently noisy environments will cause you to experience much higher levels of these harmful hormones. Of course, there is something you can do about this should you take action on it, but it requires that–action.
The Benefits of Silence
Again, pointing to anecdotal evidence for a moment, think back to the moments where you were on your own, retreating to the cottage or somewhere else quiet. Did you notice how often you NOTICED the silence? Not only that, but you likely felt a lot better after 3 or 4 hours of being there.
It isn't just cleaner air or taking some time away from work, it's the silence and lack of distraction. This can be observed by playing loud music and partying the entire time at a cottage as well. You'll realize it isn't relaxing, but simply another distraction. When you contrast the two different experiences, the benefits become more clear.
An interesting study observed the effects of noise, music, and silence on the brain. The study was published in the journal Heart and found that the two minute pauses randomly placed between the 'relaxing music' in the study were far more relaxing for the brain than the relaxing music. The longer the silence, the more benefits experienced by the participants. Study author L. Bernardi found that his 'irrelevant' blank pauses were the most important aspects of the study. Silence is heightened by contrast.
What You Can Do & The Takeaway
So, what can you do if you experience a lot of noise and are looking to avoid loud noises or simply take a break? Firstly, the good news is that the brain recovers from too much noise over time. According to the attention restoration theory, the brain's finite cognitive resources can begin restoring when you are in an environment with lower levels of sensory input. In silence, the brain essentially lets down its sensory guard and restores some of what has been 'lost' through excess noise.
The practical end of this would look like making an extra effort to be or spend time in silence. This means no music, movies, friends, conversations, phone chimes, etc, even if it's only for 30 minutes or an hour each day.
This silence would not only allow your brain to restore its cognitive functions like creativity, but it can give you the opportunity to disconnect, quiet down and connect with yourself as well.
Years ago, I created a challenge called the 5 Days of You Challenge that's designed to do just that – help people slow down, reduce noise and distraction, and connect deeper with themselves. Over the years, I have sent 180,000 people through this challenge and it has resulted in an incredible number of positive transformations.
If you're looking to:
- Clear emotional blocks
- Connect deeply with yourself
- Find more peace in your life
- Develop greater self-awareness and presence
- Slow down and enjoy life more
Then this challenge is something I highly recommend. I've made this challenge available to everyone to experience for free. You can check it out on CETV here.
Help Support Collective Evolution
The demand for Collective Evolution's content is bigger than ever, except ad agencies and social media keep cutting our revenues. This is making it hard for us to continue.
In order to stay truly independent, we need your help. We are not going to put up paywalls on this website, as we want to get our info out far and wide. For as little as $3 a month, you can help keep CE alive!
Scientists Show How Gratitude Literally Alters The Human Heart & Molecular Structure Of The Brain
In Brief
- The Facts:
Scientists have discovered that feelings of gratitude can actually change your brain. Feeling gratitude can also be a great tool for overcoming depression and anxiety. Furthermore, scientists have discovered that the heart sends signals to the brain.
- Reflect On:
Every time we struggle with depression, why are we constantly encouraged to take prescription medication when mindfulness techniques actually show more promise?
Gratitude is a funny thing. In some parts of the world, somebody who gets a clean drink of water, some food, or a worn out pair of shoes can be extremely grateful. Meanwhile, somebody else who has all the necessities they need to live can be found complaining about something. What we have today is what we once wanted before, but there is a lingering belief out there that obtaining material possessions is the key to happiness. Sure, this may be true, but that happiness is temporary. The truth is that happiness is an inside job.
It's a matter of perspective, and in a world where we are constantly made to feel like we are lacking and always 'wanting' more, it can be difficult to achieve or experience actual happiness. Many of us are always looking toward external factors to experience joy and happiness, when really it's all related to internal work. This is something science is just starting to grasp as well, as shown by research coming out of UCLA's Mindfulness Awareness Research Center. According to them:
Having an attitude of gratitude changes the molecular structure of the brain, keeps gray matter functioning, and makes us healthier and happier. When you feel happiness, the central nervous system is affected. You are more peaceful, less reactive and less resistant. Now that's a really cool way of taking care of your well-being.
There are many studies showing that people who count their blessings tend to be far happier and experience less depression. For one study, researchers recruited people with mental health difficulties, including people suffering from anxiety and depression. The study involved nearly 300 adults who were randomly divided into three groups. This study came from the University of California, Berkeley.
All groups received counselling services, but the first group was also instructed to write one letter of gratitude to another person every week for three weeks, whereas the second group was asked to write about their deepest thoughts and feelings about negative experiences. The third group did not do any writing activity.
What did they find? Compared to the participants who wrote about negative experiences or only received counselling, those who wrote gratitude letters reported significantly better mental health for up to 12 weeks after the writing exercise ended.
This suggests that gratitude writing can be beneficial not just for healthy, well-adjusted individuals, but also for those who struggle with mental health concerns. In fact, it seems, practicing gratitude on top of receiving psychological counseling carries greater benefits than counseling alone, even when that gratitude practice is brief. (source)
Previously, a study on gratitude conducted by Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis and his colleague Mike McCullough at the University of Miami randomly assigned participants to be given one of three tasks. Each week, participants kept a short journal. One group described five things they were grateful for that had occurred in the past week, another group recorded daily troubles from the previous week that displeased them, and the neutral group was asked to list five events or circumstances that affected them, but they were not told whether to focus on the positive or the negative. Ten weeks later, participants in the gratitude group felt better about their lives as a whole and were a full 25 percent happier than the troubled group. They reported fewer health complaints and exercised an average of 1.5 hours more. (source)
Researchers from Berkeley identified how gratitude might actually work on our minds and bodies. They provided four insights from their research suggesting what causes the psychological benefits of gratitude.
- Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions
- Gratitude helps even if you don't share it
- Gratitude's benefits take time & practice. You might not feel it right away.
- Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain
The brain part is very interesting. The researchers at Berkeley used an fMRI scanner to measure brain activity while people from each group did a "pay it forward" task. During the task, the participants were given money by a "nice person." This person's only request was that they pass on the money to someone if they felt grateful.
They did this because they wanted to distinguish between actions motivated by gratitude and actions driven by other motivations like obligation, guilt, or what other people think. This is important because you can't fake gratitude, you actually have to feel it. If you don't feel grateful or practice trying to feel grateful by taking the necessary steps like keeping a gratitude journal, you may not experience as much joy and happiness.
In a world where emotions aren't really taught in school and the importance is put on striving for high grades, it's not abnormal to have difficulty feeling grateful. This is especially understandable if you've been brought up in the western world, which is full of consumerism and competition, a world where we're constantly made to feel we are lacking so we need to strive for more.
Participants were asked to rate how grateful they felt toward the person giving them the money and how much they wanted to pay it forward to a charitable cause as well as how guilty they thought they would feel if they didn't help. They were also given questionnaires to measure how grateful they felt in general.
We found that across the participants, when people felt more grateful, their brain activity was distinct from brain activity related to guilt and the desire to help a cause. More specifically, we found that when people who are generally more grateful gave more money to a cause, they showed greater neural sensitivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain area associated with learning and decision making. This suggests that people who are more grateful are also more attentive to how they express gratitude.
Most interestingly, when we compared those who wrote the gratitude letters with those who didn't, the gratitude letter writers showed greater activation in the medial prefrontal cortex when they experienced gratitude in the fMRI scanner. This is striking as this effect was found three months after the letter writing began. This indicates that simply expressing gratitude may have lasting effects on the brain. While not conclusive, this finding suggests that practicing gratitude may help train the brain to be more sensitive to the experience of gratitude down the line, and this could contribute to improved mental health over time.
It's also interesting to note that a recent study just discovered a brain network that "gives rise to feelings of gratitude. The study could spur future investigations into how these 'building blocks' transform social information into complex emotions." (source)
What About The Heart?
The work and research above is great, but where do we actually experience these feelings? They are clearly not a product of our brain, they are products of our consciousness, and when we feel them the brain responds. Researchers are now discovering that the heart also responds and that it might actually be the heart that's responsible for sending these signals to the brain.
A group of prestigious and internationally recognized leaders in physics, biophysics, astrophysics, education, mathematics, engineering, cardiology, biofeedback, and psychology (among other disciplines) have been doing some brilliant work over at the Institute of HeartMath.
Their work, among many others, has proven that when a person is feeling really positive emotions like gratitude, love, or appreciation, the heart beats out a different message, which determines what kind of signals are sent to the brain.
Not only that, but because the heart beats out the largest electromagnetic field produced in the body, the Institute has been able to gather a significant amount of data.
According to Rolin McCratey, Ph.D, and Director of Research at Heartmath?)
"Emotional information is actually coded and modulated into these fields. By learning to shift our emotions, we are changing the information coded into the magnetic fields that are radiated by the heart, and that can impact those around us. We are fundamentally and deeply connected with each other and the planet itself." (source)
Another great point made below by the Institute:
"One important way the heart can speak to and influence the brain is when the heart is coherent – experiencing stable, sine-wavelike pattern in its rhythms. When the heart is coherent, the body, including the brain, begins to experience all sorts of benefits, among them are greater mental clarity and ability, including better decision making." (source)
In fact, the heart actually sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends in return. What's even more amusing is the fact that these heart signals (from heart to brain) actually have a significant effect on brain function.
Research findings have shown that as we practice heart coherence and radiate love and compassion, our heart generates a coherent electromagnetic wave into the local field environment that facilitates social coherence, whether in the home, workplace, classroom or sitting around a table. As more individuals radiate heart coherence, it builds an energetic field that makes it easier for others to connect with their heart. So, theoretically it is possible that enough people building individual and social coherence could actually contribute to an unfolding global coherence. – McCratey
So far, the researchers have discovered that the heart communicates with the brain and body in four ways: neurological communication (nervous system), biophysical communication (pulse wave), biochemical communication (hormones), and energetic communication (electromagnetic fields).
"HeartMath research has demonstrated that different patterns of heart activity (which accompany different emotional states) have distinct effects on cognitive and emotional function. During stress and negative emotions, when the heart rhythm pattern is erratic and disordered, the corresponding pattern of neural signals traveling from the heart to the brain inhibits higher cognitive function. This limits our ability to think clearly, remember, learn, reason, and make effective decisions. In contrast, the more ordered and stable pattern of the heart's input to the brain during positive emotional states has the opposite effect. It facilitates cognitive function and reinforces positive feelings and emotional stability." (source)
Gratitude and Positive Feelings Can Change The World
It gets deeper:
Every individual's energy affects the collective field environment. The means each person's emotions and intentions generate an energy that affects the field. A first step in diffusing societal stress in the global field is for each of us to take personal responsibility for our own energies. We can do this by increasing our personal coherence and raising our vibratory rate, which helps us become more conscious of the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that we are feeding the field each day. We have a choice in every moment to take to heart the significance of intentionally managing our energies. This is the free will or local freedom that can create global cohesion. – Dr. Deborah Rozman, the President of Quantum Intech (source)
Overall, this type of work suggests that human consciousness in general can change the world.
One study, for example, was done during the Israel-Lebanon war in the 1980s. Two Harvard University professors organized groups of experienced meditators in Jerusalem, Yugoslavia and the United Sates and asked them to focus their attention on the area of conflict at various intervals over a 27-month period. Over the course of the study, the levels of violence in Lebanon decreased between 40 and 80 percent each time a meditating group was in place. The average number of people killed during the war each day dropped from 12 to three, and war-related injuries fell by 70 percent. (source)
Another great example is a study that was conducted in 1993 in Washington, D.C., which showed a 25 percent drop in crime rates when 2,500 meditators meditated during a specific period of time with that intention.
This type of information is heavily correlated with quantum physics, as many experiments in that area as well as parapsychology (telepathy, remote viewing, distant healing) indicate similar findings. (source)
This holds true as far back as 1999. Statistics professor Jessica Utts at UC Irvine published a paper showing that parapsychological experiments have produced much stronger results than those showing a daily dose of aspirin helps prevent heart attacks. Utts also showed that these results are much stronger than the research behind various drugs like antiplatelets.
This type of work has statistically significant implications, yet is heavily ignored and labelled as pseudoscience simply because it conflicts with long-held beliefs we have trouble letting go of … But times are changing.
"For many years I have worked with researchers doing very careful work [in parapsychology], including a year that I spent full-time working on a classified project for the United States government, to see if we could use these abilities for intelligence gathering during the Cold War… At the end of that project I wrote a report for Congress, stating what I still think is true. The data in support of precognition and possibly other related phenomena are quite strong statistically, and would be widely accepted if it pertained to something more mundane. Yet, most scientists reject the possible reality of these abilities without ever looking at data! And on the other extreme, there are true believers who base their beliefs solely on anecdotes and personal experience. I have asked debunkers if there is any amount of data that would convince them, and they generally have responded by saying, "probably not." I ask them what original research they have read, and they mostly admit that they haven't read any. Now there is a definition of pseudo-science-basing conclusions on belief rather than data!" – Utts, Chair of the Statistics Department, UC Irvine (Dean Radin, Real Magic)
The Takeaway
Emotions and other factors associated with consciousness have the power to transform our inner world in ways we don't fully understand yet. These findings show how consciousness can actually transform the physical/material world, and that's huge. This validates the idea that if we can change our inner world through gratitude, empathy, compassion, and meditation, we can make our outer world more peaceful.
Help Support Collective Evolution
The demand for Collective Evolution's content is bigger than ever, except ad agencies and social media keep cutting our revenues. This is making it hard for us to continue.
In order to stay truly independent, we need your help. We are not going to put up paywalls on this website, as we want to get our info out far and wide. For as little as $3 a month, you can help keep CE alive!
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