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Can you guess these cities by their most famous landmarks?
Paris and the Eiffel Tower, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, Agra and the Taj Mahal: Some of the world's top travel destinations go hand in hand with their most iconic landmarks.
While experiencing the local art, culture and food is a must on any vacation, for certain cities it's practically required that tourists experience their classic landmarks. These places have become famous for a reason, after all, whether it's for their jaw-dropping beauty, historical significance, architectural innovation or unique character.
Most travelers are familiar with famous landmarks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Christ the Redeemer - but do you actually know where they can be found? See if you can match these signature sites from around the globe with the bustling, world-famous cities in which they're located.hxdyl/istockphoto.com
Symbol of a nation
This green copper sculpture is a world-famous symbol of the city it points the way toward.iStock
Statue of Liberty - New York, New York
The Statue of Liberty sits in New York Harbor and has served as a symbol both of New York City and of the promise of freedom and opportunity for immigrants entering the United States through Ellis Island.iStock
What time is it?
This major world city is home to the most famous clock on the planet.iStock
Big Ben - London, England
Big Ben was originally the nickname for the largest of this famous London clock's five bells, though the name is now used in reference to the clock and the clock tower. It's considered by many to be the most famous landmark in the United Kingdom.iStock
Elevating the arts
About 10,000 people a week visit this marble art center covered with dragon-scale roof tiles.iStock
Palacio de Bellas Artes - Mexico City, Mexico
The Palacio de Bellas Artes is Mexico City's cultural center. The building itself is adorned with the work of Mexican artists, and it has hosted many significant art shows and performances. The palace is a great place to visit among the other interesting sights around Mexico City.iStock
Rolling hills, rolling cameras
This hillside neighborhood and its neighborhood marker have become famous worldwide thanks to film and television.iStock
Hollywood sign - Los Angeles, California
Located on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood sign is an emblem of Los Angeles and the entire American film industry. The 45-foot-tall white letters were originally erected for a real estate advertisement in 1923 but were left up due to their popularity.iStock
The sound of music
This famous music venue's "shells" took more than five years just to design.iStock
Sydney Opera House - Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Opera House alongside Sydney Harbour might be the most famous performance space in the world thanks to its distinctive shape and waterfront location. Its concrete shells were a wonder of engineering in the 1960s and required early computers to help with their design.iStock
Out of the blue
This religious building famed for its blue hues is located in a melting pot city that's a must-visit international destination.iStock
Blue Mosque - Istanbul, Turkey
Known as the Blue Mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, dates back to 1616 and is renowned for the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the interior and its hundreds of stained glass windows.iStock
Fit for a king
This downtown palace is one of the largest in Europe and is a must-see when visiting this capital city.iStock
Royal Palace of Madrid - Madrid, Spain
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest functioning Royal Palace in Europe, covering 1,450,000 square feet with more than 3,000 rooms. Visitors can tour some of the lavishly decorated chambers.iStock
Riverside temple
This temple's colorful, unique spires make for an impressive sight iconic enough to grace the country's 10 baht coin.iStock
Wat Arun - Bangkok, Thailand
The Wat Arun Buddhist temple sits along the river that runs through Bangkok, Thailand, making it a photogenic landmark in the city.iStock
Dreamy sculpture
This major American metropolis has a famous piece of art that reflects the city's architecturally rich skyline.Dreamstime
Cloud Gate - Chicago, Illinois
Nicknamed "the Bean," Chicago's Cloud Gate sculpture is located off Michigan Avenue and has become an iconic city landmark. Known as the birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago is renowned for its architectural landmarks as well as its signature styles of pizza and hot dogs.iStock
Iron giant
One of the most famous landmarks in the world, this structure has inspired countless imitations. Items from sweatpants to designer handbags have been decorated with its form, and replicas have been built in places from Texas to China.iStock
Eiffel Tower - Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower is what comes to mind when people think of Paris and even of France. The dazzling wrought-iron lattice tower debuted at the 1889 World's Fair and has become the most-visited paid monument in the world.iStock
City within a city
This major Asian travel destination famously has an imperial city nested within a sprawling modern metropolis.iStock
Forbidden City - Beijing, China
Beijing is home to the Forbidden City, a majestic palace complex established in 1420 and used as the seat of the imperial government for almost 500 years. More than 16 million people visit the palace and museum there each year.iStock
Step by step
This awe-inspiring landmark is the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.iStock
Pyramids of Giza - Cairo, Egypt
With the ancient Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx just outside the city, it can be easy to overlook the fact that Cairo is a modern, bustling megalopolis. With a population of more than 20 million, Cairo has colorful marketplaces, beautiful mosques and other great sights along with world-famous historical landmarks.iStock
Desert ridges
This city is famous for the rock formation separating its metropolis from the rugged desert.iStock
Camelback Mountain - Phoenix, Arizona
Climbing Camelback Mountain is an essential experience when visiting Phoenix, Arizona. Named for how it resembles the hump of a kneeling camel, the mountain has two hiking trails on which you can ascend 1,280 feet to the peak.iStock
Iconic art museum
Between visiting historic landmarks, visitors to this city often make a stop at this art museum to have a cinematic moment.iStock
Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tourists come from around the world to run the "Rocky steps" leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by one of the city's favorite sons, Sylvester Stallone, in his movie "Rocky." While foreigners might not know about the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall, many do know this famous movie moment.iStock
Eastern pearl
This TV tower's location along its city's waterfront makes it a recognizable landmark.iStock
Oriental Pearl Tower - Shanghai, China
Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower stands 1,535 feet tall across from another city landmark, the Bund, making it an icon of the Chinese coastal city's skyline.iStock
Urban jungle
This African capital famously sits right next to a sprawling national park.iStock
Nairobi National Park - Nairobi, Kenya
Located just over 4 miles away from the city center of Nairobi, Kenya, is Nairobi National Park, a 45-square-mile area containing lions, elephants, giraffes and more, all kept in with an electric fence. This creates the impressive sight of zebras grazing in front of a modern city of 3 million people.iStock
Building bridges
This stone bridge provides a vital pathway for locals and tourists between parts of this city.iStock
Rialto Bridge - Venice, Italy
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Built in 1591, the Rialto Bridge is a grand sight to see during a gondola ride through the city's iconic canals.iStock
Candy-colored cathedral
The colorful onion-shaped domes of this cathedral are recognized around the world as symbols of this city and its country.iStock
St. Basil's Cathedral - Moscow, Russia
Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square has stood since 1561, enduring many changes in government and even official hostility to religion from the government of the Soviet Union.iStock
Country's capital
This island country is known for its history, music, food and signature tobacco products, and this government building sits at the center of its capital city.iStock
El Capitolio - Havana, Cuba
Cuba's El Capitolio building cost $17 million to build in 1929 and is one of the most visited places in Cuba. In 2018, the building reopened after eight painstaking years of restoration.iStock
Past meets present
This ancient castle is an icon of not just this city but the entire country where it's located.iStock
Osaka Castle - Osaka, Japan
Sitting on a hill surrounded by modernity, Osaka Castle stands out from the rest of the city. It was originally built in 1583 during Japan's Edo period and has since been reconstructed several times. The castle complex is surrounded by a moat and about 600 cherry trees.iStock
Urban waterfall
This major city is one of the last places in the U.S. you'd expect to find a waterfall. The main link the waterfall has to its host city is its horseshoe shape.Dreamstime
Water Wall - Houston, Texas
Water Wall near the Galleria Mall is the most photographed spot in Houston, Texas, home to the world's largest livestock show. The 64-foot U-shaped fountain anchors a lovely park that provides an urban oasis for locals and visitors alike.iStock
Such great heights
This building was formerly the tallest tower in the world and is considered one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.iStock
CN Tower - Toronto, Canada
The tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, CN Tower is located in Toronto, Canada, along the shore of Lake Ontario. Standing at almost 2,000 feet high, CN Tower contains the world's highest restaurant, world's highest bar and world's highest wine cellar.iStock
Gate to the East
This former symbol of division is now seen as a landmark of unity in this European capital city.iStock
Brandenburg Gate - Berlin, Germany
Brandenburg Gate is the most famous landmark in Berlin, Germany. It's here that Ronald Reagan told Mr. Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" as the military monument stood near the division between East and West Berlin. Hundreds of thousands of people celebrated beneath the gate after the Berlin Wall fell.iStock
Tickled pink
This pink building has been the site of many significant moments in the history of this coastal South American capital.iStock
Casa Rosada - Buenos Aires, Argentina
The balconied, rose-colored Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is famed as the spot where Eva Peron gave her famous speech to the people below in the Plaza de Mayo. The palatial building houses the offices of Argentina's president as well as a museum.iStock
Seeing red
This Mughal dynasty fort is both visually striking and politically symbolic for this major world city.iStock
Red Fort - Delhi, India
The Red Fort in Delhi, India, is made of red sandstone and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its creative display of the Mughal style of architecture. The palace was the home of the Mughal emperors until the country fell under the rule of the British Empire.iStock
Art as far as the eye can see
This former royal residence now contains the second-largest art museum in the world (behind the Louvre) with 3 million pieces.iStock
Winter Palace - St. Petersburg, Russia
The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg was formerly an imperial palace that was stormed during the 1917 Russian Revolution. Today, the striking mint green complex houses the Hermitage Museum, which contains many items collected by Russian tsars and the Imperial family, including some almost destroyed by looters.iStock
Go big or go home
The tallest skyscraper in Latin America stands out against the surrounding Andes Mountains in this colorful city.Dreamstime
Gran Torre Santiago - Santiago, Chile
One of the biggest cities in the Americas, Santiago was founded in 1541 and is home to the Gran Torre Santiago, which stands almost 1,000 feet tall. Santiago's modern architecture contrasts with historical downtown buildings, serene hillside city parks and hip, unique neighborhoods.iStock
Bringing a lot to the table
This seaside African city sits in the shadow of a flat-topped mountain. This landmark is a dramatic background as well as a great overlook that visitors can visit by hiking or cable car.iStock
Table Mountain - Cape Town, South Africa
The oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town is flanked by Table Mountain, which has 2-mile-long flat top rather than a peak. Cape Town is a popular vacation destination because of its proximity to gorgeous natural sights as well as African wildlife reserves where you can go on a safari.iStock
A glimpse of green
This European capital is famous for its musical history and imperial palaces, including one with a iconic green copper dome.iStock
Hofburg Palace - Vienna, Austria
Vienna, Austria, is famous for its food, art and history. Home of world-famous composers Mozart and Beethoven, Vienna was also the seat of the Habsburg monarchs, who built multiple imperial buildings around the city. The most iconic of these is the Hofburg Palace complex.iStock
A rich history
This island nation's capital is a blend of cultures, with colonial churches and forts sitting near modern skyscrapers and bustling waterfronts.iStock
San Agustin Church - Manila, Philippines
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is the most densely populated city proper in the world. This modern Asian metropolis is known for its Spanish colonial buildings in the old Intramuros area of town, including the San Agustin Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every country has its own unique beauty, but according to travelers, this is the most beautiful country in the world.
More from The Active Times:
50 Travel Experiences That Will Change Your Life
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25 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You
50 Hotels Totally Worth The Splurge
50 Healthiest Countries in the WorldiStock


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mental health
My thoughts on poverty right now
January 03, 2012, 11:00 PM Filed in: work | counseling | thoughts | Rant
Dear All Of You. It's been a while. Here's what's on my mind.
My opinions on many things change constantly now that I'm a full time counselor, especially about poverty, our country, socioeconomics.. stuff like that. Working with kids and their families in their homes and in day treatment has given me incredible insight into why some kids act they way they do. It has also given me insight into things like poverty and classism, and how much those things can affects a person's mental health.
I used to generally believe that people need to do more to help poor people (but that right there is an abstract concept with no clear application). And presto, I work in an industry funded by taxpayer dollars (which does not take private insurance as payment, and therefore services only those eligible for tax-funded programs like Medicaid), attempting to help people improve their own lives and raise their kids with a better sense of personal responsibility and work ethic and blah blah blah.. I and my coworkers are a living and breathing example of how America does indeed help the poor. My experience has given me informed opinions about what Stephen Colbert waxed on about. Strangely, or not, this industry is full of employees who are Christians (take that for what it is). Stephen Colbert still had some good points about following Christ's example and helping the poor. We are commanded to do that, just like Jesus said. Trust me, if you have a job and pay taxes, you're helping the poor already. Of course, it's probably more the Christian thing to do to help the poor of your own volition rather than wait for the government to garnish your paycheck (or to take a paycheck for it like my coworkers and me). And it's important to consider that throwing tax dollars at the phenomenon of "poverty" hasn't changed the fact that people are still poor. So, what's not working (a bit of reality therapy here)?
I want to help people not with just financial assistance, but with new ideas about what they themselves can do to change their own course. I'm a fan of the "teach a man to fish" end of things. But many of the people I serve as a counselor don't want to learn "how to fish," 'cause once they do, their providers will say, "Look. You can fish!! You don't need me to give these to you anymore!!" Trouble is, in this economy, those proverbial "fish" (jobs with living wages) are scarce. And try as they might, it's harder in general for my clients to break into the workforce 'cause of racism, classism, cultural differences or any number of fickle prerequisites.
Still, it is remarkable to me the abuses I've seen done by people in my client base to their systems of government aid. I've seen so many falsifications on Medicaid applications, nondisclosures of income, reports of "medical" conditions that anyone can fake or even invent that it makes me wonder why we have these assistances in place at all. Shoot, my brother is a tax auditor and he sees rich people and corporations make the same falsifications on their own disclosures at tax time. When I see a family living hand to mouth on government money drop a couple thousand dollars on a giant television that takes up half a wall, I'm like.. Wait a sec.. Aren't you guys hungry? Weren't you just asking me to help you get shoe and clothing donations for your kids? WTF is up with that TV?!
People everywhere, no matter how rich or poor, have a proclivity to lie, cheat and steal 'cause it's easier than working and telling the truth. The clients I work with know exactly what to tell me so I'll write a good report and say that the treatment is working but they still need it for a while longer. If I can focus on the kids, not just their parents, maybe I can get some new ideas into their heads and they'll make different decisions than their parents made and start ending various cycles. Stephen Colbert was likely right. The only way to stop poverty and end this massive contributing factor to what our culture perceives are mental health issues is to follow Christ's example, not just in the giving, but in the way we receive as well. There is only one Bible, and nowhere in it does it tell people to lie around and take while everyone else works.
It's easy for me to tell a client "work hard and your life will improve," but in many cases, while generally true, it takes so much more than words, a smile and a clipboard to help a family affect some positive changes. It takes lots of time, lots of learning, building relationships, patience and a thorough understanding of what it means to grow up poor. Poverty isn't the only contributing factor to mental health issues. And for Pete's sake, sometimes we're not necessarily dealing with people who are insane. If my training is correct, and if behaviors stem from legitimate needs, than my 14-year-old client who was arrested for stealing personal hygiene items wasn't crazy or insane. He was just trying to meet his needs 'cause his parents don't wake till 3 in the afternoon or do jack squat to provide for him. I want to see what alternatives to a lifestyle exist before I tell a person or an entire family to *POOF!* CHANGE! My insight into the mental health and juvenile justice systems is deeper these days, giving me a much more informed opinion about my experience as a camp counselor and the numerous reasons why the kids I looked after were there.
More soon, everyone. Thanks and love..

subset: commoncrawl


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Giants hold off on activating Affeldt from DL
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants delayed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt's reinstatement from the disabled list until Wednesday, giving themselves more time to address the difficulty of making a corresponding roster move.
"Right now, this is in a holding pattern," manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday.
Ordinarily, the Giants would drop a reliever while adding Affeldt. But each reliever viewed as most vulnerable to a demotion -- right-handers Juan Gutierrez and Jean Machi and left-hander David Huff -- has no Minor League options remaining. Any of the three would have to clear waivers before being sent to Triple-A Fresno.
Bochy did not rule out the possibility of using a 13-man pitching staff and dropping a position player.
Affeldt, who has been sidelined since late March with a sprained right knee, threw off a bullpen mound Tuesday.
Marco Scutaro's status remained unchanged, as Bochy related that the second baseman has continued to perform baseball-related activities while coping with his sore back at the Giants' Scottsdale, Ariz., training complex.
"I don't have a target date for [Scutaro's return]," Bochy said. "He's still having his really good days and days where he has to back off a little bit."


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Thai Cultured Pearl and Garnet Beaded Flower Earrings, "Thai Petals"
Coming Back!
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Read more
Pre-Order Now!
This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Read more
Bright garnet petals become a deep red blossom. Centered with carnelian and flanked by golden cultured pearls, the flower nestles amid beaded foliage. Anusara sets the earrings on silver hooks.
.925 Sterling silver
- 11 grams
- 0.39 oz
- 5 cm L x 2.5 cm W
- 2" L x 1" W
- Dyed cultured freshwater pearl, garnet, carnelian, glass, stainless steel, sterling silver
- Natural stone - some variations in color and/or pattern are to be expected
- Hook earrings
- High polish finish
- Free Jewelry Packaging? Yes
- Premium Jewelry Gift Box? Yes
- Made in Thailand.
- Certified and shipped by our office in Thailand
Anusara has received a $2850 microcredit loan with 0% interest. Proceeds were used to purchase materials and also be able to pay assistants to help her.
This artist positively impacts their community through job creation and provides jobs for 2 or more people.
The Women's Empowerment badge is awarded to female artisans or artisan groups that are led by women.
Meet the Artist
Handcrafted gemstone jewelry
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Anusara Handcrafted gemstone jewelry
"I feel love and pride for all of my artwork. I'm proud of my designs, proud of creating them, proud to wear them and proud to sell them."
"When I was a child, I wove jasmine garlands to sell in the morning market, making them in my free time after school. I chose the most beautiful blooming jasmine blossoms. But first I had to finish my homework and reading before I was allowed to weave jasmine garlands. These garlands didn't bring a high price at the market, but my work helped my family to save money to support my studies.
"I participate at every local festival in our town. Sometimes I'm a Thai dancer, leading the parade to the temple. Sometimes I compete as a noppra-mad girl. Once I almost won first place, but that was only in a village contest. This is my personal challenge, and it is great fun and a good experience for me. I like to study and play northern style music and perform northern style dance (the sword dance, spear dance, and so forth), and I play the sa bud chai drum. This drum is played before a soldier goes to war, and again upon his return. The villagers play the sa bud chai drum to lift the soldiers' spirits, and a woman can play it. Every year at the Loy kra thong festival, I weave a floating basket from banana leaves to sell that evening. I want to help preserve nature and our environment; so that it will remain with us. I don't like to use unnatural materials. Banana leaf baskets are very beautiful. Have you ever seen them?
"About my handcrafts, I feel love and pride for all of my artwork. I'm proud of my designs, proud of creating them, proud to wear them and proud to sell them. In the future, I'd like to have a small shop of my own, in which to sell my jewelry. Now, Novica is my little shop, open to all who love jewelry and stones.
"With some of my income, I'd like to help conserve the natural world and the original Northern Thai culture that I love. I don't want it to disappear. And I want to keep some of my income to help underprivileged children in my hometown, so as to give something back to my city. This place holds many things that have meant a lot to me for a very long time."
86 Testimonials for Anusara
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This was published 7 years ago
AFL's illicit drugs policy needs an overhaul, says McGuire
COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has called for the AFL's illicit drugs policy to be overhauled, claiming the system can no longer deal effectively with the drug problem.
McGuire used a media report on Tuesday that a group of Collingwood players contacted the AFL last year to concede drug use as evidence the system needed readjusting.
The Collingwood players - understood to be at least four - admitted to an AFL medical officer to drug use late last season, the Herald Sun reports, but escaped having a strike put against their names because they reported their drug use with impunity.
Clubs are not informed when a player records a positive drug test - or in this case, self-reports - under the league's illicit drugs policy, until a player records three strikes.
McGuire said he wanted to be "able to run my own club" by drug testing players, even if that put them at greater risk of recording strikes. Players who record three strikes can be suspended for up 18 games.
"We've actually said we will pay the AFL to do more tests on our players and that puts us at risk of losing key players if they (record) three strikes," he said on Triple M.
The self-reporting loophole is likely to be one of several elements to be discussed at an AFL drug summit on Wednesday.
McGuire said he had long known there was a drugs problem in football and called for the current policy to be changed to reflect the issue.
"It ain't a Collingwood issue and we don't care because you know what, we're actually taking this on head-on. We're saying there is a problem," McGuire said.
"I said it in 1998, I said it in 2005 and I'll say it today, on Tuesday, January 29, that there is a big issue in our community and we have taken great steps in football. Now we have to review those steps.
"What we can't be is defensive. We can't have the players' association getting their backs up, we can't have people who have been the architects of the current rule defending a position because it has worked to a degree, now we have to reassess."
AFL Players Association chief executive Matt Finnis said on Tuesday self-reporting was not common among players.
"No ... we've had this policy in place for several years and this is a procedure which has been included throughout that time, because the policy is actually about knowing players who are using drugs so we can try to help them," he told 3AW.


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Stories by Aerin [1] Series by Aerin [0] Reviews by Aerin [0] Challenges by Aerin [0] Favorite Series [0] Aerin's Favorites [0]Series
Stories by Aerin
|The authors own nothing. Joss, UPN, WB, etc. own Buffy, the show, the characters, the places, and the backstory. The authors own any original plots.


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Genetics: What Does it All Mean?
Researchers are making great headway with their understanding of genetics; here's why this area of study is both important and applicable for horse health
Researchers are making great headway with their understanding of genetics; here's why this area of study is both important and applicable for horse health
When we think of genetics in horses, we generally think in terms of color inheritance--whether a foal will be bay, gray, chestnut, or have the splashes of color that we desire in our particular breed group. However, advances in the field of genetics reach well beyond coat color and are especially beneficial to owners and breeders that are trying to understand--and avoid--genetic diseases.
Ernest Bailey, PhD, immunogenetics and genomics researcher at the University of Kentucky's (UK) Gluck Equine Research Center, explains that there are basically two aspects of genetic study--creating tests and creating knowledge. Scientists have developed tests to determine if a horse carries certain traits (both desirable and undesirable) such as color, performance, or disease. And by understanding genetics better they are creating knowledge for improved management of horses.
"For example, some horses are thrifty keepers and may get laminitis on lush pasture," Bailey explains. "We generally don't think of this as a genetic problem, mainly because we don't want to address this by genetic selection." However, if an owner has already chosen a horse for other desired traits, he or she might want to find ways to treat or manage the horse predisposed to laminitis so he doesn't founder. Understanding the horse's genetics can help the owner achieve this.
How Can Genetic Research Help Horse Owners?
Researchers are gaining knowledge constantly about genetic traits of interest. They now are familiar with the genes to avoid or eliminate genetic defects such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), overo lethal white syndrome (OLWS), hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), among others, and have provided that information to breeders.
However, according to James MacLeod, VMD, PhD, John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight chair, professor of veterinary science, and director of UK's Equine Initiative, "Recessive (in which the horse must inherit a defective copy of the gene from each parent for the trait to manifest) and single-gene traits keep emerging in horse populations; some of which may have existed for decades before they are recognized. By this point, carriers may be widespread in a breed. Developing tests for newly recognized defective traits continues to be important."
While tests and knowledge can help horse owners and breeders avoid specific harmful traits, on the flip side they can also select for desired characteristics, as mentioned, from coat color to performance. With this ability, however, comes great responsibility.
"We can use it constructively or abuse it, like any other powerful technology," says MacLeod. As far as the latter, "An example might be the commercialization of genetic tests or services based on claims that are not supported by scientific knowledge, or only a limited understanding of the issue. Another potential scenario might be aggressive selection by breeders for a specific genotype (genetic makeup regulating a given physical trait) perceived to be highly desirable--before we fully understand whether genetic diversity in that region of DNA is important for the population."
Responsible Breeding
Knowing which of their horses carry unwanted genetic traits has already helped many breeders avoid producing foals with certain defects. "Diagnostic tests have been created for many different diseases (see list of testable equine genetic diseases on page 28)," says Bailey, and can identify exact disease-causing mutations. "We've known these traits are hereditary, but until recently could not do a molecular test for the trait and identify carriers."
On the other hand, "A carrier of a deleterious trait may also have desirable qualities or express a whole spectrum of good characteristics we don't want to lose or eliminate," explains MacLeod. "Knowing the genetic keys, we might still be able to utilize these animals in a breeding program to maintain the desirable traits, while specifically avoiding the possibility of producing individuals that double up on an unwanted disease-causing recessive gene."
Bailey concurs, noting that undesirable traits that have cropped up and wreaked havoc within breed groups, such as lavender foal syndrome and SCID in Arabians and HERDA, HYPP, and polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in Quarter Horses, "are devastating, but we now have the capacity to identify the genes responsible for any new deleterious trait that shows up and can devise tests for these. This allows breeders to continue their programs and to select for traits they want, with confidence that we can guide them around these icebergs (emerging single-gene traits) that might otherwise wreck their breeding programs."
A Basis for Performance
Nena Winand, DVM, PhD, a veterinary molecular geneticist at Cornell University, says another new development in equine genetics is testing for performance-based genes. This area of interest has been fueled by the recognition of sequence polymorphisms (normal variations in DNA sequences between individuals) in a particular gene--myostatin--that are associated with Thoroughbred racehorses' tendency for success at certain racing distances. "For example, if you want to breed horses to perform optimally over certain distances and are dealing with heterozygous mares (having inherited only one copy of the trait-causing gene), this testing might allow you to channel sire selection," she says. "By capitalizing on the available genomic tools, we are beginning to objectively define physical and genetic contributors to racing performance, with the goal of helping breeders and owners maximize performance potential of their horses."
Breeders must keep in mind, however, that performance is a combination of genetics and environment--things that happen to the conceptus from its beginning until after birth in addition to how the horse is raised.
"Everyone wonders if we can make another Secretariat if we clone him, but one of the things we're learning about genetics is its limitations," says Bailey. "If you had 10 clones of Secretariat they would all be different (because they would all be gestated in and born into different environments). But you'd probably get more stakes winners out of 10 Secretariat clones than from 10 random Thoroughbreds," since you would at least be starting with proven genetic potential.
MacLeod further explains that performance is not a single-gene trait like coat color, which might have one or two primary genes and one or two modifier genes. "The things that come into play to make a successful athletic horse are much more complicated. Even if you find a gene that seems to be important for a specific characteristic of performance, there will still be many shades of gray around that. A given horse might not have inherited the specific form of that one gene, yet still be very successful in performance because it has the others, and vice versa."
Thus, unlike genetic tests for those diseases caused by a single deleterious gene, tests for performance are statements of probability within a large set of variables.
Improved Research
Equine genetic research currently under way at institutions worldwide will produce the data needed to build more genetic tools and tests for traits of interest to horse enthusiasts, along with uncovering clues to managing common diseases. Such research has been aided tremendously by the completion of the equine genome sequence in 2007, a map that can be applied to studies of genetic expression and hereditary variation, leading to a new level of understanding equine diseases. MacLeod, for instance, is studying joint cartilage--molecular and cellular details of how this important tissue develops and how different treatments might modify the disease processes or influence joint cartilage's ability to repair.
"(Knowledge of the horse genome) may not directly provide the answers, but it gives me a more powerful set of research tools to investigate critical questions," he notes.
Just as access to the Hubble space telescope beginning in 1990 enhanced scientists' ability to study star systems, researchers like MacLeod--with access to the full equine genome--have been able to advance their research efforts on equine diseases more successfully.
"Those of us involved with equine genetics came into this because we are interested in particular systems (diseases, vaccines, management issues, etc.) and we needed the genetics tools in order to make important advances on these," says Bailey. "For example, Jim Mickelson (PhD) at Minnesota wanted the equine genome so he can study muscle physiology. Doug Antczak (VMD, PhD) at Cornell is interested in the immunology of pregnancy (i.e., how a mare's body responds immunologically to a developing fetus and doesn't reject it). Much of our use of genetic tools depends on a scientist's area of interest. I was recently at a meeting where people working on infectious diseases, reproduction, sports medicine, and immunology were all talking about using genetics in their studies. It now pervades all areas of research."
In other words, access to the equine genome will likely enhance many fields of study. "We can use new approaches to study variables that impact growth mechanisms during pregnancy and in young horses," MacLeod says. "An example might be a better understanding of complex diseases such as developmental orthopedic problems. We'll not only gain insight into their cause, but hopefully developdiagnostic and management strategies to avoid them."
Another benefit of genetic knowledge will be improved research quality at a reduced cost. Consider a scientist who wants to study disease incidence in horses that are thrifty keepers. His or her research would benefit from an efficient way to identify 20 susceptible individuals for the project.
"Instead, we must begin by studying susceptible and resistant animals together, with very high costs, or wait until susceptible animals are already becoming affected," Bailey explains. "It would be cheaper, faster, and more effective if scientists who wanted to understand this condition could (accurately identify and) select a group of animals predisposed to this syndrome and compare them to a resistant group."
Another example of research progress made possible by genetic knowledge can be observed through current research on equine arteritis virus (EAV), which seems to cause mild disease in Standardbreds but more serious clinical disease in Thoroughbreds. "The idea that this might be a genetic difference has been controversial, but we've recently found some genetic determinants," Bailey says. "Now we can compare susceptible horses to resistant individuals, and have better understanding how the virus causes serious clinical disease. This may enable us to make better vaccines and therapies."
Ultimately, the more scientists can understand the physiology of health and performance--all the way down to the molecular level--the better. Then horse owners can more successfully select horses for the traits they desire and, with a veterinarian's help, treat them to prevent problems.
Looking to the Future
"Many questions remain," says MacLeod. "Understanding genetics is not just a function of the linear sequence of DNA bases. At one point, I thought that if we could just understand the sequence of G, A, T, and C bases (the DNA nucleotide bases guanine, adenine, thiamine and cystosine), we could just 'read the book' and all the knowledge would be there. Sequencing the equine genome has been a major step forward, but there is so much more to learn. For example, when, where, and how much of a given gene is expressed is important, as well as what regulates these parameters of gene expression."
Several other structural features of DNA modify and influence how the primary sequence (of a specific gene) is expressed. Researchers are discovering these additional layers of control and working to understand their importance.
Ultimately, all this new research and knowledge can help us become better horsemen, making more informed breeding and management decisions about our horses. "Doors are opening and the future is exciting, but we are just getting started," MacLeod concludes.


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Put yourself in Chris Wilson's shoes for a moment, if you can stand the pain. As Internet Explorer platform architect, he's in a sticky spot. On one hand, he's got developers screaming at him to make IE standards-compliant. On the other hand, his boss tells him "Don't break the Web" by improving IE so that existing sites no longer work with it. "Improved standards support by default means that pages will break," Wilson said at a MIX07 session called "IE Past, Present, and Future" (WMV file). What's a platform architect to do?
The first step is probably to do exactly what he did at MIX07: be honest and open to developers about where IE came from, where it is and where it's going. Promise that improvements are coming, but be honest about what that means: more work to undo the workarounds developers added to make sites work with the world's most-used browser. Another thing on your checklist might be to watch what else your company is up to. While you're in Las Vegas promising developers, "Compatibility is crucial to us," and other such niceties, you may want to make sure your coworkers—especially the ones in the Silverlight department—are with you on the standards bandwagon.
As we noted earlier this week:
The biggest failing of Silverlight resides in the fact that it doesn't leverage existing standards. Rather than using the W3C's SVG standard for vector graphics, Microsoft started from scratch and created its own XML-based vector graphics subset for XAML that is structurally similar to SVG... By neglecting to use the SVG standard in Silverlight and XAML in favor of a limited and incompatible facsimile, Microsoft has once again needlessly ignored what could have been an opportunity to empower developers and help Internet Explorer catch up with browsers that are more functional and standards-compliant.
You can't have it both ways. Can you? Can you both make your browser standards-compliant and have your new Flash-killer app suite ignore existing standards and create its own? Well, I guess they did.


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NETGEAR for
802.11n, Dual Band, 4-port, Desktop
Not only can you extend the reach of your dual band WiFi network, you can connect up to 4 wired devices wirelessly. 4 ports enable you to connect everything from a Blu-ray player to a Smart TV or game console to your existing WiFi network. Simultaneous dual band WiFi reduces interference for smoother HD streaming.
WN2500RP WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing dual band WiFi coverage in your home and allows you to connect up to 4 wired devices like Smart TVs, gaming consoles to your wireless network. It works with any standard router or gateway and enables a better WiFi connection for laptops, home theater devices, smartphones and more.
Simultaneous dual band provides best coverage for devices like laptops, Blu-ray™ players, smart TVs, smartphones and more
Extends range of any standard single or dual band WiFi router or service provider gateway
Offers maximum performance for streaming videos and gaming
Enables connection of multiple wired devices wirelessl
Push 'N' Connect connects computers and/or routers to the extender quickly and securely. No CD or Ethernet cable required
Finds best location for optimal WiFi coverage with dynamic LED indicators
Works with any wireless a/b/g/n router or gateway from NETGEAR and other brands
Provides security through encryption using WPA/WPA2/WEP
Power on/off button, 80% recycled packaging
† Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput and wireless coverage will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate and wireless coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product's compatibility with any future standards.
1 Works with devices supporting Wi-Fi Protected Setup® (WPS).
May not be compatible with WiFi routers or gateways whose firmware has been altered or changed, including without limitation certain open source routers, or other WiFi routers or gateways with non-standard or outdated firmware.
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets give you more freedom to rove around the house. So boost your WiFi range to keep a strong, steady network connection.
From your phone in the kitchen, just press PRINT. By the time you walk into the office, your print is ready. Plug your printer into the USB port and the range extender supports AirPrint to let you print from your iPhone or iPad.
How strong is your WiFi signal? Use the NETGEAR WiFi Analytics app to get advanced analytics to optimize your existing or newly extended WiFi network. Check your network status, WiFi signal strength, identify crowded WiFi channels and much more!
The NETGEAR WN2500RP was rated five stars out of a possible six because of several key features of the device, including its four Gigabit Ethernet ports, universal compatibility, and push button connectivity.


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Vitamins are essential for the maintenance of good health. With modern food processing methods and the tendency that we all have for leading stressful, fast-paced lives, it is not hard to appreciate why so many of us are lacking sufficient levels of these vital nutrients. By supplementing your diet with one of our vitamin products, you can have peace of mind, knowing that you are achieving the recommended daily intakes thus helping to maintain good health.
Select a Product:
Paydens Online Pharmacy accepts the following payment cards:
Online Pharmacy Customer Service: 01303 277590
www.PaydensPharmacy.co.uk© 2005 Paydens Limited.


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martin van der veen
27 July, 2010
Bigger venuesThe first time U2 headlined a big and then famous venue in The Netherlands (Sportpaleis Ahoy in Rotterdam). The first time friends of mine came along to a U2-show; they also went wild. Up untill today I hope that they will return to smaller venues in the future.
11 June, 2010
My First timeI was living in Rotterdam and decided in the afternoon of that same day I would like to see a concert. Just picked the one from which still tickets where available and so I ended up purchasing tickets at the front desk, walking inside and immediately the band started playing..... Since then U2 is in my life! Last year (2009) I celebrated my 25 years with the band with attending the world tour openings concert in Nou Camp in Barcelona. In those 25 years I enjoyed many shows in Holland, Belgium, Germany, UK, France and Spain. Because of the special memories I have with many U2 songs I know they wrote the "soundtrack of my life....." CU in Brussel & Seville this year!!


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I had a sudden craving for baba ghanoush, but it was much too late to roast an eggplant. So I decided on an unorthodox method of cooking it, in the pressure cooker. Within about 5 minutes, I had completely cooked eggplant and also a problem: The eggplant was hot, and whoever heard of eating hot baba ghanoush? I needed to add something to cool it off, so midway through I decided to combine my Baba Ghanouj recipe with my basic hummus recipe, and the result was . . . great! Even E., who doesn't like baba ghanoush, liked it. Apparently, hummus with eggplant in it is acceptable even to eggplant-haters. Who knew?
Since roasting gives eggplant a lot of flavor, I suggest roasting or grilling it if you have the time. If you cook your eggplant in a less flavorful way like I did, you may want to add a little smoked paprika to give it a hint of smoky flavor.
Almost-Instant Hummus Ghanoush
- 1 large eggplant, peeled and cut into 4 quarters lengthwise
- 2-4 cloves garlic
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas (1 1/2 cups)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons tahini
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- sumac, for garnish
- To cook the eggplant in the pressure cooker, put the peeled, quartered eggplant in a steamer basket, place it in the cooker, and add just enough hot water to cover the bottom of the cooker but not so much that it touches the eggplant (about a cup or two). Seal the cooker, bring to high pressure, and cook for 2 minutes after it reaches high pressure. Use a quick-release method to reduce the pressure. (Follow the instructions here to cook the eggplant in the oven.)
- Drop the garlic into a running food processor to chop it. Add the eggplant, and process until it is almost smooth. Add the remaining ingredients, and process until smooth. Check the seasonings, and add more as necessary. (If the eggplant seems bitter, a pinch or two of sugar helps.) Serve sprinkled with sumac.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 5 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 8
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 113 calories, 29 calories from fat, 3.5g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 455.4mg sodium, 263.5mg potassium, 17.7g carbohydrates, 4.9g fiber, 1.5g sugar, 4.3g protein, 3.3 points.


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drjim brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 72 Designs von 27 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
want a logo created that will be simple, flowing, incorporate nature in image and color as well as the idea/message of the foundation
Many try to find "cures" for the woes ofthe world, but there is a fundamental flaw in this way of thinking. ...If weare only trying to find cures, then we are willing to let people and our worldbecome sick. We cannot truly cure and heal ourselves and our world unless wefind out why these things happen to begin with.
"A problem cannot be solvedwith the same level of thinking that created it" - Albert Einstein
We need to start thinking differently. Trying tofind cures can never eliminate diseasesince people must first become sick in order to cure them. Therefore, our time,money, effort and research needs to be redirected toward causes.
The Race for the Cause will be a foundation dedicated to researching and identifying thecause of illness, creating public awareness of the cause and removing it allowingpeople to truly heal from and prevent illness. RFTC will not only be races in the literal sense, it is a race against time.People's lives are depending on us.
I want it to be simple to reproduce on a variety of mediums, i.e. shirts, pens, etc. It should include the logo and the name "Race for the Cause" with maybe some emphasis on "cause"
I do not want something that has too much detail
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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Accessibility Framework
Rationale for a Renewed Framework
Over the years, Queen's has worked to address issues regarding accessibility in customer service, information & communications, employment, the built environment, and where appropriate, transportation. The culmination of these efforts is the development of this Comprehensive Strategic Framework for Accessibility, which requires the endorsement of our constituent groups - persons with disabilities- and the approval of our university's senior management group.
It is imperative that Queen's has a comprehensive and functional framework for addressing the provincial government's accessibility standards under the AODA; the customer service standards, transportation, employment, information & communications, and when it comes into force, the built environment standards.
A strong framework will reflect the commitment Queen's has to the interests and needs of persons with disabilities and will ensure the efficient support to units and departments across our campus in complying with the legislation.
Important aspects of AODA compliance include planning what needs to be accomplished to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility as well as reporting on the policies and procedures in place to address access issues. The five priority areas that we have identified- Customer Service, Information & Communications, Employment, Built Environment, and Education, Training & Awareness - are in various stages of accessibility compliance. The Comprehensive Strategic Framework for Accessibility is intended to be a tool for addressing all aspects of AODA compliance on campus.
Comprehensive Strategic Framework for Accessibility
Purpose of the Strategic Framework
A Comprehensive Strategic Framework for Accessibility will allow the Accessibility Coordination Team to develop an Accessibility Plan that will serve the university in the following ways:
- To develop plans to address accessibility in five priority areas
- To establish shared accountability and responsibility for accessibility for persons with disabilities at Queen's University, including funding accessibility-related expenses through standard operating budgets and identifying other sources of revenue streams
- To provide educational opportunities about accessibility to improve understanding of accessibility issues and the university obligations in accessibility compliance
- To continue efforts to incorporate accessibility issues in university diversity initiatives
The Accessibility Plan must include:
- The Plan shall report on the measures the university has taken to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities
- The Plan shall describe the measures in place to ensure that the university assesses its policies, practices, programs, and services to determine their effect on accessibility for persons with disabilities
- The Plan shall list the policies, programs, practices, and services that the university will review in the coming year to identify barriers to persons with disabilities
- The Plan shall describe the measures the university intends to take in the coming years to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities
- The university shall make the Plan available to the public
Five priority areas have been identified in which to assess compliance and through which to accomplish the outcomes stated above.
- Policy Advisory (Equity Office)
- Information & Communications (Equity Office)
- Employment (Equity Office)
- Built Environment (Equity Office)
- Education,Training, & Awareness (Equity Office)
Reporting Structure of the Comprehensive Strategic Framework for Accessibility
- Consult with Persons with Disabilities whose input in shared with the five working groups
- The five working groups assess compliance with the AODA and make recommendations to the Accessibility Coordination Team (ACT) to accomplish the goals of the Accessibility Plan.
- ACT will have ongoing consultations with the five working groups and develop the Accessibility Plan to serve Queen's University.
- The Accessibility Plan is given to the Executive Accessibility Steering Committee who oversees the final draft of the Accessibility Plan.
- The VP Operations Committee approves the Accessibility Plan.


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July 10, 2012Kevin Davies : Last month, a couple of hundred researchers journeyed to Denmark for the second annual Copenhagenomics conference – a two-day smorgasbord of cutting-edge genome science and pilsner.
The organizers - Biopeople and the Genomics Enlightenment Foundation, both non-profit network organizations – should be commended not only for putting on such a first-rate meeting but also for the subsequent release of a stream of high-quality videos of the presentations.
One of the first of the 2012 videos to be posted is a talk from Kevin McKernan. A familiar face among NGS aficionados, McKernan was the founder of Agencourt and one of the architects of what beBiopeople and the Genomics Enlightenment Foundation, both non-profit network organizations came the Life Technologies SOLiD sequencing platform.
With Life's acquisition of Ion Torrent, McKernan sensed it was time for a new venture. Last year, he founded a small start-up, Medicinal Genomics, dedicated to sequencing the cannabis genome, which has important medical implications for cancer treatment. He has since joined forces with his brothers at Courtagen.
McKernan's fascinating talk at Copenhagenomics – "Sequencing the Cannabis Genome" – can be viewed in its entirety here:
The remaining videos will be posted in the coming weeks: http://cphx.org/2012/07/presentations-cphx-2012/
July 2, 2012Kevin Davies : Two new papers in the July issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology – one from Michael Schatz and colleagues at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the other from a team at Pacific Biosciences – demonstrate the value of combining long but relatively error-prone reads from Pacific Biosciences' "3rd-generation" instrument with the high-throughput, shorter "2nd-generation" read lengths from Illumina.
The hybrid error correction approach shows its potential in the assembly of a variety of microbial and more complex genomes, including that of the parrot, and could have long-term ramifications in comparative genome analyses, microbial genome analyses, and the study of structural variations.
It could also provide a timely scientific and commercial boost for PacBio's single-molecule sequencing platform, which is facing stiff competition and striving to allay the perception that its technology lacks the accuracy of its more established rivals.
"Many people hear this 85-87% raw accuracy figure [for PacBio data] and say, 'How can I do anything with that?' The Cold Spring Harbor Lab paper shows you can do some pretty impressive stuff," says PacBio's Jonathan Bingham, product manager, informatics. "This error correction approach allows the return of the era of finished genomes."
"High-error long reads can be efficiently assembled in combination with complementary short reads to produce assemblies not previously possible," says Michael Schatz, a senior author on the CSHL paper.
When PacBio launched its single-molecule sequencing platform to great fanfare in 2010, the sky was the limit. The company's founders and executives promised the "15-minute genome" by 2013, with super-long DNA read lengths and a dazzling interplay of advanced physics and nanotechnology.
Not everything went according to plan, however. Like Helicos, another single-molecule sequencing platform before it, there was market resistance at forking big bucks for a machine weighing close to a metric ton. More significantly, the stochastic nature of single-molecule sequencing meant that – by PacBio's own admission over the past 18-24 months -- the accuracy of any single DNA read hovered unsatisfactorily around the 85 percent mark.
On the business front, the company had to ride out an economic downturn, at one point shedding about one third of its workforce, while founding CEO Hugh Martin battled multiple myeloma. Martin was succeeded by sequencing veteran Michael Hunkapiller last year, tasked with lifting the company's sagging stock price with the competitive threat of nanopore technologies looming on the horizon.
But PacBio did show its stripes last year, identifying the bacterial strains behind the cholera outbreak in Haiti and the E.coli food poisoning crisis in Germany. And a recent software release paves the way for the PacBio platform to provide direct detection – and eventually identification – of epigenetic modifications in double-stranded DNA.
Hybrid Vigor
The idea of marrying PacBio's long reads with the shorter read-length, higher abundance reads produced on an Illumina or other 2nd-gen platform has been mooted for some time. Explains Bingham:
"With next-gen sequencing platforms such as Illumina, SOLID and 454, it was really cheap to get a draft sequence but very expensive to get a finished genome. With 2nd-gen systems, you can get a draft genome quickly and relatively inexpensively. But to close the genome, you have to go back in and do Sanger sequencing, PCR, and so on. It's a very painstaking process. The cost compared to generating an Illumina draft [genome] was about 10:1. You might spend one lane of Illumina obtaining a rough draft of a bacterial genome, but to get a finished genome, you had to do $30,0000-worth of Sanger sequencing."
Although using slightly different approaches, the two new papers clearly demonstrate the benefit of sequencing the same template DNA on two platforms and marrying their respective strengths – the longer read-lengths of PacBio with the higher integral sequencing accuracy of the 2nd-gen Illumina platform.
The CSHL "hybrid error correction" approach was developed Adam Phillippy and Sergey Koren (National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, Maryland) along with CSHL colleagues including Schatz and Dick McCombie.
This mathematical "fix" – released as open-source code – produced "a finished genome for much less money than a Sanger finishing approach," says Bingham. He adds that the ability to produce a composite assembly with accuracy around 99.9% suggests that high error rates associated with long reads need not be a barrier to genome assembly.
The CSHL PBcR (PacBio corrected Reads) strategy aligns the shorter Illumina reads against the longer read PacBio data, trimming and correcting the data before taking the consensus of that alignment – typically above 99% -- and develops a finished assembly. (About 60% of the PacBio reads are retained for the final assembly, although that figure should increase with newer chemistries.)
Two general approaches have gained traction for de novo genome assembly -- the overlap-layout-consensus (OLC) paradigm (a graph is constructed from overlapping sequencing reads) and the de Bruijn graph formulation (the graph is constructed from substrings). The authors found that the OLC assembly approach became more powerful as read lengths increased, whereas the de Bruijn method reached a plateau, and so built their approach around the former.
The best results were obtained using the Celera Assembler, developed by Eugene Myers and colleagues for the Human Genome Project, and favored over ALLPATHS-LG and ALLORA. The resulting contigs had a median size at least double that obtainable with 2nd-gen sequencers alone, and in some cases a five-fold increase.
The average length of PacBio reads with the latest C2 chemistry (released earlier this year) is significantly higher than any other available platform, says Bingham. "On a typical run, you can get average read lengths of 3,000 bases on an exponential distribution. As you go to the tail, you get reads at 6,000, 8,000 bases. The longest reads obtained by the CSHL group were 10,000 bases."
While the chief application of PacBio has largely been in the microbial world, the new paper also demonstrates success in assembling the parrot genome, as part of the latest Assemblathon competition, which Bingham says provided better assembly than any 2nd-gen system alone. The CSHL group also looked at the corn transcriptome – PacBio reads were long enough to span entire RNA sequences.
"The CSHL group did something really amazing – they took the Celera Assembler and were able to add on this error correction piece, so once you have it set up and configured, it's easy to take your IIlumina raw data and your PacBio Long reads, put them into an automated pipeline, and get a high-quality finished genome at the end," says Bingham.
Indeed, the CSHL authors predict that the hybrid approach should be able to deliver what Bingham calls "a perfectly structural genome – one contig/one chromosome."
The PacBio in-house strategy described in the accompanying paper by chief science officer Eric Schadt and colleagues begins with an assembly based on the 2nd-gen data, and then uses the PacBio data in conjunction with that draft assembly. The method was tested in further analysis of the cholera genome.
The value of these new hybrid approaches extends beyond microbes. "This isn't just for bacteria – It scales up to larger genomes," says Bingham. For example, the new parrot genome assembly is "far superior to that of any previously sequenced bird genome," Schatz says.
Bingham says the two groups have had friendly conversations about which is the better approach for doing hybrid de novo genome assembly. He concedes however that the CSHL approach will attract interest because it lets users avoid locking up mis-assemblies, "which could happen if you were to first assemble with Illumina and then add PacBio. In our approach, if the Illumina data had mis-assemblies and misjoined contigs etc., then we'd not be able to undo the error," he says.
"The error correction step itself doesn't require any black magic – it's relatively straightforward," says Bingham, although he notes that there are chimeric reads that need to be caught, which requires a little skill. The approach is not just limited to PacBio and Illumina data. For example, it could be applied to PacBio circular consensus reads and the longer reads.
Bingham is also excited about the potential to combine this approach with PacBio's evolving software for epigenetic detection. "This combined with the base modification software provides something really compelling – the ability to get a finished genome with a complete methylome at the same time. Currently there's no other way to do that," he says.
"The PacBio long reads are emerging as the gold standard for finishing genomes, giving us something we'd given up."
While agreeing that error correction of PacBio reads is important, UC Davis bioinformatician Ian Korf, who helps manage the Assemblathon competition for de novo genome assembly, argues the real game changer is kilobase-sized read lengths. "One of the better mammalian genomes was the dog, done years ago with 6-7x Sanger sequencing," says Korf. "Those [reads] are only ~1kb and yet the assembly was very good. You could do 100x short reads and not get that good an assembly. Short read assembly is a hard problem. Once read lengths are 5 kb or more, assembly will become a completely different problem


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Choose between your preferred Mercedes-Benz models below to view and compare the latest lease options available to you.
We have a selection of Contract Hire and car leasing offers on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Here you can explore the whole range and find out more about the cars and respective offers that may suit you.
Carparison have a selection of offers available for both business and personal customers. The finance examples you will find are representative of a selection of leasing options and display varied initial payments, vehicle specifications and mileage limits. But remember: if you can't find what you are looking for, contact our friendly team who will be happy to source a selection of bespoke quotations for you.
Click on the images below to view our fantastic leasing and Business contract hire deals on the Mercedes-Benz range.
We can provide a quotation on any model so if you cant see what you are looking for then click here to get a quote.
* All vehicle images and car descriptions on this site are for illustration and reference purposes only and are not necessarily an accurate representation of the vehicle on offer.
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Europe has long been a classic destination for study abroad students. From studying French in Paris to business in London, Europe is home to several of the world's most popular (and best) study abroad countries.
Europe also gets a reputation of being expensive. Though true that some nations, like Switzerland and Norway, aren't exactly student-budget friendly, places like Germany, Malta, Spain, and Portugal are surprisingly cheap -- not to mention all the student discounts offered throughout the EU and the UK!
No matter what your major, budget, or study abroad goal is, you're sure to find a program that suits you in diverse, little Europe.
The most popular study abroad destinations in Europe include:
However, some of the more overlooked European study abroad destinations also happen to be a bit more affordable (and off the beaten path!). If you want to expand your options beyond the above, you could also consider:
- Sweden: which has affordable full-degree programs (though not a very affordable cost of living).
- Malta: whose one university (the University of Malta) conducts courses in English.
- The Netherlands: which also have a few English-language university options.
- Portugal: Spain's overlooked, budget-friendly neighbor.
- Czech Republic: another budget-friendly option with a unique, non-Western culture.
Cost of Living
The cost of living varies throughout Europe, but fortunately, there are some ways to save -- no matter where you are -- as a student. Take advantage of student discounts (especially on transportation and in museums) or under 26 discounts. Look for student housing rentals (places like UniPlaces and Homestay.com are good places to start) and eat in when possible.
However, there are some expenses that you just can't avoid -- like tuition. But how much will you spend exactly?
Well, that depends on where you go and which program/university you choose. For example, the total price of a semester in England could run you as low as $14,200 if you're super thrifty and score a cheap flight, to $30,000 (especially if you're heading to Cambridge). Most students will fall somewhere in between.
In Italy, on the other hand, students confident enough in Italian to enroll directly at a university, could pay as little as $7,700 for a semester abroad. However, most students are more likely to spend around $17,050 - $32,000 for a single semester (the wide range mostly being due to tuition / program fees).
Oh, and France? Paris, unsurprisingly, will be the most expensive city to live in but smaller cities -- like Montpellier and Lyon -- are far much more reasonable. Regardless, you could spend $5,500 - $8,665 on the low end if you directly enroll in a French university. On the high end, a program with a third party provider could cost as much as $33,215. A more middle range number if going through a program provider is somewhere between $20,000 - $25,000.
Scholarships for Studying Abroad in Europe
Many European universities, study abroad providers, private organizations, and government agencies offer scholarships for students studying in Europe. Some well known scholarship and financial aid providers are the Fulbright scholarships and Gilman scholarships. This helpful website allows you to search a database of offered scholarships by entering your specific needs and information.
Go Overseas also offers a bi-annual $500 study abroad scholarship that can be applied to any program around the world.
If you're studying abroad in Europe, you can get student discounts for airfare (Aer Lingus offers a study abroad discount and StudentUnvierse lets you search for them across various airlines).
Otherwise, try to book your flights at least 5 weeks in advance to get the best deal. You can set price alerts and search for flights on sites like Kayak.
For the most part, health considerations in Europe will be the same as at home. However, you may not be able to drink the water in a few countries (like Europe), so it's always good to ask when you arrive.
One of the biggest safety risks for study abroad students in Europe is petty theft. To avoid this, make sure you don't leave valuables unattended (like on the back of your chair at a cafe) and stay alert in crowded areas.
As terrorism is also a concern for study abroad parents, our best advice there is to keep up to date with the news and register for the State Departments STEP program to get alerts from them as well.
Cell phones
Your best bet for cell phones while you're in Europe -- especially if you're there for longer than 2 weeks -- is to come with an unlocked phone (most phones in the US are unlocked for international usage or, if not, you can easily make this request to your phone carrier) and get a local SIM card and pay as you go plan. For more details, read this guide to cell phones in Europe.


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amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
to benefit amfAR and Dignitas International
Kathy Griffin, Kim Cattrall, John Legend, amfAR Ambassador Cheyenne Jackson, musician Howie D, Brian Cox, Scott Porter, Yasmine Warsame, Dignitas International co-founder Dr. James Orbinski, and amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole joined the Toronto community to raise $800,000 at the third annual Cinema Against AIDS Toronto, benefiting amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and Dignitas International. The event, held during the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, was co-sponsored by Rimmel London, Marc Jacobs Fragrances, and Vera Wang Lovestruck.
More than 500 guests attended the black-tie gala at the acclaimed Carlu in Toronto for an evening that included cocktails, dinner, a luxury live auction, and performances by Broadway, film, and television star Cheyenne Jackson and nine-time Grammy Award-winning musician John Legend.
DATESunday, September 11, 2011
LOCATIONThe Carlu444 Yonge Street, 7th FloorToronto, OntarioCanada
© 2020 amfAR All Rights Reserved || amfAR's mission is to end the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research


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Most of America (save for the always righteous Pacific Northwest) totally fell down on the job when it came to plastering their cities with KONY-related materials for Invisible Children's "Cover the Night" event this weekend. But it appears Boston may have taken the mission to heart. A tipster reports that the city was plastered with posters. Of course, leave it to one idiot to spoil the party. Someone spray painted "KONY 2012" onto a monument that was built in 1889 to memorialize those killed in the Boston Massacre. It is for moments like this that the term "Masshole" was invented.
[Picture via Reddit]


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International Society of Automation
ISA Certified Control Systems Technician - Level I
67 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park NC 27709
ISA's Certified Control Systems Technician Program (CCST) offers third-party recognition of technicians' knowledge and skills in automation and control. Being a CCST can also help you gain respect from management and your peers, advance your career, and earn you credibility. If you are a manager and looking for qualified technicians, or you need to document and verify your current technicians' knowledge and skills, the CCST program can help.
Work Experience Required? YesEither training or work experience required, but not both? NoOral or Written Exam Required? Yes Renewal Required? Every 3 Year(s) Renew through Continuing Educational Units(CEU)? YesRenew through Re-Examination? NoRenew through Continuing Professional Development(CPD)? NoDoes applicant have choice of at least two options from above for renewal (CEU, CPD, or exam)? No This certification is In Demand.Read more about In Demand.
This certification is related to military occupational specialties. Read more about certifications related to military occupations. This certification is third-party industry-endorsed. Read more about endorsement.


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November 4th started over social media to spread the word to all about the state of North Carolina public schools. Initially the group had called for educators to "walk out" on November 4th. While the intention was not to actually walk out on our students or our responsibilities, it has since gotten much attention from the media.
After reviewing our end goals of the initial walk out, which was to get the attention of parents and leaders in our state, we have decided that our best course of action at this time is to Walk In on November 4.
We will be working with NCAE, local NCAE affiliates, and the group Organize2020 to schedule events throughout the state of North Carolina.
Our goal is to promote a positive change in our public schools. Parents need to know what is going on in public schools and how they can get involved and support teachers. The community needs to be aware of the state of our public education and come together to make a change for our students and our future.


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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Democrats and Republicans are both to blame for the fighting that occurs when a president nominates someone to the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Monday.
She told a crowd of about 7,100 people at the University of Notre Dame she was confirmed by the Senate on a 96-3 vote in 1993 and Justice Stephen Breyer was confirmed by an 87-9 vote the next year. It hasn't been like that since, she said.
Ginsburg said Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, was her biggest supporter on the Judiciary Committee then. She said she doesn't think he would feel comfortable taking a similar position now because of the partisan divide.
"But some day there will be great representatives on both of the aisles who recognize they are not representing the United States very well if they are constantly in conflict instead of trying to work together in harmony," she said.
The 83-year-old justice's comments come as Republican leaders in the Senate are refusing to consider President Barack Obama's high court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland. The Supreme Court has been working without a ninth justice since the death of Antonin Scalia in February.
Ginsburg spent the first 80 minutes of the event answering questions from U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Ann Claire Williams, a Notre Dame graduate and board of trustee member. She then answered questions from students for about half an hour. Ginsburg was not asked about and did not comment on the ongoing presidential campaign or refer to the controversial remarks she made earlier this year about GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Ginsburg told The Associated Press in July that she did not want to think about the prospect of the Republican winning the presidency over Democrat Hillary Clinton. She escalated her criticism in subsequent media interviews but later said her comments were "ill advised."
Ginsburg declined to say what she considers the most difficult case she's ever been involved in, but said death penalty cases are always the hardest for her.
There's been a big change in the United States, with most states either abolishing the death penalty or keeping it "on their books" but not issuing the sentences, Ginsburg said.
"The death penalty is concentrated in about six states and even within those states within in particular counties in those states. So maybe it will end by attrition," she said.


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Prince's Trust Funded Business
FREE for most orders over £19.99
Happy Pet Parents - 4.8
with Bottomless Bowl
How to choose the right bedding for your pet.
Small pet bedding comes in a range of different materials, some which are better suited to certain species so it is important that you do your research before choosing the bedding. Recycled paper and cardboard bedding are usually great for small pets such as gerbils, hamsters and mice as they love to create nests and snuggle up in them. Paper is very soft and is great for keeping pets warm all year round.
Wood shavings don't necessarily make great bedding, but it is ideal for lining the floor of your pet's cage or hutch. This makes the floor more comfortable, and wood shavings are very absorbent, helping to soak up any pet waste and reducing unpleasant odours.
For rabbits and guinea pigs, straw and hay bedding is the perfect bedding solution. This natural material is ideal for allowing your pets to snuggle up in and it has great insulation properties meaning it helps to keep your pets warm throughout Winter. Not only does hay make a good bedding material, but it's also a tasty snack loved by guinea pigs and rabbits which makes up a large percentage of their diet, and regular chewing will help to keep their teeth worn and in good condition.
Animal Dreams at PetShop.co.uk
At PetShop.co.uk, we stock the entire range of Animal Dreams pet bedding. We offer extremely good value for money and very often you can find Animal Dreams ped bedding in our sale items. Lastly we dispatch products the same day and get excellent customer reviews, so shop confidently for Animal Dreams pet bedding at PetShop.co.uk.


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Our team is devoted to expanding the use of Bioconductor
Bioconductor provides tools for the analysis and comprehension of high-throughput genomic data. Bioconductor uses the R statistical programming language, and is open source and open development.…more
To promote collaboration between Latin American research community with the broader Bioconductor community by encouraging greater use of the Bioconductor open source software packages for data analysis.
To gather together Latin American professionals, students and institutions interested in analyzing genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, transcriptomics e metabolomics data (i.e. data generated from microarrays, sequencing and other high throughput technologies) utilizing open source tools in Bioinformatics and are in agreement with open source community philosophy.
To foster Latin American students and researchers to develop open source software and contribute to the repository of the broader Bioconductor software packages.
To train Latin American students and researchers on computational and statistical methods for the analysis of genomics, epigenomics, proteomics and transcriptomics data.


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EclipseCrossword - the fast, easy, and FREE way to create crossword puzzles in minutes - 106 views
shared by dawhiting on 24 Aug 11 - Cached
review vocabulary and lessons
create interactive crossword puzzle web pages
just give EclipseCrossword a list of words and clues, and it does the rest. In seconds, you'll have a crossword puzzle with just the words you want
Lauren Rosen on 24 Aug 11fast, easy, and FREE way to create crossword puzzles in minutes. Best crossword generator I have seen. Embeds very nicely in websites.
Martin Burrett on 30 Aug 11Download this crossword making software to create your own puzzles for your class. Just enter the words and clues. The software does the rest. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Cross+Curricular
dawhiting on 22 Jun 12I have used this for my math classes to help work on the math vocabulary ... everyone seems to love it


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Industries Served
As a leading remediation-related services firm, BEI performs work in a variety of industries.
The wide range of skills of our dedicated personnel brings a host of valuable assets to any project. These assets include: accountability, completion on or ahead of schedule, value engineering, cost control, and ultimate owner satisfaction for a job well done.
BEI serves the big guys and the little guys. We perform one day projects to multi-year ongoing renovations.
Health & Safety
Safety is a team effort. We must all work together to maintain a safe and healthy workplace
We have the three "golden" rules that can never be compromised ...
- Perform the job in a safe manner so that no one in the company, or outside the company, is in danger of injury.
- Perform the job in a manner to prevent any damage to surrounding building components.
- Perform the job in compliance with all federal, local, and state regulations.
Our Portfolio and Returning Clients Speak Volumes of our Experience.
BEI's management team has over 30 years experience in providing cost effective safe solutions tailored to our customer needs. Let us show you how we can help you on your next project. Talk to any of our customers, they will tell you the same thing over and over, BEI does it right.


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Steal This 'Sexy' Pasta-Sauce Trick from Meghan Markle
New duchess Meghan Markle didn't grow up in a palace. The American actress lived on her own for years, and like all conscientious cooks, she learned her own kitchen tips and tricks. Here's a healthy and tasty trick for making delicious pasta sauce that you can borrow from Prince Harry's new wife.
Before she married into royalty, Markle told Delish about the pasta-sauce technique she picked up from a friend. Chop up some zucchini and slow-cook it for four to five hours, until it breaks down into a "filthy, sexy mush" to toss with pasta. No tomatoes, just the zucchini -- or if you're British, like Markle's new family, you may call a zucchini a "courgette."
"The sauce gets so creamy, you'd swear there's tons of butter and oil in it, but it's just zucchini, water and a little bouillon," Markle told Delish. You can add onion, garlic, and a few spices if you like, but the Markle recipe is regally simple.
The secret? The long, slow cook time, which breaks down the tasty vegetable (botanically, it's a fruit, but come on). Make sure to start cooking well before you want to eat - if you get impatient and toss the mush on your noodles early, it just won't taste as royally perfect.
If Markle's "sexy" sauce works for you, you may want to look into more menus from her famous family. Check out what the royal family really eats.


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photomavin necesitaba un nuevo diseño de botón o icono y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 81 diseños de 26 diseñadores freelance.
I have been involved in creative commerical photography for many years as a photo editor and stock agency executive. I recently wrote a book targeted to the pro/am photographer involved in the crowd sourcing of stock photos. I need a square banner 125x125 design that reflects a special consult fee for that market. It's $39.00 for a half hour and is described at http://www.ellenboughn.com/ask-ellen The design should reflect the palette and use the same type face as on the ellenboughn website. Simple/elegant even though its a cheap service!
The button/banner will be on my partners' sites all of whom are involved in crowdsourced images. They are visual people/services as are those who will be inclined to click through to my offer. A banner that is very successful to this market is the Lookstat button at http://www.microstockdiaries.com
Use the same palette/type face as http://www.ellenboughn.com. Sorry I don't know the type face name.125x125. Should feature "Ellen Boughn" and/or
"Ask Ellen" and "Mini-Consult" "$39.00". Tag line could be "Turn Downloads Into Dollars" (the subtitle of my book-see attached cover of the book)


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Alaska Metal Recycling is now part of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., a global leader in the metals recycling industry.
Valued suppliers, vendors, customers and local communities can continue to expect the same level of service and integrity they have grown accustomed to from the friendly and knowledgeable team that has served them in the past. Our local focus and expertise combined with the global strength and stability of Schnitzer Steel means you can count on us to be your partner in the scrap metal business for many years to come. Join us!
All Schnitzer Steel metals recycling locations


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Since his passing there have been countless wonderful tributes to Steve Jobs' life and legacy—but this is not one of them. This $15 hair dryer printed with his name is a cash grab, and a terrible one at that.
The iFeng 4S is no different than the cheap hair dryers you'll find behind the counter at your local drug store, save for a small bit of gold lettering that reads "Steve Jobs 1955-2011". Well, that, and a host of tasteless graphics and advertisements on the TMall website featuring Steve's headshot next to it.
I'm not even going to make a suggestion as to how this could have been made into a nice tribute, because it can't. It's a cheap piece of crap that flies in the face of everything Steve Jobs created and dedicated his life to. Terrible, terrible, terrible. [TMall via Inventor Spot]


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Lynda.com is one of the best sources for online learning. For years, Lynda.com has put informative and clear video-based training in front of people who need it. As part of LinkedIn, it has added learning paths to help professionals gain new skills. The videos let you work at your own pace, and the website is designed to help you keep track of what you want to learn and what you have already learned. The site is exceptional at teaching technical skills and technique, such as photography and coding. Beyond multimedia training, Lynda.com also helps people pick up business principles, money-management advice, and much more. When you need skills training fast, Lynda.com is the go-to source for high-quality results and a PCMag Editors' Choice.
Price and Plans
Lynda.com is a subscription-based service. Some videos are made available free to help you preview courses, but you really need a subscription to get to the valuable meat of this online learning site. You can try the service free for 10 days, but you'll have to enter a credit card for access. Alternatively, you can try it out via LinkedIn Learning for one month, which also requires a credit card (or PayPal account) on file. You can sign up on Lynda.com with a unique login or sign in using your LinkedIn account.
A Basic plan costs $25 per month or if you are billed annually, $19.99 per month. It includes unlimited access to all the videos Lynda.com has to offer. In other words, rather than paying for a course, you pay for unlimited access to everything in the catalog. That flexibility is one of the key features of Lynda.com, separating it from other online learning services such as The Great Courses , which charge you per course.
Similar Products
The Basic plan comes with a few limitations. You can't download project files or watch any of the videos offline on a mobile device. If you pony up the $37.50 per month Premium subscription fee, you get project files. Opting for the $375 per year Premium account gets you offline viewing access. Note that offline viewing isn't included for Premium members who pay by the month. Group pricing is also available on request for four or more people. Lynda.com has apss for Android, AppleTV, iOS, and Windows.
Though Lynda.com's prices are completely reasonable for the high-quality training you receive, there are ways to get similar content free. Khan Academy is perhaps the best-known website, with a vast and ever-growing series of videos that help you learn all kinds of stuff. While excellent, Khan Academy started out teaching academic material, such as economics and algebra, so you might not find the exact skills training that you need there. Lynda.com excels at teaching software programs, particularly multimedia software, and professional techniques for using them. If you need a crash course in the latest features of Photoshop ($9.99 Annual Plan for Creative Cloud Photography, Paid Monthly at Adobe) or InDesign (20.99 Per Month with Annual Commitment at Adobe) , Lynda.com is sure to have them online quickly, whereas, with Khan, it's a crapshoot.
Excellent Features for Getting Started
As mentioned, you do need to enter credit card details or a PayPal account just to try out the site. If you forget to cancel within your ten-day window, you will be charged. Once you've set that up, Lynda.com asks you what you'd like to accomplish (improve at my job, change my career or job, learn skills, or build an app or a website).
If you choose one of the first three options, you'll be asked to choose your job or interests in order to get recommendations. If you opt to build an app or a website, you'll be directed to suggested learning paths, such as Become an iOS App Developer and courses such as Foundations of Programming: Fundamentals. Hover over a learning path tile to see the number of courses included. Click through, and you can see potential salary ranges and the number of hours the courses will take. Course recommendations also include the time commitment, level, and the number of views. You can preview courses before diving in.
Programming courses are broken down into a series of short videos, most of which are just a few minutes long. You can skip videos if you want or read the transcript instead. Another convenient feature is the ability to add them to a playlist. You can also find courses by searching keywords or browsing the alphabetized library.
Lynda.com's Videos and Help
I'm continually impressed with the quality of Lynda.com's videos. The player is large, with a few tabs below it for the video Overview, Transcript, View Offline, and Exercise Files. The Transcript tab has the full text of the video, and it highlights a few words at a time to sync up with the presenter's voice. That's impressive and amazingly helpful if the speaker talks too quickly, or you just didn't catch what she or he said. Exercise Files are available with Premium accounts and let you follow along with the instructor as he or she demonstrates lessons. (Pro-tip: If you sign up for Lynda on LinkedIn—branded as LinkedIn Learning—you can access Exercise Files during your free trial.)
Lynda.com really sets a high bar for sound and image quality, as well. The presenters are informative and rehearsed, but also relaxed. Like with Khan Academy, I really trust that these people are experts.
Lynda.com also highlights a variety of courses for those trying to pick up some new coding skills. Hundreds of courses and tens of thousands of video tutorials cover Web development and design topics for beginners and experts alike. The catalog features classes from the foundations of programming to specialized lessons on user interface, responsive design, and mobile app development. Some courses even feature expert opinions from legitimate titans of their respective industries, such as game designer Brenda Romero. And teachers will be pleased to know that many tutorials, including some free ones, are specifically targeted at children.
While Lynda.com's coding lessons lack the helpful interactivity of a service like Khan Academy and Treehouse (an Editors' Choice for paid learn-to-code services), they make up for it with a much greater breadth and depth of content. Treehouse adds an extra touch with pop-ups of important keyboard shortcuts and visual representations of coding symbols. The quality of the videos is also a lot more consistent, compared with Udemy's large, open marketplace.
When you complete a course, Lynda.com offers a certificate, which doesn't necessary bear any weight in the real world, but is useful for when an employer wants proof of your training before reimbursing you for a course. If you connect your account with LinkedIn, you can add these certificates to your profile as well.
The site doesn't skimp when it comes to support outside of the training material. A toll-free phone number, international telephone number, and email submission form all offer channels for technical support or to answer your questions. You'll find plenty of additional help files online, too.
Quality to Spare
Lynda.com delivers high-quality, painstakingly detailed content, especially for high-end software. Members can watch the same videos as many times as they need, at any time of day, wherever they have an Internet connection and appropriate video-streaming capabilities. With a Premium subscription paid annually, you can even download videos to a mobile device to watch them offline.
While you certainly can spend your time hunting down free online videos to learn the skills you'll pay to learn on Lynda.com, Lynda.com removes the hunting and scrubbing through ill-lighted amateur YouTube videos to give you what you need, plainly and simply. If you're the type of person who needs a live instructor to answer your precise questions, Lynda.com might not offer enough for you, but be warned that one live course could cost you three times as much as a month's worth of access. Lynda.com is our Editors' Choice for online learning.
Lynda.com From LinkedIn
ProsView More
The Bottom Line
Lynda.com is an outstanding resource for video-based, online learning, particularly if multimedia software or coding skills are what you need. The price is attractive, considering you get unfettered access to all the courses in Lynda.com's catalog.
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- Tech History Is More Than Just 'White, Male Wizards'