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Francisco Ciruela, professor of the Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy at UB, participated in the study. Photo: ESTEVE
The finding saves time and money in the research on new effective pain treatments.
Traditionally in the development of analgesic drugs, the effectiveness of these molecules has been proved by using pain animal models, a hard, expensive and unclear process from a pharmacological point of view. Therefore, the great challenge is to develop more effective methodologies. Francisco Ciruela, senior lecturer of the Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy at UB and researcher of the Neuropharmacology and Pain Research Group, explains: "We are talking about thousands of drugs; so, before testing them in preclinical pain models, that is, animal models, it will be useful to do a screening of the activity of these molecules in order to separate those that have greater antinociceptive potential".
The study led by Ciruela describes a new technology to determine the analgesic activity of drugs before being tested in animal models. "We have developed a Receptor Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based biosensor that allow us to classify in a simple system (cells in culture) ligands in sigma-1 receptor into agonists and antagonists", details the researcher.
The experiments carried out by ESTEVE and the research group led by Dr Ciruela (IDEBELL-UB) with known drugs established a direct correlation between the biosensor FRET signal in response to these drugs and their analgesic effect in a pain animal model. Results show that, whereas sigma-1 agonists reduce FRET signal and have low analgesic effects, sigma-1 antagonists increase FRET signal and have high analgesic effects in pain animal models.
"Thanks to this well-defined pattern —explains Dr Ciruela—, we can predict the analgesic behaviour of a molecule". Therefore, if FRET signal is reduced —that is, if it is an agonist—, it won't have analgesic effects on the pain animal model; however, if FRET signal is increased —in other words, if it is an antagonist—, it will have maximum analgesic effects and, therefore, it will be a suitable candidate to be tested in vivo.
The researcher points out that the new technology has already been patented, and "although is too early to get the most of it —because FRET measures are now done one drug by one—, it is expected that it will be soon applied in an extensive way to the development of analgesic antagonists sigma-1 receptor", highlights Ciruela. Therefore, the system will be robotized in order to develop a tool technically known as 'high-throughput screening' (HTS), in other words, a method to test many medicines in a quick and effective manner.
Analgesia: a subject area with many medical needs
There are two main groups of medicines in pain pharmacology: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids. Each type has different action mechanisms with an 'analgesic ceiling' and different side effects. Whereas NSAIDs (for instance, ibuprofen) have a low-moderate analgesic potential and non-serious side effects, opioids (for instance, morphine) have high analgesic potential and serious side effects. So, there is an important analgesic gap, not only to present a risk-benefit favourable to treat moderate and severe pain, but also in the approach to pain treatment, a field in which medicines are not usually effective (for instance, in neuropathic pain).
ESTEVE focuses part of its R&D on active molecules for the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients receiving opioids. The main goal is to improve effectiveness, tolerance and safety and reduce side effects' frequency of this group of drugs. In this sense, to block sigma-1 receptor with specific antagonists constitutes a new mechanism of action for pain in a field that needs new treatments. Therefore, besides the selective sigma-1 receptor antagonist, E-52862, which is now in a phase II clinical trial, ESTEVE has a number of molecules with potential activity on this receptor.
Reference article
Gómez Soler, M.; Fernández Dueñas, V.; Portillo Salido, E.; Pérez, P.; Zamanillo, D.; Vela, J. M.; Burgueño, J., and Ciruela, F. "Predicting the antinociceptive efficacy of σ1 receptor ligands by a novel receptor fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based biosensor". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2014, 57 (1), pp. 238-242.
Universitat de Barcelona


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Marushin G21 - the coolest gun of the year?
|Go to Product Page >> Marushin G21 Dual Maxi (8mm Shell Ejecting / Black Slide)
|Go to Product Page >> Marushin Shell Cartridge Set (8mm) for G21 (Set of 5)
|Go to Product Page >> Marushin 6rds (8mm) Shell Ejecting G21 Magazine
Despite the 8mm caliber and low capacity, the Marushin Glock 21 is a very accurate replica and is a must have for any collectors or Glock lovers out there.
"Oh great, not another Glock!" You say. But that's where you're wrong. It's not just any Glock, it's the 8mm Shell Ejecting Glock 21 by Marushin. But what's so special about the Glock 21 is that it is the .45 Cal variant of the Glock 20 semi-automatic pistol designed primarily for the American market. The real steel Glock 21 is able to hold 13+1 shells and due to it being chambered for the .45 ACP rounds, the Glock 21 is larger than most other full-size pistols, thus making it perfect for those larger American sized hands.
Externally the Marushin Glock 21 is constructed from ABS and Die Cast materials and accurately replicates the real steel Glock 21, with a 1:1 size ratio. Although only capable of loading 6+1 shells of 8mm BBs, the Marushin Glock 21 is produced to replicate the Generation 3 Glock models which involved the checkering of the front, and rear grips as well as in front of the trigger guard to further improve on the Glock's ergonomically molded grip and trigger guard. As part of the Generation 3 Glock models improvement, a universal rail adapter has also been added to the Glock 21 to facilitate the attachment of laser pointers and tactical flashlights. An imitation serial plate can also be found just in front of the trigger guard, however it does actually show any engravings on it (on the Real Steel Glock 21, the steel plate with the models serial number located in front of the trigger guard is to meet the US BATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (regulations).
As with all modern day pistols, the Glock features dotted iron sights to enhance your ability to acquire targets in low light situations, although the smooth surface on top of the slide does produce a bit of glare. The detailing on the slide is also realistically replicated with the rear serrated cocking surface and the manufacturer markings on the forward left face of the slide.
Internally, the Marushin Glock 21 is constructed with die cast materials, and uses the brand new Dual-Maxi System providing the Glock 21 with a very smooth shell ejecting blowback feature and a relatively consistent muzzle velocity. The hop-up system can only be reached by field stripping the Marushin Glock 21, which can be done very easily. If you know how to strip the real steel Glock 21, you'll know how to strip the Marushin. Simply remove the magazine, and pull down the slide release switch located above the trigger guard. Cock the slide back to lower the hammer out of the way, and push the slide all the way forward and off the frame.
Flip the slide over, and proceed to lift the entire barrel module out of the slide, outer barrel and spring guide together (or separately as you like). With the barrel facing towards your left palm, pull the inner barrel assembly out by 1 cm, and twist clockwise until you see the barrel guide knob has left its housing, and proceed to remove the inner barrel assembly. The hop-up unit is located directly above the entrance of the inner barrel, and with a quick twist of the small hex screw you?ll be able to increase or decrease the hop-up on your Marushin Glock 21.
The hop-up of the Marushin Glock 21 can be adjusted by utilizing a small hex key; Clockwise for more hop, or counter-clockwise for less hop. The unique shape of the inner barrel assembly actually helps to push the shell into the chamber as the slide returns to battery.
Overall the Marushin Glock 21 very realistically reproduces the .45 Glock 21, from accurate 1:1 size and weight ratio, to its shell ejecting capabilities. If you want a pistol that can be used as a very accurate replica of its real steel counterpart, than this is it. I?d highly recommend the Marushin Glock 21 for the avid pistol collector.

subset: commoncrawl


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We have a friend who has a gigantic barn that has bees within the walls. I think I am going to take a stab at removing the bees next spring. This has already been done once before but they returned.I need all the pointers I can get on doing this within the next thee months.
David, When I used the term "they returned" I meant that bees came back into the walls not that "they" were the same bees.Why on earth would I want to eradicate a natural swarm trap? I know the owner and he is not afraid of the bees. He knows we are raising bees and has given us the opportunity to expand our hobby. We do have concerns that this barn is amongst a bean patch. Which means the bees are likely living off from GMO beans and pesticides. As much as we hate that the good thing is once the queen is mated she doesn't mate again so our somewhat clean hive should not get contaminated by another hive.
I'm sure you know that Drones intermingle with various hives, and are accepted by them.
Bee removal is hidden in one of the child forums on the hoe page...third one down if I recall.Scott


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Dizaster Vs. The Saurus Rap Battle Pt. 2 [Grind Time West]
Drect reports Tthis is pretty huge because the saurus finally lost and he's the most popular underground rapper."
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Potholes may get worse before they get better
City leaders see an increase in complaints
Crews are out every day filling and patching potholes, but as temperatures eventually warm, the worst might be still to come.
City of Milwaukee leaders are seeing an increase in complaints.
"There are several areas, and when you hit them, you're looking down to miss them," said Tom Linski of Milwaukee.
Linski took his SUV into the shop Thursday.
"I need a front wheel bearing," Linski said.
He said he's lucky it's not for pothole damage.
"It's been terrible the last month or so. I don't know if it's extra plowing or snow or whatever, there are some big ones out there, and I don't know what's causing it, but it's tough on the vehicles," Linski said.
Milwaukee's Department of Public Works told WISN 12 News it's been a combination of the very wet winter with snow and rain, plus the freeze-thaw cycle.
It's been all hands on deck with about 25 workers filling 120 potholes a day.
So far in March, the city's received more than 1,000 complaints to its pothole hotline.
"It's pretty typical. It ebbs and flows with the weather," Milwaukee Alderman Joe Dudzik said.
If there's any city worker who knows the pothole problem best, it's Dudzik. He's a former DPW pothole filler himself.
"Once the warmer weather really gets here, if it ever gets here, we'll really start to see the potholes really start to pop," Dudzik said.
Dudzik said he believes the aging roads, lack of maintenance and funds is also adding to the problem, and he's heard all the complaints.
"'My front end;' 'Just got on my car;' 'I blew a tire,'" Dudzik said.
But for now, he said DPW is doing the best it can do with what it has to work with.
DPW workers said drivers should slow down and move over if they see them working on potholes.
If anyone sees a pothole on a Milwaukee street, they can fill out an online form to report it.


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New here, though I have never played any edition of S&W yet I plan to after my current Role Master United play-test campaign is over; though it might be with a second group as I doubt S&W will appeal to them. The guys I game with love 5e D&D (except me & one other) & prefer crunchy new school games - I just want to get back to Old School D&D/AD&D gaming but can't do it with my current group.
Though I like G+ fine it can be hard to find posts after a bit unless they have a ton of replies. I prefer traditional forums for in depth convos about games. I am awaiting my print copy of my 3rd printing of S&W Complete before I start searching for a new group to run it with. I'll be looking for a good White Box edition (be it S&W or the other ones like White Box FAMG or the White Box Omnibus) in print. I need to go through my S&W Core pdf & see if it'll be worthwhile to buy a print copy of it too.
BTW before I forget & post this, I want to thank merias for creating this forum as I miss the old one.


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The Rabbi and the Hitchhiker
In the Parshat Mishpatim issue we told the story of "The Rabbi and the Cabbie". This inspired the following response from Rabbi Michael Unger, a resident of the community established years ago in Zichron Yaakov.
I guess I have a story for you. I have been saying Kaddish and leading the davening since my mother passed away before Yom Kippur. In Zichron Yaakov there are regular minyanim and I have no problem finding a minyan for throughout the day.
Last month I had a job interview to work in Pardes Chana, a 20-minute drive from Zichron Yaakov. At the interview I was told that the hours are 9 am – 5 pm and I said I needed a 45-minute break for Mincha and Kaddish, and the employer agreed. Just I didn't know where and when I would daven. I told the employer that I would start when I found a minyan.
The next morning I decided to drive to Pardes Chana and searched for a minyan. So I got into my car and drove maybe two minutes and then saw a neighbor of mine at a bus stop. I stopped and asked him where he was going. He replied that he needed to get to his Kollel in Pardes Chana. I asked him when Mincha is there. He said, "Every day at 2:50 pm". I told him, "Today I am taking you there so you can show me where the Kollel is."
Since then I have been leading the davening and saying Kaddish daily in Pardes Chana.


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The Central Connecticut volleyball team earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for its performance in the classroom throughout the 2012-13 school year. The Blue Devils earned the award for the seventh consecutive year by maintaining a cumulative grade point average above 3.30 for both semesters.
"Receiving this award is a reflection of the high standards that the student-athletes have maintained over the past seven years," head coach Linda Sagnelli said. "It is a testament to their hard work and to the guidance of our academic center. We are very proud that they have received this recognition."
In all, 623 volleyball programs, ranging from high school to NCAA Division I, earned the academic award this year. Of that total, 130 Division I programs received the honor.
In a record setting year for the AVCA, the number of overall and Division I recipients were both all-time highs for an award that has been issued every year since its inception following the 1992-93 academic year.
"Excellence doesn't happen by accident, either on the court or in the classroom," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "It takes consistent preparation, relentless effort, and determined leadership. A full year of academic achievement, by an entire team of individual students, is a remarkable achievement. What better way to start a new season than with a celebration of an award so emblematic of all that is necessary for sustained success."
The Blue Devils were also successful on the court in 2012, returning to the NEC Tournament for the 10th consecutive year. CCSU finished the regular season in third place and advanced to the NEC Championship with a victory over #2 seeded Robert Morris in the tournament semifinal.
The 2013 season will open on August 30 at the Colgate Classic. The following week the Blue Devils will travel to the Sacramento State Invitational.


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This is Your Kindred Moment
Kindred Hospitals are hosting a National RN and CNA Hiring Event at every location across the US. Join us on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm to speak directly with an experienced nurse in our specialized care setting, tour the facility and interview on the spot. Learn what it means to be a Kindred nurse.
For more information about career opportunities with Kindred Hospitals or to apply for a position with us, please visit or contact:
Tiana Gilcrease
Talent Acquisition Manager
email@example.com 502-596-3141
As a Registered Nurse / RN you will have:


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Friday, October 31, 2008
Think of a name
Cabinet minister Phil Goff, a former foreign minister, said a Labour-led government would look at assembling conflict resolution teams and giving the United Nations a list of New Zealanders who had the skills to be personal envoys.
We haven't heard much about Labour's planned budget in December lately. Maybe Cullen is thinking it wasn't such a smart move and is updating his CV.
Idiots I have, fortunately, not met
The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has not upheld a complaint that National Party leader John Key was pictured in a party advertisement not wearing a seatbelt in a car.
Andy Boreham complained to the authority that Mr Key did not appear to
be wearing a seatbelt in a moving car, breaching the law and order and
children's interests standards.
Oh! I almost forgot, It's Halloween
UPDATE: Herald reader Poll has her as the Queen of Halloween, with ove 60% saying she will frighten the children.
Is Liarbour hiding both her faces?
Voters this is a real bailout! Don't settle for poor imitations
HONK for HEL
Funniest Comment For Years
- damocles (69) Vote: 20 0 Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 1:23 pm
THIS JUST IN: The Labour Party Research Unit, working in combination with the full might of Statistics Department and the Investigation Division of the Accident Compensation Commission, has after extensive research concluded that a 'Johnkey' waxed that particular floor 32 years ago, during a Work Experience Programme.
Clearly, a terrorist conspiracy was set in place many years ago that the Prime Minister, thanks to unwavering personal dedication, has narrowly managed to avoid.
Journalists are now being flown to the scene to examine the work roster that has been kept under tight security for the last three decades. Our extensive 12-page report follows in tomorrow's Weekend Herald.
Whatever happened to global warming?
Just as one swallow doesn't make a summer, I guess one cold snap doesn't herald the start of a new ice age.
But the world seems to be having an interesting number of cold snaps on at the moment.
London has just enjoyed its first October snow since 1934, and the weather was pretty wintry across much of Britian this week.
Switzerland has also received its heaviest October snow since the 1930s.
Canada has just experienced an early dumping too. New York state has also suffered.
And Tibet has just experienced its 'worst snowstorm on record' with people dying or getting trapped.
Australia's Tim Blair calls the wintry weather an 'October Surprise' while his colleague Andrew Bolt notes such wintry weather, with Brisbane having a record cold snap, comes as governments in Australia and Britain introduce climate change legislation. In London, the snow fell just as legislation ws passed.
And all for a 'warming' that stopped years ago.
Peter Creswell notes we are sacrificing industry to ignorance through the emissions trading and other environmentalist scams.
Meanwhile, The Hive notes China and India are holding western countries to ransom over demands to cut carbon emissions and that European countres realise such emissions cannot be cut without damaging their economies, which are suffering enough already.
As I brace myself for my first White Christmas in years, since I plan to spend Yuletide in Yorkshire, I can only hope the parties here in New Zealand go as cold on the climate change scare as the weather seems to be turning now. The eco-facists have well and truly taken us for a ride.
But as we look at the election policies of the Green Party, which offer little on the envirnment and much on social matters, it is not so much about trying to control the climate, but rather the eco-facists trying to control every facet of our lives!
Subliminal Messages
Labour appears:-
Mean - excluding a large number of battling Kiwis from their scheme.
Grudging - if National had not pre-announced its scheme, does anybody seriously believe Labour would have? No of course not. Remember, no policy until after the election.
Out of touch - only people completely out of touch with the reality of life in mortgage alley could exclude a single income family with kids or someone in work for four years and eleven months from receiving assistance.
Profligate - the failure to means test emergency assistance is a remarkable lapse of plain common sense. That's MY money they are throwing around. They haven't learned how to stop spending.
National appears:-
Compassionate, generous and inclusive - reaching out to the widest range of Kiwi battlers.
Innovative and keen - this is new thinking, reflecting an ability to come up with genuine ways to solve new problems.
Right in touch - seen to identify with ordinary NZers. Instantly aware of the pressures facing mortgage belt battlers.
Fiscally prudent - carefully costed and targetted at only those with a real need.
Happy Birthday
Adolf turns 62 today.
What was that old song? The one with the big booming voice?
"Another day older and deeper in debt"
It's another year older and mortgage free.
Feels pretty good, what with this banking crisis coming on.
Here it is:
Sixteen Tons
Ford scored an unexpected hit on the pop charts in 1955 with his rendition of Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons," a sparsely arranged coal-miner's lament that Travis wrote in 1946, based on his own family's experience in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Its fatalistic tone contrasted vividly with the sugary pop ballads and the rock and roll just starting to dominate the charts at the time:
- You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
- Another day older and deeper in debt.
- Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go;
- I owe my soul to the company store...
With a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement by Ford's musical director, Jack Fascinato, "Sixteen Tons" spent ten weeks at number one on the country charts and eight weeks at number one on the pop charts, and made Ford a crossover star. It became Ford's 'signature song.'
Shiffty Gazzumped By Smiling Assassin
Ten times better than Labour's cobbled together bundle of rags and tags.
National will means test families. Labour will throw money at everybody.
National will not exclude those who have been working for four and a half years. Labour will leave them in the lurch.
National will not exclude single income families. Labour will let them be sold up.
National recognizes the purpose of the scheme is to meet a rare emergency. Labour will change the scheme into a permanent taxpayer funded long term redundancy insurance scheme. More wasteful and unnecessary welfare spending.
Best of all, National has costed it's scheme and it's $8 million less costly than Labour's scheme.
"-Under Labour's scheme they would get $425-a-week through a combination of benefits and supplements.
-Under National's package, low to middle income workers would be $116-a-week better off, receiving $541 a week."
More practical, more common sense, more equitable and less costly
I'll take it.
Party Vote NACTional.
Shifty Blinked First
It is to be A PERMANENT FEATURE of the social welfare landscape. No longer is this a special emergency measure to avoid catastrophic adverse knock on effects from mass redundancy during Cullen's self inflicted recession. Staggering.
"Helen Clark said the new allowance would become a permanent feature of the social security system under a Labour government."
Update: Mean - as well as dull, predictable, useless and stupid. If you are a single income family, you will not qualify for Labour's Limited Largesse. Doubly stupid.
John Key is playing Helen Clark on a break.
Today at lunch time, John Key announced that under National's scheme, any grants would not need to be repaid. So, Shifty got all spooked and shot her bolt at 3.00 o'clock.
She announced the details of her 'job search allowance' for redundant workers. Apparently it is a non income or asset tested dole payment for up to three months. How dull. How predictable. How stupid. How useless.
Useless, you say? Yes, pretty useless if you've got three kids, a $400k mortgage and you just lost a $100k job.
Dull and predictable, you ask? Yes, straight out of the standard 'no new ideas' Labour play book.
Stupid? Yes because they'll give my tax dollars to a sixty year old with no mortgage who didn't really need his job but was made redundant anyway.
Adolf looks forward to National's ten times better, innovative and imaginative policy announcement tomorrow.
Labour buses seen preparing for election day
Hawking your pearly
Then prattled on about multiculturism. Was Families only last elections flavour? Will his new bottom line be a $25m Multiculture Commission? I sure hope so because I once sold several hundred dollars worth of wooden giraffes to his Families Commission, so I could be in the money again.
If MMP was a fiddle you would pay money to listen to this guy play.
Update; As Redbaiter points out as well: Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought he said in his opening remarks that the Labour government hadn't done much wrong but had only fallen foul of a "change of mood" in the electorate.
If you have never seen a man "hawk his pearly" before, then just follow Dunne.
A corpse goes for a corpse
Annon says it better than me
Some of the resulting comments there either seek to belittle running a small business in NZ as a piece of cake, or to portray public servants as idle bludgers. Both approaches are wrong, and sad.
More to the point is the example of Helen Clark's approach yesterday to building a safety net. Leaving aside the issues of different treatments for different family circumstances, what happens when people like Blade get put out of business by the downturn, as some no doubt will? Seems to me they are not considered at all, and I see no mention of them in any public debate.
Under this regime and current NZ thinking small business people are at the bottom of the heap and are largely ignored, even though many earn an average income if they are lucky. Once they could count on selling their business to fund their retirement. Selling a going concern is often not possible today, except at a bargain price for the goodwill, because of the lack of desire to go into business in the present economic and political climate.
I believe that shift has largely happened under the tenure of Helen Clark.It will be interesting to see how John Key approaches the issue with his announcement today.We need a lot more enterprising small business people. It may not be hard to start up a business in NZ compared to some other countries, but I venture to say the mix of risks, rewards and frustrations in NZ needs to be much more attractive if we are to see the economic growth we need.
Just try asking the banks now for financial support for a small business, and see how far you get. They seem to see it as an excessively risky sector, which was not the case until about a decade ago. Too often in recent years I have seen small business ownership put down as a business option in favour of speculation in property development or rental property. Where has that taken us?
Who's lying now?
Uncle Helen's latest slip up!!
Things are so bad, even TVNZ is noticing.
What really counts
I've been in small business for the best part of 20 years and at the end of the day what counts the most is cashflow. It is impossible to "win" every day. You take the profits and losses as they are dealt but the pressure of meeting those weekly or monthly "nuts to crack" is huge. It is a risk that many people will now not take and we are a much poorer country for it.
How did we arrive at this point. In simple terms our political system has made the "takers" now equal to the "producers". This causes political stagnation, as both sides square off against each other, each vying for the huge no mans land. As Bernard Hickey points out in his excellent post the easiest option for the producers is to vote with their feet rather than stay and fight a against a "system" that is so bloated and virtually impossible to change. As he says we are being "hollowed" out.
Which is a bloody shame because NZ is a country of fantastic opportunity, natural wealth and peace but as a society we have set ourselves up to ultimately fail.
What really annoys me the most is the way politicians have no respect for the value of cash. $50,000,000 in their minds is justified as "it's only $10 each" whereas 95% of them wouldn't have a bloody clue as to how to create the wealth in the first place. They have no comprehension of the daily risks that have gone on in peoples lives so they can have that cash served to them on a platter, with a 10% penalty if it arrives cold.
We run the huge risk of becoming a country of takers rather than givers. And I don't want my children living in a hollow country.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Small business
I've worked in the universities, public service, state corporations, multinational corporations, professional firms, private enterprise and my own small business.They all have their place, stresses and challenges; and their satisfactions.
But I tell you, the toughest is the raw day to day struggle to survive in a small business, especially under Labour.At that stage of my life I learned to loath those who made regulations and laws that made my life a misery, and chopped and changed policies that made a joke of any notion of business planning.
Compared to all the securities and cosseting you have as an employee, as a small business owner you are at the bottom of the heap, unsupported and on your own. Yet these guys are the engines of the economy, and the source of our growth.As a country we have our priorities arse about face, and it shows in our economic performance.
Every public servant and politician should understand very clearly what I am saying. When I was a public servant I did not, and looking back there are many things I would have done differently if I had understood.
I will be voting for John Key because, if for no other reason, he has felt the heat, and is more likely to take decisions that respect rather than denigrate small business. I hope that is what will happen, and if it does we will all be much better off.
Well said
Mike Williams forgets to lock car at Airport last week
Labour Party people don't know how the real world works.
Apparently, the "real world" consists of people in the private sector. Those of us currently working in the public sector are apparently occupying some kind of fantasy world, hyperspace, 4th dimension - hell I don't know, the mechanics of it are never explained.
I do have some sympathy for people who've given themselves over to ideology to this extent. When I left university, full of socialism, I was less than chuffed at working in the private sector, where your worth is measured not by how much use you are to society but by how well you are able to part fools from their money (yes, that's a grossly unfair description of private enterprise, but bigotry is exactly what we're talking about here.) As I got older and less stupid, and worked for a while in the public service, I realised that imagining you can fit the world into your little ideological box is foolishness of the highest order; that in fact, a great many people in private enterprise were of essential value to society, and a great many in public service of little or none. The last 15 years I've alternated in and out of the public and private sectors and don't rate one higher than the other in the aggregate. They both have their place.
This is a lesson sadly unlearned by many on the right. Time and time again I see people like me characterised as not living in the "real world" (Hello-o! There is only one! If you're seeing other ones, I recommend a psychiatrist!), for the seemingly impardonable sin of working for a publicly-funded institution. It's a testimony to the fact that a lot of right-wingers never come to realise the foolishness of imagining that the world fits into their little ideological box. For examples, look no further than any of the ACT or Libertarianz blogs.
A simple contrast. Today staff at my work were addressed by Dr Al Rowland, a senior lecturer in genetics and plant biology and apparently not a denizen of the "real world." Al came up with the tests that proved British and NZ servicemen suffered serious genetic damage while observing nuclear testing at the behest of the UK govt. Contrast Al with Mr John Key, an undisputed participant in the "real world" of separating people from their cash. Unlike Dr Rowland's abstract and pointless achievements, Mr Key made shitloads of cash by shifting currency from one place to another on behalf of clients, exploiting fractional differences in exchange rates. Uh, right. So, like, one of these guys is an ivory-tower type dealing in abstractions and offering no discernable and demonstrable practical benefit to society, and the other lives in the "real world." Well, yeah on the whole I have to agree, Kate. But I don't think we're both talking about the same person.
The Lying Troll !!! Clark confesses to Newstalk ZB
Helen Clark says she was aware Labour Party president Mike Williams was working on the matter and travelled to Australia to look at court documents. She says Mr Williams paid for his trip out of his own pocket.
Miss Clark says the party's research unit may also have been involved, as it does work on the opposition. However she says the matter was not a focus for the unit, saying its main role is to help Labour's various spokespeople.
Quote of the Week
"But Miss Clark distanced herself from any involvement in the failed dirt digging exercise - clearly not wanting to fall flat on her face twice in one day."
Another Bradford Vote Winner
I thought I saw somewhere someone has compiled a Sue Bradford Roll of Shame.
What Was Shifty Helen Clark Up To Twenty Years Ago?
Updated: See number fourth, below.
The Labour Party's efforts to dig dirt on John Key invite an obvious response but not one which will please Labour, this close to an election.
What was the Bilious Bitch up to back when John Key was turning an honest dollar and building a respectable career?
First: Adolf has seen a number of suggestions that she was among those disgusting activists who abused, spat on and threw bags of their own shit at our troops as they returned from Vietnam.
Hardly a surprise but I have yet to see any reliable reports of such activity so if anyone can send me links to these I'd be grateful. Here's one, from The Standard:
"Clark and her radical lefist student mates throwing bags of human excrement, spitting, and screaming "baby killer" at returning Vietnam soldiers owe everyone an apology: for being on the wrong side of history."
Second: It seems she was more deeply involved than she would like to remember in support for some pretty dodgy overseas communist outfits:-
".......a report by New Zealand journalist Bernard Moran which says:
"When Filipino Intelligence officers raided an underground safe house in Manila on the night of March 24, 1988, they not only captured leading hard liners of the Communist Party of the Philippines New Peoples' Army, but also 97 computer discs.
"I have in my possession," continues Moran, "a photocopy of a three-page document from one of those discs. It is headed 'Workshop 1: Party to Party Relations, June 13, 1986'.
"It deals with overseas work and those who are in consultation with the International Department of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). On page three, line eight, Helen Clark is listed as the 'individual link' for New Zealand."Who is Bernard Moran? Here's a CV. Sounds like the sort of fellow who might know his way around the place.
Associate OTUS
A freelance journalist by training Bernard has a long association with the military, serving in the UK and Europe as well as with the New Zealand Army in the Intelligence Corps. A director of Trinity Associates, an information research firm, he brings 20+ years of journalistic field investigative skills grounded in military intelligence experience. He has built an extensive network throughout the Pacific Basin and is well 'connected' in the United States as well. Bernard is a member of 'Sub Rosa' the Military Intelligence Association as well as many other professional associations. Skills include country studies, security assessment and information collection.
Third: Helen Clark was one of the biggest asset strippers in our history.
When she was Deputy PM in the Lange/Palmer Labour government she personally signed off on the sale and privatization of more state assets than at any other time before or since.
- Air New Zealand (1989)
- New Zealand Steel (1987)
- Petrocorp (1989)
- Postbank (1989)
- Telecom NZ (1990)
- Works Corporation (1989)
Hell, I didn't need to take a plane load of tax payer funded Labour lackeys to Melbourne for a week to find out what our shifty, manipulative, mendacious Prime Minister was up to when John Key was a lad.
Fourth: Breaking into military bases and carrying out acts of sabotage during the 1970s. Especially on Labour Day. How quaint!
Fifth: Accepting $250k donations from fraudsters. The same ones with whom dickhead Mike Williams spent a week in Melbourne trying to smear John Key.
Suck on this Jeanette
Liarbour's Chief Campaign Strategist: What does she REALLY know?
It now meets once a week – on Monday nights in the Beehive – to plan the week ahead. Daily decision making is left in the hands of individuals, who communicate via telephone and text messages.
In what will be her third attempt as Prime Minister to win the election for her party, she has placed herself firmly behind the driving wheel by declaring she is now Labour's chief political strategist, unlike the 2005 election when Cabinet Minister Pete Hodgson was in the box seat.
Hodgson is seen as a "good and loyal" trouper by top Labour ranks. But when it comes to outright cunning and stealth, Hodgson is not Clark's match, which is why he has been pushed aside.
The party hierarchy is still clearly in the frame. Particularly Williams, who is Labour's chief fundraiser and party enforcer and general secretary Mike Smith, who has to keep tabs on the advertising spend to prevent a rerun of the 2005 campaign blowout.
Clark's chief of staff Heather Simpson - colloquially known as "H2" - is driving a considerable amount of policy formation and Cabinet ministers know it.
But when it comes to taking the credit (or the blame) for the election outcome, Clark has set herself up as numero uno. If Labour loses, it will be that much easier for caucus detractors to persuade her to stand aside so a new leader can be elected or roll her in a post-election coup.
Although senior colleagues do not say so publicly, among some of them there is considerable unease Clark has concentrated so much power at the top - "Doesn't she trust us?" one insider asked.
More importantly, if Labour ends up in another post-election spending scandal, Clark will be too close to the frontline to escape collateral damage.
In an election about trust ... (again)
But yesterday, she supported a $150million project to widen some train tunnels.
Trust her to say one thing one day, and another thing another day.
Hat tip: Liberty Scott
How Terribly Sad
Cullendar Admits He Doesn't Know What To Do
Hasn't anyone yet told him she is an enemy of Labour? She must be. She's part of Dubbya's administration, she's a committed Christian and she's a Presbyterian.
In an election about trust....
6 years early?
Whilst I have no doubts about the sincerity and integrity of the people involved, this is not your time.
In a truly Catch 22 situation, 50% of any party vote for you is a vote directly for Labour. Sorry guys but that isn't going to happen in my house.
Get National back in with ACT this time and come knocking in 2014, by which time Labour will be well and truly buried. Assuming MMP and you survive.
Otherwise get some bright, young Christians involved in the grassroots of the major parties. There will be rich pickings as young voters flee the Green party.
H-Fee Key
The best quote on the topic comes from William over at Farrar's place:
I see the following today from a story in the Dominion on the HFee deal…
"In the end the government was also criticised for benefitting at the expense of Equiticorp creditors and shareholders by turning a blind eye to the H fee transaction.The government was ordered by the courts to pay $268m as its share of liability for the sale of NZ Steel.
The judge at the time said the government "unjustly enriched" itself through the shonky deal." I wonder if it is worth posting a picture, DPF, of any Government Cabinet ministers from this time, especially those with the initials HC?
Surely if she "worked" for the same organisation that did a shonky deal she must have known about this…. hell, she might even have signed something to authorise it, as we know her propensity for signing work that isn't hers.
Labour Promises Corruption Commission
It will have its work cut out investigating the affairs of the New Zealand Labour Party.
Premature Ejaculation
Thanks to the umpire Charles Sturt who loudly shouted 'no ball' and to some immaculate stroke play from John Key who effortlessly knocked their amateurish googly over the ropes for six. He handled it superbly and as a result had added immeasurably to his mana and kudos.
Meanwhile the haggard harridan lied through her snaggled teeth again. "I had nothing to do with this." Come on Helen, are you or are you not the party's Chief Strategist? Nobody believes you were not right in there at the helm, pushing your party's only policy thus far released. You know the one? Your 'Get John Key' no matter what it takes policy.
What a hopeless pack of incompetent dunderheads. They can't even organize a decent smear campaign and they want to run the country? The same country they've already run into the ground?
The Obama Files
Less than a week to go to the US Presidential Elections.
According to the media, it's not looking good for John McCain, but perhaps they are missing something, like these stories, for example, though the MSM is having to take notice on occassion.
Obama is buying the election by illegally taking funds from overseas.
He's also taking untraceable donations.And doing well from Wall Street.
Barack Obama says his mentor and pastor Rev William "Goddam America" Wright is a "wonderful man" and "the best of what the black church has to offer."
His comments on wealth redistribution also included comparing the US to Nazi Germany.
Meanwhile, on top of Acorn, we now have further reports of voter fraud by Obama and his supporters during the Democratic primaries.
The Hillbuzz blog of Clinton supporters backing McCain earlier reported other voter fraud by Obama supporters which I blogged about recently.
Last night, they said things don't look to bad for McCain, who they believe will still win, due to Clinton fans backing McCain.
And in other news, ZombieTime showed evidence of further links between Obama and the Weather Underground. Obama and William Ayres even lived in New York at the same time. Obama has also given different accounts of his involvement in anti-aparthied campaigns.
Word of the real Barack Obama may be getting out.
There are stories of how Obama supporters are able to make the Messiah's support greater than it is by contactin the media and postin on blogs. Some polls are tightening and McCain is doing better in early polling than might be expected.
So McCain may win after all, as the PUMAs say. There may well be a last-minute surprise.
Some homophobic bigotry at No Minister
I had to laugh yesterday when I read that Little Britain 'promotes hatred.'
Among the hatred is homophobia, even though one of the show's two main stars, Matt Lucas, is gay himself.
Lucas is famous for playing Daffyd Thomas, "the only gay in the village," who constantly outs himself in a tiny Welsh village, only to be only to be disappointed at meeting acceptance, indifference to his sexuality, and more gays than he imagined or wanted.
It mocks the stereotype of a raging queen, and professional victim, but the laughter it invites comes not from a hatred of gays, but a (hopeful) recognition that our villages most certainly have more than one gay and there's no need to play the lonely martyr," writes Andrew Bolt.
"The comedy wouldn't work if Daffyd's sexuality was treated with hatred and derision. The fun is in recognising that Daffyd is out of time, protesting against a bigotry he can no longer find, but needs to hide his own shyness and naivity. And in laughing at him, we congratulate ourselves for our tolerance of - or, much better, affection for - the only gay in the village.
That's why Daffyd is not just a loved cultural icon in Britain, but a hero in Australia.
Indeed, as a blog sometimes derided for its wingnuttery, No Minister is to feature some more Little Britain bigotry here , here, here, and here.
Apparantly, though, some feathers were ruffled in the USA, with a West Hollywood gay group also offended at such 'homophobia.'
So what can we say about this 'offensive' story from the Onion News Network about the first openly gay race horse competing this weekend. I wonder if he knows Winston?
First Openly Gay Racehorse To Compete Sunday
Hat tip: Andrew Bolt, Onion News Network
US Presidential candidates quiz
Yesterday seemed be the day of the political quiz.
I've just completed a quiz over at Fox News (see above) and it seems my views are closest to John McCain, but only at 48%.
Other high hiders were a Republican called Alan Keyes, closely followed by some Libertarian guy and a radical socialist feminist.
I guess its my liberalism on abortion and gay marriage, coupled with my anti-immigration, pro-hanging, pro-gun rights opinions, and freemarket economics that causes the difficulty to pigeonhole me neatly into a US political party.
At the bottom, and no surprises there, was Barack Obama at 28%, with Ralph Nader scoring a little above.
Now Pundit, who has the NZ election quiz mentioned earlier by Adolf and others, also features the original US candidates quiz.
This time, I was closest a 68% to former Republican Congressman Bob Barr, who was the Presiential Candidate for the Libertarians (I've obviously been corrupted by Peter Cresswell and Liberty Scott!) followed by John McCain on 61% and Barack Obama on 41%!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Story of Two Helens
In response to the Liarbour Party ad about the Two Johns, which breaches advertising standards, Whale Oil has produced this excellent little video.
I only hope it is the first of many in the run up to Polling Day.
Obama allays experience fears
Obama Undertakes Presidential Internship To Ease Concerns About His Lack Of Experience
Hat tip: The Onion News Ntework & Guido Fawkes
UPDATE: John McCain highlights grim reailty in new campaign ad.
Labour Lies Again
Trust Labour, to distort, to dissemble, to misrepresent, to flat out lie. For them the test is not 'is it the truth" but rather 'will we be caught out?"
Lately Shifty and Fiscal Fool are being caught out flat lying, more often than not.
The real crime of the century
Eugene Who?
I'd like to know whether parliamentary services paid for Williams' dirt digging trip to Melbourne or was he on another of hus 'overseas fund raising trips, selling Kiwi indulgences to foreigners?
A Neutron Bomb or a pop-gun?: Granny leaks Liarbour's dirt!!
The New Zealand Herald this afternoon leaks the 'neutron bomb' surrounding John Key, perhaps explaining why Dear Leader sought to campaign on the issue of 'trust.'
Winston mentioned it on tv this week and Tumeke! weeks back said they expected the story to come out ten days before the poll. Liarbour was planning to release it tomorrow.
So here we are, and what is the story?
Well, all will be revealed tomorrow, but it appears John Key's recollection of events may not tally with what some court records show concerning some financial shenanigans known as H-fee.
It all happened 20 years ago.
And as Granny Herald clearly states: There is no evidence that he was involved in handling the sham transactions.
And while Clint Heine's blog says the revalations show how the election is taking a naty turn, the test will be how Key responds to it.
As the Dim-Post notes, it's not the crime that kills you, but the cover it up.
But doesn't it show the desperation of the shifty and manipultive one to release a story now for maximum effect, to take her and her poodle's own lies and corruption off the front pages.
Remember, this election is about trust. And trust Liarbour to play dirty!!
UPDATE: Don't fall about laughing, says Queen Bee.
In an election about trust, Glenngate confirms the lies, corruption and hypocracy of the Liarbour First Axis
It's so bad, even TVOne is noticing.
Leading the lunchtime news was Owen Glenn hitting out at Uncle Helen.
She knew about what was going on, Glenn said, and she displayed disloyalty (see the 2min 12 sec video at the side).
Their story quoted Glenn's interview on Newtalk ZB with Paul Holmes this morning, but Glenn's interview with state-owned National Radio was little better for Liarbour.
"She was aware of it all," Glenn said.
And commenting how people like Mike Williams talk, he commented:
"These people are very careful with what they say. Mike Williams says something like 'there is no objection from the Labour party'.. but it's upto the Foreign Minister. The couch it in different terminology , they lik to preserve thisdefensive barrier around the PM."
So, there we have it. Dear Leader knew all along and people lie/mislead to protect her.
Now, this seems to have escaped much of the coverage of the story this afternoon but there is certainly much to show the dishonesty of Winston Peters, Helen Clark and the Liarbour First Axis.
The Dominion Post notes how the release of those official papers yesterday certainly contradicts with what Winston Peters has been saying.
Dear Leader, meanwhile, is happy to run a government with Winston Peters. Her lust for power puts principle first, so unlike John Key who has rejected Peters from a National-led government. Indeed, John Amstrong notes the story is a worry for Peters, a headache for Helen Clark and a vindication for John Key.
Audrey Young , whose integrity was questioned by Peters, blogging this afternoon seems scathing of both, particulalrly Peters.
And while the focus is so obviously Peters, we need to recall her lies and misrepresentations too.
As Uncle Helen says, this election is about trust and having being Liarbour's sugar daddy, Owen Glenn knows at great cost to himself that Liarbour, Clark and Peters are not to be trusted.
or this one
They wouldn't do my one
This is it in reality
But enjoy the competition and enjoy these entries too.
Remember, the only way for a National-led government under John Key is to Party Vote ACT or Party Vote National.
Anything else will help HER.
UPDATE: The Greens sent me this reply:
Sorry, the image you uploaded for the "Vote For Us" billboard did not get the go ahead. It wasn't considered suitable (this is an election after all!) Please try again with another image. If you want to discuss your submission, email email@example.com
Now The Kids Will Be Safe
Fran's War Cabinet to tackle Financial Crisis
Paris for President! But look who we have!
Its good to see Paris Hilton have some fun with this great video.
But what a contrast comparing the lovely Paris with our own Uncle Helen.
And look at their pets. If Paris has a sweet chiahauhau, what doesUncle Helen have? A pit bull?
Well, she does have Trevor Mallard!
Small businesses here need to know they can be funded.
It will also help stabilise our $. Personally I think the dollar will eventually settle around the 60c mark.
It's Time
|Party name
|Party Votes won
|Party seat entitlement
|No. of electorate seats won
|No. of list MPs
|Total MPs
|% of MPs
|Act New Zealand
|The Greens
|Jim Anderton's Progressive
|M�ori Party
|New Zealand Labour Party
|New Zealand National Party
|United Future New Zealand
Fiscal fool fools around with Fonterra
No wonder Adolf calls him the fiscal fool.
There's Michael Cullen wanting to build a railtrck to Fonterra's dairy plant down there.
But Fonterra doesn't want to use it.
Remember, this is the man who paid several times more for KiwiRal thn it was ctually worh.
This is the man who blew off thesurplus created during the good times, leaving a decade of deficits.
And remeber it is his party and those watermelon greens that want to spend billions on rail and buses, while the overwhelming majority prefer to stick with out trucks and cars.
The man truly is fool!
Well There You Go
- 1 The ACT Party 81% similarity
- 2 The National Party 68% similarity
- 3 New Zealand First Party 51% similarity
- 49% similarity
Where the sun doesn't shine
What will it take for National to wake up and come on board?
The last thing our farmers, industries and citizens need right now is to be lumbered with another item on their expense sheet, just so some fruitloop greenies and socialists can take more of our money, freedoms and choices away.
Interestingly, it seems it is the younger people waking up to the con. Maybe they are now realising that the "fears" they have been force fed aren't all they are cracked up to be.
It seems back here that an ACT party vote is looking more and more like the only vote for common sense.
Liarbour fails on hospital productivity
Mead's boot
Prime Minister Helen Clark said there was "no issue" because no appointment had been made.
"No issue" pretty much scrapes the bottom of the barrel as far as excuses go.
Mind you, she did write the book on "move on, nothing to see here"
It is also an insult to a great NZer that Peters drags Colin Mead's boots into the argument.
There would be more integrity in Mead's sprig than the whole of the Clark's motley coalition.
Reminder #2
"Clark's not on solid ground when it comes to hidden agendas. As deputy Prime Minister and Labour's key strategist at the 1990 election she helped perpetrate the big lie of that campaign. In 1990, New Zealand was teetering towards economic recession. But the Labour Cabinet kept claiming right up to election day that the Government's accounts were in surplus.Who do you trust now?
National Prime Minister Jim Bolger's plans for a decent society were scuppered when he was confronted by officials just one day after the election with news of a serious fiscal crisis that they had kept secret under Labour's orders.
The Bank of New Zealand was about to go belly-up, something senior Labour ministers had known about for weeks, and the Treasury was forecasting a $3.7 billion deficit for the 1991/92 year which would blow out to a $5.2 billion deficit by 1993/94 unless drastic actions were taken. Bolger's Cabinet had to cut costs to avert a major credit rating downgrade for New Zealand.
These are the conditions that led to the mother of all budgets."
Hat Tip: Inventory2.
Dumb and dumberer
Labour Bludgers
You turn up at the appointed time with your clubs and other gear and when it's time to pay your green fees, you turn to your mates and say 'No, I don't pay green fees, I send the bill to the Minister of Sport.'
Better still, you send your kids along to the pro for golf lessons and when he asks to be paid you tell him to send the account to the Sports minister or maybe Jesus Christ.
That's what the free loading Labour candidate for East Coast Bays does.
Viv Goldsmith sends her kids along to all the school functions and activities which are funded by parents' donations but she doesn't pay anything herself. Now doesn't that tell you absolutely everything you ever needed to know about the attitude of Labour Party people?
Freeloaders, bludgers, scroungers, parasites.


text:
The twin sister of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man shot and killed by a white police officer last week in Tulsa, said Wednesday that officer must be prosecuted aggressively, NBC News reported.
Tiffany Crutcher slammed the officers present at the time of her brother's death on MSNBC today, saying he never had a chance in his encounter with police. The shooting sparked outrage in Tulsa and around the country after video footage were released Monday showing Crutcher with his hands in the air as one officer used a Taser on him and another fired her gun at him.
Crutcher's sister said her brother was "prejudged," as an officer flying a helicopter overhead can be heard on video saying, "That looks like a bad dude, too."
U.S. & World
While a lawyer for Betty Shelby, the officer who shot Crutcher, has maintained that she believed him to be under the influence of a narcotic, his family says he was waiting for help for his car, and that shooting Crutcher was not an appropriate response to intoxication.


text:
"I don't believe in Computer Science."~ Richard Feynman at Bell Labs (1985).
Feynman argued that science is the study of the behavior of the nature. He pointed out the limitations of classical computers for simulating the nature, which is very difficult because nature is quantum mechanical. At his lectures at Caltech, Feynman talked about the limitations of computation due to mathematics, noise, thermodynamics, reversible computing (where it is possible to compute and un-compute), and quantum mechanics. He predicted a new type of computer that is not a Turing machine, which he called a quantum computer. Continue reading


text:
Dr. Gary P. Monkarsh, Ph D
Contact Information
Accepting new clients: Yes
Introductory Video
9 therapeutic factors in the treatment of ADHD
- Achieve healthy, daily, stable nutritious eating pattern; sleep schedule, and consistent aerobic exercise, in which one sleeps a minimum of 7-8 hours a night, eats protein breakfast and lunch meals, and exercises aerobically at least 20-30 minutes a day. For teens and adults, it is critical to be aware of tendencies to self-soothe with alcohol, drugs, or other distractors such as video gaming, social media, and excessive spending as a way to avoid facing one's challenges in life. ...
- Increase level of structure completing basic activities of daily living at home, school, and work. Examples of increasing structure in one's life include utilizing calendars, alarms, and check-lists to ensure that tasks are completed in a thorough and successful manner, as well as employing tutors, study buddies, spouses, siblings, or parents to provide needed structure. ...
Assessment and treatment of ADHD in kids, teens, and college students
I am passionate about my work with ADHD kids, teens, and adults because ADHD can have devastating effects on one's home life, academic performance, occupational functioning, and overall physical health. For example, individuals suffering from ADHD have significantly lower socioeconomic status, higher rates of unemployment, increased medical problems, substance abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and unplanned pregnancies than the non-ADHD population. ... (see full article linked below)Read more: Treatment of ADHD
My therapy philosophy
My therapy philosophy involves a holistic approach to treatment that takes into account a person's mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. I developed a strong interest in the mind-body health connection while studying for my Bachelor's degree in Psychobiology. I expanded my knowledge of the mind-body connection when I attended medical school for one year, prior to entering graduate training in clinical and counseling psychology. During my Master's degree program in Counseling Psychology, I developed extensive training in family systems therapy, and developed the skills to build strong therapeutic alliances while establishing trusting, empathic connections to all my clients, whether in the capacity of individual, family, group or couple's therapist. In my work with couples and families, my philosophy includes the belief that each member of the family is doing the best he or she can in any given moment in time, given all his or her past and present issues in their lives. Even in my evaluation of a Death Row inmate, or in my work with a racist individual, I found compassion for them both, in spite of their obvious weaknesses. This is the message I impart, especially in familiy and couple's therapy- the importance of having compassion for the individual you are having your greatest challenges with. From this place of compassion, true healing occurs.
During my doctoral training in Clinical Psychology, I developed extensive expertise utilizing cognitive-behavioral strategies to effectively treat a wide variety of anxiety and depressive disorders. In addition, I mastered a solution focused approach to treatment, that emphasizes providing tools and easy to use strategies for clients to practice between sessions to reduce their depression, anxiety, impulse control problems, communication challenges, or anger control difficulties. As a psychologist, I pride myself in my ability to remain neutral in my work with families and couples. I provide an equal level of empathy for all family members, regardless of the content of the sessions. My work with couples emphasizes creating ways to strengthen and heal relationships.
My focus in couple's treatment is to provide couples with the communication tools to heal their wounds, and develop the skills to create loving, meaningful, and healthy connections between partners and their children. If relationships cannot be healed, then I provide therapy to help families limit the damage to children and adults when their family must split up. My couple's treatment philosophy combines a cognitive-behavioral approach based on Dr. Gottman's seminal research that led to his book "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" with an empathy based communication approach found in Dr. Daniel Wile's book "After the Honeymoon." My couple's therapy approach combines helping couples develop the cognitive and behavioral changes that can improve their relationships. In addition, my couple's therapy assists couples as they attempt to improve their ability to demonstrate compassion for each other. I also add a focus on acceptance work, and learning how to focus less on controlling one's environment or partner, and focusing more on learning how to be more accepting of one's circumstances in life, while at the same time being aware of where one has the ability to create positive changes in one's life.
Over the course of my 25 years as a Licensed Psychologist, I have developed a specialty in both the assessment and treatment of ADHD and learning difficulties in children and adults. I served as an expert witness in a successful wrongful termination case in Federal Court regarding a client suffering from ADHD.
I have also provided expert reports/testimony that led clients to successfully obtain long-term disability benefits as a result of their disabilities due to their mental disorder(s).
In addition, I have completed extensive training and coursework in Self-Hypnosis, Mindfulness Meditation, Progressive Relaxation, and Visualization strategies to treat severe ADHD, depression, and anxiety disorders. I have completed years of study in Theravada Mindfulness Psychology, that emphasizes learning how to eliminate suffering by letting go of our attachments. In particular, I teach individuals how to let go of the need to control others, their environment, or the need to be accepted by others in order to feel happy or content. My meditation instruction improves concentration, attention abilities, and reduces our reactivity to negative experiences. Substantial research out of Harvard University and other research institutions have proven the efficacy of meditation in the treatment of numerous psychological and physical disorders, and I am excited to teach clients how to benefit from adding meditation to their healthy lifestyle. In addition, I offer Theravada Mindfulness exercises to help individuals reduce their suffering by learning how to accept having things that we don't want, and by learning how to accept not having things that we do want.
Moreover, my Theravada Psychology approach helps individuals cope with the losses that come with the aging process. These losses include the loss of our physical abilities as we age, and the loss of our loved ones either when they move away or when they pass away. Further, I help individuals who have recently retired by helping them find meaning in their lives, in spite of the end of their professional careers. I have a strong focus on helping clients develop balance in their lives, whether it be their relationships with family and friends, career goals, level of exercise, dietary habits, sleep patterns, spiritual needs, development of hobbies, and volunteer activities that give individuals a sense of giving back to their communities.
The license of this professional / agency to provide services has been registered with this referral directory. All other information is self-reported and not verified. This listing does not warrant the practice of or treatment by any person or agency listed. Complaints about services should be taken to the provider of services, and, if necessary complaints should be taken to the state authority that licenses the professional or agency. If you choose to seek services, please discuss the specific services you require and the training the therapist / counselor / agency has to provide those services.
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Someone on this forum mentioned that when you choose a V7 chord in BIAB, for example an F7, the BIAB song will play back an altered seventh chord, like an F7b9. Is this true? Or, am I remembering this wrongly?
I ask this because at times, I hear my soloing seem to clash with the BIAB playback, even though I am playing notes that are unaltered.
Thanks in advance.
In BIAB Real tracks, it quite often does that and you can do very little to prevent it. Entering a 9th chord seems to reduce it a bit. It's very annoying.
On the old midi version, you could choose an option 'play chords without embellishments ' or something like that, then it would play exactly what you specified. But Real Tracks does not take any notice of this setting.
Does it do it on non-resolving dominants, if it doesn't I would report that as a bug in the software.
Originally Posted by docbop
Thank you.
It's like Skynet in the "Terminator" Movies.
The Software is becoming self aware and prefers Altered Dominant Chords.
Wow, that is surprising to me too. I thought that is a no go, or one should at least definitely be able to turn it off. Explains why my perfectly constructed solos sound so bad against BiaB
I mostly use BIAB as advanced metronome, but hope they have fixed the bug in 2016 version. If not and only a couple of users complain, it will still have low priority. Wierd when they create many jazz real tracks. A way to gain focus could be to create a thread in PG music user forum and keep it alive.
Grahambop was the first to draw my attention to this function of BIAB. Now, months later, I decided to delve into the program (BIAB 2012) and see if there was a way to make the song play only the desired chord that I chose, and not substitute chords.
Here was the answer (as I said, in BIAB 2012, maybe more current versions work a little differently):
I went to the chords that sounded altered, Right-Clicked, went to the Chord Settings, and then clicked on Chord Subs. I played around with my choices until it offered no substitutions. This caused the song to play only what I wanted.
I am trying to play around with Jazz Blues and I really did not want to hear some Diminished chord sub for my vanilla Dominant 7 chord.
I am limiting myself to Mixolydian, according to Richie Zellon's course, and those infrequent altered subs were killing my enjoyment.
Hope this helps someone.
Last edited by AlsoRan; 07-18-2016 at 09:55 AM. Reason: changed "builder" to "settings"
Thanks, that's interesting, I haven't delved into that bit of the program before. (I have BIAB 2011).
For a few bars of a C7 chord on its own, it does seem to help. I changed the option to 'best subs only' and this stopped it showing C13b9 and so on. When I played it, it did sound better, just limiting to C7 or C7b5 which is fine.
Then I tried an actual progression/tune. A terrible example for me is Goodbye Porkpie Hat. It always plays the most awful subs for all the 7th chords when I want it to stick to what I've specified. At first I couldn't seem to make any difference (it said 'no subs available'), but I kept messing about. By choosing 'best subs only' + 'less chords/simplifying' and switching off 'jazz substitutions', I then got a much better result on the first 4 bars. It seemed to play the voicings I'd actually specified.
So I'll keep experimenting. But thanks very much - I think you have definitely hit on something there!
Originally Posted by grahambop
I just don't know how to do it without having to click on each chord individually.
Either way, I feel really good about discovering this, and am glad you could benefit as well.
Originally Posted by grahambop
I think you just turn it off in song settings. Says something like "allow substitutions"
I'll have a look. Problem is that a lot of those settings which worked in the older version don't seem to work on the Real Tracks version.
Originally Posted by jasaco
It still seems to me that the jazz styles have automatic chord substitution built in, and in Real Tracks it cannot be defeated.
Originally Posted by grahambop
Well, if your conclusions are correct, then all I can say is.....(Click on link below)
Ha ha, yes that sums it up! I suppose for practice purposes it's more of an irritation really. Bit annoying when you want to make a recording or video though.
When I did 'Stella' for the practical standards thread, I generated a WAV file from BIAB about 5 times until I got one without some horrible subs in it!
Once again, and more emphatically....
Seriously, this begs the question that I have asked before and still not really gotten a satisfactory answer.
The question is, what do you do when you play with a band that is like BIAB real tracks, and substitutes all sorts of chords you may not want? Is it agreed on beforehand - for the entire song.
Maybe a soloist, on the chorus that he/she takes their solo, wants a bunch of altered chords?
Anyway, just some thoughts. I will have to make due with the annoyance of BIAB real tracks substitution protocol. Man, that's a bummer - just when I was starting to get make good progress with my soloing, my main tool turns out to be deficient.
I will have to go back to recording my own backing tracks or using my looper.
I read somewhere that Chet Baker would shout at his pianists when they played a voicing he didn't like, so that's one way!
Probably it's down to listening and reacting to what the soloist likes, a bit of ESP probably helps.
Re. BIAB it may be possible to reassign the piano to non Realtrack (midi) then see if switching off chord embellishments works? If it lets you keep Real bass and drums it might not sound too bad.
Guys, as someone who does not yet have a BIAB edition of any kind, can you enlighten me with how often you use the programs and Real Tracks for practice or making home recordings? Daily, every few days, once a week...
I'm trying to decide whether it should be the next thing for me to aim at improving recordings short of oxygen breathing mirror fogging humans.
Originally Posted by grahambop
Originally Posted by targuit
One problem is that my computer is so old and slow now that it can't play back the real track audio in 'real time' without stuttering! (This doesn't apply when I make recordings, because I start by exporting the BIAB output to a WAV file, this always works ok).
I use BIAB (with RealDrums but not RealTracks) daily. It is my constant practice tool. Play the tune faster, slower, change keys, isolate a 4 bar segment and work out ideas over just that section, etc, etc.
How long roughly does it take to set up a Real Tracks backup trio or something? I really like the results as basic tracks for home recordings short of oxygen breathing human musicians.
My tech stuff is aging at this point. MacBook is about five years or more now. PC more like three or four.
Originally Posted by targuit
If you look at the pgmusic website I think they have video demos showing how you enter a tune.
Last edited by grahambop; 07-29-2016 at 11:54 AM.
I use the BIAB to create and export backing tracks to a WAV file, and then burn this to a CD.
For instance, for my Jazz Blues practice, I have a CD with Blues in F7 at different tempos. While I am in the car on my daily commute, I play the track and hum/scat to it while going down the highway.
It is a great way to get a progression in your head. If I come up with a riff I like, I record it on a little micro recorder that I carry.
I also use BIAB to see how some of the songs I have created would sound when played by a band. I really like some of them, while others were not quite what I wanted.
I will even play with some of my original songs, experimenting with chord subs, and sticking in ii-Vs here and there.
It has fulfilled many of my music needs.
I use BIAB daily and consider it to be the most useful tool I have ever found for teaching and practice. IMHO, it can't replace live players for jazz improvisation but it really is a great "time saver" for serious jazz guitar studies. I have used it often for solo gigs and duo gigs with my wife (Vocalist).
wiz (Howie)
Originally Posted by wizard3739
Could you be a bit more specific as to how you use BIAB for solo or duo gigs?
An update on this subject - as of BIAB 2019 (Windows version, in my case) there is a checkbox in Song Settings called 'Force Song to Simple Arrangement (non-embellished)'.
I can't vouch for every possible case, but in general checking this will do what it says and remedy the situation described in this topic. (Be sure to regenerate the song after changing the setting.)
sj1 is correct. I had had this exact issue forever with BIAB. There would be a 7th chord voicing the Piano part would play that just sounds all wrong and awful. I often import BIAB generated midi files into Apple Logos where I would re-voice the piano notes of the crap chords to my liking.
I finally called PGMusic and was told to select the "Force song to simple arrangement, non embellished" and that seems to be a little better.
Originally Posted by Jonathan Levin
Can you be more specific than "seems to be a little better"?
I'm considering buying this software, but this sort of thing would be a deal breaker for me.
IMO it's unlikely another user is going to put themselves on the line to say "I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
However, PG Music *has* put themselves on the line (for 30 days).
FWIW, I recommend you take them up on their satisfaction guarantee offer at some point where you know you'll have enough time available in the next month to evaluate and come to a good decision for yourself.
I'll add also that I'd love to see an official comprehensive PG Music technical explanation of the 'Force Song to Simple Arrangement (non-embellished)' feature - exactly what it will and won't do under different circumstances (if there are differences).
From my own user's POV, I'd like to be able to tell BIAB to absolutely, definitely *only* play the chord notes as per what I have specified with the symbols I've typed in.
Then separately, I'd like for BIAB to be able to do all kinds of embellishments when I set options for it to do so.
I'm not saying we aren't there now (we might be), but BIAB has had such a long and interesting course of evolution that I find it hard to say for sure! (and doing the definitive set of experiments in the field is not something I currently have the time to prioritize)
Originally Posted by sj1
I wouldn't consider it putting themselves on the line to say something like, "Since that time I haven't noticed any issues." or, "I don't know. I haven't really had the time to mess with it much."
"seems to be a little better." has one too many qualifiers for my comfort.
I´ve checked it seriously
Here is the real answer:
In BB or Realband go to
4) Find roll down menu for Natural Arrangement
Choose NEVER
Now YOU decide :-)


text:
Rugby Resources
Safety Info
Important, please read
Knowledge and FAQ's
Is Rugby dangerous?
No more so than any other contact sport. There are less injuries then football, lacrosse or soccer. Getting extra yardage in Rugby is not important but rather ball possession. The lack of padding means that you will learn a new way of tackling. Rugby tackles are not football style head-on-collisions, but rather wrapping the opponent's legs so that his own momentum carries him to the ground.
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There is a lot of running in Rugby, and unlike American football, not a lot of starting and stopping. You will run in practice, but you should also involve yourself in plenty of cardio off the field. Weight training is also a good idea, but you should consult your physician before beginning any weight training program.
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What do I need to do to sign up?
Particular clubs have varying sign up procedures, but all participants, regardless of club affiliation, must fill out a "Certified Individual Player Participant" {Cipp} Form through USA Rugby. This registers the player with their particular club.
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http://www.rugbyimports.com (rugby gear)
http://www.rugbystore.com (rugby gear)
http://www.planetrugby.com (world rugby news)
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